There are different crochet stitches, but that doesn't mean every single one is a unique skill. You'll find that some stitches build on others, so the more you repeat familiar techniques, the easier it'll be to make new and unique crochet stitches. Here, we've got 12 stitches that beginners should learn. The crochet stitches chart below compares these crochet stitches by difficulty, terminology, and best uses.
Crochet Stitches Every Beginner Should Learn First
Start with the basic crochet stitches while learning to control the working yarn and hook. From there, you can start working taller stitches across a row before moving on to combinations and textured techniques. With this kind of gradual progression, you'll end up with the skills for a wide range of beginner crochet patterns.¹
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UK vs US Crochet Terms
This guide uses UK crochet terminology. A UK double crochet (dc) is called a single crochet (sc) in US patterns, a UK half treble (htr) is a US half double crochet (hdc), a UK treble (tr) is a US double crochet (dc), and a UK double treble (dtr) is a US treble (tr), sometimes called triple crochet. Always check which terminology a pattern uses before you begin.⁸
Chain Stitch
The second you have your crochet supplies, you can start making basic crochet stitches. We recommend you start by learning the chain stitch. With crochet, many stitches build upon one another, so you can't really learn some of the later ones if you never mastered the earlier ones.
How it works: Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through the loop already on the hook, then repeat until you reach the required number of chain stitches.
What it creates: A flexible foundation from which many crochet projects begin.
Best for: Starting rows, making chain spaces and building simple stitch patterns.
Slip Stitch
Slip stitch is useful for joining rounds, edging and moving across the work without adding height. | Image by Most Craft. Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.
How it works: Insert the hook, yarn over and pull through both the stitch and the loop on the hook to complete the slip stitch.
What it creates: A very short stitch that adds almost no height.
Best for: Joining each round, edging and moving the working position without building up the fabric.
Double Crochet
How it works: Insert the hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over again and pull through the two remaining loops.¹
What it creates: A short, dense fabric with relatively little open space.
Best for: Toys, bags, borders and projects that need a firm structure.
In UK terminology, double crochet creates a short, firm fabric suited to structured crochet projects. | Image by Kawan856. CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
Half Treble Crochet
How it works: Yarn over, insert the hook and pull up a loop, then, in one step, yarn over again and draw through all three loops.¹⁰
What it creates: A stitch taller than double crochet but denser than treble.
Best for: Blankets, hats, scarves and other beginner-friendly wearables.
How to work a UK half treble crochet, or hdc in US terminology, from inserting the hook to drawing the yarn through all three loops.
Treble Crochet
Treble crochet produces a taller stitch that helps projects grow quickly and creates more drape. | Image by Most Craft. Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.
How it works: Yarn over, insert the hook and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through two loops twice.¹
What it creates: A taller, more open fabric that grows quickly.
Best for: Blankets, garments, granny stitch and projects that need more drape.
Double Treble Crochet
How it works: Yarn over twice before inserting the hook, then work the loops off two at a time.¹
What it creates: A tall stitch with an open, airy appearance.
Best for: Lace, openwork patterns and projects where height and drape matter more than density.
Double treble crochet creates a tall, open stitch that works well in airy or decorative crochet. | Image by Stilfehler. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
Moss Stitch
Moss stitch creates a neat, woven-looking surface that works particularly well for blankets and scarves. | Image by Stilfehler. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
How it works: Moss stitch is worked by alternating UK double crochet stitches with a chain space across the row.²
What it creates: A neat, woven-looking texture with a balanced, even surface.
Best for: Blankets, scarves, cushions and simple colour changes.
Granny Stitch
How it works: Work groups of UK treble stitches into chain spaces, usually with chains separating each cluster.⁴
What it creates: The familiar open, clustered texture seen in granny squares and striped granny projects.
Best for: Blankets, scarves, garments and projects using leftover yarn.
Granny stitch uses grouped trebles and chain spaces to create the classic clustered texture seen in granny squares. | Image by Durova. GNU Free Documentation License.
Follow the classic granny-square technique to see how crochet stitches are grouped into clusters and worked around chain spaces.
Shell Stitch
Shell stitch creates a curved, decorative texture that is often used in borders, blankets and shawls. | Image by Most Craft. Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.
How it works: Work several stitches into the same stitch or space, with five UK trebles being one common version.³
What it creates: A curved, fan-like texture with a decorative edge.
Best for: Blankets, shawls, scarves and decorative borders.
Herringbone Half Treble Crochet
How it works: Modify the standard half treble by pulling the first loop through the second before completing the stitch.⁷
What it creates: A subtle diagonal texture resembling herringbone fabric.
Best for: Scarves, blankets, cushions and wearables that need understated texture.
Puff Stitch
How it works: Draw up several loops from the same stitch, then close them together to form one raised puff; the number of loops used can vary by pattern.⁶⁶
What it creates: A soft, rounded texture that sits noticeably above the surrounding fabric.
Best for: Blankets, hats, cushions and decorative details.
Waffle Stitch
How it works: Combine regular treble stitches with front-post trebles worked around the posts of the previous row to build the raised grid pattern.
What it creates: A deep, three-dimensional texture resembling a waffle.
Best for: Blankets, cushions, scarves and textured homeware.
Learn how raised post stitches are combined to create the distinctive square texture of waffle stitch.
Basic Crochet Abbreviations to Know
Before you put your crochet yarn to use, you'll likely be following a tutorial or a pattern. With patterns, you'll find abbreviations. Here's what the main ones mean.
ch: Chain.
ss / sl st: Slip stitch.
dc: Double crochet in UK terminology.
htr: Half treble crochet.
tr: Treble crochet.
dtr: Double treble crochet.
st / sts: Stitch or stitches.
sp: Space.
rep: Repeat.
rnd: Round.
tog: Together.
yoh / yrh: Yarn over hook / yarn round hook.
The Most Useful Crochet Stitches by Project Type
Not every stitch is right for every crochet project. While yarn, hook size and tension all influence the finished fabric, stitch selection also affects how flexible, substantial or open that fabric feels. Choose stitches with the finished item in mind.⁹ Don't forget about practising, too!
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Practise Before Starting a Project
One simple way to practise a new stitch is to repeat it a few times on a small swatch before using it in a full project. Work several rows, and at the end of each row, turn the work, count your stitches and check whether the edges stay straight. Whether you hold the hook in your right hand or left hand, once your loops and tension look reasonably even, you will be better prepared to use the stitch in a larger pattern.
Best Stitches for Blankets
Half treble: A simple repeating stitch that creates a comfortable, fairly dense fabric.
Treble: A taller stitch that helps large blankets grow more quickly.
Moss stitch: Creates a neat woven texture and works particularly well with colour changes.
Granny stitch: Ideal for colourful blankets and projects using leftover yarn.
Shell stitch: Adds a softer, more decorative finish.
Waffle stitch: Produces deep texture and a thick, cosy fabric.
Best Stitches for Scarves and Wearables
Half treble: Offers a useful balance between warmth, flexibility and stitch height.
Treble: Creates a lighter fabric with more drape than double crochet.
Moss stitch: Gives scarves a clean, woven appearance.
Granny stitch: Works well for colourful scarves, cardigans and relaxed garments.
Shell stitch: Adds decorative movement to scarves and shawls.
Herringbone half-treble: Creates a subtle diagonal texture without becoming excessively bulky.
Best Stitches for Textured Home Decor
Double crochet: Creates firm fabric for baskets, mats and other structured pieces.
Moss stitch: Adds restrained texture that works well for cushions and cloths.
Herringbone half treble: Produces a woven-looking surface.
Puff stitch: Creates pronounced raised details.
Shell stitch: Works well for decorative cushions, throws and edging.
Waffle stitch: Produces one of the deepest textures among the stitches covered here.
Whether you want to learn crochet, knitting, or learn the difference between the two, you can do so with a private tutor. There are crochet and knitting tutors all over the country. Most of them even offer the first session for free, so you can try a few before choosing the right one for you and how you like to learn.
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The chain stitch is usually the easiest crochet stitch to learn because it uses one repeated movement: yarn over and pull through the loop on the hook.
🐣 What are the five easiest beginner crochet stitches?
Five easy crochet stitches for beginners are the chain stitch, slip stitch, double crochet, half treble crochet and treble crochet in UK terminology.
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