Getting Started with the Crochet Chain Stitch

The chain stitch is the foundation of many crochet projects! In this video and tutorial, Charlotte helps us create perfect chain stitches, setting the stage for a successful start to any project. Additionally, below the step-by-step instructions, Charlotte shares a fun way to practice chain stitches that can be used afterward for both knitting and crochet projects. Scroll down to learn more!

This video is part of Charlotte’s Crochet Basics course at the School of SweetGeorgia, where she covers everything from gauge and yarn selection to fundamental stitches.

Materials & Tools Shown

More about Charlotte Lee 

A full skew of yarn that has been chain-stitched!
A full skein of yarn transformed with chain stitches!
Print

How to Make a Crochet Chain Stitch

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

  • Make a slip knot. Hold the yarn with your middle finger and thumb to maintain even tension.
  • Yarn over (wrap the yarn over your hook).
  • Pull the yarn through the loop on your hook.
  • This creates a chain stitch!
  • Continue adjusting your grip on the yarn and newly made chain stitches to keep them even.

Notes

Tips:
  • Work your stitches on the throat of the hook (the wider part) rather than the tapered tip for consistent stitch size.
  • While the slip knot creates a loop on your hook, it does not count as a stitch, only the chains you make afterward do.
  • Also, the loop on your hook does not count as a stitch since it is still active.

Practice Chain Stitches & Make a Project!

Chain stitches are not just a foundation; they can also be used to double the weight of your yarn. In the video, Charlotte demonstrates this technique with a sock blank, transforming it from fingering-weight yarn into aran/bulky weight. Next, she knits a hat with her newly thickened yarn using the Glas Hat pattern by Tabetha Hedrick, an exclusive pattern for the members of the School of SweetGeorgia. Stunning, right? Plus, it’s a fun and creative way to practice chain stitches while ending up with a beautiful project!

The Glas Hat was knitted using yarn that had been chain-stitched.
The Glas Hat was knitted using yarn that had been chain-stitched.

Need Help?

Do you have questions about chain stitches? If you’re an All-Access School of SweetGeorgia member, join us in our Community Forums! One of the great perks of being an All-Access member is the opportunity to ask Charlotte questions about their articles and courses and connect with fellow members.

Not yet a member of the School? We invite you to come and see what it is all about! Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!

You’re also welcome to join us on the SweetGeorgia Yarns Discord server. Our community has discussion threads on knitting, spinning, weaving, crocheting, dyeing, and much more. Feel free to start a conversation, get inspiration from fellow SweetGeorgia Yarns members and ask any questions you may have. 

Together, we share, learn, and grow as a community. We would be happy to have you join us!

Original publication: May 2nd, 2023; Refreshed: May 13th, 2025  

The post Getting Started with the Crochet Chain Stitch appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crocheting Granny Squares for the Jethro Cardigan

Image
Crochet Granny Squares are just so much fun to make! Just… one… more round… one more square… For today’s Taking Back Friday episode, I talk about the crochet granny squares I have been making at every possible moment for this past month. I’ve recently been inspired by the Jethro cardigan design by Tanis Lavallee from Tanis Fiber Arts. The Jethro cardigan combines both knitting and crochet in one project. You start by crocheting a bunch of classic granny squares, and then join them all together. Then, you pick up for knitting the sleeves and trim. It’s a really fun and easy way to play with colour, especially with making your own palettes and colour combinations. Mini-skein sets work perfectly to allow for fun colour play with these granny squares The goal of making these granny squares is to play with colour, but I didn’t want to go and buy 6 to 10 full skeins of DK-weight yarn in order to get enough of each colour. And so, I feel like the answer here is DK-weight mini-skeins . ...
Read more

Joining Crochet Granny Squares – It’s Easier Than I Imagined!

Image
I recently learned how to continuously “join as you go” (JAYG) for crochet granny squares and I LOVE this technique. And so on today’s Taking Back Friday video , I want to share an update on my Jethro Cardigan project and how I joined the granny squares. As I shared in a previous vlog episode , I’ve been making crochet squares out of three different sets of our Superwash DK Party of Five mini-skein sets. I finished making the 36 granny squares needed, which no two are identical. However, after crocheting all of the squares, I was stuck on how to join them together. They simply sat finished in a pile for a couple of weeks. Luckily, Tanis provided resources with her pattern and one of them was for the “Join as You Go” tutorial. It was fantastic. I’m so proud and excited that I’m almost done. I love how it is turning out, and playing with colours has been the most fun part of this project. If you’re interested in making your own Jethro Cardigan, I want to give you some encouragemen...
Read more

Winterful Weave-Along: Weaving WIPs

Image
Part of the fun of any make-along is to connect with fellow makers — to share your progress, ask questions, and be inspired by others’ work. We’ve absolutely loved seeing all of your photos and the journey of all of the weave-along weavers both at our Discord and SOS Forum spaces. SweetGeorgia Team Member, Greta, has now started weaving her second Kaleidoscope Scarf ! Helping to add some additional needed yardage for the border colour with our SweetGeorgia Individual Mini-Skeins (in Bison), Greta is following her own weft order — adding in some yellow picks and writing the order on a sticky note so the pattern can be easily repeated. Greta’s @gretacornejomakes second Kaleidoscope Scarf in-progress There is more weaving project inspiration to be found at our SweetGeorgia Discord space, in the #winterful-weave-along channel. It’s wonderful to follow along as everyone works through the weaving steps together. Also a fabulous opportunity for community learning, as weavers share ...
Read more