How to create a Chain Stitch?

Knowing how to crochet a chain is a vital first step in learning how to crochet. Crochet chain stitches are where you will work your first row of crochet stitches.

How to Start your design with the Chain Stitch using a Slip Knot (Step by Step Photo Instructions)

Slip Knot Video Tutorial

Step By Step Photo Instructions

Step 1: To start creating our crochet chain, we need to have a slip knot to place onto our crochet hook.

First grab the tail end of your wonder wool with your non-dominant hand.

Step 2: Next Make a small ring grab the working end of the wonder wool and secure the ring with the help of your thumb and finger.

Step3: With your dominant hand, slide the working end of the wonder wool inside the circular ring created from the top.

Step4: Pull the working end of the wonder wool from the other end of the ring.

Step5:Pull tightly from the tail end of the wonder wool to complete the knot.

Step6: You should be able to move the slip knot back and forth easily.

Chain Stitch Video Tutorial

(Step by Step Photo Instructions)

Step 1: Grab the slip knot (or just below it) with your middle finger and thumb of your non dominant hand and hold it there as shown in the pictures.

Step 2: Wrap the wonder wool over your hook (called a yarn over).

Step 3: Use your crochet hook to pull that wonder wool through the slip knot loop on your hook. This is your first chain stitch completed!

To create a series of chain stitches, you’ll continue you wrap the yarn over your hook and pull it through the loop on your hook.

As you create more chains, it’s a good idea to move your non-dominant hand up the chain to pinch it closer to the hook every so often. It makes it easier to hold onto and maintain even tension.
To count your chains, start at the end of your chain where your slip knot is and count from the slip knot over to your crochet hook, counting each V as 1 chain.

Parts of a Chain

Now that we have our starting chain, let’s take a look at the parts of a crochet chain. Each chain has 3 loops:

the front loop (the first loop closest to you),
the back loop (the top loop or the one furthest from you)

Additional Tips & Troubleshooting

Tight chains: If your beginning chain is too tight and you can’t insert the hook into the chains, try going up a hook size or two from where you’re at. Once you get the hang of it you can go back down to a smaller hook size.

Take a deep breath out and try to relax. Many folks get super tense when just learning (and don’t even realize it). Shake your hands and hands, take a deep breath and try again.

Don’t give up! No crocheter in the history of the world say down for the first time with a hook and yarn and created something perfect. My first several projects were a total disaster but that’s ok because it’s all part of the learning process. Have patience with yourself while learning. You can do this!

My chains look loopy and loose! Odds are you’ve worked through just the top of a chain or in the back loop only in this scenario, your tension is too loose or your hook size is too big.
- When you work through the back loop only, your chain can get loose or gappy looking. Make sure you’re picking up both loops (as shown above in the tutorial) when working into the chain, unless the pattern tells you otherwise.
  
  If your hook size is too big, try again with a smaller hook.
  
  If your tension is too loose (you’re holding the yarn too loose) then try holding it tighter in your non-dominant hand and/or loosely wrapping the yarn around your pinky finger to add additional tension.