Invisible Seam (Reverse Mattress Stitch) - Joining Crochet Squares

I've been meaning to share some of my joining methods for ages.  I shall start with my Invisible Seam which joins squares flatly (no big ridges at the front or back)  and is a nice sturdy join.  It's almost the same as the Mattress Stitch but is worked with the wrong sides facing and through the two back loops of each stitch.

Invisible Seam - Right Side

 

Invisible Seam - Wrong Side

I've used a contrasting yarn for the photographs so that you can see what's going on and how the sewing disappears.

Begin with wrong sides facing and join yarn in the corner of each square.  Personally I use a figure of eight, leaving a long tail which I weave in later, but you can get the yarn started in whichever way you prefer.

Step 1:
Take needle through the two back loops of the first stitch of the left square, moving left to right...

Step 2:
Insert needle through the two back loops of the opposite stitch on the right square, moving right to left...

Repeat these two steps in the next few stitches and then pull the yarn to tighten the seam (this is when the yarn will disappear!!!)...

Tightening the yarn

Continue Step 1 and Step 2 and remember to tighten the yarn every few stitches until the squares are joined and end yarn as you would normally.

This method works really, really well for joining different coloured squares together like the Babette Blanket and you don't have to be too concerned what colour you use to join as long as its fairly neutral.

Hope this makes enough sense to help some folks!
WoolnHook