by Gwyn Guthrie

Created on: March 07, 2010

There are three common crochet techniques known as spirals.  The first method results in a curlicue strand, the second creates a shaped item and the third is a flat spiral.  The concept of spiral crochet is to use increased and decreased stitches in each round to create an item that is truly spiral, like ringlets in your hair, or is a visual effect of a spiral, like water spinning down a drain.  Regardless of terminology, the final product is fun to look at and enjoyable to crochet.

For a quick demonstration project, try a simple curlicue spiral to use as a keychain.  This easy project requires only double crochet and chain stitches.  Start with a chain of desired length of ten or more stitches plus three chain stitches. Make a double crochet stitch into the 4th chain stitch from the hook. Make three double crochets into every chain until the end.  You should have a fun curlicue swirl by the time you reach the end.  Finish off the end stitch and cut the yarn about four inches from the final stitch.  Use that end yarn for attaching your spiral.  Your spiral crochet can be a keychain but there are so many other projects for this technique.  You can use a curlicue instead of tassels or pom-poms on many items.  Spiral crochet is a great accent for purses, belts, and even hats.

When using spiral crochet to create such shaped items as amigurumi, you will be changing the shape of the item as you go by adding stitch increases and decreases into each round.   Start with a base of six single crochet stitches in a circle, similar to starting a granny square, add two stitches in each stitch in the second round and again in the third round and a shape begins to form.

Those are the most common applications for the shaped technique.  Flat spiral crochet is a visual effect in the pattern and texture of the flat item, which could be a granny square, coaster or scarf.  Crochet in the round is a term that you may encounter when working with spiral designs for flat items.  This is simply crocheting into the starting ring as you begin the project.

An easy sample of flat spiral crochet is to start with a five-stitch chain. Join the chain into a ring with a slipstitch.  Crochet twelve single crochet stitches around the loop by using the crochet in the round technique where you crochet through the center of the loop instead of into the individual stitches of the chain.  Moving to Round 2, do not join the end of Round 1, just continue into the second round by working two single crochet stitches into the next stitch, then one single crochet in the next stitch. Continue to alternate the pattern of two stitches, then one stitch, as you go around the circle. Move into the next round and keep the spiral flat by adjusting the frequency of adding the two stitches. In the third round, work two single crochets in every third stitch and repeat the pattern.  Continue to add rounds until you reach the overall desired size.  Finish with a slipknot when you have completed the project.

These quick examples provide three very different spiral crochet techniques for your overall crochet toolkit of skills.  Grab some yarn and a needle and create a fun spiral design for your next project! 

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