Continuous rounds in crochet eliminate the need for a slip stitch to create an obvious line that happens in circles. Experienced crocheters understand that the joining of each round travels up on an arc and can travel several inches in one direction, making it virtually impossible to unsee. In some projects, it can ruin the entire look.
In This Article
Mikey's Pet Peeve
Standing behind someone in line with a travelling slip stitch makes him cringe. Generally speaking, it's best to avoid if you use a continuous round. It means there will be no slip stitching in the body of the project. I know, first-world problem.
How to Count the Round?
You will use a spare strand of yarn and mark the last stitch. Whenever you get to that stitch on the next round(s), you will know that you have gone all the way around.
Move Up The Stitch Marker
Each time you complete the last stitch in the round, carry the strand up. Mikey tends to leave the strand dragging throughout the round in case he has to pull out stitches, or if he made a mistake and can tell which stitch is the end of a round.
Stabilizing The Finishing
The ending of a continuous round will involve an obvious step. Mikey generally adds three to four extra stitches to blend in the constant round.
Here are his general tips:
- If you are using single crochet in the rounds, he will add two extra slip stitches after the final stitch before finishing the project.
- If you are using half double crochet in the rounds, he will add one single crochet, then two slip stitches.
- If you are using double crochet in the rounds, he will add one half-double crochet, one single crochet, and then two slip stitches.
It really does blend nicely. To an experienced crocheter, it may seem obvious, or to people who really examine patterns. To Mikey, it's not a deal-breaker and solves the slip-stitching issue.
Example of How It's Used
Below, the hats use a continuous join, so there are no slip-stitch lines anywhere on the hat.
Have you completed this project. Show me!