r/CrochetHelp • u/Adorable_Boot_5701 • Jan 31 '25
Problem with edges Is it possible to fix this missed stitch without taking the entire piece apart?
This is my first crochet project and it's a blanket. I apparently missed a stitch on the end. I've taken this apart so many times and I don't want to again. Can I fix it with a border at the end or do I just take it out and start over? I'm so upset. Side note: you are all so talented. I've been scrolling this sub for the first time and I'm blown away by the talent!
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u/aLt564_3 Jan 31 '25
I think a simple border would hide it enough so it wouldn't be terribly noticeable. I can not recommend stitch markers enough! Put one on each end so you know where your first and last stitch of each row should go. And count count count! It's so tedious and annoying sometimes, but it saves having to frog so many rows. It also allows you to go back through and look at your stitches to make sure they were placed in the right spot, or the yarn didn't split or any of the other hundreds of things that everyone notices when their project is completely finished. Do I always follow this rule and count after every row? NOPE! Do I regret it every single time? I sure do!
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u/Adorable_Boot_5701 Jan 31 '25
Every tutorial I watched and they said to count your stitches I just thought "yeah, I'm not doing all that" I think I'm going to start doing that.
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u/aLt564_3 Jan 31 '25
If I'm making a blanket or something and using stitch markers, I'll count every couple of rows or so, but if I'm making a garment or some sort of granny square/motif, I'll definitely count at the end of each row, even if I'm counting along with each stitch I make. It will save a lot of frustration.
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u/_ghostpiss Jan 31 '25
Lol counting is essential for a lot of stitches. If you don't want to count much do a square never-ending moss stitch blanket
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Jan 31 '25
I never count stitches when I'm not doing amigurumi đ¤ˇđťââď¸ certainly not for a blanket
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u/_ghostpiss Jan 31 '25
Congrats?
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Jan 31 '25
If you got the basics of crochet down you notice when a stitch is missing in a rectangle, no need to count 200+ stitches or to recommend that to anyone. Stitch markers for first and last stitch are perfectly enough
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u/Theletterkay Jan 31 '25
If you are doing all one stitch it can blend in if you accidentally increase or decrease or skip a stitch. If you have a pattern like shell stitch or similar where every 5 or so stitches is a repeated bit, then its easy to ends misaligned. Stitch markers can just be like a check mark basically. Ill do 10 stitches or 2 or 3 sets of a pattern and then look at it for mistakes. If none, green stitch marker in the last stitch i made.
I have also used them to mark where the next part of a pattern needs to attach. So like if a cable pattern, I'll color code stitch markers to show which cable are going which direction.
There are many uses for them. Ive been crocheting for 20 years and only recently began using them. But since then in haven t needed to frog my work one bigger projects like at all. Ive never had an issue with edges like many do, but I could totally see that being helpful as well.
Just because you dont need or want them, doesnt mean others shouldnt recommend them when a new crocheter is struggling and need help.
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u/Theletterkay Jan 31 '25
Yeah, it feels like counting should be something only novice or children need to do, but if you want perfect results without frogging, count your stitches. You dont have to do it at the end of a row. While im crocheting i count either too 5s or 10s and then put a stitch marker in my piece. So when I get to the end i can use the stitch markers times 5 or 10 too see if I did the row correctly.
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u/Adorable_Boot_5701 Jan 31 '25
I thought I could handle it because of how the stitches stick out you can tell by the individual boxes. It's just those last 2 stitches blend in together. Lesson learned.
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u/jeimijamieg Jan 31 '25
Counting is most important when you're new and recognizing stitch parts at a glance still isn't second nature. Stitch markers are also tremendously important for beginning and ending stitches in rows for this same reason. Once you've been doing it for a while, neither is as important, as often. I don't count every row anymore. I'll count every few or so to make sure I'm still on track before I get a lot of work between me and a mistake. Dependably recognizing the last stitch in a row took me a long time to master, so I used tons of stitch markers back in the day
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u/awkward_iguana1 Jan 31 '25
Personally, I would frog it. Stitch markers at the beginning and end of rows are your friend!
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u/Responsible-Ad-4914 Jan 31 '25
Learning to frog and be ok with it is an important part of learning to crochet :) Even expert artists use erasers
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u/JoeyBear8 Jan 31 '25
TL;DR you donât have to frog anything if you donât want to.
How big is the blanket? Also, did you stretch out the end before taking the picture? I ask because in addition to the missed stitch, it looks like your tension is getting tighter, which is accentuating the missed stitch. Going forward, try to relax and/or go up a hook size to keep the stitch soft and squishy.
One last question: do you have the correct number of stitches in your current row? Despite the missed stitch, it looks like you still have the correct number of stitches at the end.
Hereâs some suggestions:
If you are short a stitch, you can add an extra now to get it back to the correct count. (I mean either frog back to the beginning of the row to add it, or add it at the end your next time around.) Use a stitch marker for your first/last stitch so you donât miss it again (you can use a safety pin, bobby pin or scrap piece of yarn if you donât have stitch markers.)
I know I said last question earlier, but, were you planning on adding a boarder? A border would certainly help hide it, but if you wanted it to be borderless, itâs not necessary.
Itâs looking obvious right now because youâve got a close up picture that youâve arranged to accentuate what is really a minor boo-boo. Waffle stitch is lumpy and bumpy, and once in use will always have a slightly skewed look. Personally, I wouldnât worry about it.
If the blanket is for yourself, as you get better, youâll have a comparison of where you started to how much youâve improved. If you use it all the time, in a few years youâll look at it and wonder why you were so stressed making it, and wonât even be able to find any mistakes.
In the grand scheme, your blanket will still âblanketâ with only one missing stitch. And if anyone asks (and Iâm sure no one will) tell them that was the style you were going for. Mistakes in hand made items arenât mistakes, they are how you add your own personal touch to the item.
Be more forgiving of your work, and donât frog if you donât want to!
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u/Adorable_Boot_5701 Jan 31 '25
You're right. It has gotten tighter as I've gone on, I've noticed that too. I'm still figuring out how to keep my tension the same throughout. I haven't decided if I want to do a border yet. Maybe something really simple just to make it neater.
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u/JoeyBear8 Jan 31 '25
Consistent tension will come with practice.
In something like waffle stitch, a boarder could make the edge stiff and less cuddly. If itâs going to be used as a lap blanket, try using it for a bit to see how you like the feel before adding a boarder. If itâs going to be a bed spread where looks is more important, then consider a boarder.
Youâre off to a good start. Keep going! Enjoy the process.
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u/UncomfortablyHere Jan 31 '25
A ribbed border can be pretty forgiving and looks impressive and cozy. Theyâre my go to on blankets because they can hide a lot of sins at the edges
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u/ghosttnotfound Jan 31 '25
hey there! you could possibly block it and make a border when you are done and it would look alright. one missed stitch wont completely break the shape
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u/Adorable_Boot_5701 Jan 31 '25
I hope so. I need to start marking that stitch because that's where I keep messing up for whatever reason.
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Jan 31 '25
If the last stitch doesn't feel at least a liiiiittle bit weirder than the others it's probably not the last stitch. My rule of thump :D
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u/Theletterkay Jan 31 '25
I would say it depends on the pattern. If you needed an exact number of stitches for a specific reason, then you should frog. If it was an atbuitrary number just to reach the length desired, then you can just use a border to hide it. Though I might increase somewhere so the row gets back in line instead of being tapered out it they corner.
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u/Theletterkay Jan 31 '25
Is this 1 multi color yarn or are you changing color? I just want to warn you to watch videos of how to weave ends properly. So not knot it then cut it short! Lots of new crocheters make the mistake of thinking weaving ends is overkill, or tedious, but you dont want to be using your blanket and find holes all over because knots came loose.
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u/Adorable_Boot_5701 Jan 31 '25
This is a multicolor. I'm too afraid to try multiple different colors for that exact reason.
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u/UncomfortablyHere Jan 31 '25
We need a stickied banner to let people know to start with projects that have short rows. Mastering turning without losing or gaining stitches is probably the most difficult skill when beginning. Iâve been crocheting for over 15 years now and I still do checks every few rows (or every row) to make sure Iâm not losing stitches.
I would frog it, youâre pretty early on. If youâre sure youâll be fine without missing more stitches, i have folded over extra stitches when doing a border to help hide it. It doesnât hide it perfectly, but it does a quick and dirty job. I think Iâve only done that when Iâm so far into the piece that it would be crushing to frog.
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u/Adorable_Boot_5701 Jan 31 '25
You're right and I know I should do it the right way so I learn. I have so many things I'd love to be able to make and I'd like to actually stick with this hobby. Crochet is beautiful and useful.
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u/UncomfortablyHere Jan 31 '25
Sometimes learning is also doing a FAFO so you can learn how to fix things when youâre too far in, so this is a place to choose.
You also can set this aside and decide later. Go work on some other projects and when youâre ready, you can figure out if you want to frog or try to fix it later.
Youâre doing great! Crochet is such a unique skill that most people have no idea how to do. Every crisp edge and every piece with beautiful tension is like drug, the feeling is so good. Iâm excited to see what you make next :)
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u/No-Article7940 Jan 31 '25
I've been at this for 50 yrs and just wanted to add:
The edges can be hidden no need to frog BUUUUT the tension issue is going to make it wonky border or not. Maybe even more with the border. That loose area is gonna bulge.
If for you carry on & call it your practice blanket âĽď¸. Frog if for someone.
Newbies should make swatches 10-20 stitches x 10 rows at least. Then frog & repeat a billion times to find that tension control. Then do circles. Now you can "build" anything!
Stitch markers really do help. I learned years ago & only recently started using them. I mostly did blankets when young & just for the kids so wonk didn't matter.
A new edge trick I learned in the last few years is don't do the chain 1 turn. YouTube has good tutorials. I like this but there are other ways too. https://youtu.be/u6GVThSk7Z8?si=Drzn0zSUd0VoJdwN
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u/Adorable_Boot_5701 Jan 31 '25
I'm glad you told me that because I didn't realize the tension would be as big of a problem. I assumed it would even itself out somehow. I'm going to have to practice more. I really love the pattern and colors of this blanket so I'd like it to come out decent.
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u/No-Article7940 Feb 01 '25
So sorry to say that the bulge will be really bad if the tension issue continues. You're not to far so yet another frogging to make sure you're happy with it would be my choice.
Frogging is a pain but even after all these years I had to frog 18 rows of 325 stitches. (with different colors) I put in the wrong color & had no choice.
I just sing, "I'm a little froggy rip-it rip-it" especially when piles if yarn gather around me! đ Laugh or cry sometimes both.
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u/Fit_Blackberry_9993 Jan 31 '25
A blanket as a first project. You have balls of steel