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Several times a week in the 6-Day Crochet Community Facebook Group we get asked the same question and it goes something like this:
Wow! I just discovered Foundation Single Crochet (FSC)! Where has this been all my life? I absolutely hate working into chains, I’m going to use this technique for everything from now on! I will never do another sc into a ch again! But is it okay to use instead of FSC to start my 6-Day Kid Blanket?
I have a short answer in the 6-Day Crochet Community FAQ (if you join our group, please read that!) and that answer is yes, you can use it, and you will need one less chain than the pattern states if you do.
The longer answer is, yes, you can, but should you? Let’s get into it.
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Personally, I do not use FSC to start my blankets, and the reason for that is because it does not give me the nice tight stable edge that I like for the bottom edge of a blanket. The FSC edge is great for things like hats where you want the fabric to have some stretch and give. I use it in the Invisible Woman and Invisible People hats patterns for that reason. I do not however like this edge for my blankets. I find that the FSC starting edge flares and stretches and then does not match the finished edge. Who wants to get all the way to the other end of a blanket to find out that their ending edge doesn’t match their starting edge? NOT ME.
I’ve noticed a trend among newbie crocheters, and that is when they learn a new technique, they want to apply it to everything. They want to do the easiest, quickest techniques and only the techniques they enjoy. Different techniques have different uses, however, not all crochet techniques are one size fits all. Knitters know several different ways to cast on, with each cast on having a different purpose meant to create an appropriate edge for the fabric being knitted up. We should have the same approach to starting our crochet projects and choose foundation chain or stitches for the edge they will create on our work.
Have you ever heard the saying, just because you can doesn’t mean you should? You’ve heard it said about obnoxious looking projects, like these crocheted pants perhaps? But the same principle applies to choosing the right crochet technique for your project. We want our blankets to be around for a long time, and we want them to hold up and hold their shape.
All that being said, there are lots of crocheters who have said in my group that they used FSC and it worked out just fine for them. But I encourage you to make an informed decision. Before deciding that FSC is how you want to start your project, because it’s just easier, because you hate working into a chain, or counting a 200+ chain for that matter, I suggest you make a swatch using each of the techniques and take the time to wash and dry and rough handle the swatches a little. Then lay them out and take a good look. Be honest with yourself. Check and see that your edges match and be sure that you are going to achieve the results you want. If you are pleased with the FSC swatch, then by all means use it.
Remember when you are swatching for your 6-Day Kid Blanket, that you should continue your swatch to Row 4. Do not stop at Row 7, because that row flares.
It’s easy for a novice crocheter to get excited about time-saving techniques such as FSC, Magic Knot, and Magic Circle and use them without really understanding their purpose or how they behave within the completed work. Trust me, I am the laziest crocheter on the planet! And I will tell you that it is worth the effort in the long run to take a little extra time to understand and use the right techniques for your projects every time. This level of attention and thoughtfulness shows expertise. The little details can make a really big difference in the end.
P.S. Don’t get me started about the Magic Knot. They can and do come undone.
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Beth McKee Elliott, also known as Betty McKnit, is a crochet and knitting designer, instructor, community leader, and Master Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator. Her signature style, 6-Day Crochet, is showcased in the viral crochet patterns the 6-Day Kid Blanket and 6-Day Star Blanket.
Beth/Betty is passionate about designing quick, adaptable, go-to crochet and knitting projects, and is committed to being accessible to assist crafters in bringing their dream projects to life.
She specializes in Somatic Crochet and Knitting, a mindfulness practice that combines crochet/knitting with body awareness techniques to prevent injury and promote well-being and creativity in crafting.
