When you are first learning to crochet, the chain and single crochet are most likely two of the first things you’ll learn. The chain is literally the foundation of a good majority of crochet projects (unless you’d rather learn how to make a foundation row.) When I started, I practiced with a single crochet over and over again until I got the hang of how to hold my yarn and how to move my hook. I can’t even count the number of “scarves” and washcloths I made as a kid. Therefore, I wanted to create this chain and single crochet beginner tutorial for all of you just learning the basics!
Don’t forget to reference the video at the end of this post if you get stuck, or learn better visually.
Chain Stitch
Like I mentioned above, the chain stitch is a major foundation of crochet projects that are worked in rows. Even some projects worked in rounds utilize a chain. Let’s dive right into the steps of how to chain!
- Make a slip knot on your hook.
- Yarn over with your hook.
- Draw the yarn you just grabbed with your hook and pull it through the loop on your hook.
- Continue to yarn over and draw your loops through until you have the required amount of chain stitches. One loop should remain on the hook.
Single Crochet Stitch
Once you have your chain, you can now start with you single crochet stitches! These stitches are another basic stitch in the world of crochet. Here’s how you do it:
As a note, when you start your single crochet stitches, you’ll place your first stitch into the SECOND chain from your hook. The loop ON your hook does not count.
- Insert your hook into the second chain from your hook.
- Yarn over, and draw the loop up through the stitch where you inserted your hook. You should now have two loops on your hook.
- Yarn over, and pull the yarn through BOTH loops on your hook. You should now have one loop on your hook.
- Continue this process until you have placed single crochet stitches into all of your chain stitches.
To start a new row:
- Chain 1 and turn your work.
- Insert your hook into the first stitch (right below the chain 1 you just made.)
- Work your stitches all the way across, making sure to count your stitches. You should end up with the same number in each row, and one less single crochet than your original chain number. Ex: If you chained 21, each row should have 20 single crochet stitches.
Tutorial Video
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