Glossary / Chain
chChain
The starting row of loops most crochet begins from.
Also written: chs
How to work it
Make a slip knot on your hook. Yarn over and pull the yarn through the loop already on the hook. That is one chain. Repeat for as many chains as the pattern asks for. Count the loops on the front, not the loop on the hook. The chain is the same stitch in US and UK terms.
Common confusions
Does the loop on my hook count as a chain?
No. Count only the finished V-shaped chains sitting below the hook. The working loop is never counted, and neither is the slip knot you started from. Counting either one is why a foundation chain so often ends up one or two stitches too long.
Which part of the chain do I work into?
Unless the pattern says otherwise, insert your hook under the top single loop of each chain, or under the top loop and the back bump together for a tidier edge. Working into the back bump alone leaves the neatest foundation, and is worth the extra care on anything with an exposed edge.
In other languages
| Language | Term | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Chain | ch |
| Español | Cadeneta | cad |
| Deutsch | Luftmasche | Lm |
| Français | Chaînette | ml |
| Italiano | Catenella | no standard code |
| 日本語 | くさり編み | no standard code |
Guides that use this stitch
- Crochet Stitches: A Beginner's Guide
- How to Read a Crochet Pattern
- How to Crochet a Granny Square
- How to Crochet for Beginners
- Types of Crochet Stitches
- How Much Yarn Do I Need for a Blanket?
- How to Choose a Row Counter: Paper, Clicker, or App?
- How to Measure Gauge and Make a Gauge Swatch
- How Much Yarn Do I Need?
- How to Change Colors in Crochet
- How to Chain (ch)
- How to Slip Stitch (sl st)
Related stitches
Keep your place while you work this stitch. Worsted counts your rows and rounds and remembers your spot in the pattern, for crochet and knitting.
Get Worsted