Few things are more disappointing than reviewing your crochet progress and finding that your blanket has an obvious slant on one side, or worse both. It’s something every experienced crocheter has had to deal with, and there are a few reasons it happens. From changing tools or yarn, to altering your tension or miscounting your stitches, today I’ll help you to work out where you’ve gone wrong and how to return to an even blanket!
Contents
- Why is my crochet blanket slanted?
- Have you changed your hook?
- Is your foundation chain too tight?
- The trouble with tension
- Yarn type changes can slant your blanket
- Have you missed or added stitches
Why is My Crochet Blanket Slanted?
There is no easy response to this question as it varies from case to case, here you have some of the most popular reasons why.
- Accidentally switching hooks
- Foundation chain tightness
- Changes in tension
- Swapping yarn
- Miscounting stitches
Changing Hook Changes The Shape
Switching hook sizes can cause your work to flare up or narrow down. The bigger the hook the bigger the stitch, even if you use the same yarn, it can make a significant difference .Even small differences like a 0.25pts can drastically change the way your blanket looks. That’s why it is extremely important to have your tools well labeled.
I love painting mine differently so like this it’s a lot easier for me to identify which one I am using. In order to color them I like to use spray paint specially made for metal. If you are using a different material for your hooks, please make sure that the paint you chose works with whatever component your instruments are made from.
Foundation Chain Tightness
When you apply a lot of tension on your foundation chain and make it very tight, it may cause your work to look slanted. In order to correct this, I have bad news for you, you’ll have to undo everything and start over. Sometimes undoing our work gives us a new perspective and we can do a better project.
Don’t be afraid to frog your work, remember, every phoenix rises from its own ashes. The same with your blanket, once you start it again it will look better than ever!
Changing Tension Can Make Your Blanket Slant
This can happen even if you’re a master of this craft. When you crochet for long periods of time it is almost impossible to keep the same tension on the yarn all the time. Many reasons to why this happens may include:
- Fatigued hands and/or eyes
- The light (if you crochet outside the sun may hide behind a cloud or it may get dark)
- You get distracted
There are hundreds of reasons why your tension might be changing so you don’t have to worry, usually this problem resolves itself once the blanket is done and you can stretch it out.
Different Yarn Types Make Different Sized Stitches
With all the different colors that are out there you might be tempted to do a very colorful project or simply you haven’t bought enough yarn in the beginning and you go back to buy some more but guess what? They don’t have the brand that you used in the first place in the store so you buy the same color and size from another brand.
This may sound crazy but the same size on the package doesn’t mean the same size once you put it in your project. Sometimes the material may be a bit thicker or thinner and it could make a big difference in the end.
A quick way to fix this is buy enough yarn from the beginning. It’s better if you have too much than not enough. If your work has changes of color, make sure to buy the same size AND brand so you won’t have any surprises later on.
Missing or Adding Stitches Changes Shape
Adding even one stitch may cause your blanket to flare up and missing even one stitch may cause it to narrow down, needless to say it will take some time before you realize it. One stitch may not make a big difference for 2 rows but it makes a huge one when you get to your 20th! By that time, you will have to undo everything you’ve done until then and re-start over again! But don’t despair, this is actually a very easy mistake to prevent!
The simplest way is to count your stitches. If it sounds easy it’s because it is. Don’t wait to be half-way done to count them, with every row you crochet, make sure you have the same number of stitches, like this you avoid doing what any artist dreads, rip it all and recommence.
Why Is My Crochet Blanket Slanted?
Those are five of the most popular possible reasons why your crochet blanket is slanted. Hopefully your case fits in one of those, and you will be able to fix it.
I hope you never forget; you are creating something special that takes a lot of time and dedication. You are putting all your essence and love into each and every project you make, so don’t worry if one of them is not perfect, it is beautiful simply because you made it!