|
| Featured Pattern of the Week: Baby Cowboy Hat |
        Interested in knitting? Visit our sister site: Knitting Pattern Central  | Tips 'n TricksDo you have a helpful hint or handy trick that will make any aspect of crocheting easier? Share it! Post ideas on scrap yarn usages, stitch markers, starching, hook organization, color changing, maintaining your sanity while following a difficult pattern, etc. There is most probably someone out there that will benefit from your help. Need ideas yourself? Read others' comments--we all live and learn! Name: proudmama Subject: loose ends Comment: to keep balls of yarn from unrolling and tangling in your storage bin, take the loose end and loosely tie it to one of the strands on the ball. they wont unroll and tangle. hope this helps Name: Zeno Subject: Fitting Projects Not from Patterns Comment: I'm a younger crocheter and I love to crochet my own patterns, but for a while I had a problem deciding how many stitches to chain. For projects like hats there is a simple fix: Just chain the minimum and hold them around you in the position they'll be in once the project is done! Now I have less tight or loose garments and more perfectly fitted ones! Name: CrochetPrincess Subject: WordLibrary Comment: I search for patterns online all the time. Once I've found the ones I like I copy paste the instructions and images on wordpad or sometimes download the PDF file. Now I have a library of Crochet and Knit Patterns and can browse them for ideas. Sometimes a pattern on a tablecloth inspires a new idea for a skirt. Name: karen allen Subject: crochet for grand childern Comment: i love making simple things for the grandchildern, such as; stuff animals necklaces purses and coasters. i am so glad they don't have to have fancy things, to make them happy, their ages are 3, 4 and 10 year old girls. haven't made any crochet items for the 15 year old boy. Name: Sophia Subject: bracelets Comment: it's simple and good as presents. you just do a few stitches then put a bead in and repeat that step. you can do other types of stitches if you want Name: Jennifer Subject: Keeping a stitch Comment: When I need to stop crocheting, I use a simple trick to keep my stitches from undoing. I simply make the loop larger, and stick my ball of yarn through it. Name: alipurr Subject: lost stitches Comment: When I have to put down my WIP, it is usually quickly, because I am usually stopping to help babies and toddlers. Since I don't have time to put in pins or markers, I make the loop really really big. I also make sure to put my hook away in my zipper case. That way, if babies or kitties get in my yarn basket as they inevitably do, my work yarn can be pulled a little but stitches won't be lost because I made the loop so big. Name: Beth Subject: empty soda bottles Comment: I haven't been doing this long but i love it! take an empty soda bottle and cut out the bottom. slip your yarn in the thru the bottom and pull the string out the top end.stand it upright and begin your project. no rolling yarn! my granny taught me this tip. enjoy! Name: marylee giocondo Subject: Helpful Tip Comment: For crocheters who put work down and pick up later only to find that a few stitches have come out, then you have to tear back to where the pattern started... What I do is put a stitch holder thru the loop before I put my work down, come back and its right where I left it, and no pulled out stitches. Name: Karen Subject: leftover yarn Comment: There's an organization called Care Wear that accepts donations of handmade preemie crocheted hats for premature infants in hospitals across our country. Have a half skein of yarn left over from that afghan you made? Make a few preemie hats to donate! They're quick and easy and there's tons of patterns online for them. Goes to a great cause! Name: ToniL Subject: Keeping Hooks Comment: I found that one of those nice plastic cases that you get a "good" pen or pen/pencil set in is perfect for storing my hooks and my hubby made me a simple flat block with a length of dowel up from the centre. Sanded it all up and lacquered it and it's perfect for holding my ball of yarn without it rolling all around the floor. Rather like a miniature paper towel holder. Name: Mic Durham Subject: Crochet Hook Keeper Comment: We have 4 kids and have spent tons of $$ on school supplies that are not always used to their full extent. I keep my kids pencil keepers (w/ 3 holes 4 binders). This way I keep my hooks w/ my patterns all in one place. If I'm in a super hurry and know I will be sitting around for an appt--I just grab the book and my basic bag of thread or yarn and I'm good to go! Name: MadHatter Subject: Keeping Yarn Close Comment: To keep my yarn balls from rolling, I keep a heavy plant pot next to my crocheting chair. I chose one big enough for a one pound ball of yarn. Plus it is decorative. Name: MadHatter Subject: Downloading Patterns Comment: I save web patterns by copying them into WORD. I save the picture to my Desktop, then insert the picture into the WORD document. That way, when I print the pattern, I have all of the information printed out together. Just be sure to include the web link and copyright, in case you need to go back to the original web page! Name: MadHatter Subject: Charts Comment: I agree with Zack, color-coded charts are great. The solution: take the picture created in Paint, and insert it into a WORD document. Then resize to the largest that will fit on a page. Print! Another way: create a grid of rectangles in WORD, and "fill" each with the desired color. Handy for those who don't use Paint. Select a Page << Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Next >> Share your own hints by filling in the form below... |
   |
|