WUA Section-A-Long Kickoff (Section #1)

Getting Ready

Y'all, I am so excited to get this section-a-long started! Today we will be starting with a very simple section to help get your feet wet with section making. This is not my go-to pattern/stitch when I am making sections, but it is a great starting place. Make sure you have checked out the original section-a-long post, if you haven't already for the list of supplies you will need. Hopefully you have picked out some fun yarn to get started with, or maybe you are using this as a scrap/stash busting project. Each section pattern will come with an approximate amount of yarn needed for that pattern so you will have a good idea if you have enough if you are planning on going to scrap route.

Foundation Single Crochet

Section #1 will use the single crochet stitch. However, we will not start the section with a starting chain. We will start the section using a foundation single crochet stitch. Don't worry, I will be sharing several good resources for you to learn this stitch if you have not encountered it yet. First, I want to explain why I think it is so useful to use foundation stitches (whether single, half , or double) when making sections.

1. It is way easier to gauge how wide your section will be as you go! If you use normal chains to start, you don't really know how the size will work out until you complete at least the first row of stitches. Even worse is if you are short (or long) and you have to undo an entire row of work just to add (or remove) a stitch or two, which drives me crazy.  
2. For me, it gives a more uniform bottom edge. Sometimes when I use chains instead of foundation stitches, the first row is tighter (and thus shorter) than the rest of the rows. Foundation stitches end up giving me a more uniform section.
3. There is more stretch/give to a section that is started with a foundation stitch instead of a chain. This is particularly helpful if your section ends up being just a tad short width-wise. (And I do mean just a tad, if it is too short consider adding another stitch on the next one!)

Tutorials:

Tutorial 1: Rachel at Desert Blossom Crafts wrote a great post about why she likes FSC and has a step by step photo tutorial on how to complete the stitch as well. 

Beginner's Guide to Foundation Single Crochet

Tutorial 2: Tamara at Moogly has a video tutorial for FSC in her blog post about the stitch as well.

Video Tutorial: FSC

Tutorial 3: Helen over at Crystals and Crochet wrote this post explaining the main three foundation stitches: single, half double, and double. We use the single one for this first section but many of the remaining sections will use the other 2 as well so feel free to practice and get ahead of the game!
Foundation Stitches

Section Pattern

Some notes before we get started: This is the first pattern I have ever written down for someone else to follow. Please let me know if anything doesn't make sense or if I can make them better in any way. Also, I measured the weight of each section once I was finished with it using my kitchen scale. I tend to use grams for my own notes, but will include the approximate conversion to ounces as well.

Supplies: 

1. Worsted weight yarn (approx 28 grams, which is just shy of an ounce). I used Red Heart Super Saver and Mystery Grab Bag yarn from Yarnspirations for my two.
2. Crochet Hook. I use a 6mm but a 5mm or 5.5mm would work as well. Just check the width and length measurements as you go.
3. Measuring Device! See the main post for details.
4. Tapestry needle to weave in the ends 
5. Scissors

Pattern Notes: The turning chain (the chain 1 at the end of every row) does not count as a stitch. (I realize this is unconventional, but I like it better when I don't count the turning chain. Feel free to adjust this if you want.) 

 

Left: Red Heart Super Saver in Orchid. Right: Mystery Worsted Weight Yarn from Yarnspirations in blue

Pattern:

• Row 1: 23 foundation single crochet (FSC), ch 1. Turn.  (23)
• Row 2: Single crochet (SC) in each stitch across, ch 1. Turn. (23) 
• I have found that measuring after Row 2 and then Row 3 will pretty much tell me how wide my section will be. Row 2 should be pretty close to 7 inches, if it isn't exactly that and row 3 should be as close to 7 inches as you can get. If I am off on after Row 3, I will start over. 
• Row 3-(?): Repeat Row 2 (23) until your section measures 9 inches. This took me 39 rows.
• Fasten off and weave in the ends.

And you are done! Thanks for joining me for my first ever pattern, well pattern-ish. I would love your feedback on the number of stitches you used and the number of rows it took. And if you posted that info in the comments along with the yarn and hook size (and maybe even how much yarn), you could be helping others find the correct pairing of stitches and rows too.

I used 23 stitches for both sections, but I do believe 24 would have worked as well. I do suggest that you write down whatever your magic number was. It won't always be the same, especially when you change yarns or try out different stitch patterns, but this number will give you a really good idea where to start. I tend to be in the 23-25 range across most worsted weight yarns and patterns. I personally love having 24 as a possibility since it fits so many multiples, which allows me to use a variety of patterns/stitches.

Again, major thanks for joining me for this section-a-long. It is something I have been thinking about doing for a long time and one of the main reasons behind starting this blog. I hope you will join me for Section #2, coming next Monday (which is January 13th). I am super excited about the next one and you might want to practice working your Foundation Double Crochet Stitch before then!

-Sarah