Expert: Bea Harrell - 11/12/2008

Question
I have been crocheting for many years and always have the same problem. When using the afghan stitch, the ends of my blankets curl up. I've tried altering the tension of the stitch with no change. Any suggestions?

Answer
Hey, Toni: I found this article in Talking Crochet. It addresses your problem, and even has a link to doing the Reverse Afghan Stitch!

"I have made several afghans using the afghan stitch and have had a real problem with the beginning rows rolling up. I read somewhere that a border around the afghan would correct this problem, but it hasn't. Can anyone tell me how to get my afghan to lay flat?"
I took Robbie's question directly to a Tunisian (afghan-stitch) crochet expert, well-known designer Kim Guzman, and here are her suggestions:

"Tunisian crochet, like knitting, tends to have more fabric on the back side than the right side. For this reason, most projects will curl. It is just the nature of Tunisian crochet. However, there are ways to combat the curling and, in some cases, eliminate it altogether.

"The most common way to decrease the curling is to use a larger hook. With Tunisian crochet, I will usually recommend a hook that is two or three sizes larger than the recommended crochet hook size for the yarn. For instance, if the yarn band recommends a size I hook, I will usually use a K or L in order to achieve the best results. It doesn't mean the curling will be eliminated, but it will produce projects with less curling.

"My favorite means to prevent the curling, though, is by combining stitches which put more fabric in the front, counteracting the curl. My favorite is the Tunisian Reverse Stitch. Working a few rows of Tunisian Reverse Stitch at the bottom, sides and top of your projects will counteract the curling, much like applying garter stitch around the edges does in knitting."
Thanks, Kim, for sharing your expertise with our readers! For those who are not familiar with the Tunisian Reverse Stitch, here is a great online video tutorial that shows how to work it.

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-tunisian-knit-crochet-stitch-2551...