How do I get my blanket to stop "canoeing"?

Question

I just recently picked up crocheting to make my first born a baby blanket. However the blanket is starting to "canoe". It is starting to frustrate me and I want to pull the whole blanket apart.

Answer 1

Sometime when your starting chain is too tight this will happen.  If you use a hook a size larger than the hook your using to crochet the body of your blanket it may help.  You would be able to tell if this is the trouble by laying out your project on a flat surface.  Does the first row seem too tight and can't stretch?  

I found that making 8 inch squares and sewing them together to make a blanket is easier for a beginner than dealing with a long row.  You can make as many squares as you need to make the size you want.

Here's a pattern: http://lionbrand.com/patterns/70144A.htm...

Answer 2

There is a couple of things you could be doing wrong

1.  you could be loosing a stitch (sometimes and both sides) this will cause the rows to get shorter and shorter

2. if you are not using the correct turning chains to go to then next row it can cause the edges to curl.

I don't know which of these(if any) you are actually experiencing so I don't know how to help you further yet.... email me and I can probably help you. [e-mail]