I highly recommend that you learn how to do foundation stitches:    • Foundation Stitches | How to Crochet   . Until then, here is a hack for when you're making a large project, say, a blanket, that calls for starting with hundreds of chains. This method allows you to go back and forth between the chain and the first row of stitches until you have the right amount. The first row of stitches / stitch pattern, is usually easier to count than the tiny chain stitches!