The chain stitch crochet is one of the essential stitches that all beginner crocheters should learn in the first few hours of starting out. Once you’ve mastered the most basic crochet stitches, you’ll be able to move on to more complicated crochet stitches and stitch patterns.
With this crochet chain stitch tutorial, learning how to start a chain crochet project, you’ll be well on your way to learning how to crochet.
Chains are often used to start a crochet project, often called the foundation chains. When you advance you may want to learn foundation stitches such as the foundation single crochet.
The crochet chains are also used when starting rows, and are then refereed to as turning chains.
So if you’re new to crochet, start with the chain stitch crochet and follow our easy step-by-step guide below to learn how to do it.
Find more: Beginner Crochet Stitches.
Table of Contents
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The steps of Crochet Chain Stitch
A quick written description:
- Starting a crochet chain with a slip knot
- Yarn over
- Pull yarn through the loop
Repeat step 1 and 2 to make more crochet chains
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About the Crochet Chain Stitch
Learn how to crochet the Chain Stitch.
The chain stitch crochet is one of the essential stitches that all beginner crocheters should learn in the first few hours of starting out. Once you’ve mastered the most basic crochet stitches, you’ll be able to move on to more complicated crochet stitches and stitch patterns.
Project level: Easy
Materials
Crochet Hook
Use any crochet hook size that works with your yarn.
If you’re following a crochet pattern, use the crochet hook and yarn suggested to get the correct gauge.
Other Materials Needed
- 3 light yarn with a 4.5 mm, 5 mm or 5.5 mm crochet hook
- 4 medium yarn with a 5.5 mm, 6 mm or 6.5 mm crochet hook
- 5 bulky yarn with a 6.5 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm or 9 mm crochet hook
For crocheting chains you can use any type of yarn from acrylic yarn, wool yarn to cotton yarn.
If it is you first project, I suggest trying size:
In the photos the yarn used was 4 medium worsted weight yarn.
The exact sizes doesn’t matter, but the experience for a beginner improves if you have a crochet hook and yarn that match fairly well.
If you do start with a yarn that’s a lot thinner, it may become more challenging, the same goes with a crochet hook and yarn that’s a lot thicker.
If you have just one hook and yarn, use what you have!
Crochet a Blanket
Use this crochet stitch pattern to crochet a blanket! Learn more about crochet blanket sizes & making one with any size crochet hook & yarn:
Abbreviations
The most common crochet abbreviation is ch in both US crochet terms and UK crochet terms.
This is used for both multiple chains and one chain.
You will mostly also see the abbreviation list written like this: ch = chain(s).
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Learn more about crochet abbreviations & find a complete list on our Crochet Abbreviations & Terms post.
Instructions for the Crochet Chain Stitch
Step-by-step Photo Instructions
Make a Slip Knot: Make a slipknot loop and place it on your crochet hook.
Yarn Over: The next step is called yarn over. Hold the long yarn tail in your left hand and place it over your crochet hook. Notice how you should hold the short yarn tail between your middle finger and ring finger to stabilize it.
Always yarn over from back to front.
Pull Yarn Through The Loop: The yarn you just “yarn over” will stay completely in place & the loop will make it’s way over the yarn & the hook. You have now made the first chain stitch.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 once to crochet the second chain. Then repeat the steps again to crochet more chains and obtained the desired number of stitches.
Crochet Chain Stitch Crochet Chart Symbol
The chain stitch crochet chart symbol is simple and looks like a “0” (zero).
It will be turned in the direction it will lay in your finished crochet work.
Photo showing the ch crochet stitch chart symbol.
Counting Your Chain Stitches
To continue on to crochet single crochet stitches (sc) or other basic crochet stitches, you will need to know how to count your chains.
On the photo below you will see 5 chains crocheted and the arrow pointing to the numbered chain stitch.
Each time you repeat yarn over and pull the loop through, you will create a loop called the chain stitch.
Crochet Foundation Chain Stitches
The foundation chain crochet stitches are the first chains you crochet to create a crochet project.
In most cases you crochet into chains made on the foundation row on the first row or round of the crochet project. Like working single crochets into chains.
Without the foundation chain stitches, you wouldn’t have anything to crochet into to create your crochet project and because of this the chains are essential stitches when crocheting.
These crochet stitches are often also called crochet start chain or crochet starting chain.
What are chain spaces in crochet?
When chains are used to create gaps or openwork stitch pattern they are refereed to as chain spaces.
To create a chain space, you will crochet chains and then in most cases also skip a given number of stitches to create gaps.
Stitch patterns that include chain spaces are often called lace stitch patterns, but can also be found in the traditional granny squares.
Chain spaces are often abbreviated “ch-sp”. If specified with a number they will be abbreviated like this: “ch-2-sp”, “ch-3-sp” ect.
Turning Chains for Crochet Chain Stitch
When you are working in both rows and rounds, you will come across the term crochet turning chain.
These are chains you crochet to start the row, that may count as the first stitch of the row. If it counts as a stitch or not will be specified in the pattern.
The number of turning crochet chains you crochet depends on the height stitch you will crochet on the next row. If you have a low stitch, like a row of single crochet, you may only chain 1. For a taller stitch like the double crochet stitch you will crochet 2-3 chains to reach the correct height.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chain stitch the same as a single crochet stitch?
No, the chain isn’t the same as a single crochet stitch. The chain are a made with the two steps: yarn over and pull yarn through the loop. The single crochet are made with 3 steps: Insert hook into stitch/space to pull up a loop, yarn over and pull yarn through the loop on the hook.
What is the difference between a chain and a stitch in crochet?
There’s a difference between a chain and a stitch in crochet. The biggest difference is the fact that a chain is a stitch. A stitch in crochet can be any type of steps starting of with working into a given space and that finish of with having just one loop on the crochet hook. Examples are a single crochet, double crochet and more complex stitches.
Where do I crochet into a chain?
When crocheting into a chain you will most commonly crochet into the bar that is closest to your.
You may also work into the back bump of the chain, which are the small bump on the backside of the crocheted chains. This will create a more pretty edge on your crochet project.
What does it mean to chain 1 crochet?
To chain 1 crochet you will yarn over and pull the yarn through the loop on your crochet hook.
Why does my chain look messy?
There are multiple reasons why your chain may look messy. If you are a beginner crocheter you may not have practice in keeping your tension even as you crochet the loops. That may cause messy looking chains. Next, if your crochet hook is thicker than suggested on your yarn label, you may also have too loose tension that often results in messy looking chains.
To avoid messy looking chains, go down in crochet hook and practice, practice, practice!
