My crochet notes and tips

I have compiled a written reference for myself for crochet, to help me not reinvent the wheel each time I restart after a long break. I have also included some tips that have proven very useful to me to crochet evenly and neatly.

You are welcome to try them if you think they might be useful to you too.

 

           General:
Normal use is to go through both caps of previous row, from row 1 row onward, but to get a ribbed effect, go through only one of the caps.

 

            Basic stitches (US notation):

Slip stitch (chain stitch):
Insert hook, yarn over, pull through 1 loop
Doesn't need turning chain

Single crochet:
Insert hook, yarn over, yarn over, pull through 2 loops
Row 0: make base chains
Row 1: make turning chain, then start sc from the last chain from row 0 (not the turning chain)
Row 2: turn, then make turning chain, then start sc from the last chain from row 1
Turning chain is not counted as a sc in the pattern

Half double crochet:
Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, yarn over, pull through 3 loops
Row 0: make base chains
Row 1: make ch 2 turning chain, then start hdc from the last chain from row 0 (not the turning chain)
Row 2: turn, then make ch 2 turning chain, then start hdc from the last chain from row 1
Turning chain is counted as 1 hdc in the pattern

Double crochet:
Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through top 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 2 loops
Row 0: make base chains
Row 1: make ch 3 turning chain, then start dc from the last chain from row 0 (not the turning chain)
Row 2: turn, then make ch 3 turning chain, then start dc from the last chain from row 1
Turning chain is counted as 1 dc in the pattern

            Foundation

Foundation chain:
To get an even bottom, push the hook into the bar at the back of the foundation chain
Do not count the loop on the hook as a chain in the foundation chain.

Chainless foundation:
Starts the row 1 directly, without the row of chains

Single crochet:
Ch 1?, insert hook in first chain, yarn over, create ch, then finish sc with the loops on the hook. Insert hook in the ch created before, then finish sc with the loops on the hook.

Half double crochet:
Ch 2, yarn over, insert hook in first chain, yarn over, create ch, then finish hdc with the loops on the hook. Insert hook in the ch created before, then finish hdc with the loops on the hook. The first ch 2 doesn't count as a hdc. To make it count as a hdc, ch 3 instead.

Double crochet:
Ch 3, yarn over, insert hook in first chain, yarn over, create ch, then finish dc with the loops on the hook. Yarn over, insert hook in the ch created before, then finish dc with the loops on the hook. The first ch 3 counts as a dc.