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 14, 2012Name: Sandy F

Subject: Tips Learned over the years

Comment: For a stitch marker I use bobby pins. They're easy to slip in & out. On airplanes I use fingernail clippers to cut thread (can't carry scissors on airplanes). For thread crochet, I put the thread in a parmesan cheese container. Unscrew the lid, then pull the thread through one of the holes in the top. When working with multiple threads, I put each skein of yarn in a ziplock bag, zipping closed leaving just enough room for the yarn to pull through. When crocheting a long chain, and worrying about losing stitch count, I crochet a chain with one skein then crochet the pattern onto the chain with another skein, starting in the **beginning** of the chain, rather than the end where I stopped. This allows to add chain stitiches, or take them out if I lost count. Then cut off the yarn of the starting chain, and pull the loop through so it doesn't ravel. Hope this all makes sense! Happy Crocheting!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012Name: Kimberly Foster

Subject: Crochet Hook Storage

Comment: I use the plastic tubes from drink mixes. Just the right size and doesn't use a lot of space in my crochet bag.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012Name: Way

Subject: clean untangled yarn

Comment: My sister had given me an old wooden bowl which is perfect for the balls of yarn. The yarn will not get tangled or stays clean. The bowl doesn't have to be wooden.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012Name: Way

Subject: markers

Comment: Another idea for markers...the little plastic squares on hot dog and hamburger buns. They work great and are free.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012Name: susan miller

Subject: coke bottle of yarn

Comment: A friend of mine told me a trick..it took me a minute to realize what she was saying (blonde moment) and I am black headed...long story short..reuse 20 oz. And 2 liters cut the bottom out I use a diaper bag as yarn bag..these bottles set in there flat run ur middle thread through top of the bottle keep it from tangling with other yarns...

Tuesday, March 06, 2012Name: Renee Wright

Subject: yarn, needles, and scissors

Comment: ok so iam a stay at home mom of 2... needles to say i have diaper boxes coming out of my ears ( i take them to recycle) ... and i have a comfy chair a do all my crochet projects in ... i have TONS of yarn.. well can fit at least 10 things of yearn in one box ... and i stick my needles in the little slots between the card board .. in the handle and i stick the scissors there too.... eventually i am ganna cover the box .....just not today ..

Friday, March 02, 2012Name: Jan

Subject: Figuring out patterns

Comment: I was trying to make a pattern that I'd downloaded, and it just wasn't coming out right. I decided to try graphing the pattern out, using crochet symbols found in reference books, and I was able to figure out the pattern and write in the missing instructions. It takes some extra thought, but it was worth it.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012Name: Olivia

Subject: Keeping yarn clean

Comment: One day I was walking to my room to put up a project and I saw a box and though I could keep small projects in it beside my bed. I took it to my room and put it right in between my night table and the bed, a perfect fit! The next day me and my little sister went to our grandmothers house to play and I brought the box along with the project I was working on. I took the crocheting out and fed the yarn out of the top of the box with one of the flaps closed. It worked very well! I'm going to start using it with small projects. And I'm even thinking about crocheting or knitting a cover for it.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012Name: Kim K

Subject: Crochet Hook Storage

Comment: I recently picked up a ceramic tooth brush holder at a thrift store only to find out when i got home that my toothbrushes didn't fit in the little holes so my husband came up with the idea of storing all my hooks in it instead. Now it looks great and m crochet hooks are as organised as i like them!!!

Saturday, February 25, 2012Name: Phyllis from Brisbane Australia

Subject: Traveling with projects

Comment: I reuse the bags that pajamas, shirts and sometimes sheets come in which have the press stud closures at the top. I place all i need including a copy of the pattern and only the hook and yarn needed for the piece i am working on inside. It keeps them clean, together and i can just pick it up on my way out the door.

Thursday, February 23, 2012Name: Anonymous

Subject: Cutting yarn

Comment: A while ago, I was crocheting something that needed color switching every 2 rows, and I forgot to bring scissors! I was really annoyed at myself and then my sister looked in her purse and pulled out.. floss? She opened it up and told me to cut the yarn on the blade. And of course, it worked. :)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012Name: Jessica Evans

Subject: Not losing count on a pattern

Comment: When I am working on a pattern especially thread crochets, I make sure to count ahead the number of stitches in the next row and then i place a different color of thread or yarn in the next stitch after so I know where to stop that way if I lose count it is no big deal :-)

Monday, February 20, 2012Name: Evie

Subject: Keeping yarn clean & untangled

Comment: I dont know if anyone already suggested it, but I like to take a large ziplock back (gallon size) and use a hole punch to put a hole in the side or bottom corner. Then I put the yarn in the bag, seal it, and feed the loose end through the hole. Now I can just pull the yarn as I need it, and if it falls on the floor, ect. it doesnt get dirty.
I've also done this with smaller balls of yarn, punching a few holes across the bottom, and feeding a color through each one. Makes it really quick and easy to change colors!

Friday, February 17, 2012Name: Kat

Subject: Patterns

Comment: I have found that graphing paper is a life saver!!!! When working on large projects, I first plan it out on graph paper. If I'm working in granny squares or similar patterns, on the graph paper I will group four squares together to show one crocheted square. Then I assign colors to them for my pattern. But be sure to use pencil so you can erase and adjust things as necessary.

Thursday, February 16, 2012Name: Lisa

Subject: saving patterns

Comment: I just started crocheting a few months ago and have found so many free patterns that I want to use for future projects. Instead of printing them out, I send the document to my computer to save in a crochet file instead of sending it to the printer. This way you can organize them by category and they are ready to print when you need them.

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