Foundation Chain Stitch Count not Right?

Have you ever finished your foundation chains then completed the first row or round only to find that you don’t have enough chains or have too many left over?  If this is a project with a very long beginning chain it can be very disheartening to have to pull out the first row – particularly when it establishing the base for the future rows/rounds.  Here are some hacks you can employ to avoid having to pull that first row out:-

Not enough chains in the row?  Here are three ways to fix it.

• Extend the first row making foundation double crochets or foundation trebles beginning at the base of the last stitch.  This works well for solid patterns, but not so well for lacy stitches.  As the base of the stitch will look different this is best when there are only a few stitches to add.

  

  Otherwise use one of the other techniques listed below. To make the foundation double crochet, insert your hook into the base of the last stitch made then pull a loop through, yarn over and pull through one loop (to create your chain for the new stitch) then finish the double crochet as usual.   To begin the next stitch, put your hook back through the chain you created and repeat the process.  Putting a marker into the ‘chain’ as you create it helps to find it when making the next stitch.

• If you have left a very long tail at the beginning of your chains, it may be possible to use the tail to create additional chains.  Undo the slip knot until it forms a loop that you can put your hook through then create the number of chains needed.

  

• Use a separate piece of yarn to create the missing chains.    This is particularly useful for lacy patterns or where a ‘longer’ number of stitches are to be added.  If you only have the one ball of yarn, take this additional piece needed from the centre.  Otherwise use the beginning of another ball.    With your new piece of yarn, insert your hook into the base of the last stitch and pull the new yarn through and make the number of chains required.  Alternatively you can make the number of chains needed with the new yarn and join it to the base of the last stitch with a sl stitch.

Too many chains in the row?

This is a little easier, and involves undoing your beginning slip knot.  Then gently unravel the extra unneeded stitches.  When you get to the last stitch you need, pull the yarn tail back through the loop to ‘fasten off’ then end.

But what about working in the Round?

That’s not so easy to fix, however here is a simple trick to avoid this possibility in the first place.  After you make your initial chains, rather than joining the chains to create a ring, turn and work the first round as if it is a row.  If you do then have the number of chains incorrect, you can adjust it using one of the methods that work for the rows.  Once you have the correct number of stitches at the end of the first ‘row’ join your last stitch to the first stitch of ‘row 1’ to form your round.  Then use your tail later to join the base of the first and last stitch together.