I finally found a pretty decent use for my many stitchmarkers!
This is a neat little trick and is useful whether you are starting your interlocking crochet journey or whether you are a seasoned interlocker.
Lets take a step back though. When I initially started learning interlocking crochet in 2021, I only ever used the stitchmarkers to hold the turning chains in place at the end of each row. But, like most people who are new to interlocking crochet, I did struggle with attaching the B Mesh to the A Mesh – referred to as Row 1B. I used to miss chains or skip to many chains. It was’nt quite what one would call a battle, but it was frustrating. It required major concentration.
This continued until a friend advised me to place a stitchmarker in every single chain that had to be skipped on the B row, PRIOR to attaching. I tried it. Some people in my workshop sessions tried it and it seemed to work well, especially for new interlockers. I even went so far as to advice it in my Beginner Tutorial on Youtube. BUT, I was still not 100% happy. The end result was great – the goal was achieved but the implementation was, well, tedious. ALL THOSE MARKERS drove me nuts. (I still plan to replace the current Youtube video but that’s a task for a different day)
Now normally, when I do a foundation chain, I naturally place a marker on every 20th chain so that it’s easy to count; especially long foundation chains. I was doing this oneday for a new project, it might have been the Baby Steps blanket at the time, and I forgot to remove the markers before stitching the A Row Double Crochets. I quickly realised that wherever there was a marker, a DC was not stitched. In otherwords, a marker equalled a skipped chain ……interesting! I got to the end of the foundation chain and realised that all the stitches were placed correctly and the stitch count was perfect.
So, if it worked for the A Row then logic dictated that it would work for the B row – RIGHT? Well, EXACTLY. It did! Wherever there was a marker on the B Row, there was no DC attachment to the A mesh chain! This is what I would call a HAPPY MISTAKE!
Here’s the process:
- On the A Mesh foundation chain – place a stitchmarker in either every 10th or 20th chain. (if every 10 then there should be 9 chains inbetween 2 markers. If every 20 then there should be 19 chains inbetween 2 markers)
- The pattern will tell you to place the first DC in the 6th chain from the hook, then chain 1, skip the next chain, place a DC in the following chain. You will find, like I did, that none of your DC stitches will be created in a chain where there is a marker! If the count is correct, remove the markers so that you don’t get confused with the next lot of markers that will be placed on the B Mesh foundation.
- Now create the B Mesh foundation chain, again placing a marker in either every 10th or 20th chain – exactly like you did on the A Row.
- The pattern instruction is to then do a B stitch (Double Crochet to the Back) in the 6th chain from the hook on the B Mesh foundation chain whilst bring the hook through the BACK of the second window on the A Mesh. (if you are new to interlocking crochet and do’nt know what this means then I refer you to my Youtube tutorial for Beginners)
Again, the stitch sequence is 1 dc, 1ch, skip a chain. If you are working on one of my patterns you will always create a DC by coming in through the BACK of an A Mesh window – this is how I start almost all my projects. You will again find that none of those DCs are in a chain where a marker was placed! Remember that your last dc is probably a F stitch. If all is correct, remove the markers.
Pros:
- Easier counting of foundation chain stitches
- Easier to see where the skipped chain should be
- If you make a mistake you will only have to look in the section between 2 markers
Cons:
- You would need to get some stitchmarkers
- Do’nt forget to remove the A Row markers as you could create some unneccssary confusion for yourself.
This trick only works if:
- the initial foundation chain is an even number
- the markers are placed on every 10th or 20th chain – as long as its a multiple of 10
REMEMBER – A stitchmarker EQUALS a SKIPPED Chain!
Want to give interlocking crochet a go?
Try one of my coaster, potholder or mug rug designs in either my Ravelry store or my SA Webstore.
The following Beginner friendly designs are free in my Facebook Group
- Stash Buster Coasters
- Cats Have Hearts Potholders
- Caffeine & Cupcakes Potholders
- Just Patterning Potholders
Feel Free to Follow Me on Instagram or My Facebook Page.
For Pattern Support you are welcome to join my Facebook Group.
