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Shortcuts and Techniques Every Crocheter Should Know
by Lily Chin
- Published 2009
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Do you need a marker when knitting or crocheting? You can use a bread tag as a marker.
Needlepointers.com
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Do you lose count of your foundation chain stitches? Do you continue to count and recount? Here is a helpful hint on how to keep track of the number of chain stitches.
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Here is a quick tip on the importance and how to use a stitch marker when crocheting continuous rounds.
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If you frequently lose your place on the crochet pattern, copy the pattern and check off or cross-out the instructions as they are completed.
Needlepointers.com
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Store crochet hooks in travel toothbrush holders.
Free Craft Unlimited
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When working with a pattern where size changes are given in parentheses, circle or highlight all of the changes for the size you are making before you start the article.
Crochet 'N' More
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Weave in all ends as you go along. It'll be so much better for you because when you're done - you're done.
Hooks and Yarns
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Crochet hooks come in standardized sizes, but what size they are called will depend upon what country they came from and what they are made of.
Crocheting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti copyright 1988
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Check the gauge by preparing a gauge swatch. Use whatever size hook will get the correct gauge. If your gauge isn't right, don't start the project. The results will most certainly disappoint you.
Crocheting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti copyright 1988
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While crocheting is your ball of thread rolling all around? Place the roll of thread in a soup dish and it will be more managable.
Needlepointer.com
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To keep your yarn from twisting, change the way you turn your work after you've completed each row - for example, turn your work clockwise after each even numbered row and turn it counterclockwise after each odd numbered row.
Craft Designs for You
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To hide the chain stitch ends, weave your thread through several chain stitches in one direction. Skip a stitch and weave back in the opposite direction.
Crocet Memories
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When making a long foundation chain, place a safety pin in after a designated number of stitches to keep count easily.
Crochet Memories
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Use 2 strands of sport yarn held together will replace one strand of 4-ply.
Crochet Cache
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Keep a small container of Baby Wipes close to your work site to wipe your hands periodically while crocheting.
Crochet Cache
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Using an iron on crocheted pieces is not a good idea. Instead, wash and pin piece out to desired shape or pin out to desired shape and spray with spray starch.
Maggie's Crochet
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Use left over scraps of yarn for stuffing crocheted toys. This really helps when you can see the stuffing through the stitches. If the yarn scrap stuffing matches the stitches you are not likely to see it.
Maggie's Crochet
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Asterisks * this means to work the instructions following the * as many times as specified.
Margaret's Crochet Tips
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To end off correctly after the last stitch is complete, pull up a loop, clip the thread/yarn and pull the end through the loop. Cinch down tightly but not to the point of "puckering" your finish. With tapestry needle weave through the base of stitches in the last round/row, weaving through the stitches, splitting the fibers if possible.
Crochet Memories
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If you grow weary of reading all the "fine print" in the pattern instructions, such as joining, re-write the basic concept on index cards and attach to the pattern.
Crochet Memories
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Want to crochet with twine without having to worry about epic yarn burns and sore fingers? No problem! Just wrap a piece of scotch tape around any finger that feels too much twine-related friction, then keep on hookin’.
The Zen of Making
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Which row did I finish? Learn how to keep track of the row being worked on a crochet or knit pattern. This is a simple, easy quick tip.
Needlepointers.com Staff
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Before sewing buttons, flowers or any kind of trim onto your crochet project - glue it down lightly with fabric glue first. It will be so much easier.
Hooks and Yarns
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Your hands are the instruments that make the music of crochet. Your mind is the conductor of the orchestra. From Crocheting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti, Copyright 1988
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You put down your crochet project; only later to discover some stitches have unraveled. Here is a tip on how to prevent this from happening.
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HOW? WHY? Just as an artist add their name to their artwork, your handmade crochet or knit creations are works of art and a personalized label should be added to all finished projects. Learn more here.
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When a pattern calls for placing a marker to keep track of where you do certain stitches or end a round or a row you can use a scrap piece of yarn in contrasting color if you don't have one of the plastic split ring markers on hand.
Crochet N More
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If you have trouble threading a needle with floss or yarn, this method makes it easy.
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When crocheting from instructions, use a post-it-note to keep your place. Just stick it down on the line you are on, and as you progress, just unstick it and place it on the next line, etc.
Crochet N More
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When you fasten off a project, weave the ends back through with a yarn needle instead of a hook. This makes the ends more secure in your project and it's less of a chance that the ends to unravel.
Crochet N More
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To keep your ball of yarn from rolling away from you - place the ball into an over-sized soup mug or a clean, recycled ceramic flower pot.
Hooks and Yarns
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Learn how to keep yarn from rolling away by putting it in a bowl. This also helps keep yarn clean. Watch video.
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Turn an ordinary oatmeal canister into a yarn holder. No more tangled yarn.
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No More Messy Yarn Stash! Yarn storage with plastic bins, egg cartons, shoe boxes, scotch tape and hair clips are a few excellent yarn storage solutions. Learn how with this tutorial.
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Use left over scraps of yarn for stuffing crocheted toys. This really helps when you can see the stuffing through the stitches.
Maggie's Crochet
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To thread yarn through a tapestry needle, use about a 2 inch piece of easy-curl ribbon as a needle threader.
Crochet Pattern Central
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Be careful when winding yarn into a ball...
pulling the yarn will stretch it making the strand thinner than that in a new skein.
Crochet 'N' More
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