Are you starting out on your crochet journey but unsure if you’re going in the right direction? It can be daunting to learn a new skill, and more often than not, beginners can find themselves forming bad habits from the very start. To help all crocheters—from newbies to experts—steer clear of potential pitfalls, here’s a list of the 10 worst habits I’ve seen from new crocheters. From adding or losing stitches to being impatient with your progress, this article breaks down the common issues aspiring crocheters might face.

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Learning to Crochet is a Process

I remember learning to crochet when I was a teenager. My mom put a granny square in my hand and told me to “keep going”. I knew nothing about gauge, picking the right yarn, or even the name of these new techniques. Becoming the proficient crocheter I am today has taken nearly 20 years of trial, error, and mistakes.

Now, don’t worry if you’re already making these mistakes – every bad habit can be broken. With so many more resources available, from YouTube to blogs and books, it’s much easier to hone your crochet skills. Take the time to research and practice your techniques to avoid adding these bad habits to your own list.

10 Common Crochet Mistakes Beginners Make

1 // Using the Wrong Yarn / Hook Combo

Crochet hooks range from tiny steel hooks to jumbo 35 mm sizes, while yarn runs from delicate lace weight to category 7 jumbo. With so many possible combinations, it is easy to understand why new crocheters are not always sure where to begin. A hook that is too small can create stiff, dense fabric and make your stitches difficult to work. A hook that is too large may create loose fabric with more drape and larger gaps than you intended.

When following a pattern, begin with the yarn weight and hook size the designer recommends. If you are creating your own project or no longer have the yarn label, choose the hook that seems closest and make a small swatch. The right hook should move comfortably through your stitches and create fabric that suits the project you want to make. Try a larger hook for a looser fabric or a smaller hook for something denser, adjusting one size at a time until the fabric looks and feels right.

Learn more about choosing and pairing crochet hooks and yarn in this complete guide.

2 // Not Practicing Your Tension

Consistent tension comes with time and practice. Pay attention to how the yarn moves from the ball to your hand, keep your grip relaxed and experiment with how many times you wrap the yarn around your finger. You can also try a different hook style or material to find what feels most comfortable.

Visit my complete guide to improving crochet tension for more troubleshooting tips.

This video has some great tips on improving your crochet tension.

3 // Constantly Adding or Losing Stitches

Have you ever started a scarf only to discover that the edges are slowly wandering in or out? If your project keeps getting wider or narrower, you are probably adding or skipping stitches. Many new crocheters have trouble identifying the first and last stitch of each row, especially when turning chains are involved.

Count your stitches at the end of each row and compare the total with your pattern before moving on. I also recommend placing locking stitch markers in the first and last stitch of every row. I lovingly call them “training wheels,” but plenty of experienced crocheters use them, too. Stitch markers take away the guesswork while you learn what those edge stitches look like.

See exactly how to keep your crochet edges straight with stitch markers in this video.

4 // Avoiding a Gauge Swatch

Gauge tells you how many stitches and rows fit within a specific measurement of crochet fabric. For example, the gauge for my Quinn Baby Blanket is 4″ = 14 stitches × 8 rows. That means a 4-inch section of fabric should measure 14 stitches across and 8 rows high. Matching the pattern’s gauge helps your finished project come out at the intended size and use the expected amount of yarn.

Many crocheters loathe making a gauge swatch. I get it. It feels like one more step standing between you and the project you actually want to make. But a swatch is a small test run, and it is much easier to adjust a few inches of crochet than remake an entire project.

Make your swatch larger than the area you need to measure, using the same yarn, hook and stitch pattern listed in your pattern. Wash and block it the same way you plan to treat the finished project, then count the stitches and rows across the center rather than along the edges.

If you have too many stitches within the measurement, try a larger hook. If you have too few stitches, try a smaller hook. Row gauge can also be affected by the height of your stitches, so changing the hook may not solve every mismatch. Make one adjustment at a time, then swatch and measure again before beginning your project.

Need more help? Learn how to make, measure and adjust a crochet gauge swatch in my complete guide.

5 // Skipping Blocking

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that crochet fabric does not need to be blocked, I would be a very wealthy woman. Like many crochet myths, this one has been passed down for generations. Blocking helps settle your stitches, improve the drape and shape your project to its intended measurements. Why would we skip it just because we are crocheting? The answer is simple: we won’t!

Blocking does not need to be complicated. Steam blocking is my preferred method for many projects. Lay your piece on blocking mats or a few towels and gently shape the fabric. Hold a garment steamer or steam iron above the surface without touching it, keeping the steam moving across the fabric. Allow the piece to cool and dry completely before moving it.

Different fibers respond differently to heat and moisture, so always check the yarn’s care instructions and test your blocking method on a swatch first.

Watch my tutorials on steam blocking and wet blocking to find the best approach for your project.

6 // Not Learning to Read Patterns

I’m going to say something you may not want to hear: if you only follow video tutorials, you are missing out on a huge part of the crochet world. I love a good start-to-finish YouTube tutorial, but for every video you find, there are hundreds of written patterns waiting for you on sites like Etsy, Ribblr and Ravelry.

Crochet patterns have their own language, but you do not need to learn it all at once. Take it one abbreviation and instruction at a time. Most patterns include a key explaining the stitches and terms used. Before you pick up your hook, read through the entire pattern, highlight anything unfamiliar and look up those techniques before you need them. The more patterns you read, the easier that language becomes.

Learn the basics of reading crochet patterns in this beginner-friendly guide, or follow along with this video from Simply Daisy.

7 // Not Learning to “Read” Crochet Fabric

Let’s say you’re stitching along when something suddenly looks a little off. Instead of panicking or ripping everything out, pause and take a closer look. Learning to “read” your crochet fabric means recognizing your stitches, seeing how they fit together and spotting where something may have gone wrong. With practice, you’ll be able to identify a missed or misplaced stitch and decide how to fix it.

Practice swatches are one of the best ways to develop this skill. Choose a stitch dictionary with clear photos, make a small sample and compare your fabric with the example. Count your stitches, trace the tops of each one and pay close attention to the beginning and end of every row. If your swatch does not match the photo, investigate what happened and try again. The more closely you study your crochet, the easier it becomes to understand how the fabric is built and recognize mistakes in larger projects.

8 // Avoiding Unfamiliar Techniques

Everyone comes to crochet for a different reason, and you may have a handful of favorite patterns you are perfectly happy to make again and again. But when you are ready to move beyond those double crochet blankets, there is a whole world of crochet waiting for you.

Step outside your comfort zone and try Tunisian crochet, amigurumi, corner-to-corner crochet or mosaic crochet. Each technique offers new stitches, textures and ways to bring your ideas to life.

“But Toni, I’m just a beginner. I can’t possibly learn those techniques. They’re too hard!” My sweet, sweet child. It is not too hard. It is just new. You do not need to master a technique on your first try. Choose one that excites you, find a class, a book or a great YouTube instructor, and give yourself permission to be a beginner again. The only way to find out what you can do is to try, and the only way to improve is to keep practicing.

9 // Only Using Free Patterns

Free patterns are a wonderful way to learn new skills and explore different projects. But if you rely on them exclusively, you may be limiting your access to some truly incredible designs.

Paid patterns often come as clean, thoughtfully formatted PDFs that you can download, print, mark up and keep in your project bag. Some also include helpful extras like charts, schematics, expanded sizing or photo tutorials. Best of all, purchasing a pattern directly supports the designer who put their time, creativity and expertise into creating it.

Not every project needs a paid pattern. But when you find a design you love, do not let the pattern price be the reason you pass it by. Include the pattern in your project budget from the beginning, just like your yarn and other supplies.

10 // Not Being Patient With Themselves

I’ve taught thousands of makers throughout my crochet career, and it always breaks my heart when someone gives up before giving themselves enough time to learn. New crocheters, especially adults, often expect to pick up the craft quickly. When everything does not immediately click into place, they assume crochet is simply “not a good fit.” I call hogwash.

Crochet is a skill, and skills take time and practice. There is so much more to learn than how to make a few stitches, and even experienced crocheters encounter unfamiliar techniques and frustrating mistakes. Research your questions, ask for help, stay open to trying a different approach and keep that hook moving. You are learning with every stitch, and your “aha” moment is coming.

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Have you fallen into any of these crochet bad habits? Or do you have a bad habit that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments!

Want to build some great crochet habits? Check out my blog posts on crochet hacks & tips, understanding gauge, and 3 important finishing steps.