Raise your hand if you hate sewing into chains.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. Is there anyone who doesn’t completely dread that first row of a scarf, and having to sew into all of those pesky, tight little knots?
What I’m about to show you will change your life. (At least your crochet life.) With the Chainless Foundation Stitch, you NO LONGER have to chain a million and then go back and sew into them one by one. Trust me, when you master this simple concept, you’ll be whipping out scarves and cowls like nobody’s business. (And you’ll wonder why this wasn’t, like, the first thing you ever learned.)
Once you’ve got the technique down, check out these fun, FREE scarf patterns to practice on!
For this tutorial, we’ll use the Double Crochet (DC), although this can be modified for single, half, etc (we’ll cover that toward the end).
Double Crochet Chainless Foundation Stitch
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First DC:
Chain 3. Yarn over and insert hook into third chain from hook.
(Okay, okay, I know I said no more sewing into chains. This is the only one, I promise.)
Draw up a loop (you will have 3 loops on your hook, as in Figure 1 below); then yarn over and pull through only the first loop. (<—This is the magic step that makes it work!) You will still have 3 loops on your hook. (It should look like Figure 2, below.)
For the lefties:
Now, complete the DC as normal (yarn over, draw through first two loops; yarn over again and draw through remaining two loops).
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Next DC (repeat the following steps for as many DCs as you need):
Yarn over and insert hook into the loops of the last DC. It’s a little hard to see at first but you’ll get the hang of it once you get going. Here’s a photo to help you… I’ve highlighted the loops you need to insert hook into:
For the lefties:
Draw up a loop (3 loops on hook now), then yarn over and pull through only the first loop. (<—-Look, it’s the magic step again!)
Yarn over, draw through the first two loops. Yarn over again and draw through remaining two loops.
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To connect for crochet in the round:
Bring your ends together as in the photo, being careful not to twist the row. (This is so much easier to do now, isn’t it?)
Insert hook into top of first DC, draw through, and slip stitch through the loop on your hook. Ch 3 and begin next row of normal DCs (or whatever stitch you are going to do next). When you’re done with the scarf (or whatever), you can use the starting tail to sew that gap together.
How awesome is that?!? If it seems labor-intensive now, just practice. Seriously, it won’t take long before you are knocking out that first row in record time. And notice how NICE that bottom edge is – no more little bumps! Just a beautiful row of loops!
And in case you’re wondering… YES. You can do this with other stitches, such as the Half Double Crochet and the Single Crochet:
Half Double Crochet Chainless Foundation Stitch
First HDC:
- Chain 2. Yarn over and insert hook into second chain from hook.
- Draw up a loop (you will have 3 loops on your hook), then draw through only the first loop on hook. You will still have 3 loops on your hook.
- Complete HDC as normal (yarn over and draw through all 3 loops).
Next HDC (repeat the following steps for as many HDCs as you need):
- Yarn over and insert hook into the loops of the last HDC.
- Draw up a loop and pull through first loop on hook.
- Yarn over, and draw through all three loops on hook.
Single Crochet Chainless Foundation Stitch
First SC:
- Ch 2. Insert hook into second chain from hook.
- Draw up a loop (you will have 2 loops on your hook), then draw through only the first loop on hook. You will still have 2 loops on your hook.
- Complete SC as normal (draw through both loops).
Next SC (repeat the following steps for as many SCs as you need):
- Insert hook into the loops of the last SC.
- Draw up a loop and pull through first loop on hook.
- Draw through both loops on hook.
Enjoy!
My question is how to make the last row match the first if we do the “chainless” foundation row? So many patterns for scarves and blankets do one thing in the beginning but the other side never matches b/c the pattern doesn’t end with the same stitch patriot began with?
Oh. My. Goodness… You’re right. Revolutionized my crocheting life. SO love this, THANK YOU!
Yipee!!! I hated starting a project chain! So glad I was curious as to what fdc meant. Saved the day(s)!
Can you do a Chainless Foundation row with slip stitches? My pattern states to do 5 slip stitches and then 5 half double crochets in the back loop.
I did not know the answer to that, but here’s what Google showed me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFxMKQm3nFc
Looks like the same concept. 🙂
Rebecca, first let me say I have never left a comment on a blog, but I feel I must on this one. I have been crocheting for over 40 years and made everything from blankets to stuffed animals, home decor, dollies and much more. Of all the years and patterns I have seen, I have never had one that has excited me the way this one did! WOW is all I can say! This truly is the most helpful tip, instruction, whatever that i have ever seen!!! Everyone needs to know about this! Thank-you seems so small to say, but THANK-YOU!!!!!!
Awwwwww!!!!! You are too sweet!!! <3
Great.
Brilliant. I’very been crocheting for 2 years now and your instructions are clear and easy to follow and have really helped me get going. I’very Lao done a couple of your hats for one of our daughters and her friends and they turned out really well. Thank you for your great website and the help it gives to people like me.
Thanks for your great instructions, the most clearly described I have seen. I will definitely try this.
I’ve been crocheting for 45 years and teaching for about 35. I usually crochet into the single bottom loop of the chain which leaves the edge showing the top two strands. This way the first row looks the same as the last. Nice look but very tedious.
I’m a beginner. I am trying to do the chainless foundation single crochet. I have a problem indentifying the last stitch of the single crochet. Can anyone help?
I know this is an old post, but it is my go to tutorial for this chainless foundation. I watched videos and didn’t get it until I found this quick and easy tutorial. Thanks for the time you took to share this.
In the first part of the tutorial you say “yarn over and pull through only the first loop” then in the second part, you say “draw up the loop and Ch 1 from the loop” describing the same “magic stitch” you did earlier. Is it the exact same thing? I’ve been crocheting for many years, but am a lot older than I used to be, so it seems I am having a harder time learning new things than I used to. Please be patient with me. Hoping this will be the last question I have to ask! ☺️
Same thing! That’s confusing. I’ve updated the post so that the language matches. 🙂
I am left handed and the pictures aren’t helping me much, unfortunately. I have tried to imagine the pictures in figures 3 & 4 backwards from what is shown, but found this didn’t help me to envision it. It’s there any way you could put up left handed views with highlights? Please answer. I REALLY want to use this method!
Hi Susan! I flipped the pictures and added them to the post. Hope it helps 🙂
Fabulous! A pattern I can understand!
I’ve been struggling so much with other tutorials for this stitch, and your instructions are so easy to follow, I had it down pat in minutes.
BLESS YOUR CROCHETED HEART!
Thankyou SO much for making this post, I am beyond happy to be say goodbye to trying to stitch into chains!!