How to Fix Uneven Crochet Edges and Keep Them Straight

Straight, even side edges are one of the clearest signs of tidy crochet, and they're also one of the hardest things for new crocheters to get right. The good news: nearly every uneven edge comes from the first and last stitches of each row. Fix those two stitches and your edges straighten out.

Uneven edges show up in a few ways:

• Wavy or bumpy sides, with little loops or gaps at the row ends
• Edges that slant, because the piece is growing or shrinking
• One side neat and the other messy, often because the start and end of rows are handled differently

Let's go through the causes and fixes, stitch by stitch.

The turning chain brings your yarn up to the height of the next row. Whether it counts as a stitch decides where your first and last stitches go, and mixing this up is the number one cause of uneven edges.

Always check your pattern's notes, which override these general rules. Then do it exactly the same way on every row. Consistency matters more than which method you use.

The first stitch

When the turning chain doesn't count, the first stitch sits right at the base of the turning chain and is easy to skip, because it's half hidden. Gently pull the turning chain aside to see it.

The last stitch

The last stitch of a row is often small and tucked under, especially in single crochet. If you're losing a stitch on every row, this is probably where it's going. Look closely at the end of the row and make sure you've worked into the final V.

The top of the turning chain

When the turning chain counts, you have to work into its top at the end of the next row. It looks like a chain, not a normal stitch, so it's easy to stop one stitch short. Work into the top chain of it, for example the 3rd chain of a ch 3.

Even when you do everything right, double and treble crochet edges can look loose. A turning chain is thinner than a real stitch, so it leaves a gap or a stretched loop at the start of each row.

Some popular fixes:

• Chain one fewer. Try a ch 2 instead of a ch 3 for double crochet. It still counts as a stitch, but it's snugger.
• Stacked single crochet. Work a single crochet in the first stitch, then a second single crochet into the left side of that one. It's roughly double crochet height and looks more like a real stitch.
• Chainless starting double crochet. Pull the loop on your hook up to stitch height and work a double crochet around it. Search for "chainless starting double crochet" for photo tutorials.
• Tighten the last stitch. Give the working yarn a small tug after the last stitch of each row, before you chain and turn.

Pick one method and use it on every row, so both edges match.

Count your stitches at the end of every row, at least until you can see your edges are staying straight. If the count is off:

• One extra stitch: you probably worked into the turning chain when it doesn't count, or into the first stitch when it does.
• One missing stitch: you probably missed the last stitch, or the top of the turning chain.
• Off by several: look for accidental increases or decreases in the middle of the row.

Our guide to why blankets get wider goes deeper into stitch counts that drift.

If your piece is finished and the edges are a bit wobbly, a border is a great way to tidy them up. The trick is putting the right number of stitches along the row ends, the sides where you work into the edges of rows rather than into stitch tops.

Common starting points for a single crochet border along the sides:

• Single crochet rows: about 1 sc into the end of each row.
• Half double crochet rows: about 3 sc for every 2 rows.
• Double crochet rows: about 2 sc into the end of each row.
• Corners: 3 sc into each corner stitch so the border turns neatly.

Watch the edge as you work. If it ruffles or waves, you're adding too many stitches; skip one now and then. If it pulls in or puckers, add an extra stitch now and then. Your tension decides the exact ratio, so let the fabric tell you.

After the border, block the piece, pinning the edges straight. Our blocking lesson explains how.