A crochet turning chain raises the yarn to the height of the next row. Whether it also counts as the first stitch is a separate instruction. That distinction decides where you put your hook at both edges of the fabric.
If a rectangle keeps gaining or losing one stitch, check the turning-chain rule before changing your hook or adding a border. This guide uses US crochet terms: US single crochet is UK double crochet; US double crochet is UK treble crochet.
The quick check: find the pattern note that says whether the beginning chain counts. A chain that counts occupies one stitch position. A chain used only for height occupies none. Keep the same convention throughout the relevant section.
Read the rule before counting the chains
Look in the pattern notes as well as the row instructions. “Ch 3, counts as dc” means those three chains together represent one double crochet. It does not mean you have made three double crochets. “Ch 2, does not count” means you still need to work the full number of actual stitches specified for that row.
A familiar convention is a non-counting chain 1 for single crochet and a counted chain 3 for double crochet. The Craft Yarn Council’s pattern-reading guide explains those standard examples. Designers can use other beginnings, so a specific pattern note takes priority.
If the note is missing, check the row total against the written instructions and any stitch chart. If they conflict, check the designer’s corrections or ask the designer before making a large piece. A guessed convention can change both the count and the edge.
Turning-chain heights are starting conventions
| Stitch | Traditional height | Does it count? |
|---|---|---|
| Single crochet | Chain 1 | Usually no; check the pattern. |
| Half double crochet | Chain 2 | Conventions vary. Read the note. |
| Double crochet | Chain 3 | Often yes; shorter, non-counting beginnings also exist. |
| Treble crochet | Chain 4 | Often yes; follow the stated method. |
These heights follow the traditional approach described in Yarnspirations’ crochet-fabric lesson. They are not a replacement for the pattern’s starting instructions. In particular, do not assume that half double crochet always uses the same counting rule as double crochet.
Compare two ways to keep a row at 12 stitches
The following is an original counting example for plain double-crochet rows with no shaping. It compares two separate methods on established rows; it is not a foundation-chain recipe. The preceding row must use the same method as the row you are working.
| Decision | Beginning chain counts | Beginning chain does not count |
|---|---|---|
| What the chain contributes | 1 stitch | 0 stitches |
| Where the first actual dc goes | Second stitch position | First stitch position |
| Actual dc stitches to make | 11 | 12 |
| Where the last dc goes | Top of the previous row’s counted turning chain | Last actual dc of the previous row |
| Finished count | 1 + 11 = 12 | 0 + 12 = 12 |
The edge-placement distinction is also illustrated in Sweet Bee Crochet’s turning-chain tutorial. Keep height and stitch count separate when trying a shorter chain: shortening it alone does not tell you whether it counts.
Before starting another row, point to all 12 stitch positions. On the counted-chain version, include the chain column once. On the non-counting version, count only the 12 double crochets. Marking the first and last positions makes this check easier.
Try a small single-crochet counting exercise
Use spare smooth yarn and a suitable hook. This is a practice rectangle, with no finished-size target.
- Chain 13. The loop on your hook is not one of those chains.
- Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and each remaining chain: 12 single crochets.
- Chain 1 and turn. For this exercise, that chain does not count.
- Single crochet in the first stitch and each stitch across. Stop after the last actual stitch: 12 single crochets.
- Repeat steps 3–4 for three more rows. Count each row before continuing.
Put removable markers in the first and last single crochet of each new row, then move them as you work the next row. Our stitch-marker guide explains the placement. If identifying the top V is difficult, start with how to count crochet stitches.
Check the first row where the count changes
- You have 13 instead of 12: look for a stitch worked into a beginning chain that should have been ignored, or an extra stitch in the first position beside a counted chain.
- You have 11 instead of 12: inspect the far edge. A counted turning chain may have been missed. With a non-counting chain, the first actual stitch may have been skipped.
- The count stays at 12 but the edge looks loose: inspect chain height and tension on a small sample. Correct arithmetic does not guarantee identical edge loops.
These are checks, not diagnoses from appearance alone. Find the last correct row and compare the edge stitches. An unplanned increase or decrease may restore today’s total while leaving yesterday’s mistake in the fabric.
Does the same rule apply to rounds?
Read the round instructions separately. A joined round may begin with a counted chain, a non-counting chain or another starting stitch. A continuous spiral normally moves straight into the next round. Do not add a turn, chain or join unless the pattern asks for it.
For the next step, practise the double crochet stitch or keep the US/UK terminology reference nearby. More lessons are in the crochet learning library.