Chainless Foundation Rows
Chainless crochet foundation rows are a great way to create a professional look to any crochet pattern which starts with a chain.
I find them easier to crochet than working into a chain (once you get the hang of it) and they offer a neat and stretchy beginning to your crochet project.
This post will show you how to crochet them.
You can read more about foundation rows in one of my earliest blog posts, The Importance of a good foundation, or go straight to read the instructions and watch my tutorials below.
You can also find some additional tips for working with chainless foundation rows in this post and learn how to use them to create hidden button holes here.
Foundation Single Crochet (fsc) / UK Foundation double
fsc – written instructions
Ch 2, insert hook into 2nd chain from hook, yo and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). *Yo and pull through 1 loop (this creates the base stitch of the next fsc). Yo and pull through 2 loops. To start the next st, insert the hook into the ‘v’ of the base stitch, yo and pull up a loop. Repeat from * for required number of stitches.
fsc – video tutorial
Below is the right handed video tutorial.
Click the link underneath fro the left handed version.
You can find a left handed tutorial here
Foundation Double Crochet (fdc) / UK Foundation Treble
fdc – written instructions
Ch 3, yo, insert hook into 3rd chain from hook, yo and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). *Yo and pull through one loop (this creates the base stitch of the next fdc). Yo and pull through two loops, yo and pull through two loops. To start the next st, yo and insert the hook into the v of the base stitch you just created, yo and pull up a loop. Continue from * for the number of stitches required.
fdc – video tutorial
Below is the right handed video tutorial. Click the link underneath fro the left handed version.
You can view the left-handed tutorial here
Foundation half double crochet
This is a combination of the single and double crochet foundation stitches.
fhdc – written instructions
Ch 3, yo, insert hook into 3rd chain from hook, yo and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). *Yo and pull through 1 loop (this creates the base stitch of the next fhdc). Yo and pull through all 3 loops. To start the next st, yo and insert the hook into the v of the base stitch, yo and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Repeat from * for required number of st.