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| Featured Pattern of the Week: Pretty Frilly Flower Bookmark |
        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: Janet from Tacoma, WA Subject: comfort while crocheting Comment: Wrap your crochet hook with foam rubber or scoot-guard (a product to keep rugs from sticking) and wind a rubber band around it. This is much easier on your hand, especially if you are doing "hard" crochet making tight stitches as in some hats and most rugs. Name: Linda Subject: I can't find it!!! Comment: Hi. I've been crocheting for 40 years and have a tip for keeping track of stuff like scissors and needles. I made a bunch of little cloth bags and into each I put a clear pill bottle of needles, a scissor (buy a bunch at school supply time), and buttons or beads or anything else I need for my current project. Put one in the car, in each project bag, by your chair, etc, and you'll always have your supplies handy. Name: Jenny Subject: Patterns Comment: I find it helpful to use a sticky note when doing patterns and move it down each row, especially when the pattern is lace. It keeps me focused on what I am doing so I make less mistakes. Also when you are doing clothing with varied sizes, be sure to circle or highlight your size so you don't end up with two mismatched sleeves. Name: mzklever Subject: plastic hooks Comment: My niece told me about this one... plastic hooks don't set off the metal detectors in airports/government buildings, etc (obviously!!). I work in a county courthouse and have no problems getting my hooks through the doors. It's great to be able to work on a project while waiting for jury duty or delayed flights! Name: alexis Subject: wips Comment: To Sandy - I have been crocheting for longer than I wish to say, but it took me awhile to realize that the acronym "wips" means "WORK IN PROGRESS". I guess the text message generation will always come up with something new for us to learn/remember. Name: Sandy Freeman Subject: wips Comment: I have been a crocheter for over 25 years, it is without doubt the most relaxing thing in the world for me to do. I have a question, I have never heard of wips, can someone tell me what these letters stand for? I love this great site, am currently working on 3 Panchos, so glad they came back in style. Thank you so much for all the great patterns, tips, etc. Sandy Note from CPC Webmistress: I do not usually publish questions or help requests, but will make an exception since it is a question many others have. "WIP" is an abbreviation in the internet crochet world, it stands for "Work(s) in progress". In other words, the item or items you are crocheting at the current time. Hope this helps! -Rachel Name: Paige Subject: Gifts Comment: Hey guys! This year for Christmas, I didn't have any money, so I couldn't very well buy any gifts for my friends and all my family! SO I made up a mitten ornament pattern, and made them for my friends and family, and put candy in them. And for my bff, I made a makeup bag, and a few other things. People like home-made gifts better than store-bought gifts anyway, because they know that you took your time and made them something!! Maybe this has helped someone who feels bad if they don't have enough money to buy gifts for people... Name: Kate Subject: bags for wips Comment: I noticed someone else commented about using bed linen bags to store wips, and I just wanted to add that, for those who make a lot of stuffed projects, the bag that the Morning Glory brand cluster stuff stuffing comes in has a zipper on it, and is perfect for storing wips, especially like the afghan I'm working on with lots of granny squares and about 6 different yarns :) Name: jenni Subject: bringing along wips Comment: i use those pretty baby barrettes when i am taking my wip along. i just put it through my last crochet loop i know where i ended and i don't have to worry about losing my hook in my purse. Name: Rogue Subject: Scraps Comment: I save scraps, extra fringe, and other leftover yarn to stuff pillows. It's a great way not to waste anything especially your more expensive yarns. Name: angela Subject: Tip to crocheting w/homespun Comment: I love the look/feel of homespun yarn but dread working with it because it continually snags. Well, I crocheted about 5 hats with the homespun and in the middle of the 6th hat my hook broke; I was using a plastic one. I didn't want to run out to the store to buy a new hook so I reluctantly switched to a metal one that I already had on hand. WHAT A DIFFERENCE...IT WAS LIKE DAY AND NIGHT! The metal hook made working with the homespun and absolute joy! I couldn't believe it; I was fighting each stitch with the plastic hook but once I began using the metal hook I was stitching the homespun as quickly as I would a smooth yarn. My tip....homespun = metal hook! I'll never go back! Name: Paige Subject: carry-along Comment: Hey! I know some of you already have to be doing this, because I've been doing it since I started crocheting. I just have a semi-large purse/bag that I always carry with me anyway, so I just stick my most recent WIP in the top, with the hook stuck in the yarn so that I don't have to go digging for it, and the WIP is up top. And to get to anything under it, you just move it, and it's usually not in the way. I just find that easier than taking ANOTHER bag, so all of it is in one place, and it's still not all bulky. And also this helps with my problem of wanting to get every project done AT ONCE, that way, I continually work with one project on the go, and it gets done before I start another one. I hope this has helped someone! ~PAIGE~ Name: Nathan Subject: unfinished work Comment: when you dont have time to finish your work all you have to do is pull your loop up and pull your string through making a loop. Name: PrincessG Subject: Storage Comment: ok so my mum has lately been going mad with her cleaning and found a whole lot more of my stuff. oops.. :P lukily i have another large storage container! they aren't too expensive so if you have millions of WIP'S then get some of those containers! also, because i normally bring some crochet wherever i go, mum bough one of those little scrapbooking bags that are for all your tools. its great because i can have scissors on the outside and 1-2 skeins of yarn inside. it's about the size of a medium handbag. hope this helped all you crocheters out there! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! xoxo PrincessG Name: Pam Subject: How to get yarn untangled. Comment: To get yarn untangled is to look at the leads. For example if you tie a knot in your yarn just enough to see the which way both ends of the knot is going that is what is called the lead. Follow the leads & you will be able to untangle your yarn. Be warned if you are not calm at all with untangling knots or whatever it will be a while for you. If you are, great. Then you go on with your crochet & knitting projects. This doesn't just work with yarn, it works with jewelry too. Pam-Doggirl3 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 Next >> Share your own hints by filling in the form below... |
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