Crochet looks like wizardry from the outside, but it is built almost entirely from two stitches. Learn the chain and the single crochet, and you can already make scarves, dishcloths, and blankets. Let us start.

What you need - A medium worsted-weight yarn in a light color (dark yarn hides your stitches and frustrates beginners) - A 5mm (H/8) hook - Scissors

Light, smooth yarn is the kindest choice for new hands.

The slip knot and chain Everything begins with a chain. Make a slip knot and slide it onto your hook. Now yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front) and pull that loop through the loop already on your hook. You just made one chain stitch. Repeat until you have 15 chains. Keep them loose and even. Tight chains are the number one beginner struggle, so relax your grip.

The single crochet Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook. Yarn over, pull up a loop (you now have two loops on the hook), yarn over again, and pull through both loops. That is one single crochet. Continue across the row, working one single crochet into each chain.

Turning and continuing At the end of the row, chain one, turn your work around, and single crochet across again, this time working into the stitches of the previous row. Keep going and you will watch a fabric grow.

Expect it to look rough Your first rows will be lumpy and your edges uneven. This is completely normal and happens to everyone. The stitches even out with practice, often within a single afternoon. Do not rip it out in frustration. Keep going, and by the end of this little swatch your hands will already know what to do.