Learn to crochet · lesson 1 of 12 · about 20 minutes

Learn to crochet: what you need to start

To start crochet you need a 4mm hook, a ball of smooth DK yarn in a light or mid colour, and a pair of scissors. A blunt yarn needle and a few stitch markers are useful, but they can wait a week. This lesson covers what to buy and how to read the label on the ball.

Step by step

1. 1Choose DK yarn

   DK, short for double knit, is the most common yarn weight in the UK and a good one to learn with. It’s thick enough to see each stitch clearly. Aran, the next weight up, also works. Leave 4 ply and sock yarn for later, as they’re fiddly to learn on.

2. 2Pick a smooth yarn in a light or mid colour

   Choose one solid colour that isn’t too dark. Black hides your stitches, and white, neon and multicoloured yarns make them hard to read too. The yarn should feel smooth, not fluffy. Guides differ on how light, too: Simply Crochet says light coloured, The Crochet Project says not too light. A mid shade suits both. They also differ on fibre: Simply Crochet suggests acrylic or cotton, while The Crochet Project finds pure cotton splits and some acrylics feel sticky. If you can, feel the yarn before you buy.

3. 3Get a 4mm hook

   Most UK DK ball bands list a 4mm hook, and Simply Crochet recommends 4mm for learning with DK. Bella Coco suggests a 5 or 5.5mm hook to start instead. Either works, but 4mm matches the band. If you have sore hands or arthritis, a hook with a soft, chunky handle (often sold as ergonomic) can be kinder to hold, but a plain aluminium hook is fine to start.

4. 4Read the ball band

   The paper label round the ball is called the ball band. Look for the weight (DK, or a ball symbol with a 3 on yarns using the Craft Yarn Council system), the fibre, the length in metres and the weight in grams, and the suggested hook or needle size. You’ll also see a tension such as 22 stitches to 10cm. On DK bands that’s usually a knitting tension, so you can ignore it for now.

5. 5Note the shade and dye lot

   The band also gives a shade name or number and, on many yarns, a dye lot number. Balls from different dye lots can be slightly different colours. For one practice ball it doesn’t matter, but for a bigger project buy all the balls of one colour at once, from the same dye lot.

6. 6Add scissors, a needle and markers

   You need scissors to cut the yarn when you finish. A blunt tapestry needle (also sold as a yarn or wool needle) is for sewing in the loose ends. Stitch markers mark the first stitch of a row or round. You don’t need them on day one, but they help once you start working rows.

Check your work

• Your ball band says DK (or shows a 3 in the yarn weight symbol).
• The yarn is smooth and one solid colour, not black, white or neon.
• Your hook says 4mm, usually printed on the flat thumb rest.

Common mistakes

Learning with fluffy, very dark or multicoloured yarn.

Swap to a smooth, solid, mid or light colour so you can see where each stitch goes.

Starting with fine 4 ply or sock yarn.

Use DK or aran while you learn. Thinner yarn is harder to see and handle.

Buying more balls later and finding the colour doesn’t quite match.

Check the dye lot number on every band and buy enough of one lot at the start of a big project.

What you need to start crochet: a costed UK list →

Which hook for DK, aran and chunky →

Sources: simply-yarn.com, thecrochetproject.com, blog.bellacococrochet.com, blog.bellacococrochet.com, lovecrafts.com, lovecrafts.com, yarnspirations.com, craftyarncouncil.com, craftyarncouncil.com, blog.woolwarehouse.co.uk. Written in UK terms; the US name is in brackets the first time a stitch appears.