Guide 6: Turning Chains and Joining Rounds: Mastering Rows and Rounds in Japanese Crochet
What You Need to Know About Starting a Row
Up through Guide 5, we introduced the chart symbols you'll see most often in Japanese crochet charts.
From this guide on, we'll take a more practical look at how to read the charts themselves.
We'll start with two things that are essential to reading any chart: "how each row begins" and "how rounds connect."
We'll put charts side by side to see how the start of a row differs when you work in single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet.
Working in Rows vs. Working in the Round
Crochet can be worked in two main ways: in rows and in the round.
Working in rows means you turn your work at the end of every row and crochet back and forth. Rows worked with the right side facing you alternate with rows worked with the wrong side facing you.
This method is often used for flat, rectangular pieces such as scarves and coasters.
Working in the round means you keep crocheting in the same direction without turning your work. The right side always faces you.
This method is often used for motifs that grow outward from the center, as well as for hats and bag bottoms.
On a chart, the difference looks like this:
- In rows: The working direction changes every row, so the turning chain alternates between the right edge and the left edge.
- In the round: You always work in the same direction (counterclockwise), so the turning chain stays in the same position every round.
Understanding the Turning Chain
At the beginning of each row, you work chains to bring your yarn up to the height of the new row. This is called the turning chain.
In Japanese charts, these chains are drawn at the start of the new row.
The row number is usually written right next to them, so you can tell at a glance where each row begins.
Whether the turning chain counts as a stitch is also set by the stitch you're working:
- Single crochet: The turning chain does not count as a stitch.
- Half double, double, and treble crochet: The turning chain counts as the first stitch of the row.
In English-language patterns, the turning chain is often written at the end of the previous row, as in "ch 3, turn." Whether the turning chain counts as a stitch can vary by designer and pattern, especially for half double crochet and double crochet. That's why many patterns spell it out each time, for example "ch 3 (counts as first dc)" or "ch 2 (does not count as a st)."
In Japanese charts, the way turning chains are counted is largely standardized, and their position is drawn right into the chart, so you can understand them from the chart alone.
Stitch Heights and the Number of Turning Chains
Each basic crochet stitch is roughly as tall as a certain number of chains.
- Single crochet: about 1 chain tall
- Half double crochet: about 2 chains tall
- Double crochet: about 3 chains tall
- Treble crochet: about 4 chains tall
The turning chain lifts your yarn to the height of the row. So, as a rule, you work the same number of chains as the height of the stitch.
That means 1 chain for single crochet and 3 chains for double crochet.
In Japanese charts, the length of each symbol is drawn to show these height differences, so the number of turning chains matches the length of the symbol.
Comparing the Charts
Now let's compare single, half double, double, and treble crochet, each shown in a chart worked in rows and a chart worked in the round.
・Single Crochet
The turning chain for single crochet is 1 chain. It does not count as a stitch, so it is drawn outside the symbol at the end of the row.
When working in rows, as in the example chart, work the first single crochet of Row 1 into the foundation chain just before the turning chain. From Row 2 on, work it into the last stitch of the previous row, at the base of the turning chain.
When working in the round, work Rnd 1 into the magic ring. From Rnd 2 on, work the first single crochet into the top of the first single crochet of the previous round.
・Half Double Crochet
The turning chain for half double crochet is 2 chains. It counts as a stitch, so it is drawn where the first half double crochet at the end of the row would be.
In the example worked in rows, the turning chain counts as the first half double crochet. So for the 2nd stitch of Row 1, skip the foundation chain at the base of the turning chain and work into the next chain (the 4th chain from the hook). At the end of Row 2, work the last half double crochet into the 2nd chain of the Row 1 turning chain.
In the example worked in the round, Rnd 2 is an increase round. After working the 2-chain turning chain for Rnd 2, work a half double crochet into the 2nd chain of the Rnd 1 turning chain.
・Double Crochet
The turning chain for double crochet is 3 chains. As with half double crochet, it counts as the first stitch.
・Treble Crochet
The turning chain for treble crochet is 4 chains. It counts as the first stitch.
Joining Rounds
When working in the round, once you reach the end of a round, insert your hook into the first stitch of that round and work a slip stitch. This joins the round into a ring.
The slip stitch symbol (●) is drawn at the end of the round, right next to the turning chain.
- Half double, double, and treble crochet: Slip stitch into the top chain of the turning chain.
- Single crochet: The turning chain doesn't count as a stitch, so slip stitch into the top of the first single crochet.
After the slip stitch, work the turning chain for the next round and begin that round.
In English-language patterns, this is written out in words, such as "join with sl st to first sc" or "join with sl st to top of beg ch-3."
In Japanese charts, the position of the ● symbol shows you exactly where to slip stitch.
Summary
In this guide, we looked at how rows begin and how rounds connect.
- When working in rows, you turn your work every row, so the turning chain alternates between the left and right edges.
- When working in the round, the right side always faces you and you work in the same direction, so the turning chain stays in the same position.
- Single, half double, double, and treble crochet are about 1, 2, 3, and 4 chains tall, so you work that many chains for the turning chain.
- Except for single crochet, the turning chain counts as a stitch.
- When working in the round, you join each round with a slip stitch into its first stitch.
Once you understand how rows begin, it becomes much easier to see where to start reading a chart.
In Guide 7, we'll take a closer look at charts worked in rows. Stay tuned!
