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Beginner’s guide to basic crochet fundamentals.
When I was just starting my crochet journey, I remember looking at tons of crochet patterns that used different symbols and abbreviations. Back then, I wished for a guide that broke down all the tools and stitches I needed to know.
I have consolidated all this information into a single post for you. You will learn all about the basic crochet for beginners, including basic crochet tools, crochet stitches abbreviations and crochet stitches symbols.
Save this post to use them as a reference for your future crochet projects.
Basic Crochet Tools
Let’s dive into the essential tools you will need for your crochet journey, divided into two parts: (1) Must-Have and (2) Good to Have.
The “Must-Have” category includes all the essential tools required for various crochet projects. Whereas, the “Good to Have” section features tools that you might want to consider purchasing, depending on the specific crochet projects you plan to tackle.
Must-Have Crochet Tools
1: Yarns
Yarns come in different colours, textures, and ply. My personal preference is 4-ply milk cotton yarn in a single colour. I usually buy these in bulk, collecting all the colours I need for planned crochet projects.
Alongside single-colour yarns, I also grab a few mixed-colour yarns to add some variety, as well as velvet cotton yarn for my amigurumi projects – the texture is just simply amazing.
2: Crochet Hooks
For crochet hooks, I recommend having the whole set so that you can try out a variety of crochet projects. Different projects require different crochet hooks.
A good rule of thumb is that if you are using a 4-ply cotton yarn, using a 3.5, 4, and 4.5 crochet hook will be ideal. Depending on your yarn, you will choose different crochet hooks.
3: Yarn Needle
The yarn needle is essential when it comes to hiding leftover yarn and sewing special patterns on your crochet project.
4: Stitch Markers
Next, stitch markers are important to have, especially when you have just started crocheting. Stitch markers go a long way to help you count the stitches and rows.
5: Yarn Snips/ Scissors
Lastly, these are your life saviour when it comes to cutting the leftover yarn. I prefer yarn snips as they can be cut off in one go and are often good quality, but scissors work well too.
Tip: Get a crochet hook set for convenience.
Good to Have Crochet Tools
1: Stuffings
If you are into amigurumi or crafting keychains, having a stash of stuffing in your crochet toolkit is a must. I usually buy this in bulk since one pack can comfortably fill 2 to 3 larger items or 6 to 8 smaller ones.
2: Iron wire/ Floral Stems wire
For those passionate about creating crochet flowers, iron wire or floral stem wire serves as the ideal stalk for your floral creations.
3: Safety Eyes
Essential for crafting adorable animals and keychains, safety eyes are a must-have. I prefer using safety eyes over glueing them on as they offer a longer-lasting finish.
4: Glue Gun/ Super Glue
When it comes to attaching eyes to keychains and stuffed animals, my go-to tools are the glue gun or super glue. I find the glue gun more handy.
5: Measuring Tape
If you’re diving into longer crochet projects like bags and tops that involve simple crochet stitches, a measuring tape becomes an essential tool. It helps you measure size and length accurately.
6: Keychain ring / Metal Key Ring
Keychain rings are a must-have for me when I crochet, especially since I enjoy gifting my crochet projects. By attaching a keychain ring or metal key ring to your amigurumi or mini crochet, voila! You’ve got a cute keychain ready to be gifted.
I usually opt for keychain rings that come with a hook, ring, and a bag strap connector, providing flexibility in how and where they can be attached. This way, the recipient can choose how they want to display their adorable keychain.
Basic Crochet Stitches
In this next section, you will be learning how to read basic crochet stitches – one of the basic crochet for beginners. This section is divided into 2 categories. Whether you are searching for crochet patterns on YouTube, Pinterest, or Google, they are usually presented in two ways:
- Abbreviations
- Symbols
Once you have mastered both approaches, you will be ready for all the crochet patterns that you encounter on the internet. Whether following written instructions or decoding visual symbols, you will have the skills to tackle a variety of crochet projects with confidence
Crochet Stitches Abbreviations
Abbreviations are usually how I share my free crochet patterns on the blog and what I am more comfortable with. These are the common ones for beginner-level crochet projects.
| Crochet Stitches | Abbreviations |
| Magic Ring | MR |
| Chain | CH |
| Slip Stitch | SL ST |
| Single Crochet | SC / X |
| Half Double Crochet | HDC |
| Double Crochet | DC |
| Triple Crochet | TR |
| Double Triple Crochet | TR TR |
| Through Front Loop Only | TFL |
| Through Back Loop Only | TBL |
| Increase | INC / V |
| Decrease | DEC / A |
Crochet Stitches Symbols
But if you are a visual learner, crochet symbols may speak to you more. These are how the symbols look like for the basic stitches.
This post is all about the tools and stitches of basic crochet for beginners.
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