Help with turning chains

I have a problem. Whenever I crochet, I always end up with this gap between the turning chains and the first double crochet, as shown in the photo. The double crochets are supposed to be right next to each other. What am I doing wrong?

At first glance, it looks like you have one too many chain stitches.

At the end of the round, after the last double crochet, you need to close the round with 1 slip stitch into the 3rd chain stitch of the chain-up stitches (at the beginning of the round). Then you make 3 chain-up stitches, and those already count as the first double crochet of the new round.

OK, but when I’m crocheting full double crochets, I’m supposed to make 3 chain stitches, right? That’s what I do, and I always mark the 3rd chain stitch so it’s easier to find. According to the pattern, I’m supposed to make 3 chain stitches and then work another double crochet into the next stitch—which is what I do—but the space between them is so big that it looks like I have a chain stitch in between, which I don’t.

Instead of 3 chain stitches, I only do 2—it looks better that way. Why don’t you give that a try?

Thanks, I’ll give that a try

It looks to me like you’re not making a slip stitch to close the round. 

But I’m working into the 3rd chain stitch, just as the crochet pattern says 

This is what it looks like for me. I also start with 3 chain stitches at the beginning of the round and end with a slip stitch 



Try making the slip stitch at the spot I’ve marked with the arrow (click on the picture to enlarge it). That is, right next to the stitch of the following double crochet. I also always use only the back loop of the chain stitch for my slip stitch.  Pick up the yarn only once and pull it through both stitches at once—don’t make a single crochet. At the second arrow with the light-colored yarn, it looks like a single crochet. 

No, I’m not making a single crochet stitch. According to the crochet chart, I’m supposed to make 3 turning chains and then 1 double crochet into each of the next 2 double crochets, so that there are 3 next to each other including the turning chains, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I make 3 turning chains and then immediately yarn over, pull the yarn through the stitch, pull it through the first two loops on the hook, then yarn over again and pull it through the last two loops on the hook. Finally, I insert the hook into the 3rd chain stitch, pull the yarn through, and pull it through the loop on the hook. 

Are you doing the chain stitches first and then the slip stitch?
You need to do it the other way around: first the slip stitch, then the chain stitches.

First, I make the slip stitch, then I start the new round with 3 chain stitches. After that, I immediately make the yarn over for the double crochet, go through the next stitch, pick up the yarn, pull it through the first two stitches, pick up the yarn again, and pull it through the last two stitches.

First, I make the slip stitch, then I start the new round with 3 chain stitches. After that, I immediately make the yarn over for the double crochet, go through the next stitch, pick up the yarn, pull it through the first two stitches, pick up the yarn again, and pull it through the last two stitches. What I mean is that at the end of the row, I make a slip stitch before starting the new round.

I’d also recommend making 2 chain stitches instead of 3.
Maybe your chain stitches are a little loose, which is causing these gaps.

One last idea I have—did you buy the pattern here? If so, why not contact the author and show her your photo? Maybe it’s the yarn or the hook size that’s causing your work to look different from the original photo, and she’ll have an explanation right away. 

I tried using just 2 chain stitches, and it looks great. 🙂 Thanks for your tips