Dear Artsy & Craftsy Friends,
Welcome to a new photo tutorial that will show you how to crochet the basic chain, also known as the foundation chain. There are a few variations for the foundation of a crochet project, such as the single crochet foundation, the half double crochet foundation, the double crochet foundation and so on. Each variation has different purposes and makes crocheting a lot more exciting. However, most projects will start with the basic foundation chain. Even when crocheting a circle, or a traditional granny square you will have to make a chain of 4 or more (in case, you are not using the magic circle) so chaining is very important. Ultimately, this basic chain should look like the one shown in the image below.
Grab your yarn and hooks on and let’s get started.
Firstly, you need to make a slipknot and attach it to the crochet hook. If you don’t know how to make the slipknot, you can find the instructions in this photo tutorial. The slipknot on the hook equals to a loop. Wrap the yarn around the hook once, as I did in image 1. Tip: the technical term for wrapping the yarn around the hook is yarn over and in patterns it is abbreviated YO.
Pull the yarn trough the loop on the hook to form the very first chain of the foundation chain as shown in image 2.
Exciting, isn’t it!? Let’s make another chain.
So, yarn over (YO) the hook once, just like we did the previous time (image 3) and pull the yarn through the loop on the hook to form a second chain (image 4).
Let’s make a third chain together and then we’ll let you practice the foundation chain on your own. By now, do you know the two steps that you have to follow in order to make a chain? If not, I will remind you one more time. Yarn over hook (YO) once (image 5) and pull the yarn through the loop on the hook (image 6).
That’s all, folks! Now, practice…practice…practice until your foundation chain looks tidy and even as mine does in image 7.
If you prefer video tutorials better, you can watch the one bellow on how to crochet the foundation chain.
Happy chaining,
The Coolorburbians!
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