Crochet Chain Tutorial

Learn How to Crochet a Chain

 

Learning how to crochet a simple chain is a great starting point for beginners. It's one of the first crochet stitches you'll learn and is used in most patterns. Get confident with how to crochet a chain and lay the foundations you need to get started with your first crochet project. 


To help you learn how to crochet I’ve created a series of Youtube crochet videos showing basic crochet stitches for beginners. Each video will teach you how to do a different crochet technique or stitch allowing you to learn crochet step-by-step. Just go at your own pace and learn how to crochet as slowly (or quickly) as you want.

 

Watch Tutorial - How to Crochet a Chain 

The first Youtube tutorial is on how to do a crochet chain. This basic stitch is a great place to start and to learn how to hold your crochet hook correctly. Please watch and follow the video to learn with pictures, but you can also follow the written instructions that have been transcribed below the video.

 

 

How to Crochet a Chain - Written Instructions

To start with we're going to use regular Aran wool, which is similar to the yarn used in at most of our crochet kits. I use a three and a half millimeter crochet hook in the video, but feel free to use whichever size hook you have to hand.

This is just practice at this stage, so don’t worry about it being perfect. Just focus on learning the foundations of how to crochet a chain and you can learn to be tidier later!   

1. First, we need to make a slip knot. To do this make a loop with your yarn as shown on photo 1.

First, we need to make a slip knot. To do this make a loop with your yarn as shown on photo 1.
2. Place the strand that leads to the ball of yarn behind the loop.
Place the strand that leads to the ball of yarn behind the loop.
3. Pull the yarn from behind the loop, though the loop.
Pull the yarn from behind the loop, though the loop. 
4. You can now see the yarn that has been pulled through the loop.
You can now see the yarn that has been pulled through the loop.
5. Gently pull it to form a slip knot   
Gently pull it to form a slip knot.
6.  Slowly pull the yarn that leads to the ball of yarn and you will see the loop shrink.
Slowly pull the yarn that leads to the ball of yarn and you will see the loop shrink.
7. Place the loop over your crochet hook. It should be a touch larger than the hook, so that you can work with it, without it slipping off easily.
Place the loop over your crochet hook. It should be a touch larger than the hook, so that you can work with it, without it slipping off easily.
8. Wrap the working yarn (that leads to your ball) around the back of the crochet hook and across the front of your hook as shown. You will need to hold the slip knot in place with your finger, to stop it moving around.
Wrap the working yarn (that leads to your ball) around the back of the crochet hook and across the front of your hook as shown. You will need to hold the slip knot in place with your finger, to stop it moving around.
9. Holding firmly onto your yarn and hook, catch the wrapped strand of yarn fully under the crochet hook.
Holding firmly onto your yarn and hook, catch the wrapped strand of yarn fully under the crochet hook.
10. Pull the loop though the slip knot. You will need to angle the hook slightly to ensure the full strand pulls through without it splitting. Take care not to catch any of the yarn from the slip knot. If it's hard to pull through, gently loosen the slip knot a little.
Pull the loop though the slip knot. You will need to angle the hook slightly to ensure the full strand pulls through without it splitting. Take care not to catch any of the yarn from the slip knot. If it's hard to pull through, gently loosen the slip knot a little.
11. Well done - you have made one chain stitch! You will have one loop on your hook, and a small V shaped chain stitch under the loop.

 
Well done - you have made one chain stitch! You will have one loop on your hook, and a small V shaped chain stitch under the loop.

12-14. Repeat steps 8 to 10 again to form one more chain stitch. Repeat steps 8 to 10 as many times as required

Repeat steps 8 to 10 again to form one more chain stitch. Repeat steps 8 to 10 as many times as required

 

Repeat steps 8 to 10 again to form one more chain stitch. Repeat steps 8 to 10 as many times as required

 

Repeat steps 8 to 10 again to form one more chain stitch. Repeat steps 8 to 10 as many times as required

 

15. Photo 15 shows 6 chain stitches. To count the chains, simply count the Vs under your hook. When counting your chain stitches, the small knot at the bottom does not count, nor does the loop that's still on your hook.

Photo 15 shows 6 chain stitches. To count the chains, simply count the Vs under your hook. When counting your chain stitches, the small knot at the bottom does not count, nor does the loop that's still on your hook.

 

16 Photo 16 shows 10 chain stitches. Now follow the next instruction on your pattern! Happy chain stitch making!

Photo 16 shows 10 chain stitches.

 

And there you have it - the basic instructions to learn how to crochet a chain. You may need to practice a few times to get it right, but as the old saying goes, 'practice makes perfect'. 

 

Learn How to Crochet with Wee Woolly Wonderfuls

Check out our Crochet Tips section, where we'll be adding content related to learning how to crochet.

Get started by reading and watching: How to Crochet a Magic Circle for Beginners

You can also find more crochet tutorials on the WWW You Tube Channel. 

Download our Free PDF Guide - Ten Crochet Tips and Tricks for Beginners

 

Crochet Kits for Beginners

Learn how to do amigurumi crochet with our Complete Crochet Kits for Beginners. 

Each kit contains everything you need to make your first ever crochet project including yarn, stuffing, crochet hooks and more. Each kit also has clear instructions, a pattern and step by step video crochet tutorials to take you through the whole process painlessly.  

 

 

Get Crochet Help, Support & Community! 

Our Facebook Group full of help and support for crochet lovers, so you can ask questions if you get stuck. It's fun and friendly, and you can share photos and 'meet' other crochet lovers!
Request to join here, or search Facebook for 'Wee Woolly Wonderfuls - community of Woolly friends'. It's an all-inclusive crochet community and we look forward to seeing you. 
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