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!

Friday, February 19, 2010Name: Angela

Subject: Yarn Holder

Comment: I see alot of comments on here for the plastic yarn holders, I love that idea and use it while im traveling (the plastic coffee can with the handle)

What I use at home is the cylindrical oatmeal container. the cardboard is a little flimsier, but if you like to decorate things, its alot easier to decorate. I covered mine with a thin layer of batting, then covered it in a neat fabric and tied ribbon and buttons to it. It is one giant pincushion thanks to the batting and cloth, I tie my scissors to the ribbon on the outside and hang my little homemade crocheted pouches on the buttons that hold my little doo dads.

Since it looks cool, I can leave it out as decoration instead of putting it away!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010Name: lorena

Subject: flower holders

Comment: I make a lot of flowers and embellishments for my projects so I take my empty egg cartons and each carnation or rose etc; fit very nicely into them and when full i stack them up and put a sticker on the end so i know whats in them

Monday, February 15, 2010Name: Jill

Subject: Yarn containers

Comment: I take the large plastic coffee containers with snap on lids. Clean them out, use a grommet in the center of the top to put your yarn through and they're great for keeping the yarn clean while working a project. There are various sizes and I have my friends save them for me too.

Sunday, February 14, 2010Name: Shirley

Subject: Yarn holder

Comment: It may have been posted before, but I love to enclose a skein of yarn into one of those soft, cozy short slipper socks. They stretch just enough to encase the yarn and keep it tight & unraveled through the project.

Thursday, February 11, 2010Name: Carol

Subject: organization

Comment: I recently came across a six pack tote bag for bringing wine home from the store, and it turns out that it is perfect for sorting wool skeins for multiple color projects, like mile a minute or scraps; each pull skein is in sight, at your fingers and no rolling around.

Monday, February 08, 2010Name: Phyllis

Subject: Threading yarn to needle

Comment: To easily thread yarn into needle to sew articles together, take a piece of paper, make a small triangle and fold in half over the yarn, and slip the yarn paper triangle sandwich through the needle. Slick!

Friday, February 05, 2010Name: Flayr

Subject: containers to use

Comment: I just started using plastic 2 quart and 1 gallon beverage containers by Sterilite for my work in progress yarn. I needed something sturdy that my ferret wouldn't get into or knock over. I also wind up my yarn around a cardboard tube from toilet paper or paper towels. No knots and they are easy to store upright much like storing spools of thread on pegs.

Friday, January 29, 2010Name: Melissa

Subject: supplies organization

Comment: The absolute best thing in my arsenal for organizing my supplies is a laptop bag. I received one from my employer as an anniversary-of-employment gift. But I don't even own a laptop! I was sitting around wondering what I would do with this bag (it was a really nice one!) when it dawned on me that all the little pouches would be great for organizing my knitting & crocheting supplies.

In the large section where the computer is supposed to go I have all of my patterns (in a folder) and my Knitting for Dummies book. ;) In the compartment behind that I have all of my knitting needles and a pencil case that holds my crochet hooks. In the pouches on the front I have FrayCheck, needle gauge, darning needles, safety pins, stitch holders, needle threader, pins and small scissors. In the side pouch I have a ruler that has a built in calculator (which is GREAT for figuring guage or converting patterns).

The second tip I have is organizing your yarn. I used to just keep mine in a box. I started accumulating more and more, so I switched to those big storage containers typically used for storing Christmas decorations in the garage or whatever. But it was cumbersome to dig around in those or trying to figure out which box contained the yarn I was looking for. Then I bought an old dresser from Salvation Army for only $30. It is very low and wide with half a dozen drawers - I keep yarn in four drawers (dark neutrals, light neutrals, greens/blues/yellows, and pinks/purples/reds/oranges), works in progress in one drawer, and finished projects in another drawer. I LOVE IT! So easy to pull open a drawer and see EVERYTHING laid out before me, and my works in progress never get tangled or lost. :) Just make sure if you're buying second-hand furniture that it is clean inside and doesn't smell.

Hope someone finds one or both tips useful. I've learned a lot of great tips from others on here - thanks!

Monday, January 25, 2010Name: Jenn N

Subject: make-shift marker

Comment: f you are in need of a marker and using a scrap of yarn is just not your thing, use a lever back pierced earring or french wire earring. It holds your place and never snags your work :)

Sunday, January 24, 2010Name: Diana Abbott

Subject: hooks

Comment: I use an old metal cigar container that big cigars come in to hold my small crochet hooks, works great!!

Saturday, January 23, 2010Name: lucy

Subject: tapesry needle

Comment: If you cant find a tapestry needle you can use a hair pin (the ones that have a small hole in one end) instead.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010Name: Kimmy

Subject: ends

Comment: Remember not to cut the ends off your work too short after finishing! I have had many pieces of work ruined because of short ends coming loose. My suggestion is to weave in loose ends into the fabric :)

Tuesday, January 19, 2010Name: JulieT

Subject: therapy

Comment: Lisa, great idea on the fine motor therapy for your son. Keep it up. A friend of mine has two step-sons with severe mental problems and uses crochet to help them calm down and re-focus when they are having a bad day. Keep teaching!

Monday, January 18, 2010Name: Muriel

Subject: Simple Yarn Holder

Comment: I too have been using a cleaned out (vigorously cleaned out), 2 or 3 liter bottle to hold individual skeins of yarn in but I do mine differently.
For years my friends were amazed how I got the skein in. Instead of cutting the bottom off and then trying to find something to fit the bottom I simply cut the top off, where the bottle neck becomes the size of the bottle, but not all the way, just enough to bend the top back so the skein will fit in. Put the the skein in, put the starting piece through the bottle neck (where you'd pour the soda from), and simply flip the top back on, realign it and use clear packing tape to tape it up.
3 liter bottles work better but take up a lot of room in a bag.

Thursday, January 14, 2010Name: Sandi

Subject: Easy Yarn Holder

Comment: I remove end of empty/cleaned coke 2 litre bottle (if you can still find them) and drop the skien of yarn into bottle, leaving the tail to pull through neck. Replace the dark bottom on bottle and you have an easy to see container that keeps the yard where you want it while you work on your project. When done, wind the tail of yard around the neck and it's ready for the next project. You may have to look for these bottles.

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