Loopy PandaHow to Crochet a Chain Stitch
A chain stitch (ch) is the first stitch most crocheters learn. Make a slip knot on your hook, yarn over, and pull the yarn through the loop on the hook. That is one chain. Repeat to make a foundation chain. When you count, do not count the slip knot or the loop on your hook.
What you need
- Medium (worsted) yarn in a light colour, so the stitches are easy to see
- Crochet hook in the size on the yarn label, usually 5.0 mm (H-8) for worsted
Step by step
- Make a slip knotMake a loop with the yarn, pull a second loop of working yarn up through it, and put that loop on your hook. Pull the working yarn to snug it around the hook, but not tight.
- Hold the yarn and hookHold the hook in your dominant hand. Drape the working yarn over the fingers of your other hand and pinch the tail just below the slip knot.
- Yarn overBring the yarn over the hook from back to front, so it sits in the throat of the hook.
- Pull throughDraw the yarn through the loop on your hook. You now have one chain and still one loop on the hook.
- RepeatYarn over and pull through again for each chain the pattern asks for. Move your pinching fingers up every few chains so you are always holding just below the hook.
- Keep them evenEach chain should be the same size and loose enough for the hook to slide in later. If the chain is tight, use a hook one size larger for the chain only.
- Count the chainsCount the V shapes on the front of the chain. Do not count the loop on the hook or the slip knot. For long chains, put a stitch marker every 10 or 20 chains.
The parts of a chain
Each chain has a front side that looks like a row of little Vs, and a back side with a ridge of bumps (the back bump). You can work the next row into the top loop of each V, into both loops, or into the back bump. Working into the back bump leaves a neat edge that looks like the top of the stitches. Any of these is fine unless your pattern says otherwise.
- “In the 2nd chain from the hook” means: skip the chain right next to the hook and work into the next one. The loop on the hook is never counted.
- Turning chains: at the start of a row, chain 1 before single crochet, 2 before half double crochet, and 3 before double crochet. Whether the turning chain counts as a stitch depends on the pattern.
How chains appear in patterns
| Pattern style | What you will see | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| US written | Ch 15. | Make 15 chains |
| UK written | Ch 15. | Same; the chain has the same name in US and UK terms |
| Chinese written | 起针15针锁针 or 锁15 | Chain 15 to start; 锁针 = chain |
| Chart | A row of small ovals | One oval = one chain; see the chain symbol |
Common mistakes
- Chain too tight. You cannot get the hook back into it. Relax your grip on the yarn, or chain with a larger hook.
- Counting the loop on the hook. This gives one chain too many in your count, so you end up one short.
- Twisted chain. When you work the first row, keep all the Vs facing you so the chain does not twist.
- Starting an amigurumi oval wrong. For ovals (feet, snouts), the pattern tells you to start in the 2nd chain from the hook and work along both sides of the chain. Count the chain twice before you start.
Chain Symbol
The chain symbol is a small oval. Each oval is one chain stitch (ch). In Chinese patterns it is called 锁针 and is often written as “CH” or “锁”; a row of ovals is a foundation chain.
| US name and abbreviation | Chain (ch) |
|---|---|
| UK name and abbreviation | Chain (ch) |
| Chinese name | 锁针 （辫子针） |
| Chinese written shorthand | CH / 锁 |
| Japanese name | 鎖編み（くさりあみ） |
How chains appear in charts
A line of ovals at the bottom of a flat chart is the foundation chain. Ovals inside a chart are chain spaces, for example the ch-3 at the start of a round that stands in for a double crochet.
Does the turning chain count as a stitch?
It depends on the pattern. A ch-1 before single crochet usually does not count; a ch-3 before double crochet usually does. The pattern's notes or stitch counts will tell you.
What does 锁针 mean in a Chinese pattern?
锁针 is the chain stitch. “起针20针锁针” means “chain 20 to start”.
Chart symbols on this page
Frequently asked questions
Do you count the slip knot as a chain?
No. The slip knot and the loop on the hook are not counted. Count only the finished V shapes.
Is a chain stitch the same in UK and US patterns?
Yes. It is called chain (ch) in both US and UK terms. Only the taller stitches have different names.
What is 锁针 in a Chinese crochet pattern?
锁针 is the chain stitch, sometimes also called 辫子针. A line like 起针20针锁针 means “chain 20 to start”.
Why is my foundation chain tighter than my first row?
Most people chain more tightly than they crochet. Use a hook one size larger for the foundation chain, then switch back to the pattern hook.
What does “sc in 2nd ch from hook” mean?
Skip the chain closest to the hook and work your first single crochet into the next chain. The skipped chain acts as the turning chain.
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