crochet too tight- help?

[salty]

i'm not exactly a beginner at crochet, but i've never done anything too complicated. blankets, scarfs, and a couple of hats is as far as i've gotten. i'd like to try something where the size actually matters some time, but my stitches are always way way tighter than the pattern says.

anyone have any advice for this? i try to "think loose" but my gage is always several more stitches and an extra row or two in the 4"x4" swath. any help much appreciated.

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by salty

i'm not exactly a beginner at crochet, but i've never done anything too complicated. blankets, scarfs, and a couple of hats is as far as i've gotten. i'd like to try something where the size actually matters some time, but my stitches are always way way tighter than the pattern says.

anyone have any advice for this? i try to "think loose" but my gage is always several more stitches and an extra row or two in the 4"x4" swath. any help much appreciated.

Try doing swatches with larger hooks until you reach the proper gauge.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

Yep. I have a super tight stitch (and really hard handwriting - like curl the page hard!). Move up one hook size. If it still seems too small, move up a second size. I've gotten to the point where I sometimes either add extra stitches to make it bigger or use bigger yarn. FWIW!

[salty]

i've tried that, but what usually happens is that the number of stitches in a row will be right but the number of rows per inch (or per swatch) is still wrong. so, my stitches are thick enough but they're too short! do other people have that problem? i'm nervous about altering patterns, just because it seems like something i'd probably mess up.

[TCMoulton]

I have had that problem in the past and discovered that not only do I crochet tightly (so I do jump up a hook size or two) but I also pull too tightly on the yarn which can sometimes make my stitches too short - try (and I know that this is hard) to ease your grip on the yarn a bit - might make a difference! Good luck!

[salty]

Originally Posted by TCMoulton

I have had that problem in the past and discovered that not only do I crochet tightly (so I do jump up a hook size or two) but I also pull too tightly on the yarn which can sometimes make my stitches too short - try (and I know that this is hard) to ease your grip on the yarn a bit - might make a difference! Good luck!

huh, that could very well be. it's hard to change a comfortable grip on the yarn. it feels all disorganized if i don't have a death-grip on the yarn. i'll have to give it a try, though. thanks!

[Fyrestorm]

now...I have no idea if this is just me...but I also tend to crochet looser with my bamboo hooks than with aluminum ones...might be because the yarn doesn't slide as easily?

just another thought!

[salty]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm

now...I have no idea if this is just me...but I also tend to crochet looser with my bamboo hooks than with aluminum ones...might be because the yarn doesn't slide as easily?

just another thought!

oh, i've only ever used aluminum. that never even occurred to me as a possible influence! thanks for another great idea.