What Is a Chain Stitch?

Chain stitches are an integral part of crocheting. There are several essential stitches that a beginner must become familiar with; the chain stitch is the first of these.

You can expect to begin most crochet projects with chain stitches. Chain stitches typically form the foundation that the rest of the project is built upon.

You will also find chain stitches sprinkled throughout most crochet patterns. Crochet designs are usually constructed using chain stitches in combination with other stitches.

First, Form a Slip Knot.

Crocheting the First Chain Stitch

One Chain Stitch Has Been Formed.

Crochet More Chain Stitches

Crochet Chart Symbols

Stitch charts in crochet and knit patterns are being used more and more as an addition to or in place of words to describe a pattern stitch. Following are the standardized crochet symbols that have been adopted by members of the Craft Yarn Council and are considered to be the clearest and easiest to render and to read. For the most part each symbol represents a stitch as it looks on the right side of the work. Always refer to the pattern key for additional symbol definitions.

Circle Crochet Pattern

Yarn Cloud Square

Materials:

Worsted Weight yarn
Size H hook (5.00mm)
Yarn needle (to weave in ends)

Finish Size: 12”h x 12”w

Different Stitches:

Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC) - Yarn over, insert hook from back of work thru side of specified st, going in front of st and then insert hook thru other side of st going back to the back of your work, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull thru 2 loops, yarn over, pull thru last 2 loops on hook.

Back Post Single Crochet (BPSC) - Insert hook from back of work thru side of specified st going in front of st and then insert hook thru other side of st going back to the back of your work, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull thru both loops on hook.

Directions:

Rnd 1: Ch5, join with sl st to first chain to form ring, ch3, 2 dc in ring, [ch3, 3 dc in ring] Do this 3 times, ch3, join with sl st to top of beginning ch3.
(12dc, 4-ch3 spaces) (Beginning ch3 counts as dc)

Rnd 2: Sl st in each of the next 2 sts, sl st in next ch3 space, ch3, (2 dc, ch3, 3 dc) all in same ch3 space, [ch2, skip next 3 sts, (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc) all in next ch3 space] Do this 3 times, ch2, join with sl st to top of beginning ch3.
(24dc, 4-ch2 spaces, 4-ch3 spaces)

Rnd 3: Sl st in next st, skip next st, 8 dc in next ch3 space, [skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, 5 dc in next ch2 space, skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, 8 dc in next ch3 space] Do this 3 times, skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, 5 dc in next ch2 space, join with sl st to first sl st of Rnd.
(52dc, 8 sl sts)

Rnd 4: Sl st in next st, 1 BPSC in next st, ch2, 1 BPDC in each of the next 2 sts, ch3, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts, {[Ch2, skip next 3 sts, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts] Do this 2 times, ch3, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts} Do this 3 times, ch2, skip next 3 sts, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts, ch2, skip next st and next sl st, join with sl st to top of beginning ch2.
(36 BPDC, 8-ch2 spaces, 4-ch3 spaces) (BPSC + beginning ch2 counts as BPDC)

Rnd 5: Sl st in next st, skip next st, 8 dc in next ch3 space, {[skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, 5 dc in next ch2 space] Do this 2 times, skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, 8 dc in next ch3 space} Do this 3 times, [skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, 5 dc in next ch2 space] Do this 2 times, join with sl st to first sl st of Rnd.
(72dc, 12 sl sts) 

Rnd 6: Sl st in next st, 1 BPSC in next st, ch2, 1 BPDC in each of the next 2 sts, ch3, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts, {[Ch2, skip next 3 sts, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts] Do this 3 times, ch3, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts} Do this 3 times, [Ch2, skip next 3 sts, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts] Do this 2 times, ch2, skip next st and next sl st, join with sl st to top of beginning ch2.
(48 BPDC, 12-ch2 spaces, 4-ch3 spaces) (BPSC + beginning ch2 counts as BPDC)


Rnd 7: Sl st in next st, skip next st, 8 dc in next ch3 space, {[skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, 5 dc in next ch2 space] Do this 3 times, skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, 8 dc in next ch3 space} Do this 3 times, [skip next st, sl st in next st, skip next st, 5 dc in next ch2 space] Do this 3 times, join with sl st to first sl st of Rnd.
(92dc, 16 sl sts) 

Rnd 8: Sl st in next st, 1 BPSC in next st, ch2, 1 BPDC in each of the next 2 sts, ch3, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts, {[Ch2, skip next 3 sts, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts] Do this 4 times, ch3, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts} Do this 3 times, [Ch2, skip next 3 sts, 1 BPDC in each of the next 3 sts] Do this 3 times, ch2, skip next st and next sl st, join with sl st to top of beginning ch2.
(60 BPDC, 16-ch2 spaces, 4-ch3 spaces) (BPSC + beginning ch2 counts as BPDC)

Rnd 9: Ch3, 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts, (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc) all in next ch3 space, {1 dc in each of the next 3 sts, [2 dc in next ch2 space, 1 dc in each of the next 3 sts] Do this 4 times, (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc) all in next ch3 space} Do this 3 times, 1 dc in each of the next 3 sts, [2 dc in next ch2 space, 1 dc in each of the next 3 sts] Do this 3 times, 2 dc in next ch2 space, join with sl st to top of beginning ch3.
(116dc, 4-ch3 spaces) (Beginning ch3 counts as dc)

Rnd 10: BPSC in same st as joining, ch2, 1 BPDC in each of the next 5 sts, (3 hdc, ch2, 3 hdc) all in next ch3 space, [1 BPDC in each of the next 29 sts, (3 hdc, ch2, 3 hdc) all in next ch3 space] Do this 3 times, 1 BPDC in each of the next 23 sts, join with sl st to top of beginning ch2.
(116 BPDC, 24 hdc, 4-ch2 spaces) (BPSC + beginning ch2 counts as BPDC)

Rnd 11: Ch3, 1 dc in each of the next 8 sts, (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) all in next ch2 space, [1 dc in each of the next 35 sts, (2 dc, ch2, 2 dc) all in next ch2 space] Do this 3 times, 1 dc in each of the next 26 sts, join with sl st to top of beginning ch3.
(156dc, 4-ch2 spaces) (Beginning ch3 counts as dc)

Rnd 12: Ch1, 1 sc in same st as joining, 1 sc in each of the next 10 sts, (1 sc, ch2, 1 sc) all in next ch2 space, [1 sc in each of the next 39 sts, (1 sc, ch2, 1 sc) all in next ch2 space] Do this 3 times, 1 sc in each of the next 28 sts, join with sl st to first sc.
(164sc, 4-ch2 space)

Finish off and weave in ends.

Fisherman's Ring Square Pattern

Materials List

Caron Wintuk worsted weight yarn
Crochet hook size G

Gauge: Rounds 1-2 = 2 1/2"

Finished size: 6"

Ch 5; join with a sl st to form ring

Round 1: Ch 3 to count as the first dc; work 15 more dc in the ring; join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. (16 dc)

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in the same st as joining, ch 5, sk 2 dc, sc in the next dc, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, sc in the 2nd skipped dc, *ch 5, sk next unworked dc, sc in the next dc, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, sc (behind cable) in the last skipped dc* Repeat from * to * 5 times; ch 5, sc (in front of the first cable) in the first skipped dc of the round, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, join with a sl st to the first sc. (8 cables)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in the same st as joining; (ch 5, skip the next 5 sc in cable, sc in the next sc at the base of the next cable) around; ch 5, join with a sl st to the first sc. (8 ch 5 spaces)

Round 4: Sl st into the first ch 5 sp, ch 3 to count as the first dc, work 4 more dc in the same ch 5 sp; (5 dc in the next ch 5 sp) around; join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 3. (40 dc)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in the same st as joining, ch 5, sk 2 dc, sc in the next dc, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, sc in the 2nd skipped dc, *ch 5, sk next unworked dc, sc in the next dc, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, sc (behind cable) in the last skipped dc* Repeat from * to * 17 times; ch 5, sc (in front of the first cable) in the first skipped dc of the round, turn, sc in each of the 5 chs, turn, join with a sl st to the first sc. (20 cables)

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in the same st as joining; (ch 5, skip the next 5 sc in cable, sc in the next sc at the base of the next cable) 19 times; ch 2, join with a dc to the first sc. (20 ch 5 spaces)

Round 7: Ch 4 to count as the first trc, work 3 more trc in the same sp (around the post of the last dc in round 6), *3 dc in the next ch 5 sp, (3 sc in the next ch 5 sp) 2 times, 3 dc in the next ch 5 sp, 7 trc in the next ch 5 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 times; 3 dc in the next ch 5 sp, (3 sc in the next ch 5 sp) 2 times, 3 dc in the next ch 5 sp, 3 trc in the first ch 5 sp; join with a sl st to the top of the beginning ch 4. (76 sts)

Round 8: Ch 1, 2 sc in the same st as joining, (sc in each of the next 18 sts, 3 sc in the next trc) 3 times, sc in each of the next 18 sts, sc in the samr st as the first sc; join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends.