Crochet question about working in the round and seams

[peainthepod]

I'm wondering if any crochet mamas can help me out here. I recently made this adorable little baby sweater, the first sweater I've ever made, and it turned out really well, except--there's a sort of crooked diagonal seam of smallish holes down the back where I joined each row of stitches.

Is there a way to prevent this or is it just the nature of the design? I love the sweater and the pattern couldn't be easier, but the back seam is a little unsightly.

[IntuitiveJamie]

Omgosh, I had this exact problem on a skirt I made a couple of months ago. And I ran all over Ravelry trying to figure out what I did wrong. But from what I understand from all the input I got was that that is just how it is with double crocheting in the round. It just leaves a holey seam. Mine was also getting crooked and I pulled it out three times and kept trying again. I finally got it straight but I had to pay major attention to what I was doing when I came around to that seam.
The only other thing I can tell you is that there is a way different way to do a double crochet seam that is supposed to make a smaller holey seam. I ended up doing it on the skirt, but honestly I don't think it made that much of a difference. Let me go to Raverly and find you that video of the diff. way to do the seam.

[IntuitiveJamie]

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/learn...188731/1-25#11

Here is the thread. It's not very long, but several ppl chimed in with great advice.
Basically what I did was a longer SC incstead of DC to connect the seam.
I will say that once the skirt was done and when I wear it, the seam is not so bad.

[peainthepod]

Thanks, Jamie! I'm sorry you had that problem too but I'm pretty glad to know it's not just me. I think I must have restarted that sweater four times trying to figure it out.

[peainthepod]

Okay, I just read the thread and it makes so much more sense now. I was considering trying to just work in a spiral instead of joining rows, but then of course the rows would be crooked. Or maybe just skipping the ch-3 altogether and having if not a seamless back, one without holes. This makes much more sense.

Thank you thank you thank you!

[IntuitiveJamie]

I am just happy to actually help someone else with Crochet. Never thought I'd see the day!
Secondly, I am so happy that my panic and dismay a few months ago turned into something positive for me and someone else. HOOOORAY!

[minkajane]

The same thing happens to me! Usually it's not obvious, but I made a baby bunting once and the seam when from the center at the top to the corner at the bottom. It was sooo obvious. I didn't frog it because it's not like the baby's gonna care, right? But even with counting and all that, I still end up with crooked, weird seams.

[TCMoulton]

I have had this problem with a hat pattern I made and I found that if I replaced them"chain 3 which counts as the first double crochet" in a row with a "chain 2, double crochet in joining space" the holes disappeared.

[peainthepod]

Oooh, that sounds like it would work. Nice trick--thanks so much for the suggestion.

I made a seamed hat tonight and managed to avoid the holes problem, but the seam is definitely still quite visible. There has to be a way to camouflage it better, especially if you're using variegated yarn which is basically idiot-proof anyway.

I will figure this out, I swear it!

[peainthepod]

Today I made little crocheted drawstring karate pants out of the same yarn as the sweater (hopefully cuter than they sound). Following the pattern would have left the typical row of ugly holes along the seam in back, so I sort of cheated. (Actually, the whole pattern was pretty awful and I had to change it a lot to get the size and proportions right and add the drawstring waistband, so changing it more was no big deal.)

Whenever I came to the end of a row and was supposed to join to the top of the chain, instead I joined to the space between the chain and the first DC. Once in awhile, depending on the pull of the fabric, I would have to add an extra DC to the space to keep the hole from appearing. But it was easy enough to sneak in a DC-decrease in an inconspicuous spot in the row.

I think if you were making something out of a very delicate, drapey yarn this might not work as well, because the decreases would show and the extra DC on the seam might be lumpy. But using a simple worsted weight acrylic yarn, it turned out fine.