How to crochet in the round
Crochet Lessons for beginners, Unit 9
And so, in the previous lesson we learnt to crochet in the spiral using the simple crochet stitches. But this is not the only way to crochet a circle. When crocheting in the spiral the beginning and the end of the row are arranged on different levels. In some cases, it happens inconvenient, for example, if in the work used the coloured stripes. Also, many the crochet patterns cannot be made beautifully if you use crochet in the spiral. In this cases, use the crochet in the round with slip stitches and chain stitches (turning chains). Hereinafter, this way we will call - crochet in the round.
In this lesson we will use a slip knot as primary ring. We will crochet a circle of the double crochet stitches.
Important: you must correctly determine how many stitches need to crochet in the first row, in order that the circle should be smooth and flat. In the previous lesson we were doing the circle of single crochet stitches and we started with 6 stitches. But the number of the stitches in the first row is not always constant: it depends on the height of the stitch and manner of crocheting. Over time, every crocheter acquires its feature of crocheting: one crocheter makes the post (the vertical part of the stitch is called the post) shorter and denser, and the other makes a stitches loosely. For example, if you working the single crochet stitches in the round and you got not a flat but convex circle, then you need make more than 6 stitches in first row, for example - 8 stitches. The height of the half double crochet stitch is approximately twice the height of the single crochet stitch, this means that in the first row must be two times more stitches - 12.
And so, we form a sliding loop as primary ring. Make 2 turning chains. And mark a loop on your crochet hook (it will be first in next row) with a marker.
Now we crochet 11 half double crochet stitches into loops. There are 12 stitches in the first row (the turning chain is counted). Join the circle, making a slip stitch in the first stitch which is marked with a marker.
In order to form the second row we again make two turning chains. Move the marker not to lose the beginning of the next row, and then make two stitches into each loop. In the second row should be 24 stitches (the turning chains are counted).
So crochet round and round, the work does not turn. Make the increase according to the rule of the circle: we add one stitch more between added stitches in each next round. Crochet two stitches into each loop in second row. As a result we get 24 stitches. In the third row make increase into each second stitch and we get 36 stitches. In the fourth row make increase into each third stitch and we get 48 stitches, and so on. We see that in each row, we added 12 stitches. As much as their were in the first row. The turning chains we consider as the stitches.
For swatch crochet 5 rows.
When you work the half double crochet stitches, the places of increase almost invisible: the circle has no corners.
