Start with a smooth, light-coloured, medium-weight yarn, a crochet hook in the size recommended on its label, scissors and a yarn needle. A stitch marker is useful for keeping your place. Light yarn makes individual stitches easier to see.

A slip knot puts the first loop on your hook. To make a chain, bring the yarn over the hook and pull it through the loop already there. Repeat gently, keeping the loops loose enough for your hook to slide through. The loop on your hook does not count as a chain stitch.

For a small practice swatch, chain 11. Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over again and pull through both loops. Repeat across for 10 stitches. This is single crochet in US terms, called double crochet in UK terms. Chain 1, turn, and work into both loops of each stitch for the next row.

Count your stitches at the end of every row and mark the first and last stitch if it helps. Begin with a small practice square. When using a pattern, check its US or UK terminology, hook size, yarn weight and gauge before starting. Consistent stitches come with practice.