How to Crochet a Chain for beginners
Updated: Sep 21
Every crochet project starts somewhere, and most of the time, it starts with a simple chain.
If you’ve already made a slip knot, the chain stitch is the next skill to learn. It’s one of the easiest crochet stitches, but it does a lot of important work. Chain stitches can form the foundation row for a blanket, scarf, washcloth, or hat. They can also show up later in a pattern to create spaces, shape the fabric, or add decorative details.
The good news is that once your hands get used to the motion, chaining feels natural. The tricky part at first is usually tension. Your chains might come out too tight, too loose, or a little uneven. That’s completely normal. With a bit of practice, you’ll get a smooth chain that’s easy to crochet into later.
Let’s walk through it step by step.
What a crochet chain stitch does
A chain stitch looks like a row of little V shapes. When you crochet several chain stitches in a row, they create what’s called a foundation chain. This is the base that many crochet projects are built on.
You’ll often see a pattern begin with something like:
`Chain 20`
That means you’ll make 20 chain stitches before moving on to the next step.
Chains aren’t only for starting projects, though. Crochet patterns use chain stitches in all kinds of ways. They can:
Create open spaces in lace patterns
Form loops for buttons or hanging ornaments
Separate stitches in granny squares and motifs
Shape edges, corners, and curves
Become simple ties, cords, or drawstrings
On their own, chains can even be useful. You can make laces for baby booties, a decorative string for tying packages, or a loop for hanging a handmade ornament.
What you need before you start
You only need two things to practice the chain stitch:
If you’re brand new, medium-weight yarn is a friendly choice. It’s usually easier to see and hold than very thin yarn. A light-colored yarn also helps because you can see each stitch more clearly.
Try not to start with fuzzy or textured yarn if you’re still learning. It can hide the stitches and make things more frustrating than they need to be.
Before you make your first chain, you’ll need a slip knot on your hook. The slip knot creates the starting loop. Once it’s on the hook, you’re ready to chain.
The Chain stitch is an essential part of crocheting. After making a slip knot, the next step in a project is usually to crochet chain stitches in a series. Chain stitches form the foundation on which you build the rest of your project. They are one of several essential stitches that every beginner should know.
Beyond the foundation chain, crochet projects often contain chain stitches scattered throughout the rest of the design. The chain stitches combine with other stitches to form stitch patterns, create spaces between motifs, and shape fabric. As simple chains on their own, they can become laces for baby booties, decorative string for tying packages, and hangers for ornaments.
Keeping your tension correct for chain stitches can take some practice, but it’s an easy stitch to learn. Let’s begin.
How to crochet a chain stitch
The basic movement is simple: yarn over, pull through.
That’s it. You’ll repeat that motion for every chain stitch.
1. Make a slip knot
Start by making a slip knot and placing it on your crochet hook.
The loop should sit on the hook comfortably. It shouldn’t be so tight that it can’t move, and it shouldn’t be so loose that it falls off.
Give the working yarn a gentle tug if you need to adjust the loop. The working yarn is the yarn connected to the ball or skein.
2. Hold the hook and yarn
Hold the crochet hook in your dominant hand. Use your other hand to hold the yarn and the slip knot.
There’s no single perfect way to hold everything. Some people hold the hook like a pencil. Others hold it like a knife. Either way is fine. Use the grip that feels the most natural.
With your yarn hand, pinch the base of the slip knot between your thumb and index finger. This gives you control while you make the stitch.
3. Yarn over from back to front
Loop the working yarn over the hook from back to front. This is called a yarn over.
The yarn should catch in the hook’s groove. Try to keep the motion relaxed. You don’t need to pull hard.
4. Pull the yarn through the loop
Use the hook to draw the yarn through the loop already on your hook.
Once the yarn comes through, you’ve made one chain stitch.
That’s the whole stitch. Nice and simple.
5. Repeat for more chains
To make another chain stitch, yarn over again and pull through the loop on the hook.
Repeat that same motion as many times as your pattern asks for.
If you’re just practicing, try making a chain of 10 or 20 stitches. Don’t worry if the first few look uneven. The goal is to get used to the rhythm.
Yarn over. Pull through. Yarn over. Pull through.
How to keep your chain tension even
Tension is the part that takes the most practice. If your chain is too tight, it can be hard to work into later. If it’s too loose, the stitches may look stretched out and uneven.
A good chain should feel flexible, not stiff. The loops should be close in size, and your hook should move through them without a fight.
Here’s the best beginner tip: move your fingers up the chain as you work.
As your chain gets longer, slide your thumb and index finger up so they stay just one or two stitches away from the loop on your hook. This gives you better control and keeps the chain from twisting around too much.
Try to avoid gripping the yarn too tightly. A light hold is usually better. You want to guide the yarn, not wrestle with it.
If your stitches are too tight, practice making each yarn over a little more relaxed. If your stitches are too loose, hold the working yarn with slightly more control.
It’s normal for your first chain to look wobbly. Make a few practice chains, pull them out, and make them again. That’s part of learning.
How to count chain stitches
Counting chains can feel confusing at first, but it gets easier once you know what to look for.
Each chain stitch looks like a small V. Count each V along the chain.
The loop on your hook does not count as a chain stitch. Your slip knot usually does not count either unless a pattern says otherwise.
So if a pattern says to chain 10, you’ll make 10 V-shaped chain stitches, not counting the loop still on your hook.
A helpful habit is to count slowly as you go:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5...
For longer chains, count in small groups. You can count every 10 stitches and place a stitch marker if you have one. If not, a small piece of contrasting yarn works too.
How to fasten off a chain
Most of the time, you won’t fasten off after making a chain by itself. Usually, the chain is just the start of a pattern, and you’ll keep crocheting into it.
But if you’re making a chain as a cord, tie, or hanger, you’ll need to fasten it off.
Here’s how:
Make your last chain stitch.
Cut the yarn with scissors , leaving about a 6-inch end.
Yarn over with the cut end.
Pull the yarn end all the way through the loop on your hook.
Pull gently to close the stitch.
That locks the end of your chain so it doesn’t unravel.
You can weave in the yarn ends with a yarn needle if you want a cleaner finish, or tie them into your project if the chain is being used as a cord.
What to practice next
Once you can make a chain, you’re ready for one of the most common beginner stitches: single crochet. The chain gives you the foundation, and single crochet teaches you how to start building rows of fabric.
If you’re ready for the next step, follow this post to learn how to crochet single crochet.
For now, practice making a few chains in different lengths. Aim for stitches that are relaxed, even, and easy to see. Once your hands learn the motion, the chain stitch becomes second nature, and that opens the door to so many crochet projects.
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