Foundation crochet stiches

I am in love with foundation stitches! That is fsc, fhdc and fdc.

You can use these instead of a foundation chain and row of stitches. You essentially create the chain and stitch above it in one move.

The benefits are:

• Easier to handle when starting a crochet item
• Easier to count than chains
• More even tension
  • Easier to crochet into the other side of the chain
  • More flexible/stretchy edge than when using a foundation chain

It has taken me quite a while and several different tutorials to get the hang of foundation stitches, but now that I do all three varieties are easy.

The real turning point for me was when I realised I could go through the side loop of the first chain, or the back loop, both work and the side is easier. Also that the second yarn over then pull through one loop on hook creates what would have been the chain if you’d done a foundation chain everything that follows is the sc/hdc/dc stitch. Before I understood those two things I had to look up instructions and struggle through them every time, but when those things clicked I remembered the process better because I understood what I was creating.

There are enough tutorials out there, so I’m not going to write another one. These are the tutorials I think are helpful:

• Foundation single crochet (fsc)
  • Crochet Spot – written and illustrated
  • Simple Crochet on YouTube – video demonstration
• Foundation half double crochet (fhdc)
  • Micah Makes – written and illustrated
  • Simple Crochet on YouTube – video demonstration
• Foundation double crochet (fdc)
  • Crochet Spot – written and illustrated
  • Simple Crochet on YouTube – video demonstration