How to Single Crochet

Single crochet is a short, solid stitch. It is usually one of the first stitches learned. It produces a solid fabric with minimal gaps and nice straight edges.

Remember, you will never work into the first chain from the crochet hook unless the pattern you are using specifically directs you to do so.

How to Single Crochet in the Starting Chain

Row 1: Make a slip knot or twist start and make the number of chains stated in the pattern (for this sample chain six). Skip the first chain from the crochet hook. Insert your hook in the second chain from the hook through the center of the V and under the back bar of the chain. There should be two bars of yarn over the hook. Bring the yarn over the hook from back to front.

Draw yarn through the chain and up onto the working area of the crochet hook. As you pull through rotate your hook downward. This will allow it to more easily slide through the chain. You now have two loops on the hook.

Again, bring the yarn over the hook from back to front, and draw it through both loops on the crochet hook, rotating the hook downward as you pull the loop through to allow it to slide more easily.

When the stitch is complete, one loop will remain on the hook. You have made one single crochet.

Insert hook in the next chain as before, hook the yarn from back to front and draw it through the chain stitch. Yarn over again and draw through both loops. It is important to know that the terms “hook the yarn” and “yarn over” have the same meaning. In both instances, you will bring the yarn over the hook from back to front.

Single crochet in each remaining chain as above, taking care to work in the last chain but not in the slip knot. Remember, as you work, to be careful not to twist the chain; keep the V’s facing you. You have completed one row of single crochet and, following this sample, there should be five stitches in the row. 

Turn the work counterclockwise so you can work back across the first row. Do not remove the crochet hook from the loop as you do this.

How to Single Crochet in a Stitch

Row 2: Now you need to bring the yarn up to the correct height to work the first stitch. To do this, you create a turning or beginning chain. For single crochet stitches, you chain 1 for the turning chain.

The first single crochet of the row is worked in the last stitch of the previous row, not into the beginning chain. When working into a single crochet stitch, you will insert your hook differently than you did when working into the starting chain.

When you look at the top of the stitches, you will see a series of V’s. You are going to insert the hook under the first of the V’s. You should see the V over the top of your hook. Next, bring the yarn over the hook from back to front. Draw the yarn through the stitch and up onto the working area of the crochet hook. You now have two loops on the hook. Again, bring the yarn over the hook from back to front and draw it through both loops on the crochet hook.

Work a single crochet into each single crochet of the previous row to the end, taking care to work in each stitch, especially the last stitch, which is easy to miss. It can be hard to see the first and last stitch of a row. As you are learning to crochet, you may find it helpful to mark the first and last stitch of each row with a stitch marker. This makes them easy to identify so you will know you are always working all the stitches of the row. 

Stop now and count your stitches; you should still have five single crochet on the row.

You can continue practicing by making additional rows, or fasten off.

Fasten Off

After the last stitch, cut the yarn, leaving a 4- to 6-inch tail. As you do when you take your crochet hook out for a break, draw the hook straight up, but this time draw the cut yarn end completely through the stitch. Pull the 4- to 6-inch end tight to close.