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!

Saturday, January 21, 2012Name: Rachell

Subject: Keep the yarn clean

Comment: I use plastic zip lock bags to put my yarn in when traveling so it stays clean on floors or other people's homes that might have cute pets. I just don't want the cute pet hair. The project I am working on I keep in a plastic bag as well. The clear comforter bags you get. If the project gets too big, well, I haven't crossed that bridge yet.

Saturday, January 21, 2012Name: Amber

Subject: Leftover yarn

Comment: When you have yarn leftover from one project but not enough to start another try the "Giant Granny Square." Keep adding leftover yarn until you have an afghan sized granny square.

Thursday, January 19, 2012Name: Jessica

Subject: Yarn

Comment: To prevent my yarn from tangling when in my yarn bin I roll them in balls and then put them each in their own zip lock bags no more tangles :)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012Name: Carmen Johnson

Subject: Scraps of yarn

Comment: I have saved all the yarn snippings from my projects. I put it all in a zip lock bag and in the spring time, I will put it in a bird suet cage so that the birds can take to build their nest. I'm looking forward to seeing some colorful nest and what a way help the birds.

Thursday, January 12, 2012Name: Amber

Subject: Storing your Projects

Comment: To keep myself occupied I usually have 2 or 3 projects going at the same time. I've found that reusable shopping bags work great for storing projects. You can get the large ones at Wal-Mart for $3.

Monday, January 09, 2012Name: sittercat

Subject: crocheting

Comment: i was taught to crochet by an aunt - she was right handed and i am left handed. i could not get it watching her and my uncle said watch her in the mirror. BINGO that did the trick !!!!!!! i have been crocheting ever since

Thursday, January 05, 2012Name: Jan

Subject: Multiple sizes patterns

Comment: Whenever I'm making a project that has changes for several sizes on the pattern, I mark each size change using a different colored hi-lighter marker. This way, I can see at a glance which number of stitches to use.

Thursday, January 05, 2012Name: Jan

Subject: Counting pattern repeats

Comment: Whenever I have a pattern that says to repeat a sequence of stitches a certain number of times, I will keep track by counting the design as follows-- 1 2 3, 2 2 3, 3 2 3, 4 2 3, and so on as the pattern dictates.

Tuesday, January 03, 2012Name: Lacey Burley

Subject: Amigurumi Tips

Comment: I'm 13 and I love to crochet. I take it everywhere! I found that whilst doing amigurumi I can make a magic circle just as easily as chaining and the hole won't have obnoxous yarn sticking out of it. I suggest this even for experienced crocheters. Also, when you switch colors or end the piece, the yarn bite you can simply pick up with a yarn needle, take it through where it begins and take it out the back and snip off the yarn as close to the piece as you can get without cutting it and having to start over. Then squish the piece a little and bend it until the end of the yarn dissapears into the piece. (by the way: this usually works best when single crocheting).

Monday, January 02, 2012Name: Rachel

Subject: Threading yarn needle

Comment: I was having a hard time threading my yarn in the needle. So I used a floss threader under my bridged tooth and am always dropping them on the floor. One day I picked one up and used it to thread the needle and it worked fine and also a cheap needle threader for yarn.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011Name: Annie

Subject: Crochet hooks

Comment: Use plastic ones at first! It helps!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011Name: Melissa

Subject: hook storage

Comment: I found a great way to keep my hooks organized. I purchased flatware and it came in this clear plastic pouch with four compartments. After putting the flatware away I used the pouch to sort my multiple hooks. Now I might have to go get more flatware just so I can get more plastic storage pouches! :)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011Name: Abby

Subject: Mixing yarns

Comment: A previous comment said "Novelty yarn is VERY expensive! To stretch a buck, I match the good stuff up with a quality acrylic..." She also noted to "pay attention to laundering instructions."

However, an added note of caution: Be EXTREMELY careful when mixing yarns. My mother-in-law crocheted a shawl for me years ago. She started out with wool and then switched to acrylic. She got a perfect color match, so she probably didn't think anything of the switch. HOWEVER, she didn't TELL me that she used wool in any part of it, so when I machine washed it, the wool came out gray and shrunken. Needless to say, no more shawl...

Monday, December 26, 2011Name: christina

Subject: containing yarn of all shapes and sizes

Comment: I started with diff sizes oatmeal tubes...cut circle in lid then slit to edge. With all the diff sizes of skins from one pounders to tiny skins I've found that anything from the tubs cheese balls come it, to pretzel stick tubs, to light weight plastic tubs can be adapted in the same way. This allows me to combine diff types of yarn with ease.

Sunday, December 25, 2011Name: Melissa Kroll

Subject: Small Balls of yarn

Comment: Hi Everyone,
I have an idea for all that yarn that you might have laying around & you don't know what to do with them? Well why don't you save them for a YO-YO clown. I know I am going to so give it a go.

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