How to Make a Single Crochet Stitch

We have a step-by-step tutorial of the single crochet stitch, perfect for the beginner. The single crochet stitch is one of the most basic stitches and should be learned before the double, or treble crochet.

As you can see in the photo, the single crochet stitch has a very tight weave, without a lot of space between the stitches. It works well for solid pieces of crochet, gloves, purses, socks, slippers, or part of a crochet project that has a solid finish.

How to Single Crochet

The slip knot is the first step of any crochet stitch and it is simply a method of placing the yarn on the crochet hook. Visit, "How to Tie a Slip Knot," for detailed instructions if you haven't done this before.

How to Single Crochet

The next step is to chain stitch. If your working from a pattern, it will tell you how many stitches to chain. If you are just practicing, chain 10 to make a practice swatch. Unless you are brand new to crochet, you will already know how to chain stitch. If you do not, watch "How to Chain Stitch."

How to Single Crochet

When you are following a pattern, this is the place that it will tell you where insert the hook to make the next stitch. If you aren't using a pattern, Insert the hook in the second chain stitch from the hook. You are working back across the chain that you just made in the step above.

How to Single Crochet

You now have 2 loops on the hook. The initial chain stitch and the chain stitch that you just inserted the crochet hook into. Yarn over (abbreviated YO in most crochet patterns). This simply means draw the tail of the yarn across the hook pull it through both loops that are currently on the hook. That is the first single crochet stitch! Single crochet is abbreviated as SC in most crochet patterns.

Insert the hook into the next chain stitch. Yarn over and pull the yarn through again. Each time you do this it creates a single crochet. Continue to single crochet until you reach the end of the row. Chain 2, turn the work over and begin single crocheting the next row. It's that easy!

If you need more help with the single crochet stitch, you may want to watch this Youtube video tutorial.