How to make a Chain in Crochet

A chain is the foundation of your work. You will start with your chain (unless you use a different method, which is completely possible and acceptable) whether you want to make a square or a circle - either way you need your chain. So, how do you make your chain in crochet?

Tension when Creating your Chain in Crochet

This is your slip knot - the start of your crochet project. This is one of the most common ways of holding your hook and yarn. Holding it like this helps controlling the tension better, and not just when you make your chain in crochet.

First you make your slip knot (click here for the video tutorial on this). Then, you need to make sure to keep your tension the same throughout your work. Sounds easy enough, right? It can be tricky and I often find my chains differ greatly in size. This can definitely be problematic when you want to make two of the same projects and your tension differed. You will end up with one project being tighter than the other.

How to Wrap the Yarn around the Hook (Yarn Over)

One of the first things I learnt when I started crocheting was how to actually grab the yarn. You wrap the yarn around the crochet hook. This doesn't mean that you move your fingers around. You only move your hook.

Hold your crochet hook and yarn comfortably. Then hold the yarn behind the hook. You will always work with the yarn behind the hook.

Hold the yarn behind the hook. This is only the start as to how you wrap the yarn around the hook.

The next part is what they call yarn over (yo). Move your crochet hook by moving your wrist down, under and then behind the yarn. Once, the hook has the yarn in it's claw, you can pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

To yarn over (yo), as it is called, you move your wrist holding the hook. You position it below the yarn and then behind it. This will grab the yarn as shown in the picture.

Pull Through

We all need to pull through issues in our lives, luckily pull through in crochet terms are a lot less strenuous and definitely more fun. After you yarn over (yo), you will pull the yarn closer to the loop, whether it is your slip knot or your chain.

After you yarn over (yo), pull the yarn closer to the last loop.

Pull your yarn through this loop, remember your tension. Keep your tension loose, but not too loose. You need to be able to move easily in and out of the chain you created, but you don't want a big gaping hole there, either. Once you have done this, you have successfully created your first chain stitch!

Pull the yarn through the loop. This is called pull through. Congratulations, you have now made your first chain!

To continue making your chains, you simply need to continue like this. You will push your hook through your previous stitch/loop (from the front) and that will act as your new "slip knot". Once your hook is on the other side, you will yarn over and pull through.

You will push the hook through the last stitch/loop and grab the yarn (yarn over) once you are on the other side and pull through this same loop.

Making a Chain Stitch Long

No one, unless it is a pattern or a teacher, can tell you how long to make your chain for your project. You need to decide how long you need it and how many chain stitches you need to work with. Crocheters work out beforehand how many chain stitches they need to make for the pattern to work out. This requires basic math skills. Something I lack sometimes...

It is important to count your stitches. You can use other yarn to keep track of the amount if needed - it is very easy to loose count, so it is best to tie something around your chain/loop every once in a while. You might need to work in 12's or even numbers. It all depends what your pattern requires.

Remember to add extra chains depending on the stitches you will use in your first row (many do not refer to the chain as the first row, but rather as the base). Once you are done with your chain, you have successfully created the base of your project, the first step in making your very own artwork!

Hope this helped and don't hesitate to ask any questions!

Tutorials: How to Crochet

Great, now you have seen something really nice and you want to try and make it, but you have no idea how. Well, luckily for all the crochet beginners, I have a line of tutorials planned out. It will start with the chain and end somewhere spectacular. We all start somewhere right?

To make it easier, I am writing down the links for the tutorials below. This way you have easy access to them. As we go along, I will update this post of links. If you have any questions, you can drop me a comment at any time and I will reply as soon as I can. I might even answer you with a proper blog post - so please, feel free to voice your fears, theories and misunderstandings of crochet.

Now, the not so long-awaited list:

How to make a Slip Knot
Choosing Your Hook Size
How to Handle Large Crochet Projects
How to make a Chain in Crochet
How to Crochet: Making a Single Crochet Stitch
How to make the Double Crochet Stitch

Comment below!

How to Handle Large Crochet Projects

In another post (Irish Crochet Throw Degrades into Tablecloth) I told you about the Irish crochet tablecloth I was busy with. This is a blog to help you start a big project like that one. In another post, I will tell you how I made one of these motifs.

Starting a Large Project

Starting a crochet project right is just as important as ending it with a beautifully homemade creation. You can't expect to start with a chain and end up with exactly what you want without proper planning, unless that of course was your plan. I'm not going to go into details about selecting yarn and hooks, if you want more info on this subject, look at this blog post.

Draw it out

I started with drawing my idea on a normal A4 paper. You can go into great detail if you want by drawing your motifs, or you can keep it simple by using rough forms. I looked around on the internet for some inspiration and ideas. Often the internet will help me decide how to get the look I have in my head.

Cut it out

This part I find really fun. When I was still planning on making a throw, I cut up any papers I could find and placed them where I wanted the actual motifs to go. Each paper circle got a letter on it, which corresponded with a paper I had, telling me which motif will go in that space.

After I placed them as I wanted them, I start making the motifs. Often I will make changes to the motifs I had planned in my head to fit the pattern, or I will change the pattern for the sake of the motif I really like. Go with it.

Put it Together

This is a personal matter between you and your crochet project. You will have to decide how you want your project linking together. Do you want mesh? Do you want a thick, bulky lining? Do you want a nicely hidden stitch?

Mesh

Mesh is open work that you use to put your crochet motifs together. It will look like a spiderweb between motifs, and can look great in a design. Below is an example of mesh. The small balls are pivots and are not a must. There are also plenty of ways to design mesh, so make sure to do research first!

Bulky Lining

This is what I used for the tablecloth. I created the bulkiness by using single crochet stitches to stitch the two motifs together. In the image below, you can see the bulky lining used in the middle of the combined motifs, whereas the motifs on the outside are combined using hidden stitches. It all depends on what you have in mind.

Hidden Stitch

A hidden stitch can be accomplished with the old fashioned needle - work your motifs together like you would work two pieces of material together with needle and thread, but obviously use your large eye needle and your chosen yarn.

End Result

I find it helpful to take a break from my work (if I have enough time) to give my mind a chance to process the crochet pattern I have worked on. This will allow me to notice and change anything that I might not be comfortable with; something I might not have noticed if I plunged right in.

By thinking of the smaller details beforehand, you can save yourself a lot of time, thinking and struggling once you near the end of your project. Just keep focused and plan it out in any way you feel comfortable with.

Just remember: Planning a pattern does not mean it is now set in stone. You can always change something if your artistic heart calls for it. At the end of the day planning can let you down, but following your heart mostly pays off!