{"title":"How to Single Crochet: 7 Step Beginner Tutorial","canonicalUrl":"https://www.craftingstepbystep.com/crochet/how-to-single-crochet","category":{"slug":"crochet","name":"Crochet"},"creator":{"name":"Crochet Guru","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEi5vDi04oNB_I2Nws7mA8Q","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgVOkQcf5qw"},"tldr":"Learn the single crochet stitch in 7 steps. Insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops. The foundation stitch.","totalDurationSeconds":442,"difficulty":"easy","tools":["Crochet hook (size H/8 or 5mm for worsted weight)"],"materials":["Worsted weight yarn (cotton works well for a first project)"],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Step 1: Start With a Foundation Chain","text":"You'll need a foundation chain to single crochet into. This tutorial assumes you've already chained 30 stitches from the previous lesson.If you haven't chained yet: yarn over your hook, pull through to make one chain stitch, and repeat 29 more times. Single crochet is abbreviated sc in patterns - that's how you'll see it written in any crochet pattern."},{"number":2,"title":"Step 2: Find the Top Strand of Each Chain","text":"Look closely at your chain - each link has three yarn strands: a top strand on the front, a middle strand, and a bottom strand on the back.For single crochet you'll be working into just the top strand of each chain (sometimes patterns specify the back loop, but the top is the default). Knowing which strand to use is what separates clean stitches from messy ones."},{"number":3,"title":"Step 3: Insert Hook Into the Second Chain","text":"Skip the first chain (the loop already on your hook), and insert the hook into the SECOND chain from your hook.This is the most common beginner trip-up. The very first chain doesn't get a stitch worked into it; it counts as the turning chain. Push the hook through just the top strand of that second chain."},{"number":4,"title":"Step 4: Yarn Over and Pull Through","text":"Yarn over from underneath the working yarn (never from the top - it twists the stitch) and pull the loop through the chain you just inserted into.You now have two loops on your hook: the one that was already there, plus the new loop you just brought through. Halfway done with this stitch."},{"number":5,"title":"Step 5: Yarn Over Again and Pull Through Both Loops","text":"Yarn over your hook again from underneath, then pull the new loop through both of the loops on the hook.You should be left with one loop on the hook and a finished stitch sitting on the chain. That's your first single crochet."},{"number":6,"title":"Step 6: Repeat Across the Row","text":"Move to the next chain and do the same thing: insert hook, yarn over, pull through (two loops), yarn over, pull through both. Continue down the entire chain.The last single crochet goes into the last chain, not the slip knot. When you finish, you'll have one stitch in each chain (29 stitches total - remember you skipped the first chain). Each stitch should look like a tight little V from the top."},{"number":7,"title":"Step 7: Chain 1, Turn, Single Crochet Across","text":"To start the next row, chain 1 (yarn over and pull through to make a single chain stitch). Then turn your work over so the working edge is on the right.Place your first single crochet of the new row into the two top strands of the first stitch of the previous row, NOT into the chain-1. Single crochet across again. Repeat row after row to build a fabric - 30 rows of 29 single crochets makes a small dishcloth."}],"recipe":null,"lastUpdated":"2026-05-16T13:22:59.647Z","published":"2026-04-26T14:18:40.680Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit ShowMeStepByStep with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure."}