How to Slip Stitch

     To make a slip stitch (aka magic loop), chain six.

     Then, insert your crochet hook into the first stitch you chained.

     Yarn over and pull it through both of the loops on your hook.

     You have just made the slip stitch!

How to Increase and Decrease

     I know I say this with everything, but increasing and decreasing is super easy to do with crocheting!

How to Increase

     All you do is crochet two or more stitches (in the example, it is four double crochets to make it more visible) in one loop.

      After you increase, just crochet as you normally would. :)

How to Decrease

     Single Crochet Two Together

     To begin, single crochet up to the point that you wish to make the decrease.

    Insert your hook into the next stitch and yarn over.

     Pull the yarn over through the stitch. You will have two loops on your hook.

     Insert your hook into the next stitch again, yarn over, and pull up another loop.

     Yarn over and pull it through all three of the loops on your hook.

     Half Double Crochet Two Together

      Half double crochet up to the point that you wish to make the decrease.

     Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.

     Yarn over again and pull up a loop.

     Yarn over, insert your hook into the next stitch, and pull up another loop. You will now have five loops on your hook.

     Yarn over and pull the yarn through all five loops on your hook.

     Double Crochet Two Together

     Double crochet up to the point that you wish to decrease.

     Yarn over.

     Insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop.

     Yarn over and pull it through two loops on your hook.

     Yarn over, insert your hook into the next stitch, and yarn over again.

     You will now have four loops on your hook.

     Yarn over and pull the yarn through two stitches.

     Now yarn over for a final time and pull it through the remaining three stitches.

How to Triple (Treble) Crochet

     Triple Crochet (tr) is probably the largest crocheted stitch out there. It definitely helps you to complete a project faster!!

     First, chain five more stitches than you need to create a turning chain.

     Wrap the yarn around your hook twice and insert your hook into the fifth chain from your hook.

     Yarn over again and pull the yarn through the stitch you just picked up.

     Yarn over and pull it through two loops. You will have three loops left.

     Yarn over and pull it through two loops again. You will have two loops left.

     Yarn over and pull it through the remaining two stitches. 

You have now completed one Triple Crochet stitch! Finish the round and chain five, then continue to Triple Crochet in every stitch.

How to Half Double Crochet

     Half Double Crochet (hdc), is exactly what the name implies! It is half of the Double Crochet stitch.

     To hdc, chain a few extra stitches to make a turning chain (this will keep your work nice and even).

     Wrap the yarn around your crochet hook.

     Insert your crochet hook into the desired stitch and wrap the yarn again.

     Wrap the yarn around your hook once more and pull it through all three loops on your crochet hook.

     You have now completed a Half Double Crochet stitch! Continue for several rounds and your swatch will look like this: