Zigzag Slip Stitch Join Technique

Introduction

There are many ways of joining crochet squares and they all have different characteristics. The Zigzag Slip Stitch Join is fast and simple to do and results in an interesting, raised texture on the front of your work.

This method can be used to join any kind of square or seam where each side to be joined has the same number of stitches. It looks good in both a contrasting color yarn or the same color yarn the squares are edged in:

Contrasting color join

Same color join

For this tutorial I am joining four of my Pumpkin Patch Blanket Squares, these have 3 sc in the corner space so the seam will start and end in the center stitch of these three. If you are joining squares with a different number of corner stitches and/or chains you will need to find the central one or allocate the stitches to each side evenly. In the photo below I have placed a stitch marker in each of the central stitches I will be starting my seam in, you may find it helpful to do this too.

For this method our squares are placed side by side with all their right sides facing up (as above).

Step 1 – Insert hook from front to back through marked stitch of bottom square, place slip knot on hook.

Step 2 – Pull loop through. Hold the tail while you make the first couple of stitches.

Remember to keep the working yarn at the back of your work at all times.

 

Step 3 – Insert hook from front to back through marked stitch of top square

Step 4 – Yarn over hook

Step 5 – Pull yarn through stitch…

… and through the loop on your hook, (slip stitch completed).

Step 6 – Insert hook from front to back through next stitch of bottom square, yarn over hook

Step 7 – Pull yarn through stitch and loop on hook, (slip stitch completed).

Step 8 – Insert hook from front to back through next stitch of top square, yarn over hook

Step 9 – Pull yarn through stitch and loop on hook, (slip stitch completed).

Repeat Steps 6-9 until all stitches are joined including the marked corner stitches.

To join the next square, insert hook in marked corner stitch of next bottom square and make slip stitch.

Then insert hook in marked corner stitch of next top square and make slip stitch.

Repeat these steps until all squares in row are joined. Chain 1, cut yarn and pull through to finish off.

After joining all the rows turn your work 90° to join the columns in the same way. (Equally you could choose to make all the perpendicular joins first and then do the horizontal ones, it doesn’t matter as long as you complete all the joins in one direction first.)

To join the columns, work in the same way as before up to the existing join.

Make slip stitch in previously worked corner stitch of bottom square

Make slip stitch in previously worked corner stitch of top square

Make slip stitch in previously worked corner stitch of next bottom square

Make slip stitch in previously worked corner stitch of next top square.

Continue working join as before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After joining all the rows turn your work 90° to join the columns in the same way. (Equally you could choose to make all the perpendicular joins first and then do the horizontal ones, it doesn’t matter as long as you complete all the joins in one direction first.)