How to Crochet Tightly

Crochet tightly by using a smaller hook.

To crochet tightly, rather than pulling on each stitch – which can leave stitches uneven because of changing tension -- use a smaller hook than is called for in the pattern, or a smaller hook than is usually appropriate for the weight of yarn you are using. If you aren’t sure if the hook size you’ve chosen will produce a gauge swatch to see how the stitches appear when crocheted. Then you can either go up a hook size for looser stitches or down a hook size for tighter stitches.

Things You'll Need

• Crochet hook
• Yarn
• Spray bottle
• Towel
• Ruler (optional)

Instructions

1. Chain stitch about 20 to 30 stitches using the crochet hook and yarn.

2. Crochet 20 rows in the desired crochet stitch.

3. Cast off, knot and clip the yarn. You now have a swatch to look at to test crochet gauge.

4. Wet-block the piece, if it is made of animal-based fibers, by spraying some water onto the swatch and then smoothing the swatch on a towel. Allow the swatch to dry.

5. Examine the swatch and decide if the stitches appear as tight as you would like. If not, use a smaller hook and crochet another swatch to test. You can also measure the stitches per inch using a ruler to determine if the crochet swatch matches the gauge called for in a pattern. Count the number of stitches in a 4-inch section of the swatch, both horizontally and vertically.

References

• Dummies; Making and Measuring a Gauge Swatch Before You Crochet; Susan Brittain, et al.
• Simple Crochet; Erica Knight; 2003