Adding rows of dc

This technique is for joining an additional piece of crochet to the bottom of an item. Maybe you have a sweater that is too short and was worked from the bottom up. I used dc in the example because dc is a little more complicated than sc because of the starting ch-3. This technique will work for sc as well; join sc in the same 2 bars as the "replacing rows of sc" instructions.

To begin, you will need additional yarn for the piece you are joining, a crochet hook of the same size as the original piece, a crochet hook small enough to slide under loops of your crocheted piece without splitting the yarn, and a tapestry needle. You will also need a scissor.

In the example below, you have an original piece in blue that is 7 rows. You want to add 5 rows to the bottom. The new rows will be in green.

1-Using the larger hook, crochet 4 rows of dc in green (1 row less than the total number of rows you want to add). Position the two pieces so that the last row of the new (green) piece and the first row of the original (blue piece) are the "wrong side" of the dc:

2-Ch 3 for first st. Using the smaller hook, pull the lp on the hook through the 2 bars of the 1st dc of the blue piece, Then draw up a lp to secure the stitch:

3-Still using the smaller hook, draw a loop through the 2 bars of the next dc of the original piece.

4-Switch to larger hook. Yarn over and through loop on hook to secure this chain.

5-Repeat steps 3 and 4 across row, through stitch before ch-3 on original piece:

6- You will be working in the back of the bottom ch of the turning ch-3, as indicated.

Using the smaller hook, draw up a lp into this ch:

7-Complete dc in top of ch-3 for previous round, end off.

8-Turn the work over to the other side. You will see a row of bars that is the starting chain of the original piece. It should be removed. Use your tapestry needle to unravel the knot of the starting chain on your original piece:

9-Unravel the starting chain. Stop when you get to the starting ch-3 Note that the black and white photo of step 9 shows that the join is virtually invisible.