Troubleshooting crochet

Crochet is a relaxing and creative craft but sometimes you need to troubleshoot your project. This guide will help you with common challenges.

General Crochet Tips

• Tension too tight or loose:
  Adjust your hook size or consciously relax your hand to even out stitches.

• Splitting yarn:
  Use a smoother yarn or a hook with a rounded tip. Slow down and watch your stitches carefully.

• Skipping stitches:
  Count your stitches regularly to avoid accidentally missing or adding stitches.

• Uneven edges:
  Make sure to chain the correct number of stitches at the beginning of rows and count your stitches.

• Curling edges:
  Try blocking your finished piece or use a larger hook for looser stitches.

• Confusing patterns:
  Use stitch markers and take notes.

Amigurumi-Specific Tips

Tips for Success

• Use a smaller hook than recommended for your yarn to create tight stitches so stuffing doesn’t show through.

• Keep your tension consistent.

• Use stitch markers to keep track of rounds.

• Don’t stuff too hard, or your toy might stretch.

• Practice makes perfect!

• Holes between stitches:
  Use smaller hooks than recommended to create tight stitches that prevent stuffing from showing.

• Lopsided shapes:
  Check increases and decreases carefully and count stitches each round.

• Stuffing shows or lumps:
  Stuff firmly but not too much; use polyester fiberfill and smooth it evenly.

• Safety eyes slipping:
  Secure with washers or embroider eyes for safety, especially for children’s toys.

• Working in spirals without joining:
  Use a stitch marker to keep track of the beginning of each round.

Tunisian Crochet Tips

• Hard to pull loops over:
  Make sure your hook is smooth and use a yarn that glides easily.

• Rows curling or fabric stiff:
  Try blocking your project; also, experiment with hook size or yarn weight.

• Losing loops off the hook:
  Keep a firm grip on the hook and consider using a hook with a stopper or a clip.

• Counting stitches on the forward pass:
  Use stitch markers or place a marker every 10 stitches to keep track.

• Tension inconsistent between forward and return pass:
  Practice keeping even tension on both passes for uniform fabric.

Bonus Tips

• Use stitch markers liberally to keep track of your place.
• Count stitches often to catch mistakes early.
• Watch tutorials or ask for help in crochet communities.
• Take breaks if your hands get tired to avoid mistakes from fatigue.
• Practice patience! Mistakes are part of learning.