Foundation crochet stitches, also sometimes called base chain stitches, are a great way to start crochet projects instead of using a regular chain. They provide more flexibility and stretch, reducing the possibility that your starting chain will be too tight or too loose. I start projects with foundation stitches whenever I possibly can. This is a great technique to add to your crochet playbook!
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Supplies
If you’re following along in the Learn to crochet series and you plan on joining your sample squares together at the end of the project, I recommend using the same yarns throughout. You’re welcome to use whatever you’d like, but here’s what I used:
- Worsted weight yarn of your choice – I used Caron Simply Soft
- Size H crochet hook – I love these Odyssey hooks from Furls Crochet!
- Yarn/Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends.
YouTube Video Tutorial
How to Make Foundation Crochet Stitches
The main principle behind foundation crochet stitches is that you make your starting chain as you go along. I’ll show a couple examples, and we’ll start with foundation single crochet.
Foundation Single Crochet
Start with a slip knot on your hook, then chain one.
Insert your hook in the first ch, yo, and pull a loop through.
Now, ch1 (yo and pull through 1 loop on your hook). This extra chain is your foundation chain.
Now finish the sc by doing a yarn over and pulling through both loops on your hook.
To start the next stitch, insert your hook in that extra chain that you made, making sure to go through both of the loops that form a “v”. This will make a nice chain look on the bottom edge of your work.
yo and pull through that base chain. You should have two loops on your hook, like for a normal single crochet.
Now, you need to make the foundation chain again, so ch1 (yo and pull through one loop).
then finish the single crochet by yo and pulling through both loops on your hook.
You’ll continue in this manner until you have your desired number of starting stitches. Always work through the foundation chain you made on the previous stitch, and always add an extra ch1 after pulling through the foundation stitch before finishing the single crochet.
Joining Foundation Stitches in the Round
There is one thing that can be a little tricky with foundation stitches, and that is how to join the foundation stitches in the round. If you try to just join a foundation chain with a slip stitch in the top of the first stitch, it will leave a gap where the foundation chain itself isn’t closed. Not to worry, though, because that is totally solvable, and I will show you how! (In the video, go to the 4:20 time mark).
I’ll walk you through a single crochet, but the same principle holds for double crochet or any other foundation stitch. You’ll need to join the foundation chain, and then you’ll have to join the tops of the stitches with a slip stitch.
To start, insert your hook in the foundation chain of the previous stitch and pull up a loop, just like you would for a normal foundation stitch. However, before you make the extra chain for the foundation, insert your hook through the foundation of the very first stitch, making sure not to twist the strip. Then yo and pull through that foundation stitch and the next loop on your hook. This is effectively joining the foundation chain while you make the final foundation chain stitch.
Now finish that single crochet like normal, then join to the top of the first stitch with a slip stitch.
How to Foundation Double Crochet
(This starts at approximately 5:30 in the video). To make a foundation double crochet, it is very similar to a foundation single crochet. Start with a slip knot on your hook.
Ch3, which is the turning chain height for a double crochet stitch.
Yarn over, insert your hook in the first chain. Yarn over and pull up a loop. Again, this is the same as for a normal double crochet.
Now you need to make your foundation chain, so ch1 (yo and pull through one loop on your hook).
Finish the double crochet by doing a yarn over and pulling through two loops on your hook twice.
For the next stitch, yarn over, then, just like for foundation single crochet, you’ll insert your hook in the foundation chain you just made on the stitch before.
Yarn over and pull up a loop.
Ch1 to make the foundation chain, then finish the double crochet by doing a yarn over and pulling through two loops twice.
Joining Foundation Double Crochet in the Round
To join foundation double crochet in the round (video at 8:00), it’s again very similar to joining foundation single crochet in the round. Yarn over, insert your hook in the foundation chain from the previous stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (this is all normal for a foundation dc). Before you make the foundation chain, insert your hook in the foundation chain of the first stitch in the round, being careful to to twist your strip of stitches. Now yarn over and pull through that foundation stitch and the first loop on your hook.
Finish the double crochet as normal by doing a yarn over and pull through two loops twice. Then join to the top of the first stitch with a ss. Ta da! You’ve joined foundation double crochet in the round!
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