Taking Shape – Club Crochet (2024)

ch

Chain Stitch

st

Stitch

sc

Single Crochet

inc

Increase

01Working in the Round

Working ‘in the round’ means you are literally working around in a circle without ever turning. I find this a lot easier than Joining in the Round which we’ll talk about in Chapter 10, but you also have to keep better track of where the round begins and end.

Rnd 1: When working in the round, rows turn into rounds. For example, in pattern instructions, you’ll see Round 1 instead of Row 1 (which is used for working in the flat). When you’re working in the round you typically work in a spiral and don’t change directions.
This creates a virtually seamless piece, making it really useful for circular or spherical shapes like beanies and amigurumi. You can also make 2 dimensional things like coasters and blankets while working in the round, though it’s more difficult to get sharp edges than working in the flat.

02Increasing in the Round

Increasing in the round is pretty straight forward; it means simply single crocheting into the same stitch twice to get more stitches at the end of the round (Rnd) then you did in the beginning. When you see the symbol ‘inc’ (for increase) it means do this technique.

Ch 2

Rnd 1: Sc 6 times into the 2nd chain from the hook. (6 stitches total)

Rnd 2: inc 6 times (12 stitches total)

Okay here’s the tricky part; find the first sc you made in Rnd 1, and sc 2 times (aka increase) into that stitch.

You should have 2 single crochets in one hole now. That’s an increase.

Now you have to put an increase into every stitch around in a circle, 6 increases total, 12 stitches total.

Rnd 3: [sc in the first stitch, inc in the next stitch] repeat 6 times total (18 stitches total)

As a general rule of thumb, especially when starting out, try to be sure to increase in each Rnd by the same amount as whatever amount of stitches you made in Rnd 1.

Rnd 4: [sc in 2 stitches, inc in the next stitch] repeat 6 times total (24 stitches total)

From here on out the pattern gets pretty consistent, sc in one more stitch than the last Rnd and then increase in the next one.

We’ll be putting this to the test in our project for this chapter when we make a coaster.

03Working in the Flat

If you made Project 2 – a mini bow – from the last chapter, you’ve already worked in the flat. Working flat basically means turning your work after each row. Also, it’s usually split up into a “Row” for each step, written something like ‘Row 1:’, rather than a “Rnd” (round) which we just learned about.

Row 1: It’s called working flat because usually you’re making a flat project like a scarf or blanket, but can be used for things like beanies, which are generally more three-dimensional.

04 Increasing in the Flat

Ch 5
(If you want a simple triangle, try starting with a chain 2)

Row 1: Skip the first ch, sc in each ch across (4 stitches total)

Notice how this is called a ‘Row’ while the other ones were a ‘Rnd’ or ‘Round’. That’s the quickest way to tell if you’re working in the round or flat.

Row 2: Turn, ch 2
Skip the first ch, sc in the next one
Sc in each stitch from the last row across (5 stitches total)

Row 3: Turn, ch 2
Skip the first ch, sc in the next one
Sc in each stitch from the last row across (6 stitches total)

Rows 4+: Turn, ch 2
Skip the first ch, sc in the next one
Sc in each stitch from the last row across (7 stitches total)

You can just keep up this pattern until you like how wide it is. For the picture I made 6 Rows.
We’ll be putting this to the test in our project for this chapter when we make a coaster.

Finishing: To finish, you cut the yarn, ch 1, and pull the yarn through the last loop. Then sew the tail into the piece to hide it.