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How to Foundation Double Crochet

The foundation crochet stitches are a great alternative to starting a piece, especially helpful when you’re not sure how long to make your beginning chain. It’s perfect for clothing or a large blanket. It gives a bit of a stretch and a nice, pretty edge on the bottom of your piece. The Foundation Double crochet is similar to the foundation half double crochet with one small addition: an extra yarn over. Let’s dive in.

Instructions:

Step 1: Begin with a slip knot, then chain two

Step 2: Yarn over and insert your hook into the first chain stitch.

Step 3: Pull up a loop (3 loops of hook), making sure the loop is tall to keep the stitches from curving

Step 4: Yarn over and pull through one loop (3 loops on hook). This is your chain stitch.

Step 5: Yarn over and pull through two loops. (2 loops on hook)

Step 6: Yarn over and pull through both loops. Your first Foundation Double Crochet is complete!

Step 7: To make your next stitch, yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch from step 4.

Step 8: Pull up a loop. (3 loops on hook), making sure the loop is tall to keep the stitches from curling

Step 9: Yarn over and pull through one loop (3 loops on hook)

Step 10: Yarn over and pull through two loops (2 loops on hook)

Step 11: Yarn over and pull through both loops

Repeat steps 7 – 11 for the required amount of stitches your pattern calls for.

You’re completed row should look similar to this.

You can now continue on to your next row in your pattern.

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How to Foundation Half Double Crochet

The foundation crochet stitches are a great alternative to starting a piece, especially helpful when you’re not sure how long to make your beginning chain. It’s perfect for clothing or a large blanket. It gives a bit of a stretch and a nice, pretty edge on the bottom of your piece. The Foundation Half Double crochet is similar to the foundation single crochet with one small addition: an extra yarn over. Let’s dive in.

Instructions:

Step 1: Begin with a slip knot, then chain two

Step 2: Yarn over and insert your hook into the first chain stitch. 

Step 3: Pull up a loop (3 loops of hook), making sure the loop is tall to keep the stitches from curving

Step 4: Yarn over and pull through one loop (3 loops on hook). This is your chain stitch.

Step 5: Yarn over and pull through all three loops. Your first Foundation Half Double Crochet is complete!

Step 6: To make your next stitch, yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch from step 4.

Step 7: Pull up a loop. (3 loops on hook), making sure the loop is tall to keep the stitches from curving

Step 8: Yarn over and pull through one loop (3 loops on hook)

Step 9: Yarn over and pull through all three loops.

Step 10: Repeat steps 6 – 9 for the required amount of stitches your pattern calls for.

You’re completed row should look similar to this.

You can now continue on to your next row in your pattern.

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How to Foundation Single Crochet (FSC)

The foundation single crochet stitch (FSC) is a great alternative to start any piece that requires a long chain for the first row. Instead of creating a long chain and then going back to work into the chain, the FSC allows you to cut straight to the chase.

You can use the FSC stitch in any pattern. Just create the same number of FSC’s as stitches in the first row that the pattern calls for. If the first row calls for 80 single crochet stitches, make 80 FSC’s instead. It helps avoid missing stitches, makes the stitches easy to see, and gives a neat looking, stretchy edge.

Instructions:

Step 1: Begin with a slip knot, then chain two

Step 2: Insert your hook into the first chain stitch. Yarn over and pull up one loop. Make this loop nice and tall. (2 loops on hook)

Step 3: Yarn over and pull the yarn through the first loop on your hook. This will be your chain stitch. (2 loops on hook)

Step 4: Yarn over and pull through both loops. This finishes your first foundation crochet stitch.

Step 5: Insert your hook into the chain stitch from Step 3.

Step 6: Yarn over and pull up one loop, again making sure the loop is tall to keep the stitches from curving. (2 loops on hook)

Step 7: Yarn over and pull the yarn through the first loop. (2 loops on hook)

Step 8: Yarn over and pull through both loops. This makes your next foundation crochet stitch.

Step 9: Repeat steps 6 – 9 until you have the number of stitches needed for your project.

You’re completed row should look like this.

You can now continue on to your next row in your pattern.