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| Featured Pattern of the Week: Baby Cowboy Hat |
        Interested in knitting? Visit our sister site: Knitting Pattern Central  | Tips 'n TricksDo 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! Name: Becky Subject: Charts Comment: I've found that a great way to create your own filet charts or even pattens for other projects is to use a spreadsheet program, such as Works or Excel. You can chart out all of your work and color code the cells to indicate the type of stitch to be used. Hope this is useful :) Name: Susan Subject: yarn/project storage Comment: I like to have many projects going at the same time. In order to make it simple to choose a project to work on I use emptied sheet/blanket/pillow case/comforter bags, whichever is available, and depending on the size of the project. I am able to keep the pattern, hook, yarn all together.Sometimes there is a pocket for small stuff. The added bonus is they often have a zipper for a closure. Name: Doris Rogers Subject: Yarns Comment: To keep yarns and threads from making knots while you work with it pull the strand through a folder laundry softener sheet - Works wonders for cross stitching Name: Elaine Duda Subject: Storage.... Comment: What I use to store my crochet hooks in is a travel size toothbrush holder. Mine had air holes at each end, so I took a small piece of cotton batting and put in each end. Also I do a bunch of different other crafts and I found that I could use old milk crates and label them for each different craft. Turn them sideways and they are easy to store and get to what you want or need. Name: Susan Subject: Pulling from the center of a ball of yarn Comment: When you wind a ball of yarn, begin by threading 6-12 inches through a plastic drinking straw. Start winding the ball around the end of the straw, when it gets big enough pull the ball off of the straw and keep winding. This will keep the inside end accessible. It takes a little extra effort to wind around the inside "tail", but it's worth it to be able to pull the yarn from the center instead of dealing with a frantically rolling ball of yarn. Name: Ruby Subject: Pattern Holder & Organizeration Comment: I get a lot of vintage patterns off of the internet. (I was so sorry to see Celtwich had closed that site...one of my favorates.) I have two folders in Word Perfect titled 'Patterns To-Do' and 'Patterns Completed' and store them in the appropriate folder, printing them as needed. I use a clipboard to keep my pages of instructions in place. I bought a metal slate from a craft store years ago and use the metalic bar that comes with it to keep up with were I am in the pattern. When interupted for a few minutes, I slip the hook out of the work, enlarge the loop where I was working, and clip it under the clip on the clipboard. It works great. Name: Dorothy Ackerman Subject: yarn storage Comment: Well, from my mother, my husband aunt, his cousin, another loved one who either crocheted, knitted, or cross-stitched, I was blessed with TONS OF YARN! SOOOOOOOO SINCE i'm not a shoe person, why not get a thing you put your shoes in, and hang on wall or door and store my inherited colorful stash in!!!! It worked out great and with it being clear, pretty also with all the hundreds of skeins! THANK you LORD! Bless me some more!!!! Happy whatever, and stay warm!!!! Dot Name: PrincessG Subject: Books Comment: i havn't submitted anything for a lonnnggg time now so i thought i should :) i was searching on ebay for a book .. (wonderful thing ebay is) and i came across a whole stack of crochet books. i got about 75 books for $5! what a bargain! also ebay is good for those crochet hooks you cant find anythere else and those books that you really wanted. So if you cant find that pattern books.. look on ebay and they are sure to have it :) xoxo PrincessG Name: MaryRose Subject: yarn Comment: Once I saw this special yarn case at Joann's. You put the yarn in and close the case. Take one end of the yarn and put it in the hole in the cover, so when you are pulling the yarn out it doesn't get all tangled. It also has side compartments for crochet hooks. I thought that was really cool, so I made my own by taking a medium sized plastic pickle jar, and I actually had a parmesian cheese shaker cap that fit on the jar, so I put it on. Then I took a old wallet and velcro-ed it on the side of the jar. It sounds wierd, but it works just as well as the one I saw in the store, and I saved $12! Name: kelly Subject: storage Comment: I keep my hooks in a huge Altoids tin. It is the perfect size. Name: Shellie Subject: Pattern Keeping Comment: I keep my patterns in an accordian file folder. That way they are all together, and I can organize and label them into categories to find them easier. Name: Nina Subject: Storage bags Comment: I sometimes buy wig ponytails and they come in a thick flexable clear plastic bags. They are narrow enough to set a whole set of hooks in along with scissors and the small supplies and the plastic is so thick your tools won't even poke holes in the bag. There is also a button to keep everything in the bag. You can see what hooks are in the bag and toss it in a to go bag and don't have to worry about fishing around in there looking for a hook or poking your fingers with the tip of the scissors Name: Liz Subject: keepers & things Comment: First...I love your site ty. I am an older crocheter 40-50 years, yarn and thread. I keep my hooks in a school pencil keeper it has 2 sides I keep smaller hooks on one side and the larger in the other. I use a magnetic board for most patterns like fillet, I move the tape up after each row. If a pattern is written in columns as many books used to be I have used little clothes pins from a novelty shop to keep my place. Name: barb Subject: yarn storage Comment: one time i saw this gadget that was a wooden carousal with holes about the size of a two litre soda bottle all the way around. it turned on a turntable of some sort. but the bottles were two litre soda bottles with the bottoms cut off , the yarn put in and the end run thru the top hole and it was the days when the bottles had the bottom plastic black or green removable bottom. i think some bottles still have that, it can be replaced onto the bottle the yarn is secure the end comes out the mouth of the bottle and it will not tangle and can be seen. Name: melinda9723 Subject: portable storage container Comment: I recently just had a baby and I found out that you can take one of those empty flat baby wipe containers and put all your supplies (needles,scissors,etc.) in it. Now you have a small container to keep all your small supplies in while working on the go. Select a Page << Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Next >> Share your own hints by filling in the form below... |
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