THE DAILY CHUM

So, here we are, back again to talking about how I was on a really big boat with many, many knitters. Sock knitters. We’re talking relatively hard core peeps here. I have to admit, I was a tad prepared to catch some flack for my back-up crochet projects. (no way can I solely knit for a week straight. crampy hands. crampy brains. both need a break at times. hence the gratuitous crochet project I shared with you last week.)

Let’s face it, lately there has been some dissension in the fiberista ranks. Public mud slinging even. The stage was set and if necessary I was ready to stand up proudly for my first crafty love. Crochet rocks and the sock knitters were just going to have to face it.

Instead I was pleasantly surprised by anti-flack in the form of genuine enthusiasm, interest and eagerness to learn. And just what did they want to learn? Granny Squares. Seriously. Granny. Squares.

So a square making we did go. You have to admit, they are cute. They are quick. They are portable. They are terribly, terribly addictive. It was fun. A good time was had by all. And I got to teach one of my favorite crochet tricks ever. Let’s call it the Magical Floating Corner Join, shall we?

What am I talking about, you may ask? OK. Let’s set the scene. You finish up a row on your traditional granny square.

Typical directions tell you to chain x# of stitches to make the corner space and slip stitch into the stitch on the other side. That’s when things get sticky. You either have to turn and slip stitch back into the space you just made to be in position to start the next row or you have to slip stitch over into the next chain space to again be in position in mid-chain space. I’m never happy with either option. Perhaps being the reason I have never made many motif projects. I’m just too much of a perfectionist to accept the slight wonkiness either technique causes in the fabric. It glares like flashing neon to me. Very irritating.

Then a few years back I started seeing projects using a different join. The clouds parted. Que heavenly chorus now. It was a revolution in motif work for me. Here’s the trick.

Instead of chaining across that last corner space, you chain one , then work a half double crochet into the first stitch of the round to close things off. You end up positioned in the middle of the corner space, ready to proceed with the next row.

The join is thus always in the corner space and the chain to gain height wonderfully camouflaged by the stitches surrounding it. Simple. Perfect. Ingenious even. I love it.

Compliments, criticisms, confounding thoughts can be sent to Dawn at crochetcompulsive@limenviolet.com. Be kind. There is fever in her land of small people. Any confusion in the above column can be attributed solidly to extremes of sleep deprivation.

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