Crochet is a creative, calming, and highly rewarding craft, but even the most seasoned crocheters can develop habits that hinder their progress or even cause long-term discomfort.
Whether you’re brand new to crochet or have been stitching for decades, these 14 common crochet habits are ones we should all work on breaking—your hands, projects, and future self will thank you!
Contents
- 1 Stop Doing These 14 Things When You Crochet
- 1.1 1. Crocheting with Poor Posture
- 1.2 2. Ignoring Pain While Crocheting
- 1.3 3. Not Making a Gauge Swatch
- 1.4 4. Neglecting Tension
- 1.5 5. Scrunching Your Shoulders
- 1.6 6. Not Taking Notes on Your Pattern
- 1.7 7. Not Counting Stitches
- 1.8 8. Cutting Yarn Ends Too Short
- 1.9 9. Waiting to Weave in Ends
- 1.10 10. Skipping Blocking
- 1.11 11. Not Reading the Pattern Before Starting
- 1.12 12. Crocheting in Poor Lighting
- 1.13 13. Playing Yarn Chicken
- 1.14 14. Using the Wrong Yarn for the Project
- 2 Final Thoughts
Stop Doing These 14 Things When You Crochet
1. Crocheting with Poor Posture
Let’s start with one of the most overlooked habits: posture. Slouching on the couch, hunching over your stitches, or holding your elbows out wide may seem harmless at first, but poor posture can lead to neck, shoulder, and wrist pain—or even permanent injury over time.
Fix it: Sit upright with your feet flat on the floor, shoulders relaxed, and elbows close to your sides. Use support pillows or ergonomic chairs if needed. Listen to your body—pain is information, not the enemy.
2. Ignoring Pain While Crocheting
Crocheting through pain is a huge mistake. It can cause long-term issues like tendonitis, carpal tunnel, or muscle strain.
Fix it: When you feel discomfort, take a break. Stretch, change positions, or stop for the day. Don’t push through. Pain is your body’s way of asking for a pause.
3. Not Making a Gauge Swatch
It’s tempting to dive into a new project without checking your gauge, but this small step can prevent major disappointment, especially with garments.
Fix it: Make a swatch using the same stitch pattern, yarn, and hook. Adjust your hook size until your gauge matches the pattern. Your future wardrobe will thank you.
4. Neglecting Tension
Tension affects the look, size, and overall quality of your work. Too tight, and your fabric curls. Too loose, and it looks messy.
Fix it: Practice makes perfect. Try holding your yarn differently or adjusting how tightly you grip your hook. And remember—relaxing your shoulders helps relax your hands, too.
5. Scrunching Your Shoulders
It’s easy to tense your upper body without noticing. Crocheting with raised or tight shoulders puts strain on your neck and back.
Fix it: Regularly check in with your body. Drop your shoulders. Breathe. This small adjustment makes crocheting more comfortable and your tension more consistent.
6. Not Taking Notes on Your Pattern
We’ve all thought, “I’ll remember that!”—until we don’t.
Fix it: Keep a small notebook or jot notes directly on your printed pattern. Record hook size changes, yarn substitutions, or pattern adjustments. Your future self will be so grateful.
7. Not Counting Stitches
You’re crocheting away, feeling confident… until the next row doesn’t line up. Uh-oh.
Fix it: Count your stitches periodically, especially after increases or decreases. It only takes a few seconds and saves hours of frogging.
8. Cutting Yarn Ends Too Short
It may seem efficient to snip your yarn close to the fabric, but short tails are hard to weave in and more likely to unravel.
Fix it: Leave at least 6 inches for weaving. This ensures your work stays secure for years to come.
9. Waiting to Weave in Ends
Leaving all your ends for the very end of a project? Welcome to End-Weaving Overwhelm™.
Fix it: Weave in as you go, or do a few at a time. It’s less daunting and keeps your work looking tidy from the start.
10. Skipping Blocking
Blocking transforms your finished project from “nice” to “WOW.” Skipping this step can result in uneven stitches, curling edges, and misshapen garments.
Fix it: Try wet blocking, steam blocking, spray blocking, or pin blocking—whatever suits your fiber. It makes all the difference, especially for wearables and lace.
11. Not Reading the Pattern Before Starting
Jumping in without a full read-through can lead to big surprises: unfamiliar techniques, missing tools, or not enough yarn.
Fix it: Take a few minutes to skim the entire pattern. Check for special stitches, materials, and construction notes.
12. Crocheting in Poor Lighting
Crocheting with dim lighting causes eye strain, headaches, and mistakes you might not notice until it’s too late.
Fix it: Use a neck light, daylight lamp, or task lighting. Your eyes—and your stitch count—will thank you.
13. Playing Yarn Chicken
You think you have enough yarn, but you’re not quite sure. You decide to risk it. Suddenly, you’re out of yarn mid-project—with no matching dye lot in sight.
Fix it: Buy a little extra (especially if it’s a special dye lot). It’s better to have leftover yarn than a mismatched project.
14. Using the Wrong Yarn for the Project
Just because a yarn is the same weight doesn’t mean it’s a good substitute. Fiber content affects stretch, drape, weight, and durability.
Fix it: When substituting yarn, research fiber properties, and always make a swatch. Cotton behaves differently than wool. Acrylic is different from alpaca. Choose wisely for the best results.
Final Thoughts
No one’s perfect—we all pick up habits that hold us back from time to time. The good news? Most of these bad crochet habits are easy to fix with a little awareness and intention. Start with one or two, and you’ll begin to see (and feel) the difference in your projects—and your body.
Which of these habits are you guilty of? Don’t be shy—we’ve all been there! Break the cycle, stitch smarter, and enjoy every loop along the way.
Happy Crocheting! 🧶
