9 Rookie Crocheting Mistakes (and How to Avoid them)

Let’s look at the top rookie crocheting mistakes I see new crocheters make, and what you can do instead.

#1 of the Top 9 Rookie Crocheting Mistakes: Using the Wrong Yarn (for Your Project)

My first crochet student wanted nothing more than to create beautiful crochet pieces using the softest, furriest, and fluffiest yarns she could find. When she came to me, she was frazzled and frustrated after trying and failing to crochet a simple hat.

Did you spot it? Can you see where she went wrong in her project? That’s right, it wasn’t her lack of crocheting expertise but simply her choosing the wrong yarn!

Thankfully after a quick crochet session with me (send me a message to schedule your personalized class here!) she ended up successfully crocheting her first beanie with a smoother, thinner, and MUCH more manageable yarn choice!

What to do Instead:

The key is to select your yarn by choosing a weight, fiber, and texture that is manageable enough for your current crocheting level and also suitable for your pattern and hook size. Don’t overlook yarn color, too! Dark and fuzzier yarns make it harder to distinguish stitches as you work.

Mistake #2: Not Making a Gauge Swatch

None of us is naive enough to think not making a gauge swatch is the only mistake people make with crocheting. If that was it, there’d be a whole lot more expert crocheters!

The next biggest mistake I see beginner crocheters make is not paying attention to their pattern gauge or skipping over making a gauge swatch before starting their project.

I get it…crocheting a gauge swatch is tedious. Why spend time crocheting a 4”x4” square and counting your stitches when you can dive right into your new, sexy crochet pattern instead? Unfortunately, crocheting a gauge swatch is a necessary first step to starting any crochet project to ensure you have sufficient materials on hand and that your finished project meets the same measurements and has the same drape/structure as the pattern.

What to Do Instead:

Buckle down and make a quick gauge swatch! It doesn’t take very long and it will help your finished crochet projects become masterpieces.

Related Post: To learn more about crochet gauge, check out my post on Mastering Crochet Gauge.

Mistake #3: Not Reading Your Pattern Carefully

As tempting as it is to skip past the pattern notes, materials, and gauge sections – don’t! These sections contain important information that will make the difference between your finished piece looking good and looking great!

Make sure you read the whole pattern through before starting the project – look up any unfamiliar stitches or abbreviations and highlight key instructions to ensure you don’t overlook an important step.

Mistake #4: Using the Wrong Hook Size

You’d be surprised how often people use the wrong size hook! Start with the hook size listed in the pattern for the recommended yarn weight, and then size up or down as needed after reviewing your crocheted gauge swatch.

Need help troubleshooting your crochet gauge? Order your crochet gauge guide here!

Mistake #5: Inconsistent Tension

Crocheting is both an art and a skill: it takes practice holding the yarn with consistent tension that’s neither too tight nor too loose. Gripping the hook too tightly makes it hard to maneuver into stitches, and holding it too loosely creates baggy and uneven stitches.

What to do Instead:

Relax your hand and experiment with different ways of holding the hook until you find a comfortable grip you can maintain as you crochet. If holding the yarn feels uncomfortable you can use a crocheting ring to help keep your tension consistent.

You can also try making swatches to get a feel for a steady tension.

Mistake #6: Wishful Crocheting – Starting with a Difficult Project

We’ve all stumbled upon a beautiful crochet pattern and immediately tried it…only to quickly discover it’s far beyond our abilities.

This sounds harmless but it’s very easy to get discouraged by trying and failing at crochet projects that are simply too intricate for your current level. It starts to feel like you are a failure, not that you simply have more to learn!

What to do Instead:

Start with simple projects like dishcloths or scarves before jumping into detailed amigurumi or lacework. While simple-looking pieces aren’t as glamorous as the crochet masterpieces on Instagram, it will provide the foundation for your skills to grow and grow!

Mistake #7: Accidently Skipping or Adding Stitches

There’s nothing more frustrating than realizing your project starts out fine but suddenly becomes wider or narrower along the way. This is caused by you likely skipping or adding stitches to rows as you crochet.

Pro tip: A common culprit is counting the turning chains as stitches when you shouldn’t have or vice versa! Check the pattern notes if you aren’t sure if you should be counting the turning chain as a stitch for the next row.

What to do Instead:

Always count your stitches at the end of each row; as tedious as this can be (especially for larger pieces) it will save you time in the long run by ensuring you don’t have to rip out multiple rows and start over. Place stitch markers at key points if needed to mark your stitch counts.

If your stitch count is constant but your rows still keep shrinking or growing, then it’s likely your tension to blame – you might be pulling too tight or too loose.

Mistake #8: Not Weaving in Your Ends Properly

Weaving in ends is the most dreaded part of crocheting for me. As much as I love creating beautiful crochet colorwork pieces, weaving in ends is the bane of my existence every time. As tedious as I find this step, it’s crucial to creating a cohesive and finished look to all crochet projects.

Cutting off yarn tails too short or not securing them properly can easily cause all your hard work to unravel. (Ask me how I know!)

What to do Instead:

Use a yarn needle to weave in all ends securely through multiple stitches in three directions before trimming, being careful not to cut your stitches. This will keep your crochet pieces looking polished for years to come.

Mistake #9: Giving Up Too Soon

Out of all the above rookie crocheting mistakes the worst, I repeat, THE WORST mistake you can make as a beginner crocheter is getting frustrated and rage-quitting before mastering crocheting.

YOU are capable of creating beautiful crocheted pieces. Whenever you get frustrated, take some deep breaths, set your project aside for a while and take a break to reset your headspace, and then ask for help from a crocheter group online, send me a message, or head to my shop page to reference my printable crochet resources!

I’m also working on a crochet course to provide more in depth crochet knowledge (and keep you from wasting time and energy on even more rookie crocheting mistakes.) Above all, keep practicing and keep learning!

In conclusion, there’s likely one or more of the above rookie crocheting mistakes you’re making on your crochet journey – even I have been guilty of these! By far the worst of the rookie crocheting mistakes you can make is to give up on yourself and your crocheting. 

Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to ask me for help if you need it – no one was born learning how to crochet expertly.

We all start somewhere, and there is no shame in learning from those with more experience – it will save you a lot of frustration and time!