Why is my crochet circle curly? If you’ve noticed that the edges of your crochet are curling up, you’re not the only one experiencing the problem. Recently this happened to me when I was trying to make a circular rug. I wanted the rug flat to prevent it from becoming a tripping hazard. It’s not a huge deal if your circle is slightly misshapen, but if you are aiming for perfection, there are some tricks to make your crochet circle neater. Curling crochet edges is a common issue that someone can easily prevent through several straightforward approaches.
Contents
- Why is my crochet circle curly?
- Working between the stitches
- How to stop your circle curling up
- Are you holding your hook right?
At first, it may appear as if there are too many increases in the pattern. However, what if you double-checked your stitch count and the pattern followed was supposed to construct a circle? The problem might result from the hook size you’re using. If you used a large hook initially, you might want to use a smaller one for your next project instead.
Why Is My Crochet Circle Curly?
Curls only look beautiful when they’re intentional. However, the same frustrates those interested in creating flat crochet circles. Most people aren’t aware that the circles tend to curl up when they are working the crochet too tightly. When the stitches are too many, the crochet tightens up and makes the curls.
However, there are additional reasons explaining why the curls form. Below is a highlight of the common causes of curling crochet:
Did You Confuse US and UK Terms?
If you’re following a U.S. pattern but end up utilizing the U.K way of crocheting for your project, chances are your finished crochet will have curly circles. The U.S. terms describe the quantity of yarnovers crocheters make when pulling up the first loop. On the other hand, the U.K terms describe the quantity of loops present. Always double-check to ensure the crochet style in use matches the pattern.
Stitching with the Wrong Hook Size
Once you use a small crochet hook, the edges will probably ruffle, and there will be more stitches overall. In such a case, the hook might cause the curls, especially if your tension matches the pattern.
Working Between the Stitches
The working between the stitches might also alter the gauge, resulting in a curled-up crochet circle. Therefore, not unless your pattern specifies otherwise, it is wise and advisable to consider the two loops by placing the hook under them.
Remember that the gauge is a key element that indicates the number of available stitches and rows in each inch. Therefore, the crocheter should regularly check their gauge and the total number of stitches to eliminate any forming curls.
Tension Problems Can Make Circles Curl
A tension issue can also cause curled crochet circles. When the stitches are too tight, they might cause several things, including pulling one another towards the center, causing the crochet circle to curl, and resulting in a tightened-up fabric, ruffling the crotchet in the process.
How to Stop Your Crochet from Curling
There are a few surefire ways to stop your crochet curling up in future.
Avoid Too Loose or Too Tight Chains
Your foundation chain may, at times, be the cause of curling circular crotchets. If the crochet is too loose, it doesn’t matter what stitch you put into it. This is because each stitch you put in will stretch it out of shape.
If the stitch is too tight, it will stretch the crotchet in the opposite direction. Also, the chain can twist itself, so the person inadvertently puts a curl into the project. Typically, most crocheters utilize a hook one size larger when working on the foundation chain.
Once you’ve created the foundation, you can switch to the recommended size for the rest of the project. Suppose your chain tends to twist; you should try putting your next stitches into the same point on every chain or try a foundationless single or double crochet to eliminate the problem.
Tight Tension Curls Crochet
Working with too-tight stitches might result in stiff crotchets and curly edges. The solution to this problem is switching to large-sized hooks or the one recommended in your pattern.
Adjust How You Hold the Hooks
Changing the way you hold your hook can sometimes work wonders when stitching. If you’re holding your hook so tightly that your knuckles turn white when stitching, you probably have too much pressure on the crotchet. You should train yourself to keep the hook without too much pressure.
Doing so will astonish you with how relaxed your stitches will appear. And just like that, you won’t have to deal with curly edges.
Too Many or Not Enough Stitches
Keeping track of your stitching count is crucial. It ensures you do not inadvertently increase or decrease the count. Even a single stitch in a row or round can make a huge difference in a project. Adding an extra stitch in the middle of a row can result in a tiny wave in the finished product. You might not see the difference immediately, but you will see it after stitching a few rows.
You will alter the shape of the final product by changing even a single stitch. Eventually, you will realize that the blanket looks wonky. There are several ways to correct this problem. However, the most prominent solution is ensuring that you count after every row.
Use the Blocking Trick
Most crocheters dislike the part of the project where they would have to block their project. This is because blocking delays them from enjoying their newly finished project. Blocking feels like a dreadful waste of time, mainly because it might take you up to 24 hours to complete the project.
However, eliminating the curly edges will make you glad you blocked. But before you begin blocking, you need to examine the ball band provided by the manufacturer. A preliminary examination helps you determine whether the ball band can withstand wetness.
Gently immerse the project in water or spray it. You should then pin your project on a foam sheet or a board. Ensure that the pins used are rust-proof so that nasty marks aren’t left behind. Once the project pins into the desired shape with absent curly corners, wait for the project to dry out naturally. Doing this helps you obtain a lovely flat project.
Why Is My Crochet Circle Curly?
You might want to adjust your tension whenever your crochet circle begins to curl. Do the same if the corners of your crochet don’t stop lying flat. Working your stitches too tightly might also form a stiff fabric that often causes the corners to curl in.
Once this happens, you might need to stretch the fabric to see if it helps. Doing so might help loosen up the stitches and allow your piece of the project to lie flat. However, if the corners continue to curl up after stretching, try using a different hook for the yarn.
Most people fail to make the proper considerations when picking the hook. Hooks are selected based on the yarn used. Remember that switching to larger hooks only creates bigger stitches and loosens the fabric. However, this is an excellent way to make a material that lies flat.
If everything else fails and your crochet circle is still curly, you might need to adjust the tension by changing how you hold the yarn.
More Crochet Problems Solved
- What you can learn from my mistakes
- Could you become a crochet designer?
- What makes crochet get smaller?
- Can crochet ever get boring?
- Is it hard to learn to crochet?
References
- Brittain, S. (2007). Crochet Patterns For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons.
- Edelstein et al. (2022). AmiGo: Computational Design of Amigurumi Crochet Patterns. In Symposium on Computational Fabrication.
- Newns, L. (2021). Modern Crochet Style: 15 colourful crochet patterns for you and your home, including fun sustainable makes. Modern Crochet Style.