Five Really Useful Beginner Crochet Tutorials
I’ve attempted to learn to crochet on four separate occasions over the past decade, and the first three of those occasions ended up with me giving up in frustration. My rows were always so uneven, because I couldn’t figure out which parts of the yarn were stitches and consequently ended up crocheting into every gap I could see, which mostly just left me with a huge mess. Usually I’d spend a few hours trying to learn before deciding crochet was just too hard, returning instead to the safety and familiarity of knitting!
But the fourth time I tried to learn crochet, it stuck really nicely. And now I can’t. stop. crocheting!
The difference this time around was that I started looking for project tutorials, rather than basic stitch tutorials. If you’re anything like me, the gratification of creating something tangible is a huge motivating factor in taking up any kind of craft, so finding small, beginner projects that teach the basics of crochet as you go can be a really great way to learn.
So to try and help anyone in a similar situation to me I’ve linked five video tutorials below, all of which I’ve found really useful over the past couple of months. They’re all really nice projects to make as a beginner and cover a lot of basic crochet skills - such as chaining, how to do single and double crochets, and how to get started with amigurumi.
Granny Square Tutorial by Bella Coco
Starting out with a granny square is one of the best ways to get going with crochet. They’re simple and repetitive, they work up really quickly once you get the hang of everything, and you can make them as big or as small as you like!
For absolute beginners, this granny square tutorial by Bella Coco is one of the best I’ve found. It assumes no prior knowledge of crochet at all, talking you through all the basics - including which yarn and hook to use, teaching you how to chain and how to do a double crochet, and how to hold your yarn. The tutorial is also really clear and well-filmed, and moves at a slow and steady pace, which is super helpful when you’re new to crochet!
Alternatively if you already know some of the basics, like chaining and double crochet stitches, you could try this video by TL Yarn Crafts - it’s still clear and concise, but it moves at a faster pace than the Bella Coco tutorial above. It also includes some really helpful tips for perfecting your granny squares, and a really easy way to cast on using the magic circle method, which people can sometimes struggle with.
Amigurumi Basics Tutorial by Olliehollycrochet
Once I’d made my first granny square, I immediately wanted to move on to amigurumi. Being able to make my own toys and plushies - specifically, being able to make my own Pokémon - was the thing that had drawn me to crochet in the first place, so finding a beginner amigurumi tutorial seemed like the obvious next step.
This video by Olliehollycrochet is probably one of the best beginner amigurumi tutorials out there! It’s extremely thorough, covering casting on with a magic circle, increasing and decreasing to make your crochet spherical, how to stuff your amigurumi and so much more. This tutorial is also SO well paced - it never felt like it was going too fast for me, and actually the whole experience of crocheting along to was just really relaxing.
Olliehollycrochet actually has a whole load of really useful beginner crochet tutorials - so if you struggle with anything in the tutorial I’ve linked above, you can usually find another video of theirs that walks you through it in more depth! I’d also recommend their Crochet a Ball in Any Size tutorial, which is great for anyone who wants to start designing their own amigurumi.
Baby Jellyfish Tutorial by All From Jade
After giving basic amigurumi balls a go, this baby jellyfish tutorial by All From Jade was the next thing I tried. These little dudes are super easy and enjoyable to make - I especially enjoyed attaching the tentacles - and the end result is so cute! Depending on what yarn or hook size you’re using, you can also make these to be big or small - personally I ended up making small jellyfish that I turned into keyrings!
The tutorial itself is well filmed and easy to follow, with a lovely no-sew method for connecting the tentacles. It also clearly demonstrates how to mark your work with a stitch marker, how to add safety eyes and how to work in the back loops only (BLO).
Sunrise Coaster by TL Yarn Crafts
Moving away from amigurumi for now, this crochet coaster tutorial by TL Yarn Crafts is another great project for beginners! These coasters are quick to make and really pretty to look at - I, for one, got a hell of a lot of satisfaction from making them!
TL Yarn Crafts is a giant in the online crochet scene, and I feel as though this tutorial demonstrates why; Toni has a clear and friendly way of presenting, and her love for crochet really shines through in all of her videos. This tutorial teaches an alternative way to make a magic circle, how to double crochet in a spiral, and how to create that really lovely shaping you can see on the final round.
Jenni the Jellyfish by Shehla Ahmed (The Blue Elephants)
Yes, it’s another jellyfish pattern! I like sea creatures, okay?!
Legit though, Jenni the Jellyfish is a really wonderful beginner crochet project. It’s a bit more ambitious than any of the other projects listed in this post, so I’d recommend working through some of the others before you try this one, but once you’ve got the basics of amigurumi down this jellyfish is SO MUCH FUN to make! In fact, I’d go as far to say that this is my favourite thing I made as a beginner - once again, the tentacles are no-sew and really enjoyable to make!
Not only is the pattern easy to follow, but there’s also a free written version of it linked in the video description which is really great if you want to get more familiar with how to read crochet patterns.
Bonus tutorial: How to Embroider Eyes by The Make Fairy
I feel as though a lot of people don’t realise how easy it is to embroider eyes for amigurumi. Not that I'm saying there’s anything wrong with safety eyes - in fact some of them look absolutely gorgeous - but I think it’s really good for beginners to know that they have lots of different options when it comes to eyes.
This video tutorial shows what I think is the easiest way to embroider eyes, which essentially just involves pulling a loop across the front of your stitches over and over until your eyes are the size you want. You could also use something like a French knot to achieve the same effect, but for anyone just starting out, I think the above method is the easiest.
That’s all for now!
If you found this post helpful or if you have any other recommendations for useful beginner crochet videos, let me know if the comments below! Thanks for reading! :)
