When crocheting across the chain for the first time, crocheters want to know how many stitches they will come up with when they skip chains to form the first stitch. Below is a crochet diagram to illustrate how it is counted.
Single Crochet
Chain count - 1 chain = final count. (100 chains would be 99 single crochet)
Half Double Crochet
Chain count - 1 chain = final count. (100 chains would be 99 half double crochet)
BUT
If the designer says chain two doesn't count as a stitch, the final stitch count would be reduced by two.
Chain count - 2 chains = final count. (100 chains would be 98 half double crochet)
Double Crochet
If skipping to 4th chain from hook. Chain count - 2 chains = final count. (100 chains would be 98 double crochet)
BUT
If skipping to 3rd chain from hook. Chain count - 1 chain = final count. (100 chains would be 99 double crochet)
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