Types Of Crocheting

Crochet is one of the most popular crafts out there, and with good reason. Not only is it incredibly relaxing to do when watching your favorite TV show, but it also has loads of practical uses. 

Crocheting basics are very simple to learn, but did you know that there’s more than one type of crocheting? This guide will tell you all about the different types of crochet stitches, along with some details on how to use them in your projects.

Fundamental Crochet Stitches 

If you are new to crocheting, then the first step would be to learn all about the very basic crochet stitches that make up almost every pattern out there. Let’s take a look at some fundamental crochet stitches below. 

• Chain Stitch – The chain stitch (abbreviated “ch”) is the most basic stitch that every crocheter needs to know, mainly because it makes up a foundation for every single crochet project. A chain stitch is very simple to learn. After making a slip knot on your crochet hook, you yarn over your hook and pull the yarn over through the first loop. The result is one chain that you can use to create your foundation or use in combination with other stitches to create a pattern. 

• Single Crochet Stitch – The single crochet stitch (abbreviated “sc”) is another super basic and simple stitch to crochet. After having a foundation chain, you can create an sc by inserting your hook through the 2nd to the last loop on the chain below, yarning over, then pulling that loop through the stitch, then yarning over again to pull through both stitches on your crochet hook. 

• Double Crochet Stitch – A double crochet stitch (abbreviated “dc”) is arguably the most popular crochet stitch that is used in every single pattern out there (besides the chain stitch). That’s why it is definitely a must-know stitch when you first learn how to crochet. To work a double crochet stitch, you will need a foundation chain. Then, yarn over, insert your hook through the third chain from the hook, and yarn over again to create 3 loops in total on your crochet hook, then yarn over and pull through two loops, and yarn over and pull through two loops again to complete the stitch. 

• Half Double Crochet Stitch – The half double crochet (abbreviated “hdc”) is very simple to the double crochet, and you will normally use this stitch when the pattern wants a variety of different stitch lengths. To work a hdc, you can follow the same steps as the dc until there are three loops on your crochet hook, then yarn over and pull through all three loops. This creates a shorter stitch length compared to the dc but longer than the sc. 

• Triple Crochet Stitch – The triple crochet stitch (abbreviated “tc”) is not commonly used in a lot of patterns but is popular when making granny squares. A triple crochet stitch creates very long, skinny stitches that are longer and thinner than the dc. A tc is worked similarly to a dc, but in the first step, you yarn over twice, insert the hook through the stitch below, yarn over, and pull through to create four stitches on your crochet hook in total. Then, you can yarn over and pull through two loops a total of three times to create a tc stitch. 

• Slip Stitch – A slip stitch (abbreviated “sl”) is a great technique to crochet in the round to even out the length of each row. A slip stitch can also be worked when you want to skip a stitch without adding any height to the row. To work a slip stitch, you can insert the hook into the stitch below, yarn over, and pull through both the stitch below and the live stitch on your hook. 

Types Of Crochet 

All of the stitches above are fundamental stitches that are used in many patterns and many types of crochet. Since this is a craft that has been around for a long time, there are many, many ways to use a crochet hook to create different results. 

Crochet has a lot of different applications, and you can use different tools and techniques to create a variety of textures and shapes. 

Let’s take a look at the types of crochet below. 

• Amigurumi – Amigurumi is a crochet art form that originated in Japan. It refers to the making of small toys or creatures made from crocheted yarn. Amigurumi requires using very tight stitches (like single crochet stitches) and working with increases and decreases to create 3D shapes, allowing you to create stuffed animals and cushions with yarn and a crochet hook. Besides the basic materials and tools (a crochet hook and yarn), amigurumi usually requires a lot of sewing, buttons, and other art supplies to make a stuffed animal look lively. However, the possibilities are quite endless with this art form, and you can create so many different designs with just a few simple tools! 

• Aran Crochet – Aran is a type of Celtic-style crochet that has interlocking cables. It can be used to make thick and stylish hats, scarves, and sweaters. While cable is a look that is often associated with knitting, aran crochet can recreate this look just by manipulating the double (or triple) crochet stitches in a pattern. This style of crochet usually requires an intricate pattern that you will need to follow quite closely to create the cable pattern. 

• Bavarian Crochet – Bavarian crochet is used to create vintage-looking granny squares with beautiful textures and blended color changes. The Bavarian granny square looks like it’s made up of several smaller squares inside, but this effect is created by working a row of clusters (4 tc or 4dc), then on the next layer, you’ll be added a row of shell stitches on the top of each cluster in the row below. The raised texture is created by back post stitches, which are stitches that wrap around the posts of the stitches below rather than inserting the hook through the stitch below. This is quite a complicated technique that requires an experienced hand, but since there are a lot of repetitions in the pattern, it’s not difficult to work once you know what you are doing. It is a beautiful type of crochet that is perfect for creating colorful blankets and throws and can work up really quickly. 

• Bosnian Crochet – Bosnian crochet produces a result that closely resembles a knitted fabric. This effect is created just by slip stitching into the back loop, front loop, or both loops in the stitch below. Bosnian crochet is a method that takes a long time because the slip stitches barely add any height to your piece. However, the result is a very stretchy fabric that would be perfect for hats, scarves, or the ribbing in your sweater. 

• Tunisian Crochet – Tunisian crochet is another type of crochet that produces a result that looks very similar to knitting.  This is because, in Tunisian crochet, you use a crochet hook with a very long shaft (sometimes even with a cord attachment) to hold a number of live stitches (the number of stitches corresponds to how wide your piece will be).This is a great technique that is simple to learn and also produces quite stretchy crochet pieces. If you want to make long scarves or big blankets, then this is definitely the right technique to learn! 

• Bullion Crochet – Bullion crochet (or bullion stitches) requires looping a lot of loops around the crochet hook (or sometimes two hooks at the same time to add volume to the stitch) to create a roll stitch. When done in a row, the bullion crochet stitch creates a very thick, stiff fabric that is great for things like placemats or wall decors. 

• Broomstick Lace Crochet – Broomstick lace crochet is an advanced crochet stitch that is often seen in vintage designs. This is an openwork lace pattern that is often used in blankets, shawls, or wall decors. To work this style of crochet, you will need a crochet hook and a knitting needle (or any long and thick needle that your yarn can wrap around). The thickness of the knitting needle will decide how open the lace will look. The broomstick lace is worked in several steps using both needles at the same time, so for beginners, it can be quite tedious. This is often used as a decorative touch to other big projects. 

• Hairpin Crochet – This technique is similar to broomstick crochet, but you will need to use a rectangular “frame” with two small rods to wrap your yarn and crochet the lace in between the frame. This is an amazing technique to crochet lace that resembles embroidery, but it does take a bit of maneuvering to create. It can take a long time to finish a piece, but you can create some beautiful lace table runners or lace shawls with this technique! 

• Bruges Lace Crochet – This technique is used to make Bruges lace, where the ribbons are made and then crocheted together to form complex lace patterns. Because this is a technique to create lace, the crochet hook and yarn used are often very small, which will require more time to create a project. However, Bruges lace has a very distinct look that is perfect for decorative projects like table runners or shawls. 

• Clothesline Crochet – This style of crochet involves crocheting over a thick rope (hence the name clothesline) to make very sturdy structures, like mats or baskets. This technique is often used by craftspeople in Nepal and Africa.

• Clones Lace Crochet – Clones lace is a type of Irish lace crochet that is very quick and easy to create compared to other lace crochet techniques. Clones lace crochet can be quite friendly to beginners who wish to make lace dresses, table runners, or scarves. 

• Cro-Hook Crochet – Cro-hook crochet, sometimes also called cro-knit because the final result closely resembles a knitted item, is a type of double-sided crochet that works by using a double-ended crochet hook. The two ends of the crochet hook allow you to work on both the front and the backside at the same time, which creates a “reversible” piece that doesn’t have a right or wrong side. You can also play with the yarn colors in this technique to create a front side with a different color and a backside with different colors. This is a great technique to use for blankets or throws because both sides are functional as the “right side.” 

• Filet Crochet – Filet crochet is a technique that involves creating a grid pattern using double crochet and chain. The dc stitches are used to fill the space, while the ch stitches are used to create negative space. With this technique, you can create pictures with your crochet just by filling in spaces or leaving negative spaces. This takes a bit of planning to figure out your pattern, but it’s still a relatively simple technique to create an incredible art piece that you can use as blankets or throws in your home. 

• Finger Crochet – Finger crochet is just as simple as it sounds, where instead of crocheting with a hook, you crochet with your fingers. This is a great technique for working with bulky yarn to create a big blanket in just a few hours, but keep in mind that it can be difficult to create an even tension when working with your fingers instead of a crochet hook! 

• Micro Crochet – This modern style of crochet is made using very fine thread and tiny crochet hooks to create smaller and very intricate crochet items. This technique can take a very long time, so it’s the most suitable for small things like a hairpin or a clutch, and it definitely requires a lot of patience. 

• Overlay Crochet – Overlay crochet is a technique where the base of crochet is made, and the stitches are added on top of it to create a pattern and colors. This technique opens up many possibilities for creating beautiful and intricate patterns.

• Pineapple Crochet – The pineapple stitch is a beautiful vintage stitch that creates an openwork pattern that resembles pineapples stacking on top of one another. You will still be using a regular crochet hook and the basic stitches, but you will need to follow the pattern very closely to create the lace effect. If you want to crochet some dresses, shawls, or wraps that have a vintage feel, then this is definitely a great technique to explore. 

• Symbol Crochet – Symbol crochet is not necessarily a style of crochet but a method of following an intricate pattern. Each stitch usually translates to a symbol, and when the symbols are combined into a chart, you can easily follow this chart in order to crochet a piece. This is a great method to use if you have a complicated lace pattern that switches between different stitches very often. A lot of vintage crochet books also use this style of the chart pattern, and once you get used to reading the patterns, they are actually quite simple to follow! 

• Tapestry Crochet – Similar to using symbols, a tapestry crochet is when you need to create a pattern using colorwork (also known as intarsia crochet) instead of different stitches. The pattern can easily be created yourself just by using graph paper to chart out where each color goes, and you can follow this pattern when incorporating different colors in your work to create beautiful images or patterns. This is a really fun way to create pillowcases, blankets, or outfits with your favorite designs! 

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