How to Single Crochet (Step by Step with Photos)
by Crochets Studio — Written by a Crochets.ca contributor who learned to crochet at her grandmother's kitchen table and has been hooked, quite literally, ever since.
Single crochet (sc) is made by inserting your hook into a stitch, yarning over and pulling through once, then yarning over again and pulling through both loops on your hook. It's the tightest, sturdiest basic stitch in crochet, which is why it shows up in dishcloths, bags, and amigurumi alike. Below, we'll break it down chain by chain so you can go from your first foundation chain to a neat, even swatch.
What You'll Need
- Medium-weight (worsted, category 4) yarn in a light, solid color so your stitches are easy to see
- A 5.0mm (H-8) crochet hook, a comfortable starting size for most beginners
- Sharp scissors
- A tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- Optional: a stitch marker to flag the first stitch of each row
How to Single Crochet, Step by Step
Setting Up Your Foundation Chain
- Chain any number of stitches, then add one extra chain. That extra chain is a turning chain and won't count as a stitch, it just gets your hook to the right height to start row one.
- Skip the first chain from your hook (that's your turning chain) and insert your hook into the second chain.
Working Your First Row
- Yarn over, then pull the yarn through the chain. You now have two loops sitting on your hook.
- Yarn over again and pull through both loops at once. That's one complete single crochet.
- Insert your hook into the next chain and repeat steps 3 and 4 all the way across the row.
- When you reach the end, chain one to turn, then flip your work around so you're ready to crochet back across the top of the row you just made.
Working Every Row After That
- For row two and beyond, insert your hook under both loops of the top of each stitch (not into the chain), and repeat the same yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops sequence.
Keep your tension relaxed but even. Pulling the yarn too tight makes it hard to insert your hook on the next row, and working too loose leaves gaps in your fabric. If your first few rows look a little wobbly, that's completely normal, single crochet gets smoother with repetition. Count your stitches at the end of every row so you catch an accidental increase or skipped stitch before it snowballs three rows later.
Common Single Crochet Problems (and How to Fix Them)
Problem: Your edges are slanting or losing stitches
Cause: This almost always comes down to missing the last stitch of the row or accidentally working into the turning chain as if it were a real stitch.
Fix: Count your stitches at the end of each row against your starting count. The last stitch in a row is often the hardest to spot, look for the little V shape at the very end of your work before you turn.
Problem: Your fabric is curling into a cup shape
Cause: Tension that's too tight, combined with a hook that's slightly small for your yarn, pulls the fabric inward.
Fix: Try sizing up half a millimeter on your hook, and consciously loosen your grip on the working yarn. A quick blocking (a light steam or wet-block once your swatch is finished) will also relax stubborn curling.
Problem: You keep losing track of where the row starts and ends
Cause: In single crochet, the first and last stitches of a row are easy to confuse with the turning chain, especially under warm lighting or with dark yarn.
Fix: Drop a stitch marker into the first stitch of each row before you start, and work with a light-colored practice yarn until the rhythm feels automatic.
Problem: Your hook won't go into the stitch
Cause: You're likely only catching one loop of the stitch top instead of both, or your tension from the previous row is too tight.
Fix: Look for the two loops that form the top "V" of each stitch and slide your hook under both of them, then loosen your grip slightly as you work the next few rows.
What to Make With Single Crochet
Single crochet fabric is dense, sturdy, and warm, which makes it a natural fit for dishcloths, market bags, coasters, and amigurumi where you need a tight stitch that hides stuffing. It's also the stitch most beginner patterns lean on first, since its structure makes counting and correcting mistakes easier than in taller stitches like double crochet.
Once single crochet feels comfortable in your hands, you're ready to add height and speed with double crochet, or start combining stitches to shape your first granny square.
Practice It Now
Reading about a stitch only gets you so far, the real learning happens with yarn in hand. Head to the Crochets Stitch Studio for an interactive, step-by-step walkthrough of single crochet, plus other core stitches you'll build on next.