Isn't this fun? I saw a chain link baby toy, here, and thought it would be great as an actual chain to hang as a party decoration, or over the head of a bed, or draped from a chandelier for a bit of tongue in cheek winter decorating? (Or super cute in a baby's room!) In any case, I just couldn't resist, and that neon colored yarn that Dena gave me when she moved, suddenly looks right. Funny thing is, that at the time I was thinking, "what am going to do with these horrible colors..." (sorry Dena) and now they seem so retro-70's perfect!
The chain goes pretty quickly, and if you have some chunky yarn sitting around, it would go very quickly!
I crocheted chain links in two sizes— one with a foundation of 35 chains, and one with a foundation of 50 chains. I then worked the links in the one big, one little, one big etc. But you can certainly do all the links the same size or play around with the size ratio, just don't go too much bigger than 50 chains for your foundation row unless you want to stiffen your links afterwards with something, which is certainly a possibility!
If you'd like to do this project as an on-the-road sort of thing, so you can crochet for example all the large links separately, and then join them when you crochet all the small links. Otherwise, you add each link as you go by simply looping the foundation chain around the previous link before you join it with a slip stitch.
Instructions For Crocheted Chain Link Garland:
ch 35 (or 50) and join with a slip stitch. After crocheting first chain link, for subsequent links, slip foundation row through previous link before closing with slip stitch, to join the two links.
Rows 1-3: sc around, ending each row with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the previous row. (not worked as a spiral.)
Row 4: sc around but working through the back loop only.
Rows 5-7: sc around, ending each row with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the previous row. Note: if you want skinnier links, you can omit round 7.
Row 8: Fold tube in half and join two edges by crocheting around with a slip stitch. Tie off yarn and weave in end.
Enjoy!
