The Different Types of Crochet: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Crochet Styles & Techniques

The Different Types of Crochet: A Complete Beginner-Friendly Guide to Crochet Styles & Techniques

When most people picture crochet, they imagine a hook, a ball of yarn, and maybe a cozy blanket draped over a couch. And while that image isn’t wrong, it only shows a tiny portion of what crochet can actually be.

The truth is, crochet is an entire creative universe filled with different styles, techniques, textures, and artistic approaches. Some methods create plush toys, others create graphic artwork, and some produce fabrics that look almost like knitting. Each style has its own personality and creative possibilities.

For beginners, this can feel both exciting and overwhelming. You might wonder:

  • Which type of crochet should I start with?

  • Are all crochet projects made the same way?

  • Do I need different tools?

  • Will these techniques be too difficult?

The good news? Every crochet style builds on the same basic skills. Once you learn the fundamentals, you can explore new techniques at your own pace.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the most popular crochet styles, including:

  • Traditional crochet

  • Granny square crochet

  • Solid and shaped granny squares

  • Tapestry crochet

  • Mosaic crochet (overlay and inset)

  • Tunisian crochet

  • Amigurumi crochet

Along the way, you’ll learn what makes each style unique, what kinds of projects they’re best for, and which techniques are beginner-friendly.

Let’s explore the many creative paths crochet has to offer. 🧶


Affiliate Disclosure

Some links in this guide may be affiliate links, meaning a small commission may be earned at no extra cost to you if you choose to purchase through them. Only tools and supplies genuinely helpful for crocheters are recommended. Thank you for supporting Twisted Stitches Crochet Studio and helping keep free crochet education available for beginners. 

Start Here: Building Your Crochet Foundation

Before diving into specialty techniques, it’s important to understand that nearly every crochet style starts with the same core skills.

If you’re completely new, your first steps should include learning:

These stitches and skills become the building blocks for every crochet style you’ll learn later.

Another early challenge beginners face is understanding crochet abbreviations. Patterns are full of short forms like SC, DC, CH, and SL ST, which can feel confusing at first.

Keeping a printable abbreviations cheat sheet nearby makes learning much smoother and helps you read patterns confidently.

Once you’ve practiced the basics, exploring new crochet styles becomes exciting instead of intimidating.

Traditional Crochet: The Foundation of All Crochet Styles

Traditional crochet is what most people learn first. It uses one hook and creates fabric stitch by stitch, working either in rows or rounds.

This method includes stitches such as:

Traditional crochet is extremely versatile and used to make:

  • Blankets and throws

  • Scarves and hats

  • Sweaters and cardigans

  • Dishcloths and potholders

  • Pillows and home decor

  • Bags and accessories

Most beginner tutorials and projects start here because these stitches teach essential skills:

  • Stitch consistency

  • Tension control

  • Turning rows

  • Counting stitches

  • Recognizing stitch structure

Traditional crochet also introduces shaping, borders, and pattern reading.

One of the most famous projects created with traditional crochet stitches is the granny square.

Granny Square Crochet: A Beginner Favorite

Granny squares are iconic in the crochet world and often one of the first projects beginners make.

A classic granny square is built using clusters of stitches worked in rounds, usually with color changes. These squares are small, portable, and easy to practice.

Granny squares are popular because they are:

  • Beginner-friendly

  • Fast to complete

  • Great for practicing color changes

  • Easy to fix if mistakes happen

  • Perfect for scrap yarn

Once made, squares can be joined together to create:

  • Blankets

  • Bags

  • Sweaters

  • Pillows

  • Wall hangings

  • Table runners

The repetitive rhythm of granny squares makes them relaxing and confidence-building for beginners.

Many crocheters enjoy experimenting with color combinations, creating unique designs with simple stitches.

Solid and Shaped Granny Squares

After mastering traditional granny squares, many crocheters explore variations.

Solid Granny Squares

Solid granny squares remove the gaps between stitch clusters, creating denser fabric with a modern appearance.

These squares are useful when projects need more structure, such as:

  • Sweaters

  • Tote bags

  • Pillows

  • Structured blankets

Solid squares also provide smoother surfaces for colorwork or textured stitches.

Shaped Granny Squares

Shaped squares add designs inside the square using stitch placement and shaping.

Popular examples include:

  • Heart squares

  • Flower squares

  • Star designs

  • Seasonal motifs

These are perfect for gifts, themed blankets, or decorative projects.

Learning shaped squares introduces beginners to shaping techniques, stitch placement, and color control.

Tapestry Crochet: Painting with Yarn

Tapestry crochet transforms crochet into visual artwork.

Instead of working with one color at a time, you use multiple colors simultaneously. Unused yarn strands are carried inside stitches so color changes create pictures or patterns.

Tapestry crochet can produce:

  • Words and lettering

  • Pictures and symbols

  • Geometric designs

  • Graphic blankets

  • Wall hangings

  • Tote bags and accessories

This technique requires careful tension control and attention to detail, but the results are stunning.

Beginners can start with simple two-color patterns before moving on to detailed designs.

Tapestry crochet is especially appealing for crocheters who enjoy bold or artistic projects.

Mosaic Crochet: Bold Patterns Made Easy

Mosaic crochet looks complicated, but it’s surprisingly beginner-friendly once you understand how it works.

Instead of juggling multiple colors in the same row, you typically use one color per row and create patterns using stitch placement.

Two main types exist:

Overlay Mosaic Crochet

Overlay mosaic crochet uses stitches worked into front loops and dropped stitches that overlay previous rows.

This creates:

  • Raised textures

  • Dramatic color contrasts

  • Bold geometric patterns

Overlay mosaic is often used for:

  • Blankets

  • Pillows

  • Wall art

  • Table runners

Even simple stitch combinations create professional-looking designs.

Inset Mosaic Crochet

Inset mosaic crochet works slightly differently, often in rounds, creating smoother fabric.

It is commonly used for:

  • Hats

  • Scarves

  • Garments

  • Circular designs

Both types allow beginners to create impressive patterns without advanced colorwork skills.

Tunisian Crochet: A Crochet-Knitting Hybrid

Tunisian crochet blends characteristics of knitting and crochet.

It uses a longer hook or a hook with a cable extension. Instead of finishing each stitch immediately, loops remain on the hook and are worked off in a return pass.

This creates fabric that looks knitted but is made with crochet techniques.

Tunisian crochet fabric is:

  • Thick and structured

  • Smooth and uniform

  • Great for colorwork

  • Ideal for blankets and scarves

Popular Tunisian stitches include:

  • Tunisian simple stitch

  • Tunisian knit stitch

  • Tunisian purl stitch

This style appeals to crocheters who like knitting’s appearance but prefer crochet tools.

Beginners may need practice adjusting tension, but projects grow quickly once comfortable.

Amigurumi Crochet: Bringing Yarn to Life

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting small stuffed toys and figures.

This technique has become hugely popular because of how adorable and giftable the finished projects are.

Amigurumi typically uses:

  • Single crochet stitches

  • Continuous rounds

  • Increases and decreases for shaping

  • Tight tension to prevent stuffing from showing

Common amigurumi projects include:

  • Animals

  • Dolls

  • Characters

  • Fantasy creatures

  • Plush toys

Amigurumi is fantastic for learning shaping techniques and stitch control.

Watching a toy take shape in your hands is incredibly rewarding, and handmade plushies make meaningful gifts.

Why Exploring Crochet Styles Matters

Trying different crochet styles helps you grow creatively and technically.

Benefits include:

  • Preventing crochet boredom

  • Building new skills

  • Improving stitch consistency

  • Expanding creative options

  • Finding your personal crochet style

Some crocheters love relaxing repetitive blankets. Others enjoy detailed colorwork or toy making.

There is no correct style — only what brings you joy.

Exploring helps you discover what excites you most.

Beginner Tips for Trying New Crochet Techniques

When exploring new styles, keep these tips in mind:

Start small. Practice with swatches or small projects before committing to large ones.

Use simple yarn. Smooth, medium-weight yarn makes learning easier.

Follow tutorials. Videos and step-by-step guides help visualize techniques.

Accept mistakes. Every crocheter frogs (rips out stitches) sometimes.

Take breaks. Learning new methods can be mentally tiring.

Most importantly, enjoy the learning process.

Helpful Resources for Beginner Crocheters

As you explore crochet styles, keeping beginner resources nearby makes learning easier.

Helpful tools include:

These tools help you grow skills without frustration and keep crochet enjoyable.

Choosing the Right Style for You

If you're unsure where to start, consider your interests:

Want relaxing projects? Try traditional crochet blankets.

Love color and art? Explore tapestry crochet.

Enjoy bold patterns? Try mosaic crochet.

Like plush toys? Dive into amigurumi.

Want knit-like texture? Experiment with Tunisian crochet.

Crochet is flexible, and you can move between styles anytime.

Final Thoughts: Crochet Has Endless Creative Paths

Crochet is so much more than a single technique. It’s an entire creative world filled with textures, colors, shapes, and possibilities.

Whether you make cozy blankets, modern geometric patterns, detailed artwork, or cute plush toys, there is a crochet style that fits your personality and creative spirit.

If you’re just beginning, remember:

Try new techniques slowly.
Practice without pressure.
Follow your curiosity.
Celebrate small wins.

And above all, enjoy the process.

Because crochet isn’t only about what you create…

It’s about the calm, comfort, and creativity you feel while creating it. 🧶






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts