Stitches

i am learning to crochet and i am a little confused?

my rows are never even. if i have for example 20 chain stitches to start then i do double crochet stitches should i be making 19 or 20 stitches to the end of the row?

Public Comments

1. If you have 20 chain stitches you would not have 19 or 20 double crochets on the next row ... reason being the instruction for the 2nd row would say double crochet in 3rd chain from hook ... this would mean you'd only have 17 more chains to work with creating a row of 18 chains ... chain 3 is equal to first double crochet. If you were doing single crochet it would be 2nd ch from hook and you'd have 18 more chains to work in .. hope this helped if not I can explain more details
2. Remember you are still learning. It took me at least a year before I had even rows,don't get frustrated keep practicing and you will get it :)
3. Uneven rows are from inexperience. With time and practice your thread tension will even out and you will have even rows. Don't fret even us old time crocheters have a bit of unevenness at times. Here is where a little cheat sheet will help. Single crochet (sc) is equal to one chain Half Double crochet (hdc) is equal to two chains Double crochet (dc) is equal to three chains Treble crochet (tr) is equal to four chains. Make your foundation chain of 20 chains (ch) and the first row is made of single crochets (sc) start in the 2nd ch from hook for a total of 19 sc at the end of the row. If you have the same 20 ch foundation row but are using double crochets (dc) then you will begin in the 4th ch from hook for a total of 17 dc at the end of the row. Keep practicing and you will soon be producing crocheted items that are perfect.
4. You shoud be making 20 stitches to the end of the row. ALWAYS chain one at the end of the row then turn your work to start the next row; skip the first chain from the hook--which is the chain one you made at the end of the previous row--and then do your row of double crochets always making a chain one at the end turning and starting over.
5. I'm just learning, too and what I was told was to make one extra, so do 21 stitches.