Finding Your Rhythm: Common Crochet Mistakes and Gentle Fixes

There is a unique peace to be found in the rhythm of crochet. The steady slip of the yarn through your fingers, the gentle click of the hook, the slow, satisfying growth of a project in your hands. It’s a meditative practice, a creative outlet, and a gift of love, all in one.

Yet, even in this calm space, it’s common to encounter little hiccups. A missed stitch here, a tangled skein there. These moments aren’t failures; they are simply part of the learning journey. Every crafter, from the absolute beginner to the seasoned expert, has been there. The beauty of crochet is that almost every mistake is manageable. With a calm approach and a few simple techniques, you can easily set things right and return to your flow.

Let’s gently explore some of the most common crochet mistakes and how to fix them, so you can crochet with more confidence and less frustration.

Mistake #1: The Mysterious Case of the Shrinking (or Growing) Project

You’re working away on a beautiful blanket or a simple scarf, and you start to notice that your edges are anything but straight. Instead of a perfect rectangle, you have a trapezoid. This is one of the most frequent issues beginners face, and it almost always boils down to one thing: missing or adding stitches at the beginning and end of your rows.

The culprit is often the turning chain. It can be confusing whether it counts as the first stitch of the new row. If you don’t count it as a stitch and work into its base, you’re effectively adding a stitch. If you skip the first “real” stitch after the turning chain, you’re losing one. This subtle shift, repeated over many rows, causes the dramatic slant.

**The Calm Fix:**

Use Your Stitch Markers: This is the single best habit you can develop. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every row and the last stitch of every row. When you come back on the next row, you will know exactly which stitch to work into at the edges. It takes the guesswork out completely.
Count, Count, Count: It may feel tedious at first, but get into the habit of counting your stitches at the end of every few rows. If your count is off, you’ll know immediately and can fix it right away, rather than discovering the problem twenty rows later.
Understand Your Turning Chain: Refer to your pattern. Does it say “ch 3, counts as first dc”? If it does, then you will skip the first stitch and work into the next. If it doesn’t, you likely need to work into the base of that chain. Consistency is key.

Mistake #2: The Dreaded Too-Tight Gauge

Many of us start our crochet journey with a death grip on the hook and yarn. We’re concentrating so hard that we don’t realize our stitches are becoming tight, small, and difficult to work into. This not only makes the process physically taxing on your hands, but it also leads to a stiff, inflexible fabric. More importantly, if you’re making a wearable like a sweater or hat, a tight gauge will result in a finished project that is much too small.

Gauge—the number of stitches and rows per inch—is the foundation of a well-fitting project.

**The Calm Fix:**

Go Up a Hook Size (or Two): If you naturally crochet tightly, don’t fight it. Simply use a larger crochet hook than the pattern suggests. The pattern is a guideline, but your personal tension is unique to you.
Conscious Relaxation: Every few minutes, pause and check in with your hands. Are your shoulders tense? Is your grip on the hook like you’re holding on for dear life? Take a deep breath, shake out your hands, and consciously relax your hold. Let the yarn flow smoothly rather than pulling it taut.
Always Swatch: Make a gauge swatch before starting a project where size matters. It feels like a delay, but it’s an act of kindness to your future self. If your swatch has more stitches per inch than the pattern calls for, your gauge is too tight—use a larger hook. Fewer stitches? Your gauge is too loose—use a smaller hook.

Mistake #3: Working in the Wrong Loop

When you look at the top of a crochet stitch, you’ll see it looks like a “V”. There are two loops: the front loop (the one closer to you) and the back loop (the one farther away). Most patterns assume you are working under both loops of that “V”. However, if you accidentally work under only one loop—usually the back loop—you will create a subtle ridge and a different, often stretchier, fabric.

This isn’t always a mistake! Patterns will sometimes specify working in the back loop only (BLO) or front loop only (FLO) to create ribbing or decorative lines. The mistake is doing it unintentionally and inconsistently.

**The Calm Fix:**

Develop an Eye for It: Take a moment to really look at your stitches. Identify the “V”. Make a conscious effort to insert your hook under both strands of the V for a standard stitch.
Check Your Work: Every so often, stop and look at the fabric you’re creating. If you see a distinct, horizontal ridge running along each row, you are likely working in the back loop only. Gently pull your work apart widthwise; if it stretches more than you expect, this is probably the cause.
Embrace the Texture: If you’ve done several rows this way and like the look and feel, there’s no rule that says you have to go back! Crochet is about the process and the final product bringing you joy. You can simply continue consistently in that style.

Mistake #4: The Relentless Journey of the Yarn Barf

We’ve all been there. You pull the end from the center of a new skein, and instead of a smooth flow, a tangled, knotted mess erupts. This chaotic event, affectionately known as “yarn barf,” can try the patience of even the calmest crafter.

This happens because the yarn inside a center-pull skein can sometimes collapse on itself, or the winding process wasn’t perfect. While it’s messy, it’s a very fixable situation.

**The Calm Fix:**

Patience is Your Best Tool: Do not pull hard. This will only tighten the knots and make the situation worse. Take a deep breath.
Gently Untangle: Find the end of the yarn and slowly, methodically, work through the knot. Loosen it with your fingers, don’t yank. Sometimes it’s easier to work the tangled mass off the main skein entirely and untangle it in your lap.
Prevent Future Messes: Consider using a yarn bowl to control the yarn’s flow. Alternatively, you can re-roll your center-pull skein into a cake using a yarn winder, which creates a more stable structure that is less prone to collapsing.

Mistake #5: The Fear of “Frogging”

“Frogging” is the crocheter’s term for ripping out your work—rip-it, rip-it! It gets its name from the sound a frog makes. Many crafters are deeply hesitant to undo their hard work, viewing it as a step backward. This fear can lead to us ignoring a mistake and pressing on, only to be disappointed with the final result.

**The Calm Fix:**

Reframe Your Thinking: See frogging not as failure, but as an act of care and respect for your time and materials. You are choosing to create something you will truly love and use, rather than something that will sit in a closet because of a small, bothersome error.
Fix Mistakes Early: The moment you spot a mistake a few rows back, it’s almost always better to frog those few rows than to continue. The further you go, the more work you’ll have to undo later if it continues to bother you.
Use a Lifeline: For complex patterns, you can use a “lifeline.” Thread a smooth, contrasting piece of yarn through all the stitches of a correct row. If you make a mistake later, you can frog back to that lifeline, and your hooks will be held securely, ready for you to begin again without fear of dropping stitches.

Weaving in Ends as You Go

A final note on a common dread: weaving in ends. Facing a pile of them at the end of a large project like a blanket can be overwhelming.

**The Calm Fix:** Weave them in as you go. Whenever you join a new yarn or finish a colour, take a minute to weave in those ends immediately. It breaks up the monotony and means your project is truly finished when you make that last stitch.

Remember, every dropped stitch and every tangled knot is just part of the story your hands are telling. Approach these moments not with frustration, but with curiosity. They are the very things that will transform you from someone who just follows a pattern into a true crafter who understands the soul of the craft. So take a deep breath, be kind to your hands, and happy crocheting.