How to Crochet the Flat Braid Join
The flat braid join is such a fun one. If you are looking for something different to join your sections of your project together this might be for you. It is typically used for joining granny squares in an afghan. But you could use it on bags, across the shoulders of a top for that extra interesting feature … The world is your oyster with this one.
It really is a flat join so there are no protruding parts to get caught on anything. There is a lot of movement in it so the flat braid join lets your project drape naturally.
Bouquet of Flowers Afghan and the Flat Braid Join
I used this join in my version of the Bouquet of Flowers Afghan. This afghan was a CAL From February – April 2022. Many of the squares included in this CAL are still free on the designers’ blog posts. Or you can purchase the bundle with all of the squares, joining and border instructions.
I love the look of this join!
PDF Pattern Links
If you prefer a pdf version of this join, you can find it in my shops below. The pdf version also includes step by step photo tutorials as well as links to my video tutorial.
Materials needed for the Flat Braid Join
The flat braid join does not need a lot of materials, only your yarn and appropriate sized hook.
Hints and Tips
If you are joining granny squares I highly recommend working a quick SC or HDC border around them. This ensures that you have the same number of stitches on each side of each square. It gives the join a cleaner look and makes your crocheting it so much easier.
Video Tutorials
I have a right and left handed version of the flat braid join on my YouTube Channel.
Written Instructions:
Abbreviations:
St – stitch
CH – Chain
Rep – Repeat
Sk – skip
SS – slip stitch
SC – Single Crochet
FO – Fasten Off
Notes:
Written in US terms
Chain 1 does not count as a stitch.
There are no special stitches used in this pattern.
I have written this pattern in steps. Step 1 is the same for each square so subsequent sections start at step 2.
Preparing your Squares:
Step 1: You may find it easier to create a border around your squares using either SC
or HDC and working [SC, CH2, SC] into each corner.
Make sure you have the same number of sts on each side of each square.
For this a multiple of 3+1 works well but do not worry if you have not got that
number – you can make it work at the end of each side of your square, just
make sure to do the same on each side of each square. The important thing is
to have the same number of CH3 spaces.
Note: you will work this step for every square, so each of the next sections start at step 2.
Working the first Square:
Step 2: Attach yarn to corner CH1 space, SC, CH3, sk2 sts, *SC in next st, CH3, sk2 sts*. Rep from * to * across to corner.
Step 3: [SC, CH3, SC] in corner space, sk2 sts, *SC in next st, CH3, sk2 sts*. Rep from * to * across to corner.
Step 4: Rep step 3 on all sides until you reach the last corner. SC, CH3, SS to first SC to join.
Working square that need to be joined on one side:
Step 2: On the first of the two sides that you are not joining
Attach yarn to corner CH1 space, SC, CH3, sk2 sts, *SC in next st, CH3, sk2 sts*. Rep from * to * across to corner.
Step 3: [SC, CH3, SC] in corner space, sk2 sts, *SC in next st, CH3, sk2 sts*. Rep from * to * across to corner.
Step 4: Rep step 3 on the two sides that you are not joining until you reach the corner to be joined.
Step 5: SC in corner sp, CH1, pull up your loop and remove your hook. In the corresponding corner of the square you are joining to (i.e. diagonally opposite), insert your hook from the front to the back of the CH3 space, re-attach your loop to your hook and pull through, CH2, SC in same corner space of square you are joining.
Step 6: CH1, pull up your loop and remove your hook. In the next CH3 space of the square you are joining to, insert your hook from the front to the back of the CH3 space, re-attach your loop to your hook and pull through, CH2, sk2 from the square you are joining, SC in next st.
Step 7: Rep step 6 until you reach the last corner spaces, SC in square you are joining, CH1, pull up your loop and remove your hook. In the next corner CH3 space of the square you are joining to, insert your hook from the front to the back of the CH3 space, re-attach your loop to your hook and pull through, CH2, ss to top of first SC in square you are joining.
Attaching squares on two sides:
Step 2: On the first of the two sides that you are not joining
Attach yarn to corner CH1 space, SC, CH3, sk2 sts, *SC in next st, CH3, sk2 sts*. Rep from * to * across to corner.
Step 3: [SC, CH3, SC] in corner space, sk2 sts, *SC in next st, CH3, sk2 sts*. Rep from * to * across to corner.
Step 4: Rep step 3 on the next side that you are not joining until you reach the first corner to be joined.
Step 5: SC in corner sp, CH1, pull up your loop and remove your hook. In the corresponding corner of the square you are joining to, insert your hook from the front to the back of the CH3 space, re-attach your loop to your hook and pull through, CH2, SC in same corner space of square you are joining.
Step 6: CH1, pull up your loop and remove your hook. In the next CH3 space of the square you are joining to, insert your hook from the front to the back of the CH3 space, re-attach your loop to your hook and pull through, CH2, sk2 from the square you are joining, SC in next st
Step 7: Rep step 6 across the side until you reach the corner space.
Step 8: In the corner space, SC, CH1, pull up your loop, remove hook, insert hook from the front to the back of the corresponding square diagonally opposite to the square you are joining, re-attach hook, pull through, CH2, sk 2, SC in the same st of the square you are joining. Then move to step 9.
Step 9: Rep steps 6 – 8
BOUQUET OF FLOWERS CAL
The bouquet of Flowers CAL runs from 28th February – 15th April 2022. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday there was a new square released which was free until at least the end of the CAL.
If you would like to check out the bundle that is still available for this CAL, click the button below:
Check out the roundup post by clicking the button below:
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