And still there is confusion. In the July 2011 issue of Crochet! magazine, my design Leaves of Summer vest is linked to a tutorial for the Foundation Single Crochet… which would have been awesome if the technique so clearly illustrated was actually the way I prefer to do it.
Please look at these two foundations. On top is the Fsc version that is described in the Crochet! magazine tutorial. On the bottom is the Fsc version I have recently posted about here. This is the view from the RS (the side you’re looking at while you crochet it).
This is the view from the WS (the back side of the single crochet).
The difference is all about the chain part of the foundation. Each single crochet stitch has a chain at its base. In the Crochet! version the chain has one strand running across the foundation row. In my preferred version the chain has two strands.
It may seem a small thing, rather trivial to you now, but trust me, it makes a world of difference in how the foundation behaves when you continue to work more crochet on both the sc and chain edges.
My friend (and boss) Vashti Braha has just done a gang of research about this foundation and posted her own photo tutorial on the DesigningVashti Crochet Companion blog, which goes a long way toward getting this confusion sorted out.
Leaves of Summer is a pretty little vest that is made from the neck down seamlessly. The instructions begin with a strip of Fsc that forms the back neck; work begins across the single crochet edge of the foundation. The chain edge of the foundation will be finished later with a simple row of sc edging. Fortunately, which Fsc variant you use this time is not totally critical, however if your Fsc isn’t like mine please understand that you may not achieve the result as intended.
Doris Chan Crochet 
Thanks for sharing the detailed information on the different types of chains!
thanks for the clear photos! I wasn’t sure I had your method correct and now I see that I do!
I tried this last night after thoroughly reading it through (because I was for sure I wasn’t going to be able to do it) and what do you know?? I did it, first time, each time and it was wonderful!! No more chains for me I don’t think. And it was odd too because mine didn’t curl around, which was a delight to me. Thanks much for this tutorial! It was perfect!
How have I missed your blog? I subscribe to hundreds and have always loved your design and your writing! But here I am, finally….
It’s funny that you post about the FSC. This has been stuck in my craw. While I love the way that it looks if you want something a little lacy, I haven’t been happy with it for, say, my hubby. I will be trying out this new way as quickly as I can!! Thanks!
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Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was looking for this certain information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Hello Doris ! I’m french with au bad english…but I love all you do in crochet !!!
I have just bought the magazine hook interweave with fabulous model of the cardigan chamomille….
Is there a translation in French??
If not, whom could I address??
Thank you for this invaluable answer and still thank you for all happiness..
Very friendly.
Frankly, this technical aspect of crocheting frightens me! I need to have a very clear mind before I could understand it and stronger heart in order to break my years of habit. Thanks for sharing. I hope I will persevere in improving my crocheting skills.
So you are saying Fsc is used in making clothing or things that need to be elastic. Please say yes, I really hate Tunisian crochet.