Help! Why Is My Stitch Count Changing?

If the edges of your crochet keep becoming uneven or you struggle to maintain the correct stitch count, this video will help you understand what may be going wrong. Nearly every crocheter encounters this problem at some point. Brenda explains the most common ways stitches are accidentally added or skipped when working back and forth in turned rows, then demonstrates a simple approach for keeping your stitch count accurate and your edges straight.

In the second half of the video, Brenda turns to stitch counts when crocheting in the round. Taller stitches can make counting especially confusing because the beginning chain may or may not count as a stitch, depending on the pattern. This decision needs to be established at the beginning of the project and followed consistently in order to maintain the correct number of stitches.

Brenda also explains why the slip stitch used to join a round should not be counted as a stitch. Accidentally working into that joining slip stitch can add an extra stitch and gradually throw off your stitch count. She demonstrates the difference between instructions where the “beginning chain counts as a stitch” and those where the “beginning chain does not count as a stitch.”

By understanding when beginning and turning chains count as stitches, and when they do not, you’ll have a much clearer idea of where to place the first and last stitches of each row or round. This knowledge can eliminate much of the confusion surrounding stitch counts and help you create cleaner, more consistent crochet edges.