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Straight edges: Importance of turning chains

Whether you are a beginner or if your level is more advanced, it is important that you have some basic crochet knowledge. This will help you easily follow a pattern or even adapt it to your needs. In today’s tutorial: Straight Edges: Importance of Turning Chains, I want to talk to you about one of the basic stitches: The chain, more specifically The Turning Chain and the importance of its correct use when making the pieces of our amigurumis straighter.

Many of you have asked me about this stitch that I use frequently in my patterns when crocheting in rows. Let’s see what it is:

A turning chain is just that, a chain that we crochet before turning and starting a new row. Its function is to provide us with a certain gap or height so that we can start crocheting at the first stitch in the row and thus keep the edge straight. Their presence does not count when determining the total count of stitches in the row, but their absence does mean the decrease of one of the points in the row: the first.

You will see it more clearly with an example:

We need to crochet a straight piece 12 sc long. For this we start with 12 chains?

If we work 12 chains, when we return crocheting sc over the chains, we will not be able to start in the first chain, there is no space to do it, so we must crochet over the second and when completing the row we will have 11 sc instead of 12.

To have the row of 12 sc, we must start with 13 chains and use the last of them to gain that space we need. This last chain will therefore be a Turning Chain.

When crochet consecutive rows, if we want to keep the edges of our piece straight, we must use the turning chain in the same way, that is, when we reach the end of the row, we make a chain that allows us to turn and start crocheting in the first sc.

Turning chain at the end of the row
Straight edges: Importance of turning chains
Turn and start crocheting in the first single crochet
Straight edges: Importance of turning chains
With turning chain
Without turning chain

In our example, we have used single crochets, but what if the rows we need have to be worked with other points? In these cases, we have to take into account the height of these stitches when using the turning chains to gain the necessary space and not fall short or excess.

We have already seen that 1 turning chain is used for a row crocheted with single crochets. The next stitch in height is the half double crochet. For it we will continue using 1 chain.

With the double crochet, on the other hand, it will be necessary to add a turning chain. Before turning and starting a new row, we will have to chain 2.

Chain 2, turn and start crocheting in the third chain

Following our example:

If we need to work a 12 double crochet piece, we will have to chain 14 and start crocheting in the third chain, using the last 2 chains as if they were the first double crochet in the row.

In the same way, when we continue crocheting rows, we must continue using 2 chains as a double crochet in the corners to keep the edges straight.

Chain 2 as a first double crochet
Straight edges: Importance of turning chains
Chain 2, turn and begin in the first stitch
Straight edges: Importance of turning chains
With 2 turning chains and double crochet
Without turning chains

If with the double crochet we have to use 2 chains, with a treble crochet we will have to use 3 and crochet in the same way: Chain 15 to have a row of 12 treble crochet and 3 turning chains in the following rows.

Chain 3, turn and begin in the fourth chain
Straight edges: Importance of turning chains
Chain 3, turn and begin in the first stitch
Straight edges: Importance of turning chains
With 3 turning chains and treble crochet
Without turning chains

Recap:

Straight edges: Importance of turning chains

As you can see, to get straight edges you need to take into account the importance of the turning chains.

Did you like it? It’s not difficult, is it?

Until next time! ?

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Female Doctor Amigurumi Pattern

Download this Female Doctor amigurumi pattern for free and crochet it #StayAtHome

We are going through difficult times around the world and now more than ever we must stay together.

The apparition of coronavirus (COVID-19) and its rapid expansion among the population is something that should concern all of us.

Spain is one of the most affected countries, but whether you live here or anywhere else, you cannot be indifferent to the problem.

After the declaration of the State of alarm by the Spanish Government, we are forced to stay at home in order to avoid infections. It is an exercise of responsibility that we all must carry out, not only for ourselves, but for the others.

We must put individualism aside and think of those around us, especially those most vulnerable to disease: elderly and children.

Together we can reduce the expansion of the virus.

#Stayathome and facilitate the commendable work that health personnel are doing to ensure our health, putting their own at risk.

That’s why I would like to contribute with my grain of sand by sharing this pattern of a Female Doctor Amigurumi.

I think that will alleviate the period of isolation.

It also serves as my humble personal thanks to all the professionals who take care of us every day.

THANK YOU!

#StayAtHome

And if you prefer it in Spanish, click here

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Crochet and Amigurumis as Therapy

Crochet and Amigurumis as Therapy

Sometimes we forget that on the other side of a message there is a real person, of flesh and blood, with problems, concerns, in short, a life. Today I will show you how to use crochet and amigurumis as therapy.

Through this passion that joins us, I have discovered that crocheting amigurumis is more than making a doll with yarn, hook and fiberfill.

Starting with myself, the amigurumis have helped me to improve my self-esteem and to cope with moments of great sadness or worry. They have been a distraction, a relief and on many occasions the necessary push that has prevented me from falling into discouragement.

Since I started this adventure, there have been many messages that I have received. Messages of all kinds, from daily consultations related to patterns, to thanks or congratulations, but without a doubt, the messages that move me most are those in which you make me a participant in the reasons that have led you to crochet amigurumis:

Continue reading Crochet and Amigurumis as Therapy

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Colors Spaceship Amigurumi Pattern

Hello! I present to you: Colors Spaceship Amigurumi Pattern.

I like the idea of traveling through space, discover other planets, think that there are wonderful worlds inhabited by extraordinary beings … let the imagination fly …

But don’t you think the spaceships are a bit boring?

Are we going to travel through the universe on a sad gray spaceship?

Of course not!

I show you a new pattern: This fun colors spaceship amigurumi pattern that will be the envy of most intrepid captains.

With the one-piece crocheted hull and big other pieces, it´s the perfect toy for kids.

As in all my designs is completely soft and also, when using bright colors and highlighting the elements in black, we give it the appearance of a cartoon. Continue reading Colors Spaceship Amigurumi Pattern