GETTING STARTED
Step 1: Make a Slip Knot
Begin the slip knot by laying the yarn down and looping it. Making sure your short piece, the tail, is on top of the long yarn. Next, flip the whole thing down, onto the longer yarn. Grab the middle yarn between your thumb and forefinger and pull the middle yarn out gently. Hang on to tail and pull the loop tight.
Step 2: Tighten the Loop
Pick up the loop in your left hand and slide the hook into the loop and tighten the loop around the hook. Not too tight, there should be some give. Note: I started out life left-handed and am now ambidextrous. I prefer to teach the way my nana taught me because it's how all the books are published.
Step 3: Hold the Thread
Turn the long side of the thread around your pinkie and twist it around your index finger. Grab the short side, the tail, with your middle and ring fingers. Hold the hook in your right hand. This way of holding the thread and hook will create enough space to move the hook and it keeps tension on the thread.
Step 4: Begin the Chain
Begin with the starting chain stitch by twisting the thread around the hook and pull it through the loop. Don't make the loop too tight and continue to the second loop by pulling the thread trough the second loop. Keep continuing until you have a chain.