Yes, you can pull loops of yarn through one another with your fingers instead of a hook. Finger crochet is a fun way to experiment with very thick yarn or make a simple chain. It is useful to know where it ends, though: a finger-sized loop won't give you the control of a hook for fine stitches or a fitted sweater.
Try a basic finger-crochet chain
Make a slip knot with bulky yarn and place the loop on your index finger. Reach through the loop, catch the working yarn and pull a new loop through. Repeat until the chain is the length you want, then pull the tail through the last loop to finish. Keep the loops loose enough that your finger moves comfortably.
What can you make?
A chain can become a tie, a decorative strand or the start of a simple project. For wider fabric, you need to learn how to work into previous loops and keep the edges even. This is a good activity for exploring how stitches form, especially with a beginner, but finger crochet and finger knitting are different techniques despite the names sometimes being mixed up.
Choose yarn that makes the loops easy to see
For a first try, choose a smooth, thick yarn in a light or medium shade. It should slide comfortably over your finger without needing to be pulled tight. A very fluffy yarn can hide the loop structure, while a thin yarn makes small loops harder to control without a hook.
You only need a short length for practice. Sit where you can rest the yarn and see your hands clearly. Leave enough slack between the ball and your fingers so each new loop forms without tugging. The aim is to understand the movement, not to make the tightest possible chain.
Know which strand you are pulling
The working yarn is the strand attached to the ball. The short loose end is the tail. When making a chain, draw a loop of the working yarn through the loop already on your finger. Keep the tail separate so you do not accidentally pull it through and finish the work early.
After forming each loop, adjust it gently to a comfortable size. Try to make several loops similar rather than tightening one and leaving the next very large. Uneven chains are normal at first. Pulling the work apart and trying again is part of learning how much yarn each loop needs.
Fix a few common beginner problems
If the loop becomes tight around your finger, stop and loosen it before continuing. If the whole chain twists, lay it down and identify the top V shapes before picking it up again. If a loop slips off, hold it open and put your finger back through it rather than pulling on the yarn in a hurry.
A chain that gets noticeably smaller often means you are tightening as you go. Pause, relax your grip and compare the last few loops. You can practise with a shorter chain instead of trying to rescue a very long one. Comfort and consistency are more useful than speed.
Moving from a chain to wider fabric
To make rows, you need a method for inserting your finger into the previous stitches and pulling new loops through them. Follow a complete finger-crochet tutorial for the stitch you choose, including how to turn and where the first and last stitches go. Guessing the edges can make a small rectangle gradually widen or narrow.
Use a contrasting marker or a loose piece of different-colored yarn to identify an edge if that helps. Count regularly. A few rows are enough to see whether you enjoy the technique before starting a large project with bulky material.
When a crochet hook is the better tool
A hook gives you more control over smaller loops and a consistent tool diameter for gauge. That matters when you want a garment to match a pattern's measurements. Finger crochet can explain the basic idea of pulling loops through loops, but it does not automatically reproduce the fabric made with a specified hook.
If you are learning with a child, keep the yarn loose, supervise the activity and put long strands away afterward. Start with a short practice session and let interest set the pace. A simple chain is a perfectly good first achievement; there is no need to turn it into a complicated project immediately.
If you would like to move from finger loops to a hook, read how to choose a crochet hook and my guide to pattern abbreviations. For someone learning with a child, teaching children to crochet has ideas for keeping the first project enjoyable.