Crochet Tutorials

Every basic stitch and amigurumi skill, explained step by step with exact stitch counts. Free to read, no sign-up.

Crochet basics, step by step

New to crochet? Learn the stitches in this order, from your first chain to finishing off. Every step has a narrated video.

Your first amigurumi, step by step

New to amigurumi? Read these pages in order, from your first chain to sewing a finished toy together.

Techniques

Step-by-step stitch and amigurumi techniques

Amigurumi for BeginnersTo start amigurumi, learn eight skills in order: the magic ring, single crochet in a spira…How to Crochet in the Back Loop Only (BLO)Back loop only (BLO) means inserting the hook under just the back loop of each stitch, the…How to Crochet the Blanket StitchThe crochet blanket stitch is a one-row repeat of (single crochet, 2 double crochet) in th…Can You Wash Amigurumi?Yes. Spot clean first; if the toy needs a full wash, hand wash it gently in lukewarm water…How to Crochet a Chain StitchA chain stitch (ch) is the first stitch most crocheters learn. Make a slip knot on your ho…How to Change Colours in AmigurumiTo change colour in amigurumi, work the last stitch in the old colour until 2 loops remain…How to Block Crochet (Wet, Steam and Spray Blocking)Blocking means dampening a finished piece and pinning or laying it into shape until it dri…How to Decrease and Increase in Crochet: sc2tog, hdc2tog, dc2tog, tr2togTo decrease with a crochet stitch, work it into two stitches but stop each one before its …How to Double CrochetTo double crochet (dc), yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull up…How to Fasten Off and Hide Yarn EndsTo fasten off, cut the yarn leaving a tail, then pull the tail all the way through the loo…How to Crochet a Granny SquareA classic granny square is made of 3-double-crochet clusters worked in joined rounds from …How to Half Double CrochetTo half double crochet (hdc), yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, and p…How to Count Crochet Stitches and RowsEach V along the top edge of a row is one stitch; the loop on your hook never counts, and …How to Crochet a Flat CircleTo crochet a flat circle in single crochet, work 6 sc into a magic ring, then add 6 stitch…How to Crochet for BeginnersTo start crocheting, buy one ball of smooth, light-coloured worsted yarn and a 5 mm (H-8) …How to Read an Amigurumi PatternAn amigurumi pattern is a list of rounds. Each line gives the round number, the stitches t…How to Read a Crochet ChartA crochet chart draws every stitch as a symbol, placed where it sits in the fabric. Charts…How to Make an Invisible DecreaseAn invisible decrease turns 2 single crochet into 1 without leaving a bump or gap. Insert …How to Make a Magic RingA magic ring is an adjustable loop you crochet into and then pull tight, so the centre of …How to Crochet the Moss StitchCrochet moss stitch is single crochet and chain 1 repeated across the row. Chain an even n…How to Attach Safety Eyes to AmigurumiInsert safety eyes before you stuff and close the head. Push the post through a gap betwee…How to Make a Single Crochet IncreaseA single crochet increase (inc) means working 2 single crochet into the same stitch, which…How to Sew Amigurumi Parts TogetherLeave a long tail on each piece, pin it in place, then sew with a tapestry needle and the …How to Single CrochetTo single crochet (sc), insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loo…How to Crochet a Slip StitchA slip stitch (sl st) is the shortest crochet stitch. Insert the hook into the stitch, yar…How to Use Stitch Markers and Count RoundsIn amigurumi you crochet in a continuous spiral, so there is no join to show where a round…How to Stuff AmigurumiStuff amigurumi with polyester fiberfill, pulled into small fluffy pieces. Start stuffing …How to Treble CrochetTo treble crochet (tr), also called triple crochet, yarn over twice, insert the hook into …How to Crochet the V StitchA crochet V stitch is (double crochet, chain 1, double crochet) in one stitch or space. Ch…

Reference

Charts, sizes and terminology

Best Yarn for AmigurumiFor most amigurumi, the best yarn is a smooth cotton, cotton blend or acrylic in DK or wor…Chinese Yarn Labels Explained: What 支, 股, 号 and 公支 Mean公支 (Nm) is how many metres one gram of yarn measures, so a higher number means thinner yar…Crochet Abbreviations Translated into 10 LanguagesCrochet abbreviations are not international. US single crochet (sc) is punto bajo (pb) in …Crochet Gauge: Why Your Piece Is a Different Size from the PatternGauge is how many stitches and rows fit in a 10 cm (4 in) square. Crochet a swatch at leas…Crochet Hook Size ChartCrochet hooks are sized by the diameter of the shaft in millimetres. US hooks add a letter…Crochet Turning Chain Chart: How Many Chains for Each StitchChain 1 to turn for single crochet, 2 for half double crochet, 3 for double crochet, 4 for…Crochet vs Knitting: What's the Difference?Crochet uses one hook and keeps one live loop at a time; knitting uses two needles and kee…How Many Granny Squares Do I Need for a Blanket?Divide the blanket width by the size of one finished square and round up, do the same for …How Much Yarn Do I Need for a Crochet Project?Crochet a swatch of at least 15 × 15 cm in your yarn and stitch, weigh it, and multiply: g…How to Read Chinese Crochet PatternsChinese amigurumi patterns are written with letters that look like chart symbols: X is a s…How to Read Japanese Crochet Patterns (編み図)A Japanese crochet pattern is mostly a chart (編み図, amizu) plus a stitch-count table. Learn…Japanese and Korean Crochet Hook Sizes in mmJapanese crochet hooks, and the same hooks sold in Korea as 호, use n/0 numbers that grow w…US vs UK Crochet TermsUS and UK patterns use the same stitch names for different stitches, shifted by one step. …Yarn Weight Chart for CrochetYarn is grouped into eight standard weights from 0 (Lace) to 7 (Jumbo). The most common fo…

Troubleshooting

Fix common crochet problems

Why Does My Amigurumi Have Holes and Gaps?Amigurumi shows holes when the stitches are too loose for the yarn, or when the fabric is …Why Does My Amigurumi Lean to One Side?Amigurumi crocheted in a continuous spiral always leans a little, because each single croc…Why Does My Hand Hurt When I Crochet? What to ChangeHand pain while crocheting most often comes from gripping the hook and yarn too hard, tigh…Crochet Tension Too Tight or Too Loose? How to Fix ItTight stitches usually come from making each loop on the narrow throat of the hook or grip…How to Fix a Crochet Mistake (Frogging and Other Fixes)Crochet has only one live loop, so mistakes are easy to undo. Take the hook out and gently…Why Is My Granny Square Wavy, Twisted or Not Square?A wavy granny square has too many stitches or chains for its size, and a cupped or curling…Why Is My Crochet Curling?Crochet usually curls because the foundation chain is tighter than the stitches above it, …Why Is My Crochet Getting Wider or Narrower?If your crochet gets wider, you are adding stitches; if it gets narrower, you are losing t…