If you’ve ever looked at your finished crochet piece and thought, “Why does that join look so obvious?”—you’re not alone. Joining rounds in crochet can be tricky, especially when you want everything to look smooth and seamless.
Enter: the invisible join.
This little trick can totally level up your crochet projects. It’s a clean, polished way to finish off rounds—especially when you're working in the round and want to avoid that little “step” or bump that traditional slip stitch joins leave behind.
In this post, I’ll walk you through what the invisible join is, when to use it, and exactly how to do it (with step-by-step instructions). Plus, I’ll share a few tips to help you keep your joins looking smooth and subtle every time.
The invisible join is a technique used at the end of a round (or sometimes a row) to close your work in a way that looks like there's no join at all. Unlike a slip stitch—which can sometimes leave a visible seam or bump—the invisible join blends right into the stitch pattern.
It’s especially helpful when you want your work to look flawless from all angles. If you’re making:
…the invisible join is your friend.
Here are a few reasons why the invisible join is such a popular trick among crocheters:
To practice invisible join crochet, grab:
You can follow along using a basic circle, granny square, or any other project worked in the round. If you’re new to working in the round, practicing with a circle of double crochets is a great place to start.
Follow this magic circle tutorial for extra guidance.
Here’s exactly how to work an invisible join in crochet:
Let’s say you’re working a round of double crochet. Complete the last stitch as usual. Do not join with a slip stitch like you normally would.
After finishing your last stitch, cut the yarn, leaving about a tail. Then yarn over and pull the tail all the way through the last loop on your hook. Your hook is now free, and your stitch is fastened off.
This might feel wrong if you’re used to slip stitching to join—but it’s part of the magic.
Notice the green dot on the previous photo. This is the stitch we will be pulling the yarn tail through, from back to front. Flip your project so the back side is facing you, then use your crochet hook to pull the tail through the top of the stitch.
Find the last stitch of the round, where the tail is attached to. Insert your hook up through the back loops of the post.
Yarn over and pull the tail through that stitch.
Here’s how it will look on the back of your work.
And here is how it looks on the front! Much less noticeable than using a slip stitch join, the invisible join mimics the look of a normal stitch.
Pull snug—but not too tight. You want the new loop to match the others in size.
That’s it! You’ve created a seamless join that looks just like another stitch. Here’s how it looks from the top:
Invisible!
The invisible join is especially handy when you're changing colors in your project. Here’s how to do it:
This creates a smooth color transition with no awkward bumps or jogs at the join. It’s perfect for striped hats, mandalas, or granny squares with color changes.
Nope! It’s totally optional. If you like the look of the slip stitch join or you’re working continuously in spirals, you don’t need to use it. But when you want a super polished finish, especially on visible or decorative pieces, the invisible join is a great tool.
Yes! You can use the invisible join with single crochet, half double, double, and even taller stitches. The technique stays the same—just match the tension so your join blends right in.
You don’t have to, but blocking can help even things out if your tension was a little off. Blocking is especially helpful for motifs like granny squares or mandalas to make everything lay flat and smooth and ensure that you have straight edges.
There are a few situations where the invisible join isn’t the best choice:
The invisible join might seem like a small detail, but it can make a huge difference in the overall look of your crochet. Whether you’re finishing off a colorful mandala, working on a granny square blanket, or adding a professional touch to a hat, this technique can help your work look clean, smooth, and seamless.
Give it a try on your next project and see the difference for yourself! And if you’re still getting used to it, don’t worry—like all crochet techniques, it gets easier with a little practice.
Looking for more crochet tips and tutorials? Follow the quick links below for other beginner stitches or head straight to the full crochet stitches page of my website!
