How to Make a Single Crochet Stitch

The single crochet stitch is one of the most basic stitches in crochet. By learning this stitch, you will be set up to learn most other stitches. To be able to make a single crochet stitch, you need to first know how to make a slip knot and chain stitch. The single crochet stitch is abbreviated as “sc” in patterns.

Single Crochet Stitch, Step-by-Step

Step 1

The first thing you will want to do is tie a slip knot and chain 11.

Step 2

Next, locate the second chain from your hook. (Do not count the loop around your hook – it is not a chain!) Insert your hook in that chain stitch.

Step 3

Wrap your working yarn around the backside of your hook and over the front. (This is called a “yarn over” which is often abbreviated as “yo”).

Step 4

Grab the yarn with your hook and pull it through the chain stitch that your hook is in. You should now have two loops on your hook.

Step 5

Yarn over (yo – wrap your yarn around the backside of your hook and over the front) and pull the yarn through both loops on your hook. **It will be easiest if you point the hook towards your chain stitches. This will prevent your hook from getting stuck**

That’s it! That’s how you make a single crochet stitch! Working into your foundation chain may be a little difficult, but with practice, it will become much easier. Go ahead and continue across, repeat the steps. Insert your hook into the next chain stitch and repeat steps three through five.

Turning Your Work

Next, we are going to practice turning your work as well as crocheting a single crochet into a single crochet. After crocheting across your work nine more times you should have a total of 10 stitches. In the photo below I show you where each stitch is located (crochet stitches are shaped like the letter “V”). The reason you only have 10 stitches when your foundation chain had 11 is that we placed our first single crochet in the second chain from our hook.

In order to start our next row, we will need to chain 1 and turn our work. To turn your work simply move your work around so that you are looking at the backside. Be sure to keep your crochet hook in your hand while you turn your work.

Single Crocheting in a Row

Now, instead of single crocheting into your foundation chain, we will be single crocheting into the top of your previous row of stitches.

Step 1

insert your crochet hook into the top of the first single crochet. You will be inserting your hook just under the “V” shape. See the photos below.

Step 2

We are now going to repeat the same steps from above. After your hook is inserted into the first stitch, yo (yarn over) and pull the working yarn through the stitch. Then, yo (yarn over) and pull the yarn through both loops on your hook.

Step 3

Continue single crocheting across the row. The last single crochet stitch may be a little tricky as it doesn’t quite look like all of the other stitches you’ve been working on. You will work a single crochet into this stitch just like all of the previous.

You can always double-check your work by counting your stitches, each row should have 10 stitches across still.

For practice, I would recommend you repeat these steps for a few more rows. Don’t forget to chain 1 before you turn to start the next row!! You can even start from the very beginning by “frogging” which means undoing your work. To frog your work, just take your crochet hook out and gently pull on your working yarn. Your stitches should come apart easily, allowing you to start over. This is especially helpful if you ever mess up a stitch and want to go back and try again.

If you have any questions at all, please leave a comment below.

Happy Crocheting!