Why Does My Crochet Have Holes and Gaps? (Rows, Rounds and Amigurumi)
Gaps at the start of rows come from a turning chain that's too tall; gaps in amigurumi from loose tension or decreases; gaps beside increases from working two stitches in a loose stitch. Each fix, explained.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Beginner
- Time
- 10 minutes
You'll need
- A hook one size smaller
- Stitch markers
In this post
Where the hole is tells you its cause. Gaps at the start of rows come from a turning chain that's taller and looser than the stitches beside it. Holes scattered through amigurumi come from loose tension or a hook too big for the yarn. Gaps beside increases and decreases come from how those stitches are worked. Lace and mesh stitches have holes on purpose — those aren't mistakes.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
Find and fix your gap
| Where | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Start of every row (dc) | Ch 3 turning chain sticks out | Ch 2 instead, or a stacked/standing first stitch |
| All over amigurumi | Hook too big, loose tension | Go down 1–2 hook sizes |
| Next to amigurumi decreases | Regular sc2tog leaves a bump and gap | Invisible decrease (front loops only) |
| Where a round joins | Join stitch pulled loose | Work in a spiral, or tighten the join |
| Between rows of dc | Natural spacing of tall stitches | Use hdc or a smaller hook for a solid fabric |
Close the gaps
- Shorter turning chain: For double crochet, try ch 2. Or make a "stacked" first stitch: sc in the first stitch, then sc into the left leg of that sc — it's dc height with no gap.
- Smaller hook for toys: Amigurumi should be worked on a hook one or two sizes smaller than the yarn label.
- Invisible decrease: Insert the hook into the front loop only of the next two stitches, yarn over and pull through both front loops, yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
- Yarn under: In amigurumi, yarn under (instead of over) for the last step of a sc makes tighter, X-shaped stitches.
- Close a hole afterwards: With a tapestry needle and matching yarn, weave across the gap through the stitches on both sides and pull gently.
Stuffing showing through? See how to stop stuffing showing. Visible join line in rounds? See how to hide the join. For holes you can't explain, fixing crochet mistakes covers frogging back cleanly.
Common questions
Why is there a gap at the start of my rows?
Your turning chain is taller or looser than the first stitch. Use a shorter chain (ch 2 for dc) or a stacked single crochet start.
How do I stop holes in amigurumi?
Use a hook one or two sizes smaller than recommended, keep tension firm, and use the invisible decrease.
Can I fix a hole after finishing?
Yes. Weave matching yarn across the hole through the surrounding stitches with a tapestry needle and pull gently closed.
Where was your gap — rows, rounds or toys? 🕳️
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YarnBloom shares cozy, beginner-friendly crochet patterns written in clear US terms, with a stitch count on every round and tips for the tricky bits. Grab your hook — let’s make something lovely.
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