Seamingly Seamless: Mastering the Art of Joining
Hello! If you've been crocheting for a while, you'll probably have come across a project where you needed to join pieces of crochet together - perhaps granny squares to make a blanket or maybe panels of crochet to form a garment. In this blog post I'm going to explore some tips for joining crochet which will help you achieve a really professional look on your finished items.
Just like choosing the right stitch for your project, selecting the perfect joining method is key. Here are a few popular choices:
The Whip Stitch:
Go grab your tapestry needle! This classic sewing technique wraps around your 2 edges. Simply sew across the top of the two pieces to be joined, working the needle in the same direction. You can use a contrast colour to add a decorative touch.
The Crochet Join:
A fast and sturdy option for squares or panels. I like this method because you're continuing with your hook! You either slip stitch or double crochet (UK)/ single crochet (US) through both pieces of crochet. If it's squares it's through the back loop only of the square nearest one to you and the front loop only of the square behind. This join can either be worked on the wrong side (where it shows up like sewn stitches on the right side), or on the right side to add a defined ridge to your work.
Personally, I LOVE the appearance of the ridge on the right side and this is my go-to join for blankets. It's also the joining method I used on my Counterbalance Sweater to accentuate the joins between the different textures. This pattern is currently exclusive to Moorit, issue 6, which is on sale now!
I have a video tutorial demonstrating this join which you can watch on YouTube.
image courtesy of Amelia Claudia Photography
The Mattress Stitch:
Another sewn join, this invisible hero creates a seamless look, which is perfect when you want to conceal your joins. If you're looking to create a really professional finish, this join is much better than using whip stitch. It's used mostly in garments and other items of clothing such as hats and cowls.
I used the mattress stitch join on my Counterbalance Sweater for sewing up the side seams to create an all round look to the garment.
I made a video tutorial demonstrating this join which you can find on my YouTube channel.
Other joining methods:
Dig around and you'll find there are many other joining methods, particularly for granny square type motifs. For example, there's the join-as-you-go method (often called JAYGO) which is fab if the idea of joining all your squares at the end of a project daunts you.
Pro tip:
Whether you are sewing or crocheting your pieces together, keep your tension even. Too tight and you'll pucker your work, too loose and there will be gaps. Seek out that sweet, Goldilocks spot and your crochet will shine!
In conclusion:
The different joins all have their uses. If you're newer to crochet it's probably best to stick with the suggested join in your pattern. Once you know what you're doing, play around and try them out because over time you'll find which ones work best for you.
I hope this has been a useful blog post for you. If you like these tips, please consider signing up to my mailing list, when you do so, you'll automatically be sent my PDF with 25 top tips that every crocheter should know!
Until next time, happy crocheting,
Marta xx
