Crochet Basics: Single, Half Double, and Slip Stitch

Welcome back to Crochet Basics! We’ve covered how to get started and read a pattern, how to make a slip knot and foundation chain, and now you’re ready to learn some stitches! Once you learn how to crochet these basic stitches, you can start making a fabric! You’ll be equipped to try many beginner crochet patterns, such as blankets, scarves, and much more!

Single Crochet Stitch (sc)

To start Row 1, take your foundation chain in your hand (the one that’s not holding the hook), and insert your hook into the second chain from the hook. Pull the yarn through the stitch so that you have two loops on your hook. Yarn over, and pull the yarn through both of those loops. Voila! Once you’ve completed a row, chain 1 (ch 1) and turn your work over. To start the next row, insert your hook under the first stitch and continue making sc stitches.  The stitches look like little v’s, and you want to insert the hook under both strands of yarn in the v, not into th v like you would insert into the stitch on the foundation chain when making Row 1. Remember to ch 1 at the end of every row before turning your work to start the next row.

Half Double Crochet Stitch (dc)

A half double crochet stitch (hdc) produces a tight fabric, and is in between the height of single crochet (sc) and double crochet (dc). To start, yarn over and insert your hook into the first stitch on the row (or into the 3rd chain from your hook). Pull the yarn up through the stitch so you have 3 loops of yarn on your hook.  To complete the stitch, yarn over and pull the yarn through all 3 loops. Before turning your work for the next row, chain 2 (ch 2) when working in hdc. To start the next row, insert your hook into the 3rd chain from your hook, which should be the last stitch from row 1. 

To show you the difference in height of the stitches, here are some swatches. The far left is 9 rows of sc, the next swatch is 6 rows of hdc, then 5 rows of double crochet (dc), and far right is 3 rows of treble crochet (tc).
Slip Stitch (sl st)

Slip stitches are used when you want to move across the row without adding height, and are the shortest of all crochet stitches. It’s more of a technique than a stitch. They are also used to secure stitches to make a round. They can be used in seams, and for joining two crocheted fabrics. To create a sl st, insert hook, yarn over and pull through the stitch as well as the loop that’s on your hook. So the stitch is made in one motion… yarn over and pull through the stitch and the loop all at once.

Practice these stitches and make some rows, then you’ll be ready to learn double & treble crochet! -Holly

Credits // Author: Holly Neufeld, Photography: Sarah Rhodes. Video: Jeremy Larson. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.