Hdc Border Join for Twinkling Granny Square

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Here are the instructions for the hdc border join for the Twinkling Granny Square. You could also use this for any crochet motif with 12 stitches per side or a stitch count that’s divisible by 3.
Note : on the Twinkling Granny Square motif, I am counting the ch1 from each corner as a stitch (see illustration below).

I developed this hdc border join because I wanted a slightly narrower crochet border than the usual dc granny join so that I could get the final dimensions of the sweater to the size that I wanted.

Joining Options for hdc border

1. Join as you go (JAYG) : As you make the border for each square you join to the adjacent motif(s). The yarn is fastened off at the end of each round.
2. Continuous border join : The border is made and joined in one continuous sequence of crochet.   
3. Sew together: In my opinion, sewing motifs together for sweaters does not give a very good outcome because it’s difficult to match the gauge of the crochet with your sewing. I would strongly encourage you to try joining with crochet before resorting to sewing the motifs together.

For my sweater, I actually used the “continuous join” method, i.e. you join multiple motifs with one continuous border join, which I learnt from a Japanese book (see left) purchased from Etsy. The instructions that follow are for “join as you go” (JAYG), i.e. the border for each motif is started with new yarn and joined to the adjacent motifs and fastened off at the end of each border round. This method results in more ends to sew in but is easier for inexperienced or crocheters lacking in confidence. It also requires less planning ahead.

I will be covering the “continous join” method in my upcoming class at the Riverhouse Barn in Walton on Thames in September 2021. I will also be running the course online in November so please do sign-up to my newsletter (scroll to bottom of post) to make sure you get first dibs for enrolling on the course as numbers are limited.

Hdc Border JAYG Method

In the downloadable instructions I’ll go over the technique using 4 motifs (pattern for motifs is here). The instructions assume you have already made the 4 motifs. The pdf includes a chart and step by step photos for crocheting the hdc border join.

Note: Due to the way hdc stitches are formed and fall, i.e. the top of the stich falls far to the right of the post, there is are two slight adjustment to the way the border is joined to keep it looking symmetrical.

1. The stitches are always joined one stitch to the left of the corresponding st on the adjacent motif. Most of the time, inexperienced crocheters misread hdc stitches anyway, so chances are the correct stitch placement is made inadvertently.
2. The 2^nd ch of the ch2 in the corners is omitted to avoid an unsightly hole.

Download instructions here.

Once you’ve mastered the basic principles, it’s pretty easy to add squares to make the shape and size you need– if you give it a try, please let me know!

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