Crochet For Beginners

Last updated: 2025.12.14

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Welcome to the world of crochet!

I'm SO glad you're here! To me, this craft is beautiful, relaxing, challenging, and rewarding. No matter if you want to make clothes, plushies, wall art, bags, or housewares, this craft has something for you. It doesn't require any expensive machinery or an elaborate setup. Whether you have a few minutes to spare or several hours to kill, you can just pick up your hook and go!

A word of advice: Learning is hard. There will be times where you feel awkward, silly, confused, or frustrated. There will be times when you see what others are doing and feel like you'll never get that far. But don't give up. That uncomfortable place is the outer edge of your knowledge and skill. If you're there, then you're in the right place. That place is where learning happens! Challenging ourselves and working through that discomfort is how we grow. Don't give up. You can do this!

Supply List

Work in progress!

If you're just starting out, these are my recommendations for crochet supplies and tools.

At a minimum:

• Crochet hooks
• Stitch markers
• Scissors or thread snips
• Tapestry needles
• Yarn

Learn the Basics

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Things I Wish I Knew as a Beginner

1. Don't buy yarn without a plan. I know it's tempting to buy a random skein just because it's pretty, but buying yarn without a specific pattern in mind makes it harder to work with. Being able to freehand crochet patterns or modify exisiting patterns to work with the yarn you have is an intermediate skill. Save yourself some pain and money; have a plan.
2. Use patterns from established, reputable designers, at least when starting out. These are the designers with a website, an extensive portfolio, a book, and/or an affiliation with a major yarn brand. Why? These designers are professionals and will have had their patterns tested and tech edited before publishing. These are the patterns you want to learn from, and many of them are free. Avoid learning from patterns from small, amateur makers on TikTok/Instagram/YouTube. These patterns often don't use standard notation or stitch names, aren't tested by other crocheters for clarity and accuracy, and sometimes employ bad/lazy techniques. Come back to these when you've got more experience.
3. Check your gauge. Please do not skip this step when starting a new pattern. I know you want to jump right in and get results now, but if you skip gauge, you risk wasting time and materials on a project that was doomed to fail from the start. Build good habits and take the time to do it right.
4. Weave in your ends. I've seen so many bad takes on social media recommending that you knot your ends, cut them off, glue them down, or leave them unwoven. Please don't do this. You worked hard on your project. Give it the respect it deserves and weave in your ends properly. It'll last longer, survive the washing machine, feel more comfortable to wear, and look well-made. There are times when it's okay to leave ends unwoven, but this is a case-by-case basis, so follow your pattern instructions on how to handle them.

Recommended Beginner Patterns

Work in progress!