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| 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: Christine Subject: crochet ties Comment: Whenever making ties (for drawstrings,booties,etc.)instead of doing just chain stitches at the end of doing them just go over them with a slip stitch in each chain. It looks better and is much sturdier. Name: Amanda Subject: Reading Patterns Comment: I often make patterns that I like more than once. Trouble is, I tend to write on them alot to keep track of where I am when I have to take pause from my crocheting. A trick I use I to put the pattern in a clear plastic sleeve (in the stationary section of the store) Then I write on it with an eraseable marker made special for white boards. This lets me re-use patterns over and over again...just wipe of your marks and start over! Name: Tina Subject: Nail Clippers Comment: I carry crochet projects around with me and even safety scissors can lead to a bad haircut to one of my kids. I use nail clippers to clip my yarn. And while planning to fly to see my sister found that these are acceptable on aircraft. No worries about haircuts or a failed inspections!! Name: Salome Subject: Fringe Comment: In patterns it always says: Take a 12 in. (or wahtever length) piece of card board and wrap yarn around... I never do that. All I do is cut one piece the length I want it and then hold the end up to my yarn end and cut it at the bottom. I repeat this process until I have how many strands I want. It is really simple but it is quick!!! Name: Salome Subject: Yarn Comment: If you mess up really bad on a project(knitting or crochet) of course you have to wind the yarn back into a ball again. By the time I'm done with that my skien of yarn is very long and thin. So the next time I just folded the remaining yarn in half THEN started winding. It worked reall well. You should try it!! Name: Mary Bergh Subject: Keeping Organized Comment: A cigar box works great for storing all your crochet needs!!! And if you are near a local cigar store they are usually free!!! Name: Kris Subject: Yarn needles Comment: If you have yarn needles just lying all over the place and don't know what to do with them (my grandma finds them all over the place),baby wipe containers work, or even the travel sized ones could do. Name: Gail Subject: Stealing from the Knitters Comment: There's much to be learned by studying what knitters do...they have FAR more pattern books, etc. Pick up some knitting books (especially on sale at garage sales, library sales, etc. cheaply) and convert the graphic designs to crochet patterns. From watching the new DIY network series on knitting (Knitty Gritty...honestly, I am not their PR person!...) I learned when switching colors to use the "working" thread for the first stitch, the "tail" thread for the second stitch, and then return to the "working" thread for the third stitch and beyond. It secures the new thread into the piece. Also, from a popular knitting book (to remain nameless here, but you probably know which one I mean), I learned to use Excel as a grid to create patterns. Name: Neena Hart Subject: Projects on the go Comment: I bought a small Rubbermaid tote to keep my projects in. The lid locks tight so my cat can't get into it. As an added bonus, the tote fits in between the two front seats in my van, so when my family and I go on road trips, I have everything I need to keep crocheting. I paid about $5 for the tote at Wal-mart. Name: sylvia Subject: road trips Comment: in order to take my project with me on trips I bought a big purse and it works wonders and its easy to carry Name: Jeanette Subject: Yarn Scraps Comment: If any of you are like me, you have oodles of yarn scraps just lying about. I always crochet them into tiny granny squares, no more than the first round, and save them and when I have enough, I buy some basic black yarn and sew or crochet the little squares together into blankets. These colorful blankets are a wonderful way to prevent yarn waste, and even if you do not like the look of your project there are plenty of homeless shelters or battered women's shelters that would appreciate the donation. One word of advice though-- check the gauge of the squares insomuch as they all need to be relatively the same size. (Mine are all 1 5/8 inch) Several different types and textures of yarn can be used (and it makes for a more interesting creation, too) but just be sure to check the washing directions first so that when you wash your blanket it won't shrink in odd directions. Name: Tami Subject: Storage Comment: As my yarn "collection" grows with each new project: I have run out of space. My solution? I have a wooden bookcase that my father made in high school and I just "stock" the shelves with my skeins. With my fun fir and other smaller items I've taken a wire hanger and opened it up, leaving the hanging part, then "thread" the small balls onto the hanger, then bend the end into an "L" shape to keep them from slipping off, then hang them on the lip of the bookcase. Milk crates are good for storage, they stack nicely and if they're too dirty to clean, a nice garbage bag lining is good, then if you have to move them and use the crates for something else, the yarn is all gathered in a clean plastic bag. Name: Gail Subject: Organizing Comment: I value all of these great hints. Here are some others for organizing: (1) use a counter-top paper towel holder (that sits vertically) with a as a thread cady. They typically hold 2-3 thread "skeins" and allow the thread and skein to unwind freely. Be sure the "post" of the holder is fits the center of the skein (carry a sample from the yard goods department to the kitchen wares to try it out before purchase). (2) Stitch some narrow "pockets" into a pot holder that already has a pocket built in for a hand, as a hook/scissor holder. Fold it over and use a button or ribbon closure (makes the case about the size of an eyeglass case), for travelling. (3) Use a "lazy susan" type desktop pencil holder to hold hooks, needs, scissors. Now: does anyone have a good organizing tip for yarn and thread for a yarn packrat? Name: ARLEEN Subject: Tucking loose ends Comment: When you are croceting application pieces (granny squares) it is good to tuck as many strands while you are crocheting so you won't have so much weaving and tucking of the ends when your project is finished. Name: Josephine Subject: Pets Comment: Never leave your new kitten alone with a ball of yarn and your project on the coffee table unless you enjoy picking up miles of yarn around the house. 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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