Crochet: Troubleshooting Beginner Mistakes

Crocheting a blanket is exciting, but let’s be real—crochet mistakes happen! Maybe your stitches are too tight, your edges look wobbly, or somehow your blanket keeps getting wider (or narrower) as you go. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Every beginner faces a few hiccups, but the good news is that these mistakes are easy to fix.

Let’s go over some of the most common crochet mistakes and how to troubleshoot them like a pro.

1. Why Is My Blanket Getting Wider (or Narrower)?

You started with a nice, even row, but a few rows later, your blanket has mysteriously grown or shrunk—what’s happening?

Common Causes:

• You might be accidentally adding extra stitches at the end of each row.
• You could be skipping stitches without realizing it.
• Your foundation chain might have been too tight, making the first row difficult to work into properly.

How to Fix It:

1. Count your stitches at the end of every row to make sure you have the same number throughout.
2. Mark the first and last stitch of each row using a stitch marker or a piece of yarn.
3. Make sure you’re turning correctly—always work into the first full stitch, not the turning chain (unless your pattern says otherwise).
4. If your foundation chain was too tight, try using a larger hook to make the chain looser and easier to work into.

💡 Pro Tip: If your blanket has already become uneven, you can either frog it (rip out stitches) and redo the rows, or just embrace the uniqueness! A border can help even things out at the end.

2. Why Are My Stitches Too Tight or Too Loose?

One of the trickiest parts of crocheting is getting the right tension. If your stitches are too tight, your blanket will feel stiff and be hard to work with. If they’re too loose, your fabric might look sloppy and have holes.

Common Causes:

• Holding the yarn too tightly can make your stitches too small and hard to work into.
• Letting the yarn slip too loosely can cause uneven stitches.
• Switching hooks or changing how you hold your yarn mid-project can mess with your consistency.

How to Fix It:

1. Relax! Take a deep breath and try to keep a gentle, even grip on the yarn.
2. Practice on a small swatch before working on your blanket to find the right tension.
3. If your stitches are too tight, go up a hook size to loosen them.
4. If they’re too loose, go down a hook size to tighten them up.

💡 Pro Tip: The more you crochet, the more consistent your tension will become, so don’t stress if it feels awkward at first.

3. My Blanket’s Edges Look Uneven—Help!

You’re cruising along, feeling great about your blanket, and then you take a step back… Why do the edges look so wonky?! Uneven edges can make a blanket look messy, but they’re easy to fix.

Common Causes:

• You might be accidentally skipping or adding stitches at the start or end of each row.
• You could be pulling too tightly at the edges, making them shrink in.
• Inconsistent tension may cause some rows to be tighter than others.

How to Fix It:

1. Use stitch markers at the beginning and end of each row to make sure you’re working into the right stitches.
2. Keep your turning chains consistent—some stitches need a turning chain (like double crochet), while others don’t (like single crochet).
3. Check your stitch count every few rows to make sure you haven’t accidentally added or lost stitches.

💡 Pro Tip: If your edges are uneven, adding a simple border at the end can help straighten them out!

4. My Yarn Keeps Splitting While I Crochet

You’re happily crocheting, and suddenly your hook catches half the yarn instead of the whole strand. Frustrating, right? This is called yarn splitting, and it’s a common issue for beginners.

Common Causes:

• Some yarns, especially cheap or loosely spun ones, split more easily.
• Your hook might be too pointy, snagging the yarn instead of smoothly gliding through.
• Tugging too hard can cause the yarn to fray and separate.

How to Fix It:

1. Try switching to a smoother, high-quality yarn that doesn’t split as easily.
2. Use a rounded crochet hook (like a Clover Amour) instead of a sharper one.
3. Pay attention to how you insert your hook—going too fast can cause splitting.

💡 Pro Tip: If your yarn keeps splitting, slow down and make sure your hook is going under all strands of the yarn.

5. I Made a Mistake—Do I Have to Start Over?

The short answer? No! Most crochet mistakes can be fixed without unraveling everything.

How to Fix Crochet Mistakes Without Starting Over:

• If you missed a stitch a row or two back, you can carefully frog just those rows and redo them.
• If you accidentally added a stitch, you can decrease in the next row to even it out.
• If you made a small mistake but it’s not super noticeable, just keep going—no one will notice but you!

💡 Pro Tip: Crochet is forgiving! Unlike knitting, you can easily undo stitches without worrying about dropping loops everywhere.

Mistakes Are Part of Learning!

Every crocheter—yes, even the pros—has made these beginner mistakes at some point. The important thing is to keep practicing, be patient, and have fun. Your first blanket might not be perfect, but it will be handmade with love, and that’s what really matters.

So don’t stress over little mistakes. Just keep crocheting, learning, and improving. Before you know it, you’ll be making blankets with perfect edges, even stitches, and zero frustration!

Crochet Mistakes Happen, But You’ve Got This

Whether it’s a little wonky or absolutely perfect, you should be proud of what you’ve made. Every stitch is part of your crochet journey, and the more you practice, the better you’ll get.

In conclusion, crochet is all about trial and error, and mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. From uneven edges to tension issues, these common beginner mistakes can be easily fixed with a little patience and practice. The key is not to get discouraged—every crocheter, no matter how experienced, has faced similar challenges.

Keep practicing, troubleshoot as you go, and remember that your handmade creations are always something to be proud of. With time, you’ll gain confidence, and your crochet skills will improve, making each project more enjoyable than the last.

Happy crocheting! 😊

Learn How to Crochet a Blanket for Absolute Beginners