I learned to crochet as a teenager. Years later, I almost forgot the technique, then joined a handcraft group, and my passion for crochet was reawakened. Now, I crochet in front of the television most evenings, making bookmarks, bags, scarves, and more. I’ve made gifts for family and friends, items for myself, and even sold some on eBay.
If you want to learn how to crochet or step up your skill level, online courses are a fantastic resource. I checked a range of providers and selected a range of the best crochet courses with clear visuals and simple instructions so you can easily follow along and create your own projects.
Click on the shortcuts for more details:
- Why You Should Trust Us and How I Chose These Courses
- Top Picks
- What is Crochet?
- Terminology
- Specific Techniques
- More Resources
- Networking and Communities
Why You Should Trust Us and How I Chose These Courses
Class Central, a “Tripadvisor” for online education, has helped 100 million learners find their next course. We’ve been combing through online education for more than a decade to aggregate a catalog of 250,000 online courses and 250,000 reviews written by our users. And we’re online learners ourselves: combined, the Class Central team has completed over 400 online courses, including online degrees.
But online learning isn’t restricted to scholarly courses or job-ready skills. You can also learn hobbies such as music, sports, and handcrafts. Trying to find “the best” can be daunting, even for those of us who live and breathe online courses. Here’s how I approached this task.
First, I combed through Class Central’s Catalog and the internet to find a variety of online crochet courses.
When choosing courses, I considered these factors:
- Instructor experience: I sought instructors with engaging presentation styles and extensive crochet experience
- Course content: I examined courses that covered a range of techniques from absolute beginner to advanced stitch combinations and reading patterns. I watched many course videos. Crochet is learned most easily by watching and listening to instructions, so I preferred videos with clear close-up and slow-motion visuals and simple accompanying explanations
- Learner reviews: I read learner reviews (when available) to get a sense of the quality of each course, leveraging the Class Central database with its thousands of course ratings and reviews written by our users, as well as available course provider reviews. I also checked the number of enrollments and views to find popular courses and videos.
Ultimately, I used a combination of data and my own judgment to make these picks. I’m confident these recommendations will be a reliable and enjoyable way to learn how to crochet. Jump in and join a course or two!
Here are our top picks
Click to skip to the course details:
| Course Highlight | Duration |
| Best Free Short Course for Absolute Beginners (YouTube) | 30 mins |
| Best Free Beginner Course With UK and US Terms (YouTube) | 1 hr 30 mins |
| Best Project-Based Course for Beginners (Skillshare) | 1 hr 30 mins |
| Best Amigurumi Course (Skillshare) | 5-6 hours |
| Best Free Left-Handed Crochet Tutorials (YouTube) | 13-45 mins |
| Best Course for Reading Crochet Patterns (Craftsy) | 2 hours |
| Best Virtual Team-Building Crochet Scrunchies Workshop (CourseHorse) | 1 hour |
| Best Intermediate and Advanced Stitches Tutorials (YouTube) | 15 mins – 2 hours |
What is Crochet?
The word “crochet” comes from the French word for “hook”. All that’s needed to get started is some yarn, scissors, and a crochet hook. Crocheters use the hook to twist the yarn into stitches and patterns, creating 2-D or 3-D items. Although the origin of crochet is unknown, theories include origins in Arabia, South America, and China.
Crochet eventually made its way to Europe, with a similar craft, “shepherd’s knitting,” pre-dating the term “crochet” that first appeared in a Dutch magazine in 1823. Various styles of crochet have developed in many countries around the world, but this Best Courses Guide (BCG) mainly focuses on American tutorials.
As with many creative arts, crochet can lead to a sense of achievement and better mental health.
If you’ve never tried crochet before, check out the beginners’ courses I’ve recommended in this BCG, and you’ll be making all these stitches in no time. And if you’re an experienced crocheter, there are plenty of tutorials to boost your skills.
Terminology
You’d think it would be simple to pick up any pattern and know exactly what stitches to make, but guess what? In the USA and Canada, crochet stitches have different names than in the UK, Australia, and many other countries. As an Australian, the first stitches I learned were chain, slip stitch, double crochet, and treble. One day, I ordered a crochet book from the USA and was mystified by “single crochet”. I soon learned that American and British terminology are different!
But don’t despair, as Melu Crochet explains, just take 1 from the UK names for the US names.
Best Free Short Course for Absolute Beginners (YouTube)
- Level: Absolute beginner
- Channel: Crochet Guru
- Views: 915K
- Likes: 2.1K
- Duration: 30 mins
- Cost: Free
If you’ve never held a crochet hook before but want a quick, no-nonsense introduction to the basic stitches, you can’t go past Crochet Guru’s Learn How to Crochet – Beginner Courses. Bobbie Thomson describes and shows the best yarn and hooks for beginners, and better still, she explains why to use these. Plenty of close-up videos show exactly how to hold the yarn and hook and how to make the stitches.
Why I Picked This Course:
- Clear videos and instructions that start from the very beginning
- You can go through the whole course in half an hour.
Cons:
It just gives the basics. If you want more complex patterns, look elsewhere.
Best for:
Absolute beginners or those who need a refresher on how to hold the hook and yarn and make the basic stitches.
For more tutorials, see the Crochet Guru YouTube channel and website. Make hats and flowers, learn stitch combinations, and master the magic ring (also known as a magic circle or magic loop).
Best Free Beginner Course With UK and US Terms (YouTube)
- Level: Absolute beginner
- Channel: HappyBerry Crochet
- Views: 685K
- Likes: 47K
- Duration: 1 hr 30 mins
- Cost: Free
Laura Eccleston of HappyBerry Crochet is from the UK but teaches How to Crochet – The Basics for Absolute Beginners in US and UK terminology. Learn the basic stitches as well as some simple combinations and how to read a crochet pattern. You’ll also see Laura teaching absolute beginner Misi to crochet.
Why I Picked This Course:
- Clear videos and instructions that start from the very beginning
- As an Australian who learned UK crochet terminology, I found the parallel UK/US terminologies useful to help remember what stitch we’re actually doing in each video
- It moves beyond the basics more than the concise course above.
Cons:
If you’re just starting out, you may find the references to both UK and US terminologies confusing.
Best for:
Absolute beginners or those who need a refresher
Crocheters who want the stitch names in both UK and US terminology.
For more tutorials, see the HappyBerry Crochet YouTube channel and website.
Best Project-Based Course for Beginners (Skillshare)
- Level: Beginner
- Instructor: Toni Lipsey
- Enrollments: 8K
- Duration: 1 hr 30 mins
- Cost: Subscription (free trial)
In Modern Crochet: Essential Skills for Getting Started, you will not only learn the basic crochet stitches, you’ll understand color theory and create a set of four simple coasters to keep or give as a gift.
Why I Picked This Course:
- Learn color theory so you can create your own unique coasters
- Techniques include making borders so your coasters are finished off neatly.
Cons:
Not free, although you can probably finish the course within the free trial period.
Best for:
Learners keen to create a real finished project.
Best Amigurumi Course (Skillshare)
- Level: Beginner/Intermediate
- Instructor: Emilie Bolduc
- Enrollments: 1.2K
- Duration: 5-6 hours
- Cost: Subscription (free trial)
Amigurumi is the Japanese art of creating small, stuffed creatures, characters, or objects by crocheting or knitting. The term is a combination of the Japanese words “ami” (meaning knitted or crocheted) and “kurumi” (meaning wrapping or stuffed doll). Join Emilie Bolduc as she teaches you how to make four cute amigurumis: lion, flamingo, crocodile, and giraffe. You’ll crochet the figures, stuff them, and finish them off with some quick and easy sewing.
Why I Picked This Course:
- Amigurumis are super-cute and very popular with crafters of all ages
- It also includes a left-handed version.
Cons:
Not free, although you can probably finish the course within the free trial period.
Best for:
Crafters who have some crochet experience. Although the instructions are suitable for beginners, you’ll find it easier to make the Amigurumis after you have some experience with basic stitches and handling the yarn and hook.
Best Free Left-Handed Crochet Tutorials (YouTube)
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Channel: Easy Left Handed Crochet Tutorials
- Subscribers: 2.8K
- Duration: 13-45 mins
- Cost: Free
If only left-handed crochet videos were available in the 1960s!
I am left-handed. My right-handed mother tried to teach me to crochet as a girl, but the experiment ended in frustration and shredded tempers. In my teen years, I learned to crochet from a right-handed school friend whose left-handed mother had taught her to crochet left-handed. Complex, isn’t it? It isn’t just a case of holding the hook in the left hand. Left-handers work from left to right, not right to left. And when working on round projects, we go clockwise, not anti-clockwise.
Christa has produced many video tutorials showing a range of simple and more complex projects made left-handed.
Why I Picked This Course:
- You don’t need a mirror to follow the hand movements if you’re a leftie
- Many creations are original and beautiful.
Cons:
The videos are of projects rather than detailed explanations of the basics, so if you’ve never crocheted before, you might find them challenging.
Best for:
Left-handed people learning how to crochet.
See more of Christa’s videos on The Secret Yarnery YouTube channel and website.
Best Course for Reading Crochet Patterns (Craftsy)
- Level: Beginner
- Instructor: Shannon Leigh Roudhán
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Cost: Paid
Not all patterns are equally easy to decipher. In Reading & Understanding Crochet Patterns, you will learn how to recognize a top-quality pattern as well as how to follow the instructions to make projects. You’ll also apply your skills to create and professionally finish a beautiful scarf, designed exclusively for this course.
Why I Picked This Course:
- Although I am an experienced crocheter, I’ve never learned how to read the symbols on crochet charts. This course explains them
- The finishing techniques add a professional touch to your creations.
Cons:
It helps to be familiar with the basics of crochet before taking this course.
Best for:
Anyone wanting to tackle crochet patterns and raise their crochet skill level.
Best Virtual Team-Building Crochet Scrunchies Workshop (CourseHorse)
- Level: Beginner
- Provider: CourseHorse
- Rating: 4.8 stars
- Duration: 1 hour
- Cost: Paid
In this internet age, do you have a widespread team that can’t meet in the same room but would benefit from some team-building activities? Set up this instructor-led workshop on Zoom so everyone can learn a simple crochet design together.
Why I Picked This Course:
- You won’t just learn to crochet, you’ll build team spirit as everyone tackles a project together
- Hair scrunchies are easy to make, and most people know someone with long hair.
Cons:
Even though many men are happy to learn crochet, some teams may have members who don’t want to participate.
Best for:
Virtual teams that want to get to know each other outside the work environment.
Best Intermediate and Advanced Stitches Tutorials (YouTube)
- Level: Intermediate/Advanced
- Channel: The Crochet Crowd
- Duration: 15 mins – 2 hours per video
- Cost: Free
You can make many beautiful items with basic stitches, but when you learn more stitch combinations, the sky’s the limit, and some designs are truly gorgeous. Mikey from Canada will guide you through making blankets, pillows, shawls, hats, and even a cute llama.
Why I Picked This Course:
- You’re sure to find inspiration from this wide range of zigzag, mandala, flowers, mosaics, and many more designs
- Learn a range of stitch combinations, moving on from the basics.
Cons:
Not for beginners! You need to be comfortable with making the basic stitches and be ready for new challenges.
Best for:
Everyone wanting to learn new crochet stitches, raise their skill level, and make stunning creations.
Specific Techniques
YouTube is particularly useful for free tutorials on specific techniques:
- Magic Ring (MJ Carlos, 2-3 mins)
- Finger Crochet Without a Hook (Nicki’s Homemade Crafts, 9 mins)
- Granny Square in Several Colors (The Secret Yarnery, 21 mins)
- 7 Methods for Joining Granny Squares (Crochet With Tiffany, 50 mins)
- Join Squares with an Invisible seam (Meema Makes, 15 mins)
- Uneven stitches? You may need to Adjust Your Crochet Tension (Play Hooky with Me, 5 mins)
- Common Beginner Crochet Mistakes That Nobody Told me About (and how to avoid them) (Lucy Liang, 12 mins)
More Resources
Different countries have different ways to measure crochet hook size and yarn thickness. At first, use the recommended yarn and hook size recommended by the pattern or tutorial you are using. When you have built up some experience, you can start adapting patterns and experimenting with different hooks and yarns. This guide by Yarn Worx will help you decide how to pair your hook and yarn for the best results with different projects.
Find more online courses in Class Central’s Crochet subject, and you can find thousands of patterns on Etsy, Pinterest, eBay, Amazon, and elsewhere.
Networking and Communities
- Reddit r/crochet (1.8M members), r/crochethelp (101K members), r/crochetpatterns (271K members)
- Meet fellow crocheters through Crochetville. Ask questions, share projects, and crochet for charity.
- Work on the same project as others with Crochet.com and keep the momentum going.
Did this list help? We’ve got 200+ more for you. Check our Best Courses Guides to find your next course!
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