We’ve gone over a bunch of basic crochet stitches, and I’m so proud of you for getting this far. But now we have to talk about something very important – the tension in our stitches.
What is stitch tension?
In crochet, when we say tension, we are refers to how loose or tight the stitches are. This is determined by how close together the stitches are made. A tight tension might create a really dense project, while a loose tension might create a more airy project. It can also refer to how much stress you are putting on the yarn itself while you are crocheting.
What’s the issue if your tension is off?
If your tension is too tight, it may be more difficult to work into previous stitches. If your tension is too loose, you may end up with holes that the pattern didn’t call for. If your tension is inconsistent, then your project may end up misshapen and lumpy. It’s normal for tension to be weird as you’re first learning, so don’t worry if any of these apply to you.
How do you fix your tension?
Practice, practice, practice. As you become more used to the stitches themselves, your hands tend to relax on the hook, so tight tensions tend to relax. Try out different grips, as one may work better for you than another. You can also wrap the yarn around your finger once or twice to see if that helps. You can also try changing hook sizes.
I tend to crochet a little tight. To help with it, I usually go up a hook size from whatever the pattern calls for. As you gain experience, you will start to notice what your tendency is, and you can work to fix it from there. How’s your tension shaping up so far?