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!

Thursday, January 25, 2007Name: Dawn

Subject: traveling projects

Comment: Small projects work best when you travel... so squares work real well for afgans. Right now I am working on an afgan for a double bed, one square at at time.

Thursday, January 25, 2007Name: Gayle

Subject: counting

Comment: When I am starting a project, I put safety pins in every 10-20 stitches so I don't have to keep recounting my chain.

Thursday, January 18, 2007Name: Cheryl Dousept

Subject: hook sizes

Comment: recently I made an afghan and it said to use a j hook so I used my alluminum j hook what a mistake I should of used my plastic hook little did I know that the plastic ones are larger so my afghan ended up being smaller than it was supposed to be so here is my tip only use alluminum hooks only if the pattern calls for it I kept the afghan I use it for a lap gahn because it still looks nice

Wednesday, January 17, 2007Name: nichole

Subject: distractions

Comment: My mother taught me how to crochet a little after I got pregnant with my son. I had to quit smoking and needed something to do with my hands. I smoked like a train, so I crocheted a lot. I learned really fast, mostly on my own. I decided to make my mom a bed cover. It's a going to be queen size and each square is only about 6". I still haven't finished it because I have 10 different projects that I am working on at the same time. Eventually it will get done, but in the meantime I love to experiment with yarn and patterns.
I guess that my advice is to always love what you are working on. If it gets boring, do something else or you will never finish it. I love distracting myself. It helps me learn.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007Name: Kaylea Whittlesey

Subject: work harder

Comment: when you are working on a pattern or a project and you are not doing it right like you missed a stitch or you cant figure it out then you just need to work harder and dont give up. NEVER GIVE UP KEEP TRYING!!!

Tuesday, January 16, 2007Name: Christopher

Subject: Scrap Yarn

Comment: I have many of those balls of yarn are that are way to small to make anything out of, but big enough u don't wanna throw away. So I started thinking about when i was younger i enjoyed latch-hooking. and it came to me. Cut those balls of yarn into 3 in. strips, SC whatever project you like (afghan, scarf, pillow) and simple latch hook your strips over the SC fabric. The possible designs are endless!

Tuesday, January 09, 2007Name: Ashley

Subject: hook storage

Comment: I am a painter as well as a crocheter. All of my brushes were organized in canvas holders, but my hooks were getting lost and scattered everywhere. I decided to get an extra canvas paintbrush holder at the craft store and it works very well at keeping my hooks organized and together.

Monday, January 08, 2007Name: Beth

Subject: Storage

Comment: When I went away to college I had to find a good way to store my yarn. At home it was in bags under the bed, which wouldn't work at school. So, I went out and bought a heavy duty storage tub. I put my yarn in it, crocheted a green and white striped cushion for on top (Michigan State), and I had storage AND seating for a small space!

Sunday, January 07, 2007Name: Deanna

Subject: Needles and a book

Comment: This is actually two suggestions. I keep a book with my patterns in it with them in plastic sleeves so they are easily referenced. In that book, I also write down what I work on and be sure to write down what size needle I use on which project. If it is a gift, I write all the info down, including who it went to. Then I do not repeat the gift the next year.
Second suggestion, for all those needles, knitting or crochet, I use a spaghetti container. This also holds my scissors, pencils for my book and my ruler.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007Name: Barb

Subject: hooks

Comment: I bought a couple wooden pencil boxes at the craft store. They are great for my crochet hooks and it also looks very nice, natural in my home.

Thursday, December 28, 2006Name: Michell

Subject: Tip

Comment: If you are giving something you crocheted to someone as a gift put a dryer sheet in it, and the piece will really smell good upon opening.

Saturday, December 23, 2006Name: Brenda

Subject: Storing Crochet Hooks

Comment: I just use a pencil case to store my crochet hooks. It works really well. A pillow case for yarn is smart as well, since plastic bags create static and attracts dust and other dirty things to the yarn.

Friday, December 22, 2006Name: Lauren

Subject: Easy Afgans

Comment: I own a book of dishcloth patterns and I like to use the easier ones to make afghans with. Sometimes I use a G or H hook and one strand of yarn, but for a quick and easy "insta-blanket" I use a larger hook and two strands of yarn (usually one multicolored and one solid).
Good luck on your projects.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006Name: Cindy J

Subject: Scrap yarn

Comment: If you ever have that problem where you have some yarn that's left over but it isn't enough to start a whole new project. just use it to practice a stitch that you haven't done in awhile.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006Name: Cindy

Subject: Learning to crochet

Comment: For the new beginners. If you are having problems like what I've been recently having where you want to take up crocheting but the books they sell at the craft stores just don't work for you, use Crocheting for Dummies. It actually is working great for me. If you have a Michael's craft store I found out (after I bought the book at a book store) that they have one there that has everything you need to start minus the yarn.

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