My copy of HH is where it shouldn't be, can't find it. So seed stitch is sc, ch 1 across? No matter, I think. Do you end up with the right number of stitches after row 1? That's what really matters. If so, just keep going and unpick the unneeded chain when you weave the end in.

If the stitch really is sc, ch 1, maybe sc into the 4th ch from the hook is what she meant. The little loop at the end would be 1 ch for the base, 1 ch in place of a sc, 1 ch across the top, sc into the 4th ch.

Hi Pauline,
It doesn't tell you how many stitches you should have at the end of row 1, only that you should have 40 ch-1 spaces -- I end up with 39.

Dewi

Well, 40 ch 1 spaces plus 40 sc's plus a ch to serve as first sc plus a ch to 'roof' the first space is 82 chains by my reckoning. Maybe it looks better with 1 fewer chains at the beginning loop of chains so you'd sc into the 3rd, not the 4th ch, but still at the other end you don't have an extra chain, you're missing a chain.

What I've done for a foundation chain is make at least the number of chains called for plus a handful more in case I mis-counted. Then I'd work row 1 until I had 40 ch-1 spaces and never notice that the foundation chain count was wrong. Perhaps the designer did that, too.

Other hookers advise using a second ball of yarn to make the foundation chain and starting row 1 at the knot end. That way you can make the chain as long as you need to (and end up with 2 more ends to weave in).

Today, I'm a Doris Chan convert, and I'd figure out a way to make the first row a foundation row and skip all that chaining which is almost always too tight anyway. It's easier to understand with pictures, but if you don't have one of her books, I wrote up a single crochet foundation row here, http://crochetme.com/tips/praise-single-crochet-foundation-row
It can be converted to sc, ch 1, but you'll have to play with it first.

Thanks Pauline, great advice!

Dewi