Last month we were talking about a Mystery of Slanted Seams and Crochet Stitches & I showed some examples of our research based on double crochet stitches (DC). As a rule, crochet stitches are formed by a combination of steps that involve “Yarn Over Hook” (YO) & pulling yarn through the specified loops/stitches, we call this method Classic. The exception to this rule is a Self-Compensated method of crocheting when one of the YO steps is replaced by “Hook Over Yarn” (HO). Please check out our >> previous article << for more explanations about differences in these 2 methods of crocheting.
Today I would like to compare the Classic & Self-Compensated single crochet stitches (SC) worked in the round with joins. Joining method used in the examples below: ch-1 to beg; sc in same st as join; sc in each st around; join with sl st in top of beg st (not a ch).
CLASSIC (YO) SC
To make a Classic SC – Insert the hook in next stitch, YO & pull working yarn through the stitch; YO & pull through 2 loops on the hook.
Due to the reasons explained in our previous article, the seam will be slanted to the right for right-handed crocheters or slanted to the left for left-handed crocheters.
SELF-COMPENSATED (HO) SC
To make a Self-Compensated SC – Insert the hook in next stitch, HO & pull working yarn through the stitch; YO & pull through 2 loops on the hook.
Just like in the case with DC stitches, this minor exception to the rule (HO) made a big difference in our final result. The seam is straight!
LEFT & RIGHT HANDED VIDEOS
I wrote this article for educational purposes & I am not trying to change your way of crocheting. If your goal is to avoid a slanted seam & you do not have color changes in your project, you can simply work in continuous rounds without joining.
By the way, I found that it is very easy to switch between these 2 styles 🙂
Single crochet in a continuous round – seamless result
Our article about double crochet (DC) stitches is published >> HERE <<
Our article about half double crochet (HDC) stitches is published >> HERE <<
Hi, thanx for the great info. Am just wondering, is there any difference when we do both hook over( HO and HO instead HO & YO) to complete the sc?
Hi Marhaini, I found it very uncomfortable to work HO + HO as when you work the second HO, working yarn slides off the hook or splits. The stitches turn out left-slanted (much like HO + YO). If that’s what you prefer to do, it would be great if you share your experience.
For the hook over do you ch1 and sl st into first sc or same as sl st?
Hi Heather,
For any style I begin with ch-1 (which does not count as a stitch) and I work the first single crochet in same stitch as previous join; then join the round in top of beginning single crochet.
Lol…I didn’t know I was doing hook over all this time. Gasp! I thought my hook over = yarn over.
Is there a video that could share of your joining technique. Thanks.
Hi, yes the video is in this post above (right and left-handed versions)