Free Beginner's Crochet Dishcloth Pattern :: and Learning to Read a Pattern

If you've been following along with my Blue Corduroy Crochet Lessons series, you now should know how to make a slip knot, do a chain stitch, and single crochet.  

Ready to make a cotton dishcloth and practice your new skills?

This Free Crochet Dishcloth Pattern is the perfect way for you to put your new skill into action creating a useful item.  There are three variations on the single crochet stitch to help you improve your skills and keep you interested.  One is the basic single crochet, the second helps you get in the rhythm of skipping stitches and doubling up on stitches, and the third is a combination pattern including chain stitches and single crochet stitches. 

Reading a Crochet Pattern

Learning how to read a crochet pattern can take a bit of practice.  The key is understanding the abbreviations used.  It can feel a bit like cryptic code solving.  Because we're starting off with a basic pattern, there are only 2 abbreviations you need to crack this code!

CH = chain stitch.  The pattern will tell you when to chain stitch and how many to do.  

SC= single crochet. The pattern tells you when and where to make each single crochet.

The other thing I find useful when following a pattern is to not get overwhelmed with trying to understand the whole pattern all at once.  If I just take it one direction, one stitch at a time, then I usually find it much easier to comprehend.

The pattern will also suggest what yarn to choose and which crochet hook to use.  So you don't have to wander around the yarn shop getting distracted by all the beautiful options!

Enjoy making your cotton crochet dishcloths, I'd love to see yours when you're done!

Enjoy making your cotton dishcloths, I'd love to see yours when you're done!

Sign up for my newsletter and be the first to know about fun new projects and cute new products!

Blue Corduroy Crochet Lessons :: Chain Stitch

Welcome to your second crochet lesson - the Chain Stitch!

Did you learn how to do a slip knot? If you missed it, or forgot how, or need a reminder on how to pick the right size yarn and hook, take a look at the first Blue Corduroy Crochet Lesson on Slip Knots and Yarn Lables.

Crochet is a very addictive and relaxing skill once you get the hang of it.  When my daughter Ginger first learned this chain stitch she was about six years old and she sat and crocheted a chain stitch that reached clear to the back yard! She wasn't worried about how fast she was working or what she was making, she was simply enjoying the yarn and the hook in her hands.

The chain stitch is a foundational stitch for most crochet projects and is also used in many crochet stitches.  What you're learning here is proper tension of the yarn, using your fingers as guides, and how to twist the hook to guide the yarn.

Have fun getting to know your yarn and hook, and I can't wait to show you the next step!

Don't forget, you can also subscribe to my Blue Corduroy Youtube channel to watch these lessons and/or follow me on Instagram @emily_bluecorduroy for other tips and adventures.

Grab my FREE Crochet Dishcloth Pattern for Beginners!

Blue Corduroy Crochet Lessons :: Slip Knot and Yarn labels

Who wants to learn how to crochet, raise your hand!

I'm so excited to present a series of crochet tutorials starting with the basics and working our way up to more advanced techniques so that you can crochet everything you've always dreamed of!  Dishcloths, scarves, baby blankets, bonnets, granny squares....what are you excited to make? 

We're going to start at the very beginning with a slip knot. Ruby and Ginger will be helping me make these videos.  I set up a Blue Corduroy channel on YouTube, and if you subscribe, you will have easy access to step by step crochet lessons.

How to Make a Slip Knot

Learn how to do a simple Slip Knot! This easy tutorial for a slip knot is the first step in learning how to crochet or knit.

Getting to know your supplies is a must when learning a new skill. Yarn and crochet hooks come in all different sizes.  A thicker yarn will produce a bulkier finished project and will need a larger hook than a more delicate project with thinner yarn.  But how are you supposed to know which yarn goes with which hook?

I'm a big fan of asking the sales clerk for help, they almost always have all the answers you need.  But if you're left to your own devices, the yarn label has an easy to read chart to tell you exactly which hook and/or knitting needles to use.   

HOW TO READ A YARN LABEL

Yarn Thickness

When you flip the label over to the back, you'll see on the left side the yarn thickness, on this particular label in the photo below you'll see that the yarn is a SUPER BULKY #6.  When picking out projects to make, it is very handy to know what size yarn will produce the desired look. 

Recommended Knitting Needle Size

Moving to the right of the yarn size you'll see a square box with knitting needles crossed on the inside.  This image tells you to use a knitting needles size US 13, or 9 mm.  If you were to knit a square swatch of 9 stitches long and 12 stitches high, with the appropriate knitting needles, it should measure 4" x 4" (or 10cm x 10cm)

Recommended Crochet Hook Size

Moving to the right of the knitting needle box, you'll see a crochet hook icon.  This particular yarn label suggests a crochet hook size US M/13 or 9 mm.  Notice how the crochet hook and knitting needles sizes correspond? Very handy!

Laundry Instructions

At the far right of the yarn label are the laundry instructions.  This is something you definitely want to pay attention to if you plan on laundering your finished product. Thankfully, it also tells you in words underneath the drawings on most labels, because I can often forget what each symbol means. This particular yarn wants to be hand washed, lay flat to dry. No iron, no bleach.

A Special Note about Tension

Some people will naturally crochet or knit with a very tight stitch, and others will make their stitches looser.  It's funny to notice in yourself, if your feeling stressed out about something, your stitches can become tighter and tighter, without you even trying!  

Each pattern usually comes with a "gauge" and this is a simple way of working up a small portion of the pattern to check on what size your stitches are compared to the pattern makers.  If you tend to work tight or you've chosen a slightly thinner yarn than the pattern suggests, you may need to experiment with a larger needle/hook or different size yarn.  

Grab my FREE Crochet Dishcloth Pattern for Beginners!

crochet basics {the magic circle}

I wanted to do a series of crochet tutorials.  There are so many fun stitches and patterns out there.  And whether you're learning them for the first time, or if you're like me, you forget from time to time, it's nice to have a source of compiled crochet basics.

The Magic Circle

The magic circle is my preferred way for beginning any crochet pattern that begins with a circle.  You can modify any circular pattern to begin this way.

1)  Wind your yarn around your finger 3 times.  Make sure to have the short end of the yarn at the tip of your finger, and the end attached to the ball of yarn at the base of your finger.

2) Slide your hook under all three strands and grab the third with your hook.

3) Pull that third strand under the other strands on your finger, and keep it on your hook.

 4)  Do a chain stitch with the loop still on your finger.

5)  Pull the whole loop off your finger.

6)  Now, if you are doing a pattern with double crochet you will want to chain 2 more (pictured below).  If you are working a pattern with a singel crochet you will stop with just one chain.

7)  If your work is double crochet, and you chained 3, then do 12 double crochet into the circle (pictured below).  If your work is single crochet, you will do 6 single crochets into the circle.

8)  Now slip stitch your final double (or single) crochet into the top chain that you started with.  You now have a complete circle, with a large center.

9)  Abra Kadabra.... Pull your short tail and watch your circle magically shrink!  Now you can complete your hat, flower, granny square, etc.