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, March 11, 2011Name: Chia

Subject: Joining with no knots

Comment: I don't remember where I learned this tip, but I use it quite a bit as I don't care much for knots in my crochet when joining a new piece of yarn. When I get close to the end of the old piece (about 6 in. or so) I bring the tail end to the hoop creating a loop and crochet it. Then I loop the new piece through the (eye) and pull a tail out(about a 3 in.). Continue to crochet as usual and the new yarn will go in with no knots.

Thursday, March 03, 2011Name: tric

Subject: large projects

Comment: large projects seem easier if you look at progress by stitch, not row or height. I'm ten and this helped me to work on a baby blanket. I'm almost done.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011Name: Dawn

Subject: Works In Progress

Comment: I buy tote bags or beach bags at Goodwill or discount stores, often these are a see through mesh that makes it easy to see what project is inside. I store all my works in progress in these bags along with my hook bag. Ready to go wherever I go at a moments notice and if you can get the bags in different sizes you can always find one to fit your project.

Monday, February 28, 2011Name: googoopuppy

Subject: scraps

Comment: if you tie yarn scraps together and try to crochet that you get more BANG for your BUCK

Saturday, February 26, 2011Name: Charly

Subject: plarn

Comment: Heres a good way to re-use those plastic bags you get from grocery stores and stuff. Cut stripes of it and roll them into a ball and then you can make a heavy duty grocery bag out that. It will help the environment!

Saturday, February 26, 2011Name: Sarah

Subject: storage

Comment: I use a shoe organizer that hangs on my closet door to store craft supplies such as crochet hooks, knitting needles, markers, glue gun, glue sticks, etc. I like to keep my hooks,needles other craft supplies that I want to keep out of little hands in he highest pockets, while kids' supplies like crayons can go in the lower ones. The organizer came from Wal-Mart and it has double pockets. We moved recently, and I'm considering putting all my skiens of yarn in another organizer just like it in another closet.

Thursday, February 24, 2011Name: Flutterby

Subject: Yarn Storage

Comment: I would like to add my tip to the many useful ones already here.
I don't spend any $$$ on yarn storage - ever. I save all of the clear plastic and zippered bags that blankets, comforters and sheets come in. Don't be afraid to ask people if they have any saved. I've gotten a couple of great bags that way. I can see every color of yarn that I own! Good luck =)

Thursday, February 24, 2011Name: googoopuppy

Subject: ice cream containers

Comment: look you know how some stores have gallon sized buckets of ice cream well get it because when you have cleaned it out... i put as many yarn in as possble and then in the lid as many yarns you put in, thats the # of small holes you put in the lid! well ...

Happy Crocheting

Friday, February 18, 2011Name: theresa kusterbeck

Subject: easy yarn idea

Comment: I use a towel om my lap when knitting or crocheting.The towel grips your project and makes it so much easier to work it.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011Name: Olivia

Subject: Knitting and crocheting

Comment: Im 11 and have been crocheting since I was 9. My grandmother taught me, and its really fun.
Anyway, I learned to crochet first but I would recomend trying knitting first. Its harder (some of my friends think crocheting is hard)so when you crochet it won't seem really hard.
Also, when knitting and crocheting, weave the yarn through the fingers of the hand you hold the yarn in. It keeps an even tension while you knit or crochet.
If you are a beginner you might think tension is not that important. But if you don't keep an even tension the piece you are working on won't be in the shape you want it to be. One more thing. When untangling knots, never pull on the yarn unless you are pulling the end through to untangle it. That helps a lot when knitting or crocheting, you don't have to stop and untangle knots.
I hope this helps.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011Name: Beverly Rich

Subject: crochet (clothespin bag)

Comment: I took all scrap yarn and crocheted a clothespin bag with a loop at the top of the bag. It turned out to be very colorful, useful and the loop made it easy to place on a hook in a storage closet. The knots made with the addition of different colors popped out here and there and were fun.

Sunday, January 23, 2011Name: Charly

Subject: buying yarn

Comment: i usually wait till after holidays like Christmas to buy yarn cause its usually when it gets a couple dollars cheaper and i use coupons for them too. and when i buy yarn i look for the cheaper yarn even if i dont want it i get it anyways and i also buy the huge 1 pound balls of yarn when they are on sale

Sunday, January 23, 2011Name: Judi1224

Subject: yarn markers

Comment: Out of necessity I began using new bobby pins for yarn markers many years ago. They slide on and off easily, I have never had one slip off and you can always find them in any store.

When working a project I keep my yarn in a plastic trash can. Mine is 16 inches tall and that allows the yarn to unroll easily without coming out of the can. I keep my scissors and supplies in the bottom and it is easy to move from room to room to work on my project.

If your crochet projects want to curl, try using one size larger hook for the first one or maybe two rows. I tend to crochet a little to tight on the first rows and this is a good solution. Just remember to switch back the the proper size hook.

Saturday, January 15, 2011Name: Charly

Subject: Donating something

Comment: In July of 2010 at my church we have something called VBS (Vacation Bible School) and there was this family that has this house for Muslims with babies. So i decided to make hats for the missions "fun"d raiser for them (since i didnt have time to donate hats that i made for cancer kids at OHSU. i want to do that but i dont have time.). and ever since then i have been giving the family that runs the house baby hats. so if you have a church near by try and make hats and donate the hats to the church

Friday, January 14, 2011Name: Marilyn

Subject: 1 lb. skeins

Comment: Recently couldn't find the center yarn thread to start working, so had to grab the outside end. To make it easier to unwind, I put the whole thing on an old kitchen counter paper towel holder. Still need to be careful unwinding, but at least there isn't any tangling or rolling on the floor.

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