Top 10 Crochet Tips and Tricks
Have you ever wondered how other people make their crochet projects so beautiful? While part of making a project turn out well is all about practice, there are other tips you can use to improve your crochet skills. Whether you’re just starting out learning to crochet or have been doing it for years, here are ten tips you can start using today! Learn about things like what threads to use, how to wind thread, create new stitches, and more.
Do you love to crochet but have small children and can’t devote enough time to your hobby? Why not include them? They love it because they can spend time with you and help their moms too. Let your kids sew together small crochet motifs for you or teach them how to crochet scarves for their dolls. Remember to always have a hook and yarn nearby so you don’t have to stop and search.
Avoid mixing different types of yarn in the same project. Different yarns, such as cotton and acrylic, will shrink at different rates after washing. After all, your crochet project, which looks so beautiful when completed, will look broken and worn after washing.
Looking for an easy way to roll the yarn into a perfect ball every time? Simply wrap the yarn around two fingers. When you’re done, take your fingers off the ball. You now have the perfect ball because the tension is loose and the thread is not stretched out. Also, because the ball is so soft, it won’t roll if you drop it.
Use post-it-notes to track your progress while working on a project. As you complete each line, move the notepad to the next line so you never lose your place. Plus, you can take notes directly on the post-it-note or track the number of repetitions you make. When it’s full, start using a new one. Also, if you find mistakes or make changes to the pattern, you can write them down in the notepad and keep the pattern there for future use.
To keep a crochet project looking clean and tidy, always knit the ends of the yarn into your project as you work on it. One way is to use a yarn needle to knit the yarn, which makes it very secure and less likely to unravel. Use a needle threader to make it easier to thread the needle. Another way is to use a crochet hook two to three times smaller than the hook you used for the project. The smaller hook allows you to easily weave the yarn between the stitches of your project.
An easy way to create new stitches is to insert your crochet hook under both loops of the previous row’s stitch. That way, when you complete a stitch, you will always have a loop on your hook, making it easy to start the next stitch. When counting how many stitches you have finished, never count the remaining stitches on the hook.
You can use plastic split ring markers to track special stitches or the end of a row in your crochet project. If you don’t have any or it’s gone, you can always use safety pins, scrap yarn of different colors or even auger. They all work the same and you can save money if you already own these items.
Often patterns use parentheses to instruct several different sizes on the same row in the pattern. To keep track of the size you’re crocheting, simply highlight or circle the size you’ve chosen before starting the pattern. That way, you don’t accidentally start following directions for the wrong size.
Many people find the winter months boring due to the cold weather and lack of sunlight. Work with bright colors that are fun and lively to cheer yourself up. Also, be sure to invest in a good lamp that provides plenty of light while you work.
If you’re working with a pattern that changes color frequently, for example creating a checkerboard effect, don’t start and stop each color each time it changes. Continue by carrying the color along the previous row and sewing it onto the yarn. Then when the pattern requires a color change, the new color is ready and waiting for you to use it. Moreover, with this method, you do not need to weave at the ends of the yarn.
