Easy Crochet Patterns for Beginners

So, you bought a crochet kit. It's an easy trap to fall into, since they're everywhere right now. You've probably watched a few videos and now you want to make something real, but you're still just a beginner. That's fine though; if you have yarn and a hook, you'll get the hang of it fast. That ball of yarn can be a hat or a scarf or something actually useful.

Just don't try to make a sweater. Seriously. You'll get frustrated and throw the whole lot in a cupboard. You need a couple of super simple patterns first to get a win. Here they are.

First, what do you need to buy?

Your Beginner's Toolkit

A crochet hook. You've seen the different sizes. Just get a 5mm one for now. It's big enough that you can see what you're doing. It's not so big that it's clumsy.

Next, yarn. Yes, that fluffy, multi-coloured stuff looks cool. Ignore it for now. Start with a plain double knit (DK) or 'Aran' weight yarn. Get it in one solid colour. Why? Because you need to be able to see your stitches to see where you're going wrong. A simple cotton or smooth acrylic is what you want.

You'll also need scissors. Any pair will do since it’s simply for cutting the yarn.

Last thing, get a darning needle. It's a big, blunt needle. You use it to hide the loose yarn ends when you're done. It's the difference between your project looking finished or looking messy.

The Basic Stitches

You have to know the stitches. It's like learning the alphabet. In the UK, there are three you need to know to start.

• Chain (ch): This is how you start pretty much everything.
• Double Crochet (dc): This is a short stitch. It makes a dense fabric. (Careful: Americans call this a Single Crochet. It's confusing, we know).
• Treble Crochet (tr): This one's taller. Your project gets bigger, faster. (Careful: Americans call this a Double Crochet).

Make a few rows of each stitch to practice.

Pattern Number 1: The Simple Square Coaster

Okay, let's make something. A coaster is small, it's quick, and you can't mess it up too badly. You'll practice your chains, your rows, and keeping the edges straight.

What you need:

• Cotton DK yarn
• A 4mm crochet hook

The Pattern (UK Terms):

To start: Chain 16. (ch 16).

Row 1: Find the second chain from your hook. Put one double crochet (dc) in there. Then put one dc in every other chain. You should have 15 stitches. Count them.

Row 2: Chain 1 (this is just to get the height for the new row, it's not a stitch). Flip your work over. Put a dc in that first stitch, and in every other stitch across. You should still have 15.

Rows 3 to 15: Just do the same thing as Row 2. Again and again.

When you're done, cut the yarn. Leave a long tail. Pull the tail through the loop on your hook to make a knot. Then, use your darning needle to weave in that tail and the one from the beginning.

There you have it, your first coaster! Why not make three more for a set?

Pattern Number 2: The Beginner's Cosy Scarf

Feeling confident? Good. A scarf is the next logical step. It's just a really long rectangle, so you already have the skills. We'll use the treble crochet for this so it works up faster.

What you need:

• Chunky weight yarn (you'll need about 200g)
• A 6mm crochet hook

Pattern (UK Terms):

To start: Chain 22. (ch 22).

Row 1: Find the fourth chain from your hook and put a treble crochet (tr) in it. Those first three chains you skipped count as a stitch. Now, just put one tr in every chain across. You should have 20 stitches total.

Row 2: Chain 3 (this counts as your first stitch). Turn your work. Put a tr in the next stitch (the second one) and in every stitch across. Your very last stitch goes into the top of the chains you made at the start of the row below. Still 20 stitches.

The next rows: Just keep repeating Row 2. That's it. Do this until your scarf is long enough (150cm is a good length) or you're about to run out of yarn.

Finish it the same way as the coaster. Cut the yarn, tie it off, weave in the ends. You just made a scarf.

It's weird how making loops with a hook can calm your brain down, but it works. It's a good way to keep your hands busy and just focus. Of course, not everyone is into crafting. Some people need something else to switch off, maybe a card game like a few hands of NetBet blackjack to clear their head after a long day. You just have to find your thing.

Anyway, back to crochet. You've got the basics down now, so you can start looking for granny square patterns, or simple hats. The door is open. So, grab your hook and don't worry if your first few tries are a bit wonky. Everyone's are. Just have fun making something.