Most common crochet mistakes
Why does my project change size? How to get straight edges
It’s happened to all of us at the beginning… You start the project off really well, and a few rounds later… OMG! The project gets wider or narrower, and looks something like this:
Don’t panic!!! We can fix it. Keep these tips in mind:
1 - Count the stitches
Most likely, your project initially had a different number of stitches from the number you have on your latest round. When we start crocheting, it’s very important to count the stitches in each round, because it’s very easy to confuse the last stitch with the first one.
If, at the end of a round, we see that the number of stitches doesn’t match the desired number, we still have time to correct it. We can look for the mistake, unravel the round back to where we went wrong (yes, no matter how much we dread it… unravel it! That’s how you achieve well-made projects), and redo the round with the correct number of stitches.
2 - Use a stitch marker
You can buy them in our online shop. Stitch markers are incredibly useful and essential. Marking the last stitch of the previous round (or the first one) is vital so that you can clearly see which will be your last or first stitch in the next round. You’ll see how much this helps.
3 - Problem stitches
If your stitch count doesn’t add up… first look for the mistake in the problem stitches (where the mistake is most likely to be). These are:
- The first and last stitch. Make sure you made the first stitch according to the pattern (leaving the number of turning chains indicated), and that you worked the last stitch into the last stitch of the previous round.
- Then check that you haven’t made an increase (working two stitches into the same stitch of the previous round), or conversely, skipped a stitch without working into it.
- Counting something that isn’t a stitch as a stitch: Be careful not to count the starting knot as a stitch when beginning your project; count only the chains you made to start the project. It may help to place a marker in the first chain you make. When you come back around on the first round, you’ll clearly see which is the first chain and which is your last stitch.
The loop attached to the hook is not a stitch. Don’t confuse the last chain or stitch you made with the yarn wrapped around your hook.
- Turning chains: Depending on the pattern you’re following and the type of stitch you’re making, you need to be clear about whether the turning chains at the beginning of a round count as a stitch. If the turning chains count as your first stitch, when you come back around on your next round, make sure your last stitch is worked into the last turning chain. Also, if the turning chains count as a stitch, to work the second stitch you’ll need to go into the next stitch of the previous round. A common mistake is working it into the first stitch, which means you’re making two stitches in the same space.
- Inserting the hook through only one of the two loops of the stitch. Many crocheters do this at first: they insert the hook through only one of the two loops of the stitch.
We already looked in another article at the difference between the front loop and the back loop. Depending on the type of stitch, the pattern may require inserting the hook through only one of the loops, but if not, as a general rule you should insert the hook through the entire stitch. Make sure both loops of the stitch are on top of the hook, forming a small “V”, like this:
I hope these tips have been helpful. See you in another article!!
