CROCHET

BASICS
HOLDING THE WOOL
If you are right handed, the wool is looped around the left hand (vice versa for left handed
people)

If you are a knitter, you may prefer to hold the wool in the same way as you do for knitting.

SLIP KNOT
A slip knot is the normal method of starting crochet.
Hold the end of the yarn in your left hand, and the ball in your right hand. Lay the end of
the yarn on a table and make an anticlockwise loop with the ball, putting the ball down on
the right.
Insert the crochet hook into the loop and pull the end that is connected to the ball of wool
through the loop.
Pull the ends tight so that the slip knot is formed on the hook.

MAKING A CHAIN
Crochet is started by making a chain. Sometimes the chain is joined to make a circle, and
other times the stitches are worked directly into the chain stitches.
To make the first chain stitch, wrap the long end of the wool (the end attached to the ball!)
around the hook and pull the loop through the slip knot.
Further chain stitches are made in the same way. Wrap the wool around the hook and pull
the loop through the previous loop.

Nutty Knitters and Crocheters, Ashford, Middx

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SLIP STITCH OR SINGLE CROCHET

Slip stitch or single crochet is normally only used for joining the end of a row to the
beginning of a row, for moving across stitches, or in forming a picot edging.
Unless otherwise stated, all crochet stitches are worked through the two loops which were
made by the previous row.
Insert the hook through the chain or stitch loops, wrap the wool around the hook, pull the
loop through (2 loops on hook) and then pull that same loop through the first loop on the
hook. It is often easier to pick up the original loop with your finger and thumb and move it
over the new loop.

DOUBLE CROCHET
This is the first pattern stitch and is used a lot.
Insert the hook through the chain or stitch loops, wrap the wool around the hook and pull
the loop through (2 loops on hook). Wrap the wool around the hook again and pull the loop
through BOTH the loops on the hook.

TREBLE CROCHET
This is the second pattern stitch and is used in combination with other stitches to make a
number of patterns. It is worked in the same way as double crochet with an extra step.
Before you start the stitch, wrap the wool around the hook. Then insert the hook through
the chain or stitch loops, wrap the wool around the hook again and pull the loop through (3
loops on hook). Wrap the wool around the hook again and pull the loop through the first
two of the loops on the hook. Wrap the wool around the hook again and pull the loop
through BOTH the loops remaining on the hook.

VARIATIONS
After treble crochet there are only variations double treble (where you wrap the wool
round the hook twice before starting the stitch), treble treble (where you wrap the wool
three times around the hook before starting) and so on. You can also work into the front of
the stitch, the back of the stitch, one loop only, but we are only covering the basics in this
tutorial.

Nutty Knitters and Crocheters, Ashford, Middx

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SQUARES
NO JOIN PLAIN GRANNY SQUARE
Make a slip knot start, then make 4 chain. Do not join into a circle!
Round 1: Working into the last chain, the one with the knot in it (the other 3 chain stand for
your first treble stitch), work all of the following: 1 treble crochet (TR), 2 chain, 3 TR, 2 chain,
3 TR, 2 chain, 3 TR, 2 chain, 1 TR, then join by making a slip stitch around (not into) the 3
starting chain and then another slip stitch into the first 2 chain space. (You should have 4
groups of 3 TR and 4 x 2 chain corner spaces).
Round 2: Make 3 chain, then into the first 2 chain corner space work 1 TR, 2 chain, 2 TR.
Then work 1 TR into each of the 3 TR of your first side. Into the second 2 chain corner space
work 2 TR, 2 chain, 2 TR, then work 1 TR into each of the 3 TR of your second side. Repeat
for the third and 4th corner spaces and sides. Join as in Round 1 by making a slip stitch
around (not into) the 3 starting chain and then another slip stitch into the first 2 chain
space. (You should have 4 groups of 7 TR and 4 x 2 chain corner spaces).
Subsequent rounds: Repeat Round 2, working 1 TR into each of the TR along the sides. On
each round the stitch count for each side will increase by 4 TR.

NO JOIN TRADITIONAL GRANNY SQUARE

Start and Round 1 as for plain granny square.
Round 2: Make 3 chain, then into the first 2 chain corner space work 2 TR, 2 chain, 3 TR.
Then work 1 chain (or 2 if you crochet very tightly) and in the second 2 chain corner space
work 3 TR, 2 chain, 3 TR. Repeat for the third and fourth 2 chain spaces. then join by
making a slip stitch around (not into) the 3 starting chain, slip stitch in the next treble, and
then another slip stitch into the first 2 chain space. (You should have 4 corner groups of 3
TR, 2 chain, 3 TR and 4 x 1 chain side spaces).
Round 3: Make 3 chain, then into the first 2 chain corner space work 2 TR, 2 chain, 3 TR.
Then work 1 chain (or 2 if you crochet very tightly) and work 3 TR into the 1 chain side
space. Make 1 chain and into the second 2 chain corner space work 3 TR, 2 chain, 3 TR.
Repeat for the third and fourth 2 chain spaces and side spaces. then join by making a slip
stitch around (not into) the 3 starting chain, slip stitch in the next treble, and then another
slip stitch into the first 2 chain space. (You should have 4 corner groups of 3 TR, 2 chain, 3
TR and 4 sides of 1 x 3TR and 2 x 1 chain side spaces).
Subsequent rounds: Repeat Round 3, working 3 TR into each of the 1 chain side spaces. On
each round the stitch count for each side will increase by 1 block of 3 TR.

Nutty Knitters and Crocheters, Ashford, Middx

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MARGARETS GRANDCHILD SQUARE

Make a slip knot start, then make 4 chain. Do not join into a circle!
Round 1: Working into the last chain, the one with the knot in it (the other 3 chain stand for
your first treble stitch), work all of the following: 1 treble crochet (TR), 2 chain, 3 TR, 2 chain,
3 TR, 2 chain, 3 TR, 2 chain, 1 TR, then join by making a slip stitch around (not into) the 3
starting chain and then another slip stitch into the first 2 chain space. (You should have 4
groups of 3 TR and 4 x 2 chain corner spaces).
Round 2: Make 3 chain, then into the first 2 chain corner space work 1 TR, 2 chain, 2 TR.
Then work 1 chain, then miss first TR (the difficult one to get the hook into) and make 1 TR
into the centre stitch of the 3 TR of your first side, then work 1 chain. Into the second 2
chain corner space work 2 TR, 2 chain, 2 TR, then work 1 chain again, and 1 TR into the
centre stitch of the 3 TR of your second side. Repeat for the third and 4th corner spaces and
sides. Join as in Round 1 by making a slip stitch around (not into) the 3 starting chain and
then another slip stitch into the first 2 chain space. (You should have 4 corner groups of and
1 single TR in the middle of each of the 4 sides).
Round 3: Make 3 chain, then into the first 2 chain corner space work 1 TR, 2 chain, 2 TR.
Then work 1 TR into each of the first 2 TR of your first side. In the first 1 chain space work 1
TR, and then work 1 TR into the TR stitch after the space. Repeat for the second 1 chain
space and next TR, and then work 1 TR into each of the last 2 TR on that side. Into the 2
chain corner space work 2 TR, 2 chain, 2 TR. Repeat for the second side and the third and
4th corner spaces and sides. Join as in Round 1 by making a slip stitch around (not into) the
3 starting chain and then another slip stitch into the first 2 chain space. (You should have 4
groups of 11 TR and 4 x 2 chain corner spaces).
Subsequent rounds: Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 alternately, working 1 row with the chain
spaces and one row of plain TR. On each repeat of Round 3 the stitch count for each side
will increase by 8 TR from the previous repeat.

Nutty Knitters and Crocheters, Ashford, Middx

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Size: For a standard size square (about 5 inches) you will need to repeat Rounds 2 and 3
once more.
You should ideally end on a repeat of Round 3 as it is easier for joining.
The square can be also be extended by repeating Rounds 2 and 3 until it measures 36
inches.

Nutty Knitters and Crocheters, Ashford, Middx

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