{"title":"How to Crochet a Foundation Chain: 7 Step Beginner Tutorial","canonicalUrl":"https://www.craftingstepbystep.com/crochet/how-to-crochet-foundation-chain","category":{"slug":"crochet","name":"Crochet"},"creator":{"name":"Just Be Crafty","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT2sJ6UNSc9FklWCN1OfP9A","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VJ3hf-S6lE"},"tldr":"Crochet a foundation chain in 7 steps. Hook hold, yarn-hand setup, yarn over, pull through. The prerequisite for every other crochet stitch.","totalDurationSeconds":433,"difficulty":"easy","tools":["Crochet hook (5mm/H8 for worsted weight)","Scissors"],"materials":["Worsted weight yarn (cotton or acrylic)"],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Step 1: Start With a Slip Knot on the Hook","text":"Make a slipknot at the end of your yarn and slide the loop onto the crochet hook. The slipknot is your anchor - it tightens when you pull but doesn't unravel as you work.If you don't know how to make a slipknot: cross the yarn into a loop, twist it once, and pull a section of the working yarn through the loop. Slide it onto the hook and gently tighten so it grips the hook without choking it."},{"number":2,"title":"Step 2: Pick a Hook Hold","text":"Two main hook holds: KNIFE hold (grip like a kitchen knife with the hook hand) or PENCIL hold (grip like a pen). Beginners usually find knife hold easier on the wrist over long sessions.Whichever you pick, hold the hook lightly. Death-gripping causes hand cramps fast and forces tight inflexible stitches. The hook is heavy enough to do most of the work itself - your job is just steering."},{"number":3,"title":"Step 3: Set Up Your Yarn-Hand Tension","text":"Trap the working yarn between your pinky and ring finger of your non-hook hand. Flip the hand so the back faces up. Run your pointer finger UNDER the yarn that feeds toward the hook.The pointer finger feeds yarn forward; the pinky controls tension. This grip looks awkward at first but it's how every crocheter holds yarn. Practice getting in and out of position 10 times so it's automatic."},{"number":4,"title":"Step 4: Anchor the Slipknot","text":"Press the pointer finger of your yarn hand against the slipknot to keep it from spinning on the hook. Give the yarn a couple gentle tugs to feel where the tension lives in your hand.The hold should feel comfortably firm - not loose enough that the yarn flops around, not so tight your fingertips turn white. This is the position you'll work from for every stitch."},{"number":5,"title":"Step 5: Yarn Over the Hook","text":"Yarn over (abbreviated YO in patterns) - wrap the working yarn around the hook from BACK to FRONT. The yarn passes over the top of the hook and comes back to the front, leaving a fresh loop sitting above the slipknot.Your hook should now have two yarn loops on it: the slipknot below and the new yarn-over loop above."},{"number":6,"title":"Step 6: Pull Through to Make a Chain","text":"Tilt the hook slightly downward to catch the yarn-over loop, then pull it THROUGH the existing slipknot loop. The slipknot drops off; the new loop becomes the active loop on the hook.That's one chain stitch (abbreviated 'ch' in patterns). The chain is the small bump now sitting between the hook and the rest of the yarn."},{"number":7,"title":"Step 7: Repeat to Build the Chain","text":"Yarn over, pull through. Yarn over, pull through. Each repetition adds one more chain. Aim for chains all the same size - roughly the same diameter as the neck of your hook.Set a 10-minute timer and just chain. Don't worry about a project. The first chain is never beautiful; the 50th will be way better. Foundation skill development happens through reps, not through perfection."}],"recipe":null,"lastUpdated":"2026-05-20T13:31:14.315Z","published":"2026-04-26T19:12:45.144Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit ShowMeStepByStep with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure."}