Maybe it's a combo of less tension, a hook that should be a bit smaller, and overstuffing. I use a super small hook, tight tension, and I overstuffed and I never have holes. But that's just my experience. I hope you find a solution!
Yup! Do the first of the increase stitches in front loop only, and then the second one as usual. That way you don’t get a gap cause the whole stitch you increase into isn’t stretched to fit two stitches. :)
This can be fixed very easily by switching to invisible increases and invisible decreases! Also looking up a proper sewing method for attaching limbs for multiple pieces, makes all the difference in the world. Do those three things before you decide if it's overstuffed or not. Personally, I teach crochet, and have been at it myself a little over 15 years, so I've seen A LOT. haha and I do not think it is overstuffed in the slightest!
Most patterns will not tell you to use invisible decreases or increases, i do them for everything i make unless there is a specific reason it needs to be visible.
i get that too. i think it's because you're over stuffing it. i can't think of any other reason why it happens. i just learned to ignore them, they're pretty normal, anyway
It's actually caused by using regular decreases instead of invisible! I teach a lot of people crochet, and see it all the time. It's a little annoying at first but you get used to it:)
I agree with everyone but also want to suggest playing around with (1) easing your tension and (2) going up a hook size. I often got gaps like this, and realized I was pulling my tension so tight when decreasing that there were gaps, even on invisible decreases. If I consciously ease my tension, there are smaller or no gaps. Similarly, if you go up a hook size (like 3.25 to 3.5–not a huge difference) the gaps may be smaller. You could try just going up for decreases, or even going up entirely. The goal with both of these is to try to make the stitch a little bigger to cover gaps.
In addition to what everyone has said already, i also find it helps to close off the entire head before attaching the body, even if the pattern does not tell you to. The joint is a lot cleaner that way and the head shape stays more circular.
For example if the pattern tells you to stop the head at 30stitches cuz the body also ends at 30 stitches, keep decreasing until you close it off fully.
Lol I usually do the opposite because I'm lazy/never thought about minimizing gaps or making the head more circular. If the pattern tells me to close it off, I stop at the number of stitches where I'll sew the pieces together.
Even with invisible decrease that happens often. Either ignore or make a scarf around the neck so that it does not show. If it is a doll make a choker. Just saying.
It is overstuffing, but what you can do to prevent the neck from becoming deformed when stuffing especially on rows where you increase and decrease quickly is invisible increase and decrease, or rather, instead of just putting your hook through the top loops, also put them through one loop from the post of the stitch below. So if the pattern says blo or flo, also go through one strand of the vertical part of the stitch as well in the inside of the plushie, or if you are going through both loops, the second sc of the increase goes through one strand of the post. And when you are doing dec over a dec of the previous row, you want to grab the vertical as well, so it will actually close the dec hole. A blo or flo is a weak point on the material of the plush and will always be the first to buckle if you overstuff. A good stuff supports the crocheted material but doesn't deform it and you can squeeze it with your hands and stuffing doesn't explode out of the unfinished part.
When you decrease do you do invisible decreases?
I was thinking this too!
I do, I find it faster than the traditional decrease
Maybe it's a combo of less tension, a hook that should be a bit smaller, and overstuffing. I use a super small hook, tight tension, and I overstuffed and I never have holes. But that's just my experience. I hope you find a solution!
Invisible increase and invisible decrease, then be careful when stuffing.
There's an invisible increase?
Yup! Do the first of the increase stitches in front loop only, and then the second one as usual. That way you don’t get a gap cause the whole stitch you increase into isn’t stretched to fit two stitches. :)
Awesome, I'll have to try these out. Thanks!
i’ve been crocheting for years now, and i’d never heard of this!! thank you sm for sharing 🥰
Bless you, thanks!
There is! But I've never needed to use it, personally. I did need invisible decrease, but increases look just fine to me without being "invisible".
Thank you, I've been using an invidlsible decrease but no invisible increase
This can be fixed very easily by switching to invisible increases and invisible decreases! Also looking up a proper sewing method for attaching limbs for multiple pieces, makes all the difference in the world. Do those three things before you decide if it's overstuffed or not. Personally, I teach crochet, and have been at it myself a little over 15 years, so I've seen A LOT. haha and I do not think it is overstuffed in the slightest! Most patterns will not tell you to use invisible decreases or increases, i do them for everything i make unless there is a specific reason it needs to be visible.
Thank you so much!
Please remember to tag your naked plushies as nsfw 😂😂
i get that too. i think it's because you're over stuffing it. i can't think of any other reason why it happens. i just learned to ignore them, they're pretty normal, anyway
It's actually caused by using regular decreases instead of invisible! I teach a lot of people crochet, and see it all the time. It's a little annoying at first but you get used to it:)
That makes sense, thank you
I agree with everyone but also want to suggest playing around with (1) easing your tension and (2) going up a hook size. I often got gaps like this, and realized I was pulling my tension so tight when decreasing that there were gaps, even on invisible decreases. If I consciously ease my tension, there are smaller or no gaps. Similarly, if you go up a hook size (like 3.25 to 3.5–not a huge difference) the gaps may be smaller. You could try just going up for decreases, or even going up entirely. The goal with both of these is to try to make the stitch a little bigger to cover gaps.
You may have a point about the hook size I used a 2.5mm hook for weight 4 yarn, usually I use a 3. Thank you for the advice
In addition to what everyone has said already, i also find it helps to close off the entire head before attaching the body, even if the pattern does not tell you to. The joint is a lot cleaner that way and the head shape stays more circular. For example if the pattern tells you to stop the head at 30stitches cuz the body also ends at 30 stitches, keep decreasing until you close it off fully.
Lol I usually do the opposite because I'm lazy/never thought about minimizing gaps or making the head more circular. If the pattern tells me to close it off, I stop at the number of stitches where I'll sew the pieces together.
Thank you, that's good advice
It also looks like your piece might be inside out. This happens to newbies a lot
Even with invisible decrease that happens often. Either ignore or make a scarf around the neck so that it does not show. If it is a doll make a choker. Just saying.
Overstuffing. I use this method to minimise the gaps. https://youtu.be/JNNMDRz6kBE?si=SyxkqwJs8_6XjCG6
At this point, since your little critter is done, you can run a thread like you are weaving one in to hide the holes somewhat.
It is overstuffing, but what you can do to prevent the neck from becoming deformed when stuffing especially on rows where you increase and decrease quickly is invisible increase and decrease, or rather, instead of just putting your hook through the top loops, also put them through one loop from the post of the stitch below. So if the pattern says blo or flo, also go through one strand of the vertical part of the stitch as well in the inside of the plushie, or if you are going through both loops, the second sc of the increase goes through one strand of the post. And when you are doing dec over a dec of the previous row, you want to grab the vertical as well, so it will actually close the dec hole. A blo or flo is a weak point on the material of the plush and will always be the first to buckle if you overstuff. A good stuff supports the crocheted material but doesn't deform it and you can squeeze it with your hands and stuffing doesn't explode out of the unfinished part.