Wednesday, September 21, 2011

I Hate Chain Starts!!!!

I have seen so many complaints about "chain starts" that it honestly began to baffle me.
I've had one or two people write to me requesting that I re-write a pattern so that they can begin with a "magic circle" instead of a 'chain' and even had one who accused me of using camera tricks and that I was using glue or something to "not have gaps in my beginning (chain) round"

Now, I say baffle me because I've never had an issue with gaps or spaces when I begin with a chain and before I began designing larger amigurumi, I was a thread bear/animal fanatic.  So, I just accepted that perhaps my tension was extremely tight.

NO, I do not use a smaller hook for the beginning chain round, that would be changing the pattern - if the pattern calls for a Size G Hook, that is what I use through and through.
No, I do not sew anything together - I do not use glue or any 'designer tricks' - I think the glue would be too hard once dried (as I use superglue at the finish off of a doily) - and I really don't know any designer "tricks" per se.

Chain starts are very common in many Asian amigurumi instructions, so perhaps when I was taught, I was not taught as most Americans are taught- perhaps my way of doing things isn't normal... which wouldn't really surprise me as I've been told my entire life that I "have my own way of doing things - right or wrong".
It wasn't until a fellow designer posted a 'tutorial' about crocheting an oval that I realized why so many people were having gap issues - they are splitting the chain!

Any-who-diddle:

A tutorial to help anyone who is having a problem with spaces, gaps or just wants to learn a different way of beginning a project with a "chain start".

Perhaps the pattern reads as such:

Chain 11,
Inc in 2nd chain from hook, sc in ea of nxt 8 sts, 4 sc in end ch st - turn piece to allow you to work up the other side of original beg chain (as if a flat round), sc in ea of nxt 8 sts, Inc in last st.  (24 sts)

You begin your chain - 


Your chain - and from the side (this is important!)


Do you notice the little 'hump' behind each chain?


When I was taught to crochet in the chain, it was these little humpy bumps that the first row of stitches were worked into - whether the project was for an amigurumi, a blanket or an article of clothing - a chain in almost any other item would show, you want it to look as polished as the rest of the project, not 'loopy' or like someone has pulled at it.

Working the chain - completing the stitches instructed by the designer, but working in these 'humps' rather than splitting the chain. 
*I decided to change colors to emphasize the different 'sections' of this tutorial.


Here you can see what I've done (in purple) with the first few stitches
Continuing to follow the instructions, single crochet stitch being placed in each hump directed, then 4 single crochet in the last stitch's hump/turning the piece as the final stitch is placed to allow the piece to be worked on the opposite side of the chain.


As you can see from the photo, the chain is very 'full' this way and not flimsy or being pulled by your stitches - it almost looks as if you are crocheting in ROWS instead of crocheting around a chain.

Now you can see the end result is much cleaner, more polished - no holes, no gaps, no smaller hooks, no sewing - no tricks!


I hope you have found this tutorial useful - and perhaps, you may learn to love chain starts as much as I do.
Page Updated on: 2 September 2020


✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦⋆✦

(¯`·._(_.·´¯`·._.»  Copyright Notice  «._.·´¯`·._)_.·´¯)

Should you wish to share this Information or FiberDoodlesbyK4TT Patterns, please share using an Official FiberDoodlesbyK4TT authorized page 
.
✦⋆✦  RAVERLY  ✦⋆✦  BLOG  ✦⋆✦  ETSY  ✦⋆✦

Permission has NOT be granted to any 3rd Party to re-print, re-post or translate any FiberDoodlesbyK4TT products.

By utilizing any product from FiberDoodlesbyK4TT, whether by clicking over the internet, telephone, facsimile or otherwise, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of the FiberDoodlesbyK4TT End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) or qualification.
All patterns are sold in good faith. Every effort has been made to ensure that all instructions are accurate and complete. FiberDoodlesbyK4TT cannot, however, be responsible for human error or variations in individual work.


All patterns released from FiberDoodlesbyK4TT are protected under Federal copyright laws. Reproduction/distribution, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited unless specifically authorized. This includes, but is not limited to, any form of reproduction or distribution on or through the Internet, including posting, scanning, "Crochet-A-Longs" and/or eMail transmission. 

15 comments:

Erins Toy Store said...

I love it! LOL You made that so funny and insightful! I bow down to you!!! :P

HUGS!
Erin

... Babsie said...

Wow!!! This tutorial is sooooooo useful. Thank you very much!!!
Greetings
Babsie ♥

K4TT said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

This really helped me, thank you!!!!

Susanne said...

I don't think I have ever turned my base starting chain on it's side and used the bumps on the back side. All of my instruction books show the first stitches going into the actual front top loop of the chain. Gonna have to try it and see if it makes a difference in my work. I have been crocheting since I was 13 years old....47 years. Learn something new everyday. Thanks for sharing.

Millasew said...

Thanks for sharing! I have never started working in the "humps" before, so will try that next time.

Greenpixey said...

Thank you, brilliant tutorial xx

Bittersweet said...

Thank you so very much. I implemented you chain start method on my very next project (slippers for my daughter's halloween costume, and it worked brilliantly. I am now and forever after a K4TT chain start fanatic. It's the most useful tip of crochet advice I've read in the 2 years since I've been fanatically crocheting.

Unknown said...

When I was taught we refered to this as "back door betty". So useful and makes it nice and tight.

Annie said...

You have just saved all my frustrations!! I hate chain starts as they always look loopy and out of shape. Using your method they now look neat and tidy. Thanks so much.. and for your other tips too. Much appreciated,

Anonymous said...

Im happy i stumpled across your website! i made your giraffe as a baby shower gift (lost the pattern) but i wanted to let you know the mommy-to-be (at the time) loves it! thank you so much for being so creative!

Froggeechik said...

Thank you for this quick bit. I am quite confident I can go back to a project I set aside because I split the chain and had gaps. Thank you again. Happy Hooking!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for showing me a new way to do a chain start!

Anonymous said...

Wow - amazing!! Never saw that before!!

DianaCrochets said...

Thanks for the clear explanation and visual!

Post a Comment

Hi and thank you for leaving your thoughts on Fiber Doodles!