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Apart from getting the chain started, the hardest part of crochet is working the first row of stitches into the blasted chain. Again, however, the left hand grip is very important. So let’s review.

1. Grab yarn with bottom two fingers.
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2. Turn hand over and point that pointer, under and away from you.
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3. Use thumbkin and middle finger to hold the work.
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4.  But we already made a chain, so now we are going to work back into it.  I usually split the knot chain here.  I pulled the loop a little so you could see where.  There will be two threads on top and one on bottom.
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See?  And notice the grip!  Pointer must point or you loose all your tension.  Anytime you put down the yarn, or get lost, or answer the phone, or throw it across the room in irritation…re-set your grip first!

5.  Wrap from behind, pull up the loop.
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6.  Wrap from behind, pull through to finish the stitch.
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7.  Spend the next five minutes squinting at the chain to see if you can find that next bottom lip to put the needle through.  But remember after you hold it twelve ways to find it, set up your grip and tension again before you try to stitch.  Pointer must point!