Learn Foundation Crochet the Easy Way, With a Cheat Sheet

Updated: 11 November 2026 by Sylwia (MyCrochetory)

Foundation crochet lets you make the starting chain and the first row of stitches in one go. Each stitch builds its own little chain at the bottom, so there’s no long chain to count and no tight edge to fight.

Picture a blanket that starts with 286 chains. You count to 150, someone asks you a question, and you’re back at zero. Then Row 1 pulls the bottom edge in like a drawstring.

Fsc is the first foundation stitch I fell in love with, and it’s still the one I use most. Here are all three foundation stitches, Fsc, Fhdc and Fdc, with steps, photos, a video and a free printable cheat sheet.

New to crochet? My Free Crochet Tutorials for Beginners guide has 20+ step by step tutorials in one place.

What is foundation crochet?

Foundation crochet replaces the starting chain and the first row with one row of chainless foundation stitches. Every stitch has two parts, a chain at the bottom and the stitch itself on top.

You work into the chain part of the stitch before, so the row grows sideways one stitch at a time. Need two more stitches? Make two more and carry on.

There’s a bonus too. The bottom edge stretches as much as the fabric above it, so a neckline, a hem or the bottom of a blanket lies flat instead of pulling in.

	Starting chain	Foundation crochet
Edge	Often tighter than the fabric	Stretches like the fabric
Counting	Count the whole chain before Row 1	Add stitches as you go
Mistakes	A miscounted chain shows up at the end of Row 1	You see every stitch as you make it

Which foundation crochet stitch should you use?

The rule is simple, match the foundation stitch to the first row of your pattern. Row 1 in single crochet means Fsc, and Row 1 in double crochet means Fdc.

My patterns say it right in the foundation line. The Dahlia Pillow, for example, starts with “ch61 or Fsc 60 and skip to Row 2”.

Stitch	Height	Starts with	Replaces
Fsc	Short	ch2	A chain and a row of sc
Fhdc	Medium	ch3	A chain and a row of hdc
Fdc	Tall	ch4	A chain and a row of dc

How to foundation single crochet (Fsc)

Foundation single crochet replaces a chain and a first row of single crochet. It’s short and firm, and the easiest of the three to learn first.

1. Make a slip knot and ch2.
2. Insert the hook into the 2nd ch from the hook, yo and pull up a loop. You have 2 loops on the hook.
3. Yo and pull through the first loop only. This is the chain part of the stitch, and you’ll work into it next.
4. Yo and pull through both loops. That’s your first Fsc.
5. For every next Fsc, insert the hook into the chain part of the stitch you just made, yo and pull up a loop, then repeat steps 3 and 4.

Clip a stitch marker into the first stitch, and counting later takes seconds. For close up photos of every step, see my foundation single crochet tutorial.

How to foundation half double crochet (Fhdc)

Foundation half double crochet sits in the middle, a little taller than Fsc and still nice and dense. These pink photos show every move.

Step 1. Make a slip knot and ch3.

Step 2. Yo and insert the hook into the 3rd ch from the hook, the very first chain you made.

Step 3. Yo and pull up a loop. You have 3 loops on the hook.

Step 4. Yo and pull through the first loop only. This makes the chain part of the stitch.

Step 5. Yo and pull through all 3 loops. Your first Fhdc is done.

Step 6. For every next Fhdc, yo, insert the hook into the chain part at the bottom of the stitch you just made, and repeat steps 3 to 5.

How to foundation double crochet (Fdc)

Foundation double crochet gives you a tall first row straight away. Reach for it when Row 1 of your pattern is double crochet.

1. Make a slip knot and ch4.
2. Yo, insert the hook into the 4th ch from the hook, yo and pull up a loop. You have 3 loops on the hook.
3. Yo and pull through the first loop only. This is the chain part of the stitch.
4. Yo and pull through 2 loops. You have 2 loops left.
5. Yo and pull through both loops. That’s your first Fdc.
6. For every next Fdc, yo, insert the hook into the chain part of the stitch you just made, yo and pull up a loop, then repeat steps 3 to 5.

The same idea works for foundation treble crochet, which starts with ch5. My foundation double crochet tutorial has more photos and a video.

Foundation crochet tips

Learning foundation crochet with dark, fuzzy yarn is like reading in a dim room. Pick a smooth, light colored yarn so the chain part of each stitch is easy to spot, and go up 0.5 mm in hook size so those chain parts stay loose.

Keep all the chain parts facing down as you go. The moment one flips up, the row starts to twist.

Edges still uneven in later rows? My How to Crochet Straight Edges tutorial covers that, and standing stitches give you a no-chain start for every row after the foundation.

Want this tutorial for later? Save this pin to your crochet board.

Foundation crochet video tutorial

Some moves are easier to follow in motion than in photos. My video covers Fsc, Fhdc and Fdc from the slip knot on, so pause it whenever you need.

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Patterns you can start with foundation single crochet

Want to try it on a real project? These patterns of mine offer a Fsc start right in the foundation line, and so do the Tonnta Lightweight Scarf and the Cable Diamond Pillow.

• Flourish Linen Wrap starts with 170 chains, or 169 Fsc if you’d rather skip them.
• Tonnta Blanket is a wave blanket where the Fsc start takes you straight to Row 2.
• Thassos Mosaic Blanket can start with 133 Fsc in Yarn A.
• Dahlia Pillow is an intarsia pillow cover worked in rows of single crochet.

Foundation crochet FAQ

Does the foundation row count as Row 1?

Yes. A foundation row replaces the chain and the first row, which is why my patterns say “skip to Row 2” after the Fsc option.

How many foundation stitches replace a starting chain?

For single crochet, make one foundation stitch fewer than the chain count in the pattern. The extra chain in the original start is only the turning chain, and a foundation row doesn’t need it.

Can I use foundation crochet in the round?

Yes. Make the foundation row, check it isn’t twisted, then join the first and last stitch with a slip stitch.

Why does my foundation row curl or twist?

Usually the chain parts are too tight or some of them flipped to the other side. Go up half a hook size and keep every chain part facing down.

Got stuck on a step? Ask in my Facebook Group or Official Ravelry Group, or email me at mycrochetory@gmail.com.

Share your foundation rows on Instagram with #mycrochetory and tag @mycrochetory. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.