Start a chain in crochet by making a slip knot, then repeatedly yarning over and pulling through to build your foundation row to a target length. Chain a few stitches extra and trim back if needed, since starting short means unraveling and restarting from scratch. This guide covers sizing your chain to a target width.
Sizing Your Chain
A rough guide for worsted weight yarn with an H hook: about 4 chains per inch of finished single crochet width. For a 12-inch-wide dishcloth, chain around 48 to 50 stitches, adjusting based on your own tension after a quick test swatch.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I chained the right number of stitches?
Work a quick test swatch first to check your personal stitches-per-inch rate, since tension varies enough between crocheters that a fixed chain count will not fit everyone the same way.
Want the full beginner walkthrough?
See the complete steps from slip knot through your first full row.
Read the full chain tutorial
