Like Maria von Trapp says in The Sound of Music, "Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. When you read you begin with ABC." When you crochet you begin with a slip knot and chain.

To continue with this Crochet Basics series (did you check out the previous post on What is crochet?) I'll be showing you how to make a slip knot and chain in crochet. I also have a video tutorial on how to crochet basic stitches for beginners.

Slip knots are just the beginning of many crochet projects. Once you have a slip knot, the next step is to make chains and you’re off! The number of chains is typically specified in the pattern you’re following.

Chains are usually the foundation of a project but can also appear within the project itself, such as filet crochet or other projects with gaps or spaces between stitches.

Here’s how to make a slip knot in crochet:

First, make a loop with the yarn tail laying over the working yarn on your left.

With your thumb and finger, pinch the loop at the base where the two yarn strands meet, then insert your hook from the back to the front.

Wrap the working yarn around your hook and pull it through the loop.

Now you have a slip knot! You can undo your slip knot by removing your hook and tugging on the yarn tail and the working yarn apart. Now you can practice the steps above to make the slip knot again!

How to make a chain in crochet:

First, make a slip knot. And remember, the slip knot never counts as a chain!

To make the first chain, wrap the yarn around the hook and pull through the loop. There's your first chain! Now repeat and practice by making as many chains as you want.

Check back in for the next post showing how to single crochet!

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This tutorial is for personal use only. The photos may not be reproduced, distributed or resold, translated, published, altered, shared or posted in any way over the internet or offline.

You may sell finished items made from patterns designed by me as long as it is handmade by you, not mass produced, giving the credit to Pops de Milk / Patricia Castillo as the designer. If you have any questions, you can email me at patricia@popsdemilk.com