Crochet tutorials

With these beginner-friendly photo and video tutorials for crochet, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make your first crochet plushie.

Crochet Basics

First things first, learn how to hold a crochet hook in one hand and yarn in the other.

Hold a hook & yarn

How to count stitches, rounds, and rows.

Count stitches, rounds, and rows

Once you’ve crocheted a few rounds, you work will naturally curve. But which side should actually face out?

Identify the right side of crochet

Learn how to use stitch markers to keep track of where you are.

Use stitch markers

Quick reference guide for US and UK abbreviations and terminology.

Crochet abbreviations

Learn how to understand crochet pattern instructions.

Read a crochet pattern

Learn what it means to yarn over – the most basic building block of almost every stitch.

Yarn over

One of the quickest stitches in crochet, often used as part of the technique to fasten off a round crochet piece.

Slip stitch (sl st)

The basic stitch for crochet, including amigurumi.

Single crochet (sc)

Single crochet twice into the same stitch, to make your piece grow larger. Learn both the regular increase and invisible increase.

Increase (inc)

Reduce the size of your piece by turning two stitches into one. Learn both the regular decrease and invisible decrease.

Decrease (dec)

Another quick crochet stitch, often used to create loops like basket handles, or embellishments like doll hair.

Chain (ch)

Use this technique to crochet new rows.

Turning chain (ch 1 & turn)

This stitch is the halfway point between a single and double crochet stitch.

Half double crochet (hdc)

The double crochet stitch is twice the height of a single crochet stitch.

Double crochet (dc)

Crochet 5 double crochet stitches together to create a bobble stitch.

Bobble stitch (dc5tog)

Take three stitches and turn them into one

Single crochet 3 together (sc3tog)

Techniques

Made a mistake? Don't sweat it. Learn how to undo your mistakes and get back on track.

Undo stitches

Also known as a magic loop, magic circle, adjustable ring, or drawstring ring. This is a popular way to start round crochet pieces.

Magic ring

Magic ring too tricky? Try starting a round piece with a chain instead.

Start round piece with a chain

This is the first step to begin some crochet techniques, such as a chain or slip stitch join.

Slip knot

How to create a slip knot, crochet a foundation chain, and the following rows.

Crochet in rows

Circles, rectangles, and now ovals, oh my!

Crochet an oval

Learn how to change colors in the round and in rows.

Change colors

Ran out of yarn? Learn how to add another yarn ball.

Add another yarn ball

Also known as craft eyes, these are small pieces of round plastic that give life to your toys.

Use safety eyes

Two ways to stuff amigurumi to keep your piece looking smooth.

Stuff amigurumi

How to fasten off and weave in the yarn tails of a self-contained piece of amigurumi, like a ball.

Close a ball

How to hide yarn tails in a 3D crochet piece.

Hide yarn tails

Don't want to use plastic eyes? Embroider eyes instead.

Embroider eyes

Embroider blush to give your amigurumi a little bit more charm.

Embroider blush

Embroider a curve to give your amigurumi a smile or sleepy eyes.

Embroider a curve

Embroider a simple nose and mouth onto amigurumi.

Embroider a nose & mouth

When you're done crocheting a piece, fasten off to keep your stitches secure. Then either weave in the yarn tail or use it to sew this piece onto another.

Fasten off

How to fasten off, and prep a piece where the edge will be visible and even when attached to another piece.

Invisible fasten off for open edges

Learn how to sew a flat piece onto a 3D piece.

Sew a flat piece onto a 3D piece

Now that you have all the pieces of your amigurumi, learn how to attach them together, also known as joining pieces

Sew amigurumi parts together

Weave in yarn tails to secure your piece.

Weave in ends

Sew two edges with the same number of stitches together.

Whip stitch

Add yarn in a different direction with a slip stitch join.

Slip stitch join (sl st join)

What it means to crochet through the front or back loops only.

Crochet through front or back loops only (flo, blo)

How to join the ends of a foundation chain to turn into a ring.

Turn a chain into a ring

Mistakes are part of the crocheting process, and luckily they're easy to find and fix.

Find mistakes