CGOALHCrochetLessonChainStitch

Crochet Lessons for Right-Handers

More on Foundation and Turning Chains

When crocheting into a foundation chain, you need to skip a certain number of chains before working your first stitch into the foundation. Another way to think of it is making "extra" foundation chains that will serve as the turning chain. For example, if you want to end up with 12 single crochet stitches, you need to start with a foundation chain of 13 (12 plus 1).

And after you have completed your row of stitches, you also need to crochet a certain number of chains for the turning chain. This chart will help you remember how many chains you need in the turning chain for each type of stitch.

This chart also answers these common questions:

where do I insert my hook when I start a new row?
when do I count the turning chain as a stitch?
when do I work into the turning chain on the row below?

Crochet Stitch

Number of Chains to skip at beginning of foundation chain

Number of Chains to make before begin next row (for turning chain)

Count Turning Chain as Stitch?

Work into Turning Chain on row below?

Insert hook at beginning of row:

Slip Stitch

0
(insert hook into 1st chain from hook)

0

N/A

N/A

In 1st stitch

Single Crochet

1
(insert hook into 2nd chain from hook)

1

No

No

In 1st stitch

Half Double Crochet

2
(insert hook into 3rd chain from hook)

2

No

No

In 1st stitch

Double Crochet

3
(insert hook into 4th chain from hook)

3

Yes

Yes

In 2nd stitch

Triple Crochet

4
(insert hook into 5th chain from hook)

4

Yes

Yes

In 2nd stitch

Crochet Stitch	Number of Chains to skip at beginning of foundation chain	Number of Chains to make before begin next row (for turning chain)	Count Turning Chain as Stitch?	Work into Turning Chain on row below?	Insert hook at beginning of row:
Slip Stitch	0 (insert hook into 1st chain from hook)	0	N/A	N/A	In 1st stitch
Single Crochet	1 (insert hook into 2nd chain from hook)	1	No	No	In 1st stitch
Half Double Crochet	2 (insert hook into 3rd chain from hook)	2	No	No	In 1st stitch
Double Crochet	3 (insert hook into 4th chain from hook)	3	Yes	Yes	In 2nd stitch
Triple Crochet	4 (insert hook into 5th chain from hook)	4	Yes	Yes	In 2nd stitch