Stitches

Why do my Tunisian crochet stitches come out taller than they are wide?

Is this how it is supposed to be or am I holding something too tight?

Public Comments

1. It depends which crochet stitch you are doing.Single crochet is shorter but trebles are taller.
2. Do they stay that way even though you have worked several rows? Perhaps you might want to review the technique for making the stitches to be sure you're doing it correctly. This video demonstrates technique correctly, although I prefer working with a tighter stitch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EdRuM6I-3w This video demonstrates OTHER stitches and uses good tension: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8WI641gZMA&feature=related In my experience, when I have worked the loops off and the hook is to the right, the stitches are tall. When I pick up loops under the vertical bar and the hook is to the left, the stitches "shrink" in height. When the stitches are completely worked, they stay pretty much square. The new row of worked-off loops is taller and more flexible, and that's because they are only half formed (picking up the loops under the vertical bar completes forming them). Edited to add: I've done two-color work, but not like that (just stripes). When I have wanted a motif, I stitched the background in one color and cross-stitched the motif in the appropriate colors. What I did just now is go measure the rows vs stitches in the Tunisian piece I'm currently working on. The number of stitches in an inch equals the number of rows in an inch. Of course the photo you posted may be somehow not perfectly straight, but--it appears that you have 4 stitches for every 3 rows, so your stitches are in all likelihood taller than they are wide. All I can suggest is that you review your technique to be sure you're not adding anything that would make them taller.
3. I linked my gmail to my account and now it won't show this question as mine. http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l100/ender642/random/?action=view&current=bowser1of1.jpg I make a design on graph paper and then after I make it it is a lot taller than I want it to be.