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!

Monday, March 26, 2007Name: Julia

Subject: recycling

Comment: First, I want to thank all of you crocheters for the awesome tips. They've really helped me!!!!

I found out that you can cut up plastic bags and crochet with them. First, you find a few plastic bags that you can cut up. Then, you cut them up into 1" strips. You stretch the strips out and tie them together. Use a rather large hook to crochet them. You can also crochet with trash bags. They break really easily when you try to stretch them, so be careful!

Sunday, March 25, 2007Name: Bev L

Subject: Bargains

Comment: I too have found yarn at my local dollar store but, please be careful for what project you are using it for. I found that in the few 50g balls I did buy there were at least 3 or 4 places where the yarn was tied together, more than I like to come across.

Friday, March 23, 2007Name: Julia

Subject: Storage

Comment: I had the idea of crocheting a bag with pockets for my hooks, thread, and scissors. It lets me practice my stitches while storing all of my stuff for traveling.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007Name: Missy

Subject: tension

Comment: No matter what I do, I always crochet tight. So for most of my projects I need to use a hook 1 or 2 sizes bigger than what's listed on the pattern. I always check my gauge before I start any project.

Saturday, March 17, 2007Name: Donna

Subject: storing patterns

Comment: I just read that someone would print out the patterns off the computer and then put them in notebooks all cataloged the way she wanted them. I did that some time ago with all the crochet and cross stitch magazines I bought. That way I had them all in one place and didn't get torn up just sitting around by themselves.

Saturday, March 10, 2007Name: Kay

Subject: Yarn Storage

Comment: My husband's office was getting new furniture. They threw out a nice open metal shelf. It was rescued, repainted & sits up against a wall in my spare bedroom, filled with yarn!
Also, got a gently used office chair. :)

Saturday, March 10, 2007Name: Kay

Subject: Storing Patterns

Comment: I have collected many Free Patterns. I store them in 2 inch loose leaf binders, printed out from computer, I double space type. Then catalog them in binders. Separated in binders by tabs (You know, the kind we used in school) & label each section.
Then I store them in a section of my computer desk, spines labeled, with what's in each one. This saves me time from searching thru "all my patterns".
Bought clear plastic sheets & put a few in each section. When I work on a pattern, I work with a copy only, that way the originals stay neat. Hope this helps others.
Yes, I'm a neat nik. :)

Tuesday, March 06, 2007Name: Mackenzie

Subject: storing yarn

Comment: I store my yarn in one of the plastic chest of drawers (like Linda's tip) and my other supplies in a clear plastic box. My fun fur and such in one drawer, my thread in another and every thing else in the last one.

Sunday, March 04, 2007Name: Linda

Subject: Yarn Storage

Comment: I like to store my yarn in those plastic chest of drawers from Kmart. They run sales on them about once a month (the 3-drawer type) and once you have put four of the drawer sets together, there is plenty of room to store your yarn AND you can see thru the clear plastic and group your colors together. I also like to buy those clear plastic tool chests (about $5.00 at Walmart) to store my crochet needles and one for my knitting needles and supplies. All the compartments in the tray are very handy for holding and separating your supplies and the needles fit very well in the bottom portion.

Friday, March 02, 2007Name: Annie

Subject: Yarn Sales

Comment: I frequently visit my local Big Lots! store and have discovered that name brand yarns such as Lion Brand and Bernat are often shipped to be closed out. Many times, their name brand labels are replaced by an un-known brand, but if you are a yarn fanatic like myself, you'll recognize your supplies immediately. I have purchased rather costly yarns for as little as 1.00 or LESS! Goodwill stores, Salvation Army stores and yard sales are WONDERFUL places to find our treasured yarns...

Friday, March 02, 2007Name: Jane

Subject: Keeping my place in a pattern.

Comment: Before I start a new project I make copies of the pattern direction. I then cut up the directions by rows. Placing each rows direction on a separate index card. I punch holes in the cards and place them in order on rings. I can turn the cards as I complete each row. Repeats are easy, just turn back to the beginning of the repeated row. Putting down and picking up my project is much easier when I know exactly which row I am working on. It is also less confusing when learning new patterns, because I am looking at only one row of instructions at a time.

Thursday, March 01, 2007Name: Barb

Subject: shape

Comment: Sometimes when I'm just too comfortable and don't feel like getting up to lay my afghan out to check the shape of it to make sure it's even, I just fold it in half, putting the ends together and put it together pressing it evenly all the way to the fold and if the fold at the other end is even I'm pretty sure it's ok.

Monday, February 26, 2007Name: Lisa

Subject: marking your place

Comment: My mum taught me to keep my place on a sew/cross-stitch/ knit pattern by using a red colored pencil (shows up on the page, but it can still be erased). I took it one step further and use a yellow highlighter/marker. You can photocopy it and the marks don't show up!

Monday, February 26, 2007Name: Mackenzie O.

Subject: BARGAINS!

Comment: Today I went to the dollar store, and they had bunches of Lion Boucle and Fancy Fur for a $1 (of course!)!!!! It was a great bargain, I did not get any because it was all fall colors. But check your local dollar store soon they should get more in soon! Also check thrift stores and yard sales, and wash the yarn in pillow cases on a gentle cycle!

Sunday, February 25, 2007Name: kay

Subject: stop for the evening

Comment: when my children were small they love to pull on my work and rows of stitches would come out to prevent this take a large safety pin and pin it where you left off. if the child tries to pull on it, it wont go anywhere

Notice: If you want to send me (the webmistress) a "thank you" using this form, that is fine (I appreciate it). However, I may not be posting it publicly for all to see, and I have no way of responding without knowing your email address.

Name Provide Your Name Subject Subject of Your Testimonial Comment What is your tip or trick? Type In the Letters/Numbers Submit

Notice: By submitting your content, you are agreeing to have it displayed on this page. I retain the right to edit and/or refuse unsuitable content. (Unsuitable content includes questions and help requests.) All submissions are checked before being published.