From the Middle Baby Blanket (Mosaic yarn)

[EileenK]

I started and restarted this pattern several times, but the center will not stay flat. It curls up as it would for a hat. I kept going for several rounds, thinking it would flatten out, but it never did. I looked around the internet, and the only suggestions were that it must have had too many/not enough stitches. I followed the pattern exactly, and I tried it with a couple of different hook sizes, but I got the same result each time. I switched to a different pattern for my project, but I'd like to know how to get this round/star point blanket right. Here's the pattern: http://bit.ly/y910pI

Thanks!
--Eileen

[dogfoster]

I have not made this blanket. Just wondering though, you say the center will not stay flat. Did you try starting with a magic circle, instead of ch 5 and joining for ring? Magic circles often alleviate that initial bunchiness. Also was it so bad that a little blocking would not take care of it?

[EileenK]

I have not made this blanket. Just wondering though, you say the center will not stay flat. Did you try starting with a magic circle, instead of ch 5 and joining for ring? Magic circles often alleviate that initial bunchiness. Also was it so bad that a little blocking would not take care of it?

Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't tried the magic circle--I'll have to try that. And yes, it was too much cupping to be fixed by blocking. I've been doing the crochet-along and haven't had this problem with those rounds--I figure it's something in the second-fourth rounds that's making it cup. But I'll try the magic circle and see if it helps. Thanks!

[karenarp]

I once made a from the centre afghan and the centre would not lay flat, no matter what hook I used. But the yarn was very delicate so I could only rip it out twice before I felt I would be better to cut the yarn off and start again. I just figure over time and use it would stretch out and you would not notice the bubble middle. Sadly I have never used the round afghan to know if it would work itself out. But I did make another centre start afghan since then and it was perfectly flat.

[dogfoster]

I did rounds 1,2,3 as written and it did cup up for me too.
I ripped that out, on round two I tried ch 2 instead of ch 1, then it lay flat. I really think magic circle would have prevented problem though as the circle gives/increases if needed for the beginning. I did not try circle with this though. I think the extra chain will take care of it.

[EileenK]

I did rounds 1,2,3 as written and it did cup up for me too.
I ripped that out, on round two I tried ch 2 instead of ch 1, then it lay flat. I really think magic circle would have prevented problem though as the circle gives/increases if needed for the beginning. I did not try circle with this though. I think the extra chain will take care of it.

Dogfoster--thanks! I'll try that change.

[beeknit]

I frequently find that blankets started from the center do seem to curl up a little, especially in the first few rnds. I love the way the colors work up in this blanket - Bernat Mosaic Baby From the Middle Baby Blanket. I did up a sample this morning and found that the first 5 rows did look more like a hat, but by the time I had finished the 6th and 7th rnds it all flattened out. I am not sure how many rounds you did, if you did not get as far as the 7th rnd I would suggest you make up another sample, it sould be flat by then.

[EileenK]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!