How To Single Crochet for Beginners (sc): With Right and Left Handed Videos

Inside: Learn the single crochet through written tutorials, photos, tips, and step-by-step videos for both right and left handed crafters.

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This pattern was originally published on 5/30/14. The most recent update was made on 7/12/26.

Weather you are learning to crochet or teaching someone to crochet, this single crochet video tutorial and written tutorial is for you.

There are both right and left handed single crochet video tutorials, step by step written tutorials with process photos, illustrations, and some info on sc in charts. Within the tutorials you will learn tips on keeping your edges straight and how to know where to start and end each row or round.

On top of all that, you’ll find a pattern to make a single crochet square at the end of all of this, so you can try out your new skill.

About Single Crochet

Single crochet is one of the first stitches beginners learn, but there are multiple ways to get confused with it. One of the most common questions I get is: “How do I make my single crochet rows straight?”

I remember when I first started my rows would grow and shrink or sometimes I’d make a lovely rhombus! Then there’s back loop only and front loop only. And I could go on!

Don’t fret, you’ll find the answers in this tutorial. Be sure to watch the video to get all the tips.

Once you’ve got the single crochet stitch down, you can make your first project. At the end of this tutorial you’ll find a pattern for a single crochet square. Make as many as you want. You can use them for all sorts of creations. Or make a square of each stitch you learn and then use them to make a sampler afghan. You can even just keep it so you always have a sample swatch of single crochet fabric.

Stitches and Abbreviations

Here’s a list of the stitches that will be used, as well as any abbreviations. Click on highlighted stitches for tutorials.

ch: chain
sc: single crochet
st(s): stitch(es)
yo: yarn over

Single Crochet Chart Symbol

The images below are both the symbol used for single crochet in crochet charts. It can be used in either orientation.

How to Make A Single Crochet

The basic instructions for a single crochet, as is often seen in stitch definitions, is:

Single Crochet (sc): Insert hook in st/ch, yo, pull through st/ch (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through both loops.

Single Crochet in a Chain – Step by Step Instructions with Photos

Make as many chains as you want single crochets, plus one – so for a row of 10 single crochet, you will chain 11. Place a marker around the loop on the hook:

Insert hook in the back loop of the SECOND chain from the hook (or in the designated chain if you are following a pattern):

yarn over:

pull the yarn over just made through the chain (2 loops on hook):

yarn over:

pull the yarn over just made through both loops:

Now lets make the next single crochet!

Insert hook in back loop only of next ch:

yo:

pull through (2 loops on hook):

yo:

pull through both loops:

Now keep making them until you run out of chains. After completing the last single crochet in a row, place a stitch marker through the top 2 loops of the stitch. Here’s a finished row:

Here’s the back of the same row:

Single Crochet in a Chain – Step by Step Illustrations

How to Start a New Round or Row in Single Crochet – Step by Step Instructions with Photos

Place a stitch marker around the loop on the hook.

Insert hook in the first stitch – if you marked the last stitch of the previous row (which I did not in this photo), that marked stitch is now the first stitch, once you’ve inserted your hook, you can remove that marker.

yo:

pull through stitch (2 loops on hook):

yo:

pull through both loops:

How to Start a New Round or Row in Single Crochet – Step by Step Illustrations

Single Crochet in a Stitch – Step by Step Instructions with Photos

Insert hook in next st (or in designated st if following a pattern):

yo:

pull through st (2 loops on hook):

yo:

pull through both loops:

Single Crochet in a Stitch – Step by Step Illustrations

Where Do I Insert My Hook for a Single Crochet

In most cases, it is assumed you will make a single crochet by inserting your hook under both top loops of the stitch you are working into. If you are supposed to make the single crochet anywhere else, most crochet patterns will note this. Sometimes the pattern tells you in the row or round instructions, and sometimes it tells you in the pattern notes at the start of the pattern.

Another time it’s different is when you’re crocheting in a ch sp (chain space), often noted as ch-# with # being the number of chains in the chain space. In this case it is usually assumed you will work your stitch around the ch sp, as opposed to in a specific chain.

When a pattern tells you to make a sc, or any other stitch, in the front loop only or the back loop only, you do not insert your hook under both top loops. Instead you insert it under the loop closest to you if working in the front loop only, or the loop farthest from you if working in the back loop only. This means the front and back loop change when you turn your work if you are working in rows.

Single Crochet Video Tutorials

Here are links to some of the supplies used in the video.

• Bernat Maker Yarn
• Furls Streamline Resin Crochet Hooks
• Pastel Rainbow Melody Clips (stitch markers – I like the large size)

Here are some useful timestamps for the videos (both videos have the same timestamps).

• 00:50 – Single Crochet in a Chain
• 02:15 – Start a New Row/Starting Single Crochet
• 03:25 – Single Crochet in a Stitch
• 05: 15 – Single Crochet in the Round

Right Handed Single Crochet Video Tutorial

If you can’t see this video, try watching it on YouTube HERE.

Left Handed Single Crochet Video Tutorial

If you can’t see this video, try watching it on YouTube HERE.

Single Crochet Practice Square Pattern

Practice your skills by making a square crochet motif. Below you’ll find the pattern for a 6″ square, if you use the same yarn and gauge as me. Even if you don’t, it should still be a square. Make more as you learn more stitches and skills, then join them together to make an afghan, scarf, wrap…

Yarn

WeCrochet/Knit Picks Brava Sport: (100% Premium Acrylic), Size 2 – Fine/Sport, (12 wpi), 340 yds / 100 g, (3.4 yds/g)
Red 28396: MC (Main Color)
Dove Heather 28381: C2 (Color 2)

Crochet Hook

5.0 mm (US H/8, UK 6)
For the sample below I used a Furls Streamline Resin Crochet Hook.

Gauge

Learn about gauge HERE
17 sts x 22 rows = 4” [10 cm] in single crochet

Other supplies

yarn needle

Stitches and Abbreviations

Click on the highlighted stitches for tutorials

C2: Color 2
ch: chain stitch
MC: Main Color
rnd: round
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch
sp(s): space(s)
st(s): stitch(es)
yo: yarn over
( ) : work step in parentheses in indicated stitch
[ ] : work step in brackets number of times indicated

Pattern Notes

• Read through all instructions before beginning.
• For help with crocheting on the side of your work (when making the first round of the boarder) CLICK HERE.
• The stitch count is at the end of each Rnd/Row after the period, usually only if the count has changed from the previous Rnd/Row. [count here]
• Chains and slip stitches are not included in Rnd/Row counts unless specified.

6″ Motif Pattern

Square

Row 1: With MC, ch 23, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each remaining ch. [22 sc]

Row 2: Turn, sc in first st and in each st across.

Rows 3-28: Repeat Row 2.

Do not cut yarn, move on to Border

Border

Rnd 1: Do not turn, ch 3, 22 sc evenly down side of piece, ch 2, sc in bottom of each ch, ch 2, 22 sc evenly up side of piece, ch 2, sc in each st across, sl st in beginning ch-3 which will now count as a ch-2 corner. [22 sc on each side]

Rnds 2-3: With C2, ch 3, sc in ch-2, [sc in each sc across, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp] 3 times, sc in each sc across, sc in ch-2, sl st in beginning ch-3 which will now count as a ch-2 corner. [26 sc on each side at end of Rnd 3]