BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Crochet Struggling with Seams

Having almost completed a crocheted item that I might actually be able to WEAR, I now find that I'm struggling with putting it together. It's a simple top and the directions I've found for something like side seams (etc.) aren't very clear.

Any hints to seam up the pieces so they don't pucker, gap, look weird, etc.?

Susan

Why yes I do:
1. Lay the pieces flat on either the floor or a table. This has been said hundreds of times so I will of course repeat it "YOUR LAP IS NOT FLAT, HONEST".

2. It isn't necessary but I recommend the chibi needles, they are the ones that have a slight bend on the end of them, it makes it easier to sew seams with.

3. If you need to, use bobby pins (hair pins) to hold the piece together as you seam it and remove them as you go along.

4. You can crochet it together but again, make sure you have all the seams matched up BEFORE you start to do anything. Once you have them matched up use any method you want (loosely but not too loosely).

Does that help ?

Thanks for the tip Eva! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Aw c'mon Eva! My laps perfectly flat!

Wendy <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, Eva, I'll look for Chibi needles. I don't know that I've ever seen those, but maybe they'd help.

I have found that it's a lot easier when stitching (for example) across shoulders, and you can work in the top of each row. My struggles are with places where I'm trying to pull together stitches that are side-by-side, ultimately.

Thanks, again.

Susan

Oh ok, here is another tip, because I just can't remember which way I thought that I would do it (in the front or back, every other row etc ) I will take a different color of yarn and sort of run a baste stitch so that I can easily see where I will stitch them together. This works really well if you are using any type of fancy yarn, boucle, homespun etc any yarn that it is hard to see. I know this takes a little bit more time but trust me trying to take it out is a really huge pain in the well you know. Just remember if you are stitching it together and on one piece you are going into say the "front" portion of the stitch, make sure you do the same on the other piece. Once you do this a couple of times it will become very easy for you, honest.

Wendy, I have had a slight change with my body.....Yes you guessed it, My front and back have switched sides so now my butt is in the front and my flat side is now in the back !!!!!!!!!! Ok no laughing this will happen to you too, thats exactly how it happened to me, I too use to laugh at it!!!!!!