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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: Michaela Subject: Hook Storage Comment: This tip may already be here and I've overlooked it. I apologize if this is the case. I store all of my hooks in a zipped make-up brush bag. It has a compartment with several slender pockets that hold my hooks perfectly. And they don't fall out when I open the bag. I just keep my little scissors and P & Q hooks loose in the bag. (Perfect for travel) Name: margaret Subject: winding wool Comment: As a machine knitter I have to pass on this tip to you all using yarn from balls. Purchase a wool winder from a knitting machine shop/supplier. We machine knitters use one, balls are no use to us speed knitters. Name: vicki Subject: yarn balls Comment: I found a neat trick when your crocheting from a ball of yarn so that it is not rolling everywhere- put it in a cereal bowl. Name: Tikki Subject: A couple of yarn winding tips. Comment: I keep most of my crochet hooks in a toothbrush travel case. I also use it as a spool when I wind yarn into center pull-out balls. I tuck the end of the yarn in between the halves and push them closed. I hold it in my left hand, turning it slowly as I wind the yarn diagonally around it with my right. When I'm done, I tuck the other end under a few strands with a crochet hook. When I take the ball off my improvised spool, the inner end pulls freely along with it. I enjoy trying to make the neatest ball possible and pulling the yarn from the center means that the ball isn't going to go a'roaming as I crochet. When I buy unwound skeins, I use the above method but first I clip two large spring clips, such as you might use to close a potato chip bag, on the top of a dining chair back. Space them about a foot apart and hang your yarn around them, letting it drape down the back of the chair. Now it's easy to pull a few loops off as you wind and rest will neatly stay put. Name: Angie Subject: loose ends Comment: I have found that those flat metal hair clips that you bend to snap shut work very well to attach yarn ends to the the yarn skein. Name: Monica Subject: Washing Yarn Skeins Comment: Are you going to be making a fringe or did you spill soda on your skein of yarn? You can wash an entire skein of yarn easily! Simply remove the label and place the skein inside a pillow case and tie it shut. wash and dry according to yarn instructions, making sure to feel deep inside skein to ensure it is completely dry. It comes out beautifully and clean, so you don't have to wash your product before you give it away! (Although if you smoke or have pets, I recommend you wash it anyway -- but just add the fringe (with the washed yarn) after washing the finished item. Name: Minnie Subject: Keep track of # of rows Comment: Take a 3x5 index card with lines and write the whole pattern on the index card. For each row use a separate card.Example: row 1,one card, row 2 another card. This is another way to keep track of the number of rows used. After you finish with one row, put the card aside. Name: Shirley Subject: keeping track Comment: Just wanted to remind everyone - take a picture of your project. Take one that shows just the project, and put the date on the picture. Also, if you give the project to someone, have a picture of you, the other person, and both of you holding the project together. Date the photo, and put the persons names on them. It will just give you a reminder later on, of what you've made and shared. Name: ayesha Subject: needle storage Comment: I keep my needles in a snap shut eye glasses case. This works great as I have a two year old daughter and have to drop the project and run to her many times a day, so I just throw the needle in the box and snap it shut. It's too hard for her to open too! Because the most interesting thing for her is to look at my books and fiddle around with my projects! Name: Betty Stinson Subject: Starting a crochet project Comment: After you chain the number of stitches you need, turn your chain over to the back and begin crocheting into the hump stitch of the chain you are suppose to start in. Continue to the end of your chain. Then continue in the normal manner that you usually crochet in. This way your bottom row will look exactly like the last row that you crochet. Name: Sasha Subject: yarn storage Comment: i found it easiest to store scraps of yarn on an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll, depending on the amount of scraps. you can cut a small slit in the top to hold loose ends and this keeps the yarn untangled and ready to use for another project. Name: rebecca Subject: storage Comment: i suggest that to prevent your yarn from getting tangled up roll into a ball and keep it in a basket with seperate compartments to keep all your hooks and needles and scissors. Name: Olivia Subject: Limit!!! Comment: I've found out that I work faster when I have a due date than when I am randomly working on a project. So I would advise setting a time limit for each project~~~~ Name: Suzanne Subject: Storage Comment: I had yarn EVERYWHERE of all colors and weights. I solved the problem by sorting the yarns into clear rubbermaid type containers (whatever size works for you) I have them stacked in my closet. With them being clear it is easy to glance and find the yarn I want to use without tearing apart boxes and having yarn everywhere. Name: Leona Subject: Carrying your hooks Comment: I use the flat containers that baby wipes come in to carry hooks, sewing needles and folding sizzors - the containers snap securely (to add security-put a rubber band around the case) and you can toss them into bag w/out worry! 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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