Do you find sometimes that your starting chains (or sometimes called foundation chains) are too tight and the bottom of your project puckers or too loose and it flares all over the place? Have you heard of foundation single crochet stitches? You make the chain and the first row of single crochet stitches at the same time and end up with a beautifully flexible edge that isn't too taut. And if you look at it from the top, it looks just like a row of stitches with the typical braided chain look we crocheters love.
My friend Marty Miller teaches a class on how to make these foundation single crochet stitches, and also foundation hdc and foundation dc, and a few more. It's a great class and you can find it here: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/CharlesVoth_4809_CP