A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity Crochet help???

OK all you crochet wizards - I need help!!!

Why oh why does my project always grow stitches when I am crocheting in the round? It's done this on every round object I've made. I can usually hide it in the finished project, but I'd like to be able not to have that problem!

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, Lynne? Most of the time in the round, you need to add stitches for each row to keep the work flat. It often works out to double the # of stitches on the second round. Double every other stitch on the third round. Double every forth on the fourth round. or something like that. I just cannot say where you might be going wrong. Sometimes, on the beginning of a round they will say chain one (or 2 or 3) and that will count as the first stitch in that round. Then you would pass the first loop on the previous row and go straight for the second loop. After completing that pattern stitch you can count two finished on that round.

unless you are asking about crocheting a tube. like when you get to the bottom of a stocking cap or a straight sleeve or skirt. then, it works best if you slip stitch to close the round, slip stitch into the next stitch so that your start is off set from the end. does that make sense? and you always have to count the chains (1, 2, 3 - depending on the stitch) as your first stitch in any row. otherwise you will always have one more stitch in that row than the one before it. which is another way of saying what tina said.

I was crocheting something that I will post in a few minutes - I'm also making dinner. This is a 3 dimensional object, Tina,and when I crochet a round, I always end up with more stitches than the original round - does that help any?

BRB - going to take pictures...

I understand that, Lynne. Like a hat in the round that begins at the crown. That like I said before and what Jiffy said are the only places that I know of where you can naturally add a stitch. Other than that I need to look closely and count stitches sometimes so I don't accidently crochet two where one belongs.

Sorry - Jiffy posted the same time I did earlier, so I didn't get to read her post. I do understand what you are saying, though I don't have a lot of experience with that, and the pattern doesn't say anything about slipping or chaining like some other patterns do.

Here is the finished project - there are some changes I will make for next time, as I think it should be a little taller, and the "sand" part should be lower in the pot. But it is cute, isn't it? He's only 3 3/4 inches tall.





Jiffy - would I be able to post a link to the pattern here so you all could see what I'm talking about?

sure. i can remove the link if it turns out to be problematic, but i'd really like to see. and it looks like exactly what tina and i are talking about, so lets see the pattern.

by the way, it's cute... i like it!

That is cute. Those are usually done in continuous rounds where you don't 'finish' a round. Did you go in a continuing coil?

And, Yes, very cute!

you know, tina you are right. i forgot about that.

Yes, but there are different directions for different "rows", so it's not actually one big coil. The thing about what Jiffy said about offsetting... wouldn't that make the stitches look spiraled?

Here is the link - this girl does some very cute things!

crocheted cactus

Well... I mistakingly named him "knit cactus" and PB won't let me rename him right now, so I will try again tomorrow, but then the pictures will be gone from my post up above since the edit time has elapsed. Gotta love PB!

ok, i read it and i think i know what the problem is. if you are used to crocheting, you almost automatically will chain to start a row/round. well, if you do that and follow her directions, you will always have one too many stitches because she doesn't start with the normal chain. she goes right to the stitch. making her pattern individual rows/rounds, but stitched in a coil manner.

what i was talking about doesn't create a coil, but does keep rounds from having that "seam" where each ends and the next begins. like when you are doing granny squares and every square starts at the same place if you aren't careful it looks like a seam.

to do the coil like tina is talking about you just keep going instead of slip stitching the round closed, you just stitch on top of the next stitch, creating a spiral. i've seen some coaster patterns that are done that way.

lynne, pm me the link tomorrow and i'll fix it for you. they are cute.

Jiffy - I posted the link above, as I think you read it?

I'm still not understanding why I am getting extra stitches if I am just following the rows around and NOT chaining, because I am still new to crocheting and didn't remember to chain at the beginning of each row so I didn't?

And if it was creating a spiral, wouldn't the stitches look like they are spiraled around? They do not...

Lynne, The pattern doesn't call for any slip stitches or chains to advance rows. It is a spiral. To keep track of rows you need to mark the beginning of each round. I do it, when needed, by putting in a small piece of an alternate colored yarn in the first stitch that I can just pull out when it is finished. Then you know which round you are on and when to begin a decrease round or an increase round. In a spiral it is very hard to remember or find where a row actually began.

Thanks Tina... I did realize that, and did mark the rows, but somehow I kept gaining 3 stitches here, 4 stitches there...

I will make another soon, and be more careful about keeping track - hopefully I will be on the mark this time.

Wouldn't the finished product look like it was spiraled if that's the way it is made though? Or am I still not grasping the concept in crocheting?

I've looked at a few others that people have posted in the knitting forum where I found the pattern, and theirs definitely are swirling much more than the person who wrote the pattern's is. Weird...

Well I've been having fun with PB today - NOT!

Anyway... here is the cactus visiting with one of Cindy's friends...

Cute Lynne!!!