Top 7 Crochet Tips and Tricks

One of the reasons that crochet is so popular is that you can create so many practical, yet beautiful, items. From sweaters to scarves to Christmas decorations, the possibilities are endless. Here are some tips that will help you to crochet the best project ever!

1. Wind yarn gently. You don't want the resulting yarn ball to be too loose or too tight. Neither one works very well. If it's too loose, your ball will just fall apart. If you wind it too tightly, the yarn will become thinner than it should be and will distort the look of any project you use it in. Instead, use a gentle pressure when winding your yarn into a ball.
2. Wash finished pieces in cool, soapy water. When washing, gently swish your crochet project; never wring, twist or scrub it. Rinse in cool water and put it on a clean towel. Use one side of the towel to gently press down and remove excess water. Lay flat and allow it to dry. Never hang it up to dry, as the piece will stretch when it is wet and retained a stretched shape when dry.
3. Make your own stiffener. Sometimes you want a crochet project to retain a certain shape on its own, for example, Christmas decorations. You can do this by making your own stiffener out of sugar and water. Mix together 1 part water and 1 part sugar until the sugar has completely dissolved. Bring it to a boil before removing it from heat. Allow the mixture to cool a little and then dip your crochet project in it. Remove it from the mixture and use paper towels to soak up the excess moisture. Use Styrofoam or plastic containers to help you mold it into the desired shape and allow it to dry. Your crochet project will now hold that shape permanently.
4. Place moth balls with your crochet projects. It's very important to do this when you are storing your crochet projects. Moths just love to eat fabric and threads, even those used for crocheting. It only takes a minute and after all your hard work, you don't want it ruined by moths.
5. Keep scissors away from small children. There are a few different things that you can do, so that you can be worry free. One option is to use folding scissors. Keep them folded at all times, except for when you are using them. This way, there is no chance of the children getting cut. Another option is to use a thread or yarn cutter. Here, the blades are either set deep into the cutter or are covered by plastic, so that the blades won't come into contact with skin.
6. Keep your place with safety pins. If you're having trouble remembering or counting how many rows you have completed, then use safety pins. Place one pin after every 10 rows or chains that you have completed. Then, when you are counting your rows, you just have to count the number of safety pins that you have and multiply by 10.
7. Sew crocheted motifs together in two easy steps. Step one, line up your motifs and attach them together using small hair clips. Step two, sew the motifs together using yarn and a needle. Use a gentle tension when sewing: too loose and you'll be able to see the yarn; too tight and your motifs will become bunched up.

I hope you have found these crochet tips and tricks useful.  Please visit our Crochet Threads & Floss webpage to see a large selection of the different types of thread that you can use when crocheting.

Back to Knitting Articles