Round Crochet Gone Wrong. :( Ruffling Up At The Edges. Please Help?

[LittleMiss9876]

Hello.

I am a young woman in my 30s, and having done some knitting in the past, I am now interested in trying my hand at crochet.

 

This is my first post here, as I'm just looking for some advice on "Crochet In The Round," and I'm really hoping that someone out there can help me with my problem.

Just recently, I started by crocheting a very simple square by going up and down the rows, going in and out of each of the stitches along, and I did this by following a number of tutorial clips on Youtube, since a written set of instructions is much... MUCH too complicated for me to understand!

Here is roughly what I got from my very first attempt
(from a youtube clip)

It went something a bit like that at least.

So a bit later on, I then decided I wanted to make a granny square, following this youtube clip.

It looked relatively easy to follow, so I tried it, but half way along it all went wrong and started looking more "round" in shape rather than "Square."

I could never work out where I went wrong.

Actually, in most of the tutorial clips on youtube, people tend to cover the work up with their fingers and sometimes I can't work out what they're doing in order for me to follow the pattern corectly.

Other times they speed up the clips, and that makes it twice as confusing to follow!

So anyway, when this silly pattern turned into a round shape, I then later wondered if there were patterns I could follow (on youtube) for a "Round" shape instead.

So off I went for a search around youtube, to see if there were any round crochet patterns I could follow. Sure enough, to my delght, there were one or 2 on there.
I picked one out, and started to follow the pattern the woman was making.

This is the pattern in the clip I chose to follow.

From the start, it all went very well for a while. But then a bit later on,  I wanted to change colour, found another tutorial clip on youtube to help me do that, and that was it.

It was okay for a short while too.... until later on when yet again I was having some trouble with this pattern.

This time,  I don't really know how else to describe it, except to say that it has started ruffling up at the edges, (hope that is enough for people here to understand what my problem is) and all I want.... is something completely flat!

I have been using acrylic wool, which usually tells you to use a 4mm hook.
I purchased a set of crochet hooks on Ebay, but decided to use a slightly smaller hook, (was either 3 or 2mm) as I've tended to have a problem with bigger ones when trying to get the wool yarn through the holes in the round and square patterns I've been trying to do.

No matter how much I tried, I just couldn't get that silly yarn through the holes!
So I thought a smaller one would be easier.

It was easier enough, but it just seems that now.... I am still having problems with my crochet, (as I have described above) and most crochet I have tried so far has all gone wrong for me everytime!

There is a centre near where I live, where someone can help me with crochet, (in person) but for a personal reason, it's usually quite awkward for me to get there. So I'm looking for some help on the forums here to see if anyone can set this straight for me.by trying to explain things.

There is something in crochet called "Tension."
One thing I do like to do, is pulll the wool tight as I'm working.
Is that something which causes the problem I have with this pattern?

Or should I try to get used to using a slightly bigger hook?
Or even use a different type of wool? If so, which type is best to use?

I've started getting towards my wits end with all this, and I just don't know how to set this straight anymore.

Can someone out there try to help me and explain this please?

[magiccrochetfan]

Welcome to the ville

 

I think it would help if you can get a good reference book, such as Crochet Answer Book by E Eckman http://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Answer-Book-Solutions-Question/dp/1580175988/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415731236&sr=8-1&keywords=crochet+answer+book  As you can see from the extensive look inside, it has so much good information.  One thing it includes is the formula for how many sts to increase in each round to make a flat circle.  If you are in the US, you should be able to check this out thru your local library, to test drive it before buying your own copy.  

 

For an online resource, I would recommend CrochetCabana http://www.crochetcabana.com/html/tutorials.html

On that page, under Crocehting in the Round, you will find sections on making a circle and making a granny square.  

 

When your circle ruffles at the outer edge, it means you have increased too much.  you may be able to even it out by doing a round with fewer increases, or no increases at all.  or, rip back the ruffled part and redo those rounds using a bit fewer increases.  Again, there is a formula for this, and you can find it http://www.crochetcabana.com/html/round_howto.html

 

Probably the reason your granny square turned into a circle is because you stopped making the corners, or did not line up the corners correctly on subsequent rounds.  

 

if you have difficulty getting the hook into a stitch, the stitch is too tight.  By using a smaller hook, you are making your stitch smaller, that is, the tension is tighter.  You need a bigger hook, not a smaller one.  You DO NOT need to constantly keep the yarn tight or tug on it after each stitch.  Aim for a gentle tension on the yarn.  (if you are working with thread, you will need a somewhat tighter tension, at least i think most people do, but it sounds like you are using yarn, not thread, so a tight tension is not needed).  

 

You need to match the yarn and the hook.  I am not sure if you are in the US, but here are the US yarn categories showing the recommended hook size http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/weight.html   Note that the recommended hook is generally a size or two bigger than the recommended knitting needle.  These hook sizes are a good place to start, but the hook you end up using will depend on your individual tension.  

 

For practicing i would start with a light color (solid color not variegated) worsted weight yarn in a springy acrylic or preferably wool, and an I 5.5 mm hook.  

[magiccrochetfan]

Also, you need to know that there are 2 different systems of stitch names in the Englsih language.  One system is used in the US, and the other is used in the UK and Australia.  So if you pick up a magazine from the US and one from the UK, the stitch names wil be different.  here is a chart http://bynumber19.com/2011/11/13/crochet-terms-in-us-uk-danish-and-german/   also has Danish and German

You may also find online pattern sources that use either US or UK terms and it can get confusing.  

[Real Deal]

You've already been given excellent advice!

 

Most of us crocheted too tight when we started. It's probably amazing I never broke a hook because I worked so tightly. My mom just kept telling me to loosen up.

 

For worsted weight (Aran weight) acrylic, I use the I hook most of the time.

 

For sport weight (light worsted or DK weight), I use the F hook most of the time.

 

For worsted weight (#4) cotton, I use F or occasionally G.

 

I don't work with thread.

 

Sometimes I adjust the hook up or down according to the thickness of the yarn. An example is that variegated is almost always thinner yarn than solid colors. And some brands of worsted weight are thinner than others, especially the last few years.

[Granny Square]

A lot of newbies (me included, a long time ago!) start out by forming stitches around the tip of the hook, not around the shaft of the hook which is the part that sets the gauge.    Try to train yourself to form the stitches higher up.  Your hand muscles and tendons will appreciate it later on, and you will make a drapier fabric.

 

There's no universal best yarn to use, or right size hook for any particular yarn--every body's gauge (tension) is different.  I had a somewhat amusing revelation when I tried to help my SIL make some squares for a blanket, using the same yarn, and we both switched around hooks until we matched gauge.  We were 5 hook sizes apart.

 

Could you post pictures of your attempts at squares that aren't square?  Maybe one of us can spot something gone awry.  I have noticed that sometimes beginners lose track of the corners on granny squares.  Also, some people swear by a different number of chains between the 'shells', either 1 or 0 along the sides and 2 or 3 in the corners to get the square to lie flat.

 

I suspect by your wording/spelling that you might be in an area of the world which use UK crochet terms.  A UK pattern will never use the term SC.  Other common clues:

 

A pattern that says 'chain 3, turn, DC in the next stitch' is a US termed pattern, US DC = UK treble.

A pattern that says 'chain 1, turn, DC in the next stitch' is a UK termed pattern, UK DC = US SC

[LittleMiss9876]

Hey guys. Thank you very much for the very helpful replies you have given me.

 

@ "magiccrochetfan" - You have practically given me all the helpful info I need to know, plus 1 or 2 very useful links which is dfinitely going to help me get around my problem. Thank you very much for that. I appreciate it.

 

In your post, you mentioned (and I quote) "I have increased too much." (causing the ruffled problem I have with my rounded pattern) I wasn't at all sure what this meant when I first read that.

So I looked it up on the internet, and I know it now.

 

Basically, it seems I went through the same hole/stitch with my yarn too many times, as oppose to the other ones.

This is basically what I understand as "increasing too much." I assume that to be correct, in my understanding.

 

I have been trying to follow the very pattern, exactly as it has been shown by the woman in the youtube clip i linked to in my first post. I liked the look of it, so that is what I want to do.

 

From what I see in that clip, it looks like the woman went through every stitch/hole around the outer edge of the pattern 2 times.

It is possible that I went through some of my stitches 3 times, causing this little problem I have.

 

I find it rather easy to sometimes forget how many times I have gone through 1 stitch, (according to the tutorial clip) and in the process, it is not very easy to then see if my work is going to ruffle until later on in my progress of the pattern. This can be quite an annoyance for me, if I have to rip out the work, and go all the way back and redo most of ot. :-/

I'd really hate to do that when I've progressed so far with my pattern alreday. :-/

 

I have seen with youtube and read various other websites related to knitting/crochet that some people would use a stitch marker to mark their work. I don't know if any of you guys here use one of these in your crchet work or not?

They could be rather handy for part of a knitting/crochet project, though I never really thought of using one for myself.

I don't really know if one would be handy for the particular problem I have been having here.

 

Has anyone here, ever had the same, or similar problem and used a stitch marker to help them?

 

Anyway, right now, I do seem to find that making a circle is a bit more easier to understand than making a square.

So I am going to find a way to sort my pattern out, (I may want to rip it back and start near the start again) and continue with that.

 

On a square, I notice going through stitches for the sides is a slightly different number of times than for the corners, and I think i can easily get quite confused, and end up forgetting the sequence as I'm working around my pattern.

 

With a circle, the number of times going through the stitches appears to be the same all the way around, and that is a bit more easier for me to understand.

 

Thanks again for your great help. I appreciate it.

[LittleMiss9876]

@ "Granny Square" - Thank you for your very helpful reply too.

 

I don't quite know how you gusesed it, but yes, I am of course here in the U.K. (and not the U.S.) and have lived here all my life.

So I'm hoping it's not going to be too confusing getting used to the different names associated with single/double crochet between the 2 different countries.

 

I'm afaid I am not able to post a picture of my attempt on making a square right now.

When I first tried it, and realised it was turning into into a circle, I decided to rip it it all out.... hence my interest to look up the internet on how to crochet a circle instead.

 

Maybe when I feel my first circle is finished, I could post a picture of it at the forums here to show you guys how pretty it looks.

 

I was initially hoping to try and make my own granny square blanket.

I don't know if the same, or similar can be made with round patterns or not.

One day when I feel a lore confident with my patterns, and feel that I understand more about crochet than I do now, one thing I'm hoping to start with, is a crochet bobble hat or similar. Then later on, I could make other things if I wanted to.

 

Right now, the only thing I'm hoping I can try to make, is a round place mat that I can just place on the table or desk for

general use, and hope that it turns out to be completely flat (as oppse to all ruffled up) when I'm finished.

[magiccrochetfan]

You are welcome

you are right about the meaning of increasing.  it means adding to the number of stitches in a row or round.  

[Granny Square]

Your spelling of "colour" and "acrylic wool" tipped me off.  

 

My mother's generation and before (she was born in the US in the 1920s) used the word "wool" as a generic term any yarny stuff, nowadays in the US we say yarn unless we are being very specific about yarn from sheep.  

 

The US also seems to be responsible for the 2 sets of terms.  Until 1920 or so, US patterns used UK terms.  By about 1930, US patterns used the present, different terms.  Who knows why...

 

Re: stitch marker, yes by all means they are very handy!  I like to use bobby pins because they are inexpnsive and don't fall out -- here's a link just in case bobby pins means something different across the pond :/

http://www.amazon.com/Goody-Bobby-Pins-Brunette-Cart/dp/B003T12JVA

I should have suggested marking the corners of the granny squares until you get used to making them.

 

I also think it's a good idea to stop and 'admire' your work every so often, you can spot errors soon after you make them and not have to rip back rows and rows.  Keeping count is important, and with granny squares it's rather easy to spot an error since the stitches are in small groups.

 

Hang in there!

[FlossiePotts]

We still use wool, for everything that is not really obviously cotton.

[Granny Square]

To paraphrase GB Shaw, "England(, its former colonies,) and America are two countries separated by a common language."  

 

I'm from and live in the US, but work for a company headquartered in Scotland so I'm used to different turns of phrase.  I haven't yet started to add a U to words which (in the US) end in -or yet, but I've somehow now lost my mind on the "American" way to spell words ending in -ise versus -ize  (like, socialize versus socialise).  Sigh.