How to Foundation Single Crochet (FSC)
Crochet Stitches 101

Wazzuuuup Crochet Crew?

If you are something like me, you totally dig chainz, cause chainz are just pure 🔥, I’m NEVER (and when I say never, I actually mean NEVER) leavin’ the house without one. Starting off a new crochet project with a foundation chain however, not so much. You basically have to go the whole length for an additional row and working into the initial chain…

1. always is such a pain in the ass to get the hook in and
2. never ends up looking as clean as one would want it to be.

This is where the Foundation Single Crochet stitch (mostly abbreviated as FSC) comes in, saving the day and making foundation chains a thing of the past. So, if you are not weirdly attached to basic foundation chains, welcome to my TED Talk… ehm Tutorial! Experience a ‘foundamentally’ new way of crocheting with the Foundation Single Crochet stitch.

FSC? What’s that supposed to mean?

You might have come across the abbreviation FSC in some crochet patterns already, leaving you a bit confused. And just to be clear, we are not talking the Forest Stewardship Council here, but it’s the so-called Foundation Single Crochet stitch we are dealing with here. I had heard of it also previously, but somehow did not get how it works instantly and then quickly dismissed it as too difficult for a simple one like me. Man, do I look back and cringe on this Foundation Single Crochet-free time of my life. Then, after giving it another go, I got the gist of things, figured it’s super easy and handy after all and now want to share the goods with y’all.

What to use the Foundation Single Crochet stitch (FSC) for in your crochet designs?

Besides just being a great, easy and fast alternative to starting any crochet project that would normally begin with a normal foundation chain (which will automatically also make you the slickest hook wielder in your whole neighborhood), the Foundation Single Crochet stitch also works great as a strap for all kinds of garments. It got a bit of a bulkier and rounder shape than a simple chain or a chain followed by a row of single crochets while keeping up insane, and I mean INSANE stretchability, making it perfect for straps in any wearables you are planning to tackle.

Other than that, the FSC stitch also comes in handy for Amigurumi designs. Just think of parts that have to be super thin, but a simple chain just will not be broad or sturdy enough. Also, a lot of times it is important at which end of a row you end up for assembly. Using the Foundation Single Crochet stitch will give you roughly the same outcome as a row of chains followed by a row of single crochets, but due to them being done as a package, you will be at the end of your row instead of back at the beginning as you would be after 2 rows. So, even if a row of chains and a row of single crochets would still be suitable for what you do, the FSC can be a life-saver when it matters for you to come out at a specific side.

One example of where I used the Foundation Single Crochet stitch is my Bugdroid Robot Amigurumi. There, I used it to create the antenna to have them slick while still being sturdy enough.

Step by Step written instructions

1. Start off just the same as you normally would with a normal foundation chain. This means for you to do a slipknot followed up by chaining 2.

   

2. Next, put your hook into the first chain that you made (this equals the “second chain from the hook” as it is often called after a single crochet and turn at the end of a row). Do so by going in between the “V” part and the back post of the chain.

   

3. Continue by yarning over and pulling up a loop through the chain that you had your hook inserted into. This will leave you with 2 loops on the hook for now.

   

4. Yarn over again and pull through only the first of the 2 loops that you currently have on the hook. This makes up the chain part of your current foundation single crochet stitch. This is also the space where you will have to insert your hook to start off the FSC that is the very next in line. After doing so, you should still have 2 loops on the hook.

   

5. Lastly, yarn over one more time and pull through both loops on the hook this time. This marks the single crochet part of your stitch and also completes your very first Foundation single crochet stitch.

   

6. For all following Foundation Single Crochet stitches, simply start off by putting your hook into the chain part of the previous stitch (as already indicated during Step 4). The rest is just the same as we did for the first stitch, so pull up a loop followed by yarning over and pulling through 1 loop and finally yarning over again and pulling through both loops on the hook.

   

Repeat those steps until you end up with a Foundation Single Crochet chain of your desired length… and Voila, you just learned another crochet stitch! (didn’t even hurt, right?)

Congrats, you're now officially in the Foundation Single Crochet stitch club! 💯

Mad props for checking out this tutorial of mine! 💜💛

Feel free to reach out to me via Instagram or E-Mail if you have any questions you wanna hit me with.