ELK Studio - Handcrafted Crochet Designs
Look Elegant, Feel Elegant
Sometimes it’s just easier to see something than to tell you which is the reason for the video. If you are new to crocheting and don’t really understand what a pattern is telling you to do when it says, “Crochet in the top of the chain 3”, let me show you.
As always, I have a right and left-handed version for you!
Are you tired of your beanie hats showing a seam while working in the round? I’ve been working on a different techniques of joining in the round for a while and think I may have come up with something that you will want to at least try.
Some of you may already know this, but I am left-handed and naturally crochet “backwards” (although the video demonstrates the “standard and forward way”). I know how to crochet forwards too which is probably considered to standard way of crocheting. But….since I can crochet backwards, I’ve realized that my seam was always on the inside of the hat. It never occurred to me that it looked any other way until I started talking with others and seeing their work.
That’s when I thought about what I could do to make this work and decided to show you “my way” of doing things. You might try it and decide it’s not for you. That’s okay because as we go along this crochet journey we find things that work for us and things that don’t right? I say give it a try because it just may be another tool that you can add to your crochet toolbox.
I want to give you a DISCLAIMER to say this technique works really well when you are using the same skein (color) of yarn or if you fasten off your work and join the new color with the standing single crochet or double crochet stitch. Stay with me though because you can still use this technique and change colors but just do it “your old-fashioned way” on the changing color round and continue on with the project unless you are changing colors each row then this way may not work for you. There’s a reason why but it would just be too complicated to try to explain. You’ll have to trust me on this one.
Added Information: Also, when I work a single crochet stitch and half-double crochet stitch, I use a ch 1 as my ‘filler” stitch.
Let me know what you think!!! If you are in my ELK Studio Crocheter’s Group, you know that I’ve been working on getting this video loaded for days! Any shares of this blog post would be much appreciated!
I hope you enjoy this tutorial! Have a great day!
Kathy
I asked my ELK Studio Crocheter’s Group if they would be interested in a live chat on gauge. The response was overwhelming! So….if you aren’t in the group, join today! Our next topic will be “Substituting Yarn” and you won’t want to miss out! (I haven’t set a confirmed date yet!)
There were great questions and information discussed in the chat, and I felt it would be beneficial to all for me to share with everyone else! I hope you’ll learn something and see how important getting your gauge really is and stop picking up your “go-to” hook not even considering whether it’s the right one for the pattern….because it DOES matter in most cases.
I’m going to set this up sort of like we had in the chat with the question in BOLD and the answers that are mine or possibly a member of the chat will be just below it.
(For the K Hook, I would use 7″ inches for my gauge)
Here are all three swatches together. Same stitch count (25 st) using a G, I, and K Hook. Can you see why you can’t have a “Go-To” hook anymore?
I know it’s exciting to start a new crochet pattern, but you really need to consider checking your gauge as part of the process! I want you to know that it’s not a negative thing if your swatch doesn’t meet the gauge measurements of the designers. It doesn’t mean you are wrong, but the designer isn’t either. It’s there for you to understand how many stitches you need to meet per stitch and row in order for you to have a smile on your face once the project is complete! Start thinking of it as a positive aspect of the crochet pattern and instrumental in your success.
The 2nd project of the Christmas Present Crochet-Along will be starting August 3rd and it’s a beanie! You’ll want to pay attention to the gauge given so that your hat comes out to your specific needs! Here’s the supply list if you’ve missed it!
