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!

Friday, April 27, 2012Name: Cathy Kiesinger Appnel

Subject: Saving Time While Crocheting

Comment: I use clean bread bags or newspaper bags to hold my yarn while crocheting. Insert the yarn with the wrapper on into bag and pull yarn from center. The yarn doesn't tangle and doesn't roll around. If you are working with multiple colors this works out beautifully for me. I don't have to finish off. I just pick the see through bag with the color needed and set the others aside. The bags of yarn store neatly when not being used along with staying clean.

Friday, April 27, 2012Name: Debra

Subject: Crocheting with multiple colors

Comment: I got a five gallon bucket with a lid, cut 5 holes in the top and each color comes out of a different hole. Works great.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012Name: Leslie

Subject: Crochet yarn ball

Comment: While crocheting, I put the ball of yarn in a clean, soup-size coffee cup. That way, it is always under control, the yarn comes off the ball easily and it stays clean.

Monday, April 16, 2012Name: Thomas

Subject: Row counter

Comment: I use a Red Heart knit counter on my crochet hooks to keep track of which row I'm on [they fit on the most used crochet hooks (G through J metal hooks... at least my most used)]. I also use a rubber knit tip protector to keep the counter on the crochet hook, so it doesn't slide off. For other projects that need smaller or larger hooks I attach the counter to the very beginning with a piece of yarn or "strung tags" I got at an office supply store.

Sunday, April 08, 2012Name: Jan

Subject: Stitch markers

Comment: Be caredful using bobby pins when marking projects made with white thread or yarn. I did this and I found that they left a little brown mark.

Tuesday, April 03, 2012Name: Heidi - Brisbane Australia

Subject: yarn holders

Comment: Am so loving this site!! my tip is to use clean jars to hold your balls of wool while you knit/crochet. I use the large Moconna jars. Ice cream containers also work well for this. Obviously it's only for when crafting at home (bit awkward taking a jar to a Dr surgery for example LOL) and if you use more than one colour at a time, use one jar for each ball (goes without saying?)
I am relatively new to the world of crochet, and am loving it! but have been a knitter for a few years - around this time every year (March April through to about September) our summers are too hot for it :-(

Monday, April 02, 2012Name: Natalie

Subject: Counting Rows

Comment: I hated always needing to have a pen and paper pattern with my when I crochet to keep track of rows (I often just sit by the computer and I can't exactly mark up the monitor, can I?) so I downloaded the Knitting Stash free app for my Android phone. One click increases the row I'm on. It also keeps track of projects on the go, and what size and style hooks I have!

Monday, April 02, 2012Name: Joyce B

Subject: Softening yarn

Comment: Red Heart Super Saver isn't a very soft yarn on its own. After you finish the project (such as a scarf), soak it in a solution of water and liquid fabric softener. Squeeze out the excess solution and run it through the clothes dryer with a dryer sheet. Voila! You've got a nice soft scarf.

Monday, April 02, 2012Name: Joyce B

Subject: Softening yarn (additional info)

Comment: Soak item in fabric softener solution BEFORE adding any fringe.

Thursday, March 22, 2012Name: Olive

Subject: clothes pins

Comment: when i crochet with crochet thread, i wrap the thread around a clothes pin and clip the tail in it. when working, i clip the thread to my shirt or lampshades and such for safe keeping. it works great!

Thursday, March 22, 2012Name: Sabine in QLD, Australia

Subject: Storing Patterns

Comment: I print out free patterns off the net (sites like this are awesome for finding them) and store them in an A4 display folder. If you take the time to sort them out then it's really easy to find the one you're looking for, and you can write on the sleeves with with an erasable marker.

Thursday, March 22, 2012Name: Kay K

Subject: Yarn holder

Comment: I put my yarn in a Clorex wipes container to keep it from rolling around and keep it clean when I am working on a project.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012Name: Maggie

Subject: Free Flowing Balls of Yarn

Comment: When working with balls of yarn, I place them in a plastic bag from the store and tie the top of the bag and have the yarn coming out of the bag, the yarn ball stays clean as is unrolling

Saturday, March 17, 2012Name: sunshine harralson

Subject: thrifty ways

Comment: hey ya'll i am a poor crochet and other crafts gal and i wanted to share a few things, first i needed better lighting so i got a small bucket and attached a construction clamp light to it with a 100 watt energy saver bulb, when yarn gets to the small size i roll it on a piece of pipe and attached it to a board that i can sit on the floor and pull the yarn, the gallon ziploc bag works really great

Wednesday, March 14, 2012Name: Jaydee in Alaska

Subject: What row am I on?

Comment: I was having trouble keeping track of what row I was on or how many times I had completed a repeat row.
So, I put my pattern in clear plastic protector sleeves. Then I use a Sharpie to mark each time I finish a row. If I have to repeat a row, I use hash marks.
Then when I am finished with the pattern, I just use a kleenex and some alcohol and wipe all of it off.
This saves the pattern from being marked up with pen or pencil to be used again. Hope this helps

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