Crochet Chain Stitch

Make a basic crochet chain by forming a slip knot on the hook, then pulling yarn through the loop repeatedly to create a row of connected chain stitches.

Easy · 5-10 minutes

Tools

Crochet hook

Materials

Yarn

Safety

Use a hook size that feels comfortable in your hand.
Keep your grip relaxed to reduce hand and wrist strain.
Work slowly at first so the yarn does not snag or tighten too much around your fingers.
Take short breaks if your hand feels tired or cramped.

Steps

Step 1: Make a slip knot
- Hold the yarn and make a loop near the end.
- Pull a section of the working yarn through the loop to form a slip knot.
- Place the slip knot on the crochet hook.
- Gently tighten it so it sits on the hook without being too tight.
Check: The knot should slide on the hook easily. · You should have a short tail and a longer working yarn attached to the yarn ball.
Step 2: Hold the hook and yarn
- Hold the crochet hook in the hand that feels natural for you.
- Use your other hand to hold the yarn and the slip knot near the hook.
- Keep light tension on the working yarn so it stays controlled but not tight.
Check: The hook should feel stable in your hand. · The yarn should move smoothly when you pull it.
Step 3: Yarn over
- Bring the working yarn over the hook from back to front.
- Catch the yarn in the hook so it is ready to pull through the loop already on the hook.
Check: There should now be yarn wrapped over the hook. · The hook should be holding both the loop and the yarn over.
Step 4: Pull through to make a chain
- Use the hook to pull the yarn over through the loop on the hook.
- This creates one chain stitch.
- Repeat: yarn over, then pull through the loop on the hook.
Check: Each repeat should add one new chain stitch. · You should still have one loop left on the hook after each chain.
Step 5: Continue to the desired length
- Keep making chain stitches until the chain is as long as you need.
- Count the chain stitches if your pattern requires a specific number.
- Try to make each stitch the same size for an even chain.
Check: The chain should look like a row of connected V-shapes. · The stitches should be similar in size and not overly tight.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 of 5

Make a slip knot

Hold the yarn and make a loop near the end.
Pull a section of the working yarn through the loop to form a slip knot.
Place the slip knot on the crochet hook.
Gently tighten it so it sits on the hook without being too tight.

Check

The knot should slide on the hook easily. • You should have a short tail and a longer working yarn attached to the yarn ball.

Was this step clear?

Step 2 of 5

Hold the hook and yarn

Hold the crochet hook in the hand that feels natural for you.
Use your other hand to hold the yarn and the slip knot near the hook.
Keep light tension on the working yarn so it stays controlled but not tight.

Check

The hook should feel stable in your hand. • The yarn should move smoothly when you pull it.

Was this step clear?

Step 3 of 5

Yarn over

Bring the working yarn over the hook from back to front.
Catch the yarn in the hook so it is ready to pull through the loop already on the hook.

Check

There should now be yarn wrapped over the hook. • The hook should be holding both the loop and the yarn over.

Was this step clear?

Step 4 of 5

Pull through to make a chain

Use the hook to pull the yarn over through the loop on the hook.
This creates one chain stitch.
Repeat: yarn over, then pull through the loop on the hook.

Check

Each repeat should add one new chain stitch. • You should still have one loop left on the hook after each chain.

Was this step clear?

Step 5 of 5

Continue to the desired length

Keep making chain stitches until the chain is as long as you need.
Count the chain stitches if your pattern requires a specific number.
Try to make each stitch the same size for an even chain.

Check

The chain should look like a row of connected V-shapes. • The stitches should be similar in size and not overly tight.

Was this step clear?

Common Mistakes

×Pulling the yarn too tight, making the chain hard to work into later.

×Holding the yarn too loosely, which makes uneven stitches.

×Counting the slip knot as a chain stitch when a pattern does not intend it.

×Twisting the chain while working, making it harder to count stitches.

×Using too much hand tension and tiring your fingers quickly.

Steps

Step 1: Make a slip knot

Hold the yarn and make a loop near the end.
Pull a section of the working yarn through the loop to form a slip knot.
Place the slip knot on the crochet hook.
Gently tighten it so it sits on the hook without being too tight.

Check: The knot should slide on the hook easily. · You should have a short tail and a longer working yarn attached to the yarn ball.

Step 2: Hold the hook and yarn

Hold the crochet hook in the hand that feels natural for you.
Use your other hand to hold the yarn and the slip knot near the hook.
Keep light tension on the working yarn so it stays controlled but not tight.

Check: The hook should feel stable in your hand. · The yarn should move smoothly when you pull it.

Step 3: Yarn over

Bring the working yarn over the hook from back to front.
Catch the yarn in the hook so it is ready to pull through the loop already on the hook.

Check: There should now be yarn wrapped over the hook. · The hook should be holding both the loop and the yarn over.

Step 4: Pull through to make a chain

Use the hook to pull the yarn over through the loop on the hook.
This creates one chain stitch.
Repeat: yarn over, then pull through the loop on the hook.

Check: Each repeat should add one new chain stitch. · You should still have one loop left on the hook after each chain.