I can’t really crochet but I am stuck laying down day and night due to a back problem and knitting is impossible so a few days ago I tried a crochet tutorial which went OK.
It’s a lace trim edging I thought maybe one day I can sew it onto the bottom of a knitted top or something. Not sure.
Anyway, here’s my problem and I would love some advice.
I started with a chain of 29 (top of the photo)
The first row of the pattern was worked into this chain.
On subsequent repeats I believe the number of stitches or chains I am working across for the first row is 56 (bottom of the photo where I’m ready to start a repeat).
The first row is really really tight and there is no way it will stretch out or straighten. I don’t really understand why it was set up on so few chains, 29 instead of 56.
All the rest lays flat and the tension is acceptable considering I can’t crochet.
Is there a way I can cut off the first repeat of 10 rows or take out that first tight chain row without losing the whole thing?
I think if I did this again I could work out how to begin the initial chain row with 56 and make it flat but that involves ripping the whole thing out.
I’m hoping there is another option.
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I am sorry I can’t help (as I am not a crocheter) but I wanted to say that I think you work is beautiful and I hope you will find a solution!
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It certainly is lovely. I hope the back problem resolves so that you can get back to knitting but this is a wonderful use of your time.
Maybe
@felicityjg @OffJumpsJack @Snowfleas or @ColoCro
can advise.
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What pattern are you using? Can you share a link please. I do hope your back is better fast.
In the past I have removed stitches from the beginning of a project but it is very tedious and time consuming. It takes a lot of patience. Once you have the piece the right size, you might be able to tuck each end inside a cardigan where it wouldn't show. It might be possible to fold a piece of binding or other cloth over each end and stitch it in place. That is only hiding the problem though. It might help next time to use a larger hook to make the starting chain and then switch to the smaller one.
I hope someone can come up with a suitable solution. I have been down and out with a back injury since 2002. I hope your recovery goes well. We recently invested in an inversion table, which we had been warned about. It was a last resort and I feel that it is helping. My heating pad is also my best friend.
Your work is beautiful. Please don't get discouraged by this little set back.
Vicki Henderson
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I don’t crochet but was sorry to hear you’re feeling poorly with your back. I just got over some back strain issues. My best friend was the heating pad. But couldn’t stay down trying to keep up with an 8 yr old. Anyway hope you’re better soon.
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I’m afraid I have to agree with Snowfleas. It is difficult enough taking out the beginning of a plain piece of crochet. It is possible though. Another drastic solution, which I can only suggest if it is going to be hidden - and that is to snip through the starting chain and then stitch it back together creating length. I definitely agree with Snowfleas re using a larger hook for your chain row in future. I tend to do this as a norm for most projects now. Sorry I can’t be more help.
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Thank you every one for your well wishes and advice.
I’ve had back problems most of my life but this is beyond description. I had spine surgery 18 months ago (after a 6 year wait) which should have solved it but the problem has come back. It is unbearable. When I am “just in pain” knitting is a good distraction technique for pain management but when I am like this, in such a bad state, I can’t do a thing. I have a date for a different surgical procedure in May but if that fails it will be back to the surgery waiting list, with 7 million on the waiting list for surgery I won’t hold my breath!
Just in the last week it has eased a tiny fraction and now I can hold a book to read, or hold a crochet hook, which is much nicer than doing literally nothing all day (just screaming like a banshee or sleeping!)
Anyway…
https://www.google.com/search?q=crochet+lace+edge+tutorial&client=tablet-android-samsung-nf-rev1&hl=en-GB&tbm=vid&sxsrf=APwXEdeCjnZ6N56vgXa2QPhLHSdj6bFVDg:1679932116607&ei=1LohZK_YJICdhbIPzIWmwAc&start=10&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwivkrrouvz9AhWATkEAHcyCCXgQ8NMDegQIFxAW&biw=1261&bih=1990&dpr=1.5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:94b15075,vid:4cdoTYp9l2M
This is the link to the pattern tutorial
There is no written pattern or chart.
Now that I have donenthe react 10 times and have learned a little tiny bit about the construction and how to read the fabric, I just do not understand why the set up row would ever have been the stitch or chain count that it is. It makes no sense to me at all.
As example, in the repeat there are 13 double crochet worked into a loop which is created by a double crochet, a chain of 5, a double crochet (and those doubles are into a loop made by a chain of 5) so there is a lot of room for the 13 double to go into.
In the set up row the 13 double crochet are all worked into a single stitch on the set up chain. There is no way this can ever stretch to the same width as the rest of the pattern.
Perhaps this is normal for crochet or perhaps I chose a tutorial with a not well thought out set up row. I don’t know enough about crochet to say which it is.
I might just get a bit of yarn and see if I can hack at this set up row.
This link is probably better
Thanks for the link. Seeing the shot in the video preview makes me think your piece might be exactly as it should be. For your original question, there might be a way to fix the chain to flatten it out without ripping the whole piece but I don’t know what it is and would probably only try it for the heck of it and to say I did it once. What does your piece look like when it is smoothed out so that the pattern stitches are flattened as in the video example. In the photo you posted it’s hard to tell whether it would flatten and open up or not. What yarn did you use? If it’s cotton and other attempts to flatten it out and have the lace look nice failed I’d try ironing it. Other fibers, blocking could help. I honestly don’t see that your set up row is a major problem. A looser chain might make a difference but I don’t think that’s the fix you’re wanting. Stitch counts on subsequent rows being much higher doesn’t mean the piece will be wider because … lace. The additional stitches should add to the more vertical aspects of the motifs rather than the width. If you’ve knit lace before I’m sure you’re familiar with how really awful it can look before blocking. I read before that unblocked lace looks like the dog’s breakfast and find that an excellent way to describe it. I might try this pattern sometime because it’s really pretty and it would be a nice addition to knitted items.
For someone who can’t crochet you did a darned good impersonation of someone who does!
In the past I have removed stitches from the beginning of a project but it is very tedious and time consuming. It takes a lot of patience. Once you have the piece the right size, you might be able to tuck each end inside a cardigan where it wouldn’t show. It might be possible to fold a piece of binding or other cloth over each end and stitch it in place. That is only hiding the problem though. It might help next time to use a larger hook to make the starting chain and then switch to the smaller one.
I hope someone can come up with a suitable solution. I have been down and out with a back injury since 2002. I hope your recovery goes well. We recently invested in an inversion table, which we had been warned about. It was a last resort and I feel that it is helping. My heating pad is also my best friend.
Your work is beautiful. Please don’t get discouraged by this little set back.
Vicki Henderson
@Snowfleas, I hope not to bother you with this reposting of your post. I just could not read the sideways scrolling text.
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You’re right kine is just like the video, however, it is extremely tight and so is the piece on the video.
In the video preview image the tight starter row has been flatten down, yes, but it is severely pulled, I mean really severely. Not something that would block into shape, to block it would need some give and there is none at all. The reason it looks allover flat in the preview is because the second repeat is being pushed in kn itself to make it look the same width.
If you look at the rectangles along the bottom edge of the preview and go along to look at between 5 and 6 from the left, then follow that chain (or those 2 chains) all the way up to the top edge, see how all those chains are wibbly wobbly and sitting loosely and bunched up? That’s why the piece looks even on the preview, the second repeat is pushed together to look equal size to the first repeat which is so narrow and tight.
Look also at the more solid leaf or petal type shape. The one attached to the starting chain on the left has almost no hole as all those stitches are crammed into a single stitch which cannot stretch. The second repeat has the large hole and sits well, it’s 13 stitches are worked inside a big loop of of 5 chains bookended with double crochet.
Whilst the rest of the piece will relax and lie nice and flat when I wash it, that first line never would and the majority is going to get bigger as it blocks into its lacy hole but that first chain there is no movement at all, nothing. It’s not even nice to hold its so tight.
However… i have replaced the first chain now. I threaded a new chain all along which worked brilliantly and i made it the same tension as the rest. I needed to add a second chain to help form that edge and cut the yarn a bit short for that part so next time I can work on it I will undo my second chain and rework it with a better length yarn and then I’ll come back with a photo.
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Thank-you so much. I didn’t know why it was taking up so much space horizontally. I also didn’t know who to contact or how to fix it. Thanks for fixing it for me.
Vicki Henderson
Hello! Sorry I am so late to this thread.
This would best fit under a search for how to repair a hole in crochet. I have some experience with repairing holes in crochet blankets. My mom made a blanket for my wife and later my dog chewed a hole near a corner. 
I fixed it.
Repairs some time require dropping the work (patch) off the hook and then inserting the hook through the bottom on the matching stitch in the row above to tie things seamlessly back together.
10:45 pm here. I will look first think tomorrow morning and post a “how to fix it” if you can wait.
I marked where there should be a short chain gap forming the hole of the Leaf/Pineapple motif. You should be able to chain through what would be the bottom of the first row sts. In fact a life line through the first row would be a good first step.
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I’ve done it.
The top piece with a few threads that I need to sew in is the piece I redid.
Although it looks a bit loosey goosey it’s exactly the same size as the rest of the lace now and will flatten with blocking.
I transfered all the stitches to a new chain, then added a row to space the stitches out and then added a little chain stitch edge to “match” the other end. It can’t be symetrical of course as it’s an asymmetrical pattern but I think the extra 2 rows helped make it look a more like they belong together and I’m happy with how the stitches spread on the new chain.
Thanks everyone for the support.
@OffJumpsJack thanks for correcting me on the pattern, it’s a pineapple lace, I didn’t know that. And I would still be interested in your thoughts if you have time as I know you are experienced in crochet.
Thank you
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Well done! I think that is an excellent improvement over the vid’s starting chain. Leaf and Pineapple are about the only two motifs names I remember. 
I was leaning to the leaf, myself.
I haven’t crocheted in decades now. For the younger me it was so much about learning new patterns back then. 
I thank you for the kind words.
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Nicely done! I couldn’t decide if it’s pineapple and like OffJumpsJack was leaning toward leaf. Whatever it’s called it’s very pretty.
I used to crochet a lot more than I do now. I never have figured out how to do it without making my wrist hurt. Mostly I knit and when I do crochet I can’t do it for long stretches without putting it down. Then it’s back to knitting. My granddaughter wanted a watermelon slice rug and that I crocheted but it took quite some time.
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