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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: Katie Subject: tangled balls of yarn Comment: I have found that securing the ends of my yarn with bobby pins keeps them from becoming a giant tangled mess Name: Claudette Subject: Baby Blanket Comment: I found this tip several years ago and have used it many times. When working on baby items, rub a small amount of baby powder into your hands. This makes the thread slide easier and also adds a nice smell. Name: Christine Subject: end of skein Comment: When I get close to the end of a skein or ball of yarn, I divide the length in half, tie a loose knot in the middle, and knit/crochet a row of the pattern. If I reach the knot before I finish the row, I know that I won't have enough to complete another row. If I don't reach the knot, I repeat the dividing and knotting and keep on working. That way, I don't have to join a new skein in the middle of a row. Name: Madelaine Subject: escaping wool Comment: Have you ever spent more of your afternoon ertrieving your ball of wool because it ran away than you got to spend working on the project? I find that if you use the ball from the inside-out rather than the other way 'round, the ball doesn't run away. (warning:you have to secure the ball to something at first till you get it rolling{Get It?}). Name: crochet mom Subject: yarn holders Comment: I use the empty boutique tissue boxes to hold my small cotton spools or small amounts of wool. It stops it from rolling around the floor and, when destroyed, just throw it away and get another one. On trips in the car this is a very handy way to store yarn as you work with it. Name: Dee Subject: feather blanket edging Comment: ive found that a piece of polar fleece(anti pill) of whatever size is great for making blankets... and to make them funky, blanket stitch all sides and then crochet a simple edge of trebles in feather yarn right around.. looks great and is great for those cold nights when you just want to sit crocheting Name: Jodie Subject: Paper Clips Comment: Paper clips are the way to go for holding the last stich if you take it off the hook. I travel with my work quite a bit and use a tote bag to carry yarn and supplies, and I find the paper clip on the end is by far the best for holding that last stich without messing up your project. Name: Collin Subject: Travel Bag Idea Comment: For the younger generation or men who are worried about their project bag being obvious, use a commuter bag. Mine has my current project(s) and great storage space for hooks, needles, etc. It even has built in spots specifically designed for my cell phone and MP3 player!! Name: pattern problems Subject: pattern problems Comment: I agree with Suzanne, who wrote, "Over the years I've perfected the method of sit and ponder then go for it!" She's right. You can't let pattern problems discourage you. With practice, you can read the pattern and figure out what the author really meant. And there's always "try again." There is one Cuddles pattern, though, I could never figure out!!!!!! Name: Laura Subject: Crochet Comment: I bought a beautiful wooden wine rack to put my yarn in. It is sitting in my livingroom next to the couch. It looks really nice and is a good conversation piece. Name: Trina Subject: making tassels Comment: I recently needed to make some tassels for a crochet project I was working on and needless to say I couldn't find anything the right size to wrap the yarn around for the tassle. I had a wrapped hotel soap (the kind you get when you stay at a hotel) and it was the perfect size and the sturdyness of it was perfect. I taped the tie yarn on the narrow side edge before I wrapped the yarn around lengthwise, that way I tied the top and then cut the bottom . Works perfectly so now there are hotel soaps in my crochet basket for tassel making :) Name: Gabrielle Subject: counting stitches Comment: Counting stiches for me was really hard when I first began crocheting. Now, I just use a pencil and make tally marks on a piece of paper. I'm 12 years old and I think people shoukd learn how to crochet when they are young because it is SO FUN! Name: Lynn Subject: Crochet Comment: I find empty (of course) prescription bottles very handy for keeping smaller crochet tools like row counters, beads, and especially yarn needles. Name: di Subject: organization Comment: I'm disabled and in bed most of the time, so it's hard to keep everything close at hand. I recently put one of my decorative flower pots on the nightstand next to the bed. The flower pot has become a great catch-all for crochet hooks, scissors, pencils. Everything is within reach and nothing falls off the table. Name: di Subject: unraveling Comment: I like to look at all my yarn scraps at once. I put them all on the bed to see all the color combinations. This can create a big tangled mess. Patiently, I have learned to take the end of each ball of yarn and draw it back through the surface of the ball with my crochet hook. This keeps the ball from unraveling. I can look at everything as often as I like without untangling each ball of yarn from another. 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