About
How to Crochet
Working in a seamless spiral is perfect for toy making as it produces a fabric that
is robust and durable enough to stand up to enthusiastic playmates. Once you have mastered this technique, a world of exciting patterns will be available to you.
Crochet’s recent resurgence has been helped by the popularity of Japanese amigurumi – the art of making small stuffed animals and characters. These are made in spirals, so you do not finish each round with a joining slip stitch but instead work continuously round and round.
The most effective stitch to work in spirals is double crochet, as the stitches are short enough to create a smooth spiral. Working in a spiral also means that there is no line created by the turning chain. This type of work is often started with a ‘magic circle’ that can be pulled up tight so there is no hole or gap left in the centre.
Be warned though: making amigurumi can be quite addictive!
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You Will Need
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Step 1Using stitch markers
After making many mistakes, I now always use a stitch marker when working in crochet spirals. It helps me to identify where each round begins, and is invaluable if you are increasing or decreasing to create shape. Unwanted added stitches can really affect the look of your finished crochet article and using a stitch marker will help you keep track of where you are in the pattern. You can use an interlocking stitch marker (as shown here), but if you don’t have one to hand you could simply use a piece of yarn in a contrasting colour or a safety pin.Place the marker, then when you get to the end of the round, remove the marker, work the stitch and then replace the marker between the last stitch of the previous round and the first stitch of the next round.
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Step 2Working in a spiral
To work in a spiral you begin by making a magic circle and then build your fabric on that.Make a basic slip knot. Pull up the loop and slip this loop onto your crochet hook.
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Step 3Before you tighten the ring, yarn over hook (outside the circle) to make the first chain.
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Step 4Insert the hook into the ring, yarn over hook and pull through the ring so there are two loops on the hook.
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Step 5Yarn over hook again (outside the circle).
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Step 6Pull through both loops.
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Step 7You have made your first double-crochet stitch.
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Step 8Continue to work in this way until you have completed the number of double-crochet stitches required in the pattern.
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Step 9
To join the ring, slip stitch the end of the round to the beginning. Work your first double-crochet stitch into the next stitch (without a starting chain). Continue to work around the ring in double crochet without joining any rounds with a slip stitch or creating height for the next round with a chain.
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Step 10
Counting rounds
As you work in rounds you will be able to see that each round of stitches creates a ridge. You can count the ridges to see where you are in the pattern. You work out from the centre; the first round is the circular centre, and the rounds then grow out from this central point.[Image labels]
Round 1 (centre)
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5 (outside)
