Buckling Squares?

[Trinket]

I love granny squares and motif afghans. But unless they're joined together without sewing, I sort of stay away from them, even though I do love them so much. The reason is because that when I sew the squares together, they buckle up. Happens every time! Nothing I do can ever make the afghan go flat. Not washing, not ironing. Nothing! I don't think it's gauge. All the squares are pretty much the same size in the end.

 

Does this happen to anybody else? What am I doing wrong here?

[butterflie]

I had this happen until I started sewing together only the back loops of the squares, it stopped the buckling and made the blanket look better.

Have you tried that?

[texasredhead]

That's the way I do it, back loops only with a big yarn needle. Don't sew too tight either.

[sandhyasudhir]

This happens a lot if you are using different patterns or yarn for squares. Try using a smaller/bigger hook to sc the edges. You will have to try and work a few differnt ways that works for you but is easier thatn sewing all those squares.

[Real Deal]

I single crochet through the back loop only. They never buckle.

Real Deal

[stitchylady]

I put right sides together, and stitch very loosely with a yarn needle, in the back loop only of each square. My squares lay flat using this method. Maybe you are just stitching them together too tightly?

[darski]

I found this Tunisian joining to be a good way to put stuff together.

 

http://www.anniesattic.com/crochet/content.html?content_id=497

 

Generally speaking, if I couldn't use sc-- on the top, I was not making any afghans no way, no how! :grump

 

This joining method works and it is quick and tidy.

[Wool Flower]

Thanks for that tip, will definitely be trying that out.

[kiwikitti]

Oh wow, darski. That method looks amazing! I will definitely have to give that a whirl on my next afghan so it's not just *still* sitting in the basket, mocking me with it's pieces.

[mizduck]

Huge thanks for the tunisian joining link! I hate sewing and am working on my first blanket with squares. You've made me a happy woman.

[Trinket]

Hmm. I usually slip stitch (though I do sometimes whip stitch) my squares together through the back loops. So that can't be it... Maybe I'm doing it too tightly... I do tend to have pretty tight crochet...