Crochet Beginners, This One’s for You! Common Mistakes and Easy Fixes

“You’re off to a good start… or so you think—until the first row is so tight that you can’t pick up stitches in the second row! The hook won’t even go through!”

Haven’t a lot of beginners given up right here at the very beginning?

So how can you make a starting chain that isn’t too tight?

The reason this happens is simple: you’re using too much force when you crochet.

The good news is that fixing it is easier than you might think. Here are two key tips!

• Focus on crocheting loosely

This can be surprisingly hard at first. When your shoulders tense up, you may pull your stitches tighter than you realize.

Try to consciously relax your shoulders and aim for looser stitches.

• Use a slightly larger hook for your starting chain

By using a hook that’s a bit larger than the size recommended on the yarn label, your starting chain will naturally come out with just the right tension.

“I thought everything was going well… but when I look at my work, the stitches are all uneven!”

This usually happens when your tension isn’t consistent.

You might be pulling the yarn too hard when you draw the hook through, or doing the opposite—leaving the yarn too loose and letting it slack.

Here are a few ideas to help fix this problem!

• Crochet at a steady pace

To keep your tension consistent, your pace actually matters more than you might think.

If your speed keeps changing, your tension will too—resulting in uneven stitches.

“Steady pace” might sound difficult, but thinking of it as a steady rhythm can make it easier.
Try saying the steps out loud or counting stitches in your head as you work. This helps you find your own rhythm.

Also, crocheting at a steady pace does not mean crocheting fast.
If you’re still getting used to crochet, working slowly and steadily will help your stitches look much more even.

• Check stitch size after each row

After finishing each row, gently stretch your work and take a look.
This makes it easier to notice differences in stitch size.

If you spot uneven stitches, fix them before moving on to the next row.
When stitches are clearly too big or too small, it’s sometimes best to unravel that row and redo it.

Here are a few signs to look for when checking your work:
(Take a close look at the edge of your finished row.)

• If the edge looks jagged → some stitches may be too tight
• If the edge looks wavy or fluffy → some stitches may be too loose

By focusing on keeping a steady pace and checking your work after each row, you’ll find it much easier to achieve neat, even stitches.

“I thought I was doing great, but before I knew it, I’d picked up the wrong stitch—and my work didn’t match the pattern at all…”

This is a very common mistake, especially when you’re just starting out.
So how can you improve and avoid this problem?

Easy Fix⭐

This problem usually comes down to two main causes.

First, you lose track of where the first stitch of the row actually is.
Second, you may pick up the wrong part of the foundation chain, or mistake the turning chain for a regular stitch.

Let’s look at how to fix it.

• Check your stitches by touch after each row

After finishing a row, try gently touching each stitch one by one.
Even this simple habit can greatly reduce counting mistakes.

The key question is: Can you clearly count one stitch at a time?
If you find yourself thinking, “Is this one stitch… or did I just touch two?” there’s a good chance something has gone wrong.

If one stitch feels noticeably different from the others, it might be better to undo that row and rework it before moving on.

• Use yarn in a color that’s easy to see

When you’re just starting out, choosing a yarn color that makes stitches easy to see will help you count more accurately and avoid mistakes.

Bright-colored yarns are especially recommended.
Dark colors like black tend to blend into shadows, making it harder to see the boundaries between stitches—and much easier to lose count.

It also helps to use a basic, smooth yarn for this practice.
Fuzzy or novelty yarns, such as mohair or textured yarns, can hide stitch definition and make counting much more difficult.

“I made a neat foundation chain, but when I joined it into a round, I didn’t notice it was twisted—and I kept crocheting for several rows!”

This is another very common beginner mistake.
I has fallen into this trap more than once, too 💦

So, how can you prevent your work from twisting when crocheting in the round?

Twisting usually happens when you’re working with a long foundation chain.

A foundation chain is soft and flexible, so if you don’t check it before starting the first round, it’s very easy to miss a twist.
This is why so many beginners run into this problem.

Let’s look at how to avoid it!

• Lay your foundation chain flat and check its direction before joining

After finishing the foundation chain, place it on a flat surface and gently stretch it out to straighten it as much as possible.
(It doesn’t have to be perfectly straight—just make sure you can clearly see whether it’s twisted or not.)

• Don’t crochet the foundation chain while holding it up in the air

If you crochet with the entire chain lifted, it’s much harder to notice any twisting.

Instead, place your work on a table or on your lap, and check for twists every few stitches as you go. This simple habit can greatly reduce mistakes.

By the way, if you realize your work is twisted after you’ve already crocheted several rounds… unfortunately, the only solution is to unravel it and start again.

Checking often may seem slow at first, but it actually helps you finish your project faster in the end.

You can’t crochet without a hook, so this is something every crocheter needs.
That said, the type of crochet hook you use can make a huge difference in how easy and comfortable your work feels.

Our top recommendation is Clover’s “Amure” crochet hook, which is designed to fit naturally in your hand.

Even during long crochet sessions, it helps reduce hand fatigue, making it a great choice for beginners who aren’t used to crocheting yet.

The smooth grip allows you to crochet comfortably and keep going without strain.

Another nice bonus: the handles come in cute colors, and each size has its own color, so it’s easy to tell hook sizes apart at a glance. It’s a very popular choice among crocheters.

This is another tool that makes crocheting much smoother and easier to manage.
By clipping a stitch marker into your work, you’ll always know where the edge or beginning of a round is—helping you avoid miscounting stitches.

The “losing track of stitches” mistake we mentioned in Common Mistake #3 can be greatly reduced just by using this tool.

Stitch markers come in many shapes and styles, but my top recommendation is the ring-style stitch marker.
Because it can be easily attached and removed while you’re crocheting, you can place it exactly where you need it without interrupting your workflow.

Yarn needles are another essential tool for crocheting.

They make it much easier to neatly weave in the yarn ends after you finish your piece, helping your project look clean and polished.

For beginners, we recommend thick plastic yarn needles.

They’re easy to thread with yarn and comfortable to handle, even if you’re just starting out.

As you gain more experience, you can weave in ends using a crochet hook instead.
However, if it doesn’t go smoothly, it can cause the fabric to puff up or look uneven. That’s why using a yarn needle is the best and safest option for beginners.

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