Joining:Yarn~Fabric~Squares~Motifs

Changing colour & bringing in new yarn – ‘To knot or not to knot?’ Personally I don’t like knots, they produce weak areas, can unravel and have the most annoying habit of moving to the front & spoiling your beautiful work that has taken you hours to create – the following are a few examples to help you eliminate the need to use them….

1) Simple Russian join: is best used with chunky yarns when adding a new ball as the old one runs out – however, I have used this method in freeform when adding a completely new yarn/colour, allowing the colour change to happen where it will… it’s a great method for eliminating those pesky tail ends that require weaving in later

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2) Russian join: is ideal when joining even finest yarns & again, a very useful method in freeform when adding a completely new yarn/colour, allowing the colour change to happen where it will… & another way of eliminating those pesky tail ends that require weaving in later

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3) joining yarn with a ss (slip stitch): insert hook into stitch or space indicated by pattern, place slip knot onto hook & carefully draw through, make 1 ch & continue as pattern instruction

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4) joining yarn with a dc (US sc): start with the slip knot on hook, insert hook into stitch or space indicated by pattern & draw up a loop (2 loops on hook), YO & draw through both loops on hook (this counts as the first dc (US sc)) then continue as pattern instruction

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5) The following are the colour/yarn changes I use most frequently: mainly because they are quick & neat & can be applied at the beginning, middle or end of a row/round

a) place new yarn along the top of your work and crochet a few stitches over it before the old yarn runs out; then pick up the new yarn & crochet over the old.

b) when 2 loops of last stitch remain on hook, drop old colour & just bring in new colour by drawing through the 2 loops & finishing off the stitch crochet over tail end as you go, eliminating the need to weave them in later. This method is applicable to all stitches

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Joining Fabric pieces, Squares & Motifs – the following are some of the most common methods I find useful in both my traditional & freeform work….

1) Whip Stitch: is possibly the easiest & most popular method for joining your crochet fabric, squares & motifs &, depending on the effect you are after, can be worked on the wrong or right side – worked in back loops only (see diagram) or in both loops for a thicker finish  - for a less visible seams work with the same yarn as fabric or make a feature of your seam by using a contrasting yarn – be sure to secure your ends well as this method has a tendency to unravel in time

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2) Mattress Stitch (Ladder St): gives a totally invisible seam & is always worked with right side facing preferably with the same yarn as fabric or one that tones in – after joining yarn slide the needle through two loops of one piece then through two loops of the other  - repeat this a couple of times & draw together firmly – then gently & manually ease the stitches back with your fingers – continue until the join is complete. I use this method for joining my Freeform patches to create my Freeform fabrics

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3) Chain Stitch No 1: is a decorative method for joining crochet fabric, squares & motifs & most popular in crochet lace work – I also like to incorporate it into my Freeform work – after joining yarn to first piece, make a number of chains then ss (slip stitch) or dc (US sc) to the next piece leaving one stitch unused between joins

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4) Chain Stitch No 2: is another decorative & easy use of chains for joining your crochet fabric, squares & motifs

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I prefer the following 2 joining methods for joining squares because, not only do they produce a decorative, raised seam but they are strong & reliably don’t unravel

5) ss (slip stitch) join: after joining yarn, work in back loops only (see diagram) or in both loops for a thicker finish

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6) dc (US sc) join: after joining yarn, work in back loops only or in both loops (see diagram) for a thicker finish

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