Crocheting in Rounds
This is the method I use to crochet in rounds, used in most of my hats.
The work is done in rounds, not in a spiral.
The "seam" where the beginning/end of each round occurs is nearly invisible
(note: I say "seam," but there is no sewing involved).
The stitches done here are double crochet (dc) stitches.
Sometimes I do dcs "through back two loops," but you can follow these same instructions.
Just do your stitches through the back two loops of each stitch below!
The key to this pattern is that each round begins with a chain 2 (ch-2).
For symmetry, this ch-2 is counted as a dc (it is the same size, and looks almost exactly the same).
without further adieu, here are the instructions:
(these instructions are based in increasing 9 stitches each round)
1. start by chaining 3. the very first loop (by the slip-knot) is where you will put your first round of stitches.
the other two loops are the ch-2 at the beginning of the round.
2. work 8 dc in the 3rd chain from the hook. These 8 dc plus the beg ch-2 make 9 dcs total in the first round.
figure 1 shows what it looks like after you have completed the last dc:
3. next you must close the round. to do this, do a slip stitch into the top of the first dc.
(this location is shown by the star in figure 1).
figure two shows what it looks like after this slip stitch has been completed
(you should note that already it is hard to see where the round begins/ends).
contgratulations! you've completed the first round.
4. Ok, time for the next round. My patterns for the second round normally call for 2 dcs in each dc below.
But remember that one of the 9 dcs below is really from the ch-2.
Start by chaining 2. this is the first dc. See figure 3.
Now its time to start doing dcs. The first stitch you will dc into is shown by an asterisk in figure 3.
Note that this stitch is the same stitch that you just slip-stitched into to finish the first round.
5. since you are doing 2 dcs in each stitch below, do 2 dcs in this first stitch.
continue doing 2 dcs in each stitch around until you have done 2 in every stitch (except for the stitch that the ch-2 came from).
this is shown in figure 4.
6. this round calls for 2 dcs in every stitch below, and that includes the ch-2 stitch.
with little exception, this is the only round you will ever have to increase in the ch-2 stitch.
to do this, just do one dc in the stitch marked by a star in figure 4.
(you only do one dc in this stitch becuase the ch-2 counts as the other stitch).
the outcome of this is shown in figure 5.
figure 5 also shows (with a star) where to slip-stitch to, to complete the round.
7. slip stich to beg of rnd. congratulations, you've completed the second round! see figure 6.
the 3rd round will increase 9 stitches again. but since there are 18 stitches to work from,
you only need to add a stitch every other stitch.
8. begin with your usual ch-2. this counts as the first dc. see figure 7.
remember to do the first dc in the same stitch you slip-stitched to, shown by a star in fig. 6 and 7.
9. the ch-2 counts as the first dc. now do 2 dcs in the next stitch, 1 dc in the next, 2 dc in the next,...
and so on. figure 8 shows up to the very last stitch (which will have 2 dcs in it).
10. finish up with 2 dcs in the last stitch (shown by the star in figure 8). remember that you do not need
to do any stitches in the ch-2 stitch, since the ch-2 counts as a dc already. this spot is shown by the "do not" symbol in figure 8.
figure 9 shows after the final 2 dcs. the star shows where to slip stitch to to finish the round.
11. slip stitch to beg of rnd to complete round 3. figure 10 shows after the slip stitch has been completed. you're ready for round 4.
i hope you got the hang of working in the rounds from these three rounds.
remember that if you are working in even dc, you still have to do the first stitch in the same stitch that you slip-stitched to,
but you do not have to do a stitch in the stitch that the ch-2 comes out of.
remember that the ch-2 counts as a dc.
use this when calculating where to place your increases
(so they are evenly spaced throughout the round).
good luck, and happy crocheting!
main index/aster enterprises
crochet 2002 index
old crochet index
crochet 2002 patterns page