Rookies Learn to Crochet: The Chain Stitch
Welcome to the very first installment of my new series “Rookies Learn to Crochet”.
Each week I will present a new lesson, which will build on the skills and techniques we’ve learned from the previous lesson. By the end of this series you will have learned and (hopefully) mastered the following basic skills:
- Chaining,
- Single Crochet,
- Half Double Crochet
- Double Crochet,
- Triple Crochet,
- Changing Color,
- Adding a Border,
- Finishing off and Weaving in Ends.
Learning these basic stitches and techniques are essential in most crochet patterns.
Rookies learn to Crochet – The Chain Stitch
- How to hold your hook and yarn
- Creating a Slip Knot
- Finally, making the chain stitch
So first thing’s first, your supplies.
Let’s dive in!
There are many different ways to hold your hook and yarn. The most important thing to remember is that there is no wrong way to do it. It’s entirely what you feel comfortable with.
The two most common hook holds are:
The knife hold:
And the pencil hold:
Pick whichever hold feels most natural! Now let’s move on to the slip knot and chain stitch.
To start the slip knot:
Wrap it around so that it crosses at the bottom making a loop on the top. Pinch the loop with two fingers to hold it together.
Slip your pointer finger out of the loop you just made
Bring the tail of the yarn from below up behind the loop you just made and pinch it in place. You now have the yarn peeking out of the loop.
Pinch the piece of yarn that is in the middle and pull through the loop to make your slip knot.
Insert your hook into the loop and tug the tail gently to pull the loop taught around your hook.
And now you’re ready to make the chain stitch! Slip knots are so fun and easy to make.
Now to start the chain stitch. Pinch the bottom of your slip knot with two fingers, and bring your hook to the left of your working yarn. *the working yarn is the yarn that is coming off of the ball or skein of yarn you’re using*
Bring the hook from the left of the yarn to behing the working strand, with the hook part facing away from you.
Turn the hook that is facing away from you towards your body, grabbing the strand of working yarn in the process. The working yarn is now underneath the hook.
Continue pulling the hook down and away from your fingers, towards the loop to pull the loop through.
The closer your hook gets to the original loop the smaller it becomes, and you’ll be pulling the working loop through the slip knot to make one chain stitch.
Pull the loop all the way through. You have now completed one chain stitch.