The short answer: it depends on the stitch, and the pattern will always tell you. In our course: for double crochet (US single crochet) the ch 1 does not count; for half treble (US half double crochet) the ch 2 does not count; for treble (US double crochet) the ch 3 does count as the first stitch.
Getting this wrong is the main reason beginner crochet slowly gets narrower or wider. Here’s what the turning chain is, the rule for each stitch height, and how to keep your edges straight.
What the turning chain is
At the end of a row, you chain and turn the work, like turning the page of a book. That chain lifts your hook up to the height of the next row. A taller stitch needs a taller lift, so the number of chains changes with the stitch.
Does it count? The rule for each stitch
| Stitch (UK, with US name) | Turning chain, and does it count? |
|---|---|
| Double crochet, dc (US single crochet, sc) | Ch 1, which does not count. Work your first dc into the first stitch. Never work into the ch 1. |
| Half treble, htr (US half double crochet, hdc) | Ch 2, which does not count. Work your first htr into the first stitch, and nothing goes into the turning chain. |
| Treble, tr (US double crochet, dc) | Ch 3, which counts as the first treble. Skip the first stitch and work the last treble into the top chain of the ch 3 from the row below. |
Patterns can choose differently, so if a pattern says “ch 2 (counts as htr)” or “ch 3 (does not count as a stitch)”, follow the pattern.
Rows that don’t count the chain (dc and htr)
- Turn and chain. At the end of a row, turn your work and ch 1 for double crochet (ch 2 for half treble).
- Find the first stitch. It’s right at the base of that chain, and easy to skip because the chain hides it. Put your first stitch into it, under both loops.
- Work along the row. One stitch in each stitch.
- Find the last stitch. The last stitch of a row is the top of the first stitch from the row below. It often looks small, tucked beside the edge. Look for its top “V” and work into it every time. Missing it is the number one reason rows shrink.
- Count. Count your stitches at the end of every row. It takes 10 seconds and saves you pulling out 10 rows later.
Rows that do count the chain (treble)
- Ch 3 and turn. That ch 3 is stitch 1.
- Skip the first stitch. It’s hiding under the ch 3. Work a treble into the 2nd stitch and every stitch after it.
- Work the last treble into the top of the ch 3 from the row below.
- Count the ch 3 as a stitch when you count the row.
Can’t find the top of the ch 3? Put a stitch marker in the top chain of each ch 3 as you make it, and it’s easy to find on the way back.
Why your crochet is getting smaller (or wider)
- Getting narrower: you’re missing the first or last stitch of the row. The last one is small and sits right beside the turning chain. With trebles, you’re missing the top of the ch 3.
- Getting wider: you’re working a stitch into a turning chain that doesn’t count, or twice into the first stitch. With trebles, you worked into the first stitch and counted the ch 3.
The fix that works for all of them: clip a locking stitch marker into the first stitch and another into the last stitch of a row. On the next row, work into the marked stitches, then move the markers up. After a few rows you won’t need them.
Quick troubleshooting
| What happened | What to do |
|---|---|
| My crochet rows get shorter. | You’re missing the last stitch of each row. It’s small and sits right beside the turning chain. Count every row. |
| My crochet rows get longer. | You’re probably working a stitch into the turning chain, or twice into the first stitch. In dc the ch 1 doesn’t count: put the first dc into the first real stitch. |
| My treble rows lose a stitch each row. | You’re missing the top of the ch 3. Mark it with a stitch marker when you make it. |
| My treble rows gain a stitch. | You worked into the first stitch and counted the ch 3. With trebles, skip the first stitch. |
| There’s a gap at the edge of my rows. | Your turning chain is loose. Keep it snug, or try making it with slightly tighter yarn tension. |
Left-handed? Your rows travel left to right, so your turning chain is on the left edge. Everything else (the chain, the first stitch and the last stitch) is exactly the same.
Questions people ask
Does the turning chain count as a stitch in double crochet?
No. In UK double crochet (US single crochet) the ch 1 just lifts the yarn up. Work your first double crochet into the first stitch and never work into the ch 1.
Does the ch 3 count as a stitch?
For trebles (US double crochet), yes: the ch 3 counts as the first treble. Skip the first stitch, and work the last treble of the next row into the top of the ch 3.
How many chains do I make to turn?
Ch 1 for double crochet (US single crochet), ch 2 for half treble (US half double crochet) and ch 3 for treble (US double crochet). The taller the stitch, the taller the turning chain.
Why does my crochet get smaller every row?
You’re missing the last stitch of the row, which hides beside the turning chain, or with trebles the top of the ch 3. Mark the first and last stitches and count every row.