Crochet 101 (Perfect for Beginners)

  

 Lesson 2.2: Treble Crochet

 

What You'll Learn

By the end of this lesson, your students will know how to:

• Understand what a treble crochet stitch is.

• Make a treble crochet step by step.

• Work into a foundation chain.

• Turn their work and start a new row.

• Recognize and count treble crochet stitches.

• Avoid common beginner mistakes.

1. What Is Treble Crochet?

Treble crochet, abbreviated TR in U.S. crochet patterns, is a tall crochet stitch that creates an open, flexible fabric.

It is taller than single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet.

Treble crochet is often used for:

• Shawls and wraps

• Lightweight blankets

• Scarves

• Lacy patterns

• Decorative stitches

• Garments and accessories

The extra height makes it useful for projects where you want a looser, airier fabric.

Important: U.S. treble crochet is called double treble crochet or triple crochet in some other crochet terminology. In this lesson, we're using U.S. terms.

2. Gather Your Supplies

 

You'll need:

• #4 Medium/Worsted-weight yarn

• A 5.0 mm or 5.5 mm crochet hook

• Scissors

• A stitch marker (optional)

A light-colored yarn will make it easier to see your stitches while practicing.

3. How to Make a Treble Crochet

Treble crochet has one important difference from double crochet: you wrap the yarn around your hook twice before inserting it into the stitch.

 Step 1: Yarn Over Twice

Wrap your working yarn over your crochet hook two times. You'll have two yarn overs on the hook, plus your original working loop.

 

Step 2: Insert Your Hook

Insert the hook into the fifth chain from the hook for our practice row. The first four chains serve as the turning chain.

 

Step 3: Yarn Over and Pull Up a Loop

Yarn over once and pull the yarn through the chain. You should now have four loops on your hook.

 

Step 4: Yarn Over and Pull Through Two

Yarn over and pull through the first two loops. You'll have three loops remaining.

 

Step 5: Repeat the Pull-Through

Yarn over and pull through the next two loops. You'll have two loops remaining.

 

Step 6: Finish the Stitch

Yarn over once more and pull through the final two loops.

Congratulations! You've completed one treble crochet stitch! 🎉

 

 

4. Remember the Treble Crochet Formula

YO twice → Insert → YO → Pull up a loop → YO, pull through 2 → YO, pull through 2 → YO, pull through 2

Here's your loop-counting guide:

Stage	Loops on hook
After pulling up a loop	4
After first pull-through	3
After second pull-through	2
After final pull-through	1

The key is to work through two loops at a time, three times.

5. Practice Your First Row

Let's make a small practice swatch.

Foundation: Chain 14.

Row 1:

1. Yarn over twice.

2. Insert your hook into the fifth chain from the hook.

3. Complete your first treble crochet.

4. Make one treble crochet in each remaining chain.

You should have 10 treble crochet stitches, with the starting four chains serving as the turning chain.

6. Turn Your Work and Begin Row 2

When you reach the end of your row:

1. Chain 4.

2. Turn your work.

3. Yarn over twice.

4. Insert your hook into the first actual stitch of the previous row.

5. Complete your treble crochet.

6. Continue across the row.

For this exercise, count the chain-4 turning chain as a stitch and keep your stitch count consistent. Some patterns use different turning-chain conventions, so always follow the instructions provided in the pattern you're using.

Aim for 10 stitches per row, including the turning chain.

7. Common Beginner Mistakes

Only yarning over once

Treble crochet starts with two yarn overs, unlike double crochet, which starts with one.

Pulling through too many loops

Work through just two loops at a time, completing three pull-through stages.

Skipping the first or last stitch

Use a stitch marker to help identify the row edges until you're comfortable recognizing them.

Pulling your yarn too tightly

Treble crochet needs enough height to form its tall stitches. Keep your tension relaxed and consistent.

8. Homework: Make a Treble Crochet Swatch

Practice making a rectangle approximately 10 stitches wide and 10 rows tall.

As you work, check that:

• Your stitches have a similar height.

• Your yarn tension stays consistent.

• Your row edges remain reasonably straight.

• You can recognize and count the tall stitches.

Compare this swatch with your single crochet and double crochet samples. You'll notice how much taller and more open the treble crochet fabric looks!

Lesson Summary

Today you learned:

• What treble crochet means (TR).

• How to yarn over twice.

• How to complete three pull-through stages.

• How to work into a foundation chain.

• How to turn your work.

• How to count your stitches.

• How to avoid common mistakes.

Your most important reminder: Yarn over twice at the beginning, then pull through two loops at a time, three times.

Crochet 101 (Perfect for Beginners)

  Lesson 2.1: Double Crochet

 

What You'll Learn

By the end of this lesson, you'll know how to:

• Understand what a double crochet stitch is.

• Make a double crochet step by step.

• Work into a foundation chain.

• Turn your work and begin another row.

• Count your stitches.

• Recognize common beginner mistakes.

1. What Is Double Crochet?

Double crochet, abbreviated DC in U.S. crochet patterns, is a basic stitch that's taller than both single crochet and half double crochet.

It creates a fabric that is relatively flexible and works up faster than shorter stitches.

Single Crochet (SC)

Short, compact stitches.

Half Double Crochet (HDC)

Medium-height stitches.

Double Crochet (DC)

Taller stitches with a more open fabric.

2. Gather Your Supplies

You'll need:

• Worsted-weight yarn (#4), preferably a light color.

• A 5.0 mm or 5.5 mm crochet hook.

• Scissors.

• A yarn needle for finishing.

Use the same yarn and hook you practiced with in your earlier lessons if you can. That way, you can compare your stitches more easily.

3. How to Make a Double Crochet

The double crochet has a few more movements than the stitches you've learned so far, but we'll take it one step at a time.

Step 1: Yarn Over

Wrap the working yarn over your crochet hook before inserting the hook into a stitch.

Step 2: Insert Your Hook

For our practice row, insert your hook into the fourth chain from the hook. The first three chains will serve as the turning chain.

Step 3: Yarn Over and Pull Up a Loop

Wrap the yarn over your hook again and pull it through the chain. You should now have three loops on your hook.

Step 4: Yarn Over and Pull Through Two

Wrap the yarn over your hook and pull it through the first two loops. You should have two loops remaining.

Step 5: Yarn Over and Pull Through Two Again

Wrap the yarn over your hook one last time and pull through the remaining two loops.

Congratulations! You've made one double crochet stitch!

 

4. Remember the Double Crochet Formula

YO → Insert → YO → Pull Up a Loop → YO → Pull Through 2 → YO → Pull Through 2

Here's the loop count to remember:

• Start: 1 loop on your hook.

• After pulling up a loop: 3 loops.

• After the first pull-through: 2 loops.

• After the final pull-through: 1 loop.

5. Practice Your First Row

Let's make a small practice swatch.

Chain 13.

Row 1:

1. Yarn over.

2. Insert your hook into the fourth chain from the hook.

3. Complete your first double crochet.

4. Continue making one DC in each remaining chain.

You should finish with 10 double crochet stitches, counting the starting three chains as the turning chain for this row.

6. Turn Your Work and Make Row 2

When you reach the end of your row:

1. Chain 3.

2. Turn your work.

3. Yarn over and insert your hook into the first actual stitch of the previous row.

4. Complete one double crochet.

5. Continue across the row.

For this lesson, we'll count the chain-3 turning chain as a stitch. This is a common method in double crochet patterns, so keep the convention consistent throughout your project. Some patterns use a different turning-chain method, so always follow the patterns instructions.

You should aim to maintain 10 stitches per row, including the turning chain in the count.

7. Common Beginner Mistakes

Pulling through all three loops at once

Double crochet is completed in two pull-through stages: first through two loops, then through the remaining two.

Skipping the starting chain

For this practice exercise, begin in the fourth chain from the hook.

Losing stitches at the edges

Use a stitch marker to identify the first and last stitches while you're learning.

Making stitches too tight

Keep your hands relaxed and let the hook move smoothly through the loops.

8. Homework: Make a Double Crochet Swatch

Practice making a small rectangle with approximately 10 stitches across and 10 rows tall.

As you work, check that:

• Your stitches have a similar height.

• Your edges stay reasonably straight.

• You maintain the same stitch count from row to row.

• You can identify the top V of each stitch.

Don't worry if your first swatch looks a little uneven. You're building muscle memory, and practice makes a real difference!

Lesson Summary

Today you learned the double crochet stitch, its abbreviation (DC), how to work it into a foundation chain, how to turn your work, and how to count your stitches.

Keep that hook moving, and have fun!

🎃🧶 Harvest Hex Costume — Part 3: The Purse Is COMPLETE! 🖤🍂

 

Another piece of the Harvest Hex costume is officially finished! 🙌

I'm excited to share Part 3: The Harvest Hex Crochet Purse! 👜🎃

I wanted this purse to match the spooky patchwork style of the costume, so I went with black crochet, fiery orange details, and a creepy little pumpkin face on the front! 🧡🖤 I love how the pumpkin stands out against the black, and the orange edging pulls the whole design together.

This purse is the perfect little accessory to complete the Harvest Hex look, adding one more touch of Halloween magic to the outfit!

And the best part? I've finished the crochet purse pattern, too! 🧶✨

Now that the jacket, pants, and purse are complete, the Harvest Hex costume is coming together one spooky piece at a time. Every finished piece brings me closer to seeing this creepy creation come to life!

✅ Part 1: The Jacket
✅ Part 2: The Pants

 
What do you think of this little spooky accessory? Would you carry a pumpkin-faced purse like this for Halloween? 🎃👀

 

Crochet 101 (Perfect for Beginners)

 Lesson 2:  Half Double Crochet

 Now that you've learned the chain stitch and single crochet, it's time to add another important stitch to your crochet toolbox: the

The half double crochet, usually abbreviated HDC, is a little taller than a single crochet and creates a fabric that is soft and has a nice amount of drape.

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What You'll Learn

By the end of this lesson, you'll know:

• What a half double crochet is.
• How to make a half double crochet.
• Where to insert your hook.
• How to count your stitches.
• How to turn your work.
• How to recognize a half double crochet stitch.
• Common beginner mistakes.

---

What Is a Half Double Crochet?

A half double crochet is a stitch that falls between a single crochet and a double crochet in height.

It's:

Taller than a single crochet

but

Shorter than a double crochet.

The abbreviation you'll see in patterns is:

HDC

Half double crochet is commonly used for:

• Blankets
• Hats
• Scarves
• Sweaters
• Bags
• Baby items
• Amigurumi
• Home décor

---

The Half Double Crochet Formula

Here's the basic sequence:

Yarn Over → Insert → Yarn Over → Pull Up a Loop → Yarn Over → Pull Through 3

That's the big difference between single crochet and half double crochet.

With single crochet, you pull through 2 loops at the end.

With half double crochet, you pull through 3 loops all at once.

---

Step 1: Start With Your Foundation Chain

For practice, make a foundation chain of 11 chains.

Remember from our previous lessons:

The loop currently on your hook doesn't count as a chain.

---

Step 2: Yarn Over

Before inserting your hook, wrap the working yarn over your hook.

This is your first yarn over.

---

Step 3: Insert Your Hook

Insert your hook into the third chain from the hook.

Why the third chain?

The first two chains act as your turning chain for this practice row.

---

Step 4: Yarn Over Again

Yarn over once more.

Then pull the yarn back through the chain.

You should now have:

3 loops on your hook

This is your checkpoint.

---

Step 5: Yarn Over One More Time

Yarn over again.

You'll still have your three loops on the hook.

---

Step 6: Pull Through All 3 Loops

Pull your yarn through all three loops at once.

🎉 You've made your first half double crochet!

You should now have one loop remaining on your hook.

---

The HDC Formula Again

Let's make it easy to remember:

YO → Insert → YO → Pull Up → YO → Pull Through 3

Or:

Over → In → Over → Up → Over → Through 3

Practice saying the steps while you crochet until the movement becomes natural.

---

Continue Across the Row

Repeat the same process in each chain:

1. Yarn over.
2. Insert hook.
3. Yarn over.
4. Pull up a loop.
5. Yarn over.
6. Pull through all 3 loops.

Continue across your foundation chain.

With an 11-chain foundation, you'll make 9 half double crochet stitches when working into the third chain from the hook.

---

How to Turn Your Work

Once you've reached the end of the row:

Chain 2

The chain-2 turning chain gives your next row the height it needs.

Then:

Turn your work.

Now you're ready to make your next row of half double crochet.

---

Where Do You Insert Your Hook?

Look at the top of your half double crochet stitches.

You'll see little V shapes.

For standard HDC, insert your hook under both loops of the V unless your pattern tells you to work into a specific loop.

---

Counting Your HDC Stitches

Each completed half double crochet counts as one stitch.

Look along the top edge of your row and count the V shapes.

For your practice swatch, you should have:

9 HDC stitches per row

Try counting each row before moving on to the next one.

 

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Common Beginner Mistakes

❌ Forgetting the First Yarn Over

Unlike single crochet, HDC begins with a yarn over before inserting the hook.

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❌ Pulling Through Only 2 Loops

Remember:

HDC pulls through all 3 loops at once.

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❌ Working Into the Wrong Chain

Your first HDC goes into the third chain from the hook for this exercise.

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❌ Making Your Stitches Too Tight

If your hook is difficult to insert into the stitches, relax your tension.

Don't force the hook through.

---

❌ Losing the Last Stitch

The last stitch of a row can be easy to miss.

Count your stitches before turning.

---

Practice Exercise 🧶

Let's make a small HDC swatch.

Foundation

Chain 11.

Row 1

HDC in the third chain from the hook.

Continue across.

You should have:

9 HDC

Row 2

Chain 2 and turn.

HDC across the row.

Again, aim for:

9 HDC

Continue for 5–10 rows.

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Compare Your Stitches

Now compare your HDC swatch with your single crochet swatch from Lesson 9.

You should notice that HDC:

• Is taller.
• Works up faster.
• Creates a softer, more flexible fabric.
• Has a slightly different texture.

This is one reason choosing the correct stitch matters when following a crochet pattern.

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⭐ Beginner Tip

Don't worry if your first HDC stitches look a little loose.

HDC can feel awkward at first because you're managing three loops on your hook.

Once your hands get used to the movement, the stitch becomes much easier.

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Lesson Summary

Today you learned:

✔ What half double crochet means.

✔ The abbreviation HDC.

✔ How to make an HDC.

✔ Where to insert your hook.

✔ How to pull through all three loops.

✔ How to turn your work.

✔ How to count HDC stitches.

✔ Common beginner mistakes.

⭐ Remember:

Yarn Over → Insert → Yarn Over → Pull Up → Yarn Over → Pull Through 3

That's your half double crochet!

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Homework

Make a small HDC swatch that's approximately:

9 stitches × 10 rows

As you work, practice keeping your stitches approximately the same size.

Then compare your HDC swatch with your single crochet swatch.

Notice the difference in height, texture, and drape.