The BEST way to Crochet around a Chain for Amigurumi

Learn how to crochet in the back bump of the chain for perfect amigurumi!

Crocheting around a foundation chain can be confusing when you’re first starting out. You’ve mastered the magic ring and single crochet and then out of nowhere a pattern tells you to start your amigurumi by crocheting around a chain! I’m here to help!

Why Crochet Around a Chain?

Most of the time in amigurumi, you start your project with a magic ring or with several chains that you form into a circle. This will make your piece develop a round, circle like shape that works for many patterns. But sometimes a circle won’t cut it – enter crocheting around a chain!

Crocheting around a chain makes pieces more oval in shape. For example, in my Fancy Frog crochet pattern, the frog’s eye pieces start with a chain so the shape is flatter and wider than they would be if they started with a magic ring.

Crocheting in the Back Bump versus into the Chain Stitch

You’ve probably learned to crochet into a chain by working directly into the top of the chain stitch. While this method works great for making crochet blankets, scarves, or clothes, it isn’t the best method for making amigurumi. Why? Because crocheting into the chain stitch leaves big holes down the center of your work when you’re crocheting around the chain.

Video Tutorial

Photo Tutorial

For this tutorial, I am using a 3.25 mm crochet hook (the clover amour hooks are my favorite) and a worsted weight yarn (I’m using Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran).

Stitches & Abbreviations US Terminology

ch – chain
ch st – chain stitch
inc – single crochet increase
rnd – round
sc – single crochet
st(s) – stitch(es)
_x – the number of times to repeat the steps in brackets
[ ] – Repeat steps between brackets for the specified number of times
( ) – The number of stitches you should have at the end of each round

This is the pattern I am using in the tutorial:
Rnd 1: Ch 8, starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc 6, sc 3 into next ch st, turn to work down other side of ch, sc 5, inc 1 (16 sts)
Rnd 2 (not shown in the images): [inc 1, sc 5, inc 1, sc 1] 2x (20 sts)

Step 1: Make your foundation chain. Start with a slipknot on your hook. Yarn over, pull through the loop on your hook, repeat until you reach the desired number of chains. For this tutorial I chained 8.

Step 2: Turn over your chain and locate the back bumps of the chain.

Step 3: Starting in the 2nd chain from your hook, insert your hook into the back bump of the chain stitch.

Step 4: Continue crocheting in the back bump of your chain stitches. Here I did 6 single crochet stitches.

Step 5: Single crochet 3 into the last chain’s back bump.

Step 6: Rotate your piece so that you are crocheting down the other side of the chain.

Step 7: Because you crocheted into the back bump of the chain on the other side, now you are crocheting into the top of the chain stitch. It will look like a regular stitch.

Step 8: I’ve completed 5 single crochet stitches and then I put 1 single crochet increase into the last chain stitch.

Step 9: Now you’re ready to start on round 2!

Crocheting into the back bump results in a cleaner and hole-free project! It can be a little tricky getting used to crocheting in the back bump of the chain stitch, but the results are worth it!

What do you think of crocheting around a chain in the back bump? If you have any questions, leave them in the comments section and I’ll try to help you out!