How to Crochet on Opposite Side of Chain
By Rachel – 30 CommentsCrocheting in the round is a very useful technique when you want to make bags, hats and other round objects. In this tutorial I will show you how you can crochet around a foundation chain. This method is used a lot in my crochet patterns to prevent having to sew your project together.
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.
Start by crocheting a foundation chain. If you are working with a pattern, it will tell you how long to make this chain.
Work your crochet stitches into each chain across. Double crochets are used in this example, but any crochet stitch can be used.
Now, turn your work upside down to work into the remaining loops of the chains stitches.
Work your stitches into each chain across the row. This is what a few stitches look like when it is on the other side of the chain.
When you are done, your last stitch should be next to the first stitch you made. You are essentially working in a circle or round.
The number of stitches you make on one side of the chain should be the same amount on the opposite side of the chain. Depending on what you are making you may join the end of your round to the beginning with a slip stitch, or you may continue crocheting in a spiral fashion.
Need more help? Let me know!
OMIGOSH! This is so smart and much easier than all the rounds I’ve seen on the internet. Thanks for the tip!
Oh my gosh! Awesome! I always wondered how to do this for bags – thanks so much!
I have seen this as the foundation for a pair of toe-up socks, too!
Rachel, I just noticed that if you “mouse over” the images in your tutorial, you see a left-handed view – very nice feature! I love getting your weekly newsletters, thank you for all your helpful tips and ideas. Your patterns rock, too!
What a great help to us all. Can’t wait to try this out. Thanks so much.
Your tutorials are the best! Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
Thank you so much. I have been looking every where for the explaination. Now I can make the bag I have been wanting to do.
This is awesome!!!! I’ve been trying to learn this but seemed to get totally lost in terms of where to put my hood.
[...] chain that is as long as the width of your cards), sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across, working into remain loops on opposite side of chain, sc in each ch across, place marker: 28 sc Round 2 – 12: sc in each sc around: 28 sc Finish [...]
[...] width of your desired case. Round 1: ch 2, hdc in third ch from hook and in each ch across, turn to work into remaining loops on opposite side of the chain, hdc in each ch across, sl st in top of beginning ch-2: 30 hdc Round 2: ch 2, hdc in each hdc [...]
[...] in each round will also be altered. Round 1: ch 2, hdc in third ch from hook and in each ch across, working on remaining loops on opposite side of chain, hdc in each ch across, sl st in top of beginning ch-2: 16 hdc Round 2 – 10: ch 2, hdc in [...]
Thank you so much for the left-handed pictures! I would have been lost without them. Great pattern!
Very helpful. I was just starting a pattern and I got to that part and wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do
[...] of squares you make. Round 1: ch 16, sc in second ch from hook and in each each ch across, turn to work into remaining loops on opposite side of ch, sc in each ch across, place marker: 30 sc Round 2 – 15: sc in each sc around: 30 sc Finish [...]
Rachel,
Are you using the back loops in the chain to do this? Then when you turn are you using the front loops?
Yes Brenda, but depending on your crochet style, you can also do the back loop with the back ridge, or the front loops with the back ridge after you turn.
thank you, I also love your site, it is very, very, helpful!
Brenda
[...] 1: ch 2, hdc in third ch from hook and in each ch across, working into remaining loops on opposite side of chain, hdc in each ch across, sl st in top of beginning ch-2: 16 hdc Round 2: ch 2, turn, hdc in each hdc [...]
Thanks! Could not figure this out but you made it so easy.
Were it not for you, much uncertainty about a Sugar and Creme shopping bag would have won out. Thanks
I’m still not getting the ‘working on opposite side of chain’. What’s my problem????? : ) Does this mean you’re then working from left to right? (I’m right handed).
Laurel if you are right handed you are always working from right to left using this technique. Once you reach the end of the row, turn your work up side down (180 degrees) to crochet into the remain loops on the chains. When you turn your work, this makes it so you are crocheting right to left.
I’m not getting this very well it may also be the pattern I am working with but it says to join to beg then ch 2… how do I join to beg? Haven’t I already crocheted over the beg?
Hi Nancy, does the pattern say something like “join with sl st in beg ch-2″? If so it is telling you to make a slip stitch in the ch-2 that you made at the beginning of the round. At the beginning of the round there should be a ch 2, or 2 chains that were skipped. You will make a slip stitch in the top chain (second chain) to join the end of the round to the beginning.
Thank you so much for the explaination on how to crochet on the opposite side. I have a Chic Cell Phone Purse pattern I purchased and the pattern calls for working on the opposite side of chain and I didn’t know how to do this. I learned how to crochet from my aunt (she was right handed and I am left). It’s been years since I picked up a crochet hook. Now that my aunt has passed away I was give some of her yarn and crochet hooks and started crochetng again.
Being left handed can sometimes be a challenge and your pictures of how to and being able to move the mouse around so the picture changes to a left handed view is pure genius.
Thank you so much
thx and i have a quick question would that lead to like a spiral if a pattern says
Round 1:Ch 11 Working in back loops of ch sts, sc in second ch from hook,sc in each of next 6 ch.
Do not join.Work in a spiral.Mark beginning of round, moving marker up as work progress.
I have been “attempting” to do this for a market bag. However, when I join to continue the next row, slip stitch, chain 1, then sc in the same stitch. The bottom of the bag, this end seems to go outward, like I added a stitch? What am I doing wrong? This is the “market bag” done with Lily’s Sugar & cream
Hi JoAnn, make sure you double check the stitches on the beginning round if aren’t already. If there are the right number of stitches, then you’re probably doing it correctly. Maybe you just have to weave in the end of yarn sticking out to make it look right?
Instructions are chain 43, sc in each chain, for 42. Then sc around the end and come back for 42, join with slip stitch, chain 1, then sc in the slip stitch place, and then repeat. Total of 7 round for the bottom of the tote. The side that “slip stitch” always looks funny. It angles up & out. I tried the suggestion above of turning the chain toward me for better visualization as I sc back. But that didn’t seem to help either.
Omg, thank you so much for this. I will be definitely be coming back to you if more help is needed.
Hi Rachel
Thank you so much for the explaination. I am definitely going to crochet bigger bags.
Really appreciate this site.
Be blessed.
Sandi