Hairpin Lace Part 3 of 4 – Joining the Strips

Joining the strips is as easy as 1, 2, 3… quite literally.

NOTE: There is a front and back AND a top and bottom. ALWAYS join strips on the front of your project starting at the bottom. (The bottom is defined as the edge where you began joining your first 2 strips)

Use a Size K crochet hook for joining the strips.

1] Working from the left side of your project, lay 2 completed strips side by side. Unroll just enough of the the strips so you can work with them, being very careful not to twist the strips.

2] Think of your strips as even and odd, with your first strip (1) on the left beginning odd. When joining 2 strips, ALWAYS start with an odd strip.

3] Place the first 3 loops from the odd strip on your crochet hook. (3 loops on hook)

4] Place the first 3 loops from the even strip on your crochet hook. (6 loops on hook)

5] Slide the original 3 loops from the odd strip over the 3 loops from the even strip and take them off the hook. (3 loops on hook)

6] Pick up the next 3 loops from the odd strip. (6 loops on hook)

7] Slide the original 3 loops from the even strip over the 3 loops from the odd strip and take them off the hook. (3 loops on hook)

8] Continue weaving the 2 strips together until you reach the end of the strips. Check the backside of your work about ever 30 loops to make sure you didn’t skip a loop. If you did, it will be sticking out in the back.

9] When you get to the last 3 loops left on your hook, pull a strip tail through the loops and loosely tie. ( You will finish the ends better in part 4 of this tutorial, Finishing Your Project.)

10] Continue adding strips in this manner until your project is the desired width. After the first 2 strips, you will be adding additional strips to your “growing” project; in my case an afghan. Remember to ALWAYS start with 3 loops from an ODD strip. EDIT: If you not, your afghan will slant, as each new strip will be higher than the one before.

Later in the week I will share Part 4 of 4: Finishing Your Project.

Introduction

Part 1 – The Loom

Part 2 – Crocheting the Strips

Part 3 – Joining the Strips

Part 4 – Finishing the Project

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