Crocheting is needlework, and we do it through interlocking looped stitches with the help of a hooked needle. However, for the newbies, it is indeed challenging. And almost all of them look for one thing- they want to know why someone’s crochet curves.
Relax! You don’t need to worry at all! We have designed this post to feed you the best. Are you ready to get them?
Hopefully!
Why Does My Crochet Curve?
It seems that you are craving to know the reasons as well as their solutions. Okay, let us provide you with them all. Allow us to tell you the reason in brief. If your cast on the row gets very tight, you will see your crochet curved.
But will it suffice for you? Think not! Then it’s time to rush toward the detailed discussion. Even your crochet may start curving from the very beginning for some reason. Here are the causes below!
1. Foundation Row Tension/Tension
The foundation chain is one of the most common causes. It might be too tight that resulting in such a problem. Do you know what would happen when your tension begins to loosen in subsequent rows? Well, the crochet project will seem to widen.
You can visualize only when the crochet takes a rainbow shape. In such a shape, the first rows remain so tight, and the tension starts to loosen slowly.
You will not have enough options to solve this problem, and you have to rip back to the point you started and begin the foundation row again.
However, blocking can help you get rid of this problem, and you will be able to loosen up some of the stitches. It will depend on the tightness of the foundation row, although! And it would help best if you were not too far from the starting point.
Do you know what is best for the foundation row? Uniform tension is the best when you start a new project. And the tension should neither be too high nor too loose. Don’t know whether you often suffer from too tight of a foundation row.
In that case, you better use a hook. And for creating the foundation chain, the hook needs to be one or two sizes larger than the recommended one.
Prior to minimizing back to the recommended hook, making the first or 2 rows with the larger hook will be wise. It will ensure that the row will not curve due to tight construction. A chainless foundation stitch can also be means of solution.
2. Changing Hooks During the Project
You may surely go for larger hooks, as we advised earlier, but please, avoid changing the hook in the middle of crocheting a blanket! All the manufacturers do not produce the same size crochet hooks. If you overturn a blanket and approach a different one afterward, you will make a mistake, and it will result in unwanted tensions and probable cause for curving.
So the best solution is to use the same hook throughout the whole project.
3. Changing Yarns
Changing yarns is a strong reason for facing curves. There might be a situation when you change the yarns’ weight or color, and you may face the curving issue as a consequence. In such a case, you have to adjust the hook size.
If you want to maintain the same uniform tension, you must know that different yarns require different hook sizes. Even after changing yarns, chances are there you might see curving. Then your job would be ripping back to the point where the yarns move. After that, adjust the hook size.
It will be wise to make a different gauge swatch. Why? It will help decide which hook size will result in the evenest rows of stitches!
4. Cramped Hands
Hey, have you ever thought about if there is a problem with the way you hold the hook? Dear, you should. Sometimes we wrongly hold, and it results in curving.
To be more exact, sometimes we grip in a way that shows our knuckles making the hands too tense. Such a tight holding can also lead to curving crochet.
In such a case, you have to do the task advertently and take a preventive approach. For this, you have to loosen your grip, and it will help your stitches relax thereby, and there will be no curving issue.
5. Keeping the Stitch Count Even for Each Row
Often we add stitches to the row, which is one of the most typical causes of curving. Especially while dealing with complex sets of stitches, we forget the total number of stitches in a row, don’t we?
So adding or repeating a set of stitches can make you pay. Instead of a rainbow, it will turn into a triangle shape. To avoid such an error, we recommend using stitch markers at the time of stitching. This marker will be the tracker of the total number of stitches in a row.
Pro Tips: Mark the last stitch in each row. It will help you turn the row at the correct stitch every time!
6. Putting the First and Last Stitch in the Correct Spot in Each Row
When you place your first and last stitches in your rows without any consistency, you create a cause for curving. It would help best to decide whether you will count the last stitch as a stitch. Unless you do so and want to step up in both boats, you will suffer!
You have to be flawless at each row where you put the maiden stitch. Often, stitchers carelessly add a stitch and push the hook into the wrong portion of the chain.
You have to be flawless at each row where you put the maiden stitch. Often we add a stitch carelessly and push the hook into the wrong portion of the chain. The problem additionally occurs when we stitch to the end. After a period of time, the blanket edges start to grow and turn into a DONUT shape instead of desired square shape.
So if you want to skip issues, you had better place the first and last stitch in the right spot. Remember, you have to keep your stitch count even for each row! You can achieve a clear indication from the link below:
What are the Solutions for Crochet Curving
Anyway, so these are the most common reason for crochet project curving. But we don’t think we should leave these issues unresolved. Most probably, you are expecting some solutions too. Hence now we will talk about the solutions gradually!
No matter if you have a blanket or any other rectangular crochet project issues, you will have 4 ways to resolve them. These are as follows:
(a) Blocking
You can go for a blocking solution. Generally, you can apply this best with an accomplished project. This method aims at stretching your crochet to the final desired shape. You will find several techniques for blocking your project. However, remember, the basic technique is- wetting the project through washing, misting, or steaming and afterward stretching the crochet tightly into the desired shape.
You have to pin down your project once it is stretched. Then you have to allow it to dry end-to-end. And yes, you have to determine how much stretching does it require. Then depending on it and the type of yarn, when the crochet project is dry, you will find it comply the size and shape of the blocking.
Let us tell you what is the apt situation to choose blocking as the course of action. If all the edges of the curved project are curling, and the amount of curving is limited, you should prioritize this method. There might be a situation when uniformity in the edges of the crochet project is needed, and there are some sorts of exclusive patterns like granny squares.
However, this method has a limitation, and it cannot deal with issues like hook size, tension, or varying numbers of stitches.
(b) Ripping the Previous Row
It is also known as frogging. Redoing is difficult. So you may regard this as your last rescuer or the least preferred option. However, we have considered this as the second option and might be the best one for you.
To benefit from this technique, you need to mark the last point in the project where the stitches appear to be correctly crocheted. Afterward, you have to undo the stitches to that point. And after ripping back, solve the problem and keep repeating the pattern.
It is a time-worthy and repeated job. This is the biggest drawback of this technique. You may need to rip several times as a beginner. However, professional crocheters do not bother. It is an apt solution in some cases for them.
(c) Adding a Border
It would help best if you identified the time to add a border to your crochet project. Before realizing the shape is curved, if you are so closer to your blanket, you may opt for adding a border. If there is a contrasting yarn color or a fabric swatch, you may apply this method to address the curving.
It is a time-saving technique that will save you from blocking or ripping back. However, this is a bit risky as it leaves uniform edges.
Got worried? Come on! Adding one or two stitches will help you get a straight, even edge. Remember, you need to add this to the shortest portion of the curved blanket. And it would help if you go at a slow pace and advertently plan your border.
(d) Continuing Crocheting and Adding to a Design Element
In the lengths, if a curve may occur due to irregularities. Don’t get hopeless. Enough scope is there to copy the curve mindfully. So you can cover up the rest, alright! Thus, the curving shall result in a design element instead of becoming an error. It will make your crochet project more interesting.
But hey, you need to work on that to come up with that design. You have to fix how many stitches were in the curved rows. After that, you may go for duplicating. Feel free to adjust the pattern and try to make a curve in the blanket pattern back in the other direction.
If you want to have a desired ‘waved’ design, you have to minimize the rows evenly and increase the rows across the blanket. However, don’t leave half-done covering half of the blanket. It would look odd.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Question: What does frogging mean in crochet?
Answer: In crochet, frogging denotes ripping out a work.
Question: What does MDS mean in crochet?
Answer: MDS means rounds.
Question: How do I stop my crochet from curving?
Answer: There are 6 ways that can certainly thwart curving. These are –
- Tension
- Cramped hands
- Chain
- Blocking
- Gauge swatch
- The curl that goes away
Question: What is St in crocheting?
Answer: In crocheting, St means stitch.
Question: What does HK mean in crochet?
Answer: In crocheting, HK stands for ”hook”.
Question: Is it harder to learn to knit or crochet?
Answer: After learning the basics, you cannot but agree that crocheting is easier than knitting. Here in crocheting, you are free from moving the stitches back and forth between needles.
Question: What does H mean in crochet?
Answer: H stands for HDC = Half Double Crochet.
Question: What does M mean in crochet?
Answer: M denotes to Marker in crochet.
Question: What does F mean in crochet?
Answer: F refers to Front Loop.
Question: Why is my crochet circle curving?
Answer: The reason is- either there are too many stitches or too few stitches!
Question: What is triple crochet?
Answer: A triple crochet is abbreviated ”tr” and is also known as ”treble crochet”. Such crochet is taller than double crochet. You can create triple or treble crochet by working 2 yarns instead of one yarn over at the beginning of the stitch.
To Wrap Up
Since it was necessary to let you know how each type of method might change the outcome of the project, these methods were relevant to our core discussion. And by this post, you have learned why a crochet project curves in detail.
Stay good and stay safe!
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