Bank Holiday Crochet Project: The stitches

Ugh outside it is cold and dark and raining.  I feel like snuggling up on the sofa with a big mug of tea and a hot water bottle.  This is not how summer bank holiday weekends should be!  To cheer myself up I think a spot of colourful crochet is in order.  I'm in the middle of making a striped beach blanket, and working the rows of colour is definitely cheering me up.

It's a brilliant pattern for a beginner, it's very simple - you just need to know two stitches and because it uses a nice chunky hook it works up very quickly.  Also I think it's great to get your teeth stuck into a nice juicy project! 

So if you are an absolute beginner these are the stitches you will need to know to complete the project:

Chain Stitch

1. Make a slip knot (take your yarn, make a big loop around the four fingers of your left hand leaving a decent length of 'end yarn'.   At the point where the 'end yarn' and the 'ball yarn' crosses over pinch a loop of 'end yarn' through the big loop around your fingers and pull this loop through. Put your crochet hook into the little loop and then pull the 'end yarn' to close the loop around your hook.  This is the starting point for your crochet!
2. Now for the chain stitch! Holding the hook in your right hand and the 'ball yarn' in your left hand, twist the hook backwards and use the hook to pick up the yarn.  Twist the hook back to the front and pull the yarn on your hook through the slip stitch which is on your hook.                  
   
   Repeat as many times as needed, this time pulling the yarn through the slip stitch on your hook.  Try and keep a good tension - not too tight and not too loose!!

Double Crochet

1. Wrap the yarn over the hook. 
2. Insert the hook into and through the stitch. (you should have 3 loops on your hook)
3. Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through the first two stitches on the hook (2 stitches on hook)
4. Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through the remaining two stitches on the hook (1 stitch on hook)