How to crochet the Perfect Straight Seam when going in rounds (Photo & Video Tutorial)
This post includes affiliate links.
This tutorial is a very detailed guide on how to crochet the perfect straight seam when going in rounds. This can be very helpful when crocheting beanies, hats, or even bags. So, this tutorial can be ideal for any crochet project that needs to be made in rounds.
Crocheting circles, especially flat ones, is one huge accomplishment already. But getting that darn seam to get straight can be a totally different story. I get it. I’ve been in your shoes. But I can assure you it’s actually much easier than you might think. And you are not the only crocheter who needs this tutorial.
As I get so many emails and messages about how to crochet the perfectly straight seam when crocheting in a round, I decided to make a photo and video tutorial for it.
When mentioning that during my last Facebook LIVE event (Wednesday’s, 5pm PST) I got a huge response saying that can’t wait for it and really need it. So, I started right away making this awesome tutorial.
Have I always crocheted the seam the right way?
I will tell you this: I was taught the wrong way before as well. Because I simply learned by crocheting from patterns that seemed to not have this simple technique. Which means, they did not include how to prevent the seam, when doing slip stitches to the first stitch after a finished round, from going diagonal round after round.
Interestingly, this simple trick can be used for any patterns that create diagonal seams which seem so annoying at times and just do not look great when making beanies or hats specifically.
Knowing this simple trick to create the perfect straight seam can be so helpful. As soon as you got used to it, you will want to use it all the time.
If you also want to learn how crochet the perfect beanie or hat every time, check out my very detailed tutorial HERE!
And of course, I have a tutorial on how to crochet the perfect ribbed brim for a top down beanie! Check it out! It is awesome!
So, let me now start and explain to you how you can achieve a straight seam every single time. No more slanting ever! Love that. It even works when crocheting in rows, although I do not show it here in this tutorial.
This tutorial, however, doesn’t work for half double crochet (hdc). But I found a trick that will help for that stitch specifically which you can check out here.
To make it easier, I included a full and detailed video tutorial so you can learn all the tiny steps. The video can be found below. In fact, I have 2 videos. An older version is further down and a new one is right below.
In fact, if you would like to know how to crochet the perfect flat circle then be sure to check out my detailed tutorial which includes 4 patterns and 4 videos.
Perfect Straight Seam in Crochet Rounds for SC, DC and TR
Subscribe to my Youtube Channel here:
How to crochet the perfectly straight seam when crocheting in rounds
When looking at the picture below, you can see that it shows the beginning of a top down beanie, as an example.
On the right side, you can see how the diagonal or slant is formed, simply by crocheting the increases at the beginning of the repeats. That creates a shift and makes the seam look diagonal or slanted.
Now, on the left side, it is shown that the increase is always created at the end of the repeat set. That means the beginning of the repeat of those rounds always have one stitch per stitch of the previous round. This simple trick makes the seam look straight at the end.
Below you can see how that looks like on a real example. It also shows the beginning of a top down beanie and the effect of the increases in a repeat set being a different spots.
Let me show you in the below table, what that would actually mean if you would use this trick when making a beanie. For this example, I am using double crochets.
Let’s say you start a beanie with a magic ring and you add 10 double crochets. Then in the next round, you increase in every stitch.
Now, starting round 3 is where it all changes. In order to create straight seam, you will now NOT increase right away, but instead make a normal single stitch, in this example a double crochet. After that, you will crochet the double crochet increase.
You will keep repeating this repeat set until the end of the round when you create a slip stitch. The more rounds you do it this way, the more you will see that the seam is straight.
Also, I do not count the beginning chains as a stitch, which is why I chained only 2, not 3 for a double crochet round. Which almost always means, I place the first stitch in the same stitch where the slip stitch is placed. That is very important and works for me.
This trick of course works for any stitches that require even increases. Those stitches are mostly the basic stitches such as single crochet, double crochet, treble crochet etc.
Video Tutorial on how to crochet a Perfectly Straight Seam every time (older video)
Subscribe to my Youtube Channel here:
If you liked this tutorial, please share it as a link on social media. For an awesome Facebook share, please click HERE. Thank you very much!
If you want to learn more tips and tricks, be sure to click HERE and learn a lot more you probably never heard of before.
Have you ever crocheted a cable stitch? Many crocheters think it is too hard! It really is NOT HARD at all! Check it out! You will not regret it!
Your video is very helpful but I have a question, when you place your first dc is it in the same stitch as the joining ch 2? You moved to fast and I could not tell sorry
I went into the first stitch when slip stitching, not into any of the chains of the beginning chain. Thanks for asking 🙂
Thank you. How would you change colors? Love your videos.
Judy, it depends when you want to change colors. Here I have a tutorial on how to make a graphgan where I included a video on how to change colors. Hope that helps! https://www.nickishomemadecrafts.com/how-to-make-a-crochet-graphgan-or-crochet-portrait/
Video was very informative and helpful. Never to old to learn something new.
I always do the increase after the regular stitch and the seam still slants.
How do you start every round? I do a turning/beginning chain that I do not count. Do you do that as well?
Yes. I get to the 7th row and it starts to slant to the right. I can’t seem to fix it. Any suggestions?
It’s straight till the last row of increases and then it starts going to the right. I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong?
Would the same instructions apply to left hand crocheting?
Yes. If I mention any direction, just flip it 😉
I found this helpful however the way I do it is slightly different,
by repeating the pattern and making sure it ends with the increase at the end of the round rather than the beginning so with hats I usually:
4ch join with a sl st then chain the correcr number of chain for the chosen st, 2sts in each so 8 sts but always chain and join with a sl st into the chain space so row 3 would be 1st 2sts repeated 8 times, then add 1 st per block and keep your singular stitches at the beginning, when not increasing you miss a false stitch at the end of the row to pull your row back in line.
I am just starting so I am a little confused.
On the 2nd line and on the 3rd line when it says “dc inc”, do I do 2 double crochets?
An INC is 2 stitches in the same stitch. For example, 2 dc in the same stitch is a dc inc. Hope that helps