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!

Saturday, July 02, 2005Name: Debra LeBarron

Subject: Crocheting

Comment: When i do my crocheting, i have binders with sheet protecters to store my patterns in so they don't get dirty, it works good for me, but i have too many patterns that i get about 3 or 4 binders at once,i buy them on sale when i can.
Debra Lebarron

Saturday, July 02, 2005Name: Joanna

Subject: organized container

Comment: I use an empty can from cocoa or a powdered drink to store pencils or pens, yarn needles, a small ruler and small scissors or anything else I may need for my crocheting. I keep this container by the chair I'm sitting in when crocheting. When I finish my project, I just put the container away. It keeps everything neat and in this way nothing gets lost.

Saturday, July 02, 2005Name: Joanna

Subject: care directions

Comment: Whenever I make baby gifts, I enclose the care label from a skein of the yarn that was used.

Friday, July 01, 2005Name: Leslie

Subject: Hook comfort

Comment: I recently applied polymer clay to the handle of one of my steel crochet hooks. I followed the products directions by baking it for 30 min. in the oven at 275F. It works great! I was able to form it to my hand, making a thumb rest and the thicker handle is so much more comfortable.

Friday, July 01, 2005Name: Sylvia England

Subject: fine cotton

Comment: to stop my small reels of cotton ( 20's etc) from rolling about, I bought a babies drinking cup with a hole in the lid to house a straw. place cotton reel in, thread cotton through the hole replace lid. cotton is safe.

Monday, June 27, 2005Name: Rosemary

Subject: keeping your place

Comment: I use an embroidery magnetic board & magnet & you slide that around so you don't loose your place.

Sunday, June 26, 2005Name: Carol

Subject: instructions holder

Comment: I copy the crochet instructions to plain paper & use an old fashioned (sports ) clip board to hold the paper or papers & lean them on a table etc while I work. The back of the clip board is sturdy & keeps the paper leaning on whatever I use it on.

Sunday, June 26, 2005Name: Cynthia

Subject: Stitch markers

Comment: A cheap and easy way to mark stitches is to use the small plastic coated paperclips. They are reusable, cheap and easier to get on the stitch with one hand.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005Name: Gail

Subject: Keeping Track

Comment: I don't want to check off rows in my crochet magazines in case I want to make the pattern again. I take a piece of paper (about 4x6".) On the top, I write what the project is and the needle size. Then I list the rows as follows: 1 2 3 etc. If any rows are the same, do this ( 1 1 1 1 1) ...for however many rows are the same. Then as I finish a row, I just scratch through the number.
This really works for me and if I put my project down for awhile I can pick it up and know exactly where I left off and what needle to use.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005Name: angie

Subject: pulling out stitches

Comment: if you have to pull out a lot of stitches to fix a mistake secure a safety pin on the problem stitch, that way you can rip out the stitches quickly without fear of pulling out too much, slow down as you near the pin though to avoid snagging your yarn. Also i don't recomend teaching a three year old how to pull out stitches. Kids can be very 'helpful' especially when you don't want them to be!

Monday, May 30, 2005Name: Cynthia

Subject: Storage

Comment: I bought a set of make-up bags at Wal-Mart and I found that it is a wonderful way to store all the little items you use. Tha smaller bag is perfect for all my hooks and the larger bag holds my bobbins, scissors, pen, stich markers and other items I use regularly, along with the smaller bag. Makes it SO much easier to carry and store my little odds and ends, and keeps everything but the yarn in one place.

Sunday, May 29, 2005Name: Pia

Subject: Of patterns and places.

Comment: To keep my place in a complex pattern, I make a photo copy of it. That way I can mark off what I've done as I go, and never get lost, nor ruin the original book/magazine/leaflet.
(The paper-clip markers help a lot too).

Saturday, May 28, 2005Name: Monica

Subject: counting stitches

Comment: A lady once told me to ue the little plastic bread bags closers at set increments to count your stitches. This way, if you lose count, you don't have to start counting at the beginning again.

Tuesday, May 24, 2005Name: Shelby J. Corley

Subject: Husband Who Helps

Comment: I have a "never do" tip. My husband and I are both retired and share all choers. I wash clothes, he folds. I cook, he does dishes. He vacuums, I dust and clean glass mirrors, TV unit doors, etc. I crochet, he uncrochets. I have a habit of laying whatever I am working on at the moment in my chair when I get up. He loves to vacuum. So now we have a good laugh over how many afghans he has vacuumed undone. Thought everyone could stand a laugh. Thanks. Shelby

Tuesday, May 24, 2005Name: Angie D

Subject: helpful tools

Comment: A couple unlikely but helpful tools to keep handy while crocheting I find are adhesive tape (roll a short piece sticky side out and keep beside you to collect stray hairs and fuzzies that may be clinging to your yarn.) Also small pair of pliers helps to make weaving in ends with a tapestry needle easier to pull through (especially with bulkier weight yarn.)

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