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Tutorial: Chainless Foundation (No More Chains!)

January 18, 2014

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me cover the cost of publishing my blog. Should you choose to make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, I will be given a small percentage of the sale. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


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!

  • Double Wrap Infinity Scarf
  • Chunky Ribbed Cowl
  • Triple Loop Skinny Scarf

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

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
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.)

figures1and2

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).

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 
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:

topviewsideview

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.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 
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.

CrochetInTheRound

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!

by yarnandchai 
232 Comments

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All pattern text and photos are ©Rebecca Langford and may not be copied for purposes of redistribution online or in print. If you wish to share a pattern, please provide recipient with a link to the pattern instead. If you wish to use one or more of my patterns in a round-up on your own blog, you may use one (1) photo per pattern. You may sell your finished products made from Yarn + Chai patterns; a link to https://yarnandchai.com in your online listings is appreciated. For all other uses, please contact me directly. Your adherence to these guidelines is appreciated and ensures that I can continue providing quality patterns for free.
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Comments

  1. Ali t says: December 26, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    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?

    Reply
  2. Mike says: October 31, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    Oh. My. Goodness… You’re right. Revolutionized my crocheting life. SO love this, THANK YOU!

    Reply
  3. Chris Haddox says: December 11, 2017 at 10:38 pm

    Yipee!!! I hated starting a project chain! So glad I was curious as to what fdc meant. Saved the day(s)!

    Reply
  4. Amanda Reed says: December 10, 2017 at 8:41 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Rebecca says: December 11, 2017 at 8:35 pm

      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. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Brenda L Payne says: December 9, 2017 at 2:22 pm

    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!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Rebecca says: December 9, 2017 at 2:27 pm

      Awwwwww!!!!! You are too sweet!!! <3

      Reply
  6. Bobbie Cox says: December 9, 2017 at 12:44 am

    Great.

    Reply
  7. Loveday says: December 6, 2017 at 2:30 am

    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.

    Reply
  8. Cindy says: October 27, 2017 at 4:14 pm

    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.

    Reply
  9. Myrna says: October 27, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    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?

    Reply
  10. doni says: October 27, 2017 at 1:02 am

    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.

    Reply
  11. Susan says: October 12, 2017 at 8:31 am

    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! ☺️

    Reply
    • Rebecca says: October 12, 2017 at 5:36 pm

      Same thing! That’s confusing. I’ve updated the post so that the language matches. 🙂

      Reply
  12. Susan says: October 11, 2017 at 11:34 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Rebecca says: October 11, 2017 at 8:33 pm

      Hi Susan! I flipped the pictures and added them to the post. Hope it helps 🙂

      Reply
  13. Lynn Scherzinger says: September 30, 2017 at 7:51 am

    Fabulous! A pattern I can understand!

    Reply
  14. Toni Laws says: August 30, 2017 at 12:51 am

    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!!

    Reply
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I'm so glad you're here! I'm Rebecca, the designer behind Yarn + Chai, and I can teach you how to find the right combination of pattern, yarn and color to produce modern, wearable crochet.

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