crochet: if I cast on 100 stitches and make a chain and then just repeat that row will it eventually turn into a perfect square?

[midnightmoon8]

I'd like to start crocheting this year. I have wool. I have a crochet hook. I've been looking on You Tube and am struggling to follow even the basic tutorials :-( So I've decided to 'go it alone' ha ha. If I cast on 100 stitches and then just repeat that row again and again will it eventually turn into a big square which can become a baby blanket? Thank you for helping me with this :-)

Ok, well, first of all, you don't cast on for crochet, that is knitting. But if you make a chain of 100, that is basically casting on. And yes, keep repeating that row often enough and you will end up with a square. Which stitch are you going to use? Because if a double crochet (UK term, equivalent to a single crochet in US terms), you will need to chain one at the beginning of each row to ensure a straight edge.

Hi OP, you need a foundation row of however many chains. So in your case 100 chains, but then you need a new stitch for your standard rows, either single crochet or double crochet are standard and you'd do one into each of the foundation chain.

What you need to be careful of is that your first stich of the new row has to be an extra chain for a single crochet, or an extra two chains for a double crochet. Then you'd do your first proper stitch into the foundation chain by skipping the additional chains you just did.

I would suggest smaller squares to start with, then when you get better towards the end you can redo the first few if you aren’t happy with them. A bid crochet square will be very unforgiving.

Then when you have all the squares you can sew or crochet them together.

Thanks so much for your quick replies. I really appreciate that. I'm in the UK - not sure what stitch I'm doing - am aiming for the easiest at this stage! Will have another go and report back later :-)

Have you tried a granny square blanket? It's much easier than starting with a long chain. Is this link any easier to follow?

I would suggest making smaller squares and then sewing them together. It will be a lot more workable for a beginner. Make sure you keep counting your stitches to make sure you're not losing or gaining any!

Have you tried a granny square blanket?

I agree. I think this is the better option for a beginner.

Thank you - I have thought about a granny square but I don't like the holes in them. All the granny squares I've seen online have a holey pattern and I'm keen to make something which babies little fingers can't get caught in so I thought just plain crochet would be better. I am happy to be corrected on this!

You can do them without holes. It's easy enough to do them with holes only running from the corners to the centre and
I have done them without holes there either but that's slightly more complicated (but not very!)

the holes in a granny square make it softer & more flexible. if you do solid crochet (like amigurumi) it is quite stiff and would not make a nice blanket.

If you want to make something for a baby, why not start with an amigurumi animal? they are v easy to make & quick too.

amigurum.com/

Easiest baby blanket- I cannot crochet for toffee but have made a few of these just by following the video and they're gorgeous.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=ULPJCO0Oetc

The giant hook and yarn (thread? String?) means it is easier, takes less time because each stitch is bigger and makes errors much easier to spot and correct.

@midnightmoon8

Try the Bellacoco tutorials on YouTube. She’s really easy to follow.