Refer to the illustrations below for the chain stitch and the single crochet: With these two basic stitches, you'll be able to make our baby blanket and ball. Once you learn how to do the double-crochet stitch, you can create colorful scarves, bookmarks, pincushions, or soft blocks out of granny squares. Practice the stitches with a size J hook and a heavy yarn, such as worsted weight. Once you have mastered them and reviewed crocheting basics, change to the smaller hook and lighter yarn recommended in each pattern.

Slipknot
1. Make a loop as shown. Insert hook in loop, catch lower yarn, and draw it up through loop.

2. To tighten, pull long end of yarn downward.

Chain Stitch (CH)
The chain stitch is the basic unit of your first, or foundation, row. This stitch is also used to create spaces between fancier stitches.

3. With working yarn in your left hand and the hook in your right, wrap yarn around hook, and draw it through slipknot.

4. Tighten. One chain stitch is now complete.

Single Crochet (SC)
Once you've completed your foundation row, work a row of single crochet stitches into these chain stitches.

5. Insert hook through second chain stitch from hook.

6. Wrap yarn around hook, and draw it through that stitch.

7. Wrap yarn around hook a second time, drawing it through both loops on hook.

8. Adjust tension by pulling on yarn until existing loop just fits around the hook. One single crochet is now complete.

Turning Chain (T-CH)
A turning chain is an extra chain stitch added just before you turn your work, to prevent buckling and keep the work straight.

9. Wrap the yarn around the hook, and use hook to draw yarn back through loop from previous stitch.

Foundation Ring
To work in the round, a foundation row is joined into a ring. Subsequent stitches are worked into this ring, then into each other in a continuous circle.

10. Make a foundation row of chain stitches, then close the ring: Insert hook into first stitch, wrap with yarn, and draw yarn through both chain stitch and loop on hook to make a slip stitch (sl st).

Double Crochet (DC)
11. Wrap hook with yarn, then insert hook through foundation ring from front to back.

12. Hook working yarn and draw it back through ring.

13. There are now 3 loops on hook. Wrap hook with yarn, and draw it through first 2 loops on hook.

14. On the hook now are 2 more loops. Again wrap hook with yarn and draw it through both loops. You have now completed one dc. Continue working dcs into ring as instructed in Round One; then you have reached end of round, join ring of dcs with a sl st. Right side of work is facing you.

Joining New Yarn
Add yarn or introduce a new color at beginning of a row or round.

15. Work a stitch with old yarn, then complete stitch with new yarn, using hook to draw it through. Lay loose end of new yarn along top of row; work over it.

16. To prevent the work from unraveling, crochet a final stitch. Cut yarn, leaving a small tail; use hook to draw it through last loop. Pull tight. Thread tail of yarn through a yarn needle, and darn neatly into back of work, weaving in end.

Finishing Off
17. Thread a yarn needle with a generous length of yarn. Place pieces with right sides together, and sew, inserting needle through both loops of the tops of the crochet stitches, as shown.

Did You Know?
Crochet Abbreviations

st(s)= stitch(es)

sl st(s)= slip stitch(es)

ch(s)= chain stitch(es)

t-ch= turning chain

sc(s)= single crochet(s)

dc= double crochet

Repeat from * to *= Asterisks indicate that you must repeat the instructions between them.