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, March 15, 2006Name: crochet mom

Subject: yarn holders

Comment: I use the empty boutique tissue boxes to hold my small cotton spools or small amounts of wool. It stops it from rolling around the floor and, when destroyed, just throw it away and get another one. On trips in the car this is a very handy way to store yarn as you work with it.

Monday, March 13, 2006Name: Dee

Subject: feather blanket edging

Comment: ive found that a piece of polar fleece(anti pill) of whatever size is great for making blankets... and to make them funky, blanket stitch all sides and then crochet a simple edge of trebles in feather yarn right around.. looks great and is great for those cold nights when you just want to sit crocheting

Monday, March 13, 2006Name: Jodie

Subject: Paper Clips

Comment: Paper clips are the way to go for holding the last stich if you take it off the hook. I travel with my work quite a bit and use a tote bag to carry yarn and supplies, and I find the paper clip on the end is by far the best for holding that last stich without messing up your project.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006Name: Collin

Subject: Travel Bag Idea

Comment: For the younger generation or men who are worried about their project bag being obvious, use a commuter bag. Mine has my current project(s) and great storage space for hooks, needles, etc. It even has built in spots specifically designed for my cell phone and MP3 player!!

Monday, March 06, 2006Name: pattern problems

Subject: pattern problems

Comment: I agree with Suzanne, who wrote, "Over the years I've perfected the method of sit and ponder then go for it!" She's right. You can't let pattern problems discourage you. With practice, you can read the pattern and figure out what the author really meant. And there's always "try again." There is one Cuddles pattern, though, I could never figure out!!!!!!

Sunday, March 05, 2006Name: Laura

Subject: Crochet

Comment: I bought a beautiful wooden wine rack to put my yarn in. It is sitting in my livingroom next to the couch. It looks really nice and is a good conversation piece.

Sunday, March 05, 2006Name: Trina

Subject: making tassels

Comment: I recently needed to make some tassels for a crochet project I was working on and needless to say I couldn't find anything the right size to wrap the yarn around for the tassle. I had a wrapped hotel soap (the kind you get when you stay at a hotel) and it was the perfect size and the sturdyness of it was perfect. I taped the tie yarn on the narrow side edge before I wrapped the yarn around lengthwise, that way I tied the top and then cut the bottom . Works perfectly so now there are hotel soaps in my crochet basket for tassel making :)

Saturday, March 04, 2006Name: Gabrielle

Subject: counting stitches

Comment: Counting stiches for me was really hard when I first began crocheting. Now, I just use a pencil and make tally marks on a piece of paper. I'm 12 years old and I think people shoukd learn how to crochet when they are young because it is SO FUN!

Friday, March 03, 2006Name: Lynn

Subject: Crochet

Comment: I find empty (of course) prescription bottles very handy for keeping smaller crochet tools like row counters, beads, and especially yarn needles.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006Name: di

Subject: organization

Comment: I'm disabled and in bed most of the time, so it's hard to keep everything close at hand. I recently put one of my decorative flower pots on the nightstand next to the bed. The flower pot has become a great catch-all for crochet hooks, scissors, pencils. Everything is within reach and nothing falls off the table.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006Name: di

Subject: unraveling

Comment: I like to look at all my yarn scraps at once. I put them all on the bed to see all the color combinations. This can create a big tangled mess. Patiently, I have learned to take the end of each ball of yarn and draw it back through the surface of the ball with my crochet hook. This keeps the ball from unraveling. I can look at everything as often as I like without untangling each ball of yarn from another.

Monday, February 27, 2006Name: Brenda

Subject: tension

Comment: For those of you that have a problem with crocheting too tight like I do.. When I wind yarn around my fingers like most crocheters do the yarn gets tight and does not pull through. I have discovered that if I just hold the yarn with my pinkie and ring finger it works much better. I still have the yarn between my first and middle fingers and over the first finger as usual. I just don't wrap it around the pinkie finger. Now I can crochet faster and not have to fight the yarn all the time. The first finger still maintains the proper tension for the stitches.

Saturday, February 25, 2006Name: Cynthia

Subject: Stitch Marker

Comment: I use a bobby pin (hair pin) as a marker for the end of rounds. It slips off and on easily and doesn't fray like scrap yarn markers! I have also used bobby pins to hold the last stitch if I need to take the work off the hook for a bit.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006Name: Suzanne

Subject: Patterns gone wrong

Comment: Im 17 years old i started crocheting at the age of 7.Over the years I've noticed that some....well almost all patterns are missing something or dont make sence.Over the years I've perfected the method of sit and ponder then go for it! If you have a pattern and it just doesn't make any sence then just go for it.If it doesn't work out oh well,just take it back down and try something else.(ps i'd take a bit longer to ponder if the pattern includes changing colors.for its a complete waste of time.)HAVE FUN WITH CROCHETING

Tuesday, February 21, 2006Name: Cheryl

Subject: Yarn

Comment: I have a good tip for storing yarn I just recently bought a new comforter for my bed and it came in a zippered heavy plastic bag I think that it is a good bag for storing your yarn and stuff

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