Foundation Rows

Foundation rows are FABULOUS! I spent way too many crocheting years counting long chains and trying to loosen my tension so they weren’t too tight. Until I discovered foundation rows! This discovery was a crochet life changer.

Foundation rows are only used for the beginning row of your work. You can make a foundation slip stitch row, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, or triple crochet rows. It’s stretchy and matches the rest of the work much better than a chain would.

Do not let the foundation rows intimidate you. They are very confusing at first. Just remember you are making the chain and the stitch all together. I have included photos to help you along the way. Please let me know if you have any questions or confusion.

See video guide at bottom of post for how to make foundation hdc row.

Foundation single crochet row

Ch 2. Insert Hook in first ch made. Yarn over pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through first loop. Yarn over again and pull through last 2 loops on Hook.

This made your first sc. the loop at the bottom is the “chain”.

insert hook into “chain” (this will be through two loops just like if there were a chain across the bottom).

Yarn over pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through first loop. Yarn over again and pull through last 2 loops on Hook.

Repeat until desired length.

Foundation half double crochet row

Ch 2. yarn over and insert hook into first chain made. yarn over pull up a loop. yarn over and pull through first loop. yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook.

This made your first hdc and “chain” stitch.

Yarn over, insert hook into “chain” (this will be through two loops just like if there were a chain across the bottom, see photo above). yarn over pull up a loop. yarn over and pull through first loop. yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook.

Repeat until desired length

See YouTube video here for how to make foundation hdc row.

Foundation double crochet row

Ch 3. Yarn over and insert hook into first chain made. yarn over and pull up a loop. yarn over and pull through first loop. yarn over and pull through 2 loops. yarn over and pull through remaining 2 loops.

This made your first dc and “chain” stitch

Yarn over, insert hook into “chain” (this will be through two loops just like if there were a chain across the bottom, see photo above). yarn over and pull up a loop. yarn over and pull through first loop. yarn over and pull through 2 loops. yarn over and pull through remaining 2 loops.

Repeat until desired length.

Foundation triple crochet row

ch 4. Yarn over twice. Insert Hook into first chain made, yarn over and up a loop. yarn over and pull through first loop on hook. yarn over and pull through 2 loops. yarn over and pull through 2 more loops. yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops on the hook.

This made your first tc and “chain” stitch

Yarn over twice, insert hook into “chain” (this will be through 2 loops just like if there were a chain across the bottom, see photo above). yarn over and pull up a loop. yarn over and pull through first loop. yarn over and pull through 2 loops. yarn over and pull through 2 more loops. yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops on the hook.

Repeat until desired length

Foundation slip stitch row

Ch 2, insert hook into very first chain. yarn over pull up a loop. yarn over and pull through both loops. (first sl st with “chain” on left side)

This made your first slip stitch and “chain” stitch

insert hook through “chain” loop on left side of stitch (this will be through 2 loops, see photo above for where to insert hook). yarn over pull up a loop. yarn over and pull through both loops.

Repeat until desired length.

See video guide below for how to make foundation hdc row.

There you have it! Looking for a pattern to try out a foundation row on?

Check out my Fringe Infinity Scarf pattern here. Or Camel Stitch Fingerless Gloves Pattern here

Don’t forget to save for later by pinning to Pinterest. I would love to see photos of your finished work! Feel free to tag me in them or send them to my email.

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