{ Chain stitch and slip stitch } 

1-7 : make a slip knot
8 : yarn over
9 : pull yarn through the loop that’s on your hook

Repeat from 8 to 9 as many times as the number of chains needed. The chain should be a bit loose and even to facilitate inserting hook on next row.

The chain stitch is the basis for almost every pattern, that’s why it’s sometimes called a foundation chain. When working in rows, the 1st row always is a chain, and you’lluse the chain 1.stitch again to turn at the end of each rows.

The slip stitch is almost the same : the only difference is that you insert your hook in a stitch before yarning over, then you pull the yarn through your work AND through the loop on your hook. The slip stitch is the flattest of all crochet stitches, it’s also this stitch you’ll use to fasten off your work.

{ Single crochet } 

1. Insert your hook under the 2 loops ( = the ones that look like a little “v” ) of next stitch
2. yarn over
3. pull the loop through your work ( you now have 2 loops on your hook)
4. yarn over again and pull the loop through both stitchesEt voilà, you just made a single crochet !

{ Half double crochet,double crochet, trebles… } 

These stitches belong to the same group of “high stitches” : at the beginning of a row, you’llhave to chain a few stitches before making your first double crochet. But first, let’s see how to make these stitches :

The half double crochet :

1. yarn over once
2. insert hook in the next stitch, yarn over again
3. pull the yarn through your work (  3 loops remaining on the hook), yarn over for the 3rd time
4. pull the yarn through all the loops
5. you’ve just made a half double crochet !

The double crochet :

1. yarn over once, insert hook in next stitch
2. yarn over, pull yarn through the stitch
3. yarn over, pull yarn through 2 stitches
4. 2 loops remaining on the hook
5. yarn over for the last time, pull yarn through the last 2 remaining loops.
6. you’ve just made a double crochet !

The treble :

1. yarn over twice, insert hook in next stitch , yarn over, pull yarn through the stitch
2. yarn over, pull yarn through the first 2 loops on the hook
3. yarn over, pull yarn through 2 loops on the hook
4. yarn over for the last time, pull yarn through the last 2 remaining loops.
5. you’ve just made a treble !

Proceed the same for all other trebles, adding “yarn over’s” before inserting hook to make higher trebles.

{ turning at the end of a row } 

When you finish a row, you have to turn your work to make next row. You’ll need to make 1 or more chain stitches for that. The amount of chains needed generally depends on the height of the next stitch you’re making :
1. if making a single crochet : chain 1
2. if making a half double crochet : make 2
3. if making a a double crochet : make 3…and so on.

Depending on the pattern, these chains may be considered as the first stitch of your row. If so, you’ll have to insert your hook in the 2nd stitch from the hook (= second to last stitch from previous row) to make the 2nd stitch of the ongoing row.

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