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!

Monday, February 13, 2012Name: Jan

Subject: Beginning chain

Comment: Many times, a crochet pattern will tell you to make the beginning chain loosely. I've found that if I make the chain using a hook one or two times larger than the pattern calls for, I can make a looser chain and still maintain a nice tension for the project.

Thursday, February 09, 2012Name: Gina

Subject: Crochet Hooks

Comment: I use a slide pencil box. Stores all of my hooks as well as a pen and pencil. Travels well.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012Name: Barbara

Subject: Keeping place in the pattern

Comment: When I am crocheting I find it easiest to keep my place in the pattern by using a magnetic board to put the pattern on then use a small magnetic strip to keep my place on the instructions.

Thursday, February 02, 2012Name: shirley

Subject: keeping your place

Comment: I use a plastic head common pin to mark my place in a pattern; it makes a small hole in the page I'm working on, but it's a quick and easy way to keep track of where you are, expecialy where the directions are quite complicated.

Thursday, January 26, 2012Name: Mary Jane

Subject: Good Cause Using Yarn

Comment: Check this website: http://www.foreverwarm.org Forever Warm needs crocheted baby blankets in sizes 18" x 18" up to size 34" x 34". The "contact us" option on the website is often not working right, so find them on Facebook and contact her that way. She will e-mail you back right away. These blankets go to angel babies.... babies who did not survive the birthing process. The babies can be wrapped in a warm and wonderful handmade blanket for photos or for burial ....and sometimes the family keeps the blanket as a treasured memoir. I'm starting a local chapter in Maryland. I hope you will start one in your area :)

Thursday, January 26, 2012Name: Johanna Crellin

Subject: Repeated Rows

Comment: When I come across a pattern that has for instance "Rep from Row 6-13" I get a scrap bit of paper (I keep opened envelopes from letters for it before recycling) and write down the rows eg: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and cross off each one as I finish it then I can put the crocheting down (I have 3 kids so that is often lol) and com back to it knowing which row I was doing.

Thursday, January 26, 2012Name: Kamama K Yeager

Subject: Ply & thickness

Comment: Have crocheted since my grandmother taught me when I was seven, nearly 60 years, and even made our house payment one year by making and selling crocheted wedding gifts and home decor. Have noticed that sometimes yarn of one color is slightly thicker or thinner than yarn of another color by same manufacturer and of same ply, weight, etc. Not all four-ply medium weight yarns have the same strand thickness. The Red Heart Super Saver 4-ply Light Raspberry strand is thicker and coarser than Red Heart Super Saver 4-ply Buff, for instance. Sometimes the difference is small and subtle and the yarns still can be used in the same project without any noticeable variation in stitch size or block size or strip size but sometimes there can be a big difference, as with some of the Red Heart 4-ply medium weight worsted yarns or with some of the 4-ply Lion Brand 4-ply worsted yarns. I no longer have to rip out the "offending" section because when I buy yarn I check the strands with one another to make sure they're approximately the same thickness. If there's too much variation in strand size I buy other similar colors which have less variation. Also, Some of the "thinner strand" 4-ply yarns from Red Heart can work well with many of the I Love This Yarn 4-ply skeins from Hobby Lobby. The differences are virtually undetectable in a finished piece. Happy crocheting! I love this site!

Thursday, January 26, 2012Name: Angie Barnett

Subject: hook organization

Comment: I store my extra hooks in the plastic tubes Crystal Lite powdered drink mix comes in. It has a tight lid and is see through. These both help make hook organization convient. Also, I have made a crocheted hook organizer: Single crochet a rectangle aproximately 8x10inches. Then single crochet around to make nice edges. Lay the rectangle with the short sides on the left and right. Fold the bottom up about 1-2 inches and sew (with yarn) in place. Sew from bottom up to keep bottom edge up and creating areas to separate hooks by category. Store hooks by weaving hook to back then to front. Then roll rectangle and secure in your special way. I have about 12 hooks this way but could have more if the rectangle was made larger!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012Name: Julie

Subject: Crochet needles

Comment: I crochet quit often and found that in the middle of a project a squeeking sound comes from the needle and the yarn is harder to work with!! I figure the oils and dirt from your hand effect the needle, so every once and a while I take a mild dish detergent and hand wash my needles in luke warm water and dry with a micro-fiber cloth (the ones used to clean glasses). This keeps my needles clean, smelling good, and yarn flowing smoothly!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012Name: Ginnie

Subject: Using zippered bags sheets come in

Comment: I'm like Malea, I like these bags for all kinds of uses but a word of warning. I placed knitted hats in them to keep until Christmas 2012 when they are donated to our local Christmas Mother program that provides them, along with purchased gloves, to the needy. Some how I knicked the hats on the zipper edge and pulled the yarn......yikes, in several of them. Can't fix it, so I'll crochet a flower or some decoration to go on it! Just be careful....It wasn't the first time!!!

I have also purchased a box of ziplock 2 1/2 gallon bags and they are great for all size projects.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012Name: Rhianna

Subject: Want cheep yarn ?

Comment: I don't like spending to much money on my yarn so instead I use wool it works just as good plus always check how many metres you get in each ball and I like to spend 1p for 1metre eg: 180 metre ball should cost £1.80 that way you know you're not spending more than enough.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012Name: Applebottom pie

Subject: amigurumi

Comment: To save some time I usually skip the gauge step when making amigurumi's, because I find if it comes out a little bigger or smaller than in the pattern, it will just add character!

Monday, January 23, 2012Name: David

Subject: hook storage

Comment: To store crochet hooks try using a glass case for spec's the type that have a press open top. the ones with two spring bars at the open end they are long enough to take the long hooks.

Sunday, January 22, 2012Name: Jenny Patton

Subject: Weaving in yarn ends

Comment: A leather lacing needle is fast and easy for weaving in yarn ends. Flat metal needle is 2" long with a split in the "eye" end that has a barb inside to hold the yarn.

Sunday, January 22, 2012Name: Gina Strzyzewski

Subject: Yarn

Comment: So I don't start losing my yarn, I enjoy to keep it bins that you can easily buy at any store. Then you can put all your yarn nice and organized and put it in a closet or corner so it doesn't get in the way or lost.

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