How to Crochet: Foundation Single Crochet (fsc)
The foundation single crochet (fsc) is a stitch that can replace the foundation chain and the first row of single crochets in your work by completing them at the same time! This is also known as chain free crocheting!!!
But what’s the point?
- Often times crochet foundation chains are tighter than the rest of the work, but with fsc it will have the same tension without having to use a larger hook.
- With some yarns (such as boucle) it is hard to see the stitches in a traditional foundation chain, but with fsc you don’t have to crochet on a chain.
- Even if you prefer making a traditional foundation chain. You can use fsc to add extra stitches to your work without having to take the whole thing apart if you accidentally miss count the number of chains.
- It’s faster if you do it right! Being able to complete a chain and a row of single crochets at one time can save you time.
Here is a picture tutorial for making the foundation single crochet. This tutorial is for both right and left handed people. For left handed pictures, roll your mouse over the image and it will change for you.
Step 1: Start with a slip knot on your hook and chain 2.
Step 2: Insert your hook into the second chain from your hook (which is also the first chain that was made)
Step 3: yarn over (wrap the yarn around your hook)
Step 4: pull the strand of yarn though one loop on your hook (you should now have 2 loops on your hook)
Step 5: yarn over (wrap the yarn around your hook)
Step 6: pull the strand of yarn though one loop on your hook (you should now have 2 loops on your hook) Note that you just completed the chain portion of the stitch.
Step 7: yarn over (wrap the yarn around your hook)
Step 8: pull the strand of yarn though the final 2 loops on your hook (you should now have 1 loop on your hook) Note that you just completed the single crochet portion of the stitch.
There you have it, your first foundation single crochet stitch! Take a good look at it, the chain is on the bottom and the single crochet is on top of it. This is important to see for knowing where to insert your hook next. Here is how to add more stitches:
Step 9: Insert your hook under the 2 loops of the “chain” portion that was made in the previous stitch. It should seem like your hook is between the chain and the single crochet. It may be easier to see where to insert your hook if you hold your work sideways or upside down.
Repeat steps 3 – 8 to complete the stitch. You can make a row as long as you desire. This will replace the foundation chain and first row of single crochets in a piece of work.
Here is what a row of fsc looks like!
If you need help with making a foundation single crochet, let me know and I’ll love to help!
Hi Rachel,
I am from Melbourne, Australia and I have a lot of your free patterns and I love them. I have just read your FSC. What a great idea as I seem to never have enough space when I work into the chain foundation. I am looking forward to trying it out. I was wondering if you have ever thought of having a special page for printing the patterns.
It often takes a lot of printing just for a small patterns. Just a thought. I love your site. I guess you are enjoying warmer weather now and we are in the middle of winter. We get very hot summers so I really don’t mind the winter. Cheers for now, Marion
Hey Marion!
I plan on making the printer friendly version some time in the future, but I just have to get the time to make a printer page for all the patterns and tutorials that’s on the site. There are so many, it’s overwhelming to go through it all.
Hi Rachel, Thanks for your reply. I am 73 years of age on Wednesday and not long ago I started crocheting again after many years. I am really enjoying it and I have a special folder for all the patterns I have printed from your site. I just have to remember that your sc is our dc and your dc is our trb. but I am used to it now. Thanks, Rachel, Cheers, Marion
Sorry Rachel, It’s me again. It is3.15am ( can’t sleep) and I am trying to do the fsc. I am fine until wanting to make it longer. I put my hook under the two loops of the chain (I think) lol and then I have three loops on the hook so when I put a loop over the hook to pull through there are three loops on the hook instead of two. OOPS. Can you tell me what I am doing wrong. Sorry to be so dumb but I have tried it a few times. Thanks Rachel, Marion
Hey Marion!
No worries, I love answering questions
After you put your hook under the 2 loops of the chain, you should yarn over and pull the strand of yarn though the 2 loops of the chain that is on your hook. Then you should have only 2 loops on your hook.
I probably confused you in the tutorial when I said to pull through one loop on your hook, but the “one loop” referred to the 2 loops of the chain that’s on your hook.
I hope that helps, let me know if you still need more help.
Yes that was the problem I was just picking up one loop the the chain. I will go to bed happy now. lol. Thanks a lot for your help.
This looks great! I’ll have to give it try. My foundation chains always seem to be too loose, leaving gaps. If I don’t have to actually do one, that should help.
Thank you for talking about the fsc! I learned it for a particular pattern and have loved it ever since! I had to track down tutorials for it online since I did not see directions in any of the books I have read so far… and it took a couple tutorials for me to finally get it. One of the best was a video where the person used a very very large hook (possibly an S!), which made it very easy to see where to insert the hook at each stage.
Thank you again for mentioning the stitch, I think it was not in my books because it was deemed difficult for beginners or something, but it makes life so much easier!!
That big hook idea is great! I’ll have to remember that when I go to make more complicated tutorials.
Thanks for the great tutorial. I’m really enjoying your blog.
Here is my problem – I can follow your instructions and do the FSC correctly, but mine always ends up with a curve. It seems the part that makes the chain is shorter or tighter than the rest. I’ve tried doing the first step very loosely, but I’m still getting a curve.
Hi Mary Ann,
I actually get a bit of a curve too when I use small hooks. But once I put a row of some other stitch on top of the foundation it straightens out. With or without a curve, the bottom should still be more “elastic” than an ordinary foundation chain.
Thanks so much Rachel. I’ve been ripping out once I see the curve. I will try again and this time just keep on going and see what happens. Thanks again for your quick response.
This is really useful. I knew this stitch existed but not the many advantages you have listed above. Can’t wait to try it out.
I have just seen this stitch for the starting chain, with a bit of practise I will get better at it, as soon as I done the second row I knew that I will be using this all the time, just have to learn to get out of my old ways. much nicer finish, thank you
That is so kewl how you fix the pics for us lefties!
Thank you so much for the assist to us lefies. I’ve spent so many years making the transition from right-hand to left in my brain that it looks odd to see it done for me. Many years ago, I taught myself how to crochet from a small book I got at Woolworth’s. I would look at the b/w picture. Then, do the opposite with my left hand. It took awhile, but I’m still crocheting 45 years later.
TG for the Internet where such info as yours can be found and one can even watch a video for a how-to.
Hello Rachel,
I was searching for fcs and your site popped up. Your tutorial is great, but I am still having a problem (I think) when working into the chain just made (that still has a the top, bottom and back ridge/hump, which two loops should I be working through? I have seen a few videos, one said to work into the “v” where the back ridge is on the back side of the hook. Other videos showing working into the second chain from hook (after chaining 2 to begin fsc) they pick up the top loop and back ridge but the stitches after that I can not tell what they are working into. I am wondering if it matters as long as you go through any two loops? I understand that with this stitch you must working into two loops, but which ones *smiles*
Thanks for your patience,
Stacie
Hi Stacie, check out the photo on step 9. Your hook should go under the 2 loops that make the “V” shape.
A friend showed me this in a crochet book she has, but it sounded like you would need 3 hands to do it! I have checked out some other of your tutorials….You’re the greatest! They are easy to understand and the pics are very clear. Much more helpful than any other tutorials I have seen. THANK YOU!