Joining with Needle Lace

This hairpin lace join, adapted from Romanian Point Lace, is worked with a tapestry needle. The stitches are as light and airy as the loops of  the hairpin strip, and pair particularly well with hairpin since these kinds of joins appear to be extensions of the loops themselves. This join can be worked directly into the loops of hairpin lace or alternatively into crocheted edging stitches on a hairpin strip.

	1. Attach new yarn by creating a slip knot. Insert the tapestry needle through the the stitch from the bottom to the top, then through the slip knot, drawing the yarn through except for a short tail to weave in later. Then tighten the slip knot to secure.
	2. Work a stitch on the opposite piece as follows: Maintain tension on the yarn to gently stretch the last motif worked. Hold the working yarn towards the part of the join that has ALREADY been worked and insert the needle into the next stitch. In the photo, the back loop of the edging stitch is being pulled up and the yarn has been gently pulled down opposite the direction in which the join is being created.
	3. While the needle is still in the edge stitch, swing the working yarn clockwise around the stitch, and under the tip to the opposite side of the needle (the side in which the join is being created). Finish pulling the needle through the stitch, pulling the yarn until desired tension has been created for the stitch.
	4. Repeat Steps 2 & 3, alternating between both pieces, until the join is complete, remembering to consistently hold the yarn to the side of the needle where stitches have already been made as you begin each new stitch.

See an example below of how to work this kind of join to create a fabric of circular motifs: