When you crochet in the round, you have to join. Its an unfortunate fact of being a yarn-y hooker. You can follow the instructions as they are written in nearly every pattern, and live with a visible join. Or you can pick up a few tricks and hide it.

Crochet is hard to master. Its easy to start, or so I’ve always thought, and a beginner can be making scarfs and blankets in no time. Its part of what makes this a great craft. But to master crochet takes time and effort and study. That’s the other part of what makes this a great craft. There almost no end to the things you can learn.

Joins suck in crochet. Sooner or later you won’t be able to live with a visible join anymore. If you are at that point in your crochet-journey than I’m here to tell you, that the traditional way of joining rounds will never look smooth and professional. That “join with a slip stitch and chain 3” is not the way to do it.

So how do you get an invisible join? It depends on what you are making and what stitch you are working in. I’ve put together a round up of my favorite tutorials for hiding joins. I use the one that best fits my project.

The Best Methods for Hiding a Join In Crochet

Want to make a hat? Check out Crochet Ever After and her video tutorial for hats worked in single crochet. She designs crochet hats with intarsia color work and her technique hides the join while keeping it straight. And its super easy. When I’m working in single crochet and have a join, I use this method.

Here is an idea. Move the join to a different place with every round. Mamachee does this (without cutting the working yarn) in her stool covers. She includes a description of her technique in with her free pattern. So go grab the pattern and the tip and then I’ll meet you back here for more.

Are you changing colors at the end of that round? Then use the tail to make the join. You’re going to have to sew in that tail anyway. Sarah London has a wonderful photo tutorial on how you can use that tail to create the join so that it is invisible. Then you add in the new color for the next round.

I use this method when I change colors. Some crocheters will use it at the end of every round whether they change colors or not. It really is the most invisible (that I have found anyway). But cutting the yarn when you don’t have to is a bit much for me.

My go-to technique for anything taller than a single crochet is Mrs. M’s Mock invisible join. Its a few extra steps. It takes some practice to get the tension right. It really works. I’m convinced this is one of those secret techniques that people who stitch samplers for magazines and pattern books use.

If you follow that link you’ll find her technique explained in both a video and in a photo tutorial. Then she offers a free pattern to practice it with. Mrs M put some work in on that post I sure do appreciate it.

There are countless other methods out there to hide that join. Everyone hates joins! But these are my four favorites and I wanted to share. if you’re like me, the method you choose is going to be based on your experience, the stitch you are working in, and your general mood on that particular day. But anything is better than nothing.

You don’t have to live with that visible join if you don’t want to. So happy hooking.