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, October 13, 2004Name: Carolyn

Subject: Loose Ends on Skein

Comment: Whenever I am no longer using a skein of yarn, I draw up the paper cover to fit the remaining yarn and tape it tight. I then push as much of the end of yarn back into skein and tape the end to the paper cover. That way there is no mess and strands of yarn do not tangle up.

Sunday, October 10, 2004Name: LeeAnna

Subject: Afghans

Comment: The longer they get, the more trouble to maneuver so I stuff them into a pillowcase and turn it as I work. Keeps afghans neat and less cumbersome, cleaner too. When I suspend working, the yarn goes in the pillowcase too and I fold the top down and secure with a safety pin. I also keep scrap paper clipped to my pattern and keep a running row count, whether I am knitting or crocheting.

Tuesday, October 05, 2004Name: Ruby

Subject: Unraveling balls of yarn

Comment: To keep balls of yarn from unraveling when you're not using them, just put a rubber band around the ball! Also, after many years of working with yarn, I recommend buying a yarn winder if you can.

Sunday, October 03, 2004Name: Shinie

Subject: marker

Comment: Okay, bobby pins, etc. are great, but when in a bind, I find that bread ties are fabulous. Sometime's you'll get a pack of twenty or so in your garbage sack boxes (which I usually tie my garbage sacks because it holds better) and they make excellent markers. They don't come untwisted or fall off unless you want them to come off, and they don't mess up your yarn.

Friday, October 01, 2004Name: Stephanie

Subject: Size 10 thread

Comment: You can hang a ball of thread from a banana hanger by using a rubber band looped around a short pencil. Then place the pencil cross wise in the top of the ball of thread and hang the rubber from the banana hanger hook.

Sunday, September 26, 2004Name: Denise.M

Subject: Keeping the cats out of my yarn...

Comment: I'm lucky enough to be the servant of 4 cats who love to chase my yarn. I find that if I put the whole ball into a plastic carrier bag and tie the handles together, with the yarn fed through, I can pull out as much as I need when I work without finding a happy cat "sorting the ball out" for me.

Tuesday, September 21, 2004Name: Liz.Cawley

Subject: Holding your place on a pattern

Comment: I found that by putting a post it note on the row I am doing, I can walk away and come back knowing exactly which row I am on and I can also write notes on it so that if it is a complicated pattern I know exactly where I am or if I have to repeat the row I can mark those down on the post it note.

Thursday, September 16, 2004Name: Debbie

Subject: Drag

Comment: I keep a trial size Johnson Baby Powder handy and just shake some on my hands to eliminate drag. Works especially well in summer.

Saturday, September 11, 2004Name: Mo

Subject: Cleaning Hooks

Comment: I've found that using moist baby wipes keep my hooks clean and free of drag.... The wax paper works really well too for drag, but I recommend baby wipes for hook clean-up and they'll also keep your fingers and hands clean...

Friday, September 03, 2004Name: Rose

Subject: storage

Comment: I found an easy way to carry my projects with me. I use the vinyl zipper bags (the kind that jersey bed sheets come in) to carry my yarn, hook, pattern and markers. I put a small hole in the top to draw the yarn through. It keeps my project clean, is lightweight and best of all, I'm recycling, too instead of throwing the bags away.

Thursday, August 26, 2004Name: Connie

Subject: my hint

Comment: i have books that date back to late 1960 if i am doing a project from any of my books i copy and print the pattern from the book and use it that way i dont damage my books. THANKS hope it helps someone

Monday, August 23, 2004Name: Shauna

Subject: a tangled mess

Comment: I noticed how much time I was spending tugging at my skein of yarn for more slack, and also how often I had to stop to untangle some pretty tough knots. When you add up all that stopping and tugging, it's really added up to a lot out of my crochet time. So I began taking the time at the begining of a project, or new skein, to re-roll all the yarn into a round ball. It takes a couple of minutes to do, but WELL worth it in the long run as I no longer have to untangle any knots, and the ball rolls around easily giving me more slack without having to tug!

Friday, August 20, 2004Name: Monica E

Subject: small amounts of leftover yarn

Comment: I've been making cute little 4" purses for my daughter's friends with some leftover yarn. I just make a 4"x8" (or so) rectangle, stitch up the sides and add a handle. I'm making several six year olds happy and using up some yarn that's too small an amount to make much else.

Friday, August 20, 2004Name: Dorothy

Subject: counting rows

Comment: I've been crochetting for 21 years. I mark my rows by using a thin magnet on a magntic cross stitch board. (works great!) Also count my rows by marking with a bobby pin.

Friday, August 20, 2004Name: Sharon

Subject: No work bag?

Comment: Fancy work equipment can get expensive. When nothing else is available to hold yarn or balls of crochet thread, the old trusty brown grocery bag will do just fine. Light weight, stands up well on floor and big enough to drop work in.

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