Whether you’re new to crochet or you’ve been a “hooker” all your life, you’ve probably picked up some pretty useful tips by now. Having helpful hints or time-saving tips can truly help a crocheter along the way. And as we all know, crocheting has pretty much taken over our lives, so anything we can have, we’ll grab it. I personally didn’t know I needed to learn the single crochet stitch. Many crochet patterns out there use the single crochet stitch, but for some reason I learned how to crochet the half double crochet stitch, first thinking it was super easy. When you can work up a pattern quickly you might as well use a bigger stitch, right?
I’ve gathered some of our finest tips and ideas that crocheters didn’t know they needed:
Bags, bags & more bags for all of the projects I’ve started and are just lying around the house. Ziploc is my new best friend. – Christina Carlton
Stitch markers and multiple hooks in most sizes. – Rachel Wunderlin
Something to thread the tapestry needle. Seriously, who can jam a piece of worsted weight yarn through one of those tiny little holes? My solution has been to use a paperclip. – Kevin Crumrine
White poster board! If you love to show off your finished items, nothing makes a better background. – Tamara Kelly
Sewing thread, embroidery floss, space to store everything, a hook case, a bag to carry my projects in, cardboard, starch, and pins for shaping. – Erin Bayless
A row counter, you click it for each row. Great when you’re doing a large afghan. – Michelle Merrill
A ball winder for all the leftover yarns- so much easier to store, otherwise they just tangle up. – Linda Grohowski Mechel
Pencil grips and saran wrap. Take a piece of wrap and wrap around your crochet hook and then place a pencil grip over the wrap. makes a grip for those who have difficulty gripping the hook. – Theresa Boo
Safety pins… assorted sizes as stitch markers. ruler, tape measure, pencil to make notes on the pattern, calculator for resizing, a large board or tray for large projects (I fold large afghans as I work them up, place on the board and then turn this on my lap for each row… my wrists can’t take the weight of heavy projects anymore) and corrugated cardboard to block out my thread projects. And aside from my crochet projects, crochet hooks & knitting needles helped me when I was hanging a ceiling fan and I couldn’t get the holes to line up when it came to putting the screws in to hold it up! – Kathy Anderson-Vecchio
Now that you know what you need, it’s time to work up these great crochet patterns:
- C is for Cookie Monster Hat
- Fisherman Cable Hooded Scarf
- Crochet Rice Bag
- Oversized Olive Jacket
- Easy Crochet Wine Glass Charms
- Two Hour Boot Cuffs
- Pumpkin Spice Crochet Afghan
- Precious Owl Pouch
What’s the one thing you wish you knew you needed to crochet?
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Foam hair rollers to use for bobbins and end pieces of yarn. At 36 to 48 per package under $10, they are far cheaper than the plastic yarn bobbins…and the yarn can unwind easily.
I make crochet hooks covered with polymer clay designs. They feel great to use — I use them all the time. Many colors. If you need a certain size or a whole set of hooks, check out my shop and convo me. Virginia
I use large convenience store drink cups for a skein of yarn using the straw hole to draw the yarn through. Keeps the yarn clean and the cats from attacking it.
Time! If I had known how much time I needed for crocheting, I would have saved a lot of it from the time I was young to use now. Seriously, I wish I had known earlier about exercises and movements to care for my hands and wrists before they became so painful. Please look up and try the tips people tell for helping with this…it’s well worth it.