Like the saying goes,' Tiny drops of water make the mighty ocean'. Even in crochet it is the crochet stitches that make the fabric whatit is. Crocheting is a method of working interlocking loops or stitches witha hook, and forming a strong, long wearing fabric. Crocheted afghan is one ofthe most popular designs in crochet. The crochet stitch used for making afghansmay not necessarily be the same that is used for making crocheted shawls. Differentcrochet stitches make different patterns.

Different Crochet Stitches:

The following are the different kinds of crochet stitches used in creating those beautiful patterns:
All letters in brackets indicate abbreviations used in instructions.

1. Chain (ch.) stitch:

This is the first crochet stitch every beginner would learn.
Make a slip loop in thread, insert hook in loop, and draw yarn through. Continue to draw yarn through each new loop formed until chain is the length desired.

2. Single Crochet (sc)stitch:

Make a chain the length required, turn, insert the hook in 2ndch. from hook and draw yarn through it, yarn over and through both loops on hook. Continue to work in this way in each ch. to end of row.
2nd row-Turn the work, Ch. 1, * insert the hook in top of next st., taking up both threads, yarn over and draw through st., having 2 loops on the hook, yarn over and through both loops on hook. Repeat from * across row. Repeat 2nd row for remainder of work.

3. Half Double Crochet (h dc)stitch:

Make a chain the length required, turn, yarn over hook, insert hook in 3rd Ch. from hook * and draw up a loop. Yarn over hook and through 3 loops. Yarn over, insert hook in next st.; repeat from * in each Ch. to other end of work. A new row is begun with Ch. 2 after turning.

4. Double Crochet (Dc) stitch:

Work a chain, yarn over hook, insert hook in 4th Ch. from hook *, draw up a loop, yarn over hook and through 2 loops, yarn over hook and through 2 loops; yarn over hook, insert hook in next st. Repeat from * across row.

5. Treble Crochet (Tr c.) stitch :

Treble crochet is made in the same way as double crochet, but take the yarn twice over the hook, instead of once. Work the loops off the hook as follows: yarn over and through 2, over and through 2, over and through 2.

Increasing the crochet stitch:
Work 2 sts. in one st.

Crocheted Slip Stitch.

Insert the hook in next st, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook.

To Decrease the crochet stitch:

Draw up a loop through each of the next 2 sts, yarn over and through 3 loops on hook; or, skip 1 st.

6. Beading or Filet Mesh crochet stitch:

Make one double crochet in 8th Ch. from hook, * Ch. 2, skip 2 sts, one double crochet in next st., repeat from * across row. Filet Mesh is a succession of rows of spaces, each double crochet being worked over a double crochet of the preceding row. To turn, Ch. 5.

7.Cross crochet stitch.

Thread over twice, insert hook in st and draw thread through as for a tr (4 loops on hook), thread over, and draw through 2 loops, thread over, skip 2 sts, insert hook in next st, draw thread through (5 loops on hook), thread over and draw off 2 loops at a time 4 times, ch 2, 1 d c in the center point of the cross, thus completing the cross.

8.Cluster crochet stitch:

Make 3 or more tr in the same st, always holding the last loop of each tr on the hook; then, thread over hook and take off all remaining loops. A tight ch st should then be made to fasten the cluster

9. Knot crochet stitch.

Draw a loop on hook out ~ inch, draw thread through, making a ch st of it. Put hook between loop and single thread of this ch and make an s c. Work another similar knot st, skip 4 sts of preceding row, 1 s c in next. 'Repeat from the beginning to end of row. Make 2C-inch knot sts to turn, 1 s c over double loop at right of 1st center knot of preceding row, 1 s c over double loop at left of same knot, 2 knot sts and repeat.

10. Popcorn crochet stitch (pc st).

Ch 1, 5 d c in next st, drop st from hook, insert hook back in ch-1 and draw loop through the one on hook.

11. Moss crochet stitch:

Make your foundation chain an odd number of chains.

Row 1: Sc in 3rd ch from hook. * ch 1, skip next ch, sc in next ch *. Repeat from * across. Ch 2 (counts as turning chain and first chain 1). Turn.

Row 2: Skip first sc, * sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, skip next sc *. Repeat from * across.
End this row with a sc in the top of the beg ch 2 of previous row. Ch 2. Turn.

Repeat Row 2 for desired length.

12. Afghan crochet stitch:

This is the most popular crochet stitch and is also known as tunisian crochet stitch. Special hooks are used that are much longer than ordinary hooks to make room for the large number of stitches. It is very important to check the number of stitches on the hook at the end of each row from right to left, because it is very easy to sk the last stitches at the end of the row.

Step 1: Make a base chain with the required number of stitches (no extra turning chain). Insert hook in 2nd ch from hk and draw through a lp. Leave this lp on the hook. Pull a lp through each ch, leaving them on the hk, to the end of the row.

Step 2: Work the return row from left to right. Do not turn the work. YO and draw lp through the first lp on the hk. You and draw lp through the next 2 lps on the hook. Continue drawing through 2 lps to end of row. Return Row.

Step 3: Do not turn the work. Work from right to left. Skip the first vertical lp formed at the edge of the work in previous row. Insert hk from right to left behind the next vertical lp. Yo and draw yarn through the vertical lp. Leave this lp on hook. Continue in this way to end. Make sure you do not sk the last vertical lp on left-handed side of work. Repeat Steps 2 & 3 till project is of desired length.

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