How to Join Crochet Squares Together with Slip Stitch

By
Amy Solovay
Amy Solovay
Amy Solovay is a needlecraft expert and professional textile designer who designs knitted, printed, and woven fabric for mass production. She shares her lifelong love of needlecrafts by writing tutorials and patterns. Amy has over 20 years of professional textile design and writing experience.
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Updated on 09/15/20

There are a number of techniques to join crocheted squares together. In this tutorial, we'll go over one useful method: a slip stitch. Although this demonstration uses afghan squares, you could use this technique to join other things, such as the seams on garments.

This tutorial uses a contrasting color of yarn, so the work is visible. However, you should use a yarn color that matches your squares. For joining the squares permanently, choose a color used in the outermost rounds of the squares.

Supply Tips

  • It's best to use the same crochet hook you used to crochet your squares or pieces.
  • For best results, use yarn (or crochet thread) that is the same fiber and general weight as your squares.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Crochet hook

Materials

  • Yarn

Instructions

  1. Insert the Crochet Hook

    Because the slip stitch join is asymmetrical, you should work from the "wrong" side. Technically, it would be possible to join the squares from the right side of the work, but the asymmetry won't be noticeable from the wrong side, whereas it would be on the front.

    Hold your squares together with the wrong sides facing outward and the right sides facing each other. Decide which loops you want to work through. You'll get different results, depending on which loops you choose. This tutorial works through the outer loops, meaning that when you hold the work facing you, you are working through the front loop of the square closest to you and the back loop of the square farthest from you. If you'd prefer to work through the inner loops, you could do that instead—either method will give you a reasonably sleek join—but do not work through all four loops unless you want a hefty (and uncomfortable) join with an obvious ridge on the wrong side where the pieces are joined.

    Insert your crochet hook into your chosen loops. Unwind a bit of yarn and prepare to pull up a loop. Leave at least 6 inches of yarn at the end to be woven in after you are finished joining your squares.

    Starting to Crochet a Slip Stitch
    Michael Solovay

  2. Pull the Yarn Through the Loops

    Hook your yarn and pull it through the loops on both squares.

    Pulling up a Loop
    Michael Solovay

    Here's how it looks when you've pulled up your loop.

    Pulling the loop
    Michael Solovay

  3. Grab the Yarn

    Insert your hook into the next set of loops to be worked. Grab the yarn with your hook.

    Crocheting a Slip Stitch for Joining Afghan Squares
    Michael Solovay

  4. Pull the Yarn Up

    Pull the yarn up through the loops to form the next slip stitch.

    Crocheting a Slip Stitch for Joining Afghan Squares
    Michael Solovay

    Here's how it looks when you've finished that step.

    Crocheting a Slip Stitch for Joining Afghan Squares
    Michael Solovay

  5. Repeat the Steps

    Repeat these steps across the entire piece, working more slip stitches all the way across, as follows:

    • Insert your hook into the next set of loops to be worked. Grab the yarn with your crochet hook.
    • Pull up a loop.
    Crocheting a Slip Stitch for Joining Afghan Squares
    Michael Solovay

    Keep crocheting slip stitches until you've worked your way all the way across.

    Crocheted Slip Stitches
    Photo © Michael Solovay