Joining long foundation chain without twisting?

Submitted by Lex_Is_Hooked on 21 March 2008 - 5:13pm. Categorized As:

I'm trying to crochet a dress... for the first time ever.

I'm supposed to chain 200-some-odd stitches and then join them, making sure that the chain is not twisted. This seems like it should be super simple to do, but it's not.

I've tried over and over and I just can't seem to do it. I doesn't look twisted, and then after I start stitching away I realize that it is. I think it might be that I'm stitching my first row twisted around the chain, but the loops are so small, and there are so many of them, that I'm having a hard time differentiating which chain is which.

Has anyone else had and solved this problem? I'm so frustrated that I'm about to just give up.

‹ granite stitch decreases- why is it uneven? Reading Crochet Instructions ›

There are work-around's that make a more substantial beginning so it's easier to see if you've twisted it.

One work-around is to use a single crochet foundation row, a la Doris Chan. I described it here, http://crochetme.com/tips/praise-single-crochet-foundation-row and Google may find you a better description if you don't have a Doris Chan book.

Another work-around is don't join; crochet back on the first row instead, following the pattern, and then join. Or crochet two rows, or more. Save your sanity!

Either way, leave a long tail when you start so you can easily sew up the join. Yes, you'll see a little difference compared to the pattern photo, but no one else will.

Submitted by pauline3 on 21 March 2008 - 8:57pm.

Thank you pauline! Fantastic advice! I am very appreciative. :)

Submitted by Lex_Is_Hooked on 26 March 2008 - 3:00pm.

Ooo, that is a great idea.

Submitted by emeraldwednesday on 22 April 2008 - 3:29pm.

Not my original ideas; I'm just passing them along.

Submitted by pauline3 on 22 April 2008 - 5:18pm.

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