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!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010Name: Evan Becky

Subject: Pattern Storage

Comment: I often found myself losing my patterns (as well as recipes) and then having to shuffle through various bags, files and books looking for the one I wanted. Now I've started either typing or scanning my patterns and recipes into my computer and storing them in a folder. Now if I lose a pattern, I just print it off again. This also means I can write all over them and not worry about ruining my books.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010Name: Rose

Subject: patterns

Comment: A lot of people print patterns from the computer instead of using the paper I just bookmark the page for when I want to use the pattern. It saves paper ink and space. And all that money you spend on binders? use it for yarn or build an addition on to your house so you can have a private chrochet room.(just kidding)

Wednesday, April 07, 2010Name: Rose

Subject: sharing patterns

Comment: A good way to share patterns with someone who does not have internet is a flash drive. You can get low memory ones for cheap.

Sunday, April 04, 2010Name: dianon

Subject: scraps

Comment: I usually work with ww acrylic. When I have any scrap yarn left, I just add it on to a big ongoing granny square that will later become a throw.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010Name: Terri La Masa

Subject: gifts

Comment: When crocheting gifts make copies of the suggested care of the yarn (found on the labels) and enclose a "care" label with your gift!

Monday, March 15, 2010Name: Michelle

Subject: skein holder

Comment: I got one of those wooden accordian wine bottle racks and put the skeins in it instead. Not only does it organize the skeins, but is used as decor for a room.

Monday, March 15, 2010Name: Lisa J.

Subject: portable project holder

Comment: I regularly do blankets in the ripple style where you change colors frequently. I have found that if your pattern requires about 12 skeins of yarn the easiest way of keeping the whole project together is to buy a laundry basket, and put everything in there.You have your yarns safe and ready to use in 2 liter pop bottles (that have been cleaned and prepped) for the yarn, your coffee container for your needles and your stitching needles (wrapped in waxpaper) to keep the separate and safe sticking you/or your project). Also, you can keep your patterns in the see-through report cover with the spine holding the current one your following. This way, if you have an alteration to the pattern, you can mark on it with a crayon, (which doesn't come off until you remove it)...which makes them recycleable. By haveing everything in their separate containers, put the containers in the basket and the project in progress goes on top-which remains flat and folded on top!Also if you are working on more than one project at a time, (which I do quite often) the basket keeps everything related to the project you're working on separate from the other one you put down. Scrap Yarn? put in little glad containers in a basket and when the basket is full, you should have enough for some granny squares and a quick blanket! Happy Crocheting!

Sunday, March 14, 2010Name: Wanda

Subject: fringe

Comment: I have been using 25 chains lengths for fringe. They don't fray as much as a yarn length chain and they look neater. Of course, this uses more yarn so be sure you have enough.

Sunday, March 14, 2010Name: Sarah

Subject: Balls of yarn

Comment: Instead of leaving yarn in its original packaging, roll it into a ball. It's much easier to tell how much you have, because some wool when packaged is looser than another.

Sunday, March 14, 2010Name: Jeanne

Subject: static electricity

Comment: I put fabric softener sheets (Bounce is my favorite) in with my yarn and my finished work to eliminate static electricity. It makes everything smell good, too!! (I always check for allergies first)

Saturday, March 13, 2010Name: Amethyst

Subject: crochet hooks holder

Comment: I got a travel toothbrush holder to store or carry my crochet hooks. If I'm starting a new project and don't know the guage yet, or am just waiting for inspiration, my hooks are all right there. I also keep some of the cheap plastic kinds in there. I find that when people see me crocheting, inevitably there is someone wanting to be taught. I can give them a brief lesson, and send them away with a hook to keep going.

Friday, March 12, 2010Name: patei

Subject: crochet scraps

Comment: I use left over yarn to make afghans. one color at a time. I make a slip knot about the length of your hook chain across desired length ending with a slip knot leaving a fringe at that end. make another fringe like you made for ch row,in 1st ch, sc in each ch across for 3 rows,use back loop,[I use ombre type yarn]I do the navajo stitch where you make a dc to row below. each row is a different color,type yarn. make it as long and as wide as desired. end with 3 rows of ombre/varigated yarn. trim the fringes when done. you can also make place mats, rugs with larger,bulky yarn. I have made these for baby gifts they work well as crib and you can always add on to them later. I have made these as gifts for so many of my family that I have ended up buying yarn for the projects. also made with threads for new borns gifts. and I did a coat out of it once.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010Name: Karen Cash

Subject: Containers

Comment: Most of the time I use Folgers cans between my feet to hold my skeins or balls in while I work, but I ran into a problem when I got one of those 1 pound skeins, and also,sometimes my ball was too big for the Folgers cans. So I dug around and found a 2 pound cookie tin that was nice and tall and big enough. An added plus is I added some magnets to the sides and they hold my scissors and pins. So when I go out to sit on the swing, I just grab my can with my yarn, hook, scissors and pins!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010Name: Megan

Subject: Remembering Colors

Comment: When you're using different colors than the pattern suggested, write your version down on a sticky note and stick it to your pattern. For instance:
A -- green
B -- yellow
C -- blue-green

Sunday, February 21, 2010Name: Sue

Subject: Organising tools

Comment: I keep a small box in which I keep scissors, crochet hooks currently being used, needles, tape measure etc. I save small plastic containers with snap on lids which are useful for holding needles and pins. When transporting my crochet I use a small cosmetic bag for all the bits and pieces. I also keep a small notepad and pen to note any changes I make to a pattern or jot down ideas for future projects.

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