How to do a slip knot and chain (ch)

Many projects start with a series of chain stitches. To begin you need to make a slip knot on your hook.

1 Hold the yarn under your left thumb, wrap it twice around your left index and middle fingers, with the second loop closer to the base of the fingers. With the backs of the fingers uppermost, insert the tip of the needle beneath the first loop and over the second, then pull the second loop under the first.

2 Remove your two fingers and gently tug on both ends of yarn to tighten the slip knot around the needle or hook.

Prefer a video? Here’s how to get started.

3 Once the slip knot is on your hook, coming from behind, wrap the yarn around the hook from right to left, across the ‘neck’.

4 Catch the yarn and use the hook to pull it down through the slip knot. You have now made one chain (ch). Continue to make more chains, as directed in the pattern.

Watch our video here.

How to do a magic ring

The magic ring is an easy way of beginning to work in the round. It is often used when making amigurumi toys.

1 Make a large loop by putting the yarn tail behind the working yarn.

2 With your hook, draw the working yarn through the loop, so you have one loop on the hook.

3 Make three chain stitches (counts as first treble), work a treble into the loop, crocheting over the tail.

4 Continue to work as many stitches as needed into the loop. Once finished, untwist the tail if necessary and then pull to close the loop.

Watch our video here.

Don’t forget that UK and US crochet abbreviations are different - use our handy converter table below!

How to do double crochet (‘single crochet’ in US)

Double crochet is the shortest and most commonly-used crochet stitch.

1 Insert hook through both strands of the next stitch.

2 Yarn over the hook and draw back through the work. There will be two loops of yarn on the hook.

3 Yarn over the hook again and draw through both loops.

Check out the video here.

Now you’ve mastered the basics, learn about more advanced crochet stitches here. Interested in knitting and crochet patterns? Subscribe to LGC Knitting & Crochet magazine with this great offer.