Lesson 3: How to Make a Chain Stitch
- Olivia Ghosh
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
A chain stitch is one of the first stitches beginners learn in crochet, and it is also one of the most important. Many crochet projects begin with a row of chain stitches because they create the foundation for the rest of your work. Once you become comfortable with making chain stitches, you can start building many different projects.
To begin, make sure your slip knot is already on your crochet hook. Gently tighten the loop so it fits around your hook, but not too tightly. Your loop should still be able to move easily through the hook.
Next, turn your hook slightly away from yourself and bring the hook under your working yarn, which is the longer piece of yarn connected to the yarn ball. This step is called a yarn over. Then rotate your hook back toward yourself and pull the yarn through the loop that is already on your hook.
When you pull the yarn through, you will create your first chain stitch. Repeat these same steps again to continue making more chains.
When I first started learning chain stitches, some of my chains looked too tight and others looked too loose. After practicing, I learned that crochet becomes easier when you relax your hands and try to keep your stitches the same size.
Steps to Remember:
Put your slip knot on the crochet hook
Adjust the loop so it moves easily on the hook
Turn the hook away from you
Bring the hook under the working yarn (yarn over)
Turn the hook back toward yourself
Pull the yarn through the loop
Repeat to make more chains
Tips for Beginners:
✔ Keep your hands relaxed
✔ Do not pull the yarn too tightly
✔ Practice slowly at first
Olivia’s Tip: Chain stitches might feel tricky at first, but don’t worry if they are not perfect. Mine were different sizes when I started too. Keep practicing because every chain stitch helps you improve!
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