Glossary / Foundation single crochet
fscFoundation single crochet
A chainless start that makes the foundation chain and first row of single crochet at once.
How to work it
Chain two, insert your hook into the first chain, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through one loop (that makes the chain at the base), then yarn over and pull through both loops to finish the single crochet. For each following stitch, work into the chain you just created at the base of the last stitch. The result is a stretchy first row with no tight foundation chain, ideal for garments and long edges. In UK terms it is a foundation double crochet, since the UK double crochet is the US single.
US and UK
This stitch is also called Foundation double crochet (UK). Always check which term set a pattern uses before you start, since the same name can mean a different stitch across the two.
Common confusions
What does fsc mean?
In crochet patterns, fsc means Foundation single crochet. A chainless start that makes the foundation chain and first row of single crochet at once.
Why use fsc instead of a normal chain?
A foundation chain has no stretch and is easy to work too tightly, which leaves a cramped edge on a scarf or a garment hem. fsc builds the chain and the first row at the same time, so the edge has the same give as the rest of the fabric. It also spares you counting a long chain.
How do I know where the next stitch goes?
Into the chain you just created at the base of the stitch you just finished, not into the top. Each fsc leaves a small chain at its foot, and that is the entry point for the next one. Working into the top instead builds upward and produces a spiral rather than a row.
In other languages
| Language | Term | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Foundation single crochet | fsc |
| Español | Punto bajo de base | no standard code |
| Deutsch | Anschlag mit festen Maschen | no standard code |
| Français | Maille serrée de base | no standard code |
| Italiano | Maglia bassa di base | no standard code |
| 日本語 | 細編みの作り目（くさりを使わない） | no standard code |
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