How to crochet: chain stitch

Crocheting is a simple way to improve your child's fine motor skills.  Watch the how to crochet video below to find out how to do a simple chain stitch.

What you need:

• a crochet hook
• a ball of yarn

Number of players:

Activity:

1. Make a slip knot

Make a circle with the yarn. Let the end of the yarn fall behind the circle, use your hook to go in and grab the piece hanging down, hold the tail of that piece to stop it coming through the loop and pull it through the circle to make a loose slip knot around your hook.

2. Get the tension right

Place the hook in your right hand, parallel to the working surface. Place your left hand flat in front of you, palm down, with your thumb facing towards you.  Slot the yarn in between the pinkie and ring fingers of your left hand. Now turn your left hand so your thumb is pointing up.

Now extend your pointer finger to make the tension right. (See video.)

3. Chain stitch

Take the hook underneath the main piece of yarn, catch it around the hook. Now pull it through the loop on the hook. (see video.)

That’s the chain stitch. Keep going until you have a long chain.

4. Fasten off

When you are finished making your chain, you need to fasten off. 

Cut the yarn from the ball leaving a 10cm tail. Hook the piece of working yarn (as though about to make a stitch) and pull the tail through the main loop. Tighten it off.

Find out how to make your chain into a coaster here.

• Thanks to our sister company Kidspot Australia for creating the instructional video.