Tips 'n Tricks

Do 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!

Sunday, December 21, 2008Name: Ruby

Subject: Pattern Holder & Organizeration

Comment: I get a lot of vintage patterns off of the internet. (I was so sorry to see Celtwich had closed that site...one of my favorates.) I have two folders in Word Perfect titled 'Patterns To-Do' and 'Patterns Completed' and store them in the appropriate folder, printing them as needed.
I use a clipboard to keep my pages of instructions in place. I bought a metal slate from a craft store years ago and use the metalic bar that comes with it to keep up with were I am in the pattern.
When interupted for a few minutes, I slip the hook out of the work, enlarge the loop where I was working, and clip it under the clip on the clipboard. It works great.

Friday, December 19, 2008Name: Dorothy Ackerman

Subject: yarn storage

Comment: Well, from my mother, my husband aunt, his cousin, another loved one who either crocheted, knitted, or cross-stitched, I was blessed with TONS OF YARN! SOOOOOOOO SINCE i'm not a shoe person, why not get a thing you put your shoes in, and hang on wall or door and store my inherited colorful stash in!!!! It worked out great and with it being clear, pretty also with all the hundreds of skeins! THANK you LORD! Bless me some more!!!! Happy whatever, and stay warm!!!!
Dot

Monday, November 24, 2008Name: PrincessG

Subject: Books

Comment: i havn't submitted anything for a lonnnggg time now so i thought i should :)

i was searching on ebay for a book .. (wonderful thing ebay is) and i came across a whole stack of crochet books. i got about 75 books for $5!
what a bargain!

also ebay is good for those crochet hooks you cant find anythere else and those books that you really wanted.

So if you cant find that pattern books.. look on ebay and they are sure to have it :)

xoxo
PrincessG

Sunday, November 23, 2008Name: MaryRose

Subject: yarn

Comment: Once I saw this special yarn case at Joann's. You put the yarn in and close the case. Take one end of the yarn and put it in the hole in the cover, so when you are pulling the yarn out it doesn't get all tangled. It also has side compartments for crochet hooks. I thought that was really cool, so I made my own by taking a medium sized plastic pickle jar, and I actually had a parmesian cheese shaker cap that fit on the jar, so I put it on. Then I took a old wallet and velcro-ed it on the side of the jar. It sounds wierd, but it works just as well as the one I saw in the store, and I saved $12!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008Name: kelly

Subject: storage

Comment: I keep my hooks in a huge Altoids tin. It is the perfect size.

Monday, November 17, 2008Name: Shellie

Subject: Pattern Keeping

Comment: I keep my patterns in an accordian file folder. That way they are all together, and I can organize and label them into categories to find them easier.

Sunday, November 09, 2008Name: Nina

Subject: Storage bags

Comment: I sometimes buy wig ponytails and they come in a thick flexable clear plastic bags. They are narrow enough to set a whole set of hooks in along with scissors and the small supplies and the plastic is so thick your tools won't even poke holes in the bag. There is also a button to keep everything in the bag. You can see what hooks are in the bag and toss it in a to go bag and don't have to worry about fishing around in there looking for a hook or poking your fingers with the tip of the scissors

Sunday, November 09, 2008Name: Liz

Subject: keepers & things

Comment: First...I love your site ty. I am an older crocheter 40-50 years, yarn and thread. I keep my hooks in a school pencil keeper it has 2 sides I keep smaller hooks on one side and the larger in the other. I use a magnetic board for most patterns like fillet, I move the tape up after each row. If a pattern is written in columns as many books used to be I have used little clothes pins from a novelty shop to keep my place.

Friday, November 07, 2008Name: barb

Subject: yarn storage

Comment: one time i saw this gadget that was a wooden carousal with holes about the size of a two litre soda bottle all the way around. it turned on a turntable of some sort. but the bottles were two litre soda bottles with the bottoms cut off , the yarn put in and the end run thru the top hole and it was the days when the bottles had the bottom plastic black or green removable bottom. i think some bottles still have that, it can be replaced onto the bottle the yarn is secure the end comes out the mouth of the bottle and it will not tangle and can be seen.

Monday, November 03, 2008Name: melinda9723

Subject: portable storage container

Comment: I recently just had a baby and I found out that you can take one of those empty flat baby wipe containers and put all your supplies (needles,scissors,etc.) in it. Now you have a small container to keep all your small supplies in while working on the go.

Saturday, November 01, 2008Name: BabyD

Subject: Gift Bags

Comment: I love to use gift bags to put my yarn in as I'm working. The skein can roll and tumble around in there without coming out. If I have to leave my WIP, I just pull my working loop out really big and drop my work and the hook in the bag until I can come back to it. And if I'm using several different skeins at once on a project, they each have their own bag so there's no tangling messes.---You can use gift bags you've received or the dollar store is an excellent place to find them. Any size you need too.

Saturday, November 01, 2008Name: BabyD

Subject: Yarn Storage

Comment: I looked for a long time trying to find something that would work for me. I wanted storage like you find in the yarn store but didn't want to pay a small fortune. I found these great shoe storage bins at Target. They're clear plastic so you can see your yarn and they pop together like the wire cubes so they're easy to handle. They have 15 compartments and you can get several of the large skeins in one section and 6-12 of the smaller ones in a section. You can store quite a bit in these. They're wonderful if you have the room for them. I love being able to see all my yarn. Especially when I'm wanting to start a project and trying to see if I have what I need. It beats digging through the tubs I had them in before.----I also took some clear plastic and designed a simple cover to keep over them. It keeps them dust and cat hair free.

Monday, October 27, 2008Name: Peggy

Subject: Yarn Holder

Comment: I use ice cream buckets to hold my yarn. They are free, have plenty of room and in my house, I have lots of them to use for all of my different projects. Just cut a small slit from the side of the lid, make a small hole in the lid close to the edge and you have a container that you can see the color of the yarn easily. And sometimes you can even fit the pattern in the bucket.

Monday, October 27, 2008Name: Joyful

Subject: Storage/Organize

Comment: I like to save the clear plastic covers from sheets/curtains/baby onesies/etc that I buy and use them to organize my miscellaneous crafting supplies. I like that I can see everything in the bags at a glance. I also save the tiny ziplock bags that hold the extra button and thread when I buy a new shirt or pair of pants/skirt. I use those to hold my sewing needles or other small, easily lost supplies.

Monday, October 27, 2008Name: Christinne

Subject: stitch markers

Comment: I have found that when working in rounds (for hats, ponchos, etc.), a traditional stitch marker takes too long to use. I instead use baby hair clips (the ones that bend and "snap" to close). It's faster and easier...and when working in rounds, anything to save time helps.

Notice: If you want to send me (the webmistress) a "thank you" using this form, that is fine (I appreciate it). However, I may not be posting it publicly for all to see, and I have no way of responding without knowing your email address.

Name Provide Your Name Subject Subject of Your Testimonial Comment What is your tip or trick? Type In the Letters/Numbers Submit

Notice: By submitting your content, you are agreeing to have it displayed on this page. I retain the right to edit and/or refuse unsuitable content. (Unsuitable content includes questions and help requests.) All submissions are checked before being published.