Two things help to keep your stitches even, the shaft of the hook and the tension you exert on the yarn. Use the shaft to measure the size of the loops and let the yarn slide easily over your finger. Here is a picture tutorial, hope it helps.
The shaft of the hook is used to make all your loops the same size. This helps keep your stitches the same size as well.
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| Always slide the yarn back to the shaft, you want it to fit around the shaft so that it slides easily back and forth |
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Tension is also important to keeping your stitches even. Let the yarn slide easily over your finger when you are doing a yarn over on your hook or pulling up a loop. Don't pull tightly on it.
If you find that your stitches are too loose pull your index finger up slightly so the yarn comes over a little more tightly, if your stitches are too tight, lower your index finger and let the yarn come over your finger more easily.
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The temptation is to start crocheting again while the yarn is wrapped around the hook. This will make your stitches too tight.
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| Slide the yarn back to the middle of the shaft, and then it will be the right size and will match the other stitches on your hook |
Here' how you do it for single crochet
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| Slide both loops back on the shaft to make them even, see how they are the same size? |
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| You can hold the two loops on the hook down to keep them the same size while you pull through the last loop. |
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| Slide the loop back on the shaft so you are ready for the next stitch. |
Here's how it works for double crochet
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| Do the yarn over on the shaft |
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| Slide the loops back onto the shaft to make them all the same size. |
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Slide the loops back again on the the shaft.
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| Slide the loop back on the shaft to get ready for the next stitch. |
Great tutorial! Such a simple thing - sliding the yarn down to the shaft - and yet so key to working evenly. (I've been crocheting for years, but only just discovered this recently, when I started doing slip stitch crochet.)
ReplyDeleteI had my eureka moment when I was reading Debbie Stoller's Happy Hooker book. She had a little graphic in her book. That's the first time I had ever heard about it and I wend A HA!
DeleteWhat an excellent explanation I have just started crochet nine months ago at age of 63 today you solved my basic big problem thank you for great job
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteI agree with Mrs M.......such a simple thing and yet one of the most frustrating when you are learning to crochet! A novice crocheter is told to keep your tension consistent and your stitches even but isn't told or shown HOW! Exactly how do you keep your stitches from being too tight? This is a great tutorial for newbies and not so newbies! Thanks so much for the tutorial and bless your heart for following through with the idea and not dismissing it as too simple. The down and dirty basics are so important and often overlooked! Great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I had been crocheting for a number of years when I found out about this, and I thought, man, that would have made everything so much easier if I had learned it in the beginning.
DeleteThank you for this! My stitches tend to be too tight, I'm going to keep this in mind when I try again :)
ReplyDeleteYou're Welcome.
DeleteJanice, thank-you so much for your patterns and ho-tos. They are really helpul. Judy
ReplyDeleteI have been an avid crocheter but have had many uneven projects and never knew how to rectify. So happy I found your post. Thank you thank you thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI can't find the answer to this...are you supposed to pull the yarn tight after each pass through the stitches?
ReplyDeleteYou don't want to pull it tightly, you want it to fit the size of shaft of the hook, but to be able to slide easily up and down.
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ReplyDeleteHi there. Thank you for your clear instructions. I am crocheting an overlay crochet project with a very non-stretchy cotton yarn. My front post triple crochet stitches are awkward to do, as 1. I struggle to get the hook through the second loop each pass through, and 2. my topmost loop ends up too loose. Thoughts? Thank you!
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