Beginner Basics Crochet Class : Lesson 3
Welcome back to the Beginner Basics Crochet Class! The previous lesson covers how to hold the yarn and crochet hook. Lesson 3 teaches you how to create the Single Crochet Stitch. By the end of this lesson, you’ll start to feel like a yarn wizard! Let’s dive in!

Ready to learn crochet once and for all?
You’re in the right place! This is Lesson 3 of the Beginner Basics Crochet Class. (You can find Lesson 1 here to start from the beginning.) However, if you’re anything like me… you’ll forget about this Beginner Basics Crochet Class as soon as your kid (or fur baby) needs a snack. Here’s what you can do to help you remember.
1. Sign up for email reminders.
Every week you’ll get a friendly email about a new lesson. Emails are spaced out every seven days to give you time to read, watch, and work on the homework.
2. Save this lesson to your Crochet Pinterest Board.
Let’s Quickly Review Lesson 2
Lesson 2 covers two of the most important parts of crocheting – 1. Holding the yarn, and 2. Holding the hook. After we mastered holding the yarn and hook, we worked on making a slip knot, and starting chains. Today we’re going to build onto the starting chain we made in Lesson 2. Today, you will learn how to Single Crochet!
Yes – now is the appropriate time to rejoice! Grab your favorite beverage, that gorgeous yarn you picked out, and saddle up for another crochet lesson. Because, today you’ll become a crocheter!
Beginner Crochet Terms You Need to Know
However, before we fully dive into today’s lesson we need to cover some crochet terminology.
Crochet patterns use abbreviations. These abbreviations condense a written pattern into a more reader-friendly script. In every well written crochet pattern there will be a list of crochet stitches used in that particular pattern. It’ll look something like this…
Stitch Abbreviations
American (US) terms used throughout.
- CH – chain
- ST(S) – stitch(es)
- SC – single crochet
- YO – yarn over
What does this list tell me?
It tells me, I will need to know how to Chain, Single Crochet, Yarn Over, and how to count Stitches. Also, I know this pattern uses American (US) terms rather than UK terms. Side Bar : The US and UK use different terms for some of the basic stitches. Ex, the US’s single crochet is UK’s double crochet. So, it’s important to check what type of terms a crochet pattern uses. Once, I missed this important bit of information, and didn’t figure out the mistake until I tried on my sock. It was a tad extra long in the arch.
Since you’re familiar with the abbreviations, let’s move onto learning that Single Crochet Stitch!
Let’s Stitch! Single Crochet
Below are the written instructions for the Single Crochet. Following the written instructions, there is a video tutorial. So, it’s time to choose your own adventure. Pick which path you want to take, written instructions (Path 1), or video tutorial (Path 2). For both paths, you will need a chain the length of 15 stitches. Last, the written instructions are designed to help you practice reading the crochet abbreviations. Refer to the list above if you get stuck!
- Read the written instructions, and try to create a Single Crochet based only on the written instructions. Then, watch the video tutorial to check your work.
- Watch the video tutorial, and create a Single Crochet with it. Then, try to make a Single Crochet by following the written instructions.
Written Instructions for the Single Crochet
- CH 15 times.
- Insert your hook in the 2nd CH from the hook.
- YO, and pull up one (1) loop.
- YO, and pull through all (2) loops on the hook.
- The SC ST is complete.
Repeat these steps in every chain until you reach the end. You will have 1 Row of Single Crochet stitches. Final stitch count will be 14 Single Crochet stitches.
Video Tutorial for the Single Crochet
Remember : You are practicing a new skill. It’s not supposed to feel comfortable the first, second, or third time you try. Keep trying. It will become comfortable with practice.
Lesson 3 Overview
Welcome to the tribe – you’re officially a crocheter! I’m so proud of you for sticking through this lesson, and learning new things. It ain’t easy some times, but well worth it. (I’m looking at all those YOs and pulling of loops.)
Here’s what we covered today…
- How to Read Crochet Abbreviations
- How to Single Crochet
Your Homework
You’ve read through Lesson 2 which means you’re ready for your homework! This week, you need to create a foundation chain. For Lesson 3, we’re going to learn how to Single Crochet. But first, you need to know how to hold your hook, the yarn, and how to crochet a foundation chain.
Here is exactly what you need to do :
- Read the written instructions for the Single Crochet stitch.
- Watch the YouTube tutorial above.
- Follow along with the yarn and hook you picked out in the Lesson 1 Homework.
- Create 1 Row of Single Crochet stitches. Pull it out, and do it again. Repeat this as many times until it feels comfortable to you.
If you need any help during this process, please reach out! Comment on this post, send me an email (hello@highdesertyarn.com), or ask in the High Desert Yarn Handmade Community on Facebook. We’d love to cheer you on during your crochet journey!