What is the Foundation Crochet?
Most crochet patterns begin with chain stitches, followed by a row of basic stitches into those chains. With the Foundation Crochet, you do both in one step!
Still not convinced to try the Foundation Crochet? Here are a few more reasons to use the Foundation Crochet in your next projects:
- You wont miss any stitches! Ever had to frog your 1st row because you miscounted your stitches? With the Foundation Crochet, it is so much easier to count and add more stitches.
- Your 1st row of stitches is often twisting and curling as it is a very tight stitch, making your piece look odd. With the Foundation Crochet, your 1sr row looks just like all your other rows!
If you haven't guessed it already, today I will be teaching you how to do the Foundation Crochet! It is what I always do instead of going back to crochet in my chains and perfect for creating a nice, even look on all my stitches.
How does it work?
Normally, you create a chain then work your stitches into the chain. With the Foundation Crochet, you make both at the same time. You first create the chain, then your stitch of choice.
How do you use it?
Its a 1 to 1 ratio: If you chain 10 and Single Crochet into all 10 of the chains, you should do 10 Foundation Single Crochets. For every chain you stitch into, you can replace it with the corresponding Foundation Crochet.
And yes, you can use the different Foundation Crochets in the same row. You can make a Foundation Single Crochet followed by a Foundation Double Crochet, a Foundation Half-Double Crochet followed by a Foundation Treble Crochet, the possibilities are endless!
Variations
Just like the many different crochet stitches, there are many Foundation Crochet stitches variations too. Today, we will cover the following Foundation Crochet stitches:
- Foundation Single Crochet
- Foundation Half-Double Crochet
- Foundation Double Crochet
- Foundation Treble Crochet
The Stitches (With Pictures!)
Abbreviations
- CH -- chain
- YO -- yarn over
How to do the Foundation Single Crochet (FSC):
CH 2
Making the chain part of the stitch: Insert hook into 2nd CH from hook. YO and draw up a loop. You should have 2 loops on your hook.
Making the Single Crochet part of the stitch (Making a Single Crochet): YO and draw up a loop. You should still have 2 loops on your hook. YO and draw through 2 loops. This completes the Single Crochet.
How to do the Foundation Half-Double Crochet (FHDC):
CH 3
Making the chain part of the stitch: YO, insert hook into 2nd CH from hook. YO and draw up a loop. You should have 3 loops on your hook.
Making the Half-Double Crochet part of the stitch (Making a Half-Double Crochet): YO and draw up a loop. You should still have 3 loops on your hook. YO and draw through 3 loops. This completes the Half-Double Crochet.
How to do the Foundation Double Crochet (FDC):
CH 4
Making the chain part of the stitch: YO, insert hook into 4nd CH from hook. YO and draw up a loop. You should have 3 loops on your hook.
Making the Double Crochet part of the stitch (Making a Double Crochet): YO and draw up a loop. You should still have 3 loops on your hook. YO and draw through 2 loops. YO and draw through 2 loops. This completes the Double Crochet.
How to do the Foundation Treble Crochet (FTC):
CH 5
Making the chain part of the stitch: YO 2 times, insert hook into 2nd CH from hook. YO and draw up a loop. You should have 4 loops on your hook.
Making the Double Crochet part of the stitch (Making a Double Crochet): YO and draw up a loop. You should still have 4 loops on your hook. YO and draw through 2 loops. YO and draw through 2 loops. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops. This completes the Treble Crochet.
Continuing the Foundation Crochet
So, you've made the 1st stitch, but where do you insert your hook now? Well, that's what the chain we created in our 1st Foundation Crochet is for!
 |
| ^Insert hook in chain part of the stitch^ |
Then, you just make the Foundation Stitch of choice and make all your following Foundation Stitches in the chain part of your previous stitch!
