Start here · a little extra help
A connection rather than a tall stitch
A slip stitch pulls the new yarn through the fabric and through the loop already on the hook in one continuous movement. It stays close to the surface. This makes it useful for joining a round without adding a tall bump.
A chain space is the gap beneath one or more chains, not the top of an individual stitch. When told to work into a space or ring, put the hook through that opening. When told to work into a stitch, use that stitch’s top loops instead.
Your small practice goal
Make a tiny chain ring and point to the centre opening, the first chain and the joining slip stitch. They are different places.
Picture it
Select the diagram to open it at full size. Use the written steps for the actual hook movements.
Words you’ll meet
No need to memorise these. Keep them nearby and look up a word whenever you need it. This guide uses UK names, with US equivalents explained.
Open the plain-English word guide · 6 terms
Chain · ch
A small loop pulled through the loop on your hook. A line of chains often forms the starting edge.
UK dc / US sc
UK double crochet is called single crochet in US patterns. They are the same short stitch.
Slip stitch · sl st
A low connecting stitch: pull the new yarn through the insertion point and the loop on the hook.
Yarn over · yo / yoh
Bring the working yarn over the hook so you can catch it and pull it through a loop.
Round · rnd
A complete trip around a shape. It may be joined at the end or continue in a spiral.
Chain space · ch-sp
The gap beneath chains. Working into a space means entering the gap, not splitting a strand.
Quick note: this guide uses UK crochet names. UK double crochet is US single crochet.
Make a slip stitch
- Insert the hook where the instructions tell you: a stitch, a chain or a space.
- Yarn over and pull the strand through that place and straight through the loop already on your hook.
- Keep the new loop relaxed. Slip stitches are easy to make much too tight.
Join a chain ring
Make four chains. Without twisting the chain, put the hook into the first chain you made and slip stitch. You now have a small ring. The next stitches can go into its centre when a pattern tells you to work into the ring.
Know what counts
A joining slip stitch normally does not add to the round's stitch count. Follow the pattern, and do not accidentally crochet into the join on the next round. Mark the first real stitch to keep it obvious.
Sources & further learning
Checked 24 October 2026. Written in UK terms, with US equivalents where useful. Follow a project's own stitch key if it differs. These are original explanations and practice exercises, not copies of the linked publishers' patterns.