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Tip: Is your crochet blanket curling?

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Is your crochet blanket curling around itself as you start the first few rows? Mine too!

Is your crochet blanket curling around itself as you start the first few rows? Mine too!

Have you started to crochet your CrochetAlong blanket? Are you finding that it is curling? Me too!

This used to really concern me. Was my tension too tight? Or too loose? Was I doing something wrong?!

But now that I’ve made a few blankets I can assure you that it is fine. With the first two or three (or maybe even four) rows, your strip of crochet may curl around. But as you add more rows it will flatten out without any trouble at all.

Breathe. All good.

Anything else about your new crochet blanket project concerning you?

Ask me a question and I’ll see if I can help – that’s kind of what I’m here for you know.

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Is your crochet blanket curling around itself as you start the first few rows? Mine too!
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Is your crochet blanket curling?
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Is your crochet blanket curling?
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Is your crochet blanket curling around itself as you start the first few rows? Mine too!
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Comments

  1. I have been making granny squares with cotton yarn scraps. Even though all of the yarn is the same brand, some of the yarn is thicker than others, therefore, some of my grannies are larger than others. My stitches won’t line up when stitching together. This is driving me crazy. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

    • Try using a smaller gouge hook for the thicker yarn. Your stitches should come out a little smaller and line up a little better. Its a little trial and and Error. To work out which gouges and which thickness of yarns go together but after a few tries you should be able to find a usable combination. Also the thicker and thinner texture of the squares makes for an interesting visual as well as tactile experience when using the finished blanket.

  3. Am so glad to know its normal for crochet to curl. After three days I almost started over. I’m making a seashell pattern which is curverved to begin with but was a little weary. Thanks for the encouragement.

  4. I just made a single crochet baby blanket. It still curls and now i’ve added a border and it still curls. Any suggestions?

  5. This, is good to know….I was worried about This in the beginning of my blanket, but since finishing it, the curls Did go away….I was Really worried at first though, and my FIRST REACTION Was, “is my stitch too tight”.

  6. Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I actually started my project over 4 times and even shed tears because it would not lay down. I finally had to bite the bullet and keep going. I am just to the point where it is laying down. It really does!!! THANK YOU!

  7. I just unpulled mine because it was curling! So now I’m going to start again and not worry about the curling blanket, although I might make my chain a little loser just in case.

  8. I am making a blanket and I’ve done like 7 rows and it is still curling I try to flatten it but it won’t faltten I’m worried it’s not going to turn out right give me TIPS someone PLEASE!! 🙂

  9. Hi my name is adrian and i am new at crocheting and just made first blacket useing bernat baby blacket yarn everything was going fine intill i got border than it started to ruffle up and i didnt want that i wanted it to be flat on the border so can u help me so my next want ruffle up i did doulb crochet all way around it i dont no if it my hands are the yarn i used

    • Hi Adrian,

      How exciting! Your first blanket nearly done!

      I’ve found that when I’m adding a border I have to be super careful on the sides of the blanket. Along the top and bottom of a strip type blanket, it can be easy to see where to put the next crochet stitch into. But when it comes to the sides, you are crocheting into the sides of the stitches in the rows and it can be trickier. When I put too many stitches into the side – or put the stitches too close together – I get that ruffled effect. So try putting less stitches in the sides – maybe hook into every second space rather then every possible space.

      Also try “blocking” the edges after you’ve finished – I’m about to try that with one of my blankets to see if I can fix the ruffle a little. Here’s more info on blocking at Attic24: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2009/02/hooking-and-blocking.html

  10. I finished my baby blanket but the first row I did was too tight. I don’t know what to do.

  11. I’m making a celtic weave blanket. I am at the 9th row and it contines to curl (lengthwise like a huge hotdog). I have unraveled it 4x and restarted. Im pretty sure it is not my tension but I am also lost as to what to do with it. Blocking a blanket this big (queen sized) is going to be almost impossible. Is there another method or something that can be done. I like making bigger blankets. I have made several to date and never had this problem. It is quite nerve wracking.

  13. Sorry ignore my last comment, I meant to say how do you finish the ends of a single crotchet blanket?

  14. Good mornin!

    I’m working with Bernat yarn, and I’m also making a blanket. I’m working with a N hook, therefore my tension isn’t as tight as if I was working with a J hook or smaller.

    My first 13 rows are straight and now my recent rows (5 new rows…) are now all curling in, I’m frustrated.

    Help please.

  15. The outside edge of afgan is curling how can I fix this without taking it out I used same gauge hook

  17. I am doing something with both single and double crochets in the same row, and in the areas with the doubles it goes wavy and doesnt lay flat. Ive tried using a larger hook for the chain, and tried different hook sizes… Ive pulled this project alart about 5 times already, its starting to really do my head in!

    • Hi Erin, sounds like it is related to the mixed stitches. Double crochets are taller than singles so if they are side by side then they won’t sit the same as each other and you will naturally get texture. Some designs actually want that texture to create a different look so I’d look at the picture for your project and see whether it has that bumpy look when finished. I’m guessing it does. Tonya

  18. My blanket isnt curly as much as it starts curving like a rainbow! I realized a few mistakes i was making and thought i fixed it and everything would be ok. I was wrong!! Help

    • Hi Jessica,
      When I’ve had this problem it has usually turned out to be that I’ve added extra stitches to each row as I go along. Sometimes I accidentally add stitches in the middle of a row, but often I add extra stitches at the ends of the rows. It can be hard to tell where the last stitch in a row is! If I’ve got some extra “turning” chain stitches at the end, I have to remember not to crochet into those stitches each time or my rows will gradually get longer and longer, causing the whole thing to curve.
      The best way to overcome this would be to count your stitches in each row so that you don’t add any extras. After a while you should find you can better see what the last stitch of the row looks like and perhaps where the turning stitches are so you may not need to keep counting every row.
      I hope that helps!
      Tonya

  19. Hey! I actually don’t have a comment but a question. I’m crocheting my first afghan. I would love to salvage it because I have put 6+ hours into it, but I need an honest evaluation from a professional. Should I just toss it? I don’t want to waste my time. I’d love to send you a picture.

    • Hi Kristen,
      I’m a “never give up” kinda girl so I would salvage if you can. What seems to be the problem? I’m no professional but I’m happy to try to help with advice if I can.

  20. My blanket is not sqaure anymore looks like a u, i have no clue what I’ve done wrong! Please help if i continue it will almost form a circle

    • Hi Sharlene,
      When I’ve had this problem it has usually turned out to be that I’ve added extra stitches to each row as I go along. Sometimes I accidentally add stitches in the middle of a row, but often I add extra stitches at the ends of the rows. It can be hard to tell where the last stitch in a row is! If I’ve got some extra “turning” chain stitches at the end, I have to remember not to crochet into those stitches each time or my rows will gradually get longer and longer, causing the whole thing to curve.
      The best way to overcome this would be to count your stitches in each row so that you don’t add any extras. After a while you should find you can better see what the last stitch of the row looks like and perhaps where the turning stitches are so you may not need to keep counting every row.
      I hope that helps!
      Tonya

  21. I’m making a baby blanket, using cotton yarn. I’m ready to start row 5 but I’m worried that my original chain was too tight even though I have been using the same hook throughout. It’s curling and seems to be curving. Should I unravel and start over? I haven’t made a blanket before. Any suggestions would be great.

  22. I started to crochet a blanket….. But it seems to be curling… I’m on row 5 already…. Could it be the result of my tension being too tight with my first chain row….. Worried if it continues to curl and then I will have to pull out everything…. Pls help…. Thanks Maria South Africa

    • Hi Maria, I would keep going with your blanket. I’ve found my blankets often don’t flatten out until 10 or even 20 rows into them.
      All the best, Tonya

  23. I just started crocheting and I am working on a small afghan. I started with 10 medium sized granny squares ( someone else made) and stitched them together. Then I started going around with double crochet adding 1 stitch in each corner so that it would grow. Now I have noticed that it is curling under like a fitted sheet. I am only 3 rows in and want to have a flat afghan. I know I am going to have to undo the rows but how do I get it to grow without adding stitches? How many stitches should I add to grow my afghan but not make it fitted?

    • Hi Carrie, try adding three stitches at each corner – that is three stitches all into the corner stitch – at each corner as you go around your rectangle. This should make it flatter. Tonya

  24. Hi I was wondering if someone could help me. I was taught crocheting when I was a little girl by my mamaw. I didn’t get into it much back then. Now that I’m older I’ve started again and this time my mamaw is not here to help me. I started a blanket the other day and it’s only going to be a crib size afghan but it’s very very very wavy. I’m not exactly sure what I’m doing wrong. All of my stitches are about the same tension. I have a picture that I would like to show you but not sure how to post on here. Anyways if maybe someone can look at my picture and help me I would really appreciate you.

  25. i’m at 26th row and i’m trying to make granny square blacket and it’s starting to curl at each round i’m making, how do i uncurl it? coz 26 row is not enough to be a cover for a couch thx Linda.

    • Hi Linda, 26 rows! Great job! I would lay it out flat and double check that you’ve consistently following your pattern. Make sure you haven’t skipped any spaces, and that you’ve got two sets of three stitches in each corner with extra chains to help turn. Curling in a big granny square can sometimes be caused by the rows somehow getting smaller as you go around when they need to get larger with each round. So I’d be looking for stitches missed, or tension getting tighter. If you can’t find any errors to fix, then a solution might be to switch to a one step larger crochet hook to make the stitches just slightly larger. It is hard to help with gout seeing it, but I hope you can figure it out. I’d love to see a pic when you’re finished! Tonya

  26. I am crotcheting a round blanket for the first time and it curls on me is this normal until it gets bigger ?

    • Hi Anita, As you crochet a round item, the pattern should tell you to gradually increase the number of stitches in each round. If you don’t increase the stitches then yes, it will curl up. I hope that helps, Tonya

  27. Thank you for giving me the courage to start crocheting my very first blanket. I am a beginner. Love your tips and tutorials. Could not do it without your help. God bless.

  28. Just finished crocheting a baby cardigan for my new granddaughter! Both bottom edges curl. I’m sure the tension on the stitches was correct. This is not wool- would it still help the curling if I block it? Thanks!

  29. I am on row 14-15 of a blanket pattern with popcorn stitches and it’s starting to ruffle up. Do I have too many stitches? I have restarted the same three rows at least four times. Do I need to decrease a little in the middle and keep going or should I just unravel and start again and try not to add too many stitches again?

  30. Hi. I am crocheting a waistcoat using a mohair and wool blend. It is wider at the bottom and I am at row 10 which is narrower by about 2cm. Do I start over as frogging it is a huge challenge.
    I will appreciate the help.
    Marike

  32. Hi, I’m new to crocheting and I am starting with a blanket using bernat baby yarn. I noticed the more rows I add, the tighter it gets. I know it’s probably due to the tension with my yarn, but is there anyway I can loosen my stitches instead of restarting? When I compare ends, one end is at least 6 inches longer. Thanks for your help!

  33. Hi I am making a baby blanket and my whole project is curling almost in a circle and its not straightening out also the ends are uneven and i cant seem to figure out why any help would be appreciated

  34. Hi! I just threw away my blanket because I was depressed over it curling. Now I have not picked up a crochet hook for 5 days, avoiding starting a project & having the same thing happen. My pattern actually did say to do the foundation chain with a larger hook. Maybe I didn’t pick a large enough bigger hook. I am a fairly new crocheter and am about ready to give up.

  35. Hi, doing the c2c blanket and I’m decreas8ng my blanket but at the ends of my rows they are kinda like folding or curling over will they straighten out on there own or did I go wrong some where?
    This is first time doing a blanket.

    • Hi Diamond,
      I found I didn’t get as much curling with my C2C blanket but there was still a little. I found that as I added the next “block” onto the end of a row, it naturally pulled that row flat again. It could be about where you put that edge stitch into the previous row so look closely at which loop or space you are crocheting into and try to do the same thing each time.
      I hope that helps,
      Tonya

      • Hi I’m new to crocheting. I have started a small throw but it keeps looking as if it’s going to be round🤭

  36. I am making a celtic weave baby blanket. My top and bottom edges are rolling however I am 22 inches into the blanket and those edges are not laying down. My concern as this is a gift and I cannot tell the new mom after washing to block the blanket to dry.

    Would adding a few rows of just double crochet stitches help straighten it out. My weave pattern uses Triple crochets.
    Suggestions?

  37. I just crochet a blanket… it’s completed and looks like a basket,, lol. Any tips on what to do ?

  38. Hi what you said sounds like it would help. But that’s not what is happening to me. I am on my 21 row and the corners are curling in. I have thought of just ironing it flat i’m scared that I will ruin the yarn. Would that fix it. Or is there other ways of doing it.

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