Tag: beginner crochet

Where to put your hook in crochet. How to crochet for complete beginners.
Have you started reading crochet patterns but you’re not sure where to put your crochet hook? Here I’ll show you where to put your hook in crochet.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
Stitch tutorials on Youtube tend to be standalone videos, meaning they are not about a specific pattern. They show you how to do the stitch at the basic level but if you are looking at a pattern, you’ll find variations of that same stitch. For example, if I am showing you how to do the V stitch, I might do it using double crochet (UK treble) but in a pattern, I may say that the v stitch is made using half double crochet (UK half treble). This changes from pattern to pattern and the designer should always explain how to make the desired stitch if it varies from one of the basic stitches. This is the same for where you are supposed to put your hook. Not all patterns will want you to put your hook under both loops. Some will specify back loop or front loop.
I’ll show you where to put your hook when you’re doing crochet.
This example is using a half double crochet (UK half treble) piece. This example can be used for any pattern that uses any of these basic stitches:
US term UK term
Single crochet (Sc) Double crochet (Dc)
Half double crochet (Hdc) Half treble crochet (Htr)
Double crochet (Dc) Treble crochet (Tr)
Triple crochet (Tr) Double treble crochet (Dtr)
Don’t know what any of these are? Try my basic stitch guide here.
Example 1: Hdc stitch not specified.
In this scenario the pattern will just say something along the lines of “Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop” and if you’re a beginner you might think “insert where?”. In this scenario, if the designer has not specified, it means under both loops.
If you look at the top of your stitches, you’ll see that they form a “v” shape. It’s similar to how a knitted stitch looks in stockinette. Imagine that the v has two legs. You need to put your hook under both of those legs.
See how there are two legs on the hook? This still only counts as 3 loops on the hook but I’ve made sure that I’ve gone under both legs of the stitch.
Example 2: The pattern specifies back loop only.
Back loop only is where you insert your hook into the back leg of the v. This is clearly explained in the pattern and the designer wants you to do this to achieve a particular texture.
Example 3: The pattern specifies front loop only.
In this case you need to insert your hook into the front leg of the v. The designer will have specified because it’s crucial to the design. There will be a certain texture that needs to be achieved.
The front loop is the leg of the v that is nearest you. This will also be referred to as the chain or the stitch.
Still not clear on where you need to put your hook?
If the pattern is confusing you, try to get in touch with the designer. Sometimes it could just need spelling out, or there may be a mistake they don’t know about yet.
Want to get started with crochet?
Head to Minerva Crafts to find a range of crochet hooks to help you get started.
June 14, 2025

Starburst Cardigan. Chunky crochet cardigan pattern.

This is a free crochet pattern for a chunky, multi-coloured cardigan. You can either use this free version with ads, or the pattern is also available here with no ads.

Ravelry

Starburst Cardigan: a chunky crochet cardigan pattern.

Named after the much loved 90s fruit chews, this cardigan promises a burst of colour and a quick turnaround. The funnel sleeves give it a retro feel and the bobbles scream retro charm.

Wear it as an oversized addition to your wardrobe all year round!

Materials needed:

Stylecraft special Chunky. 100% Acrylic; 144 metres / 157 yards per 100g / 3.5oz 1 (1,1*,2,2) balls of each colour. *Size M needs 2 balls of Denim in total for the border, but 1 of every other colour.

Raspberry (1023)
Meadow (1065)
Lavender (1188)
Fondant (1241)
Lipstick (1246)
Denim (1302)
Camel (1420)
Aspen (1422)
6mm / USJ/10 crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
4 removable stitch markers.
Darning needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge:

3 bobble stitches and 3 ch spaces/ 4 rows to 10cm/4” using a 6mm / USJ/10 crochet hook and Stylecraft Special Chunky.

Bobble stitch-

Step 1: Yarn over, insert hook, Yarn over and pull through, Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Leave remaining 2 loops on hook.

Step 2: Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Leave remaining 3 loops on hook.

Step 3: Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through all 4 remaining loops on hook.

When worked flat: each end of the row will have an individual, double crochet stitch. Ch3 at the end of every row, yarn over and work into the chain spaces in the next row.

US terms are used throughout. Please ensure that you are using the correct terms as this will significantly alter the finished result.

When working in the round, you will need to sl st to join the round at the end. Start your next round by slipping across the top of the first cluster, rejoining your yarn when you get to the chain space.

When you are starting in the round, make 2 chains into the first ch sp. This counts as the first leg of the bobble. Complete step 2-4 to finish the bobble.

Sample shown is M.

The colours on the pattern sample M are worked from the bottom up in the following order:

Fondant
Raspberry
Lipstick
Lavender
Denim
Aspen
Meadow
Camel

Note: At the end of every other row there will be an individual double crochet stitch. This makes the edging process easier. Check out the blog for more tips and videos on the Starburst cardigan.

Body measurement chart:

Size	Chest	Sleeves	Back
XS	26-30” (66-76cm )	18” (46cm)	28” (71cm)
S	32-36” (81-91cm)	20” (51cm)	28” (71cm)
M	40-44” (102-107cm)	20” (51cm)	30” (76cm)
L	46-48” (117-122cm	22” (56cm)	32” (81cm)
XL	50-52” (127-132cm)	22” (56cm)	32” (81cm)

Glossary:

Bobble	See description on page 2
Ch / Ch sp	Chain(s)/ Chain space
Dc	Double crochet (US terms)
Sk	Skip stitches
Sl	Slip stitch

Bobble table

See example of separating in this Youtube link here

Size	Chains	Bobbles	Front	Sleeve	Back
XS	69 ch	22	3	3	10
S	78 ch	25	3	4	11
M	102 ch	33	5	5	11
L	114 ch	36	5	6	14
XL	144	46	7	8	16

Instructions:

Row 1: Chain 69 (78/102/114/144)

(3 ch count as 1st dc) sk 2 ch, bobble in next ch, *ch 2, sk 2, bobble* repeat from * to last ch OR bobble* Make a dc in last ch. 22 (25/33/36/46) bobbles. Ch 3 and turn.

Row 2 and every following row:

*bobble in next ch sp, ch 2* repeat * to final dc. Make 1 dc, ch 3 and turn.

Changing colours every row, repeat row 2 for 20 (22/22/24/24) more rows

Separate for sleeves

Isolate sections of the cardigan. Using the bobble chart, mark the beginning and end of the back stitches and mark the armholes. There should be 4 markers in total.

Front left/Front right

Work only 3 (3/5/5/7) bobble stitches for the next row.

Work 5 (5/6/6/7) more rows. Fasten off.

Rejoin yarn and repeat on other side for front right

Back

Working with the bobble stitches on either side of the 2nd sleeve marker, work 5 (5/6/6/7) rows. Fasten off.

Join shoulder seams using sl st or seam with a darning needle.

Sleeves (work 2):

Joining new yarn, work 18 (20/22/22/24) bobble stitches evenly across armhole. Where there are bobble stitches under the armhole, you can work one bobble st into each ch sp as normal. Where you are working with the sides of stitches, work into the side of the posts/clusters.

To join each round, sl st into the top of the first bobble and sl across to next ch sp. Change colours here and start the next round with 2 ch and 2 more dcs in the bobble.

Work 20 (20/22/24/24) rounds in total. Fasten off.

Edges (including collar and front edges)

Row 1: Starting at bottom left corner, insert hook into the ch sp and chain 3. 2 dc in the side of every stitch post and 2 dc in every ch sp along. Continue all the way around the left front, collar, right front and waistband.

Row 2: Dc in every stitch to end. Fasten off.

Weave in all ends and enjoy!

Notes: This pattern uses bobble stitch clusters consisting of 3dc stitches joined together. The edging is worked using dc stitches. The cardigan is designed to be oversized. If you feel that the body is too long, please feel free to start your underarm marking 1 or 2 rows before the instructions state.

Love your project?

chunky crochet cardigan pattern. Ladies crochet patterns. Free crochet sweater patterns.

Need to brush up on your crochet skills? Why not have a look at the other resources on the blog.

June 11, 2025

Free crochet stitch guide for beginners.
Want to learn to crochet but you’re not sure what the stitches are? Or maybe you’re not sure what stitch you should start with as a beginner. In this post I’ve shared my crochet stitch guide for absolute beginners. My students swear by this pattern. I hope it’ll be handy for you, too!
If you’d prefer a handy PDF of this guide, it is available here.
Think of this crochet stitch guide as the official quick reference companion for learning crochet. This works as a way to remind yourself of what stitches mean when you are working on a project. I also include the UK variations for the terms.
Inside:
- Single crochet
- Half double crochet
- Double crochet
- Triple crochet
- V stitch crochet
- Shell stitch crochet.
In this guide with clear colour photographs I explain how many chains you need as well as how to do each stitch. Please make sure you have a look at the photographs, or visit my youtube channel for more help.

Crochet stitches for beginners
The basics
This is an introductory guide to the main basic crochet stitches. If you’d like to see demonstrations, please subscribe to my youtube channel by clicking here.
Single crochet (UK Double Crochet)
Abbreviations: sc (US) dc (UK).
Single crochet is the smallest stitch you can do in crochet. It is commonly used in dishcloths, face scrubbies and amigurumi. The dense, short stitches are great for toys as the stuffing is less likely to leak out! Single crochet also works great for baskets as it provides a dense, sturdy fabric.
Directions:
Insert hook, yarn over and pull through a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops.
When making a turning chain, always chain 1.
Half double crochet (UK Half Treble)
Abbreviations: Hdc (US) Htr (UK)
I really like half double crochet as it starts off as a double but ends as a single. It’s a tall enough stitch without all of the work.
Yarn over hook, insert hook, yarn over and pull through a loop. Yarn over and pull through the 3 loops on the hook. Do this in every chain.
When you get to the end, chain 2 and turn.
Double crochet (UK Treble)
Abbreviations: Dc (US) Tr (UK)
The Dc is one of the most common crochet stitches you will come across. It’s speedy and tall. Your work will grow quickly.
Chain 3 and turn. Yarn over hook, insert hook, yarn over and pull through a loop. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops.
When making a turning chain, always chain 3.
Triple crochet (Double Treble (UK)
Abbreviations: Tr (US) (Dtr UK)
This is a very tall stitch (but not the tallest!) requiring a turning chain of 4 stitches.
Yarn over twice, insert hook. Yarn over and pull through a loop. *Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Repeat * 2 more times.
When turning, always chain 4.
V stitch
Abbreviations: V st
V stitch is a crochet lace stitch. We create the vs by using double crochet and chains.
V stitch is made by working a multiple of 3 chains plus an additional 4 chains.
First row (after chaining)
Make a dc (UK Tr) into the 5th chain from hook. Chain 1 and make a second Dc (UK tr) into the same stitch. Skip the next 2 chains and and make another V into the next stitch. Continue until you only have 2 chains left. Skip one chain and make a single dc into the next chain.
Second row: Make a 3 ch turning chain, make a V into the centre of the last V you made. This is called the chain space. Chain 1 and do the same again in every V across. When you get to the end, make a single Dc (UK Tr) into the last chain. Repeat for every following row.
Shell stitch
Shell stitch chains are always a multiple of 6 plus 2 additional chains.
Row 1: Single crochet (UK double) into the 2nd chain from the hook, skip the next 2 chains, and dc (UK tr) 5 times into the next chain, sk next 2 chains, sc into the next chain, sk 2, dc 5 times into the next chain. Repeat to end, where you should end with one sc.
Row 2: Chain 3 and turn. Dc 2 more times into the last sc of the previous row. *Make a sc into the top centre stitch of the next shell, then make 5 dc into the next sc*. Repeat * to end and make 3dc into the last sc.
Row 3: Ch 1 and sc into the first dc of the previous row, *dc 5 times into the next sc, sc into the top centre stitch of the next shell* repeat to end, ending with a sc.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 to end.
This guide is free. If you would like to support the website, please consider leaving a tip or share this post!
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June 11, 2025
How to get started with crochet: A beginner’s guide.
Here’s some beginner crochet patterns and guides to help you get started with crochet.
Where do you start when you want to learn to crochet but you’re a beginner? Here!
Something that comes up often is the question “where do I start with crochet?” and that depends on you, the individual. Some beginners are as bold as brass and practically say “hit me with it” , determined to conquer any challenge that arises, whereas others want small steps, simplicity and progress that they can record slowly and observantly.
What type of crochet beginner are you?
It’s easy enough to work out based on what your appetite is and what you are working towards. If you can scroll through a few Youtube videos and think “I’ve got the hang of this” then good for you! The amount of content out there aimed at crochet beginners is pretty extreme. It can be very hard to navigate across really busy waters of the internet. Some of us can navigate without any particular help, while others need someone to steer the ship at first.
If you want slow and steady, or find that you switch off easily, maybe written instructions are better suited for you. You can read them quietly, in your own time without the distraction of adverts, different accents or unfamiliar terms. You can then look at videos to support what you have already learned.
I’m going to show you a range of beginner friendly patterns and guides that will help you to start your crochet journey.
Starting small
Learning to crochet is a journey that will take weeks, months and years to get the hang of. Please don’t let that put you off. Here are some small but satisfying projects for a crochet beginner.
Crochet rainbow keyring kit.
In this kit by One Creative Cat, you get the yarn and the pattern together. This takes the headache out of knowing which yarn to choose. You will need to provide your own 4mm crochet hook and a pair of scissors but other than that, this is a satisfying beginner project for you to try! You can find more about the kit here.
Crochet pot holder beginner pattern
Here’s a pattern that allows you to practice one stitch and make a square shape. It’s a free pattern from Sarah Maker and is really simple, functional and great to practice with. Use some cotton DK yarn as acrylic is not heat proof! Find the pattern here. As you’ll see from the pattern it recommends a cotton yarn. I recommend Cygnet 100% cotton DK which you can find here
The above patterns are perfect for beginners as they have step by step instructions and require only one basic crochet stitch.
What are the basic crochet stitches?
If you have trouble remembering the basic crochet stitches or don’t even know where to start, here’s my guide on the 6 basic stitches to get you started. It’s a downloadable PDF that I wrote to compliment my Youtube tutorials. You can subscribe to the beginners playlist here.
Here’s an example of one of the tutorials. This is the single crochet stitch and is featured in most beginner patterns:

Ready for something bigger? Here are some patterns for the more adventurous beginner.
Below you’ll find some crochet patterns that are great for refreshers as well as beginners. They also have supporting video tutorials provided within the pattern.
Basic granny square beginner pattern
Try this pattern if you want to learn how to read crochet patterns. This is a skill worth investing your time in as it will help you to understand a range of instructions. As you come across abbreviations you will also be able to tackle more challenging patterns! Click here to see the beginner granny square pattern. Every new crocheter should at least try the granny square!
Plastic free shower puff crochet pattern.
This is a great beginner pattern for those who want to learn to crochet in the round. It’s very similar to how you would crochet a granny square. You can either use the free pattern with ads, or there’s an option to download it from Ravelry too!
Beginner friendly yarns
I think as a beginner you can’t go wrong with DK yarn or Worsted weight/Aran yarn and a 4 or 5mm hook. This is what you’ll find at most craft classes or crochet workshops. All of the above patterns ask for yarn and hooks within this range.
Remember about fibre types and purposes though and please, please, please don’t make oven gloves, pot holders or tea towels out of acrylic as this is not heat proof. It will melt into the user’s hands. Cotton is perfect for functional items such as the aforementioned but also for accessories such as bags and wash cloths. Save wool and acrylic for cowls, scarves, garments and toys.

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June 11, 2025

US term	UK term
Single crochet (Sc)	Double crochet (Dc)
Half double crochet (Hdc)	Half treble crochet (Htr)
Double crochet (Dc)	Treble crochet (Tr)
Triple crochet (Tr)	Double treble crochet (Dtr)

Tag: beginner crochet

Where to put your hook in crochet. How to crochet for complete beginners.

Have you started reading crochet patterns but you’re not sure where to put your crochet hook? Here I’ll show you where to put your hook in crochet.

Example 1: Hdc stitch not specified.

Example 2: The pattern specifies back loop only.

Example 3: The pattern specifies front loop only.

Still not clear on where you need to put your hook?

Want to get started with crochet?

Starburst Cardigan. Chunky crochet cardigan pattern.

Starburst Cardigan: a chunky crochet cardigan pattern.

Free crochet stitch guide for beginners.

If you’d prefer a handy PDF of this guide, it is available here.

Crochet stitches for beginners

Single crochet (UK Double Crochet)

Half double crochet (UK Half Treble)

Double crochet (UK Treble)

Triple crochet (Double Treble (UK)

When turning, always chain 4.

V stitch

Abbreviations: V st

Shell stitch

Shell stitch chains are always a multiple of 6 plus 2 additional chains.

How to get started with crochet: A beginner’s guide.

Here’s some beginner crochet patterns and guides to help you get started with crochet.

What type of crochet beginner are you?

Starting small

Crochet rainbow keyring kit.

Crochet pot holder beginner pattern

What are the basic crochet stitches?

Ready for something bigger? Here are some patterns for the more adventurous beginner.

Basic granny square beginner pattern

Plastic free shower puff crochet pattern.

Beginner friendly yarns