Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers

If your yarn splits, it may be that the yarn is not of high quality or that it is loosely spun. Some hooks with pointy tips may split the yarn. In that case, you may need to stitch extra carefully to avoid splitting the yarn, or use a different hook. A hook with a rough spot also sometimes causes trouble. Try sanding the rough spot with very fine sandpaper. If that doesn’t work, discard the hook. If your yarn is coming untwisted as you work, examine how you are pulling it from the ball. If you are using a center-pull ball, you may be removing twist because of the direction you are pulling. Try pulling from the opposite side of the ball or using the end from the outside of the ball.

Even high-quality yarns may have a knot or a weak spot every now and then. Don’t work over it. Instead, cut the yarn several inches before the knot, leaving a tail to be woven in later. Cut out the bad spot, then begin again, just as you would when adding a new ball.
When you begin a new row, pull out enough yarn to work the entire row, so that you can see any imperfection before you reach it. You can then cut the yarn and rejoin it at the beginning of the row and thus avoid starting a new yarn in the middle of the fabric.

Make sure you are using the appropriate number of extra chains for your first turning chain (check the chart). You could also try making your turning chains (the last few chains of your foundation chain) slightly looser.

Sometimes it’s necessary to stitch into both sides of the foundation chain; for instance, when you are making an oval or starting a three-dimensional piece. Typically, you start by working a row into the foundation chain in the usual way, inserting your hook into the top two loops as described earlier. If you want a rounded end, work several stitches into the last stitch of the foundation chain, then rotate the chain so that the front is still facing you but the bottom of the chain is now on top. Continue to work stitches into the remaining unworked loops on the other side of the chain, placing several stitches into the last stitch to match the other end. Join with a slip stitch to the first stitch.
If you want a square end rather than a rounded end, cut the yarn and fasten off after working the first row across the foundation chain. Turn the piece so that the row you just worked is on the bottom and the remaining loops of the foundation chain are on top. With right side facing, rejoin the yarn at the right-hand corner (or the left-hand corner for Lefties) and stitch into each loop on the other side of the chain. You may also work into the opposite side of the chain when you add on an edging.

When you work the first row, if you insert your hook into just the bumps on the back of the chain, the beginning and ending will match: a tidy row of Vs marching along the top and bottom edges.

Working into a chain space means inserting the hook into the space formed by one or more chain stitches, while working into a chain stitch means inserting the hook directly into the individual stitches of the chain itself. Most patterns expect any stitches that appear over a chain to be worked into the chain space rather than into individual chain stitches, but there are exceptions. Assume that you should work into the space unless the pattern specifies otherwise. To work into the space, insert the hook under the entire chain stitch and pull up a loop from around the other side of the chain.

There are several possibilities:
1) You may be having a problem with American/British terms. If you are reading a British pattern, you’ll have to “translate” the pattern into American stitches to achieve the right look. (And vice versa, of course.)
2) Sometimes you must work several rows before you can see a stitch pattern develop. Stitch patterns with multiple row repeats may require a complete repeat or two before the pattern is apparent.
3) Recheck the pattern instructions to see if there are any special instructions you missed. If you think you are following the instructions correctly, it may pay to continue for another few rows to see what develops.