How to Chain Stitch When Crocheting

The chain stitch is the first stitch every beginning crocheter learns. It's literally the foundation of every crochet project. Some patterns will even call it the "foundation row." It's a simple stitch that helps a beginner practice yarn tautness and hook movements. Once you know the chain stitch, you'll become comfortable with crocheting and be able to move on to creating more complex crocheted crafts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Crochet hook
• Yarn

1. Create a slipknot on your hook. Make a hook with your yarn and push a second loop through the first loop. Place your hook into the second loop and pull tight with the tail of the yarn.

2. Prepare to begin your chain. Hold the tail of the yarn between the thumb and middle or ring finger of your non-dominant hand. Loop the other line of yarn (leading to the skein or ball) over your first finger. Hold your hook in your dominant hand with the slipknot loop in the middle of the shaft of the hook.

3. Yarn over. You can do this one of 2 ways. The first is to swing the yarn behind and over the top of the hook. The other way is to swing the hook under and around the yarn. Both techniques result in a second loop on your hook.

4. Pull through. Catch the yarned over loop in the crook of the hook and pull it through the slip knot loop. This is the first chain stitch.

5. Continue to yarn over and pull through for as many chain stitches as you need for your pattern.