General info
This decorative seam technique can be used on both crochet pieces and knit pieces. It is accomplished by working loops at the edge of two pieces together using a crochet hook. The loops can be created using one of the following methods:
- In knitted fabric, dropping edge stitches
- Picking up stitches along an edge of any kind of fabric
With either method of creating the loops you should ensure that you have the same number of loops on each piece to be joined.
Afghan seam
The traditional afghan seam is used on the edge of knitted fabric by first dropping one or two edge stitches from the edges of the knitted fabric to be joined. This leaves loops along the edge that are used alternately.
Starting with an anchor loop or the first loop from one side, Repeat the following two steps as many times as necessary to complete the seam:
- pick up a loop from one side and pull it through the loop on the crochet hook.
- pick up a loop from the opposite side and pull it through the loop on the crochet hook.
Secure the final stitch.
Modified Afghan seam
The modified afghan seam is used when stitches have been picked up from the fabric and are held on holders. In this case, the holders are two circular needles, each long enough to hold all of the stitches of one side of the seam. The general steps follow:
- Pick up as if to knit the indicated number of stitches along one side of the seam and place on first needle.
- Count the number of stitches on the first needle
- Pick up the same number of stitches along second seam edge and place them on the second needle.
- Hold the needles with the wrong sides of the fabric together
- If there is adjoining fabric, pick up an anchor stitch from the adjoining fabric and place on the crochet hook, otherwise, make one chain stitch and use it as the anchor stitch.
- Repeat the following two steps as many times as necessary to complete the seam:
- pick up a stitch from the first needle and pull it through the loop on the crochet hook
- pick up a stitch from the second needle and pull it through the loop on the crochet hook
- Secure the final stitch by attaching it to the adjoining fabric or pulling the end of the yarn through the last loop