When you’re just beginning to crochet, figuring out where to put stitches, how tight to hold the thread, and how much to increase on round projects can result in a few hiccups that make your pieces look funky. Crochet rippling is just one side effect of some of these mistakes. Thankfully, it isn’t the kind of mistake that requires a complete do-over – most of the time.
In this article, I will teach you how to fix crochet rippling and why it happens in the first place.
In a hurry? Here’s the quick guide:
If your flat crochet piece turns wavy, your tension may be inconsistent. Experiment with different holds on the yarn and practice making rows with even stitches before you get into a big project. Make sure you have plenty of working yarn as well.
It’s frustrating, but there are many reasons your crochet project may be bunching, rippling, or waving. It may even come down to the yarn or crochet hook you’re using. To learn about each situation that might create rippling crochet projects, keep reading and find out how to fix them without starting over completely.
Why Is My Crochet Rippling?
If your crochet piece is rippling (or ruffling as some call it), or it won’t lay flat, you have too many or too few stitches. Depending on if you’re crocheting in the round or crocheting a flat piece, it may look a little different for each case.
You may also be holding the yarn too tightly or too loosely, or you may be using the wrong size hook for the yarn you’ve chosen.
Crochet Going Wavy
If your crochet is going wavy, you may be adding stitches or creating inconsistent tension. To fix this, unravel until it isn’t wavy anymore, and be careful to count each stitch as you retry. If your tension is off, try holding the yarn differently or giving yourself more working yarn.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell when and if you’re adding stitches. Even if you have evenly straight edges, you can still add stitches in the middle where it would be harder to see. Extra stitches added throughout can result in wavy crochet.
To avoid this, if you’re unsure if you’ve already placed a stitch, turn your piece so the v-shapes of the stitches are facing you. The next available stitch should have a complete v-shape. With fluffier yarn, you may have to be extra sure by pulling your last stitch aside to make sure you haven’t already worked there.
Another reason your crochet may be wavy is if your tension is off. Too much tension can result in looser stitches that take up more space on the piece—having tension that is too tight can result in rigid stitches that pull the stitches beside it out of shape. To get even, flat rows, get a better grasp on proper tension through practice or by experimenting with different yarn holds to see which works best for you.
Sometimes the way the yarn comes out of the skein may be interfering with consistent tension. Many crocheters find it easier to wind their skeins into a cake or a ball before pulling the yarn. Pulling from the center instead of from the outside also tends to help create a more even pull.
How To Fix Rippling Crochet Circle
To fix a rippling crochet circle, pay close attention to when the circle begins not to lay flat. If it is starting to ripple, unravel a row (or several) and add fewer or no stitches at all. If curling inward, unravel the previous row and add more stitches.
If you’re crocheting in the round, your circle is rippling, and you’re not following a pattern, the most likely scenario is that you have too many or too few stitches.
In an oval or circle shape, if the edges begin to curl inward and they aren’t meant to, this means you haven’t increased enough. Unravel the curling rows until it lays flat again, and be sure to increase by the appropriate amount, experimenting with what helps the piece keep its shape.
If you’re working your circle or oval and the piece begins to bunch up or ripple, this means you have too many increases, and the outer circle can’t support them all. Once again, undo the rows until your piece looks flat again, then increase in smaller amounts. When working without a pattern, this will take a bit of trial and error.
Sometimes, a piece can begin to ripple or curl even when you’re following a pattern. If you’re increasing as the pattern suggests, your tension may be off, and the outer stitches are too tight. Another possible cause is the yarn and hook size are incompatible. Consider going up a hook size to see if this loosens up the piece to help it lay flat.
Loose Foundation Row Creating Ripples
To stop your crochet from rippling on the bottom, crochet your foundation row in the foundation single crochet instead of chaining. This prevents the chains from being looser than the rest of your piece, which would result in the bottom of the piece looking wavy.
Another common problem in crochet is that the foundation chain of the piece gets loose as you work into it, making the piece look uneven on the bottom, so it ripples or curves on the end. The best way to remedy this is to learn the starting crochet row without chains. This is called the foundation single crochet (FSC).
To make an FSC, chain two. Then, insert your hook into the second chain from the hook. Pull up a loop. You’ll now have two loops on your hook. Instead of pulling through both loops, pull through one. This will put one loop slightly elevated above the other.
Yarn over, then pull through both loops. This is your first single crochet.
Now it gets a little tricky. It can be hard to tell where to put your hook since you’re essentially working your first row and your foundation chain simultaneously. If your first stitch is lying flat in front of you, turn it on its side so that you can see the “v” shape of the top stitches.
In the v-shape nearest the hook, insert your hook through both loops on top. It shouldn’t go into the space you created. There should be tension as you insert your hook. Pull up a loop, pull through one. Yarn over, pull through two.
Continue working on your FSC until you’ve reached the desired number of stitches.
Why Does My Crochet Circle Look Like A Hexagon?
If your circle looks like a hexagon, it is because you’re increasing in the same spot with each new row, essentially stacking them on top of each other. Instead of spacing out your increases to be on the “corners” of your circle, increase every other stitch or every three stitches.
Conclusion
Hopefully, as you finish this article, you’ve found out why your crochet is rippling or wavy and how to fix it. In the future, be sure to reference this guide to learn how to flatten a crochet circle, get even tension, and create a secure foundation.
Originally posted 2022-07-06 11:38:24.