In this beginner crochet tutorial, I’m going to show you how to start a crochet project if you are going to be working in rows. You’ll learn how to make a slip knot, how to begin a chain in crochet, and how to crochet into a chain.

I’m going to show you four different ways to crochet into your starting chains. So follow along with the photo tutorial as well as a short video at the end, which quickly covers the steps to starting your first crochet project.

To keep this tutorial short, I’m showing how single crochet into a chain, but you can use the same technique for other stitches.

Crochet Patterns for Beginners

See More Beginner Crochet Patterns.

Small Toy Hammock ~ FREE Crochet Pattern

Free crochet pattern by Cream Of The Crop Crochet

How to Start a Crochet Project in Rows

Learn how to start a crochet project that's worked in a row. Plus, discover 4 ways to crochet into starting chains.

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Skill Level

Beginner

Materials

Yarn: Any yarn
Crochet Hook: Hook suitable for the yarn.

Instructions

To make the slip knot, make a loop with your yarn.
Bring the working yarn around and push it through the loop to create a slip knot, making sure to leave at least a 5 inch tail for weaving in.
Insert the crochet hook and pull the working yarn until the loop is snug around the hook.
The working yarn should be loose and move freely when you tug on it.
The tail end, however, should be secure, and not alter the size of the loop when you tug on it.
To make your first chain, wrap the yarn over the crochet hook and pull it through the loop on the hook.
The first chain is complete. Continue to wrap the yarn over the hook and pull it through until you have the number of chains that you need to begin your crochet project.
The front of the chains look like little V's. Each V represents a chain.
Turn the chain over and we have the back bumps,
When working your first stitch, you will need to skip at least one or more chains closest to the hook. A general rule of thumb:
Skip 1 chain if working with single crochets and half double crochets.
Skip 2 chains for double crochets.
Skip 3 chains for treble crochets.
You can also join your chains with a slip stitch and work your first stitch into the same stitch as where you made the join.
There are 4 ways to crochet into the chains.
1.) Catch only the top (or back loop) of the v’s.
2) Back bump only.
3.) Under both loops that make up the v.
4.) Under the back bump and the top (or back loop) of the v.
1 – Catch only the top (or back loop) of the v’s.
This is the most common way and gives you a nice solid edge that lays nice and flat.
2- Turn the chain over and insert the hook under the back bump. This leaves the v’s free so you get the same look on both sides.
This technique is perfect for times when you know you won't be adding and edging.
3 – Insert hook under both loops that make up the v, thus leaving the back bump free.
This method eliminates the bulk at the bottom of the stitches, which can be useful for some projects.
The downfall is that it tends to curl up a bit more than methods #1 and #2.
4 – Insert the hook under the back bump and the top (or back loop) of the v.
I prefer this method, because as with #3, it eliminates the bulk at the bottom, but it is much easier to throw your hook under the loops.
Same as with #3, it tends to curl up a bit more along the edges.
Tip: Sometimes a pattern might require that you work multiple stitches, or a cluster of stitches into one chain. This can pull the chain wide open, and make it difficult to see where the next unworked chain is.
To ensure you don't lose any chains, place a stitch marker into the next chain BEFORE you work the cluster.