We’ve all seen those fantastic amigurumi figures or little monsters made by @Pinkpandamary over on Instagram. The magic with these patterns are that they are crochet in the round, leaving no pesky seams to sew up. Here we look at crochet in the round and the different methods you can use.
There are 2 ways to crochet in the round - by working in a spiral (like a spring) or by completing each round, working the last stitch of that round in the first stitch of the previous round.
Crochet in a continuous spiral
This method is one I use most often and I highly suggest that you use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of the round. Working in a spiral makes it really hard to distinguish the end of the round and I have lost my place so many times, only to have to go back and start again. Open ended stitch markers are made just for this purpose. Just slip them on the first stitch of the round as soon as you have completed it. Crochet in a spiral will also leave you with an uneven foundation chain which you will need to fix once your project is complete.
Pattern example:
Chain 10 and join the round.
- sc in each chain. Do not complete the round
2. sc in each sc
To start: - Make a foundation chain of 10 stitches. Taking the end of the tail and making sure not to twist the chain, sc into the very last chain furthest away from the hook. This is the start of your round. Insert a stitch marker into this stitch.
2. Work 1 sc into each chain stitch until you reach the stitch marker
3. Remove the stitch marker and make the next sc into this first sc of the previous round. Insert your stitch marker into the stitch just completed
4. Next row, sc in every sc
This method is used most often in amugurumi where the beginning and end stitches are of the same size.
Joining in the round
Joining the round means that instead of working in a spiral, you will be ending each round in the first stitch of the previous round and starting the round with a chain of stitches equal to the height of the pattern stitches - for example if the pattern calls for sc, you will start the round with chain 1 or dc will be chain 2. By joining the round, it is much easier to count rows completed as the start and end of the round is much more obvious than working in a spiral. Joining in the round also leave a nice neat foundation row.
Pattern example:
1. Ch 10. Join to the first st with a sl st.
2. Ch 1. Sc in the same st as the sl st join and the next 9 sts. Join to the first st with a sl st.
- Make a foundation chain of 10 stitches. Taking the end of the tail, sc into the very last chain furthest away from the hook. This is the start of your round. Insert a stitch marker into this stitch.
2. Chain 1. Work 1 sc into each chain stitch until you reach the stitch marker
3. Using a slip stitch, join the round by using a slip stitch into the 2 top loops of the first sc.
4. chain 1. Insert marker and start the next round as before
There you have it.
Can you identify which project was started in the round or in a spiral in the images above?