Introduction
There are multiple ways of joining motifs to make a large fabric. The join-as-you-go method creates the fabric as you create the motifs instead of putting them all together in the end.
In some cases, like the ‘I love you so much’ wrap, it is practically impossible to join all motifs in the end so this is the only way to build the fabric.
While I have heard join-as-you-go in the context of granny squares mostly, it can be applied to any kind of squares or motifs that need to be joined as they are made. It’s all about figuring out where the motifs must be joined and joining them with a slip stitch 🙂
Abbreviations
- ch – chain
- ch sp(s) – chain space(s)
- sl st – slip stitch
- hdc – half double crochet
- st(s) – stitch(es)
Photo tutorial
In this tutorial, I will explain how to join the motifs marked from 1 to 4 in the following panel. You can find the pattern for the ‘X’ and ‘O’ motifs here.
Notes:
1. ‘X’ motifs are joined at the chain space between the hdc stitches in the last round.
2. ‘O’ motifs are joined at the chain space between two hdc stitches at an interval of 4 hdc stitches.
3. Every time a motif is joined, the chain stitch in the current motif is skipped.
Joining a ‘O’ motif with one ‘X’ motif
Step 1: Make the ‘X’ motif first. Then, make the ‘O’ motif all the way to the last round and stop after you have made 12 hdc sts
Step 2: Locate the ch sp in the ‘X’ motif and insert hook there
Step 3: Yarn over and pull the loop through the ‘X’ motif ch sp and the loop on the hook – effectively making a sl st. Skip the ch and start making the next hdc st from the pattern.
Step 4: Yarn over – This is the beginning of the next hdc st.
Step 5: Start making the next hdc st as mentioned in the ‘O’ motif pattern
Step 6: Complete the next hdc st
Step 7: Complete the ‘O’ motif as explained in the pattern
Joining a ‘X’ motif with one ‘O’ motif
Step 1: Make the ‘X’ motif all the way to the last round and stop before the last ch 8 sp
Step 2: Find the 8th ch sp from the previous join and insert hook there
Step 3: Yarn over and pull the loop through the ‘O’ motif ch sp and the loop on the hook – effectively making a sl st. Skip the ch and start making the next hdc st from the pattern.
Step 4: Start making the next hdc st as mentioned in the ‘X’ motif pattern. Note: We will skip the ch that comes after the hdc st here.
Step 5: Complete the next hdc st
Joining a ‘O’ motif with two ‘X’ motifs
Step 1: Make the ‘O’ motif all the way to the last round and stop after you have made 8 hdc sts
Step 2: Locate the ch sp in the first ‘X’ motif and insert hook there
Step 3: Yarn over and pull the loop through the ‘X’ motif ch sp and the loop on the hook – effectively making a sl st. Skip the ch and start making the next hdc st from the pattern.
Step 4: Continue making the ‘O’ motif as mentioned in the pattern until you have made 4 more hdc sts.
Step 5: Locate the ch sp in the second ‘X’ motif and insert hook there.
Step 6: Yarn over and pull the loop through the ‘X’ motif ch sp and the loop on the hook – effectively making a sl st. Skip the ch and start making the next hdc st from the pattern.
Step 7: Complete the ‘O’ motif as explained in the pattern.
Joining a ‘X’ motif with two ‘O’ motifs
Step 1: Make the ‘X’ motif all the way to the last round and stop before the third ch8 sp
Step 2: Make 4 hdc sts as explained in the pattern. In the first ‘O’ motif, find the 4th ch sp from the previous join and insert hook there
Step 3: Yarn over and pull the loop through the ‘O’ motif ch sp and the loop on the hook – effectively making a sl st. Skip the ch and start making the next hdc st from the pattern.
Step 4: Start making the next hdc st as mentioned in the ‘X’ motif pattern
Step 5: Continue making the ‘X’ motif pattern until the next ch sp
Step 6: In the second ‘O’ motif, find the 4th ch sp in from the previous join and insert hook there
Step 7: Yarn over and pull the loop through the ‘O’ motif ch sp and the loop on the hook – effectively making a sl st. Skip the ch and start making the next hdc st from the pattern.
Step 8: Start making the next hdc st as mentioned in the ‘X’ motif pattern
Step 9: Complete the ‘X’ motif as explained in the pattern
Remember: It’s all about figuring out where the motifs must be joined and joining them with a sl stitch! 🙂
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