Crochet is a craft for those who love to create beauty around themselves. Just imagine: blankets, pillowcases, furniture covers, toys, book covers, all kinds of clothes, jewelry, and even shoes — everything can be crocheted. The main thing is creative ingenuity and a little time to learn.
FreeHandmade.com will help beginners quickly master crocheting with free lessons for self-study at home. This article presents the best educational video tutorials from experienced crafters.
Crochet Basics
Chain stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet are the basic elements when creating crochet patterns. This comprehensive video tutorial provides a detailed description of each step. Beginners will learn how to crochet a starting chain, count stitches, and work their first patterns.
Watch these videos carefully, and you will learn how to crochet anything, even if you are holding a crochet hook for the very first time.
How to Crochet a Circle
Doilies, hats, flowers, and patchwork motifs are all crocheted in a round. This educational video highlights important points for crocheting many round patterns: slip stitches, adjusting the height and width of the row, adding stitches (increases), and crocheting several stitches into one loop. The author gives advice on crochet techniques depending on the thickness of the yarn and the hook. The video is shot in close-up, at a slow pace, and with detailed commentary — made especially for beginner needleworkers.
Crocheting the “Shell” Pattern
The shell-like pattern is perfect for making clothes (vests, skirts, tops, and cardigans) and fashion accessories (berets, cosmetic bags, purses, and belts). The pattern uses the foundational elements of most crochet designs: arches of chain stitches and fans of double crochets. Depending on the order of alternating elements, patterns with different designs and densities are obtained. Along with the practical demonstration, the author shows and comments on the graphic crochet chart of the pattern.
Analyzing the “Puff Stitch” Pattern Chart
The ability to read crochet charts makes the creative process much easier for any crafter. By downloading a few charts from the Internet, you can try a new pattern every day without having to rely on YouTube tutorials. This online lesson demonstrates step-by-step crocheting combined with parallel chart reading. At the end of the lesson, you will get a voluminous and loose puff stitch pattern often used to add beautiful texture to a project.
Crochet Granny Square Motif
The pattern with the interesting name “granny square” is easy and highly accessible for beginners. Using square motifs, it’s incredibly easy to assemble a vest, stole, or shawl, as well as any wardrobe item: from slippers to hats. Experienced crafters often crochet granny squares from leftover yarn of different colors to eventually create bright patchwork bedspreads. The beginning of the video shows examples of items made from multiple crocheted squares. The author crochets the motif at a slow pace and explains every step clearly. Finally, you will learn how to crochet a colorful and cheerful multi-toned square.
Master Class on Crocheting a Flower
Crocheted flowers serve as lovely decorations for all kinds of items: hats, blouses, baby booties, and bags. Flowers can be decorated with beads, rhinestones, or chains, and sewn onto brooch blanks to create stylish jewelry. This video will help you crochet a voluminous 3D flower from scratch in just 20 minutes. Beginners will learn how to make crocheted petals in several tiers and adjust the size of the flower as desired.
A Doily in 10 Minutes: Crochet for Beginners
If you want to practice crocheting various lacy patterns, training on doilies is the best way. This video lesson on crocheting a lace doily shows the process step by step: the first stitches, working the main pattern in the round, and the final edging. The “picot” edge decoration demonstrated in the video is also very useful for decorating sleeves, armholes, the bottom edges of garments, and hats. A link to the doily crochet chart is provided in the video description.
Crocheted Slippers or Ballet Flats: Very Easy to Make
This master class on crocheting ballet flats begins with a detailed guide on choosing the right yarn and tips on how to crochet a sole of the exact size you need. Beginner crocheters will master the method of crocheting ribbing using front post and back post stitches. These skills can later be used to crochet sweaters, socks, and hats. Following the method shown in this video lesson, you can even crochet baby booties and cozy house slippers by simply sewing a firm sole to the finished piece.
Learning to Crochet Amigurumi
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0td3z-xDpVU
Amigurumi is a popular crochet toy-making technique originating from Japan. This educational video offers a tutorial on how to crochet a small owl, which can be used as cute home decor, a children’s toy, or a handmade gift for friends. The video breaks down the methods of crocheting single crochets and slip stitches, as well as making increases and decreases. The author also shares valuable advice on the best materials for stuffing amigurumi toys. Following this exact principle, you can crochet other animals too: bears, kittens, puppies, and mice. Just change the yarn colors and embroider the face to match the desired animal.
Crocheting a Simple Beanie (Hat)
Carefully hand-crocheted hats make an excellent Christmas or winter holiday gift for friends and family! It’s simple and fast to make, yet looks beautiful and feels cozy. This master class provides the easiest pattern for crocheting a hat with a pompom. The item is crocheted with basic stitches as a continuous fabric without any complex increases. The author also demonstrates an alternative model with cute “ears” on the finished base.
Crocheting Beautiful Baby Booties
A very simple and straightforward lesson for beginners showing exactly how to crochet baby booties. Be sure to check the description under the video for additional useful links for beginner crocheters.
How to Choose a Crochet Hook
Crocheting has massive advantages compared to other types of handmade crafts. You can take your project with you absolutely anywhere: when visiting friends, on a picnic, or on public transport — everything easily fits into a small handbag. It is also a very budget-friendly hobby that requires a bare minimum of supplies: just a skein of yarn and a crochet hook.
