All posts tagged: Joining

Free Crochet Pattern: Celtic Lace Join for Hexagons (US and UK Terms)

Hello, lovely crafter! Today I wanted to share my Celtic Lace Join for Hexagons with you! This was the official joining method for the 2022 VVCAL, and I thought I would also make it available as a separate post for easy bookmarking. I hope you enjoy this one! PDF Version You can find this joining method pattern along with the entire 2022 VVCAL in a convenient PDF on Etsy // Ravelry // CypressTextiles Online Shop. The 2022 VVCAL PDF includes: More Joins for Hexagon Motifs Before we dive in, you may also enjoy these joining methods for Hexagons. I always get requests for more hexagon joins. You can bookmark that link and reference it for other projects! – Celtic Lace Join for Hexagons This is the hexagon version of my Celtic Lace Join pattern that I wrote in 2013. I have made many versions of the Celtic Lace Join since then – like the Junior and Mini versions – and finally after many requests, I have the hexagon version! – Written Instructions Stitch Guide (US …

Continuous Granny Stitch Join As You Go for Squares

Hello again! Today I have a new-to-this-blog crochet join which will be another alternate joining method for the 2020 VVCAL. It’s the crochet Continuous Granny Stitch Join as-you-go (CJAYG) for squares, and I am using it specifically for my “Fresh Earth” colorway (Scheepjes Catona yarn). For the regular Granny Stitch JAYG tutorial (not continous), head to this blog post! You can now find the Granny Stitch JAYG and CJAYG in a convenient PDF format for easy printing and totally ad-free. My 2020 VVCAL Squares Before I start, here are some of my squares. The final stitch count is 88 sc, but you can use this join for any square stitch count, as long as you evenly spread out the 3dc groups. You’ll see what I mean later on! Don’t you just love a pile of different squares? That’s one of my favorite things about the VVCAL projects. After 2016, 2018, and 2020, there are now over 100 square patterns to mix and match! If you want to find out more about the Fresh Earth palette …

Granny Stitch Join As You Go for Squares

Hello again! Today I have a new-to-this-blog crochet join which will be the second alternate joining method for the 2020 VVCAL. It’s the crochet Granny Stitch Join as-you-go (JAYG) for squares, and I am using it specifically for my “Fresh Earth” colorway (Scheepjes Catona yarn). You can now find the Granny Stitch JAYG and CJAYG in a convenient PDF format for easy printing and totally ad-free. I will be posting tutorials for both the regular join as-you-go (this post) and the continuous join as-you-go for this granny stitch join. In this post, you will find the regular JAYG. I hope you enjoy it! What’s the difference? Briefly, for the regular JAYG you join each square individually, cutting the yarn after each square is joined on to the blanket. For the continuous JAYG (or CJAYG) you join squares one column at a time, making a specific continuous path around the squares like if you were drawing around them without picking up your pencil. You only cut the yarn after all the squares are joined together. This …

2020 VVCAL: Single Crochet JAYG and Continuous JAYG with PLT Join

Hey, gorgeous crafter! Today I am sharing the first alternate joining method for the 2020 VVCAL. This join is perfect for the suggested yarn amounts of the Scheepjes Stone Washed and River Washed 10g Colour Pack version. It’s also great if you want a simple and narrow join, or if you don’t have a whole lot of yarn for joining. SC JAYG/CJAYG with PLT Join It’s a mouthful, but this is the Single Crochet join as-you-go and continuous join as-you-go featuring my PLT (pull loop through) Join. I’ve published these 2 methods previously, and you can find them here: SC JAYG with PLT Join SC CJAYG with PLT Join I have also formatted these 2 joining methods into an ad-free condensed PDF file if it’s more convenient. You can find that on Etsy and Ravelry. The cool thing is, you can a lot of mix and match versatility with these joining techniques. You can make a DC JAYG with PLT Join, or an SC CJAYG with PLT Join, and really mix it up any way …

4 Crochet Joins for Hexagon Motifs (Video Tutorials)

Hello, amazing crafter! Lately I have gotten some questions and comments about joining hexagons and some creative ways to do so. I do have some crochet joining methods for hexagon motifs in my video tutorials and blog posts, and I thought it may be helpful to gather some in one place for reference. Remember if you are looking for a certain pattern of mine or just want to browse, you can head to my sidebar to the right (scroll down on smartphone or tablet) and all of my crochet patterns and tutorials are now listed for your convenience. The 4 crochet joins for hexagon motifs in this post are: CJAYG for Hexagons Using SC and PLT Join CJAYG Granny Stitch for Hexagons Whip Stitch Join for Hexagons Continuous FBJ for Hexagons Along with each join description, tips, image and crochet join tutorial links, I will also give you helpful info where applicable, such as pattern info and yarn shopping links. Note: To Edge or Not to Edge Your Hexagon Motifs If you’d like to edge …

Whip St Join for Hexagons

Hi there! For this YouTube Video tutorial, click here.  (Ravelry link coming soon) Note: This tutorial is part of Hexagon Month – September’s Theme of the Month. Introduction If you absolutely cannot fathom the idea of sewing your motifs together, then this is the sewing join for you. I’m working on a huge blog post with all the joining methods I could find, and there are pros and cons to each one.  When to use: You don’t have a whole lot of yarn to join with You want a “barely there” join that’s easier than for example, mattress st You want to dip your toe in the waters of sewing your motifs together Try it! It’s very easy and doesn’t feel like sewing since you’re using your hook. Materials Normally you would use a tapestry needle for the whip st join, but if you’re anything like me, using something besides your hook makes you cringe. So I just use my hook! You’ll also need some yarn in a similar color as the motifs to blend …

Continuous Flat Braid Join for Hexagons

Welcome to the Continuous Flat Braid JAYG for Hexagons tutorial. I’ve made a video for this Join, but written instructions are added below. I recommend looking at both the video and the written instructions for the best clarity. (Add this pattern to your favorites on Ravelry!) [Related: Sept 2017 is Hexagon Month!] Video Instruction Part 1 Link to Part 1 on YouTube Part 2 Link to Part 2 on YouTube  Written Instruction Materials A pile of hexagons, with the same stitch count around. It doesn’t matter what the pattern is. For these Hexagons I have 18 sts between my 3-sc corners. I used Scheepjes Cotton 8 yarn and these hexies are from my Autumn Blues Blanket releasing this weekend. If you’ll be filling in the half-hexagons on the sides, set those to the side for now. They’ll be added in once all of the full hexies are joined together. Joining yarn – you’ll want to have full balls of this, as one of the joys of joining continuously is that you eliminate having to weave …

Continuous JAYG for Hexagons – Using PLT with SC

YouTube Tutorial: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 Introduction Welcome to the CypressTextiles continuous JAYG tutorial for hexagons using PLT and SC. This sounds scary, and it can take a moment for it to “click” but I promise it’s easy. Nearly any JAYG can convert to be worked continuously. So this is a mouthful… Let’s break it down: Continuous: The join will flow from one motif to the next, without breaking the yarn, tracing around the motifs following a special path. Think of making a drawing without picking up your pencil. We’ll start and stop at the same place. (I have a Continuous JAYG  – or CJAYG – masterpost!) JAYG: This means the motifs will be crocheted together as their final round, instead of being seamed with crochet stitches or with a tapestry needle. Since we are joining continuously, the Hexagons will look like they’re joined on the final round as normal, but this is the illusion of the “special path” I talked about. (I have some JAYG tutorials!) PLT: The “Pull Loop …

Celtic Lace Junior and Mini! 

Hello again! Today I have another option for joining your Vibrant Vintage CAL squares. It’s actually two options, because I have a Junior version and a Mini version of the Celtic Lace Join for you, so you can choose the perfect width join for your square size. Try this pretty edging in a built tough, but super soft DK weight yarn like: Scheepjes Colour Crafter Knitpicks Brava Sport Stylecraft Special DK See all projects where I’ve used Celtic Lace Junior and Mini here! For the VVCAL, you have edged your squares in DC – here I have (some of) them edged in pale orange. The actual VVCAL pattern calls for 5DC in each corner, but here I’ve used (2DC, Chain 1, 2DC) corners. It makes no difference! My squares for this demo are a grid of 4×4 = 16 squares. Okay, I’m going to jump right in, using a darker orange color. Celtic Lace Mini Join (great for smaller squares) ROW 1, MOTIF 1 Round 1: Join yarn with a slip stitch in any corner …

PLT Join – SC, Continuous JAYG

 Hello, all! This is the join we will be using in the VVCAL – main post – but you can definitely browse my Free Joining Methods and pick one you love! The edging is written for any size blanket, so feel free to mix and match pattern elements.  If you’ve never worked a Continuous Join as you go, you should note it is different from a regular Join as you go because you do not cut yarn and finish off until all of your squares are joined together. Think of drawing a line around the squares in a certain way, without picking up your pencil. The path that you will take around the squares can be the most confusing part! I’ll try to include as many photos as I can in order to be clear.  When I was learning, I found it took a long time for it to “click”, but once it did, I had a major “Aha!” moment, and I was in love. Okay, let’s start. You’ll need your squares, arranged in columns. …

SC JAYG – with PLT Join

Let’s celebrate the PLT Join by putting it to good use in our Vibrant Vintage CAL! Today I’m going to show you how to do a regular join-as-you-go method, in case you don’t feel ready to take the Continuous JAYG plunge 🙂 If you are feeling adventurous or are already familiar with the CJAYG, then wait for that post! I do recommend the continuous join. Only a few ends to weave in (versus 2 per square), and adds great integrity to the piece since it forms kind of a “net” of stability. I will be using the CJAYG version for my piece, and I’ll show it on the Joining post when we get there. If you’re making squares ahead of time (you’ve edged all your squares in DC), and you want to start joining, then go ahead! Enjoy! 🙂 SC Join-As-You-Go – featuring PLT Join Work first motif complete: Start by joining yarn with a slip stitch in any corner DC. All in same stitch: (SC, Chain 2, SC) – corner made SC in all …

PLT Join

Update!! Instagram user (and crochet friend!) @StitchGwen has made an excellent mini demo video of this join on her feed – go check it out! Her motions are exactly how I do it, so two thumbs up! IG StitchGwen PLT demo link See all of the projects where I’ve used PLT join HERE – over 100 blankets! What can I say about this join? When I started to teach myself crochet as a way to pass the time in college, I came across the work of Priscilla Hewitt. Often, I refer to her as my Crochet Idol, because her methods really intrigued me. I loved that her patterns were so innovative and complex, and I wanted to use them as a springboard into my own spin on the craft. Through working some of Priscilla’s patterns, I developed the PLT (or Pull Loop Through Join. Back then I didn’t have a name for it, and the closest I could come to describing it to everyone who asked was that it’s “like a flat braid join, but …