A Crochet Turning Chain Guide with a Chart
What is a Turning Chain?
You may have heard it mentioned but you’re not quite sure what exactly a turning chain is. Don’t worry. I’m here to help you out and explain the crochet turning chain in a really simple and easy way.
A turning chain is a set of chains that you make at the beginning of each row or round in order to bring the working yarn up to the height of the specific stitch you are working with and to keep a straight edge.
Let’s take the half double crochet stitch (UK half treble crochet) as an example. Below shows a small sample made in half double crochet stitch with the turning chain of 2 already made for the next row of stitches.
If each half double crochet stitch measures roughly 0.5cm high, then at the beginning of each row we need to create a straight edge that brings our working yarn up to the height of 0.5cm before making our first half double crochet stitch of the row.
If we began our first stitch without this then we would end up with both edges or our work being uneven and our final piece not measuring up how we would expect.
How Many Turning Chains Does Each Stitch Need?
Each crochet stitch is a slightly different height and so in turn each stitch needs a different amount of turning chains to measure up correctly. Below is a handy chart that you can come back to for reference whenever you need to check. Make sure you save / pin this and keep it as a reference.
Please note: The stitches in this chart are referred to in US crochet terms with UK terms in brackets.
| Crochet Stitch | Turning Chain |
|---|---|
| Single Crochet (double crochet) | 1 turning chain |
| Half Double Crochet (half treble) | 2 turning chains |
| Double Crochet (treble) | 3 turning chains |
| Treble (double treble) | 4 turning chains |
| Double Treble (triple treble) | 5 turning chains |
I really hope this article has helped and that the chart above is useful. If you have any questions, like always, I’m happy to help. Just pop them in the comments section below.
