Crochetology.net has two documents explaining basic crochet stitches. One is from “Corticelli Lessons in Crochet Book no. 1, Also a few new designs for knitting”, published by the Corticelli Silk Mills, Florence, Mass, 1916. This document sets the US Standard of crochet stitch terminology.

The other document is from “Beeton’s Book of Needlework” originally published in Great Britain in 1870 by Ward, Lock and Tyler. This document uses the British Standard of crochet stitch terminology. (Most of the instruction/charts in Crochetology.net use the US standard.)

Take a look at both documents and try making the basic crochet stitches – chain, slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet. Then try making basic shapes using the basic stitches: a circle, a square and a rectangle. Instead of fine cotton thread, use acrylic yarn and a suitable size crochet hook, perhaps an aluminum hook size 4/0.

The crocheted beade turtle purse.

The crocheted and beaded turtle purse was one of my first exercises in basic crochet. Using the simple stitches mentioned above, I made the different parts of the turtle, (1) turtle shell (carapace); (2) turtle underside (plastron); (3) head; (4) four legs; and (5) turtle tail.
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