Make a slip knot and a foundation chain

Almost every piece of crochet begins with a slip knot and a length of chain stitches, called the foundation chain. Learn these two things well and everything else follows.

The slip knot

1. Make a loop with the yarn, leaving a 10 cm (4 in) tail, with the working yarn crossing over the tail.
2. Reach through the loop with your hook and catch the working yarn.
3. Pull it through to form a new loop on your hook.
4. Pull both ends gently to snug the loop onto the hook. It should slide, but not flop.

Chain stitch

1. Hold the base of the slip knot with your non-dominant thumb and finger.
2. Yarn over: wrap the working yarn over the hook from back to front.
3. Pull the yarn through the loop on the hook. That is one chain.
4. Repeat for as many chains as you need, moving your grip up the chain as it grows.

Counting

Look for the small V shapes running down the front of the chain. Each V is one chain. The loop on your hook and the slip knot are not counted.

Practice

Chain 30, count them, then undo the chain and do it again. Aim for chains of even size that all look like the same little V.

Next, work your first flat swatch.