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Tutorial showing you how to crochet straight seam when you work in joined rounds
This is a quick tutorial to show you how to crochet straight seam in rounds of crochet. Essential technique for crocheting garments and accessories so they look neat.
I love crocheting garments in round. It is one of my favourite techniques to use in construction of crochet sweaters and pullovers.
This is especially handy when crocheting raglan style sweaters or pullovers worked top down. You can try these garments on as you work on them so you get the sizing right.
They also create a neat looking fabric as you always work on the right side of the fabric. This produces a uniform look that’s almost perfect.
However, crocheting in rounds often brings one disadvantage. You can not get away from a seam that runs diagonally across the middle of your sweater.
This is created by joining each round with a slip stitch. Whereas this is essential because you do not want to work in spiral, it is not very pretty.
But there is a trick that produces an easy fix to this problem. So, I am going to show you how to crochet straight seam in rounds.
Why do my crochet stitches slant?
Before we dive into the technique of crocheting straight seams when working in rounds of crochet, it is important to understand why the seams slants.
It comes down to the shape of the stitches. The bottom of the stitch sits directly above the the stitch below as it is fixed to the two loops (front and back loop) of the stitch.
However, when it comes to the top of the stitch you have just worked, its top loops get pushed over to the side ever so slightly. This is due to the yarn over and pull up a loop technique that creates stitches right from single crochet all the way up to the taller stitches.
Each extra loop you pull up to create the stitch, pushes the top front and back loop of the stitch over ever so slightly.
This essentially results of the whole stitch being slanted to the side. This might not be so visible in the first few rounds.
However, the more rounds you add, the more slanted your seam will be when you crochet in round. Eventually you will end up with a diagonal seam right across your work whether you like it or not.
How to crochet a straight seam in the round
So, if you want to crochet straight seam in rounds read on! This is a simple trick that is easy to do and it will stop the ugly diagonal seam across your work.
The essential point is to counteract the movement of the first stitch of every other round. This is enough to keep the crochet seam in straight line.
So what does that mean?
Basically, you will alternate a standard row with the alternative row.
The standard row starts the round with a beginning chain suitable for the size of the stitch you are using (i.e. 2 ch for hdc or 3 ch for dc, etc.).
You then place the first stitch into the first stitch at the bottom of the beginning chain. At the end of the round you slip stitch to the top of the first stitch.
The alternative row moves the first stitch over by one. Which means you start the round with a beginning chain again. However this time you skip the stitch at the bottom of the beginning chain.
Continue working around until you reach the beginning chain of the round. Instead of slip stitching to the first stitch, you will now work the last stitch of the round into the stitch at the bottom of the beginning chain.
Then simply slip stitch to the first stitch of the round to close it off.
Crochet straight seam hdc – video tutorial
I realise that sometimes you can use a thousand words to describe a technique, but nothing works better than someone actually showing you.
Hence why I have filmed a video tutorial on how to crochet straight seam in rounds. I used half double crochet stitch in this video tutorial.
However, moving the first stitch over on the alternative rounds will work just as well for taller or even smaller stitches.
If you enjoy the tutorial, subscribe to my YouTube channel for more!
I have used this technique in many of my crochet garment designs like Beautiful Montana Winter Crochet Sweater Pattern For Women or Beautiful Women’s Crochet Sweater for Spring- free crochet pattern.
How to hide crochet seam
As you can see from the tutorial above, this technique produces a straight seam. Although, it is not invisible, I think it looks so much neater.
The fact that the crochet seam in round is straight makes it easier to disguise or incorporate into your design.
For the main body of the sweater, place the seam to the side. This is a natural place for a sweater to have a seam.
For sleeves worked in round, place the seam on the underside. Again this is a natural place you’d expect to see a seam in garments.
For other items like hats or bucket bags worked in round, simply place the seam on the back.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to crochet straight seam in rounds. I have more free crochet tutorials that you might enjoy right here on the blog.
You can practice your newly learned skill in 10 Free Crochet Bucket Hat Patterns For All Seasons.
You might also like The Easiest Way To Join New Yarn In Crochet Securely tutorial.
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