Notes
2. If you don't like foundation double crochet...
2013-05-08, by Jolanta Gustafsson
Quite often I use foundation double crochet stitches in my patterns. However it is one of those more difficult stitches. After having crocheted this stitch so many times I see that practicing helps, but I still remember those moments when this stitch could make me frustrated. So if you don't like foundation double crochet I totally understand you!
One of the problems is that it is uncomfortable to hold the work when you are crocheting this stitch because there are no chains. When I make foundation double crochet I use to grip the thread right under the space where I insert a hook, or hold on previous stitches. Another problem is that foundation double crochet stitches tend to be too loose. It might be worthy to try to work these stitches with a hook one size smaller than usual. Some yarns make this stitch even more difficult to work with, start practicing with thicker yarns.
But if you don't have time for practicing and you want your project to be finished as soon as possible, you can always substitute the foundation double crochet stitches with chains and regular double crochet. You just need to have two skeins of yarn, or you can use an extra length of yarn. You need one or another for making chains.
So if a pattern says:
Round 2: 4 dc, 6 fn-dc, 4 dc – see Chart A.
One of the problems is that it is uncomfortable to hold the work when you are crocheting this stitch because there are no chains. When I make foundation double crochet I use to grip the thread right under the space where I insert a hook, or hold on previous stitches. Another problem is that foundation double crochet stitches tend to be too loose. It might be worthy to try to work these stitches with a hook one size smaller than usual. Some yarns make this stitch even more difficult to work with, start practicing with thicker yarns.
But if you don't have time for practicing and you want your project to be finished as soon as possible, you can always substitute the foundation double crochet stitches with chains and regular double crochet. You just need to have two skeins of yarn, or you can use an extra length of yarn. You need one or another for making chains.
So if a pattern says:
Round 2: 4 dc, 6 fn-dc, 4 dc – see Chart A.
You can work as follows:
Round 2: 4 dc – see Chart B-1; attach a new yarn into the same stitch where last dc was worked (into stitch 4 in this case), ch 6, sk 6, sl st into next stitch (into stitch 11) – see Chart B-2; continue to work with the first yarn, 6 dc each in next chain stitch, 1 dc into the same stitch where sl st was worked (into stitch 11), 3 dc each in next stitch – see Chart B-3.
Swatch A is made using foundation double crochet stitches, and Swatch B using chains and regular double crochet stitches. You can see a very slight difference, but practically there is no difference at all.
Usually I use foundation double crochet stitches for making a thumb opening and most often you will have to make a thumb. In that case, don't cut the yarn after having made chains, you can use it for crocheting the thumb. As my patterns usually say to start crocheting the left thumb on the right side of thumb opening, you will have to work chains for the left thumb opening with the wrong side facing you and start making chains as if into stitch 11 – see Chart C.
If you don't have two skeins, you can try to work with both yarn ends of your skein, from the inside and from the outside of the skein. Most probably the yarns will twine with each other while you are working, so you'll have to stop now and then and to untwine them. But it's just a fun change in the working process, isn't it?
Happy Crocheting!