Know Your Crochet...How to start Crocheting, Part 3-The Starting Chain

In need of a good DYI project or want to brush up on you crochet knowledge, well my dears, you have come to the right place.

1..2..3..Start!

To create what is known as "the starting chain," "foundation chain," or "base chain," follow these three simple steps. Regardless of the terminology, nearly all crochet projects begin with a starting chain, which consists of a series of loops beginning with a slip knot. Once completed, it resembles a long, straight metal chain. You then crochet the first row of stitches into this chain to begin forming your crochet fabric. In the remainder of this blog, we'll discuss the three steps that unlock your creativity.

First and Foremost, the Slip Knot

Creating a slip knot is the first step in many crochet projects. A slip knot is used to attach the yarn to the crochet hook, allowing you to start making chains. Begin by forming a loop (pic 1), slide the hook under the yarn connected to the yarn ball, and bring the end of your hook around so the yarn wraps around it (pic 2). Pull the yarn through the loop on your hook (pic 3). It now resembles a loose knot, and you simply need to tighten it so the loop matches the size of your hook's shaft (pic 4). You can adjust the knot's size until you start your chain by pulling up on the loop or down on the yarn strand attached to the yarn ball.

Coming in Second...

Understanding yarn placement is crucial! Before diving into the details, let's clarify some key terms: Working Yarn refers to the yarn connected to your yarn ball, which is the strand used for crocheting. Tension describes the tightness or looseness with which you hold your working yarn strand.

In your dominant hand, hold the hook, and in your other hand, hold the working strand. The way you hold your working strand affects the tightness or looseness of your tension. Tension influences the appearance of your stitches. If you hold the yarn too tightly, your stitches will be small and tight, which can cause your project to pull and pucker, making it difficult to crochet the next row. Conversely, if your tension is too loose, your stitches will be too large, your piece will not maintain its shape, the measurements will be incorrect, and the overall look of the project can appear sloppy.

Tension is not a difficult skill to learn; it just requires practice and finding the best way to hold your yarn. The image above shows four different methods of holding your working strand. I hold my yarn like the picture on the bottom row, left side, where the yarn is only wrapped around the pointer finger. Here are a couple of tricks I've learned: First, once your yarn is in position, do not grip the yarn. Let your fingers act as a guide to keep the strand steady while you crochet. Second, if your tension remains too tight or loose after practice, try using a different hook size. If your tension is too tight, use a hook size larger than recommended; if too loose, use a hook size smaller.

Last but not Least

Lastly, let's examine the chain itself. Similar to dissecting a worm or frog in school, we'll explore the anatomy of the chain.

Take a look at the pic in the middle, starting on the left you have your slip knot you just learned how to do and the yarn tail from making the slip knot. Then you have your front and back loops that make the shape of an 'V', the backside of the chain (back bump), your working loop that

stays on your hook, and finally your working yarn strand.

The picture on the right shows what the front side (right side) and the backside (wrong side) of your chain will look like. You'll want to pay attention to what side is facing you because as you are chaining, you can get your chain twisted. It won't have a huge effect on your project, but you won't have a neat straight edge at the end.

Now onto the fun part, making your chain.

Once you have your slip knot in place, and your working strand comfortably situated around the other hand: (1) you'll slip the hook underneath your working strand and bring the end of your hook around so the yarn is wrapped around it, (2) pull the yarn through the loop on the hook, (3) repeat steps one and two until you chain the number you need.

Counting the number of chains you need is simple. Like the chart below, you just count the FRONT (or top) loop.

Naturally, the most effective teacher is experience and repetition. Practice creating chains multiple times to get accustomed to your tension and make crocheting feel more natural.

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