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, May 19, 2005Name: Gail

Subject: Yarn/Thread Organization

Comment: Another way to consider organizing your yarn or thread collection is to use an inexpensive shoe organizer that hangs in the closet from a hanger. The pockets are open-ended and can hold two "shoe sized" skein or numerous small ones. Use one with clear plastic sides, so you can organize by color/type and easily locate yarn/thread you are looking for. It also makes it easy to remember what you have in stock because you can readily see it! Hang the organizer in a closet (out of sight!) next to other supplies you need.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005Name: Jenna

Subject: crochet pattern Marker

Comment: I found a way to keep from lossing a place in the crochet intructions. sence they are written in "ROWS" I take a paper clip and clip it to the current ROW # i am on. then slide it down to the next ROW # and continue crocheting.

Sunday, May 15, 2005Name: Patricia

Subject: Crochet with even Gauge

Comment: All you crochers may already know this, but I had a "V8" moment when someone suggested this, and it has been helpful to me: I tend to start each crochet session with a tighter stitch (or smaller gauge) and then loosen up to a larger guage as I get going. So I start out with a larger size hook and when I loosen up I switch ot the smaller hook- voila! guage stays the same. (Works the opposite way too!)

Sunday, May 15, 2005Name: Michele

Subject: Crochet Basket

Comment: I use a floor magazine holder for storing my present project. It looks nice & keeps yarn in one place. If I'm using more than one color the other skeins can be placed beside or under the one I'm using.

Saturday, May 14, 2005Name: chad

Subject: advanced afghan stich

Comment: i always like to find new techniques. i developed this one. when making motifs using the afghan stich, simply finish one row then take all the loops on your afghan hook then transfer the loops to a knitting needle, flip your work over and knit all of the loops back on to the crochet hook. repeat and flip it over. the result should look like a bar or a rib. keep doing the pattern and your finnished work will look really nifty.

Saturday, May 14, 2005Name: Lisa

Subject: Storage of Patterns

Comment: I have about 10-4" ring binders I use for storing my patterns. I have a document in Word which lists every pattern I have & in which binder it is. Within the binder, all patterns are categorized & alphabetized for easy access.

For patterns printed off the net, I put them in a sheet protector & cut down a file folder to slip in behind it for extra sturdiness.

Patterns taken from magazines on which the pattern appears on both sides of the page, I photocopy one side & still use the file folder.

I have many, many pattern booklets and don't want to 3-hole punch them so I came up with a plastic canvas pattern to make 'holders' for 3-ring binders.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005Name: Jesse

Subject: Hints

Comment: I keep a three ring binder with all of my patterns in it, labeled "Filet" "Afghans" "Scarves" etc. I also three-hole punch the yarn wrapper so I remember which I used if I do another of the same project.

At the back of the binder, I have a section labeled "Tips" where I have copied some of all of your tips onto a Word Document and printed them out.

Thank you :)

Sunday, May 08, 2005Name: Judy

Subject: crocheting with dark colors

Comment: I've been crocheting for over 40 years and have found that when crocheting with black or dark yarn, it helps to put a white towel or sheet of piece of light material on your lab. It will help you see where you are on your WIP. Black is really hard to put down and then start on again.

Saturday, May 07, 2005Name: Alice

Subject: padding hooks

Comment: I have arthritis in my hands and fingers and tend to hold my hook too tight. So I pad the small hooks by cutting the tips off knitting needle tip protectors. For large hooks, I bought the pads used for pencils at an office supple store. This is less expensive than purchasing the pads sold for this purpose.

Friday, May 06, 2005Name: Hannah

Subject: crochet patterns

Comment: I like to keep my patterns in a binder in those clear protector sheets.

Wednesday, May 04, 2005Name: Christine

Subject: crochet ties

Comment: Whenever making ties (for drawstrings,booties,etc.)instead of doing just chain stitches at the end of doing them just go over them with a slip stitch in each chain. It looks better and is much sturdier.

Tuesday, May 03, 2005Name: Amanda

Subject: Reading Patterns

Comment: I often make patterns that I like more than once. Trouble is, I tend to write on them alot to keep track of where I am when I have to take pause from my crocheting. A trick I use I to put the pattern in a clear plastic sleeve (in the stationary section of the store) Then I write on it with an eraseable marker made special for white boards. This lets me re-use patterns over and over again...just wipe of your marks and start over!

Monday, May 02, 2005Name: Tina

Subject: Nail Clippers

Comment: I carry crochet projects around with me and even safety scissors can lead to a bad haircut to one of my kids. I use nail clippers to clip my yarn. And while planning to fly to see my sister found that these are acceptable on aircraft. No worries about haircuts or a failed inspections!!

Monday, May 02, 2005Name: Salome

Subject: Fringe

Comment: In patterns it always says: Take a 12 in. (or wahtever length) piece of card board and wrap yarn around... I never do that. All I do is cut one piece the length I want it and then hold the end up to my yarn end and cut it at the bottom. I repeat this process until I have how many strands I want. It is really simple but it is quick!!!

Monday, May 02, 2005Name: Salome

Subject: Yarn

Comment: If you mess up really bad on a project(knitting or crochet) of course you have to wind the yarn back into a ball again. By the time I'm done with that my skien of yarn is very long and thin. So the next time I just folded the remaining yarn in half THEN started winding. It worked reall well. You should try it!!

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