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| Featured Pattern of the Week: Ruffles Pillow |
        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: Matthew Subject: Fringe with books Comment: I find that using pieces of carboard boxes to make custom-length fringe can be problematic -- the carboard bends and the lengths come out all wrong - using a hard-cover book works great... I choose the size book appropriate for the length ("War & Peace" or a big cookbook for long blanket fringe - smaller books for shorter) I close the starting end into the book (close to the spine) then wind the book around until it is neatly covered with one layer of yarn (or as needed), then cut along the top where the cover usually projects beyond the edges of the pages, a perfect place to run your scissors under the yarn, making sure to cut the piece that held between the pages. The rigid book is easy to hold and makes the lengths very regular. as always, be careful of tension as you wind. Name: Donna Subject: yarn containers Comment: Every once in a while I like to get the Planter's cheese balls in the tube containers. I find them pretty handy to put my skein of yarn in them. Just clean out the inside, cut a hole in the lid to string the yarn thru. The containers are big enough for an eight ounce skein. Name: Josephine Subject: yarn Comment: Hi me again. I am 12 years old and find that if you go on holidays and want to take your crochet things with you and don't want to carry big balls of yarn around that you just find the end of the ball and make a mini ball of yarn. It can be whatever size you want/need. I know that it is very handy because I have done this several times. Sure it may take a while to make the mini ball but it is worth it! Name: Josephine Subject: hooks Comment: I am 12 years old and currently teaching myself to crochet with grest success. Whatever you do DON'T EVER buy plastic crochet hooks! I bought some when I was beginning and while I was crocheting a bookmark with a 4.00mm hook, it snapped in half! I had to get my mum to drive for half an hour just to get to the craft store so I could buy a ALUMINIUM 4.00mm hook!Now I only buy METAL or ALUMINIUM hooks. (sorry if i spelt anything wrong!) Name: brandi Subject: Scraps of thread? Comment: When I have scraps of thread I make a scrap blankey usually granny squares Name: Bethany Subject: granny squares Comment: I like to make granny squares so i have a whole bunch of them, and they can be sewn together to make loads of stuff. They make great quick easy projects, too. Name: Taylor Subject: way to send thread through bottles Comment: I've used those 2 liter soda bottles for my thread. Everyone's asked me how I get the thread throught the tiny opening in the bottle. I put a paper clip on the end of the string and take a strong magnet near the top. Works every time! Name: Mari Subject: Project Container Comment: When beginning a project, I place my yarn/thread in a small plastic bucket (the kind with a rope handle). The yarn stays put when working, there is no friction with holes poked in oatmeal container tops, and I keep the hook and instructions in the bucket with the yarn when not in use. Name: Heather T Subject: hook container Comment: first of all i would like to thank everything for all of these wonderful ideas! they're all really great. my tips is to use retangular tupper-ware for your hooks. the one i use is about 4" X 7" and it's a percect size to fit all of your hooks. and not only your hooks you can put your needles, stitch markers, small 6" ruler, scrap balls of yarn, scissors, and even a gauge card! and if you have one that is about two inches deep you could fit around 50 hooks easily! Name: Susan Subject: yarn freak Comment: Another name for "yarn freak" is "yarn acquisition syndrome." Name: Victoria Subject: Blocking a project Comment: Blocking your project before you sew it together gives it a more professional, and softer appearance. The method I use is; place your project on a bath towel, and pin it in place. Then lay a damp kitchen towel over top, and leave it over night, or until both the towel and the project are dry. Name: rica p. Subject: spontaneous ideas Comment: When you have an idea for a new project, don't procrastinate writing it down. If you're in bed, get up and write at least a keyword. If you don't, you'll never remember what it was. I keep a running list of all my projects and ideas on my computer and another paper copy for on the go. Keeping an organized list of current and future projects keeps you from forgetting them. Name: Alison Subject: Need Ideas Comment: NOTE TO ALISON FROM RACHEL, CPC WEBMISTRESS: Please go to my contact me page and send me an email containing your email address! It needs to be posted here so others can contact you directly and not clog up the Tips and Tricks section. Plus, I have a place where I think you would like to post for help. Thank you! (I usually do not post help requests but am making an exception in this case.) Alison's message: I am an Occupational Therapy Assistant student currently working with a terminally ill woman with severe arthritis who has crocheted for many years!! Being a former crocheter, I am familar with how to crochet and recognize the therapeutic value of the craft(any craft for that matter!) Crocheting is the one thing she loves to do and she misses it terribly. Because the fingers on her left hand are extremely affected, she is unable to wrap the yarn around the index finger and hold it to guide it along. She is capable of holding the hook and working it in her right. She wants to crochet desperately. I am trying to find a way, whether by using some type of device or postioning her hand to aid her in holding the yarn. I am hoping someone out there has an idea or two!! Any input will be greatly appreciated and tested out! Giving this woman back a bit of herself will help make her last days a bit happier! Thank you. Name: brandi Subject: needle one size too small? Comment: When crocheting I find that i'm sometimes one size too small and I can't find the right needle. In order for it to be the right size I make my stiches extremely loose and it ends up the right size. Name: Briannah Subject: yarn Comment: hi i'm briannah and i'm 15. I've been crocheting for a couple of years now and i noticed that if you have a ball of yarn and you want to keep it in place all you have to do is put it in an old oatmeal container and put a hole in the top. when you pull the yarn it won't roll away. 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... |
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