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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: Stacia Subject: Keeping Track of WIP Comment: Every time I choose a project and purchase materials I list the name of the pattern, the brand, type, color, and amounts of yarn needed, the hook size I end up using, and who it is for on a table created in Microsoft Word. As I complete projects I change the font color to red and record the finished size. I also take a picture fo the finished project. This way I can look at things later should I decide to use the pattern again! Name: Rien Subject: Dragging Hooks Comment: If your hooks are dragging you could also try coating them with clear nail polish, or even the colored kind for a really pretty effect. I'd recommend using a clear base coat first, though, and obviously make sure the nail polish is absolutely dry before using the hooks. ;) Name: Ruth Subject: sweaty palms Comment: Household alcohol works well, too, as it dries the skin. Learned this in the "old days" when some women used to struggle putting on their foundation in the summer. Seemed to work better than power. Of course it may be necessary to use lotion when done working with the yarn,or be careful that you don't have a reaction to the alcohol. Worked well for me. Name: carley Subject: crochet bracelits Comment: If you want to make a gift for that spical somone and you dont have alot of time on your hands?? well then you can make a crochet bracelit!! all you need is: .one strand of yarn .siccors .and your crochet hook! all you need to do is make one strand of crochet! tie it together and there you have it! if you have another minute or two you can make a necklace also all you need is a bigger strand of yarn!! thanks! Name: Cheryl Subject: Lefties Comment: Bev, that's exactly how my mom taught my sister and I to crochet as girls! She was a leftie and we're both righties...I'm still crocheting 28 years later! Name: Cheryl Subject: crochet Comment: 1) Give crochet as a gift? Give the person some extra yarn in a little zippered baggie in case the need arises for mending... 2) Save those zippered bags the flannel sheets or other bedding come in , or go to the 99 cent store and buy the sweater bags...put a dryer sheet inside when you fold the item and put it in the zippered bag...a great way to store out of season items and keep them smelling nice, too! 3) ALWAYS...insert a card with the item letting the receiver know how to launder it and dry it!!! And let them know the fiber content, just in case they're allergic to synthetics or wool!!! "Happy hooking!" Name: Heather Subject: Tip on Tension when teaching a friend Comment: One thing I found when teaching a friend of mine to crochet is that no matter what, her tension was always considerably looser than mine. We were both doing the "Wizard Scarf" pattern from Red Heart, and she couldn't get her stitches nice and neat. I attribute it to her being a fairly laid-back person and my being a very tense person! :-) What she did was go down one hook size. Her tension then matched the gauge in the pattern, and she was no longer frustrated that it didn't work out right! Name: Corky C. Subject: hook storage Comment: I use old miniture m&m tubes they are small candys that you can buy. I have serveral of them for all my small metal hooks they seal shut and you can open then and look though your hooks and it protects them because they are plastic Name: Opal Chapin Subject: tips Comment: I have crocheted for a long time and am grateful that I still have this hobby. You have many good tips here, I also am taking pictures of items I make because I give most of them away. I find it is helpful to put a safety pin in the last loop crocheted it saves many unravelled items. I also make a copy of the pattern and line out the row I just did( I do lots of filet crocheted things and follow the picture only). I am so happy I found this web page. Name: Sherry R. Subject: Stitch Holders and Markers Comment: I like to use a clothes pin (the spring type) as a stitch holder when I'm working on a project and have to set it down. I just pull up the last loop enough to clip on the clothes pin. I can also use the clothes pin to clip on a post-it note with the size of the hook, any notes, etc., so when I come back to my WIP I know right where to pick it up. For a marker, I like to use twist ties. Twist ties also work well to hold two halves of a project (like a poncho) together so you can try it on and make adjustments before you sew the halves together. Name: Lynette Subject: hooks Comment: I always have several projects going on at the same time and sometimes steal one hook to use with a different project. I have forgotten what size hook I use occasionally and you know what happens when you change hook sizes in the middle of the project. I finally bought 1/2" ribbon on sale. At the start of the project I cut a parallel line about 1/4 to 1/2" in a 2 inch long piece of ribbon. With a permanent fine point marker I write the date, hook size and who I think this project will be given to later and slip one end of the ribbon thru the first row, then thru the cut in the ribbon. It is secured on the project, yet easy to take off later. As I was typing this I thought that it might be good to crochet it on as a lable, adding your name and date finished for generations to come who might want to know who the artist and creator of that afgan or project might be. Name: Clarissa Subject: beaded crochet Comment: I have been working on a Paradise doll that has tons of beads. To make sure I get the correct amount of beads on the thread, I use a knitting stich counter. I thread the beads on in groups of 10 and then turn the counter to 1 do another group of 10 and turn the counter to 2 and so on. That way if I get distracted or need to put my work down I won't lose track. Happy Crocheting! Name: Angie Subject: Door Hangers and gift bags Comment: I just read the tip about the metal ring from the craft store to make a simple wreath and I thought of other rings around the house. Try cutting the middle out of a plastic lid like those on butter tubs or cool whip tubs. It works as a base to crochet around for pretty wreaths for many seasons to hang on doorknobs or doors.#2 I have saved the zip up plastic bags that pillows, blankets and sheets sometimes come in to place my afghans in for my own storage or as a gift. You'll have to explain that you made the blanket or project because it looks like a bought one in the bag. The new owner can store their afghan in it when not in use. Name: Alicia Subject: Counting Stitches Comment: Hey, I'm 17 years old and I crochet; I especially like to make up my own patterns. I use a kinda weird method to count my stitches, but it really works for me. I almost always double or skip stitches in multiples. For Example: 2 sc every 3rd in a rnd with 12. I would count "1,2, three-ee,4,5, si-ix,7,8, ni-ine,10,11, twe-elve." I say(or just think) the syllable twice on each st that I have to double, and I know at the end that there are 16 st in the rnd. It's weird, but if you understand it and try it, maybe it'll help you too. (And it helps to be a bit good w/ math.) Name: amanda Subject: crochet Comment: I have rediscovered crochet,i was taught by my teachers mum. When learning, don't rush, learn an easy step and take it one day at a time...oh and good luck!!! 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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