But why, Jill? Why do you try to make everything just different? Well, I like headbands. I like cuffs. I even quite like making children’s shirts, if it turns out they work. More than anything though? I HATE sewing things together! I’m okay with things worked in short rows and then connected. Those things have two clean edges. That’s easy. When I have two raw edges? I can never make it look pretty. I don’t want a seam. I don’t want a single crochet induced bump. I don’t like the wonkiness from a whipstitch. Because of that, I try to make things that don’t need to be sewn.
Connected Rounds 101. Example has a base chain of 20.
· I have a fondness for half doubles, so that’s what I tend to work from. Here’s the cheat sheet if you would rather use a different beginning stitch.
- Single = skip first chain, single crochet across. 19 sc.
- Half double = skip first chain, half double crochet across. 19 hdc.
- Double = skip two chains, double crochet across. 18 dc.
~To fix this, add one more chain to your initial count.
- Treble = skip three chains, treble crochet across. 17 tr.
~To fix this, add two more chains to your initial count.
· Keep in mind that when I connect, I connect to the first completed stitch and not the chain.
- This eliminates any potential gap.
- I personally hate trying to work into a chain.
- It helps me keep my count. I just find it easier to count stitches rather than try to keep up with the chains. Maybe it’s pure laziness but it’s what I do.
~ If you’d rather work with chains, that’s fine. In most of my patterns, you can simply trade the (chain, work stitch into first stitch) step for an appropriate chain.
· My turning chain is usually one less than the standard.
- Since I work over the chain, it keeps it from buckling.
~ Again, if this bothers you, just add one more chain.
· Modifying stitches to work in this format takes some patience, some yarn mangling, and some note taking.
- Nearly any stitch pattern can be altered to be worked this way.
- I usually start with a foundation of hdc. I do this because I hate that raw edge that comes from working into a chain. Even working in the back ridge, the bottom edge will look spotty and weird.
- I wish I had a formula for this. Trust me, I’d love to skip the headache of coming up one stitch short or that there’s no cute way to connect the rows or any other issue.
- Sometimes, just sometimes, my favorite tricks don’t work. Sometimes a stitch patterns NEEDS a chain 3 instead of a ch2, dc. Really, you just have to fiddle with it and see.
Please keep in mind these are my preferences. This will help you understand and follow my patterns. I hope it will help you modify them to your own means if my methods don't suit you. I find many things in crochet are flexible and changeable, so if you don't like my way you're free to create your own. I'm merely giving you my way of approaching things.
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