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, December 28, 2007Name: alexis

Subject: wips

Comment: To Sandy - I have been crocheting for longer than I wish to say, but it took me awhile to realize that the acronym "wips" means "WORK IN PROGRESS". I guess the text message generation will always come up with something new for us to learn/remember.

Thursday, December 27, 2007Name: Sandy Freeman

Subject: wips

Comment: I have been a crocheter for over 25 years, it is without doubt the most relaxing thing in the world for me to do. I have a question, I have never heard of wips, can someone tell me what these letters stand for? I love this great site, am currently working on 3 Panchos, so glad they came back in style. Thank you so much for all the great patterns, tips, etc. Sandy Note from CPC Webmistress: I do not usually publish questions or help requests, but will make an exception since it is a question many others have. "WIP" is an abbreviation in the internet crochet world, it stands for "Work(s) in progress". In other words, the item or items you are crocheting at the current time. Hope this helps! -Rachel

Thursday, December 27, 2007Name: Paige

Subject: Gifts

Comment: Hey guys! This year for Christmas, I didn't have any money, so I couldn't very well buy any gifts for my friends and all my family! SO I made up a mitten ornament pattern, and made them for my friends and family, and put candy in them. And for my bff, I made a makeup bag, and a few other things. People like home-made gifts better than store-bought gifts anyway, because they know that you took your time and made them something!! Maybe this has helped someone who feels bad if they don't have enough money to buy gifts for people...

Wednesday, December 26, 2007Name: Kate

Subject: bags for wips

Comment: I noticed someone else commented about using bed linen bags to store wips, and I just wanted to add that, for those who make a lot of stuffed projects, the bag that the Morning Glory brand cluster stuff stuffing comes in has a zipper on it, and is perfect for storing wips, especially like the afghan I'm working on with lots of granny squares and about 6 different yarns :)

Tuesday, December 25, 2007Name: jenni

Subject: bringing along wips

Comment: i use those pretty baby barrettes when i am taking my wip along. i just put it through my last crochet loop i know where i ended and i don't have to worry about losing my hook in my purse.

Monday, December 24, 2007Name: Rogue

Subject: Scraps

Comment: I save scraps, extra fringe, and other leftover yarn to stuff pillows. It's a great way not to waste anything especially your more expensive yarns.

Saturday, December 22, 2007Name: angela

Subject: Tip to crocheting w/homespun

Comment: I love the look/feel of homespun yarn but dread working with it because it continually snags. Well, I crocheted about 5 hats with the homespun and in the middle of the 6th hat my hook broke; I was using a plastic one. I didn't want to run out to the store to buy a new hook so I reluctantly switched to a metal one that I already had on hand. WHAT A DIFFERENCE...IT WAS LIKE DAY AND NIGHT! The metal hook made working with the homespun and absolute joy! I couldn't believe it; I was fighting each stitch with the plastic hook but once I began using the metal hook I was stitching the homespun as quickly as I would a smooth yarn. My tip....homespun = metal hook! I'll never go back!

Thursday, December 20, 2007Name: Paige

Subject: carry-along

Comment: Hey! I know some of you already have to be doing this, because I've been doing it since I started crocheting. I just have a semi-large purse/bag that I always carry with me anyway, so I just stick my most recent WIP in the top, with the hook stuck in the yarn so that I don't have to go digging for it, and the WIP is up top. And to get to anything under it, you just move it, and it's usually not in the way. I just find that easier than taking ANOTHER bag, so all of it is in one place, and it's still not all bulky. And also this helps with my problem of wanting to get every project done AT ONCE, that way, I continually work with one project on the go, and it gets done before I start another one. I hope this has helped someone!
~PAIGE~

Thursday, December 20, 2007Name: Nathan

Subject: unfinished work

Comment: when you dont have time to finish your work all you have to do is pull your loop up and pull your string through making a loop.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007Name: PrincessG

Subject: Storage

Comment: ok so my mum has lately been going mad with her cleaning and found a whole lot more of my stuff. oops.. :P lukily i have another large storage container! they aren't too expensive so if you have millions of WIP'S then get some of those containers!

also, because i normally bring some crochet wherever i go, mum bough one of those little scrapbooking bags that are for all your tools. its great because i can have scissors on the outside and 1-2 skeins of yarn inside. it's about the size of a medium handbag.

hope this helped all you crocheters out there!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

xoxo PrincessG

Tuesday, December 18, 2007Name: Pam

Subject: How to get yarn untangled.

Comment: To get yarn untangled is to look at the leads. For example if you tie a knot in your yarn just enough to see the which way both ends of the knot is going that is what is called the lead. Follow the leads & you will be able to untangle your yarn. Be warned if you are not calm at all with untangling knots or whatever it will be a while for you. If you are, great. Then you go on with your crochet & knitting projects. This doesn't just work with yarn, it works with jewelry too. Pam-Doggirl3

Sunday, December 16, 2007Name: Joyce

Subject: pins

Comment: If you need to pin knitting or crochet together I find the pins to keep your hair rollers in are best, as they are easy to find and dont bite if Dad sits down on your work.

Sunday, December 16, 2007Name: alex

Subject: crochet

Comment: when you are crocheting make sure that you have an even grip the whole time or your piece will not look so good

Tuesday, December 11, 2007Name: Trish

Subject: Stitch Markers

Comment: I've discovered that pipe cleaners cut to about 1 inch make great stitch markers. Since they are already semi rigid and thin, they are a breeze to push through even the smallest stitches. You can also use them to hold the ends of two pieces together as you are sewing them together. Basically, you cut the pipe cleaner, pop it through the stitch you want to mark. Then you fold it over (fold the tips past each other if you're holding two pieces together).

Sunday, December 02, 2007Name: Jenny

Subject: Storing projects

Comment: When I buy bedding sets I save the large zipper bags that they come in and I use them to store unfinished afghan projects. If you do "mile-a-minute" projects, you can store the strips as you finish them so that they don't get lost. Also, you can save the zipper bags from sheet sets for smaller projects.

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