Have you ever started a larger crochet project that calls for a long foundation row and you had to crochet one thousand chains to get the foundation row done? Maybe I am exaggerating when I say one thousand. But I remember getting so frustrated when I wasn’t familiar with the crochet chainless foundation technique.
I used to get so bored to have to crochet all of those chains, then having to go all the way back and start over again with the foundation row of stitches.
Learning this technique was one of the best things that happened in my crochet journey. You get to the end of your foundation row feeling so much more encouraged.
The reason is because you do two steps in one. Once you do it for the first time, you will hardly look back, I promise.
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Table of Contents
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What does the crochet chainless foundation mean?
The Chainless foundation is a method used to start crochet projects with the stitches (sc, hdc, and dc) embedded to the starting chains. So, instead of making a long chain, you crochet the stitches and the starting chain at the same time.
Well, once you start learning how to crochet, the first stitch you will get a hang of will certainly be a chain. Then, you will most likely learn how to single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet. So, the chainless foundation is a method that you want to use from the beginning.
But remember, you will only be able to use it to start a project that calls for back-and-forth horizontal rows of plain single, half double and double crochet stitches and that you don’t have to skip chains. For example, you will use it to start blankets, scarves, and rugs.
Tutorial Notes
- For this tutorial, you will need a crochet hook and yarn.
- The instructions are written using US terminology.
- The tutorial is for single, half double and double crochet, but once you get a hang of it, you will figure out easily how to do treble crochet as well.
- If you are working on someone else’s pattern, even if the instructions don’t call for a chainless foundation, you may still do it. It won’t change the final result of your project.
- If you are a visual learner, there is a short video tutorial that I created a while ago. The video tutorial is for double crochet only, but it will be very helpful.
- In fact, once you are familiar with for the single and half double stitches you only have to add a few tweaks. The video is at the bottom of this blog post.
Here is how you do the crochet chainless foundation
The chainless foundation is a technique in crochet where you make a foundation row without having to crochet a lot of chains.
You can use it with any project that has plain rows of single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet and treble crochet.
This technique makes it so much easier to start larger projects, like blankets, for example.
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Start with a slip knot
Chain 2, for the single crochet foundation. If you are doing your foundation with half double crochet stitches, chain 3. If you are doing it with double crochet stitches, chain 4.
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Learn how to start the first stitch
In this step, insert the hook in top loop of next chain, if you are doing the single crochet foundation. For the half double crochet foundation, yarn over, skip two chains and insert the hook in top loop of third chain. For the double crochet foundation, yarn over, skip 3 chains, insert the hook in fourth chain.
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With the hook inserted, yarn over again and pull up a loop.
Next, you will have two loops on the hook, if you are doing the single crochet foundation. If you are doing the half double or the double crochet foundation, you will have 3 loops on the hook.
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Next, yarn over again
This step applies for the single, half double and for the double crochet foundation.
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Pull through one
You will now have 2 loops on the hook for the single crochet foundation. For the half double and for the double crochet foundation, you will have 3 loops on the hook.
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Yarn over one more time
This step applies for the single, half double and for the double crochet foundation.
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Finish the first stitch of the crochet chainless foundation
Now, pull through 2 loops for the single crochet foundation. Pull through all 3 loops if you are doing the half double crochet foundation.
If you are doing the double crochet foundation, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 2 loops again. You now have 1 loop on the hook if you are doing any of the three foundation stitches.At this point, you have the first stitch done for the foundation.
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Start second stitch
Insert the hook in the two loops in the bottom of the stitch for the single crochet foundation. For the half double and for the double crochet foundations, yarn over, then insert the hook in the two loops in the bottom of the stitch.
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Finish the second stitch
Finally, yarn over and pull through those two loops for any of the three of the single, half double and double crochet foundations.
You now have 2 loops on the hook if you are doing the single crochet foundation. If you are doing the half double or the double crochet foundation, you have 3 loops on the hook.
Estimated Cost: 5 USD
Supply:
- Worsted weight (4) yarn
Tools:
- Crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Materials: Stitch markers, if needed
Pin the crochet chainless foundation tutorial for later
Watch the video below for the tutorial, the one I mentioned in the notes section above. The tutorial if for the double crochet Chainless foundation.
Repeat steps 4-9 until you reach the desired foundation length.
Pint the crochet chainless foundation tutorial for later
I hope you found this step by step for the crochet chainless foundation helpful.
Drop a comment below if you have any questions or if you just would like to say “hi”. Another way to reach out to me is by joining my community group on Facebook.
If you use any of my patterns or tutorials for a project, please tag me @zamiguz or use the hashtag #zamiguzmakers. I would love to see what you make.
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