Your Graphgan Success Checklist

Over the years, I’ve learned (usually the hard way), that there are certain mistakes almost every graphgan maker runs into at some point. If you’ve ever ended up with tangled yarn, a blanket that came out the wrong size, or a pile of ends so overwhelming you wanted to abandon the whole thing, you’re not alone.

Before we get into the mistakes, if you’re just getting started with graphgans I have a free five day email series that covers the basics. Good beginner projects, how to handle color changes, the stuff that makes a real difference when you actually sit down to make something. You can sign up here.

Here are eight of the most common graphgan mistakes and exactly what to do instead.

1. Dream Big, But Start Small

The Mistake: Starting with an over-ambitious project
When I first started making graphgans I thought bigger was better. My first attempt was a full-size blanket with a detailed 10+ color design. I didn’t finish it.

Why It’s a Problem:
Big, complicated designs can be exciting, but they’re also time-consuming and easy to lose motivation for. Nobody wants to spend months crocheting only to shove an unfinished project into the back of the cupboard never to be touched again.

How to Avoid It:
Start small. A cushion cover, a baby blanket (The Mini Mountain Blanket is a winner), or even a simple wall hanging is a great way to get comfortable with the technique. Trust me, the sense of accomplishment from finishing a smaller piece will give you the confidence to tackle something bigger later.

2. Loose Ends Are the Enemy

The Mistake: Leaving all the loose ends to weave in at the end
Imagine finishing a gorgeous graphgan only to face a mountain of loose ends staring back at you. I’ve been there, and it’s not fun.

Why It’s a Problem:
Leaving all your ends until the end can feel overwhelming and make you dread the finishing stage. After spending weeks (or months!) on a graphgan, the thought of weaving in a hundred loose ends might make you want to abandon the project altogether.

How to Avoid It:
Weave as you go! By taking a few moments to secure the ends as you finish a section, you’ll avoid the mental strain of saving it all for the end. It also helps you feel like you’re making progress, which is a huge motivator when working on a long-term project. Need more guidance on how to weave in your ends? Check my complete guide to weaving in ends on your graphgan.

3. Tangled Bobbins = Frustration

The Mistake: Not managing your bobbins properly
Graphgans mean working with multiple colors, which means multiple bobbins. Without a plan, you’ll end up in a tangle.

Why It’s a Problem:
Untangling yarn mid-row is a time drain and it’s one of the most frustrating things about colorwork. Constantly yanking on knotted yarn can also stretch or damage it, which is the last thing you want on a project you’ve put hours into.

How to Avoid It:
A bobbin holder and some bobbins is worth every penny. It keeps everything organized and feeding smoothly while you work. You can find the ones I recommend on my colorwork tools page.

4. Which Stitch Should You Use For A Graphgan?

The Mistake: Using the wrong stitch for your graphgan
I’ve seen people use double crochet when the pattern clearly calls for single crochet. While it might feel like you’re speeding up the process, you’re actually distorting the design.

Why It’s a Problem:
Different stitches have different heights. Single crochet is short and almost square. Switch to double crochet and each row is suddenly much taller, which stretches the design vertically and throws the whole thing off.

How to Avoid It:
Always check the pattern instructions. If you’re designing your own graphgan, stick to single crochet or another consistent stitch. I’ve written a guide to designing graphgans that explains this in detail, give it a read before you start!

5. Don’t Skip The Swatch

The Mistake: Not checking your gauge
I know. Nobody wants to do it. But skipping the gauge swatch is one of those mistakes that feels fine right up until you finish a blanket that’s the wrong size.

Why It’s a Problem:
Everyone crochets differently. Your tension might be tighter or looser than the pattern was written for, and that difference adds up over hundreds of rows. A blanket that should be a generous throw can end up closer to a lap blanket if your gauge is off.

How to Avoid It:
Always, always make a gauge swatch. Yes, it feels like extra work, but it’s essential. Follow the pattern’s gauge instructions, crochet a small sample, and measure it. Adjust your hook size as needed until your swatch matches the pattern.

6. Not Buying All Your Yarn Upfront

The Mistake: Running out of yarn or struggling to find matching colors
Running out of yarn halfway through a project is bad enough. Running out and finding the color has been discontinued, or that a new ball is from a different dye lot and doesn’t quite match, is worse.

Why It’s a Problem:
Buying yarn as you go seems fine in theory but it creates problems. Dye lots vary between batches, colors get discontinued, and hunting down a specific shade mid-project is stressful and time consuming.

How to Avoid It:
Buy everything you need before you start. Check dye lots to ensure consistency, and test your color palette before starting. Lay the skeins side by side to see how they look together. Stuggling to pick yarn for your next graphgan? Read this to find out which yarns I swear by!

7. Not Blocking Your Finished Graphgan

The Mistake: Not doing the finshing steps
You’ve spent weeks on a graphgan and it looks great, but the edges are curling and some sections look uneven. Blocking fixes this, and a lot of people skip it.

Why It’s a Problem:
Without blocking, your graphgan might look uneven, with curled edges or lumpy sections.

How to Avoid It:
I steam block all of my graphgans and it makes a noticeable difference. Lay your finished blanket on a flat surface or blocking mat, pin it lightly into shape, then use a handheld steamer or the steam setting on your iron and hover it over the surface without pressing directly onto the yarn. Leave it to dry fully before you unpin it. It’s one of those steps that takes very little time relative to the difference it makes.

8. Don’t Crochet in the Dark

The Mistake: Working in poor lighting
This one sounds obvious but it’s easy to end up squinting at your stitches without really noticing until your eyes are tired and you’ve made a mistake 4 rows back.

Why It’s a Problem:
Poor lighting makes it harder to see your stitches clearly, which means more miscounts, wrong colors, and missed details. It also leads to eye strain that cuts your crochet sessions shorter than they need to be.

How to Avoid It:
Natural daylight is ideal but not always practical, especially if you do most of your crocheting in the evenings. A neck lamp is something I’d recommend. It lights up your stitches directly without you having to position a lamp awkwardly, it’s lightweight enough to wear for a long session, and you can take it anywhere. It’s one of those things that seems unnecessary until you try it.

Avoid the Pitfalls, Enjoy the Process

Graphgans are a commitment, but they’re worth it. Most of the things that make them feel hard are actually pretty easy to avoid once you know about them.

Got any graphgan questions or tips of your own? Share them in the comments, I’d love to hear from you! If you’re feeling inspired to level up your skills, I’d love to help you out. Head over to my Graphgan School for a full library of free lessons that dive deeper into the techniques, tips, and tricks that make graphgan crochet such a joy. Let’s keep learning, keep experimenting, and keep creating these one-of-a-kind treasures together!