Crocheting into too-small a gap...

Crochet: What to do if the starting chain, or the previous row, is too tight.

I'd thought about this for ages - frequently I've done a long foundation chain that was too tight to get the hook into, or, as in this instance, I've wanted to pick up sts in a larger hook than will fit.

Now, some will say the solution is to do the chain in a bigger sized hook.  That's all well and fine - for the next time - but supposing you've counted?  Supposing you didn't want to start aaaallll over again?

Simply doing the row with a smaller hook MAY be a solution, but you're still left with small spaces for the next row...

Here's what I did:

The intended hook is the blue one, and my smaller hook - the metal one - is 3mm.
I'm picking up some rib that I did, and had bound off too tightly.  Yes, I know you're all shouting at the computer - why did she cast off?  Well, I thought it'd be easier.  I'm really not a knitter.

Here's the chunk of ribbing, with the intended hook

That won't go thro' without a lot of pushing

Put the smaller hook through...

... and pull up a loop...

... place this onto the bigger hook...

...now you have two lps on the hook...

...complete the DC (or US SC) as normal

Note that this won't work with anything taller than a UK DC...