📖 8-minute read
Mistakes in crocheted bags are so common that after a few years of experience, you'll spot them instantly. Most of these mistakes can be easily avoided if you know what to look for. ✨
The 7 Most Common Mistakes
1. Not making a gauge swatch before starting
This is the number one mistake. A gauge swatch (a 10x10 cm square) tells you if your stitch tension produces the number of stitches indicated in the tutorial. If it doesn't match, change your hook. 30 minutes spent on a swatch can save you 10 hours of work that would otherwise need to be redone.
2. Changing hooks in the middle of a project
Even two hooks of the same size from different brands can produce slightly different stitches. The result: the two halves of the bag will look different. Keep your hook safe for the entire duration of the project.
3. Inconsistent yarn tension
If you're tense at the beginning and then relax, your tension changes, and your stitches become small then large. Work in sessions of similar duration, in the same position. For important projects, try to finish the bag in 2-3 sessions close together in time.
4. Skipping stitches or miscounting rounds
Use stitch markers to keep track of the beginning of the round. Count your stitches regularly, especially at the end of each round. Don't work when you're tired: work done while tired almost always needs to be redone.
5. Not understanding which side to work on
If you turn your work halfway through the project, the finished bag will have one half right-side out and one half wrong-side out. Mark the right side with a stitch marker of a different color from the first round. Every time you pick up your work, check that it's visible from the side you're working on.
6. Underestimating the final border
The last stitches of a bag are the most visible. Plan at least 1 hour dedicated solely to the final border, at a time when you're not tired. Use a tapestry needle to neatly hide any remaining yarn ends.
7. Forgetting the lining
A bag without a lining looks like a half-finished project. Think about the lining before you start: buy the fabric when you buy the yarn, so everything is ready when you finish the bag.
Want to start strong from your very first project?
Start with a beginner kit with video tutorial included — you'll see exactly how the stitches and rounds should look, drastically reducing mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mistakes are normal to make on the first bag?
How do I know if my swatch is correct?
Are stitch markers really essential?
How often should you check your work?
Do Macrè tutorials show how to correct mistakes?
In summary
Most importantly: make a swatch before starting. If, despite everything, something goes wrong, don't get discouraged: the next bag will be better. 💕
