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, July 11, 2010Name: KatieO

Subject: Expensive Pattern Books!

Comment: Often the people at my local Books-A-Million and Barnes and Noble can point out a really cool pattern or stitch in a book...but the book is usually $40 and I will never make anything else in it. Sometimes they'll let you sit in the cafe with your own notebook and pen and write down some of the instructions, or you could always go technological on it and take a picture of the page of the book with your cell phone. However, support the people who make the books and if you really like the book and alot of the patterns in it, buy the book.

Thursday, July 08, 2010Name: LE Jackson

Subject: stitch markers

Comment: you don't need to but stitch markers. i use a strand of different color yarn. i've never bought stitch markers.

Monday, July 05, 2010Name: Janean

Subject: Pointy protection

Comment: To avoid injury from reaching in my project bag and getting stuck on the point of scissors or an embroidery stiletto or some other possibly pointy object, I stick the scissors or awl into a wine bottle cork pointy end in. Pushed in far enough it will stay and be easy to locate your scissors and keep you safe. A great excusse to finish off that bottle too.

Monday, July 05, 2010Name: Kathy

Subject: Storage

Comment: I have a back pack that I use to keep my WIP's. I do alot of baby items and this backpack has about 12 different size zippered pockets. In the main part I keep a few of the 2-pocket file folders w/ patterns. I also keep my crochet hooks in their own storage pouch in that compartment. I have a zippered pencil pouch for scissors, ruler, pen and all my needles in a small metal mint container. I keep a few colors of ribbon in a ziplock bag in another pocket, along w/ some small ribbon roses, embroidery floss, etc. I have safety pins in another pocket along w/ address labels, scratch paper, etc. Everything is in one convenient place so I can just grab and go.

Saturday, July 03, 2010Name: xiaoxiao

Subject: Ergonomic Crochet Hooks

Comment: Instead of buying crochet hooks, I cut a square out of rubber non slip mats and wrap it around my book to my desired thickness, and then tie a rubber band along the entire length. This way it provides more texture and grip!

Saturday, July 03, 2010Name: Xiaoxiao

Subject: Patterns on Ebook Readers

Comment: Instead of printing out patterns, I use Cutepdf to convert downloaded patterns to .pdf format and then transfer to my e-reader!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010Name: Janean

Subject: Chain for strap

Comment: Whenever a pattern calls for making a chain for a strap, I pull out my spool knitting tool. It is easy and makes a very strong strap that stays soft against the skin. It is easy to connect to my finished work, and I make it out of the same yarn my project was worked. It doesn't distort when its worn or pulled on either. I just keep it in my project bag. Makes a great pull cord for projects as well.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010Name: Kathryn

Subject: Weaving in ends

Comment: I have been making lots of small amigurumi lately, which are cute but require lots of weaving in ends. My problem is that I don't like carrying a needle around with me to weave in the ends. So I figured out that instead of weaving the ends in with a needle, you can use your hook. Simply insert your hook into the space that you are trying to weave into, yarn over, and pull through. continue this to the end. This helped me a lot.

Friday, June 18, 2010Name: holly

Subject: Recycling

Comment: Hey, im a 13 yr old and have just got into crochet recently. search on the internet plastic bag crochet its brilliant it takes about 2 1/2 hours to make a ball of yarn from 21 plastic bags and a little bit hard to crochet but WELL worths it you get your own yarn and your helping to save the planet

Wednesday, May 26, 2010Name: Connie McCombs

Subject: Thread Crochet caddy

Comment: Instead of paying high dollars at a craft store for a crochet thread caddy, I bought one of the new stand alone, toilet papers holders. The best one is one that the holder spins around so the holder doubles as storage for more TP. It is great! I wish I could post a pic here to show...

Tuesday, May 25, 2010Name: Julie

Subject: Pattern Book

Comment: My sister and I frequently print out patterns off of the internet, so we made a three ringed binder full of all of them! In large letters at the top, we wrote the name of the pattern. Whenever we print a new pattern we just punch it, write the pattern name and that's it!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010Name: Lyndall (Pebblesandnails)

Subject: Crochet/Knit on the run

Comment: I have no shame, I'll get my needles out anywhere.. Doctors, hospital, train station or even work breaks. I can even knit in the Cinema if it's basic. The only problem is I ride a bicycle! After years of trying to find a panier/bag to be a portable stash, my husband was throwing an old picnic bag/case as he bought to use for fishing but didn't. It has pencil size/Mesh/sleeve and zip open drop down front pockets, but the sealing moment was the removable square chill sleeve (Great for sudden project swops) PERFECT ! I just added two Karabiner hooks (The keychain type)to top corners and it's on/off bike in seconds.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010Name: Christle White

Subject: Altering Afghan Patterns for Scarves

Comment: As a younger crocheter, I've yet to make a blanket or even a throw because I get to excited to have a finished project. I've started making scarves from some really cute afghan patterns (Like the windchime afghan listed on the lionbrand.com site--made a cute scarf! & also the mile-a-minute apple throw). Friends are really impressed by the uniqueness and I get to try new stitches and patterns without being tied down to a big project like an afghan.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010Name: Bunny

Subject: Doll Fashions

Comment: When crocheting, (or knitting for that matter) I like to make clothes for American Girl dolls or dolls of similar size/shape. It allows me to be my own fashion designer (I am a teenager, after all). So if you want to make clothes, but don't want to do a huge project, I highly recommend doll clothes.

Thursday, April 15, 2010Name: Dhes of Yuggoth

Subject: Starting out and containing your yarn

Comment: I recently taught myself how to crochet from books and a TV show on PBS. So far, I'm finding it a lot easier to pick up and rather more versatile than knitting.

When I made my first attempts at doing the double crochet stitch, I was going out of a book and goofed a bit in how the initial loop was pulled, inadvertently creating a completely different stitch. After a bit, I realized my mistake, but just like it is in science, many discoveries are not heralded with "Eureka!" as frequently as with "THAT'S funny...." So, instead of just frogging it all back out again, I carried on with it just to see what it produced. After a few rows, I realized it was a pretty cool "stitch" after all, in its own right, even though it wasn't one of the traditional ones. I went back and learned the double crochet stitch properly, of course, but the moral of the story is this: even if you goof up royally and get it all wrong, it's okay. It didn't break anybody's legs or pick anybody's pocket. Everybody goofs when they're learning something new, and you can always frog (rip it, rip it, rip it), but even if you don't, it just might be kinda nifty anyway.

Since I live in a state with high soda bottle deposits (meaning my bottles go back to the store to recoup the deposits), and I rarely buy coffee by the can, I went to a craft store and got a pretty and inexpensive coppery-looking bucket-like thing from the floral department to drop the skein into when I'm working from it. The project and hook go in there easily too when I'm not working on it, and when I want to take it somewhere, all I have to do is drop the whole shebang into my basket, and I'm off.

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