Crochet Turning Chain Alternatives

A quick look at the internet will find the traditional crochet turning chain vigorously maligned. It makes your edges uneven, it is too thin, it leaves a gap, etc. There are many alternatives out there. I present the 2 most common, plus one I developed independently.

As this is technique rather than a project, any yarn and appropriate crochet hook will do.

Terminology used here will be US style.

Traditionally, in crochet when reaching the edge of a row, instructions say to turn then chain. The purpose of the chain is to bring the yarn up to the height of the stitches for that row. Usually ch 1 for single crochet, ch 2 for half double, ch 3 for double, ch 4 for triple, etc.

Instead of chaining for single crochet or half double crochet, the desired stitch can simply be executed into the base of what would have been the turning chain. For double, triple, or more stack single crochets. For a second SC, insert the hook into the vertical loop, closest to the yarn from the ball. Pull up a loop and SC again. Repeat as needed. The stacked single crochet is most definitely wider than a turning chain, but perhaps it disappears into the fabric of the work better?

Commonly called the "chainless" double (or triple or ...) stitch, this turning chain alternative simply uses the first loop for the initial yarn over in the stitch. First extend the loop at the turning point to roughly the height of the desired stitch, double in this case. Pin the top of the loop to the hook with your finger to prevent it from immediately unwinding and use the loop itself as the yarn over yarn. Insert the hook into the base of the stitch to pull up a loop. Proceed as usual for a double crochet while holding the top of the loop, treating the 2 strands of the middle of the loop as one.

Possibly a new idea, the double chain stitch expands (ha!) on the traditional turning chain. Again, insert the hook into the base of the stitch and pull up a loop. There are now 2 loops on the hook. Yarn over for 3 loops on the hook. Pull the first and second loops through the third loop. There are 2 loops on the hook. Repeat to the desired height. To finish the stitch, simply yarn over and pull the first loop through both the second and third loops like a single crochet.

For a simple act with few variables, there are a surprising number of alternatives for the crochet turning chain, including ones that were not covered here. The yarn used and personal tension will likely affect your results, so experiment and see which you prefer.