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| Featured Pattern of the Week: Ruffles Pillow |
        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: 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 Name: Joyce Subject: pins Comment: If you need to pin knitting or crochet together I find the pins to keep your hair rollers in are best, as they are easy to find and dont bite if Dad sits down on your work. Name: alex Subject: crochet Comment: when you are crocheting make sure that you have an even grip the whole time or your piece will not look so good Name: Trish Subject: Stitch Markers Comment: I've discovered that pipe cleaners cut to about 1 inch make great stitch markers. Since they are already semi rigid and thin, they are a breeze to push through even the smallest stitches. You can also use them to hold the ends of two pieces together as you are sewing them together. Basically, you cut the pipe cleaner, pop it through the stitch you want to mark. Then you fold it over (fold the tips past each other if you're holding two pieces together). Name: Jenny Subject: Storing projects Comment: When I buy bedding sets I save the large zipper bags that they come in and I use them to store unfinished afghan projects. If you do "mile-a-minute" projects, you can store the strips as you finish them so that they don't get lost. Also, you can save the zipper bags from sheet sets for smaller projects. Name: Jessica Subject: Teaching Beginning Crochet Comment: When teaching someone how to crochet, be sure to call every stitch by it's real name. Do not refer to the beginning chain as the "V" shape or anything other than the proper name for the stitch. Calling the stitch a different name works in the beginning, but after a while it gets confusing for the teacher and the students. Name: Jessica Subject: Pesky yarn tails Comment: When you are making a piece where you change colors often, weave in yarn ends as you go. It is hard to force yourself to weave them in as you go because you want to go on, but it will save you a lot of frustration when you finish your project and have to weave all of those ends in. Name: Diana Subject: Storage Comment: I use old makeup bags I got as "gift with purchase" to store my hooks, needles, scissors, etc in. Also when I get a bag from a store with handles on it I use them to hold different WIPs. I also store all my stuff together in large Rubbermaid containers to keep them together and keep the pet hair off. Name: Anna Subject: Zip Lock Big Bags Comment: Right now I'm crocheting a afghan for my room, and what I found works wonderful for holding my work in progress is a Zip Lock Big Bag! My afghan has me switch colors every row and so I have about 10 different skeins of yarn which the bag holds, along with the afghan and I still have plenty of room in the bag. You can buy them at stores like Wal-mart. I'm using the XL size but they also come in XXL. Name: Diane Weston Subject: starting chain Comment: When I teach younger ones to crochet, I have them make the starting chain on a hook 1-2 sizes larger than the one in the pattern. This keeps them from making the chain too tight (a common beginner problem). I have them switch to the right size for the first row. It makes the first edge a bit uneven, but is great practice for starting. Name: Yvonne McMillon Subject: Pattern Shopping Cards Comment: I created a Pattern Shopping Card, I complete this card when I purchase a pattern. Information on the card contains; the Pattern Name/Description, Source, Suggested Materials, Suggested Quantity and the size hook(s) to be used. I file this card as I would a recipe card, take it with me when shopping for yarn. No more guessing. I love it! Name: Susan Subject: Cushion for hooks Comment: I use pencil cushions for size J hooks and larger. They are inexpensive and make it easier to hold the hook. They can be bought in any office supply store or Walmart may have them. 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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