Learn to Crochet - Lesson #2
May 29th, 2007 by HeatherSee all the posts in the Crochet School…
Welcome to lesson #2! I hope that you enjoyed lesson #1 and are confident with what was taught in that lesson.
Topics to be covered in today’s lesson are:
- How to end your square
- Slip stitch
- Half Double Crochet
- Double Crochet
- Triple Crochet
- Crocheting in the round
To begin with, I apologize for the lack of videos. I couldn’t get my camera to turn on, no matter what I tried. I will be taking it to be looked at this week, so hopefully it will be back in time for next week’s lesson. For this week, I took a ton of pictures using my new camera (that doesn’t have video, go figure 
). The picture quality isn’t the best, I’m still trying to get used to all the functions of the new camera, plus I was taking these in my dingy basement office, so not a lot of light at all. But it is still pretty clear what to do, and again any questions feel free to comment with them, or ask them on the Flickr group.
And for my lefties 
Here is a great link that will help you with holding your hook and how to make each of the stitches that we will learn today. I hope it helps you out!
Alright, let’s get started with Lesson #2!
How to end your square
I forgot to go over this last week. When you get to the end of your square, make one more chain. Take out your hook, and cut the middle of the loop. You can then pull the piece attached to your skein out, and pull the other cut end to tighten. Hope that makes sense!
Slip Stitch
The slip stitch is used to join work, bind off stitches or carry yarn over to a different working position without adding height.
Begin with a regular chain:
Slip your hook through the chain, under one loop.
Wrap the yarn around the hook one (also know as “yarn over” or “yo”).
Pull the yarn through the loop, giving you two loops on your hook.
Pull the loop on the left through the hook on the right, leaving a single loop on your hook.
That’s it! Slip stitch is really easy, and its a stitch you will likely see in the majority of your crochet patterns.
Half Double Crochet
The half double crochet is between a single crochet and a double crochet in height.
As usual, we will start this stitch with a chain
Yarn over and slip your hook through the third chain from the hook (the two chains you skip will become your first hdc for the row)
Yarn over
Pull the yarn through the chain, giving you three loops on your hook.
Yarn over, and pull the yarn through all three loops on the hook
This is what a row of half double crochet will look like
Double Crochet
The double crochet is about twice the height of a single crochet, and one of the most popular crochet stitches.
Start with your foundation chain
Yarn over and slip your hook into the fourth chain from the hook (the three chains that are missed count as the first double crochet for the row)
Yarn over
And draw the yarn through the chain, giving you three loops on your hook
Yarn over, and pull the yarn through the first two loops on the hook. This will give you two loops remaining on your hook.
Yarn over again, and pull the yarn through the last two loops on the hook
Clear as mud? This is what your double crochet will look like as a finished row
Triple (aka Treble) Crochet
A triple crochet is even taller than a double crochet, nearly 3 times the height of single crochet.
Starting with your foundation chain, yarn over your hook twice
Slip your hook through the fifth chain from the hook (the four skipped chains become the first triple crochet of the row). This gives you four loops on your hook.
Yarn over
And pull the yarn through the chain, giving four loops on your hook.
Yarn over, giving you five loops on your hook
Pull the yarn through the first two loops on the hook, leaving 3 loops
Yarn over, giving 4 loops on the hook
Pull the yarn through the first two loops on the hook, leaving 2 loops
Yarn over once again, giving three loops
Pull the first loop (yarn from yo) through the last two loops on the hook, completing your triple crochet
Here is what a row of triple crochet will look like
So now you’ve learned the basic and most common stitches of crochet - slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet and single crochet. Most of the patterns will be made up of a variety of these stitches.
Crocheting in the round
Crocheting in the round is very common for afghan squares and hats, to name a couple of groups of patterns.
To begin, you have to create a center ring. The center ring is the foundation for crocheting in the round, just like the foundation chain when you are working in rows. To make a crochet ring, simple crochet a number of chains (the exact number varies depending on the pattern)
Then you will join the last chain to the first chain using a slip stitch. Slip your hook through the last chain (the first chain you made, beside the slip knot)
Yarn over
And pull the yarn through both loops on the hook
After you make the center ring, you are ready for the first round. You’ll start off by making the number of turning chains corresponding to the stitch you are using. For example, I will be working with double crochets in these photos, so the number of turning chains will be three. Another way to determine the number of turning chains is that it will be equal to the number of chains you skip when you are starting a row (ie sc is 1 chain, hdc is 2 chains etc)
For double crochet, chain 3
The double crochet is worked the same as in a row, but instead of working through the chain, you are going to work around it.
Pass your hook through the center of the ring
Yarn over
And pull the yarn through the ring
Complete your stitch, in this case the double crochet (yarn over, pull yarn through 2 loops on hook, yarn over and pull through the last two loops on the hook)
You will work your stitches around the ring, until you reach the number required by the pattern. You will then identify the top of the turning chain (in this example, the turning chain was 3, so you will identify the third chain from the ring before you started doing the double crochets, identified by the arrow)
Slip your hook through the chain
Yarn over
And pull through both loops on the hook (making a slip stitch) to close off the round
Occasionally you will work your stitches into the chain, but the majority of the time you will work them around the ring, as I’ve shown.
When you are working in the round, you will not be turning your work (unless the pattern calls for it). You simply crochet in the round, end the round by making a slip stitch through the turning chain, and then continue working in the same direction.
Patterns
I will be giving you three patterns for the week, so that you can get used to all the stitches and working them together. I recommend doing them in the order I list, from easiest to more difficult.
Each pattern has a photo so you know what your finished square should look like, and I will be doing these as well so again if you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask! Don’t be intimidated by the pattern, remember to write it out in plain language if you think that will help.
Again, you may want to make 2 of each pattern, so that your lapghan is a bit bigger in the end
Pattern 1: Pretty Pebbles Square
Pattern 2: Basic Granny Square Don’t worry about changing colors yet, that’s a later lesson! Just work this pattern in one color.
Pattern 3: Wheel In Valleys
May 29th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Are we supposed to do four patterns this week or three? You say you are going to list four, but there are only three lisred.
Also, the big brother square….can that be worked with standard yarn, or do we need to buy the lightweight cotton yarn she recommends in the pattern?
May 29th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Thanks for bringing that to my attention - I fixed the post!
You are only doing three patterns this week, but you can work 2 squares of each pattern for a bigger lapghan in the end if you want.
I will be changing the third pattern, I didn’t realize it was made of cotton when I found it last night (it was late LOL)
May 29th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Thanks! I am having so much fun doing this. I’ve never been able to learn how to knit, but with your help I’m learning to crochet. You’re awesome for taking the time to put these classes together.
May 29th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Just wanted to thank you for putting these lessons together. I practiced lesson one and I am already starting a blanket (my mom has been guiding me). It’s soo much fun to do. I definitely will be keeping up with your lessons and working on other projects as well. Again thank you!!
May 29th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
woohoo… I am going to try that round one. thank you so much heather.
May 29th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
[…] I am really enjoying the Crafty Daisies 12 week crochet lessons that are happening online. This week’s lesson #2 is up teaching you the following: how to end your square, slip stitch, half double crochet, double crochet, Triple Crochet and crocheting in the round. You can also join the new Flickr group if you are following along with the lessons and post up your work. Link. […]
May 29th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Hello Heather,
thank you so much again for the lessons. I can tell you are putting so much time and care in them. I had an error opening the first pattern. Thank you so much again
May 30th, 2007 at 5:03 am
[…] So far? Squares. I only know how to single chain (which is very very basic!) but the next lesson just came out today on Crafty Daisies that has some more advanced things involved, so I’m pretty excited to start figuring that out! I’m much better at knitting because I’ve been doing it longer! […]
May 30th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Wow! My daughter and I just finished the Pretty Pebbles Square - and it’s such an awesome pattern! We absolutely love the texture! Thanks for finding this one to share!
I read an useful tip a while back on crocheting rounds, hope you don’t mind that I share: To keep track of the turning chain, slip a stitch marker onto it (the kind that opens) and keep moving it up.
May 30th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I also really love the Pretty Pebbles Square. With cotton yarn, it makes an excellent dishcloth.
I hope to start on the other squares soon - they’re the type I have the biggest problem with. I can’t seem to make the squares the same size when crocheting in the round.
June 1st, 2007 at 3:17 pm
I’m sooo late with my comment, shame on me! I loved this lesson. In fact, I’ve gotten rather brave and am attempting to create a grocer’s bag. The pattern is basically the stitches we have learned and I actually understand the pattern. Thanks Heather!!! You totally rock! Now, I’m off to get caught up with my crocheting…I’m a teeny bit behind!
June 2nd, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I am having a lot of fun doing this along with everyone else. Thank you, Heather, for dedicating your time and effort to help everyone learn this. The granny square was super fun. Hopefully I can get the 3rd square figured out before the next lesson comes out.
June 4th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Thanks, Heather.
I’ve got the Pretty Pebbles and Granny Square finished. I think I’ll try the Wheels in Valleys one tonight. I have to say, this has been a steep learning curve but it’s going pretty well!
A question of tension … I guess my tension is pretty tight. For example, my granny square ended up so small, I had to add another layer of dc all around and a sc border to make it 7″. (I used my H hook.) I had to use my K hook to get Pretty Pebbles the right size. How do you test the gauge when you’re crocheting in the round?
June 4th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Thanks Heather. I was able to do all of the patterns this week and boy did I learn a lot! I was even able to go back and do the granny square that you have listed after I did the one with the pictures that you gave to us in the flikr group discussion. I think I am a very loose crocheter…I am going to work on tightening things up a bit now.
Thanks again. I can hardly wait for our next lesson on Tuesday.
June 4th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
I have a question. Hopefully someone can help me out. In the third pattern (wheel in valleys)… on Rnd 3, what does ‘nbsp’ mean?
June 4th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Hello Heather! Thanks for the intensive picture tutorial. I actually like it better than the video
I tumbled on other video tutorials on YouTube while watching yours in the first lesson and they were also very helpful (especially those by TheKnitWitch). I did my pretty bebble square, but could not get the pretty color as in the picture of the pattern. I’m also struggling with the Wheel in the Valley pattern, it’s hard! Particularly I have a lot of trouble counting the stitches, can you indicate in the picture where I should start counting them? I’m still confused whether the slip knot should be counted as a chain and when you say sc in 2ch, where 2ch is. Thanks a lot!
June 4th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Kymberli, I think is part of the html of the page and not part of the pattern. It represents a non-breaking space (i.e. space that the browser shouldn’t wrap the line around). Hope this helps.
June 4th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
My bad, I meant & nbsp ;
June 6th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Thanks for these great lessons!
June 7th, 2007 at 6:47 am
Hi Beginnie! You will begin counting your stitches with your chains at the beginning of the round. That is stitch one. Then your next stitch is two, etc.
The actual knot itself is not a chain, but the loop coming off it directly is. Clear as mud?
When you are holding your hook in your hand and the chains are coming off, the chain immediately beside the hook is ch1. Ch2 will be the next chain to the left (if you are working right handed). There is a picture under Lesson #1 that shows that…try having a look and let me know if that makes sense!
June 24th, 2007 at 5:38 am
Hi!
This is wonderful to see such detailed lessons online. I hope this website is around for a long time as I would like to link to it from my ‘how-tos’ page at Bev’s Country Cottage and maybe on my blog too.
So many come to my websites to learn, and for the free patterns, which I try to keep easy for beginners, and these are great instructions!
Thanks again
Bev
http://bevq.blogspot.com
July 11th, 2007 at 10:20 am
I’m a little confused about when you say “yarn over” do you mean just wrap your yarn around the hook or do you make a whole first stitch?
D:
so confused!
August 30th, 2007 at 6:04 am
[…] Learn to Crochet – Lesson #2 Häkelkurs Teil 2 (tags: crochet DIY crafts) […]
September 24th, 2007 at 7:41 am
I have a pattern I have never come across before, in round 3 it said with right side facing, join white with sc in any dc, ch1 (that I understand) the part I don’t understand is what comes next, it said working behind next ch-2 tr in same st on rnd 1 as last dc worked into ch1 *sc in next dc on rnd 2, ch 1 working behind next ch-2 tr in same st on rnd 1 as last dc worked into ch1 repeat from * what the heck are they talking about? Could you help me?
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:56 pm
What does working behind chain one mean? I have that instruction in an afghan pattern and havent a clue what to do! Help!!