Chain: How to Do It Step by Step

Chain is a crochet stitch that makes foundation row, turning height, and open spaces. Makers reach for it for foundation chains, turning chains, mesh and lace. It is rated beginner here, so it is a good stitch to learn early and practice on a small swatch before a real project.

1. Make a slip knot and place it on the hook. 2. Wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front (yarn over). 3. Pull the yarn through the loop on the hook. 4. Repeat, keeping each chain the same size. 5. Count chains by the Vs, not including the loop on the hook. Work slowly for the first few repeats, keep your tension even, and check the result against the steps before continuing across a whole row or motif.

US patterns abbreviate chain as ch. UK patterns use the same abbreviation, ch, so this one reads the same on both sides of the Atlantic. Pattern keys list every abbreviation used, usually near the materials list.

The most common problems are: chaining too tightly, which puckers the first row; counting the loop on the hook as a chain; twisting the chain before joining a ring. Most are easy to spot if you pause after a few repeats and compare your work with the steps. Good light helps a great deal, especially with dark yarn or thread.

Stitches closely related to chain include Slip Stitch (Crochet), Single Crochet, Magic Ring. Learning them together makes patterns easier to read, because many designs switch between related stitches to change texture, height or line. Each has its own step-by-step page in the stitch dictionary.