Straight Seam
Option 1 - Working in the First Stitch
You have a few options at your disposal if you want to maintain a straight seam while you are working in the round. I do have a second tutorial for a different method here. In this method, you are going to be alternating when you crochet in the first Stitch of each round.
When you are working in Even rounds, you will start your round by crocheting in the first Stitch of the previous round; Then, you will end the round by crocheting in the last Stitch of the previous round.
When you are working in Odd rounds, you will start your round by skipping the first stitch and crocheting in the second stitch of the previous round; Then, you end the round by crocheting in the first stitch of the previous round (this is after the same stitch you initially skipped at the beginning).
I have provided some labeled photos to hopefully help you visualize the steps you will take when using this method.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
SC - Single Crochet
St - Stitch
Sl St - Slip Stitch
HDC - Half Double Crochet
Sp - Space
Sk - Skip
TR - Triple/Treble Crochet
Round 2 - Where to Finish VS. Where Not to Finish
In this image, I am displaying where I have placed the final HDC of round two.
I have already placed all of my HDC’s in the current round I am working on, and am now ready to close.
This is an example of what the even rounds will look like before I bring the first and last St’s together to close the round
Notice the gap between the first and last St’s of the round, this is normal, and will not be noticeable once I get farther into my work.
By placing a Sl St in the first HDC of the round, I am essentially pulling my last HDC over to sit right next to that starting Ch of the round.
Arrow A is pointing to the Sl St that was used to close the previous round.
In other words, this is the Sl St that brought the beginning end of the previous round together.
I will NEVER crochet here when using this particular method.
Arrow B is pointing to where I have placed my last HDC
When I am working an even round, I am going to Sk over this and then Sl St into the first HDC of my current round.
Round 2 - Placing a Sl St to connect the Two Ends of the Rounds
In this image, I am displaying the view I have from the top of the piece as I am placing my hook in the first St.
Round 2 - Placing a Sl St to connect the Two Ends of the Rounds
In this image, I am displaying the view I have from the back of the piece as I am placing my hook in the first St.
Round 2 - Bringing the Beginning and the Ending of the Round Together
In this image, I have pulled the last HDC I made right next to the first HDC I created for my current round. I did this by placing a Sl St in that first HDC of the current round.
Round 3 - Chaining to S
tart
In particular image, I am displacing myself using chaining 2 to begin my third round.
If I am using HDC’s or DC’s I will Ch 2
If I am using SC’s or Sl St’s I will Ch 1
If I am using TR I will Ch 3
Round 3 - Where to Start VS. Where Not to Start
In this image, I am displaying the beginning of the third round.
Arrow A is pointing to the second St of the previous round.
This is where I will place my first HDC of odd rounds.
Arrow B is pointing to the first St of the previous round.
This is the St I will Sk at the beginning of odd rounds.
Round 3 - Where to Finish VS. Where Not to Finish
In this image, I am displaying the end of my third round.
I have already placed all of my HDC’s in the current round I am working on, and am now ready to close.
This is an example of what the odd rounds will look like before I bring the first and last St’s together to close the round
Notice there is no gap like there was at the end of the even round. Instead, the beginning chain is stretching to the left.
Contrary to the even round, by placing a Sl St in the first HDC of the round, I am instead pulling my Starting Ch over to sit right next to that last HDC.
Arrow A is pointing to the first St of the previous round.
This is the same St that I skipped at the beginning of the current round.
Arrow B is pointing to the Sl St that was used to close the previous round.
In other words, this is the Sl St that brought the beginning end of the previous round together.
I will NEVER crochet here when using this particular method.
I am going to Sk Sl St B and place one last last HDC into Stitch A
Presentation After Multiple Rounds
In this image, I am displaying what the seam is going to look as I continue alternating my starting and finishing stitches between even and odd rows.
There is still a slight curve, but this is because I am making a hat in these images, so the curve is simply the curve of the garment. The seam itself is not what is curving.