Chaining At the Start of a Row

[mermaid]

A well placed embelishment is a nice way to camouflage...... My trick sometimes too

[Joyannerose]

I agree with u and Andy, I hate that chain 3. drawing up a big loop to just do a dc works really well. Lily Chin also does a stitch to mimic a dc at New row. I.ll see if I can find a video of it, as its a little hard to explain. You kind of make a big loop, use hook to wrap yarn around it backwards.... I'll have to do it to get it right so I can explain it. Maybe someone else knows this one.
z I'm doing a vest/wrap with an S Hook right now. and the hook is so big I figured I.d just do the ch 3. I really wish I'd experimented first, but all the spaces are so big anyway, it's not too bad. Then it is worn with a big belt and a big folded over collar, so I don't think it will be too noticeable.

[Jean Marie]

the chain/s at the beginning or ending of a row is for the height of the stitches and to keep the edge straight(gotta make sure you count the stitches so you don't miss one) as far as I know but then I saw on u tube that someone chained 2 for a double crochet and found out that there were other people on crochet talk that chained 2 for dc. I tried the chain 2 for dc and it makes a neater edge but is it right to do when the books say chain 3 for a dc?

[Joyannerose]

Kim Guzman, award winning designer in crochet and knit, says "patterns are just a guideline".

[Desertflower]

Thank you so much for the info, I really need a review of the basics before I get started on my afghan!

[andyj]

Jean Marie----yes, it is okay/it is your height determination

[billieconrad]

You might check out mooglyblog.com - she has great video tutorials on basic and advanced stitches including chainless starting, foundation crochet, switching colors, etc. - she also has some free patterns.

Just learning to crochet and the chaining at the beginning of a round is the thing I find the most confusing. Some of the tutorials I have seen on you tube say count as a stitch and some say don't count it which is a bit confusing as a newbie. I have been struggling at times and losing and gaining stitches. Today I discovered If I don't count it as a stitch and go into the same space and then start counting I keep the right amount of stitches

[teresah]

Hiya pinkgemjanet.. By George, I think you got it.. Just do as they say.. Sometimes it counts and sometimes it doesn't.. BTW
Welcome to the site.. I'm sure you will love it as much as I do.. You will find the members are great and so helpful... Enjoy.. Teresa

[teresah]

Hiya andyj and joannerrose, Welcome to the site.. I'm sure you will love it as much as I do.. You will find the members are great and so helpful... Enjoy.. Teresa

[ooh-lalah]

Have you read How to Break the Crochet Rules and Get Away With It? You say no? That's because I haven't written it yet. Some rules cannot be broken. However, the ch 2 at the beginning of a row is a rule that can be broken. If the beginning of the row is going to end up in a seam I go ahead and ch 2. Otherwise, I ch 1 and dc in the same space. When I make hats I do the ch 1/dc thing and it results in a seamless hat.