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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: Melissa Subject: supplies organization Comment: The absolute best thing in my arsenal for organizing my supplies is a laptop bag. I received one from my employer as an anniversary-of-employment gift. But I don't even own a laptop! I was sitting around wondering what I would do with this bag (it was a really nice one!) when it dawned on me that all the little pouches would be great for organizing my knitting & crocheting supplies. In the large section where the computer is supposed to go I have all of my patterns (in a folder) and my Knitting for Dummies book. ;) In the compartment behind that I have all of my knitting needles and a pencil case that holds my crochet hooks. In the pouches on the front I have FrayCheck, needle gauge, darning needles, safety pins, stitch holders, needle threader, pins and small scissors. In the side pouch I have a ruler that has a built in calculator (which is GREAT for figuring guage or converting patterns). The second tip I have is organizing your yarn. I used to just keep mine in a box. I started accumulating more and more, so I switched to those big storage containers typically used for storing Christmas decorations in the garage or whatever. But it was cumbersome to dig around in those or trying to figure out which box contained the yarn I was looking for. Then I bought an old dresser from Salvation Army for only $30. It is very low and wide with half a dozen drawers - I keep yarn in four drawers (dark neutrals, light neutrals, greens/blues/yellows, and pinks/purples/reds/oranges), works in progress in one drawer, and finished projects in another drawer. I LOVE IT! So easy to pull open a drawer and see EVERYTHING laid out before me, and my works in progress never get tangled or lost. :) Just make sure if you're buying second-hand furniture that it is clean inside and doesn't smell. Hope someone finds one or both tips useful. I've learned a lot of great tips from others on here - thanks! Name: Jenn N Subject: make-shift marker Comment: f you are in need of a marker and using a scrap of yarn is just not your thing, use a lever back pierced earring or french wire earring. It holds your place and never snags your work :) Name: Diana Abbott Subject: hooks Comment: I use an old metal cigar container that big cigars come in to hold my small crochet hooks, works great!! Name: lucy Subject: tapesry needle Comment: If you cant find a tapestry needle you can use a hair pin (the ones that have a small hole in one end) instead. Name: Kimmy Subject: ends Comment: Remember not to cut the ends off your work too short after finishing! I have had many pieces of work ruined because of short ends coming loose. My suggestion is to weave in loose ends into the fabric :) Name: JulieT Subject: therapy Comment: Lisa, great idea on the fine motor therapy for your son. Keep it up. A friend of mine has two step-sons with severe mental problems and uses crochet to help them calm down and re-focus when they are having a bad day. Keep teaching! Name: Muriel Subject: Simple Yarn Holder Comment: I too have been using a cleaned out (vigorously cleaned out), 2 or 3 liter bottle to hold individual skeins of yarn in but I do mine differently. For years my friends were amazed how I got the skein in. Instead of cutting the bottom off and then trying to find something to fit the bottom I simply cut the top off, where the bottle neck becomes the size of the bottle, but not all the way, just enough to bend the top back so the skein will fit in. Put the the skein in, put the starting piece through the bottle neck (where you'd pour the soda from), and simply flip the top back on, realign it and use clear packing tape to tape it up. 3 liter bottles work better but take up a lot of room in a bag. Name: Sandi Subject: Easy Yarn Holder Comment: I remove end of empty/cleaned coke 2 litre bottle (if you can still find them) and drop the skien of yarn into bottle, leaving the tail to pull through neck. Replace the dark bottom on bottle and you have an easy to see container that keeps the yard where you want it while you work on your project. When done, wind the tail of yard around the neck and it's ready for the next project. You may have to look for these bottles. Name: carol Subject: containers to use Comment: Tetley Tea comes in round cans. When empty they stack nicely. You can also get nice images from the tetley website to make fancy labels. The cans could be good for darning needles or buttons or beads, what have you. Also heard the one pound coffee cans are great for baking bread in! Name: carol Subject: containers to save Comment: Look for the wine tubes you would give wine in: these are on sale cheap after christmas, and good for knitting needles. Also the heavy plastic bags that bedding comes in is good for keeping your partially completed knit or crochet projects as you can see thru it and it keeps it clean til you are ready to complete the project. Name: lynne warne Subject: yarn Comment: Hi. The warmest yarn there is, is alpaca.I was cleaning off the car after an icestorm in bitter cold weather with worsted weight alpaca mitts on and my hands were toasty warm the whole time. Amazing. Another hint: I have a pattern for a clown made of circles strung together with elastic that I give with baby gifts. After finishing a project with worsted weight yarn, I crochet a bunch of circles and keep them in a bag. When I have lots in the bag, I make up the clowns. Doesn't seem so tedious, this way. Name: Terri Subject: Threading yarn needles Comment: FOLD the end of the yarn about one inch, squeeze that folded end, and slide that fold through the yarn needle... Name: Donna Carlen Subject: Storing Darning Needles Comment: I use an empty/discarded (washed, of course) large prescription pill bottle to hold my darning needles. It is see through and portable. Name: Jody W. Subject: Stitch Markers Comment: I use those lobster clasp earrings for stitch markers when I find small pairs on sale. Much less breakable than the little plastic hoops. Name: CroKnit Subject: Filet/etc Type Thread Holder Comment: If you've ever seen those inexpensive wooden DVD/VHS storage racks, they make great holders for spools of thread and allow for easy unwinding while working. Great for projects requiring multiple colors or types of thread. Also, 3/4 inch PVC and a few fittings will offer a variety of options for size and configuration and you don't always need to glue it together. 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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