Why is My Crochet Getting Wider? Fixing and Preventing this Common Issue

Inconsistent Tension

One common reason for crochet projects to get wider is inconsistent tension. When a crocheter’s tension varies throughout the project, the stitches can become looser or tighter. If your stitches get looser, this means that they get larger and so can cause an increase in the width of your project. Conversely, if your stitches become tighter, this can cause a decrease in width.

Follow these tips to maintain consistent tension in your work and avoid this issue:

• Develop a comfortable grip on the hook. It should be secure but not too tight. Try out different grips like the pencil or knife hold to see which you find most comfortable to work with.
• Be mindful of holding the yarn too tightly or too loosely. As with your hook hold, your handling of the yarn should be neither too loose nor too tight.
• Practice makes perfect. The more you crochet, the more consistent your tension will become as you develop your own natural feel for it.
• Make sure you always sit comfortably and with good posture. Consider raising your work slightly, for example with a cushion, to assist with this.
• If your project involves a stitch that is new to you, practise it first by making a small sample. Keep going until the stitch becomes familiar and you can crochet it consistently each time.

Accidental Increases

Another possible cause of increasing width is accidental increases. These happen when extra stitches are accidentally added to the project. This could happen at the start of a row, at the end, or anywhere inbetween.

To avoid this problem:

• Count your stitches at the end of each row.
• Use stitch markers to identify the first and last stitch of each row.
• Read the pattern carefully to check whether or not the turning chain counts as a stitch, and if you should be crocheting into it.
• Become familiar with the anatomy of the stitch you are working with.

Change in Hook Size

One further reason why your rows might have become wider is if you have started crocheting with a larger hook size. This might happen if you’ve been away from your project for a while and have forgotten which hook size you were using. To avoid this, try keeping a note of the hook size in the bag with your project. That way, you can be sure to use the same hook size each time you work on it.

Correcting Course in Current Project

If you have noticed that your project is becoming wider, you first need to work out why before you can correct it.

Determining the Issue

To work out why your project is becoming wider, you need to check whether this is due to a loosing of your tension, incorrect hook size, or an accidental increase in the stitch count per row.

An easy way to check this is to simply count the number of stitches in the last row you have worked.

If you have the correct number but the row is too wide, then it means your tension has become too loose or you have been using a larger hook size. If you are following a pattern, check the pattern to see what hook size is recommended. You could also check the label on your yarn to see the recommended hook size for your yarn.

On the other hand, if you have too many stitches then it means you have inadvertently made one or more incorrect increases in your work.

Frogging Back

Whatever the reason, to correct a project that is too wide you should first frog back to the last row which had the correct number of stitches and was the correct width. Frogging simply means pulling on the working yarn to unravel your work.

Re-Working and Continuing Your Project

If Your Tension Was Too Loose

In cases where you had determined that the issue was a loosening in tension, when you re-work and continue your project, follow the tips above to take care that your tension is consistent.

If your tension is still looser than that of the original part of your work (this can happen, for example, if there has been a break in working on the project and your tension has changed over time), consider trying a smaller hook size until you can match the tension of the start of your project.

If Your Hook Size Changed

If you think your hook size had changed, try again with what you believe to be the correct hook size. After working a few rows, check to see whether the width is correct. If it is still too wide then try using a smaller hook size until you can make the desired width.

If Your Stitch Count was too High

On the other hand, if the reason for the increase in width was extra stitches, take care to count the number of stitches at the end of each row and make sure it is correct. Sometimes, crocheters can mistakenly work into a turning chain, for example, when that is not required. Using stitch markers to indicate the first and last stitch of each row can help to avoid this issue.

Conclusion: Why is My Crochet Getting Wider?

Crochet projects mysteriously getting wider is a common problem especially for new crocheters. There are three main reasons for this issue:

• loosening of tension;
• change in hook size;
• adding in extra stitches.

If you find your work has become wider, count the number of stitches in the last row to work out which of these issues might be the cause. Then, frog back the part of your project that is too wide and follow the tips above to avoid the issue in the future.

Related Questions

Here are some articles about related topics that you might also find helpful:

• Why are my Crochet Edges Uneven?
• Why are my Crochet Stitches so Loose?
• How to Fix a Crochet Blanket that’s not Wide Enough
• Why is my Crochet Rippling?
• How to Get Better at Crochet
• How Hard is it to Crochet a Blanket?
• Why Can’t I Crochet?

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