If you don’t like the line of starting chains going up the work when joining in the round, you’ll love the Invisible Slip Stitch and Chainless Starting Stitches!
I love working in the round, but there’s one thing that always bothered me about it.
You either have to work in a continuous spiral, or you have to begin with a starting chain and join the end of the round with a slip stitch.
In most cases, neither one of these methods is totally seamless.
Working in a continuous spiral can be great for some applications, but it often messes up the stitch pattern in a design and creates a “jog” in your stripes.
The starting chain and slip stitch method doesn’t cause either of those issues, but it creates a seam. Or rather, an ugly line of starting chains and slip stitches that go up the work, showing exactly where you joined each round.
So, I sought out a way to eliminate that problem altogether.
My secret? The Chainless Starting Stitches and the Invisible Slip Stitch.
The Chainless Starting Stitches look just like regular stitches, but they’re worked from the bottom up. They perform the function of a starting chain, but they blend into the rest of the crocheted fabric beautifully.
The Invisible Slip Stitch does just what its name implies. It performs the function of a slip stitch join, but is completely invisible.
Together, these techniques create a seamless, invisible join at the end of the round. No more starting chain and slip stitch lines! Hurray!
This technique is perfect for any project that requires joining at the end of the round, and is ideal for jogless stripes.
See how to use this technique for seamless, jogless stripes here.
The Chainless Starting Double Crochet is abbreviated as CSDC, the Chainless Starting Half-Double Crochet is abbreviated as CSHDC, and the Chainless Starting Single Crochet is abbreviated as CSSC.
That is absolutely brilliant! Thank you for sharing. I’ll try to use this technique instead of all starting chains!
You are the best online for teaching and I cant wait for you to do more tutorials! For beginners lol I really appreciate your concise spoken word and excellent demonstrations! They are perfect, Bravo to you Yay! I am so glad I found you online. I think the crochet angels sent me your way – maybe my Grandmother 🙂
I’m a left hand crocheter and I appreciate that you posted a video showing how to do the chainless starting stitch and invisible join left handed. Thanks a million!!
Awesome site. Enjoyed it and learned a great deal.
Thank you, Connie! Glad you’re finding it helpful!
This was excellent!!
Love it!! Thanks for info
Another excellent, well explained, detailed video. I can’t wait to use the chainless starting stitches and invisible slip stitch! I have stopped crocheting cowls because i was never satisfied with the sloppy effect of the joins and often ended up either making a regular scarf or ripping out the cowls. Can’t wait to get started on a new project with this technique!
It takes practice and I’m better and almost have the hat finished … and am so very happy!
I am working on making my tension a bit looser so when I make that ‘twist’ and have to insert hook it will be a bit easier.
But, thus far, I’m very happy with practicing what you’re teaching. TY!
I’m also sending this URL to a friend in FL who crochets – she’ll be a happy camper, as well.
I love this video however I am left handed. Do you have this same video with the invisible Slip stitch join in the round and Chainless double crochet left handed version?
Thanks so much
I love your method. Will it work if I have to turn my work to do the next round from the wrong side? I have a pattern that has to be worked on the wrong side, then the right side, etc.
Hi Cecilia! Yes, this method will still work even if you have to turn after each round. Hope this helps!
Hi will this method work for an amigurumi project that wants a slip stitch join at the end of each row. The pattern says the sl st has to be done to keep the shaping so can’t work in continuous rounds. I don’t want to have to cut the yarn after every row since it is the same colour. The pattern goes like this:
R1. sc x6 into the ring, pull the ring closed, sl st into first sc to join (6)
R2. inc x6 (12)
R3. *sc, inc,* repeat between * a total of 6 times, sl st to join (18)
R4. *sc x2, inc,* repeat between * a total of 6 times, sl st to join (24). R5. *sc x3, inc,* repeat between * a total of 6 times, sl st to join (30) R6. *sc x4, inc,* repeat between * a total of 6 times, sl st to join (36) R7. *sc x5, inc,* repeat between * a total of 6 times. Fasten off Flesh colour, join and weave in ends. (42)
Hi Anne! Yes, this technique will work for just about any project that uses a slip stitch to join instead of working in continuous rounds. Just use the chainless starting single crochet as the first stitch in each round, and join with the invisible slip stitch as shown in the video. Hope this helps! Thanks!
Love this technique! It looks amazing, even when I tried it the first time, as per your video instructions, beginning with a regular chain.
However, I like the stretch (and look) of SC and HDC foundation chain beginnings and can’t seem to get the initial row ‘join’ to ‘work in the round’ to look right with this technique… Any suggestions? Or maybe you have a video addressing this issue that I haven’t found? Thanks!
Hi Kay! I do not have a video on using this technique with foundation stitches yet. However, I just did a video on using chainless starting stitches to begin a row (instead of a turning chain). In this video and accompanying printable cheat sheet, I showed how to work the chainless stitch into the very first chain (not skipping chains before working the first stitch). You will find that tutorial here. If you use that method to begin your foundation stitch row instead of the couple of chains that are usually used, that may fix your problem. Hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any more questions!