Ada - 5 Tips to prevent yarn from spliting

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Crochet Spot » Blog Archive » 5 Tips to Prevent Yarn from Splitting While You Crochet - Crochet Patterns, Tutorials and News
By Rachel Choi
It is really annoying when you crochet and your yarn splits! You end up with only part of the strand of yarn on your hook instead of the entire strand. Here are some tips to help you prevent your yarn from splitting while you crochet:
01. Use a bigger hook – The bigger your hook, the less chance that your hook will split your yarn. Smaller hooks are more pointy and tend to “stab” your yarn in half. While bigger hooks obviously have a larger hook to grab you strand of yarn without splitting it.
02. Take your time – If you take your time, and move extra slow when you crochet, there is no way you can split your yarn. Try working in slow motion for a few stitches and be sure that your yarn is properly under your hook before you pull it. You can speed up, once you get the hang of it.
03. Work with the opposite end of the yarn – Yarn is made with a bunch of plies of yarn twisted together. Sometimes your yarn splits because you are working against the direction that the yarn is twisted in, so you are basically untwisting it. By working with the opposite end of the yarn you can work into the same direction that the yarn is twisted in, so that it doesn’t split.
04. Use a different brand – Different hooks made by different companies are shaped differently. There isn’t one hook that is great for everyone, so try out different types of hooks to see which one works best for you. Be sure to try out different brands of yarn as well.
05. Practice – Practice makes perfect, as the old saying goes, and it is so true. I remember when I first started crocheting, my yarn would split all the time. But now, using the exact same hook and brand of yarn, it doesn’t split anymore because I have practice crocheting. So just be patience and practice, you can do it!

Happy Crocheting! Ada.

[Pixieglitter]

Hi Ada, these tips are so true. Personally, I don't go up a hook size. I've found that the best thing that works for me is switching brands of my hook. I mostly use Boye hooks, which are very comfortable for me because I hold my hook like a pencil. I've found that when my yarn splits, or when I'm using 100% cotton, a Susan Bates hook works so much better.

Thanks for posting this great information!

Shelley

[AdaBusyBee]

Very welcome Shelley, Happy Crocheting! Ada.