Are you willing to start single crochet (SC)? This step-by-step guide will teach you how you can easily crochet the single crochet stitch, and also it gives you various tips for working with single crochet stitches in patterns.
What is a single crochet stitch?
The single crochet (SC) stitch is one of the 6 basic crochet stitches, which is a user-friendly stitch, especially for beginners, that is easy to learn and fun to crochet. Also, it’s so common and versatile that it’s well suited to various crochet projects like top-down beanies, pillows, and warm sweaters. You can easily work a single crochet in joined rounds, rows or spiral rounds, and various parts of the stitch for ribbing stitches. In addition, you can use it to create borders, edges, and seams.
- Abbreviation: In the US, it’s called abbreviated SC and single crochet. In the UK, it’s known as double crochet, and it’s abbreviated DC.
- Chart symbol: in charts of crochet, you will see the single crochet (SC) represented by an “X” or a “+.”
- Height: A single crochet stitch is much taller than a slip stitch and shorter than a half-double crochet stitch.
- Turning chain: In order to start a new row of SC, make a turning chain of 1 chain stitch (for allusion, a turning chain is a chain stitch number you can make at the start of a row to bring the yarn up to the right height for the next stitch.) The ch-1 does not count as an ST, so you will easily make the first stitch of the new row into the final stitch of the previous row.
- Fabric: All rows of single plain crochet will make an impenetrable, solid crocheted fabric without holes or gaps.
How to single crochet (SC)?
If I tell you in brief, then here is how to work a single crochet:
- Step 1: insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and then pull up a loop.
- Step 2: After that, yarn over again and pull up both loops on the hook.
It seems very simple. But you may be searching for more details and some pictures. In the rest of this SC guide, we will talk about all forms of single crochet: what it is, when to utilize it, and how to make it. So grab your yarn and get started with the procedure:
Single crochet tutorial
First, I will show you how to make one single crochet twitch. After that, we will make a swatch of SC fabric so I can show you the following:
- How to single crochet into chain stitches (CH)
- How to turn single crochet
- How to single crochet in rows
Steps to make a single crochet stitch
- Firstly, put your hook into the next stitch and put the hook tip under both of the loops at the top of the stitch.
- Then, bring your yarn over the hook, from the back to the front side, and pull a yarn loop through the stitch. Also, you now have two loops on the hook.
- Again, bring the yarn over the hook and then pull the yarn through both loops on the hook. Now you will have one loop on the hook.
Steps to do a single crochet into a foundation chain
- Firstly, make a slip knot and a foundation chain of 15 stitches.
- To make a first SC, insert the hook into the second chain from the hook.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over again and pull via both loops on the hook
- Repeat the send and third steps to make a single crochet stitch in all the remaining 14 chains, but make sure to work in the very end chain- it can be simple to miss.
Also Read: 20+ Easy and Free Crochet Flower Patterns
Steps to do a single crochet into another row
After the first row of SC, you can turn in your work and begin the other row. To do this, you will have to work into the stitches of the previous row. So here is to do it:
- Chain 1 and turn your SC work clockwise. (Keep your hook in the chain stitch so you don’t lose your place). You will now be searching at the backside of the previous row.
- Then, make a single crochet stitch in the first stitch.
- After that, continue the process across the row, making sure to work into the end stitch.
- To begin another row, ch-1 and turn.
- Fastening off:
- Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail of yarn.
- Lift the hook start-up and bring the yarn tail to the hook’s remaining loop.
- Pull the yarn tail to narrow the last stitch and weave the ends of the yarn with a tapestry needle.
How to do a single crochet in the round
You can work single crochet (SC) in rows or rounds. As you already know, there are two ways to start working in the round: joined and continuous. In either case, a single crochet in the rounds is very similar to a single crochet in rows.
Joined rounds
To work a single crochet (Sc) in joined rounds, you will easily join the round’s final stitch to the first crochet stitch of the round with a slip stitch. Then you will chain – 1, which does not count as a stitch (St); after that, start the next round by creating a single crochet in the exact stitch as the join of the slip stitch.
Continuous or spiral rounds
Working a single crochet in continuous rounds is very simple and easy. To make a spiral round:
- Stitch around the circle in a pattern of the spiral.
- Then, make the first stitch of all rounds into the first stitch of the previous spiral round.
- Make sure not to join the starting and end of all rounds with a slip stitch. Also, don’t chain up to the next round.
Increase and Decreases
Single crochet (SC) increase and decrease are mainly used to create shape and volume. Here is how to make them.
- Single crochet increase (sc inc): First, make 2 single crochets in only one stitch. The increase will include one stitch to your stitch count. And you can make 3 or 4 SC into the same stitch if your patterns call for it.
- Single crochet decrease (sc dec or sc2tog): A single crochet decrease is also very simple. For this, you have to work two neighboring stitches together to make one stitch. To make an SC decrease:
- Put the hook and pull up a loop in the next two stitches.
- After that, yarn over and pull through all three loops on the hook. Then there will only be one loop on the hook.
Variations: invisible SC decrease
Here is a variation on the SC decrease that makes a decrease so seamless it’s almost invisible. Most people use this decrease in amigurumi patterns. Here are the steps to make an invisible SC decrease:
- Firstly, insert the hook into the front side loop of the first stitch.
- Then, insert the hook into the second stitch’s front loop.
- Yarn over and then pull via the first two loops on the hook.
- Yarn over and pull via both loops on the hook.
Working single crochet in different loops
When you make a single crochet, you insert yarn under the two loops of the first stitch. These top loops are referred to as the front loop and back loop. Also, you can create different variations of the standard single crochet loop by working solely in the back loop, front loop, or several combinations of loops.
SC BLO
The common variation called “single crochet in the back loop only” is known as SC BLO. This stitch pattern makes a stretchy, ribbed texture that is best for hat brims and sweater cuffs. Also, it’s the same as a regular single crochet, but with one change. Instead of putting the hook under every stitch’s front and back loops, you will only insert the hook under the back loop.
SC FLO
This stitch is called a single crochet in the front loop, known as SC FLO. It produces a slightly more open, extended fabric with beautiful horizontal lines.
Single crochet ribbing
It can be referred to as different stitch patterns. In most cases, it refers to a single crochet made in the back loop when crocheting in rows. Also, it can refer to alternating rows of single crochet and slip stitches. If you are not sure which stitch of ribbing you have to use, you can refer to your specific crochet pattern.
Also Read: 15+ Fun and Pretty Crochet Wreath Patterns
Conclusion
Single crochet is the simplest stitch of crochet, and it is also a good building block for learning the double crochet stitches and the half-double crochet. If you have mastered the chain, you are ready to move on to a single crochet. But if you are a beginner, then check out this tutorial that shows you how to do single crochet quickly.
