crocheted items curling up

[mammahen]

Hello Everyone,

 

I'm known as mammahen, because I am always  taking care of others like a mamma hen. I like crocheting, but the only type of crochet I know is single crochet. I generally only crochet long scarves for my friends, and coasters. I am trying to do some blocks to send in as part of a project by the Warm Up America! Foundation. My blocks will be added to others to make a blankets for a needy people. My problem is that after I finish, the corners all curl up on me. I don't think I am crocheting too tightly because the stitches are very easy to make and it goes very quickly. I have been told to moisten the corners and put something heavy on the item over night. I tried it, but it didn't work. All of them look the same no matter how big or small they are. All of the coasters that I made turned out the same way. Only difference is that I gave the coasters to friends. These squares are going to be part of something bigger and need to lay flat and look nice. Who ever receives a blanket with one of my squares will wonder why there is a strange bulge in the middle of the blanket. Any help would be appreciated. Here is a picture of one of the blocks. 

 

 

 

 

[magiccrochetfan]

Welcome to the ville!

 

I think this is just something that single crochet tends to do. If you use half double, or double, crochet stitches your squares should lie flat. These stitches are not difficult to do, and we can suggest some tutorials if you would like to learn how to make them.

[redrosesdz]

Welcome to Crochetville!

 

It looks like you're putting an edge around them.  If yes, are you sure that the blocks for Warm up America! Foundation are supposed to have an edge?  We just did a whole bunch of them in my yarn group and didn't edge them.

 

Also, I'm only counting 1 stitch in the corners of your edge.  Putting too few stitches along an edge or in the corners of an edge will cause curling.  For an sc edge, there should be at least 3 stitches in each corner (3 sc in the same spot.)  Along the sides look at your work every 5-6 stitches.  If you see curling, go back and add 1 or 2 stitches.  If you see it bunching together, take out 1 or 2 stitches.  I try to shoot for 3 stitches for every 2 rows when the rows are done in sc, but that's my personal gauge.  Yours might be slightly more or less.

 

Blocking, which is what you were trying to do with the moist corners, depends on the type of fiber.  If it's acrylic or cotton, I do wet blocking.  Although, acrylic doesn't tend to hold blocking very well.  Here's how...

 

1. Get the project very wet by either washing it in the washing machine or letting it soak in hot, slightly soapy water for at least 20 minutes.  This loosens up the fibers.

2. Remove any excess water gently and without wringing.  Finish by rolling it in a towel and squeezing the towel.  If you machine washed it, the excess was removed in the spinning process.

3. Sandwich it between 2 towels.  Iron the top towel to get steam into the project.

4. Either pin it into shape or put a heavy object on it.

5. Allow it to completely dry, which takes 3-4 days.

[mammahen]

I am surprised that I am putting an edge on it because I don't even know how to put an edge on crocheted pieces. I only know how to do single crochet, and obviously I don't know how to do it very well. I guess that if they have an edge on them then I better not send them to the Warm Up America! Foundation. I don't want to do them wrong and then they can't even be used.

 

I have no idea how to put multiple stitches in each corner, and then be able to continue with the row. I mainly crochet to keep my fingers working. I have diabetic neuropathy and the crocheting helps me keep busy with my hands. I enjoy doing the single crochet and have never been taught how to do anything else. I live in Lexington, KY. Is there some place where I can go to learn how to make other things besides scarves, coasters, and blocks with crocheting. I would like to learn how to do Granny Squares to make blankets.

 

I would definitely appreciate any tutorials that you can provide for me. When a person stops learning then they become too sedentary.

 

Thank you for the instructions on how to make the squares flatten out. I will definitely do that and hope it works. But with my lack of luck, I'm not going to hold my breath. LOL.

[magiccrochetfan]

If you aren't adding an edging round, then you don't need to worry about multiple stiches in the corners. If adding an edging, you would need several stitches there to go around the corner.

 

I think maybe in the photos that part of what looks like an edging is just the starting chain.

 

I will try to remember to post links to tutorials tomorrow.

[Emily Bernstein]

Good luck! Like another poster suggested, it is easier to make flat square using half-double or double crochets. They have an extra step but are not harder, skill-wise, then single crochets and make larger stitches.

 

Another thing to think about is the consistency of your stitch size. I know that you said your stitches aren't too tight, but it is a common tendency to make the starting/ending stitches of a line tighter, which can cause curling. Also, when do your chain, try doing the chain with a larger crochet hook then you are going to do the rest of the square as it is also easy to make the chain tighter then the stitching. 

[magiccrochetfan]

Some sites for tutorials  

 

Crafty Minx Crochet School  http://www.craftyminx.com/crochet-school/   well organized, has videos

 

Crochet Cabana  main tutorials page http://www.crochetcabana.com/html/tutorials.html

tutorials on half double and double http://www.crochetcabana.com/html/basicstitches.html#halfdouble

this site has tons of great information, and most entries have some photos as well as videos

 

for clear info that just tells you what you need to know and has illustrations, I like the Dummies book site

here is their page on half double http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-make-a-half-double-crochet.html

double http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/doing-a-double-crochet.navId-380590.html

 

 

You might want to get a reference book like Crochet Answer Book by E Eckman, or the Dummies book is an actual book as well as the online site.  that way you can quickly look things up without having to get on the computer.  other good books that cover most everything about crocheting would be Complete Photo Guide to crochet by M Hubert and Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet. 

[magiccrochetfan]

As far as finding someone in Lexington to crochet with/learn from, you could post in the Seeking Local Crocheters section here http://www.crochetville.com/community/forum/50-seeking-local-crocheters/   

 

In an area as big as Lexington, there surely are some groups of people who get together to crochet/knit/do other fiber arts, where someone would be willing to show you how to do the stitches.  Hopefully you could find out about this in the Seeking Local Crocheters section....but I know it can be a little slow.  There is another site for knitting and crocheting called Ravelry, where it might be a little quicker to find people.  Ravelry also has a listing of yarn shops where you can look up shops in an given area and link to their websites if they have one. 

 

I'm gonna post this now and come back with more details...don't want to lose what I posted so far and am about to be interrupted lol

 

 I think you may need to sign up to Ravelry to see the info there.

 

Ok on Ravelry here is the page for yarn shops in or near Lexington

http://www.ravelry.com/shops/search?geo=true&address=Lexington%2C+KY%2C+USA&accuracy=4&lat=38.0405837&lng=-84.50371640000003&radius=150&units=miles&fuzzy=1&query=&loc=lexington+ky

 

it looks like ReBelle might be a good place for crochet lessons  http://www.rebellegirls.com   they have a basic crochet class and a granny square class!  http://www.rebellegirls.com/classes.htm

 

A Tangled yarn also has lessons if its location works, I don't know the area but the Ravelry page indicates it is a little outside of Lexington http://www.atangledyarn.com/classes.html

[Granny Square]

Good advice above, and I really encourage you to look at the links and learn how to do at least a double crochet as well.  That will open up a lot of possibilities for you, because SC and DC stitches are the most commonly used in patterns.

 

I'd recommend tackling half-double later; I think it would be easier to learn double first.  DC uses a bit less yarn than SC, as well as not curling!  And is also what you'll need for granny squares.

 

You can't block the curl out of acrylic I'm afraid; I've even tried 'killing' the acrylic with steam (holding an iron a few inches above and blasting steam at it--never touch the iron to acrylic yarn) and it didn't help much.

[Jayashiangel]

You can also go online to do a google search for crochet videos and then go to  You-Tube and watch peoples videos of how to make different things and learn different stitches as well..Here is an example of how to do the half DC ....... I love this stitch.....

You-tube video on  half Double crochet

 

You-tube video on Double crochet

 

 

Have Fun learning :O)