10 Common Crochet Mistakes (And Exactly How to Fix Them)
Every crocheter, no matter how experienced, has made these mistakes. The difference is knowing how to spot them early and fix them quickly. Here are the ten most common crochet problems beginners encounter — and exactly what to do about them.
Tension and Stitch Count Issues
1. Your stitch count keeps increasing. This is the most common beginner problem. You start a row with 20 stitches and end it with 22. The culprit is almost always working into the turning chain by mistake, or accidentally working two stitches into one. Count your stitches at the end of every row until the habit becomes automatic.
2. Your stitch count keeps decreasing. Usually caused by missing the first or last stitch of a row — they can be hard to spot. The turning chain sometimes looks like a stitch and sometimes gets skipped depending on the stitch type. Learn which chains count as stitches (dc's turning chain does; sc's usually doesn't).
3. Your tension is wildly uneven. Looser when tired, tighter when stressed — tension reflects your state of mind. Try to crochet in a relaxed position and take breaks. Consistent yarn tensioning through your fingers (as described in our yarn-holding guide) helps enormously.
Structural and Finishing Problems
4. Your edges are wavy or curling. Wavy edges usually mean your tension is too loose; curling often means too tight. Check your hook size against the yarn label and try swatching on a different size.
5. Your project is twisting as you work flat rows. Make sure you're turning your work the same direction at the end of every row, and that you're working the correct side of the turning chain.
6. You can see visible holes where you don't want them. Often caused by accidentally working into a chain space instead of a stitch, or skipping stitches. Slow down and track where your hook goes.
Technique Mistakes
7. Splitting your yarn. If your hook catches individual plies of yarn instead of going through the stitch cleanly, your hook tip may be too sharp, or you may be pushing it in at the wrong angle. Aim to insert your hook under both loops of the stitch from front to back.
8. Frogging unnecessarily. "Frogging" (ripping out your work) is sometimes necessary, but beginners often frog whole rows when only a stitch or two needs fixing. A crochet hook can be used to tink (undo stitch by stitch) back to the error.
9. Not reading the pattern before starting. Always read a pattern all the way through before you begin. Special stitches, notes, and sizing information at the end can fundamentally change how you approach the beginning.
10. Skipping the gauge swatch. For anything sized — a hat, a garment, even a bag — skipping the swatch is a gamble. A few extra minutes swatching can save hours of work on a finished object that doesn't fit.
Now you know what to watch out for, find a pattern to practise on in our full collection — we have plenty of projects perfect for building good habits.