Foundation Chain Counter
Count a long starting chain on its own.
Live Foundation Chain Counter
Instant browser calculations & session state saved locally.
Key Capabilities
- ✓High-visibility single-purpose chain tally counter
- ✓Interval marker reminders every 10, 20, or 25 chains
- ✓Turning chain separation toggle (+1, +2, or +3 chains)
- ✓Lock mode to prevent accidental resets once foundation is worked
Expert Crafting Advice
- 💡Place a locking stitch marker every 25 or 50 chains to verify your count without re-counting from chain one.
- 💡Work into the back bump (ridge) of foundation chains for clean elastic starting edges.
How the Foundation Chain Counter Works
The Foundation Chain Counter works in 4 steps.
- 1
Enter the chain total
Type the full chain count from the pattern, including the turning chain, into Target Goal.
- 2
Count chains in groups
Set the step to 1 for each chain, or to 5 or 10 and tap once per group if you count in groups.
- 3
Place markers at checkpoints
Clip a stitch marker into every 25th chain and write the checkpoint in the notes box.
- 4
Leave the counter alone
Keep the finished chain total saved. Use a separate row counter for the rows that follow.
Foundation Chain Counter Formula
The Foundation Chain Counter formula separates the chains for stitches from the turning chain.
Total chains = Base chains + Turning chains
First-row stitches = Total chains − Skipped chains
- Base chains
- Chains that become stitches in Row 1
- Turning chains
- Extra chains for height: 1 for sc, 2 for hdc, 3 for dc
- Skipped chains
- Chains skipped before the first stitch
Worked example: A single crochet row needs 80 stitches. Total chains = 80 + 1 = 81. Working the first sc into the 2nd chain from the hook skips 1 chain, so first-row stitches = 81 − 1 = 80.
Foundation Chain Counter Conversion Table
The Foundation Chain Counter conversion table shows how many stitches Row 1 gives from a chain count, by stitch type, when the first stitch goes into the standard chain from the hook.
| Chains made | sc row (start in 2nd ch) | hdc row (start in 3rd ch, t-ch counts) | dc row (start in 4th ch, t-ch counts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
| 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 |
| 41 | 40 | 40 | 39 |
| 51 | 50 | 50 | 49 |
| 61 | 60 | 60 | 59 |
| 81 | 80 | 80 | 79 |
| 101 | 100 | 100 | 99 |
| 121 | 120 | 120 | 119 |
"t-ch" means turning chain. The skipped chains count as the first stitch in the hdc and dc columns, so an hdc row gives chains − 1 stitches and a dc row gives chains − 2 stitches.
What is a Foundation Chain Counter?
A foundation chain counter is a dedicated counter for the starting chain, kept separate from the stitches of later rows. The Crochet Stitch Counter Foundation Chain Counter records each chain (ch) you make so long starting chains for blankets and scarves come out exact.
Most flat crochet starts with a row of chains. A baby blanket can start with 120 chains and a throw with 200 or more. Counting that many identical loops by eye leads to errors of 1 or 2 chains, and a short chain ruins a stitch multiple.
The foundation chain includes the turning chain, the extra chains that raise the hook to the height of the first stitch. Keeping the chain count apart from row counts avoids mixing the two.
What are the Uses of a Foundation Chain Counter?
There are 4 main uses of a Foundation Chain Counter.
Starting blankets
Chains of 150 to 250 stay exact with group counting and checkpoints.
Making cords and ties
Drawstrings and i-cord style chains get counted to a set length.
Matching stitch multiples
A chain that fits "multiple of 6 + 2" keeps the pattern repeat aligned.
Keeping counts separate
The starting chain total never mixes with row or stitch counts.