If you don’t know how to do foundation single crochet, foundation half double crochet or foundation double crochet, this tutorial is about to make your crochet life so much easier!

Starting a new crochet project is so exciting! Firstly, you spend ages scrolling through crochet patterns on Ravelry until you find the perfect one which requires that yarn you’ve been dying to use. Then, you make yourself a cup of coffee, sit down and get all cosy in your favourite crocheting spot, open the pattern and the first instruction is:

Ch 168 

Oh no! If you’re anything like me a long foundation chain is incredibly offputting. It’s not so much the chain that’s the problem, it’s the row after where you crochet into the chain that I hate. You end up twisting the chain, working into the wrong loop or worst of all – you get to the end of the row and count your stitches to find you have 167 instead of 168. Thankfully, there’s a way to avoid all of this with foundation stitches.

WHEN CAN I USE CHAINLESS FOUNDATION STITCHES?

Since discovering how to do foundation single crochet (fsc), foundation half double crochet (fhdc) and foundation double crochet (fdc) I almost never have to do those annoying long chains. The only time these foundation stitches can’t be used is when the first row is anything other than standard single crochet, half double crochet or double crochet. That’s because the foundation chain and first row of the pattern are worked at the same time when doing these foundation stitches. If the first row of the pattern asks you to work 2 sc into one chain or to skip a chain, sadly the foundation stitches are going to work.

I design a lot of graphgan patterns and these stitches have been an absolute lifesaver for me. You’ll find that every single one of my blanket patterns begins with the fhdc (with the exception of the stag blanket which is fsc). Recently, one of my pattern testers mentioned that she’d never done fhdc before and that it would have been helpful to have links to tutorials in my pattern. Therefore, I’ve written this handy tutorial for just that reason! 

(P.S. You can sign up to be a pattern tester here)

VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR FOUNDATION SINGLE CROCHET (fsc), FOUNDATION HALF DOUBLE CROCHET (fhdc) AND FOUNDATION DOUBLE CROCHET (fdc)

(Scroll down for photo/written tutorial)

For this tutorial, I’ll be using We Crochet Shine Worsted and a 4mm custom crochet hook from NicheHandmadeJewelry.

FOUNDATION SINGLE CROCHET TUTORIAL

1. Begin with a slip knot on your hook and chain 2.
2. Insert your hook into the first chain, yarn over and pull up a loop.

3. Chain 1.
4. Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook.

5. Insert your hook into the chain 1 you just made, yarn over and pull up a loop.
6. Chain 1.

7. Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook.

You now have 2 foundation single crochets, continue repeating steps 5-7 until you have your required number of stitches.

FOUNDATION HALF DOUBLE CROCHET TUTORIAL

1. Begin with a slip knot on your hook and chain 3.
2. Yarn over, insert your hook into the first chain, yarn over and pull up a loop.

3. Chain 1.
4. Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook.

5. Yarn over, insert your hook into the chain 1 you just made, yarn over and pull up a loop.
6. Chain 1.
7. Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook.

You now have 2 foundation half double crochets, continue repeating steps 5-7 until you have your required number of stitches.

FOUNDATION DOUBLE CROCHET TUTORIAL

1. Begin with a slip knot on your hook and chain 4.
2. Yarn over, insert your hook into the first chain, yarn over and pull up a loop.

3. Chain 1.
4. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.
5. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.

6. Yarn over, insert your hook into the chain 1 you just made, yarn over and pull up a loop.
7. Chain 1.

8. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.
9. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.

You now have 2 foundation double crochets, continue repeating steps 6-9 until you have your required number of stitches.

PUT YOUR NEW SKILLS TO PRACTICE

As I mentioned, foundation stitches are perfect for crochet blankets so, why not try out your new skills on my favourite graphgan pattern, The Monstera Throw Blanket. If you’re new to graphgans and are intimated by colour changes, I also have a tutorial on how to change colours on graphgans.