Know Your Crochet...How to start Crocheting, Part 4-Three Basic Stitches

In need of a good DYI project or want to brush up on you crochet knowledge, well my dears, you have come to the right place.

The 3 little pigs...I mean stitches...

Crochet primarily involves three fundamental stitches, with other stitches being variations of these. The smallest is the Single Crochet (SC), followed by the Half Double Crochet (HDC), and then the Double Crochet (DC), each progressively larger in size and length, affecting the design, thickness, and height of your project. In the remainder of this blog, we will explore each stitch in detail, aiming to make you feel like an expert by the end.

**JUST A LITTLE TIP....

As you learn the names of stitches and read your crochet patterns, remember to consider the language in which they are written. What!?... you might think... the pattern already seemed like it was crafted by ancient aliens... but don’t worry.

Imagine discovering a vintage crochet pattern for an amazing bag. Even though you follow the pattern precisely, stitch by stitch, the finished bag doesn't turn out right. What went wrong? Surprise! The pattern you used was written in British crochet terms.

This issue occurs more frequently now due to the Internet, which gives access to crochet patterns from all over the world. Knowing how the two styles of pattern writing align can save you from future frustrations.

While chain stitch, is a chain stitch and a slip stitch, is a slip stitch, these are the terms that differ:

Most individuals will indicate on their patterns whether they use English or British terminology. However, if this is not specified, read through the pattern to see if you recognize other terms, such as gauge (English) or tension (British). If there are several other unfamiliar terms, it's likely written in British terminology, or you can "Google" the terms you don't understand.

Single Crochet Stitch

Single crochet is the shortest and most basic of all stitches. It requires less yarn to make each stitch, but can take more yarn to do the pattern since the stitches are small and compact. Here is a picture of what the stitch looks like.

Half Double Crochet Stitch

The half double crochet stitch is taller than a single crochet stitch, and shorter than double crochet stitch. You make the half double similar to how you make the single, with just an extra yarn-over (when you wrap the yarn around the hook) at the beginning.

Half double crochet makes a solid piece of fabric without large holes. To the right is a picture of how the half double crochet looks.

Double Crochet Stitch

Double crochet stitches are basic crochet stitches that create an open, tall fabric and

regardless of the project you are crocheting, this classic stitch will be your go-to stitch time and time again. Once again to the right is picture showing what a double crochet stitch looks like.

Keep Practicing!

Having mastered three essential stitches, your creative toolkit is now well-equipped! The key point to keep in mind is that practice leads to perfection.

#bloggingthemoonCM #knowyourcrochet #threebasicstitches