Work in the round with a cabled hook

Working in the round is easier than you might think

You might have noticed that I quite like working in the round. I'm not a huge fan of seaming (although I've warmed to the idea in some applications).

I've experimented with a few different ways of working in the round. I started off by learning how to work in a spiral with a double ended hook. This is a wonderful method for making beanies and cowls. It's not so good if you are working in stripes, mosaic or a stitch pattern that will look weird in a spiral.

This is where a cabled hook comes in. There are quite a few ways of using that cable to work in the round. You may have come across tutorials on the 'magic loop method' - this is the first way I learned and if I'm honest, I can't remember how to do it. It's kinda clunky!

A few years back, I used a method pioneered by my friend Rachel Henri. She invented a connecting stitch that works really well and I've used it to make one of her amazing jumper patterns. This method leaves a little jog that just wasn't working for me on Tunisian Crochet mosaic.

It was actually one of my pattern testers that told me about Ben Burchall. His video for this method seems to have vanished, but it was his video demonstration that taught me how to do it.

You still work in rows with a forward and return pass. You even pick up the edge stitch. Once you've picked up all the loops in the round, you bring the start of the round up to the hook tip using the cable to help you do it.

The video and images below should give you the tools you need to learn this method. Just remember that practice makes perfect; don't give up if it's wonky for the first few times

How to work in the round with a cabled hook

You'll see loads of my patterns referring to a 'connecting stitch'. This term is demonstrated in full in this video.

In my view, this method of working in the round is the best method when you want to work in rounds, not in a spiral. This is because this method creates a jogless join that is very subtle and effective in striping (for mosaic) and in blocks of solid colour.

I recommend practicing this method on something smaller before you tackle a garment. Try the Bobble Cowls, the Canberra Cowl or Space Invaders before you try a garment.

Connecting stitch in pictures

Work all the stitches of the forward pass

Work the forward pass stitches in the pattern indicated all the way around the work.

Once the first round is complete, there isn't an edge stitch any more.

Connecting stitch step 1

Insert hook through the first 2 loops of the round with the hook exiting the back of the work.

If you exit the hook at the front of the work, your connecting stitch will not be neat.

Connecting stitch step 2

Yarn over and pull through both loops.

Give that last loop a tug so it is nice and firm.

Continue your return pass (yarn over, pull through 2 loops until 1 loop remains on hook).

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