Golden Loop question

[Elizabeth Frank]

I've recently been reading about the "Golden Loop" method of adjusting gage (i.e. making stitches taller or shorter). (see http://www.crochetville.com/community/topic/113114-gauge-height-vs-width-of-hdc-stitch/ or http://crochetpatterncompanion.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-take-control-of-double-crochet.html) This method adjusts the height of the stitch using the tension of the drawn up loop (for dc(American) YO, draw up loop <-- golden loop, YO pull through three loops on hook). I've always adjusted height by modifying the tension on the last YO/loop (the one that goes through all three loops on the hook).

 

Can anyone tell me why the "golden loop" method is better or not?

 

Thanks,

Beth

[magiccrochetfan]

Hi Beth, welcome to the ville

 

To make a US dc, yarn over hook, insert hook, pull up a loop (the golden loop), yarn over hook and pull through 2 loops, yarn over hook and pull through 2 loops.  There is not a step in dc where you pull the loop through 3 loops.  

 

Half double is yarn over hook, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over hook and pull through 3 loops.  Is that the stitch you meant?  

 

At any rate, when you pull that last loop through, I can't see where I can really make the stitch taller at that point.  the last loop pulls through the 2 loops on the hook and actually forms the beginning of the next stitch.  I can sort of pull on the top 2 loops (that I am pulling the very last loop through) to make them looser, but then I just get a loose stitch, not a taller one.  

 

So i think the Golden loop is really the only place where it is possible to make the stitch taller.  

[Granny Square]

What she ^ said.  There was a designer who elaborated on that, sort of, without using that term but using 3 others (lifter, rider, yanker) in a discussion about controlling stitch height.

 

http://dorischancrochet.com/2009/01/05/confessions-of-a-lifter/

[Elizabeth Frank]

You're right! I was thinking of hdc not dc - my mistake! Sorry & Thanks all! It makes much more sense now. And FYI - I'm a  yanker.   

 

Thanks,

Beth