A short chain is a satisfying first crochet exercise because it lets you practice the hook and yarn without following a whole pattern. Start with a smooth, light-colored yarn so you can see each stitch. The aim is a row of recognizable loops, not a finished scarf on day one.
Put a slip knot on your hook, wrap the working yarn over the hook, and draw it through the loop. Repeat and count the V-shaped stitches below the hook.
Go straight to the stepsBefore you begin
This guide uses US crochet terminology and stops at a practice chain. The chain is a starting structure, not a completed row of single crochet. The linked demonstrations show the hand movements.
What you’ll need
- Smooth yarn and a hook in the size range on its label
- Scissors
- A well-lit place to see the loops
Tools & supplies for this project
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Let’s do this
Step by step
- 01
Make an adjustable starting loop
Leave about six inches of yarn tail. Cross the yarn into a loop, pull a small loop of the strand leading to the ball through it, and place that new loop on the hook. Tighten gently until it can still slide.
- 02
Hold the yarn and hook comfortably
Use your non-hook hand to guide the yarn coming from the ball and hold the knot near the hook. Try a pencil-like or knife-like grip on the hook. Choose the one that lets you move without clenching.
- 03
Make one chain
Bring the working yarn from behind the hook over its top. Catch it and draw it through the loop already on the hook. You now have one new loop on the hook and a chain stitch below it.
- 04
Repeat at an even tension
Make several more yarn-overs and pull-throughs. Move the hand holding the chain closer as it grows. Let the hook’s shaft set the loop size rather than pulling every stitch as tight as possible.
- 05
Count and inspect
Lay the chain flat and count the V shapes. Do not count the slip knot or the live loop on the hook. Try a target of ten chains, then check whether the hook fits comfortably through the stitches.
Optional supplies on Amazon
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A small exercise that shows progress
Make three separate practice chains of ten stitches. Put them beside each other and look at their loop sizes. Choose the one that looks most even and feels easiest to work into; keep it as a reference for your next session.
Do not keep extending a chain after your hands become tired simply to use up yarn. A short piece you can count is enough for this exercise. Photograph it with your hook size written on a scrap of paper so you can compare it with a later attempt.
When the hook will not pass through
Check whether you are pulling the working yarn hard after each stitch. Relax the grip and make the next chain around the wider shaft, not just the narrow tip. A larger hook can help with a tight foundation chain, but a real pattern’s gauge still needs checking.
If the yarn splits, stop and put the full strand back on the hook before continuing. Working through only some fibers makes the next steps harder. For an unfamiliar motion, use the linked picture sequence and pause at the same stage as your own work.
A quick final check
- The loop moves along the hook.
- I can count ten V-shaped chains.
- I did not count the starting knot or live loop.
Common questions & sticking points
Is a crochet chain the same as a single crochet?
No. Single crochet is a different stitch worked into a chain or an existing row. Learn it after you can make and count the starting chain.
Can a left-handed beginner use this?
The stitch structure and counting are the same. A left-handed demonstration may make the mirrored hand movements easier to follow.
Sources & further reading Optional
References used to check this guide. Follow your product’s own safety instructions where its design differs.
- Craft Yarn Council: Slip knot and basic stitch worksheet
- Crochet.com: Chain stitch picture sequence
- Craft Yarn Council: Grip and tension guidance