How to Start a Crochet Chain

Crocheting is a fun and easy hobby once you get the hang of it. The basis for nearly all crochet stitches is the chain stitch, sometimes called the foundation stitch. A completed chain stitch looks a lot like a series of little V's. With this stitch mastered, you'll be well on your way to learning how to crochet. Grab a crochet hook and a ball of yarn and let's get started!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Crochet hook
• Yarn

1. Find out how you prefer to hold the crochet hook. You can hold the hook like a knife, with your hand over the top of the hook and your thumb and pointer finger guiding. You can also hold and guide the hook similar to how you would hold an ink pen. Try both ways and stick with whichever is the most comfortable for you.
2. Make a slipknot several inches from the end of the yarn.
3. Thread the yarn through the fingers of your non-crochet hook hand. This is so you can guide the yarn as you crochet.
4. Bring your yarn over your hook and pull the yarn through the loop on the hook. Now you should have one chain stitch made and one loop left on the hook.
5. Make another chain stitch in the same way. Bring your yarn over the hook and draw the yarn through the loop on the hook. Keep the fingers of your yarn-guiding hand close to the hook as you work.
6. Practice the chain stitch until you find an evenness of tension, rhythm and stitch appearance. This is your gauge, and it will affect your stitch-counting when you move on to making projects.

Tips & Warnings

• To start with, try using a larger-gaged crochet hook and a ball of worsted weight yarn.