12 Easy Crochet Projects for Beginners (In Order of Difficulty)

The best way to learn crochet is to make real things. Each finished project builds a new skill, and the motivation of actually using something you made keeps you going.

We’ve ordered these projects from easiest to slightly harder. Work your way down the list and you’ll go from your very first stitches to confident, everyday crocheting. Each project notes which stitches it uses, so you know what you’re learning.

If you haven’t held a hook yet, start with our how to crochet for beginners guide, which includes a complete first dishcloth pattern.

Level 1: Your very first projects

1. A dishcloth

The classic first project. It’s a small square of single crochet: you practice chaining, working into the chain, turning and counting, all on something useful.

• Stitches: chain, single crochet
• Yarn: worsted cotton
• You’ll learn: tension and keeping straight edges
• Time: 2 to 3 hours

2. Coasters

Make a set of four square coasters, or try your first circle worked in the round. They’re quick, so you can make a few and watch your stitches get neater with each one.

• Stitches: chain, single crochet, slip stitch (for circles)
• Yarn: worsted cotton
• You’ll learn: working in the round, if you try circles
• Time: about 30 to 45 minutes each

3. A headband or ear warmer

A long strip of crochet, joined at the ends. It’s essentially a mini scarf, so you get the satisfaction of a wearable item fast.

• Stitches: chain, single or half double crochet
• Yarn: worsted or bulky acrylic or wool blend
• You’ll learn: measuring and seaming
• Time: 1 to 3 hours

Level 2: Building confidence

4. A simple scarf

A scarf is just long rows of the same stitch, which makes it the perfect project for perfecting your rhythm and learning double crochet. Watch a show and let your hands do the work.

• Stitches: chain, double crochet
• Yarn: worsted or bulky acrylic or wool blend
• You’ll learn: double crochet, consistent tension over long rows
• Time: 6 to 10 hours

5. Granny squares

The granny square is the most iconic crochet motif, and every crocheter should learn it. You’ll work in rounds, building clusters of double crochet out from a central ring.

• Stitches: chain, double crochet, slip stitch
• Yarn: worsted acrylic, great for scraps
• You’ll learn: working in the round, changing colors
• Time: 20 to 40 minutes per square

6. A plant pot cover

A pot cover is a basket that slips over a plastic nursery pot. It teaches you to work a flat circle for the base and then build up the sides without increasing.

• Stitches: chain, single crochet, slip stitch
• Yarn: worsted cotton, with a hook a size smaller than the label
• You’ll learn: increasing in the round, shaping a 3D object
• Time: 2 to 4 hours

Make a few to dress up your plants: our crochet home decor ideas shows how to style them.

7. A small basket

Once you’ve made a pot cover, a sturdy basket is the same idea in thicker yarn. Use cotton cord or t-shirt yarn for a basket that holds its shape.

• Stitches: single crochet
• Yarn: bulky cotton, cotton cord or t-shirt yarn
• You’ll learn: working with chunky yarn and keeping tight tension
• Time: 2 to 3 hours

Level 3: Ready for a challenge

8. A beanie

A simple beanie is either worked flat as a rectangle and seamed, or worked in the round from the crown down. It’s your first project where fit matters.

• Stitches: half double or double crochet, ribbing optional
• Yarn: worsted or bulky wool blend
• You’ll learn: gauge, sizing and decreasing or seaming
• Time: 3 to 5 hours

9. A market bag

A mesh market bag looks impressive but is mostly chains and simple stitches. It’s useful every week and makes a great gift.

• Stitches: chain, single crochet, double crochet
• Yarn: worsted cotton (strong and doesn’t stretch much)
• You’ll learn: mesh stitches, handles and joining
• Time: 4 to 6 hours

10. A plant hanger

A crochet plant hanger combines long chains with a simple net or cup at the bottom. Choose sturdy cotton cord so it doesn’t stretch under the weight of the pot.

• Stitches: chain, single crochet, slip stitch
• Yarn: cotton cord or bulky cotton
• You’ll learn: working with tension under load, finishing with a strong top loop
• Time: 2 to 4 hours

Pick the perfect plant for it from our hanging plant ideas.

11. A granny square blanket

Remember those granny squares? Make enough of them, join them together, and you have a blanket. Doing it square by square makes a big project feel manageable.

• Stitches: double crochet, slip stitch or single crochet for joining
• Yarn: worsted acrylic or wool blend
• You’ll learn: joining motifs, adding a border
• Time: a few weeks of evenings

12. A simple amigurumi

Amigurumi are small stuffed crochet toys and decorations. Start with a ball, a mushroom or a tiny cactus in a pot before trying animals with lots of parts.

• Stitches: single crochet, increases and decreases in a spiral
• Yarn: worsted cotton or acrylic, with a smaller hook than usual
• You’ll learn: magic ring, spiral rounds, stuffing and closing
• Time: 2 to 4 hours for a simple shape

Tips that make every beginner project easier

• Use light, smooth yarn. You need to see your stitches.
• Count every row or round. Use stitch markers at the start of each one.
• Make a practice swatch. Ten minutes on a small square saves hours of frustration.
• Don’t be afraid to rip it out. Undoing stitches (crocheters call it “frogging”) is part of learning, not failure.
• Finish things. A slightly wonky finished project teaches you more than a perfect half-done one.

Not sure which hook or yarn a project needs? Our guide to crochet hook sizes and yarn weights explains how to match them.

Worth buying for your first projects

• Beginner hook set with ergonomic handlesStart here

  One set covers every project on this list, from coasters to a chunky beanie.

• Worsted weight cotton in light colors

  For dishcloths, coasters, pot covers and market bags. Easy to see your stitches.

• Soft worsted acrylic

  Affordable, washable and ideal for scarves, granny squares and blankets.

• Locking stitch markers

  Mark the first stitch of each row or round so you never lose count.

• A project bag

  Keeps your current project, hook and scissors together and makes crochet portable.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest thing to crochet first?

A dishcloth or a square coaster in single crochet. They use one stitch, work up in an hour or two, and it doesn't matter if they aren't perfectly square.

What crochet stitches should a beginner learn first?

Start with chain, single crochet and double crochet. Then add slip stitch (for joining) and half double crochet. Those five stitches cover almost every beginner pattern.

Is a granny square good for beginners?

Yes, once you can chain and double crochet. Granny squares are worked in the round, which is a new skill, but each square is small and quick, so mistakes are easy to undo.

How long does it take to crochet a beginner scarf?

With worsted yarn and double crochet, a basic scarf usually takes around 6 to 10 hours, spread over a week or two. Chunky yarn and a big hook can halve that.