How to Crochet a Chain
Put the yarn on your finger., Wrap the string around your finger., Pull on the X "arm"., Slide the yarn through to form another loop., Adjust your loop., Hold the hook up in front of you., Pull the yarn up and over the hook., Catch the yarn with the...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Put the yarn on your finger.
Stick out your pointer finger so that the nail is facing away from you.
Now, drape the end of the yarn over your finger.
The end should be on the front side of your finger, with about 1-1.5" of yarn extending below your finger.
The rest of string should fall behind your finger.
Use your thumb on the same hand pressed at your fingertip to hold the yarn in place. -
Step 2: Wrap the string around your finger.
Grasping the string behind your finger with your free hand, pull it toward you and then up and over your finger to wrap it around.
You should see two loops formed around your finger.
Now, adjust the second loop that you just made so that it goes over the top of the first loop, forming a sort of slanted X shape.
Once you've formed this X shape, you can hold the slack from the rest of the string in your middle and ring fingers on the same hand that is wrapped in yarn. , Looking down at the top of your finger at the X which is formed, locate the upper "arm" of the X which is closest to the end of your finger (of the left if you made the loop on your right hand, on the right if made on your left hand).
Pinch this arm with your free hand and pull on it just a little to make it slack. , Now, from your fingernail side, reach under the arm and grab the other arm from behind it.
Pull that string under and through.
You should see another loop or circle start to form above your finger, made from the string you're pulling.
Once it's about as big as the loop on your finger, slide the whole thing off of your finger carefully.
This should leave you with a clear loop and a very open, loose, beginning of a knot.
If it doesn't, try again. , Pinching the loop with your fingers, pull on the short end of the string to tighten the knot.
Adjust as you go to make sure you don't end up with too much tail.
You want to maintain a tail length of 1-2".
Once the knot is tightened, you should be able to slide it to create a bigger or smaller loop.
Place your hook through the loop and set it at a comfortable tightness.
This structure that you've ended up with is called a slipknot and is the basis for starting most crochet projects. , Hold the hook with the loop on it up in front of you.
It should be pointing toward the opposite hand from the one that's holding it, with the long end of the string behind the hook.
The loop should be sitting about 1" down from the curved end of the hook.
This means that the knot should be below the hook. , Taking the long end of the yarn, pull it up and over the top of the hook.
The knot should remain below the hook and the rest of the yarn should now be in front of the hook.
This is called a yarn over. , Pull the hook so that the curved end moves forward and catches the yarn you just pulled over the hook.
The yarn should be nested in the hook now. , Pull the yarn, using the hook, through the slipknot loop.
You have now made your first chain. , Repeat the process of yarning over and pulling it through until you have as many chains as you need for your project.
If you need to count chains, lay the chain flat.
You should see a series of V shapes.
Each V is a single chain stitch. , If you just want a chain, such as if you're making a bracelet, you can tie off your chain when it reaches the desired length.
Simply clip the yarn at least an inch from your last stitch, catch the last remaining end with the hook, and pull it all the way through the loop.
Give it a good tug to secure the end. , You can also change direction in order to start a new row.
This will be the most common route for most crocheters.
When you make a new row, you will be rooting your stitches in the chain that you made.
How this is done will depend on your project, so you'll have to follow your pattern.
The most likely options are to use single crochet or double crochet.
Before you start this new row, you will make a couple of extra chains (usually two, it can vary depending on the size and tightness of your stitches).
Chain these extras and then root your next row in the last proper stitch in your chain. , Another option is if you are crocheting a circle.
In this case, once you are done making your initial chain (usually four stitches), you will join the ends together to form the beginning of your circle.
This is done using a slip stitch.
With the last loop of your chain on your hook, push the head of the hook into the very first stitch on your chain.
This will make two "loops" on the hook.
Grab the yarn with your hook, just as if you were chaining normally, and pull it through both loops.
This will leave you with one loop on the hook and you'll be ready to start your next "row". -
Step 3: Pull on the X "arm".
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Step 4: Slide the yarn through to form another loop.
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Step 5: Adjust your loop.
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Step 6: Hold the hook up in front of you.
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Step 7: Pull the yarn up and over the hook.
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Step 8: Catch the yarn with the hook.
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Step 9: Pull the yarn through the loop.
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Step 10: Repeat until you have as many chains as you want.
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Step 11: Tie off your chain.
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Step 12: Change direction to start a new row.
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Step 13: Join the ends to form a circle.
Detailed Guide
Stick out your pointer finger so that the nail is facing away from you.
Now, drape the end of the yarn over your finger.
The end should be on the front side of your finger, with about 1-1.5" of yarn extending below your finger.
The rest of string should fall behind your finger.
Use your thumb on the same hand pressed at your fingertip to hold the yarn in place.
Grasping the string behind your finger with your free hand, pull it toward you and then up and over your finger to wrap it around.
You should see two loops formed around your finger.
Now, adjust the second loop that you just made so that it goes over the top of the first loop, forming a sort of slanted X shape.
Once you've formed this X shape, you can hold the slack from the rest of the string in your middle and ring fingers on the same hand that is wrapped in yarn. , Looking down at the top of your finger at the X which is formed, locate the upper "arm" of the X which is closest to the end of your finger (of the left if you made the loop on your right hand, on the right if made on your left hand).
Pinch this arm with your free hand and pull on it just a little to make it slack. , Now, from your fingernail side, reach under the arm and grab the other arm from behind it.
Pull that string under and through.
You should see another loop or circle start to form above your finger, made from the string you're pulling.
Once it's about as big as the loop on your finger, slide the whole thing off of your finger carefully.
This should leave you with a clear loop and a very open, loose, beginning of a knot.
If it doesn't, try again. , Pinching the loop with your fingers, pull on the short end of the string to tighten the knot.
Adjust as you go to make sure you don't end up with too much tail.
You want to maintain a tail length of 1-2".
Once the knot is tightened, you should be able to slide it to create a bigger or smaller loop.
Place your hook through the loop and set it at a comfortable tightness.
This structure that you've ended up with is called a slipknot and is the basis for starting most crochet projects. , Hold the hook with the loop on it up in front of you.
It should be pointing toward the opposite hand from the one that's holding it, with the long end of the string behind the hook.
The loop should be sitting about 1" down from the curved end of the hook.
This means that the knot should be below the hook. , Taking the long end of the yarn, pull it up and over the top of the hook.
The knot should remain below the hook and the rest of the yarn should now be in front of the hook.
This is called a yarn over. , Pull the hook so that the curved end moves forward and catches the yarn you just pulled over the hook.
The yarn should be nested in the hook now. , Pull the yarn, using the hook, through the slipknot loop.
You have now made your first chain. , Repeat the process of yarning over and pulling it through until you have as many chains as you need for your project.
If you need to count chains, lay the chain flat.
You should see a series of V shapes.
Each V is a single chain stitch. , If you just want a chain, such as if you're making a bracelet, you can tie off your chain when it reaches the desired length.
Simply clip the yarn at least an inch from your last stitch, catch the last remaining end with the hook, and pull it all the way through the loop.
Give it a good tug to secure the end. , You can also change direction in order to start a new row.
This will be the most common route for most crocheters.
When you make a new row, you will be rooting your stitches in the chain that you made.
How this is done will depend on your project, so you'll have to follow your pattern.
The most likely options are to use single crochet or double crochet.
Before you start this new row, you will make a couple of extra chains (usually two, it can vary depending on the size and tightness of your stitches).
Chain these extras and then root your next row in the last proper stitch in your chain. , Another option is if you are crocheting a circle.
In this case, once you are done making your initial chain (usually four stitches), you will join the ends together to form the beginning of your circle.
This is done using a slip stitch.
With the last loop of your chain on your hook, push the head of the hook into the very first stitch on your chain.
This will make two "loops" on the hook.
Grab the yarn with your hook, just as if you were chaining normally, and pull it through both loops.
This will leave you with one loop on the hook and you'll be ready to start your next "row".
About the Author
Janice Richardson
A passionate writer with expertise in creative arts topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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