This way, or that?
Turning my work at the start of a new row was never something I really thought about. Sometimes I turned it one way, sometimes the other. If I did think about it at all, it was to alternate turning directions so my yarn wouldn’t get tangled when doing colorwork. But then recently I noticed something.
If I turn my work counter-clockwise, I end up with the working yarn in front, like this:
If I turn it clockwise, it ends up at the back, like this:
Big deal, right? When working a chain at the beginning of the row, the turning direction and location of the working yarn never really seemed to matter very much. However, sometimes you don’t want to do a chain at the start of a row. Sometimes you want to start a row with a slip stitch, or with a chainless starting double crochet (csdc). In these cases, I find that having the working yarn in front really gets in the way, making it harder to put your hook into the stitch behind it. It’s MUCH easier to do these stitches when the working yarn is in the back.
Once I realized that, I started making a habit of always turning my work clockwise so the working yarn would always be in the back. Do you have a preference? If you’ve never thought about it, give it a try and see if you agree!
6 Comments
Kathy Liszewski
Ahhh! This is why some of my rows look like I didn’t crochet before.. I tried this and turning it counter-clockwise can make the rows off a little. I noticed this hen making baby booties and couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Thank you very much!
Pia Thadani
You’re welcome! Sometimes the little things can make such a difference 🙂
Erica Krueger
Good to know about the yarn in front vs back depending on which way the work is turned. I hadn’t noticed before because I normally start my chains before I turn my work.
I turn my work counter clockwise because it is easier for me to find that very last crochet stitch of the row.
Pia Thadani
Same here! I only noticed it when I was doing a pattern that didn’t have chains at the beginning of a row (i.e. sl st in first x sts)
Jane
You’re turning before the turning chain. Do you notice any difference if you chain, then turn?
Pia Thadani
Actually if I chain at all it doesn’t matter as much which way I turn. I only notice it when I’m not chaining at the beginning of a row. For example, when you slip stitch the first few stitches of a row, or when you work a chainless starting double crochet.