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!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009Name: G Renee

Subject: ergonomic needles

Comment: An easy way to make your favorite needle easier to grip, is to mold sculpy bake clay around a metal crochet hook and bake as instructed. Put a thumb and finger grip where you need it. One block will do three or four hooks for a buck on sale.

Sunday, November 08, 2009Name: Betty

Subject: To follow graph patterns

Comment: I do alot of chart afghans and to keep what row I am on I have my patterns in page protectors. At wal mart I purchased a metal board that came with a magnetic ruler, I put my pattern on a clip board and follow the pattern with the magnetic ruler. Works great for following any pattern but especially row by row graphs. (I never write on my patterns) Hope it helps.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009Name: Natasha

Subject: Nice gift presentation

Comment: If you want to make a crocheted gift look even snazzier you can put it in a nice zippered bag. I always save the zippered plastic bags that things like sheets or curtains come in. I pre wash in hypoallergenic detergent and slip care instructions inside because many people today have no idea how to care for crochet items.

Monday, November 02, 2009Name: maureen

Subject: tangled yarn

Comment: I too have found myself staring at those plastic yarn keepers in the craft stores but can't justify spending the money on them. I have found that a shoebox works just as well. Simply poke a hole in the box and thread the yarn through. It keeps the yarn from tangling and you can see the yarn whenever you want by opening the lid. if you are working on a project with multiple yarns you can even poke two holes in one side of the box. I have found that two skeins of most yarns will fit nicely side by side.

Friday, October 30, 2009Name: Nastassja

Subject: weaving in ends

Comment: I found if you don't have or cant use a needle for weaving in ends you can use a crochet hook. You just have to put the hook threw wherever your weaving in hook the yarn on it and pull it threw.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009Name: Crocheting Mom

Subject: Marking the place of a pattern

Comment: I got an idea recently from someone to use sticky notes to mark the place of a crochet pattern as I'm working on it, between breaks, to keep my place. Also to put the pattern in a plastic file cover, so the sticky note won't get snagged off and your patterns stay nice and dry, don't get wrinkled.

Before doing this, I would sometimes mark with pen on the pattern itself, or use a separate notebook entirely. I find the sticky notes so much more convenient.

Monday, October 19, 2009Name: Dee Duerson

Subject: Hook holders

Comment: Since you only use up to three crochet hooks at a time. I've recycled the tubes from the holiday candies like m&m's cut it down to fit the size of my hooks. These work well for Knitting needles as well. Then you dont have little pulls from the hooks getting the project inadvertently while you travel.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009Name: Lynda

Subject: yarn keeper

Comment: I was oogling over the plastic yarn keepers at the various craft stores, but couldn't justify the price. Then I made a discovery! Any wide-mouth plastic yarn with a screw on lid works. I went to my local Sonic and asked them to save me some of the gallon jars (I like the cherry jars better than the pickle jars because it is easier to get the smell out, but either one works). My husband drilled a hole in the lid and then put a rubber grommet around the hole in order to keep it from snagging my yarn! It works like a charm, and I feel good about recycling!

Monday, October 05, 2009Name: Fizzibel

Subject: travel crochet

Comment: I am very into crochet and recently I realized that when ever I wanted to go somewhere and take my crocheting, I always had to bring my big, heavy, black bag with most of my yarn in it, so I started carrying around a purse with only my current project. It has a pocket in which I keep my crochet hooks, my scissors, two side pockets to keep whatever in, and only one snap at the top to close the purse. This way my projects are easy to carry, I don't lose my stuff, and my yarn can't climb out of the bag while I work because of the snap. And as a plus, the purse is very cute so it goes with whatever I'm wearing and is not too heavy.

Sunday, October 04, 2009Name: Shirley Pugh

Subject: Hook storage

Comment: I use a plastic cigar tube. The one I use has a cedar liner. Also holds sewing & darning needles secured on a piece of paper.

Sunday, October 04, 2009Name: Diane

Subject: buying yarn or thread

Comment: I learned the hard way that when doing a project, make sure you buy enough yarn or thread to finish the job. The pattern always says how much to get. I like to get a little extra and then if I have a lot of scraps, I make scrap granny square afghans.

Sunday, September 27, 2009Name: Lotti

Subject: Take your time

Comment: I'm a 12-year old crocheter and really like to make dolls. I have never really enjoyed crocheting from patterns, so I get ideas from here and make up my own things. But when you have a good idea in your head, you want to get it finished, right? Well, my dolls never really turned out right lately, but when making a teddy bear, I acually took my time and it's one of the best dolls I have ever made. So seriously, you see this all the time on crocheting websites, but you should really take your time. Fight that urge to get your pattern done as soon as possible and take it easy.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009Name: Auntie D

Subject: threading yarn thru tapestry needle

Comment: I find that the end of my yarn gets frayed when I try to thread it thru the eye of a tapestry needle by itself (without using a threader of some sort) and that a regular needle threader is too flimsy to use on yarn. So I use a bit (at least 2 inches) of easy-curl ribbon as a threader.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009Name: EvilSquirrel

Subject: marking Patterns

Comment: if your like me, you'll have quite a few crochet mags and books. when i first get a new one, i'll sit down with "post-it" page flags and mark off each one that i would (make). this way when i'm stuck for a project i dont have to flip through my books over and over

Tuesday, September 08, 2009Name: Wilma

Subject: Needle Storage

Comment: If you have a nurse in the family have her save the plastic container large syringes come in, they are perfect for your crochet hooks and have a lid. The smaller ones are great for needles. Hurray for all the young ones on here!

Notice: If you want to send me (the webmistress) a "thank you" using this form, that is fine (I appreciate it). However, I may not be posting it publicly for all to see, and I have no way of responding without knowing your email address.

Name Provide Your Name Subject Subject of Your Testimonial Comment What is your tip or trick? Type In the Letters/Numbers Submit

Notice: By submitting your content, you are agreeing to have it displayed on this page. I retain the right to edit and/or refuse unsuitable content. (Unsuitable content includes questions and help requests.) All submissions are checked before being published.