Welcome to this lesson
A slip knot makes an adjustable starting loop. The foundation chain is a row of linked loops made from that starting loop. Keep the knot and chain loose enough for the hook to pass through; very tight chains make the next row difficult. This lesson uses US terminology: a chain stitch is abbreviated ch.
Hands-on practice
Try these techniques with Practice Mode
Follow one illustrated step at a time, then record your own practice. The counter is self-reported; the site cannot see or evaluate your stitches.
Follow along
Work through the steps
- 01
Make an adjustable loop
Leave a tail several inches long. Cross the tail over the working yarn to make a loop. Bring a bight of the working yarn through the loop, then pull gently on the working strand and tail to form an adjustable knot. The loop should slide smaller or larger.
- 02
Place the loop on the hook
Put the hook through the adjustable loop. Pull the working yarn to snug the loop around the hook shaft. It should touch the hook without squeezing it; you still need to move the hook through it.
- 03
Yarn over
Hold the knot close to the hook with your non-hook hand. Bring the working yarn over the hook from back to front so the hook catches the strand. This movement is called a yarn over (yo).
- 04
Pull through the active loop
Turn the hook throat slightly toward the active loop and draw the caught yarn through it. The loop left on the hook is the new active loop; the linked loop below it is one chain stitch.
- 05
Repeat and count
Repeat the yarn over and pull-through to make more chains. Count the V-shaped chain stitches below the hook. Do not count the active loop on the hook or the initial slip knot as a chain stitch.
Common snags and fixes
Counting the active loop
Count the completed V shapes below the hook. The active loop remains on the hook and is not a chain stitch.
Making the chain too tight
Let the loop move along the hook shaft before pulling through. Use a larger hook for the foundation chain only if the pattern permits and you can keep the edge even.
Splitting the yarn
Aim the hook throat around the whole strand, not between its plies. Smooth yarn makes this easier to see.
Twisting the chain while counting
Lay the chain flat and identify each top V. If a section twists, gently turn it before continuing.
Helpful tips
- Practice the yarn-over and pull-through motion slowly before trying to make a long chain.
- Keep a short tail at the start; it can be woven in after the project is finished.
- The first chain is often the hardest. A slightly larger hook for the foundation chain can help when a pattern allows it.
Quick knowledge check
When counting a foundation chain, what should you leave out?
Ready to continue?
Mark this lesson complete
Your course progress is saved in this browser. You can return and review any lesson.