Help a newbie please!

[Heidi8776]

I've started making hats and my main goal to to donate them to a nicu. I have twin girls who are almost 2 and they were there for a while. Anyways, my hats aren't coming out right. The back comes down at a point. Once I figure out how to add a picture I'll do that. Any ideas on why this happens?

 

Thank you!!

[Heidi8776]

Yeah it's written very strange. That was part of my problem. The way you explained it makes a lot of sense. I'll try another one and see how it goes. Thank you so much!!

[Granny Square]

Looks much better! 

 

If you are ready for a more advanced trick, or to keep in mind for later...in the traditional way of joining rounds, there is always a little 'seam', and it's a little more obvious when changing colors each round...I think the 'seam' in your hat is typical, and not that noticeable.  But...there are ways to disguise that seam - here is one, you may find others by googling 'invisible crochet seam in the round'.  This explains 2 different things, one to make your "finish off' look flawless, the other is to use a 'standing' stitch to start the next round (eliminates the chain-3 start).

 

http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/crochet-tutorials/crochet-invisible-join-vs-slip-stitch-join/

 

A disadvantage is that you have to cut the yarn each round, you can't carry it up on the inside of the hat like you can with the traditional method.

[Heidi8776]

Thank you again for all your help!! Here's the finished hat from today. Fits my toddlers perfectly. Smaller hook for a smaller hat I'm guessing. Do my connecting rows look right? Sorry the pictures are sideways. Not sure why.

[Heidi8776]

You guys are awesome!! I started working on a new hat last night and I can already tell that's what my problem was. Thank you again!! Here's my progress so far. I'll post a picture when I'm finished.

[Granny Square]

Me, too--I've been crocheting since 19(mumble) and I STILL put a marker there when I'm working in the round.

[magiccrochetfan]

Granny Square, that is a great illustration!  I am making hats and yep that little space almost gets a stitch every time ;-)

[Heidi8776]

^ that's exactly what I'm doing wrong!! The picture helps a ton!! Thank you so much

[Granny Square]

I'm late to the party here, but I agree with Magiccrochetfan that you are adding stitches at the join.  I did an illustration (for a similar issue that came up a while back) to show a spot that looks like a stitch you should be working into, but isn't - see below, red arrow.  

 

Your pointy spot is the buildup of increases on top of the same spot for many rows,. 

[magiccrochetfan]

you're welcome

the explanation of the 2 different numbers is at the beginning, under the photo.  it's very brief but the info is there.  note it also recommends different hook sizes for the yarn categories.  

[magiccrochetfan]

the pattern is written in an unusual way.  it includes directions for category 3 and 4 yarn.  the first number is for cat 3 and the second

number in parentheses is for cat 4 yarn.  Either way, round 3 is the last increase round, which has either 48 or 36 stitches, so you continue with that number of sts for the rest of the hat.  

you can put a marker in the first st of the round( the turning ch3) and the last st right before you do the sl st to join; marking those sts may help.

Also count at the end of each round to be sure you have the right # of sts.  

[Heidi8776]

Just counted... 58! :-/ I guess that might be the problem. I was going for newborn.

[magiccrochetfan]

it will help to stabilize it if you go thru 2 loops.  

 

which size are you making?  how many sts do you have in the last round?  

[Heidi8776]

Thank you! I just watched the video. Do you think my mistakes could be that instead of going through both front and back loops I only go through the front loop? That might explain the added extra height. My stitch count is correct. It just looks like a big gap and then becomes uneven as shown in the picture.

[magiccrochetfan]

Annies has a description and illustration https://www.anniescatalog.com/crochet/content.html?content_id=18

in the video the relevant part is almost at the end, at aboout 5:30

Be sure you are doing the slip sttich correctly.

 

it almost looks like you are adding stitches at the point where you join the rounds.   Is your stitch count correct?  

[Heidi8776]

Thank you :-)

 

This is the pattern http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-knit-newborn-caps it's not the first hat that this has happened to though. I ss into the ch3 like it says. Maybe I'm not going into the right part of it? I go into the 3rd chain when finishing the row.

[magiccrochetfan]

Welcome to the ville!

 

What pattern are you using?