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So, you’ve caught the yarn bug and you’re officially “hooked!” Congratulations! To help you get started, I thought I’d share a list of my Top 10 Crochet Tips and Tricks for Beginners that I share with my students as I walk them through their first projects.
Whether you’re learning your first stitches or working on your first larger project, these simple crochet tips for beginners can help make the process easier, more comfortable, and a lot more enjoyable.
10 Crochet Tips and Tricks for Beginners
- Make sure your hands are clean.
Before you pick up your hook and yarn, take a moment to wash your hands. After all, you don’t want to try to get grease and grime out of your finished crochet project once you’re done. Clean hands are a simple step, but they can make a big difference. - Take frequent breaks to stretch.
When we’re learning to crochet, it’s easy to sit rigidly while holding our hook and yarn a little too tightly. Therefore, remember to stop occasionally, stand up, and stretch your back and legs. In addition, don’t forget to stretch your fingers and hands. Trust me, your entire body will thank you, and your finished project may look better, too! - Have a dedicated spot for all your crocheting necessities.
Next, gather your essential crochet supplies in one convenient place. Keep a special bag, basket, or box nearby with your scissors, stitch markers, tape measure, yarn needle, and extra hooks. This will save you both time and sanity. Plus, you’ll always know where to find what you need instead of digging through your junk drawer for a pair of scissors. - Read through the entire pattern before you begin.
Before starting a new project, read through the entire crochet pattern. If there’s a stitch, abbreviation, or technique you’re unfamiliar with, take the time to look it up or ask someone for help. Better yet, use your gauge swatch as a place to practice a new technique. That way, you can work out any confusion before you get too far into your project. - Speaking of gauge swatches… TAKE THE TIME TO DO THEM!
Trust me, there is nothing worse than finishing a sweater or another wearable only to discover that your gauge was off and the finished piece doesn’t fit. For that reason, always take the time to make a gauge swatch when the pattern calls for one. Carefully count your stitches and rows, and adjust your hook size if necessary. It may take a little extra time at the beginning, but it can save you from a lot of frustration later. - Keep your tension consistent.
Once you find a comfortable way to hold your working yarn, try to maintain that tension throughout the project. Consistent tension helps your stitches look more even and can also help you achieve the correct finished measurements. Most importantly, don’t worry if your tension isn’t perfect right away. It will become more natural with practice. - If your hands or wrists hurt, try a different crochet hook.
Believe it or not, crochet hooks can feel surprisingly different from one brand to another. Therefore, if your hands or wrists are becoming uncomfortable while you work, try a different style or brand of hook. You can also find tutorials for adding polymer clay handles to existing hooks, which may make them more comfortable to hold. - Save a small amount of yarn from every finished project.
When you finish a project, save a small ball or length of the yarn you used. Place it in a plastic bag along with a small note listing the project name, yarn information, and any special stitches you may have used. That way, if your project ever needs a repair, you’ll have matching yarn on hand and you’ll know exactly what you used. - Use a stitch marker to help find the last stitch of each row.
If you’re having trouble finding the last stitch of a row, a detachable stitch marker can be a huge help. Place it in the last chain of your turning chain, when appropriate for the pattern, so you have a visual reminder of where the row ends. As a result, you’ll have an easier time keeping your edges straight and your stitch count accurate. - Finally, don’t give up!
Most importantly, remember that every crocheter makes mistakes. Even experienced crocheters occasionally have to rip out stitches and redo their work. That’s simply part of learning. So, if something goes wrong, take a breath, figure out what happened, and try again. With practice, those frustrating moments will become easier to handle.
Keep Practicing and Have Fun
Learning to crochet takes time, but you don’t have to master everything at once. Instead, focus on one skill at a time and give yourself plenty of opportunities to practice.
Most importantly, enjoy the process! Every project you make is another opportunity to learn something new, improve your technique, and build confidence with your hook and yarn.
What are your favorite crochet tips for beginners? Share your best advice in the comments below!
Diane M. is correct Iam teaching a class. I recommend a J (6.0mm) to start. It will help them with tension and just making chains. Also I have them practice making chains over large beads. This will quickly show the beginner either how loosely they chain or how tightly they chain. Once they can smoothly chain over the beads, we move to making chains in uniform sizes.
I have found that “New” crocheters usually do their starting chains too tightly. I recommend they use a hook 2 sizes larger for starting chains to avoid some frustration.
Yes im new at this im going to try and make my mom shawl hope it turns out like the pic only if i knew how to read the directions to do it im game its for beginners.
I have the hardest time getting my gauge right, it’s always too tight!!!!
I’m very new. I’ve taken several classes, but I can’t get the hang of the tension. I’ve practiced. But I put it down for the summer. I’m going to try again and see what happens.
Thank you for sharing . I would like to learn how to read a pattern and then make it.
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I’d like to know the correct way to change colors. Thank you
Helpful.
Excellent tips, I am fairly new to crochet but I have been making (and enjoying) patterns I have seen on this site. I still refer to youtube as I am more comfortable with watching videos, just like a lot of people.
I can’t master the camel stitch , it seems difficult but it’s supposed to be easy…Can anyone help?
When crocheting (or knitting) rectangular projects, I often use a marker, such as a long safety pin, or yarn and mark the center stitch of an afghan or garment, then follow the center stitch upwards occasionally, This way when I count and find my stitch counts are off I can make an educated guess which side is missing the stitch and just add it in rather than ripping it all out. Count regularly! If you get stuck, go back to your gauge swatch and mess around with that instead of your project.
Especially #10. After 30 years of crocheting I still make mistakes and rip out rows to make it right. Or I just leave the mistake in if I think no one will notice it.
All the tips were very helpful to me. Thank you!
I would also like to learn how to read and understand the pattern and then crochet it. Thank you
Watch you tube videos of tutorials. Write down pattern from you tube as it proceeds. When finished, crochet that project following instructions you wrote down, and keep video handy in case you need it. I did this a couple of times and it has helped me to learn how to read patterns. Also, keep in mind, to only read and work one row or round at a time. You can get confused if you read several rows or rounds ahead. At times I still get confused, but I don’t panic. I slow down and take it one step at a time, and if I am still confused, I set it down for a while. I did this when I was working on something for my great grandson, strictly by pattern. Also, go with simple, easy to read patterns (ex by Jayda In Stitches on you tube), from fellow crocheters.
I’ve been seeing several crochet books with chart diagrams. No matter how hard I try to figure and follow it I cannot. Anyone else have this problem.
I like crocheting & wish to learn reading the patterns
Watch you tube videos of tutorials. Write down pattern from you tube as it proceeds. When finished, crochet that project following instructions you wrote down, and keep video handy in case you need it. I did this a couple of times and it has helped me to learn how to read patterns. Also, keep in mind, to only read and work one row or round at a time. You can get confused if you read several rows or rounds ahead. At times I still get confused, but I don’t panic. I slow down and take it one step at a time, and if I am still confused, I set it down for a while. I did this when I was working on something for my great grandson, strictly by pattern. Also, go with simple, easy to read patterns (ex by Jayda In Stitches on you tube), from fellow crocheters.
I am trying to do tunic with box stitch pattern. Can’t seem to get it right. Nothing on u tube 4 line pattern
I consider myself an average crocheter; reading through the tips and tricks, tho, I found 1 I had not thought of; to save some yarn with the name of the project in case of repairs. I am making a Sunshine quilt for my grown daughter and will be sure to send her extra yarn with a needle in case she needs to make repairs. Thank you!
I am having trouble keeping edges consistent when doing different stitches and color changes,doing a special throw for my lil sis, starts with sc, hdc, dc, arruga st,lg bobble st, sm cluster st, lil bobble, granny clusters, ripple, spike, and a primrose st, I am also using diff thread sizes for diff texture lol and as many diff colors it is a lovely throw but every time I chg thread and st I end up with twice as many st. as I started with
good advice.
Thank you for sharing . I would like to learn how to read a pattern and then make it.