Tips 'n Tricks

Do 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!

Thursday, September 15, 2011Name: Shandi

Subject: Frogging a lot

Comment: i tend to get frustrated with a project half way through and have to frog it out. when i do I "puddle" the yarn into an empty ice cream bucket. Its safe for moving around and keeps it from tangeling up when re-worked

Thursday, September 15, 2011Name: Charly

Subject: someone elses "trash" is your treasure

Comment: I agree with what bambi said before about how prices of single balls of yarn at a craft store like jo-anns and michaels are going up. but i found another cheaper way to save money on balls of multiple balls of yarn. i find going to thrift stores will sell balls of yarn for a lot cheaper and some thirft stores (like goodwill for instance) will sell multiple balls (like betweeb 3 and i think 8 or more im not sure) of yarn in a bag (so some balls of yarn are being sold together in a plastic bag). and they csot between $2.99 and $8.99 for multiple balls of yarn! so thats an easy way to save money on yarn. its just buying from a thrift store like goodwill that has bags of yarn and one bag of a couple different balls of yarn costs the same as buying one single ball of yarn.

Thursday, September 15, 2011Name: Christal

Subject: Yarn Storage

Comment: I have just recently started crocheting as of 9/7/11. So far I have crocheted 3 1/2 scarfs. One was a beginning scarf kit, the other a swirl scarf in multi-color, one was for my twin grand daughter and I am working on the other one now for my other twin grand daughter.

But back to storage for yarn. Years ago my mother used to use 2 liter drink bottles of course back then the bottoms were made differently than they are today.

I never thought to look at thrift stores for yarn.. I will do that today after work. lol

Ok friends, Happy Crocheting and have a Blessed Day

Tuesday, September 13, 2011Name: Laurel

Subject: Hook Storage

Comment: I prefer to carry my hooks in a hard sided eyeglass case. They don't poke thru and it is easy to find in my bag.

I agree with Andrea, thrift stores are a great resource!

Sunday, September 11, 2011Name: Melissa Michele

Subject: storing

Comment: Got an old back pack or messenger bag laying around? I use my old messenger bag for storing my yarn, hooks, etc. It's great because you have the main part for yarn and then the smaller pockets for all your hooks, needles, etc. Great for people on a tight budget. :)

Thursday, September 08, 2011Name: Melanie Marcum

Subject: Hook Keepers

Comment: I inherited a lot of my yarn and needles from a friend of mine who's wife had passed away. She kept her hooks in one of those on the go refillable diaper wipe containers... I still use it..

Wednesday, September 07, 2011Name: Susan Byrne

Subject: Multi-Color Projects

Comment: I like to use those six bottle wine bags from the grocery store to organize and separate multiple skeins of yarn. It really works well and doesn't snag the threads. It's great for colorful projects with frequent and multiple color changes!

Wednesday, September 07, 2011Name: annie

Subject: tension (crocheting only)

Comment: if you are on a single stitch and have mastered the chain stitch, and you want to do a project using a single stitch, then dont let your tension be so tight so you can stick the needle in.

Thursday, September 01, 2011Name: Doris

Subject: Dishcloth

Comment: When you make a dishcloth, finish it with a crochet loop on the final corner. This loop can be used to hang the dishcloth, to dry, out of sight inside your dishwasher when not in use. You can also place it inside your dishwasher, out of the way of the moving parts, to be washed and sterilized each time you wash dishes.

Sunday, August 28, 2011Name: Leslie

Subject: Hook and Yarn Storage

Comment: I've been reading all the tips and money saving ideas used for storing hooks. I use a gallon size zip lock baggie. It's great for traveling and keeps scissors, tape measure, different hooks, a needle, etc. all together I use another bag for the yarn and pattern. It packs well, too.

Friday, August 19, 2011Name: Amber

Subject: stitch markers

Comment: I've also found that small safety pins work great as stitch markers. If I'm doing a large project that consists of a hundred rows or more, I'll mark every twentieth row with a safety pin so I don't have to keep recounting everything.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011Name: SissyOB

Subject: Pattern Binders

Comment: A little trick I learned while on this site was that there's so many patterns there's no way I'd ever find the right one again. So I took to writing each pattern down before I tried it.
Then, because there were so many, I found a spare binder from school last year and a bunch of dividers and organized it. I even put a label that said it was my Pattern Binder. It keeps all the patterns together and organized and I took to writing comments in the margins in a different color.
It's quite useful.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011Name: Andrea E.

Subject: Storeing Hooks

Comment: My first project I made was a hook roll it was made out of granny squares and quickly taught me how to control my tension and also gave me somewhere to keep my growing collection of hooks after I managed to line it but it was a great first project as it was only small and I still use it now.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011Name: Amina

Subject: Markers

Comment: i find markers a great way to mark your row when making amigurumi, hats, etc.so i use charms from an old charm bracelet with the little hook that closes and opens. Its a great way to us things you have at home and you can even carry your markers around while wearing the charm bracelet for on the go crochet.

Monday, August 15, 2011Name: bambi

Subject: leftover yarn

Comment: I make blankets, sweaters, hats, etc. The price of yarn is getting so high that I try to use every piece I can. I like the idea of using small pieces as stuffing.
The best way I found was to make hats with the left-over yarn. What ever color you have left but a row on the hat. When you get some more add a row. The small pieces can be laid out and tied together for the tassel on the top. Then it is multicolored with the same as the hat. Or if you have enough of the same thing, like from a blanket, make a hat to match.

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