How to extend the length of crochet rows without joining new yarn
In this tutorial I share a really useful technique that I use in many of my crochet patterns to extend the length of crochet rows. The method allows me to increase the number of stitches by any amount at the beginning or end of a row. Or both, as I demonstrate below.
When extending the length of a row, one way to do it is with a classic increase, where you make two or three stitches into the same stitch, perhaps making more than one increase along the row (depending on your goal).
Whilst this approach is great if you only want to increase by a couple of stitches here or there, or work regular increases around a circular shape, it will only take you so far.
Once you get beyond a two or three stitch increase, your rows will start to curve. If you want to make a larger increase and keep your crochet rows in a straight line, with a right angle increase, then this is where this tutorial will help you out.
The swatch pictured below is the kind of increase I’m talking about here.
The good news is that there is a way to achieve this without joining new yarn. You will need to use chains and chainless foundation stitches for the process.
I have a separate tutorial for foundation single crochet stitches which I use here, so you can follow that if you’re not familiar with the stitch. (You’ll never regret learning it!)
For the purposes of this tutorial, I’ll assume you have an understanding of this foundation single crochet stitch (though I do show it clearly in the video).
In this demonstration I use single crochets (sc) and foundation single crochets (fsc), but the technique will work just as well with half double crochets and foundation half doubles, double crochets and foundation doubles and so on and so forth. (Standard US crochet terms are used throughout.)
How to extend crochet rows tutorial
Below you will find a video and step-by-step photo tutorial demonstrating how to extend crochet rows both at the start and end of the row.
In both the video and photo tutorial, I start with I small swatch with 6 rows and 10 sc across each row. In the demonstration, I add 5 stitches to each end of the row – leaving me with 20 stitches at the end.
One of the key advantages of using this method is that you can make the increases all in the same row, so the swatch is equal each side.
Below you can watch the video tutorial (right handed) showing how to extend crochet rows. You can watch a left handed version of the video tutorial here.
Read on for the written and photo tutorial.
Note that I have pinned the swatches down in the tutorial because small swatches of single crochet have a stubborn tendency to curl! The pins are just to make it easier for you to see the technique.
So we start with our swatch of 10 single crochet across and 6 rows high:
Increasing at the beginning of a row
You will start the 5 stitch increase at the beginning of the now by chaining 6. Note that I like to do this before I turn at the end of the previous row so that the tops of the stitch are all facing the same direction and neatly aligned.
Then you work 1 single crochet in the second chain from your hook and each of the next 4 chains. I discuss how to neatly crochet into chains during a project in this tutorial.
This is your first half increase complete:
Then you continue to work 10 single crochets across to the end of the previous row:
Now you’re up to 15 stitches and ready to increase on the other end of the row – this is where it gets clever!
Increasing at the end of a row
To make the increases at the start of the row, you used standard chains and stitches, but you can’t use the same technique on the other end. If you make a chain and work into it then you’ll end up back in the middle of the row, or your increases won’t be level.
This is why we use chainless foundation stitches. They allow you to make a chain and stitch at the same time, in this case, meaning you’ll finish at the end of the row with nice level increases.
The tricky bit is knowing where to start that first stitch. In a typical foundation single crochet, you start with chaining two and then use the first chain to begin the stitch. When you’re adding to the end of a row, making an extra chain to use would be messy. So instead I use one I made earlier.
Specifically, I insert my hook into the side of the turning chain used at the start of the previous row. This is what it looks like:
I insert the hook into the two loops of the turning chain at the row-end for stability. If you are working a different stitch pattern, there are different places you can an anchor this first foundation single crochet, but working it into a row-end has always served me well. Sometimes it’s a turning chain, sometimes the side of a stitch and sometimes the same spot you worked the last stitch of the row into. The specifics will depend on the pattern and your preference.
But for this example, we’re going to use the turning chain of the previous row.
To make that first foundation single crochet, you insert your hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through one loop (creating the base chain for the next stitch), then yarn over and pull through two loops to complete that first increase stitch.
Below you see the completed first foundation single crochet. Hard to tell it’s an increase at all at this point!
Then you continue with 4 more foundation single crochet to take the total increase to 5 stitches.
And there you have your increases completed.
One of the most satisfying things about this increase, is that when you look at the row from above, you can’t actually notice any difference in the stitches. It’s super pleasing (even if I’m holding this swatch a bit on the wonk…)
And there you have it. This super simple technique is such a useful one to pull out of your tool box when you need it.
I use it in quite a few of my patterns such as the Free flow sweater, the Coventina cardigan, the Snowfall slippers and Cosy toes socks, and the forthcoming Frivolity shawl. I’m sure there’s more too but they are the ones that jump to mind. I also use it in my technique for crocheting hidden button holes so you might find that one useful too!
I hope you find this easy crochet technique as useful as I do. If you have any questions, please do drop them in the comments. They are all held for moderation, so if you don’t see it right away, don’t worry – it will come through once I approve and answer it! 🙂
Happy hooking
Dx
More foundational crochet tutorials
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