Have you ever wondered if there was an easier way to start a crochet project other than having to make that long foundation chain?
The good news is, yes, Chainless Foundation Stitches. This method can be used anytime you need a solid row of stitches or even when you want to add stitches at the end of a row. It can accommodate, increases, decreases & different height stitches. The only time it isn’t useful is when you’re working lacey patterns that use chains & chain spaces.
So, why bother using the Chainless Foundation Stitch when a foundation chain works perfectly fine?
Firstly, instead of having to count your chains, sometimes finding you’ve mis-counted after completing your first row only to rip it out & start again; with the Chainless Foundation St, you work the chain & stitch at the same time. For example: where a pattern asks for 11 chs to equal the 10 dc (US:sc) needed for your first row, or as for trebles (tr) (US:dc), where the pattern asks for 12 ch to equal 10 sts, you will be making the exact number of sts in one go… This is such a time saver, not to mention, no more frustration when mis-counting.
Another good reason is, you can work a project from top down or bottom up, both giving you a neat, strong, yet flexible edge, whereas, the simple foundation chain can sometimes be tight & less flexible or stretchy, which can be a problem around necklines or sleeve cuffs.
Want to give it a go? Great… I’ve created 2 short Pictorial Tutorials for working the Chainless Foundation Stitches.
I trust these tutorials are helpful, easy to understand & add another crochet trick to your repertoire.
Chainless foundation double crochet (dc) (US: single crochet (sc) PDF download
Chainless foundation treble (tr) (US: double crochet (dc) PDF Download
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Chainless foundation double crochet (dc), US: single crochet (US:sc)
1. Start with a slip knot on hook
for Subsequent sts, repeat from * for desired number of sts
Row 2 & subsequent rows, depending on which st used:
~ dc (US:sc): 1 ch, turn, work your dc (US:sc) in the first st & in each st across
~ htr (US:hdc): 2 ch (count as htr (US:hdc)), turn, work htr (US:hdc) in next st & in each st across
~ tr (US:dc): 3 ch (count as tr), turn, work tr (US:dc) in next st & in each st across
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Chainless foundation treble (tr), US: double crochet (US:dc)
1. start with a slip knot on hook
for Subsequent sts, repeat from * for desired number of sts
Row 2 & subsequent rows, depending on which st used:
for dc (US:sc): 1 ch, turn, work your dc (US:sc) in the first st & in each st across
for htr (US:hdc): 2 ch (count as htr (US:hdc)), turn, work htr (US:hdc) in next st & in each st across
for tr (US:dc): 3 ch (count as tr), turn, work tr (US:dc) in next st & in each st across
Thank you… I agree it does make for a neater finish 🙂
Thanks for this information. It looks much easier and neater.
Downloaded perfectly. Thanks again.
Thanks! Crochet makes sense! Technology not always… 😉
Thank you, notewords, if only I was as tech savvy as I am with crochet… some sort of glitch but should be ok now 🙂
Thank you! I have done a lot of crochet, but the long foundation chain has always been a pain.
(The link for the DC works, but I can’t get the treble to download. I get a ‘page not found’.)
Thank you, Lulu, well spotted… the photo is correct & I’ve fixed the text & republished… enjoy your new project 🙂
Hello, I started to look at the first tutorial as it is useful for my current crochet project. BUT there is an error in a step number – number 4 is missing – you have two steps labeled number 3 in Chainless foundation double crochet (dc), US: single crochet (US:sc). Can you please fix and re-publish.
I stopped and did not read the second tutorial …meanwhile, I love your crochet work. thx