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!

Sunday, August 14, 2011Name: Alli

Subject: YouTube help

Comment: If something seems too hard in the instructions you can go on YouTube and check it out. :)

Sunday, August 14, 2011Name: Noah

Subject: stretchy projects

Comment: if you want something to not stretch like a strap or handle, use the afghan stitch. it provides a very tight piece.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011Name: Andrea

Subject: Thrift Stores

Comment: I'm fourteen, and I've crocheted and knitted since I was eight. I find that thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army often carry things like yarn and needles at great prices. I recently purchased a pair of knitting needles of excellent quality for a mere seventy-five cents. I've also come across oodles and oodles of yarn for about three dollars for a bag full of different skeins. Once, I found a Caron Pound of Love -barely used- for only a dollar fifty. I think it's worth checking out your local thrift store. Good luck, I hope you find something. :)
Have fun crocheting. :)

Monday, August 08, 2011Name: Priscilla Burroughs

Subject: Hook Holders

Comment: I have kept my hooks in a double zipper makeup bag. Dividing between steel and wood. I also gone to the dollar store and bought travelers tooth brushes and used the tooth brush case to hold my hooks. Different colors for different types.

Friday, August 05, 2011Name: Amelia

Subject: Balls of yarn and skein

Comment: Balls of Yarn Vs. Skeins

If you're impatient to get your project started, you might be tempted to rip the label off your skein of yarn and get to work. Technically, you can crochet with skeins of yarn, but it many cases you can achieve better results if you take the time to wind the skein into a ball first. This is especially true for beginners.

Balls of yarn have a couple of advantages over skeins:

Avoid Tangles. Center-pull skeins of yarn can tangle easily towards the end. Balls of yarn are less likely to tangle.

Improve Tension. If you have a hard time achieving even tension, try working from a ball of yarn rather than a skein.

Ball winders are available to help you with this task, but you can also do it by hand.

Friday, August 05, 2011Name: Glam Girl

Subject: Hook Holder

Comment: I keep all of my hooks in a pencil case. They are very cheap, and they are the perfect size. They are also a lot cheaper than cases that are specifically made for hooks.

Thursday, August 04, 2011Name: Ruthie K

Subject: Hodge Podge Hotpads using scrap yarn

Comment: I like crochet alot, often during my spare time (which at times feels like few & far between!). As projects are completed, I'm left with a ball or two of "scrap" yarn. Putting it all to good use, I like combining it with a main background color to make a Double Thick Diagonal Hotpad. These are really fun & easy to make for kids that are going off to college, &/or for your friends that like to do ALOT of cooking/baking. The color patterns that result by using "scrap" yarn will turn them into a "one of a kind" gift for the person you're giving them to.

You can find a similar pattern that is a single-strand version of the "Double Thick Diagonally Potholder" listed here at CPC, in the Free Pattern Directory under Potholders & Hotpads, or you can just go directly to the following website:

http://www.mielkesfarm.com/diagonal_hotpad.htm

To use up the scrap yarn, there are some differences that I do for my finished Hotpad:
A.) I use an "I" hook;
B.) I use two strands of yarn, one as a "background" solid or neutral color, the second being the scrap yarn;
C.) I start off with a chain of 40;
D.) In order for the color that I want to show on the front-loops ridge (usually being the scrap yarn), I keep that strand on top of the two loops when I pull them through the last part of each stitch;
E.) Instead of sewing up the seam at the end, I like to use a slip stich all the way up to the other end, & then finish off by making a hanging loop (see directions below).

HANGING LOOP:
1.) Chaining a strand of 15 chain stitches, turn the chain, skip one chain & slip stitch back down the chain to the stitch where it connects to the Hotpad.
2.) Take the hook out of the last slip stitch, put the hook in one of the loops of the next stitch in the slip-stitch seam, bend the hanging loop down & hook into the end chain you skipped, & go through another loop somewhere close on the non-seam side (you should have 3 stitches on your hook by now).
3.) Hook up your 2 strands of yarn & pull them through all 3 of the stitches.
4.) To finish it off, go back down the slip-stitch seam, do at least 4 or 5 slip stitches, pull up a good-sized loop through your last stitch, & NOW you can cut the yarn!
5.) Pull on the loop so the cut end will be ready for finishing off. Place your hook under the next slip stitch on the seam, pull the cut yarn under both loops, & release the yarn from the hook.
6.) FINAL STEP: Take your hook & poke it inside the Hotpad about an inch or two away from the slip-stitch seam. Carefully find your way with the hook so you can go up through the center of the last slip-stitch you did. Loop both yarn strands on the hook. Pull the hook back down into the center of the Hotpad, & keep pulling until both ends of yarn are completely inside....& NOW YOU'RE DONE! :)
"Last Bit of Yarn" NOTE: If your scrap yarn ball runs out before your Hotpad is done, DON'T WORRY!! You can simply knot-tie on another scrap yarn ball & continue with the next "new" color. Just be sure to do the knot-tie add-on before you're on the seam. This way, the knot-tie will be on the inside of the Hotpad, & you won't have to sew in any of the loose ends! ;)
Just one fair word of warning...& I found this out the hard way...VERY HOT ITEMS WILL BURN &/or MELT THE YARN!
Hope you're all having a great week! :)

Monday, August 01, 2011Name: Kaylah

Subject: hook storage

Comment: since i have so many hooks i use a make-up bag for my hooks, needles, and stitch markers

Monday, August 01, 2011Name: Tiffany

Subject: Scrap Yarn

Comment: Once you've racked up enough projects you may notice that you have some leftover yarn that isn't really long enough for anything. Yarn is starting to get a little more expensive so it's not to waste.

Leftovers can be used for stitch markers (use the hook to pull a loop through the stitch and pull both ends of the yarn through the loop so it's not a permanent knot but you can see that it's there if the color will stand out).

You can also keep the tiny pieces and put them into small dolls and such as stuffing.

Sunday, July 31, 2011Name: Madison

Subject: yarn burn

Comment: I though about what Lydia said about her hands getting sticky because of the humidity. As a 12 year old girl I get very impatient so I start crocheting fast and the yarns burns my hands so remember to use lotion!

Thursday, July 21, 2011Name: Marilyn

Subject: Yarn Storage

Comment: I like to take full advantage of yarn sales and I'll buy my yarn for several projects in advance. To keep me from forgetting what project I bought the yarn for, I'll print (or copy) my pattern and put it and the yarn in a Jumbo Zip Lock Bag (or a clear bedspread bag if the project is large). That way, the yarn stays dust free, I know what pattern its for and I stay organized.

Thanks to everyone for all their great tips! I love this website!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011Name: Suzie

Subject: Yarn Keeper

Comment: Hi. I can't afford a yarn holder so that my yarn does not roll away from me...I use an old container for oatmeal and just cut a hole in the middle of the lid for the yarn to come out of. :)

Tuesday, July 19, 2011Name: tricia (tric)

Subject: purse to small container

Comment: I am 11 and love crocheting!! I see lots of great purse patterns, but I don't use purses too often. I scale down the pattern so there are fewer stitches, and make it with no handles and then I have a nice storage container for small things!

Monday, July 18, 2011Name: mari

Subject: saving money

Comment: when i make scarves i use the afghan pattern because it saves you yarn and when i buy hooks i buy the cheapest ones because they are all the same also instead of buying yarn markers i use a piece of yarn

hope it helped

Thursday, July 14, 2011Name: Vikki

Subject: learning

Comment: If you want to learn to crochet and have nobody to teach you, take advantage of some of the fantastic videos on youtube, its like having your own personal crochet tutor and is much easier than attempting to learn from a book!

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