What is a Chain in Crochet?

The chain stitch is one of the first things you’ll learn in crochet, and it comes up again and again throughout your making life. Many projects that are worked in rows start with a foundation chain. Turning chains appear at the start of almost every row. And alternative foundation methods, like the foundation single crochet, are worth knowing about once you’re comfortable with the basics.

This guide covers what the chain stitch is, how it’s used, what turning chains do, and when a foundation stitch might be a better option than a traditional chain.

How to Make a Chain Stitch

A crochet chain is a series of loops, each one pulled through the last. To make one, start by placing a slip knot on your hook. Then wrap the yarn over the hook (from back to front) and draw it through the loop already on the hook. That’s one chain stitch. Continue in the same way until you have the number of chains your pattern requires.

The abbreviation for chain is ch. It’s the same in both US and UK crochet terms.

The Foundation Chain

When you’re working a project in rows, the first step is nearly always a foundation chain. This gives you the base into which you’ll work your first row of stitches.

How many chains you need depends on the size of your project and the stitch being used. Many patterns require a chain that’s a multiple of a particular number, because the stitch repeat runs in groups. Your pattern will tell you the exact number, so it’s worth checking carefully before you begin.

One thing worth knowing: many crocheters find they chain more tightly than they work other stitches. If your foundation chain ends up quite snug, it can make working into those first stitches fiddly and leave your starting edge noticeably tighter, or shorter, than the rest of your work. Going up a hook size for the foundation chain only is a simple fix that can make a real difference to how the edge sits.

If your foundation chain is a long one, it can be easy to lose track of how many chains you’ve made. One thing you can do to help with this, is to put a stich marker into your chain every 10 or 20 stitches, as it makes them much easier to count in smaller groups.

An Alternative: Foundation Stitches

Once you’re comfortable with a foundation chain, it’s worth knowing there’s an alternative approach: working a foundation stitch directly.

A foundation stitch combines the foundation chain and the first row of stitches into one. Instead of chaining a long length and then working back along it, you build both the base chain and the first row at the same time, stitch by stitch. You can create a foundation stitch for any of the basic crochet stitches, with foundation single crochet and foundation double crochet probably being the most common.

The result is a foundation edge that tends to be more elastic than one made with a standard foundation chain. Also, many crocheters find it easier to work up with an even gauge that matches the rest of their project. It can take a little practice to get the rhythm, but once it clicks, it’s a useful technique to have.

You can find step-by-step guides to two foundation stitches here:

Foundation Single Crochet Stitch

Foundation Double Crochet Stitch

Turning Chains: What They Are and Why They Matter

A turning chain is the chain (or chains) you work at the start of a new row, just after (or sometimes right before) turning your work. Their purpose is to bring your hook up to the correct height for the stitch you’re about to use. Without a turning chain, the first stitch of the row would sit too low and the edge of your work would pull in.

The standard number of chains varies by stitch:

• Single crochet: 1 turning chain
• Half double crochet: 2 turning chains
• Double crochet: 3 turning chains

However, these are general guidelines, and individual patterns sometimes vary from them, so it’s always worth checking your pattern instructions rather than assuming.

Does the Turning Chain Count as a Stitch?

This is one of those things that catches a lot of people out, and you should always read your pattern carefully to check this.

In some patterns, the turning chain counts as the first stitch of the row. In others, it doesn’t. The two approaches lead to very different instructions: if the chain counts as a stitch, you skip the first actual stitch at the base of the chain and work into the second one. If it doesn’t count, you work into the very first stitch at the base of the chain you’ve just made.

Your pattern will specify which approach it’s using and it should be clear from the instructions, although often it is only stated the first time this occurs (not for every row).

When your turning chain does count as a stitch, it can be easy to miss it on the way back. If you finish a row and then work the next row back without working into the top of that turning chain, you’ll gradually lose stitches from your work. A stitch marker placed in the top of the turning chain when you make it is a simple way to keep track. You’ll be able to see it clearly when you reach the end of the return row and need to work into it.

Tips for Working in Rows

Tension. Keeping consistent tension throughout a project comes with practice. It’s normal for your early rows to look slightly different from later ones as you find your rhythm. If tension is something you’re working on, sit comfortably and try not to hold the yarn too tightly as it feeds through your fingers.

Keeping your edges straight. Dropped or added stitches at the beginning and end of rows are the most common cause of slanted or wavy edges. Counting your stitches at the end of each row, at least while you’re learning, and taking care to work or not work into the turning chain (depending on what the pattern calls for) helps you catch any mistakes before they compound over several rows.

Blocking. Even a project with slightly uneven edges can be improved significantly with blocking at the end. It evens out the stitches and straightens the edges in a way that’s hard to achieve any other way. If you’re not familiar with the process, there’s a guide to wet blocking on the site.

Adding a border. Many patterns worked in rows, like blankets, are finished off my adding a border. This can do a lot to even out and disguise any less-than perfect edges, so in my experience it’s best not to worry too much about them.

If you’re working on a blanket, the Crochet Blanket Resource Hub is a good place to find further guides on sizing, stitches, yarn quantities, and construction.

More Crochet Tips and Advice – Plus Two Free Patterns

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About Catherine

Catherine is a crochet designer and educator based in Surrey, UK, specialising in blankets, tapestry crochet, and colourwork. Her patterns have been published in crochet magazines, and her design work is featured in the book 100 Crochet Tiles. She has also designed in collaboration with Sirdar and WeCrochet.

You can find her full pattern collection on Etsy and Ravelry, and her step-by-step video tutorials on YouTube.