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Crochet stitches, step by step

How to chain

Chain (ch) · Chain (ch) in UK patterns too

Most crochet begins with a chain: a loop pulled through a loop, again and again. A row of chains is the foundation the first row of stitches is worked into. Chains also make the spaces in lace and the turning chain at the start of a row.

  1. Chain, step 1, in 3D yarn on a hook
    Yarn over: wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front.
  2. Chain, step 2, in 3D yarn on a hook
    Draw the yarn through the loop on the hook.
  3. Chain, step 3, in 3D yarn on a hook
    One chain made.

Rendered from Krowshea's 3D yarn, not photographed or drawn by hand, and shown for a right-handed crocheter.

Good to know

Counting
Count the chains themselves, not the loop on your hook. The loop on the hook is never counted.
Turning chains
A few chains at the start of a row lift the yarn to the height of the stitches that follow: usually 1 for single crochet, 2 for half double, 3 for double and 4 for treble.
Chart symbol
An oval.

Written in Krowshea

Chain as code

Krowshea is a programming language for crochet. In Krowshea the foundation chain is a row of its own. Here it is 12 chains, with a row of single crochet worked along it. Krowshea checked it, then wrote the pattern and drew the chart.

chain.krowKrowshea

STASH {
    YARN sea = #2F8C8A [ weight: 4 ]
}

// A chain of 12, then a row of sc along it
LAYOUT Linear {
    ROW 1 [COLOR: sea]: CH 12, TURN
    ROW 2: CH 1 TURNING, SC 12, TURN
}

Written pattern · US terms

  1. Row 1 (sea): Ch 12, turn. (12 ch)
  2. Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in each st across, turn. (12 sc)
Written by Krowshea from the code, with every stitch count checked

Symbol chart

Crochet symbol chart of the chain swatch, drawn by Krowshea
Drawn by Krowshea. Symbols follow the Craft Yarn Council chart standard

Krowshea is in development

Write your own patterns as code

Krowshea checks every stitch count and makes the chart and written pattern from one source. Join the beta list to hear when you can try it.

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