When I was first learning foundation single crochet (fsc), I found that I made the chain part of the stitch very tightly.  This is because I wasn't pushing my hook through the loops all the way; I was just using the tip when I made the chain.  When the chain part is tight, your fsc row will to curve in on itself, like so:

Three or four people have emailed saying, "What am I doing wrong?!?" and every time, they are doing the same thing I did.

To keep you from making the same mistake, I added a note to the foundation single crochet tutorial.

This is a supplement to the original foundation single crochet tutorial.  Here I show you how to make a foundation single crochet bridge in the middle of your work.  I first used this when making the Icelandic Turtleneck for the arm holes.  I also use it to make the handles on my handbags.

The tutorial is broken down by each teeny-tiny step and includes a quick video demonstration at the end.

Detailed instructions (text is above its corresponding photo)

1.  To start your fsc you will put your hook in the place where you made the previous single crochet.  I've marked that hole with the blue yarn needle.


2. Put your hook through where you made the previous single crochet.


3. Yarn over.


4. Pull through one loop.  This is the link part of the fsc.


5. Yarn over.


6. Pull through one loop.  This is the chain part of the fsc.


7. Put a stitch marker around the left and middle strand of the chain.  This marks where you will put your hook in to start the next fsc.


8. Close up.  Same as step 7.


9. Yarn over.


10. Pull through two loops.  This is the single crochet part of the fsc.  First fsc completed.


11. Put a stitch marker in the top of the first fsc, so you know where it is.


12. Put your hook in the chain part of the first fsc where the stitch marker is.


13. Yarn over.


14. Pull through.  This is the link part of the fsc.  Continue fsc stitches as normal.


15. This is a bridge of ten fsc.


16. Close up of the last fsc in the bridge.


17. Put a stitch marker in the top.


18. Put two stitch markers in the bottom to mark the left and right bars of the bottom of the stitch.


19. Close up of step 18.


20. The blue yarn needle marks where I'll be attaching the fsc bridge to my work.


21. Put your hook through the chain  bar closest to you.


22. Put your hook through the crochet piece.


23. Put your hook through the other chain bar.  You've just made a yarn sandwich on your hook.  The chain bars are the bread and the crochet piece is the peanut butter and jelly.


24. Yarn over.


25. Pull through the sandwich ... aka the two chain parts and the crochet piece.  You should have two loops on your hook.


26. Yarn over.


27. Pull through two loops.  This completes the single crochet.


28. Close up of step 27.


29. Close up of the back of the stitch.


30. Complete the rest of the row using normal single crochet stitches.


31. Close up of the front of the start of the bridge.


32. Close up of the back of the start of the bridge.


33. Close up of the front of the end of the bridge.


34. Close up of the back of the end of the bridge.


Movie Time!

Well, I still haven't gotten around to my title cards, crafty montage opening, or theme song.  Oh, well.  You've got 5minutes 34seconds of crochety goodness to watch, and that's good enough for now. :)



As always, I'd love any feedback (good or bad) you have about this tutorial.