What is the Right Side of a Crochet Piece?

From time to time you may come across crochet instructions telling you to have the "right side of the work facing you." Right side means, the side facing out after your project is finished.

1. If you like the look of the back of the stitches, that can be your right side.
   
2. When you work the afghan stitch, you will have two distinct looks. Either side of the work can be used as your right side.
3. The front side for a hat made in rounds, will be the side facing you as your are making the hat. Maybe you like the look of the inside better so that can be your right side.
   
4. If you are familiar with doily's, the part facing you as you are making the doily will be your right side.
5. Think about a store bough T-shirt. The wrong side is the inside with all of the seams holding the shirt together. The right side is the external part that looks nice and neat.
   

When working in rows you will always alternate sides so both sides could be considered the right side or the front side. When working in rounds, some people like to turn so the stitches are alternating in both directions. If you do not turn with rounds, you may have a distinct front side that will look a little different than the back. Right side is open for interpretation. Front side does not always mean right side.

Turning Chain at the End of a Row - Chain and Turn or Turn and Chain - Crochet Tip #55

There can be a lot of confusion with written instructions that say "Chain and turn" or "Turn and Chain".  It all means the same thing.  I like to turn and then chain because that is what I have become accustomed to. The chain represents a stitch or the step up for the first row. 

How you turn your work is also preference and up to you. Sometimes I will notice a difference on the edge, if I turn my work counterclockwise.  Most of the time it does not make any difference and is not noticeable. If it is something that will be covered up with an edge, it will not matter.  


It is something left up for you to decide if you want to chain and turn or turn and chain.  The direction you turn your work is also preference.

Counting Stitches for an Accurate Stitch Count - Crochet Tip #54

I always recommend counting crochet stitches. The reason is for accuracy with each row/round. Counting will save time and is a resource to reduce the possibility of ripping out future rows/rounds. The edges of an afghan are the most common place to drop a stitch. Sometimes it is very difficult to see where the stitch should go. It may even look correct as you turn to start the next row. Several rows later you will notice that your afghan is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. This is from missed stitches. Counting will help reduce missed stitches.

I know for those of you with small children there are frequent interruptions and you will lose count. My now grown children are the reason I count. When my kids were small, they would be off doing their own thing, not pay any attention to what I was doing until I would start crocheting. Then they would need a drink or start fighting. You can also count your stitches once the row is complete and the children's needs have been met once again.

I am including a video playlist for Stitch Placement if you need help with where to put your crochet hook through the stitches.

Wheel Stitches - Crochet Tip #53

The wheel stitch may be time consuming but it is well worth the work. Keep in mind that crochet pattern stitches can easily be modified to use more or less stitches. If you are working with a wheel stitch that suggests 7 stitches, you can modify it to use 9 stitches instead. The same is true if you want to go from 7, down to 5.

It is not necessary to use the stitch in a demonstration. Maybe you do not want to use a triple crochet so you can use a double crochet instead.

I would recommend doing a pattern swatch to work through your modified version, prior to starting your project. You will want to make sure the modified version is going lay flat and look right. This will give you a small piece to practice through any errors and become familiar with the new modified version prior to starting your project. We all know how disappointing it is to rip because of an error.

NOTE: I have seen the wheel stitch go by several different names which is not unusual for most crochet stitches. The common one is Catherine's Wheel. It also goes by Harlequin Stitch and Jumbo Pinwheel.

Information Label for Crochet Gifts or Merchadise - Crochet Tip #52

Each of us have probably sold a project that we have made at one time or another or given it away as a gift. My suggestion is to inform the recipient that the project is not coming apart if a tail happens to pop out after a wash cycle. You may want to include a simple set of instructions on how to sew the tails back in between the stitches.

Many years ago a friend of mine brought me a afghan that her grandma had made, because she thought it was falling apart. The only thing that had happened was some of the tails has popped out after washing. I knotted, secured and sewed the tails back between the stitches with her watching. I let her know that the afghan was not falling apart and that tails could come out again after a wash cycle. She was very relieved to know that was all it was. After that, she knew how to take care of it herself.

Choosing and Edging - Crochet Tip #51

My thoughts for choosing an edging are if you have used a simple pattern stitch for the main portion of your afghan, then it is alright to use a lacy, frilly edging. If the main pattern stitch is busy, frilly and lacy, a simpler edging is recommended.

Head Measurement for Hat - Crochet Tip #50

The most accurate way to get a custom fit for a hat, is to measure the head, working your modified pattern to a head measurement. If a gauge is available with the pattern, that will also give you an idea on how close your crochet style is to that of the author of the pattern.

The easiest way to change size with a hat pattern is to use a larger or smaller crochet hook. Another way to change size is to eliminate rounds for a smaller hat or do additional rounds with increase stitches for a larger hat.

The following chart is an estimate for various size heads.

Newborn
Head Circumference 13" - 14 "
Hat Circumference = 11.5" - 13"
Hat height = 5.5 to 6"
.................................................................
Baby - 3 to 6 months
Head Circumference: 14" - 17 "
Hat height= 6.5 - 7"
.................................................................
Baby - 6 to 12 months
Head Circumference: 16" - 19 "
Hat height = 7.5"
.................................................................
Toddler -12 months - 3 years
Hat height = 8"
Head Circumference: 18" to 20 "
.................................................................
Child - 3 - 10 years
Hat height =8.5"
Head Circumference: 19" - 20 1/2"
.................................................................
Teens
Hat height 9-10"
Head Circumference: 20 1/2" - 22"
.................................................................
Adult Woman
Head Circumference: 21.5" - 22.5"
.................................................................
Adult Man
Head Circumference: 23" - 24"