Why Is My Crochet Piece Turning Into a Triangle?

You started with a nice straight-edged rectangle, and somewhere along the way it started leaning into a triangle shape. Don't worry, this is one of the most common crochet hiccups, and it's an easy fix once you know what to look for.

The usual culprit is an accidental increase or decrease at the ends of your rows. It's easy to miss the very first or last stitch of a row, especially the turning chain, which can either get worked into (adding a stitch) or skipped entirely (losing a stitch).

Here's how to troubleshoot:

• Count your stitches at the end of every row for a few rows in a row. If the number keeps climbing, you're gaining stitches. If it keeps dropping, you're losing them.
• Check your turning chain. Decide whether it counts as a stitch for your pattern, and be consistent.
• Watch the last stitch of each row. It's the easiest one to accidentally skip.
• Use a stitch marker on the first stitch of each row so you always know where a row starts and ends.

Once you spot where the extra or missing stitch is sneaking in, your rows will straighten right back out. A little counting now saves a lot of frustration later.