Know Your Crochet...How to Start Crocheting, Part 5-Rows & Rounds
- Rebekah Bowen
- May 22, 2023
- 3 min read
In need of a good DYI project or want to brush up on you crochet knowledge, well my dears, you have come to the right place.
What's the difference?
Besides the direction in which you crochet, the shape and style of your project will influence whether you work in rows or rounds. Continue reading, and I'll demonstrate how to crochet using both techniques.
Row, Row, Row your boat....
Boat meaning your crochet project of course! Rows are used for projects that need to be flat like, wash clothes, towels, scarves, blankets, or clothing. As you're crochet using rows, this is what your fabric will look like:
It seems quite straightforward, and indeed it is. As you crochet, you'll work from right to left, and once you reach the end, you'll flip your piece to the other side. After flipping, you'll continue crocheting from right to left again. You'll repeat this back-and-forth motion until you achieve the desired number of rows or length. Keeping track of your rows is just as easy as crocheting them. Below, you'll see how to count each row, and a close look reveals how the rows appear different each time you switch sides. This variation can also assist in counting.
Keeping track of the number of stitches is crucial to avoid accidentally increasing or decreasing them. To achieve this, count each stitch, which resembles a small 'V', across the top row.
In summary, when crocheting a row, you work from right to left, turning the piece from front to back. Count the rows along the vertical edge and the stitches horizontally across the top. That's it!
PROJECTS I HAVE CROCHETED USING ROWS
Round and Round the Mulberry Bush We Go!
Similar to the Mulberry bush, when you crochet in rounds, your project typically takes on a circular shape. Rounds are ideal for creating cylindrical items such as plush arms, legs, bodies, and heads. They are also suitable for making hats, Easter eggs, or balls. As you crochet using rounds, your fabric will appear like this:
Rounds are as simple as rows, but when crocheting your piece, you will work in a leftward direction, much like driving a race car ;) You can begin your cylindrical project using either the magic ring or the chain method (click the link for further details).
The magic circle is great if you need your project to have a top or bottom or both and the chaining method is perfect if the design is more open like the pic below:
To quickly use the chain method, first chain the required number of stitches. Then, join the two ends of the chain by slip stitching the last stitch to the first stitch, forming a circle.
Counting your rows is as easy as 1..2..3, literally you just count 1..2..3 (he he :))
In all seriousness, if you're using the magic ring for your rounds, here's how to count: Consider your magic ring (the center) as the first round, then count the rings as you move outward. As your project grows taller, continue counting the rounds.
As illustrated in the picture to the left, a marker is used to keep track of the starting point of your first stitch, enabling you to count your rounds accurately. However, there is an alternative method to crochet your rounds without a stitch marker.
Create your magic ring, and instead of proceeding with your stitches, slip stitch into the first stitch of the round to close the gap. Then, chain 1 (or 2, or 3, depending on the stitch you are using) and single (or half or double) crochet in the same stitch where you just slip stitched. This will serve as your first stitch for the next round. You can observe the difference in the picture to the right:
Now all you have to decide is do I row, or do I round!
PROJECTS I HAVE CROCHETED USING ROUNDS
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