Crochet Basics: How to Work Single Crochet in Rows

If you are a beginner at crocheting, it may be easier to crochet back and forth stitches with a knit stitch than to crochet with a round stitch.
Casting on a chain and then picking up stitches from the chain is easy to knit as it can be done in the same way, and since the number of stitches does not change in each row, it is also easy to count the stitches.
Please try this out to practice knitting.

Video Tutorial

This video explains how to crochet a round-trip knit stitch.
Cast on with a chain stitch (see separate page for how to crochet a chain), then crochet the knit stitches, turning the stitches inside out after each row.

On this page (below the video) there is an explanation using knitting patterns called "How to read knitting patterns", so if you read that first, it will be easier to understand the video.

How to read knitting patterns

We will explain the knitting pattern for "round knitting."
In the video above, we knit up to the third row of the knitting pattern explained here.

From here on, the points in the knitting pattern that will be explained will be indicated by bold symbols.
You can quickly read just the "How to Knit" section, or if you have time, please also refer to the logic behind the knitting pattern in the "Knitting Pattern Explanation" section.

[How to knit ①]

To start knitting, start by chaining 6 stitches (cast-on).

[Knitting pattern explanation]

Looking at the knitting pattern, the six hollow ovals at the bottom represent the cast-on stitches.
For example, if there are 10 ovals, you will need to chain together 10 stitches.

[How to knit ②]

Knit the row indicated by "←1" (first row).
Knit one chain stitch, then insert the needle into the sixth cast-on stitch (the last chain stitch knitted in step ①), pick up the back of the chain and one strand on the other side, and knit one small stitch.

[Knitting pattern explanation]

When knitting the first stitch of a row (called the "starting stitch"), knit a "starting chain."
The bold "X" symbol represents a knit stitch, and the vertical oval next to it represents the starting chain. For knit stitches, knit one starting chain stitch as shown in the pattern.

The first knit stitch is made at the chain stitch (sixth stitch), and the crochet hook is inserted so that it covers the other side of the chain stitch and the back of the knot, and knit one knit stitch.
The first chain stitch and the first knit stitch (thick line symbol) together form the first stitch.

As a side note, in addition to knitting single crochets, when knitting double crochets, double crochets, and extra double crochets, you also knit a starting chain when knitting the first stitch of the row.
When knitting a knit stitch only, the starting chain stitch alone is not counted as the first stitch; the set of "1 starting chain stitch + 1 knit stitch" is considered to be the first stitch.
Other knitting methods will be explained on a separate page, but since this is a point that can easily become confusing, it's a good idea to keep it in the back of your mind.

[How to knit ③]

Next, knit one knit stitch at a time into each chain stitch you created.
Once you have knitted to the end, check to see if you have knitted 6 quarter stitches in the first row.

[Knitting pattern explanation]

The number of "X" knitting symbols indicates the number of stitches to be knitted.

[How to knit ④]

Once you have completed the first row, turn the piece over and proceed to the second row.
For the second row, just like the first row, crochet one chain stitch to start the work, then crochet one knit stitch.
The place to knit the first quarter stitch is the last quarter stitch you knitted in row 1. Insert the crochet hook so that it picks up the two strands of yarn at the top of this stitch and knit a quarter stitch.
Repeat this process from the third row onwards, turning the knitted fabric inside out for each row.

[Knitting pattern explanation]

In a knitting pattern for round trip knitting, the starting position changes from right to left with each row.
In most cases, you will knit the even rows while looking at the back of the knitted fabric.
The exception to this rule is when the reverse side of the knitted fabric has a better or cuter look, and in that case the reverse side is used as the front of the piece. In such cases, there should be an explanation to that effect.

<Thread used in explanatory image>
Hamanaka: "Doo!"
This is a fluffy 100% wool yarn.

Recipes using "round-trip knitting"