Alternative Turning Chain – How to Crochet without Turning Chains – Stacked Single Crochet
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The Alternative Turning Chain (aka Stacked Single Crochet) will make sure you never see gaps or bulk at the beginning of a row or round. Use this crochet turning chain alternative with double crochet, treble crochet and taller stitches.
A few months ago, when I started crocheting a blanket, I noticed that my sides were bulky. They had some gaps, but were still straight.
I got frustrated and wanted to find a solution to my problem. Around the same time, I started getting messages from my followers saying that they had the same problem as well.
When I learned how to crochet, I was taught two different ways to crochet a turning chain when working with double crochet stitches.
- Chain 2 and work a double crochet into the first stitch (chain 2 is not counted as a stitch) OR
- Chain 3, skip the first stitch and work a double crochet into the second stitch (chain 3 is counted as a stitch)
But what if there was a different way to start a row or round of double crochet stitches that didn’t involve one of these two methods? That’s where the alternative turning chain comes in!
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Discovering the Crochet Turning Chain Alternative
So, I started small. I first found a formula that will help those who just needed to understand how to get straight edges. Whether they are bulky or not, but at least they were straight.
Then I figured out how to get those straight edges to be smooth when crocheting single crochets and half double crochet stitches.
I was on a roll.
I tried a few different ideas I had in my mind to get to the solution. And then it hit me. I remembered my linked double crochet stitches. I just needed to modify my technique and I would have the solution. BAM! I had it – the alternative turning chain.
There may be different techniques for chain alternatives out there, but this is the one that I’ve found works best for me.
The alternative turning chain is also known as the stacked single crochet. These terms are used interchangeably. Sometimes you may also see alternative turning chain abbreviated as “ATC”.
What Happens if You Don’t Use the ATC Crochet Stitch?
Let me first show you what I created when I tried the traditional way of starting with a crochet turning chain of 3 and skipping the first stitch.
So I crocheted the chain of 2 and started with the first stitch and crocheted double crochets. And below you can see how that actually looks like.
Now, if you never liked the bulk, most likely you went with the chain of 3, skipped the first stitch and then started to crochet double crochets.
Yes, the pictures below show exactly how that looks. Those gaps sure are not pretty. Now you see why you will want to incorporate the alternative turning chain method into all your crochet projects that use double crochet or taller stitches.
No Turning Chain for Double Crochet Stitches
I found the solution to never having gaps or bulk again – ever. You can crochet without a turning chain by using the stacked single crochet instead.
If you have done linked crochet stitches before, like linked double crochet, then you may find this tutorial familiar. The alternative turning chain is similar to this method, but not exactly the same.
And the best part is that this method works no matter how tall the stitch is! It works for double crochet, treble crochet, and even taller ones. For that matter, is also works with whatever yarn or crochet pattern you are using, in rows or in the round.
Let me show you what I mean with a step by step tutorial. I added video instructions below as well.
Crochet the Alternative Turning Chain for DC, TR and Taller stitches – Video Tutorial
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How to Stacked Single Crochet – Photo Tutorial
Instead of starting the double crochet with the 3rd chain from the hook, you can crochet the alternative turning chain, which is also known as the stacked single crochet.
But to make this clearer, I will first explain to you the steps for the part where you would turn and start a new row. It is easier to see and understand it that way. I will get back to the beginning part and how to do it in rounds later.
So, let’s imagine you are on row 2 and you need to start a turning chain.
First, crochet a single crochet. But do NOT crochet a chain before doing so. Just simply crochet a single crochet into the first stitch.
Next, insert your hook into the loop of the single crochet that is the furthest away from your hook (for righties that is on the left, and for lefties that is the loop on the right).
Now, pull up a loop and make another single crochet. You now have 2 single crochets stacked on top of each other and they have the same height as a double crochet.
You can now start crocheting double crochets as normal, starting from the second stitch of the row. To summarize, crochet two stacked single crochet stitches on top of each other for a double crochet as an alternative turning chain.
If you need to crochet a treble crochet stitch, just repeat the previous step and crochet another single crochet on top of the first two you just created to get the correct height of the stitches.
You will now have a 3 single crochet stitches in the height of a treble crochet as an alternative turning chain (stacked single crochet). Starting from the second stitch you will now crochet as normal to complete your treble crochet rows.
Simple Formula for Stacked Single Crochet Stitches of Any Height
So, to make this even easier, just think about the formula: Double means two, so you crochet two stacked single crochets as the alternative turning chain.
And treble means three, so you would crochet three stacked single crochets as the alternative turning chain. For a double treble crochet it then be 4 stacked single crochets and so forth. Easy right?
Now at the end of each row, your last stitch of the row will go into the top of the stacked single crochet that you started the previous row with.
This trick also works for crocheting in the round!
Instead of the starting chains we usually crochet, just crochet the alternative turning chain and you will reduce the amount of diagonal seams you created also.
How to Stacked Single Crochet on a Foundation Chain
Now, let’s go back for a moment and talk about the very beginning of your double crochet project. How would you start your first row? You are probably used to crocheting a double crochet stitch into the second or third chain from the hook to start your first row.
Let’s say you need to crochet a row of 15 double crochet stitches. You’d start by making a chain of 15 +1, then crochet a stacked single crochet stitch in the second chain from the hook. Then you would simply do a normal double crochet in all the remaining chains across.
You could also start with a chainless foundation double crochet row and then switch to crocheting normal rows of double crochets using the alternative turning chain at the beginning of each row.
How to Crochet the Alternative Turning Chain – OLDER Video Tutorial
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If you like this Stacked Single Crochet tutorial, you might like these other crochet tutorials:
- How to Crochet Smooth Edges for SC and HDC
- Perfect Straight Seams with Crocheting in the Round
- Invisible Single Crochet Decrease
- Invisible Join for Crocheting in Rounds
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Fantastic! I am so glad I came across this! It works beautifully (I made a large dish cloth and the sides were finally straight! Your explain was clear and understandable! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you for this tutorial, I have had problems for years. I am sharing this tutorial with my granddaughter whom I taught to crochet when she was a young teen. She loves to crochet and creates her own patterns for infant hats and sell them. It is a hobby that she loves and makes some side money while relaxing.
Looking forward to using your tips. Thank you.
This is a fantastic idea! I can’t wait to try it….And I have been crocheting for 50 years!