Chain stitch

The chain stitch forms the basis of crochet, it's a simple stitch that's fun and easy to make

Facts & handy tips

Chain stitch is the simplest of the crochet stitches, and forms the foundation of most crochet work. It can also be used as a technique on its own - it basically creates a chain of stitches!

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Step By Step

1 chain stitch

1.

The chain stitch is the foundation of most crochet, so hope you'll enjoy learning this technique.

Start off by making a slip knot (we have a separate video for this: https://www.woolandthegang.com/how-to/knit/how-to-tie-a-slip-knot).

2 chain stitch

2.

Place the slip knot on the shaft of your crochet hook. Pull the yarn strand so the slip knot sits fairly tight, but not too tight on the crochet hook. You should be able to move the slip knot across the hook.

3 chain stitch

3.

Hold the hook in your right hand and the yarn in your left hand.

4.

Start with the crochet hook in front of your yarn and hold the yarn in your left hand as in the picture. Move the point of your crochet hook UNDER the yarn, then OVER it so it's wrapped around the hook once.

7 chain stitch

5.

Scoop up the yarn with your hook, then pull it through the loop that's already on your hook.

6.

Slide the new stitch towards the shaft of your hook. You have now made one chain stitch! Great work :) Your work should now look like the image to the left.

8 chain stitch

7.

Slide the new stitch towards the shaft of your hook. You have now made one chain stitch! Great work :) Repeat and you should see a chain forming that should look like the image to the left. This is your foundation chain, the start of most crochet projects. Well done! Hope you enjoyed that, and good luck with your crochet project.

This is how you do it

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