LEARN
THE BASICS
All you need to know as
a beginner. Learn the
techniques you will use in
your project.
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ENGLISH
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INDEX
KNITTING
Cast on 4
Knit stitch 6
Purl stitch 7
Slip stitch 8
Cast off 9
Changing yarn balls 10
CROCHET
Chains 12
Slip stitch 13
Single crochet 14
Half double crochet 16
Double crochet 18
Treble crochet 20
Increase 22
Double increase 23
Decrease 24
CAST ON
To start your project you need a yarn strand three times as long as your garment.
This is, if your garment is 20 cm, take a strand 60 cm long.
1. Make a slip knot as shown in the
picture. Insert a needle on the slip
knot and adjust the knot to the needle.
Don’t make it too tight, otherwise it
will be hard to work it. With your right
hand hold the yarn that comes from
the yarn ball, and with the left hand
hold the other strand.
2. With your right hand, make a loop
with the yarn and introduce it on the
needle.
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3. Wrap the needle with the yarn in the
left hand clockwise.
4. Pull the loop in the right hand above
the needle. You just made the second
stitch. Pull both strands lightly to
adjust it to the needle.
5. Repeat steps 2 to 4 until you have
the desired amount of stitches.
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KNIT STITCH
The first stitch you will learn how to knit is the knit stitch, since it’s the base to
all other stitches.
1. With your left hand, hold the needle
with the stitches. Insert the right hand
needle in the center of the first stitch,
the way the picture shows.
2. Wrap the needle with the yarn in the
other direction.
3. Gently, slip the right hand needle
to you, dragging the new loop and
passing it through the original stitch
on the left hand needle.
4. Pass the stitch to the right hand
needle, and it will look like in the
picture. Repeat these steps to finish
the row.
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PURL STITCH ENGLISH
1. With your left hand, hold the needle
with the stitches. With the yarn in front
of the needle, insert the right hand
needle in the center of the first stitch,
making it pass in front of the left hand
needle, as shown in the picture.
2. With the right hand, pass the yarn
above and around the right hand
needle, creating a loop counter-
clockwise.
3. Gently, slip the right hand needle to
the back, dragging the new loop and
making it pass through the original
stitch on the left hand needle.
4. Pass the stitch to the right hand
needle. Repeat these steps until you
have worked all stitches.
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SLIP STITCH
Sometimes you will have to slip a stitch. These are the easy steps you need to
follow.
1. Introduce the right hand needle on
the stitch you want to slip, as of you
were to knit it.
2. Pass it to the right hand needle
without working it.
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CAST OFF ENGLISH
Once you have finished your project, you will need to cast off the stitches in
order to remove the needles.
1. Start by slipping the first stitch to
the right hand needle without working
it.
2. *Knit the second stitch. With the
help of the left hand needle, pass the 2
first stitch of the right hand needle 1
over the second stitch as shown in the 2
picture, so there will only be one stitch 1
on the right hand needle*.
3. You have casted off the first stitch.
Repeat from * to * until you have
casted off the desired amount of
stitches.
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CHANGING YARN BALLS
Classic method
This technique will work to join two yarn balls of the one you are using runs
out, o to change to a new color in your project.
1. When the yarn is about to be over
stop working with it at the end of the
row. It’s important that the strand is
at the end of the row to better hide
the join. Grab the new yarn ball and
hold it with your left hand behind the
project.
2. Keep working the next row as usual
using the new yarn ball.
3. When you are done with the row, tie
a little knot to join both yarn strands.
Thread a tapestry needle with both
strands and weave the ends on the
edge.
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Felting
This is our favorite technique to join 100% natural wool, but is not recommended
for cotton because it cannot be felted. There are two ways to perform this
technique.
A) With a carding needle: B) Without a carding needle:
If you have a carding needle it’s very If you don’t have a carding needle,
easy. You just need to place the strand don’t worry. Wet both strands with
of the finished yarn ball next to the hot water. Rub the strand against
new yarn ball strand, and with the each other with your hands. By being
needle, felt a strand with the other. 100% natural wool, the strands will be
permanently joined.
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CHAINS
The chains make up the foundation chain which is the base for any project
worked in crochet. Whenever you start a crochet project you must chain the
number of chains needed for the width of your garment, and on these chains you
will start working the stitches. Chains are also used to create lacy fabrics and are
essential to start each row in crochet.
1. To start a foundation chain, make
a loop by crossing the strand you will
work with and holding this crossing
with the thumb and heart finger of
your left hand. Insert the hook in the
loop, and wrap the yarn coming from
the skein over the hook.
2. Draw the hook with the strand
through the loop and pull both strands
to adjust the loop around the hook.
Your starting chain is done.
3. Yarn over and draw the yarn through
the loop on your hook. This is your
first chain.
4. Repeat the last step until you have
made the number of chains indicated
in the pattern.
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SLIP STITCH ENGLISH
The slip stitch is the easiest crochet stitch to make. It adds almost no height to
the project, so it is ideal to use as an auxiliary stitch. It is usually used to close
rounds when crocheting in the round, to join different parts of a project, to move
across the fabric, or as a decorative stitch.
1. To work a slip stitch, insert your
hook into the stitch indicated in the
pattern, and yarn over.
2. Draw the yarn through the stitch
and the loop on the hook. You have
just worked a slip stitch.
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SINGLE CROCHET
The single crochet is the most basic stitch in crochet, and you can use it to make
all kinds of garments. It is the shortest of all the crochet stitches so projects
worked in single crochet are denser than the others.
1. To work a single crochet, insert the
hook into the stitch indicated by the
pattern and wrap the yarn over the
hook with the strand (if you are going
to work the first row, insert the hook
into the third chain).
2. Draw the yarn through the stitch.
You will have two loops on your hook.
3. Yarn over again and draw the yarn
through the two loops. You have just
worked a single crochet.
4. Repeat the above steps until you
have worked the number of stitches
called for.
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5. As you can see, crochet stitches
are built from the top. This is why
you must work a certain number of
chains at the beginning of each row to
reach the height needed to work your
stitches. Single crochet is one chain
tall, so at the beginning of a row of
single crochet you have to chain one.
6. This chain counts as the first single 2 1
crochet, so the following stitches
should be worked starting with the
second stitch from the previous row.
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HALF DOUBLE CROCHET
The half double crochet falls in between a single crochet and a double crochet
in height.
1. To work a half double crochet, wrap
the yarn over the hook and insert it
into the stitch indicated by the pattern
(if you are going to work the first
stitch on the first row, insert the hook
into the fourth chain).
2. Yarn over and draw the yarn through
the stitch. You will have three loops on
your hook.
3. Yarn over again and draw the yarn
through all of the loops. You have just
worked a half double crochet.
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4. Repeat the above steps until you
have worked the number of stitches
called for.
5. As you can see, crochet stitches
are built from the top. This is why
you must work a certain number of
chains at the beginning of each row to
reach the height needed to work your
stitches. Half double crochet is two
chains tall, so at the beginning of a
row of half double crochet you have
to chain two.
6. These chains count as the first
half double crochet, so the following 2 1
stitches should be worked starting
with the second stitch from the
previous row.
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DOUBLE CROCHET
The double crochet is, together with single crochet, the most commonly used
crochet stitch. Since it is taller you can create designs that are more defined and
lighter than with single crochet.
1. To work a double crochet, wrap the
yarn over the hook and insert it into
the stitch indicated by the pattern (if
you are going to work the first stitch
on the first row, insert the hook into
the fifth chain).
2. Yarn over and draw the yarn through
the stitch. You will have three loops on
your hook.
3. Yarn over and draw the yarn through
the first two loops on the hook. You
will have two loops on your hook.
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4. Yarn over again and draw the yarn
through the rest of the loops.
5. Repeat the above steps until you
have worked the number of stitches
called for.
6. As you can see, crochet stitches
are built from the top. This is why
you must work a certain number of
chains at the beginning of each row
to reach the height needed to work
your stitches. Double crochet is three
chains tall, so at the beginning of a
row of double crochet you have to
chain three.
7. These chains count as the first double 2 1
crochet, so the following stitches
should be worked starting with the
second stitch from the previous row.
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TREBLE CROCHET
The treble crochet is a little taller than double crochet. You will see that it is
worked very similar to the double crochet with a few variations.
1. To work a treble crochet, wrap yarn
over the hook twice and insert it into
the stitch indicated by the pattern (if
you are going to work the first stitch
on the first row, insert the hook into
the sixth chain).
2. Wrap the yarn over the hook and
draw it through the loop. You will
have four loops on your hook.
3. Yarn over again and draw the yarn
through the first two loops on the
hook. You will have three loops on
your hook.
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4. Yarn over and draw the yarn through
the first two loops on the hook again.
You will have two loops on your hook.
5. Yarn over one last time and draw
the yarn through the rest of the loops.
6. As you can see, crochet stitches
are built from the top. This is why
you must work a certain number of
chains at the beginning of each row to
reach the height needed to work your
stitches. Treble crochet is four chains
tall, so at the beginning of a row of
treble crochet you have to chain four.
7. These chains count as the first treble 2 1
crochet, so the following stitches
should be worked starting with the
second stitch from the previous row.
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INCREASE
Increases are used to shape your piece by making it wider, or to create designs
alternating with other stitches. It is very useful for crocheting pieces that get
wider, such as sweater sleeves, or when working in the round as for granny
squares or amigurumis. An increase can be made in any type of stitch: single
crochet, double crochet, treble crochet….It is a very easy technique to learn in
crochet because it only consists of working two stitches into the same stitch. In
this example we will show you how to increase in single crochet:
1. Work 1 single crochet into the stitch
indicated by the pattern. If you don’t
know how to work a single crochet,
check the SINGLE CROCHET title in
this guide.
2. Now work another single crochet
by inserting the hook into the same
stitch that you worked the previous
single crochet.
3. As you can see, there are now two
stitches in one stitch, so this row will
have one more stitch than the previous
row.
4. Once you have worked the increase
continue working as indicated in the
pattern.
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DOUBLE INCREASE ENGLISH
The double increase is worked in the same way as for a single increase, but
instead of working two stitches into one stitch you will work three. In this way
the row will have two more stitches than the previous row. The double increase
is often used for the corners of granny squares and also to make designs like
clusters, or when you need to make a more pronounced widening. You can make
a double increase in any type of stitch; in this example we show you how to
make a double increase in double crochet.
1. Work 1 double crochet into the stitch
indicated by the pattern. If you don’t
know how to work a double crochet,
check the DOUBLE CROCHET title
in this guide.
2. Work another double crochet by
inserting the hook into the same stitch
that you worked the previous double
crochet.
3. Work a third double crochet into the
same stitch.
4. As you can see, there are now three
stitches in one stitch. Once you have
worked the double increase continue
working as indicated in the pattern.
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DECREASE
Decreases are used to narrow your piece and are very useful when shaping
armholes and necklines for your garments. A decrease consists in working two
closed stitches together and can be worked in any type of stitch: single crochet,
half double crochet, double crochet…. In this example we show you how to
decrease in double crochet.
1. Start to work a double crochet in
the first stitch. Yarn over and insert the
hook into the stitch.
2. Yarn over again and draw the yarn
through the stitch. You will have three
loops on your hook.
3. Yarn over again and draw the yarn
through the first two loops on your
hook. You will have two loops left on
your hook. Leave this stitch unfinished
with the two loops on the hook and
start working the next stitch.
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4. Yarn over and insert the hook into
the next stitch.
5. Wrap the yarn over the hook strand
and pull it out of the stitch. Just like
on the step 2, but now you have four
strands on your hook.
1
2
6. Yarn over again and draw the yarn
through the first two loops on your
hook. Now you will have three loops
on your hook.
7. To finish the decrease, yarn over
again and draw the yarn through all of
the loops left on your hook. In this way
the two stitches are closed together.
8. You can make a decrease like this
in any stitch, by leaving the first stitch
unfinished in the last step, and closing
the two stitches together at the end.
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