Turning chain
The turning chain takes the place of the first stitch in a row. We make it in order to secure the right height of the row which we are starting off. So if we want to make a row of double crochet stitches, we must first crochet three chain stitches so that first stitches we crochet ‘stand straight.’
How-to:
The number of turning stitches depends on the type of stitch we want to crochet, or actually the kind of first stitch in a row.
The following table should be of help:
- Single crochet stitch – 1 turning stitch (does not count in a row)
- Half double crochet stitch: 2 turning stitches
- Double crochet stitch: 3 turning stitches
- Triple crochet stitch: 4 turning stitches
- Double treble crochet stitch: 4 turning stitches
The turning chain is usually counted as the first stitch of the row, with the exception of single crochet rows.
