Finger crochet is a great way to enjoy crochet when you don’t have a hook on hand (or, when your hook isn’t the right size for your yarn). It’s also a great way to teach crochet, since your fingers only have to focus on the mechanics of the stitches and not on how to hold the hook. I’ll show you the basics in this photo tutorial and I’ll share a roundup of 8 free finger crochet patterns to get you started.
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Materials for this post were generously provided by Lion Brand.
Since your fingers are relatively thick when compared to most crochet hooks, start with bulky or super bulky yarns. I used Lion Brand Heartland Thick & Quick that was leftover from the Coastal Redwood Super Scarf for this tutorial. Children can start with medium weight yarns, since their fingers are smaller. (For more ideas for teaching children to crochet, read 10 Tips for Teaching Children to Crochet.)
How To Finger Crochet
Tutorial by Underground Crafter
1) Start with a slip knot.
Once you have your yarn selected, start with a slip knot on the forefinger of your dominant hand (i.e., with your right hand if you’re a righty or your left hand if you’re a lefty). Leave the slip knot loose.
2) Make a foundation chain.
With your other hand, wrap the yarn over your forefinger from back to front. This step is like a yarn over (yo) in standard crochet.
Bend your forefinger and draw the yarn through the loop already on your finger. You may need to use your other hand to help pull the yarn through.
You’ve made a chain!
Continue these steps until the foundation chain is as long as you’d like for your project. Keep your stitches loose so that it’s easy for your fingers to work through them.
3) Make single crochet stitches
Skip the first chain. (The loop on your finger doesn’t count as a chain, so skip the first one that’s off your finger.) This step is like skipping the turning chain (t-ch) in standard crochet.
Insert your forefinger into the next chain.
With your other hand, wrap the yarn over your forefinger.
Draw the yarn through the first loop on your forefinger. You should still have two loops on your finger.
With your other hand, wrap the yarn over your forefinger.
Pull the yarn through both loops on your finger. You’ve made a single crochet!
Insert your forefinger into the next chain. With your other hand, wrap the yarn over your forefinger. Draw the yarn through the first loop on your forefinger. You should still have two loops on your finger. With your other hand, wrap the yarn over your forefinger. Pull the yarn through both loops on your finger. Repeat these steps across until you have a row of single crochet stitches.
To make the next row of single crochet stitches, turn.
Make a chain by wrapping the yarn over your forefinger…
and draw the yarn through the loop on your forefinger.
Repeat the steps for working a single crochet by inserting your forefinger in the next (first) stitch.
With your other hand, wrap the yarn over your forefinger.
Draw the yarn through the first loop on your forefinger. You should still have two loops on your finger.
With your other hand, wrap the yarn over your forefinger.
Pull the yarn through both loops on your finger.
Repeat these steps until you have as many of single crochet stitches as you need for your project.
When you’re ready to finish off your project, cut the yarn, leaving about 5” (13 cm) of yarn tail. Draw that short end through the last loop on your finger to finish off. Use a yarn needle or crochet hook to weave in the yarn tails.
Are you ready to make some finger crochet projects? Here are eight ideas to get you started.
- Finger Crochet Sparkle Cowl by Fiber Flux
- Finger Crochet Cowl by B.Hooked Crochet
- Fun Finger Crochet Scarf for Kids by Fiber Flux
- Valley Yarns Finger Crochet Scarf by Sara Delaney for WEBS
- Very Easy Finger Crochet Infinity Scarf Cowl by Naztazia
- Finger Crochet Market Tote Bag by Make and Do Crew (with video)
- Finger Crochet Scarves by Crochetverse
- Berry Sparkles Finger Crochet Cowl by Fiber Flux