In this post, we’ll cover how to layer rounds in a crochet project to add a bit of depth to a project. This technique allows a layer to be added to a crochet item without modifying the underlying pattern!
If you’re left handed, you can find that tutorial here, or if you prefer a video tutorial, you can check that out here.
The setup
First, make the piece to be overlapped. Make sure you work up through the round to be overlapped. In this example, I want round 9 to be overlapped, so I make what I’ll call my “existing piece” through round 9.
You can cut the yarn for this piece. Don’t sew the end in though- leave it free. It’ll make it easier to work through the stitches in this piece later on.
Making the Overlapping Ring
First, we need to make the overlapping layer. This round will have the same stitch count as the round we’re looking to overlap. In this example, we’re overlapping a round of 24 stitches, so we need this overlapping layer to be 24 stitches as well.
Make a chain the same length as the number of stitches in the round to be overlapped (chain 24, in this example).
Now, making sure the chain isn’t twisted, slip stitch into the back bump of the first chain, closing the chain into a loop.
Chain 1, and single crochet into the same bump you slip stitched into.
Now crochet around the chain loop, placing a single crochet in the back bumps of each chain.
For this example, you’ll end up with 24 total stitches in your round.
If you’re struggling to crochet in the back bumps of your chain, or otherwise don’t want to do that, you can always crochet into the top of your chain. I just prefer the look of working into the back bumps.
Connecting the Pieces
In this round, we’ll be connecting both pieces together by crocheting through both of them at once.
Start by finding the first stitch of your ring. Insert your hook into this stitch.
Maneuver the outer layer so that your hook is going through the middle of the ring. This makes it easier to go through the existing piece.
Now, find the first stitch of your existing piece. Insert your hook into this stitch as well.
Move your hook back through the middle of the outer ring. Your hook is now going through both the ring and the existing piece, with the yarn also going towards the middle of the ring. It should look like the image below. This ensures that nothing gets wrapped up incorrectly.
Now, complete a single crochet through both of these rounds at once to connect them.
The connecting layer
The connecting layer that we’ve started will follow the next round in whatever pattern you’re working from. For example, in this post, the overlapping layer is round 9, so our connecting round is round 10. I’d follow the instructions for round 10 of the pattern I’m working from when connecting the two pieces together.
If your connecting round is worked by just single crocheting around the piece, this step is really simple. Continue single crocheting through both layers at once, first inserting your hook through the outer layer, then through the existing piece.
If your connecting layer
Increasing in the connecting round
If your connecting round has increases, simply do a single crochet through the same stitches as you just worked to increase. Make sure you still go through both the outer layer and the existing piece!
Decreasing in the connecting round
If your connecting round has decreases, what I suggest is to invisible decrease in both the outer layer and existing piece.
To do this, first set up an invisible decrease for the outer layer (tutorial here) by putting your hook through the front loops of the next two stitches. Don’t actually stitch into this- just keep the loops on your hook!
Now, set up an invisible decrease on the existing piece. This can be a little tricky.
Your hook should be going through the front loops of 4 stitches at this point- first on the outer layer, then on the existing piece. Now, complete a single crochet through these loops.
Continuing the pattern
You can now continue your pattern as normal! In this example, my overlapping round was round 9, my connecting round was round 10, so I’ll pick my pattern back up starting from round 11.
The fact that we’re able to follow the pattern exactly as written except for the addition of this outer round is something I think is really neat and useful for adding a little bit more detail and texture to patterns you might come across.
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