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!

Friday, December 23, 2011Name: Sam

Subject: Stuffing

Comment: I constantly find myself without stuffing when it comes time to finish the amigurumi I'm working on. All those little scraps of yarn that are only a few inches long from the ends of a project work great for stuffing and you'll have tons of them laying around unless you are especially tidy.

Thursday, December 22, 2011Name: Racheal

Subject: Hook/needle storage

Comment: I had a real hard time keeping track of my hooks, when I was just sticking them into yarn skeins for storage. One day, my grandmother suggested, and gave me, a small fabric makeup purse with zipper. It is just larger than most of my hooks, and being fabric I just weave the needles for safe holding (no poking!) into the inside fabric liner. Great re-purpose of an old unused item and everything you need right in the same place!

Thursday, December 22, 2011Name: Keara

Subject: patterns

Comment: Since I am using a computer to do my pattern browsing, if I find a pattern I like, I simply copy and paste to a Word doc. that way, i don't have to write anything, it's easy to find, and super easy to navigate to patt. as I go through it, by highlighting the row I'm on! Hope this helps!

Sunday, December 18, 2011Name: NA

Subject: strait edges

Comment: After finishing a row add an extra stitch for a strait row

Sunday, December 18, 2011Name: Linda Lear

Subject: Fantastic, yet cheap, yarn storage tip.

Comment: I have purchased hanging organizers from a big box store. They are made of fabric, hang from a closet rod with hook and loop tape, and are often marketed as shoe organizers. These organizers are divided into five or more openings that are each about 11" deep x 10" wide x 6" high. They are the perfect depth to hold a standard skein of yarn and I can get about 12 skeins in each opening. I can easily see all of my yarn and can organize it by color, type, etc. I have gotten rid of those big plastic tubs that take up so much space. No more digging for my yarn that got badly tangled in those awkward containers. I love this idea.

Sunday, December 18, 2011Name: Mackenzie

Subject: Yarn holder

Comment: Take an old milk gallon plastic container, cut a hole out of the back of it and then poke a hole in the front of it, string a small amount of yarn through the small hole, put the rest of the ball of yarn in the gallon container, cats wont be getting it anymore and balls of yarn will not be rolling all over anymore either! And to think I am only this young!

Friday, December 16, 2011Name: David

Subject: crochet hooks

Comment: i have not long started to crochet but i have a few hooks and hopping to get some more. i now have found an easy way to hold them, here in England some of our glasses boxes are like pouches with sprung metal to close them the length of them u can just about put a small ruler into them. They work well

Friday, December 16, 2011Name: NanaKimmie

Subject: Pattern organization

Comment: I take all my patterns and make copies on my printer. I size the fonts to a more comfortable viewing size and carry those with my WIP's. I then make an additional copy and store them in binders. Filed under crochet or knit and what the item is, ie hats, booties, shawls, etc. If your a crafter you can decorate your binder too. You can use photo albums as well. I suggest using the acid free sleeves or pouches for this project though. Your patterns will last forever. Happy hooking.

Monday, December 12, 2011Name: Charly

Subject: small balls of leftover yarn

Comment: are you always tired of having leftover yarn and not knowing what to do with it besides throw it away? Well think again, you can use it for granny squares and make what i call a hodge podge blanket out of them. Now you're not being wasteful

Wednesday, December 07, 2011Name: Hortensia

Subject: Yarn

Comment: Spend some time actually picking up and feeling different yarns available for sale in your area. Notice not only the many textures, but the different thicknesses of the yarns. Yarn labels list how the yarn is categorized. Feel the difference, for example; between a number 6 Bulky yarn, a number 4 Worsted yarn, and a number 1 Sock yarn. This will really help you when you look at patterns, especially when you wonder if you can substitute one yarn for another.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011Name: Hortensia

Subject: Patterns

Comment: I recommend that beginners look at free patterns on a site such as http://www.lionbrand.com because people that have used the patterns leave comments! It's a great way to check out a pattern before diving in and making it yourself.

Monday, December 05, 2011Name: Mette

Subject: Row counter app

Comment: I use a row counter on my cell phone, downloaded from the Android Market place. It's useful because I never go anywhere without my cell :)

Monday, December 05, 2011Name: Dana Logan

Subject: yarn holder

Comment: I use 2 litter bottles to hold yarn. Take two, two litter bottles cut one in half. cut the other two inches below previous cut. Combine a bottom with a top. put yarn inside bottom pull yarn threw the top. Keeps yarn clean and prevents it from rolling around the room also.

Monday, December 05, 2011Name: Lindasue

Subject: Containing the bolts of yarn

Comment: I was crocheting small toys with lots of different colors but the yarn got all jumbled so my solution was, I got a box, like a tomato box with a lid from the fruit market, or a smaller plastic tote with lid and put all the yarn bolts {about 12 or 15} standing up in these boxes as many as would fit evenly and I punched holes in the top and pulled all the ends through and no more jumbling up of the yarn. I actually had 2 of them so all my yarn was right there and I didn't have to search for any of the colors. When shopping for any box take a bolt of yarn with and you will know how many you can fit and how tall the container should be.

Saturday, December 03, 2011Name: J bailey

Subject: Size Hook for Project

Comment: I hole punch a business care with hook size written on back, I tie to project with beginning tail to help remember what size hook for each project since I have several projects in progress. This also helps when it is several months since I worked on a project.

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