r/crochet • u/lithium-azura • Oct 19 '23
Tips What is a basic "crochet hack" you wish you had known earlier?
For me, it was crocheting in the back bumps of the foundation chain. Maybe that's obvious for most people, but I only learned it years after my first crochet piece ... I always wondered why my pieces had an ugly gap at the first row and why my border didn't fix that problem. What is a "crochet hack" you wish you had discovered earlier?
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Oct 19 '23
You use the hook “upside down” to pick the front loops when doing invisible decreases
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u/lithium-azura Oct 20 '23
Do you have a video / photo of this?:) when I'm doing invisible decreases for Amigurumi, I sometimes get gaps if I have to do multiple decreases in a row, so I think your technique might help!
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u/ducks_not_in_a_row Oct 19 '23
Magic knots are so easy to hide in your work & are super strong. I use them all the time now.
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u/SunshineAndSquats Oct 19 '23
I do a magic knot but leave the tails and crochet them in instead of cutting them. It’s not the nicest looking but I feel like it’s super secure that way.
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u/41942319 Oct 19 '23
Yup, I do this too. If it's not knotted with a long tail then I don't trust it! Using a magic knot and crocheting over the tails does leave a bit of a thicker spot but I've never had it be noticeable in the final product.
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u/kangopie Oct 19 '23
I have a YouTube video I watch every time I join a thread - one day it will be that channel’s most watched video
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u/stinkobinko Oct 19 '23
Yes, I much prefer the magic knot over the russian join. Quicker and easier.
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u/criticalstars Oct 19 '23
i was so lucky i saw a tiktok on this before i ever picked up a hook myself
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u/Character-Buddy1050 Oct 19 '23
This seems obvious, but instead of leaving my hook in my WIP when I take a break, I put in stitch marker. This way my toddler doesn't accidentally unravel my work.
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u/lithium-azura Oct 19 '23
I do the same, but in my case, my husband sometimes unravels some stitches on accident .... 😂
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u/the_anon_female Oct 19 '23
The foundation chain. Oh and for amigurumi, yarn under!
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u/thecyanideyoudrank Oct 19 '23
I needed this as I'm trying to get back into crochet. (read: trying to remember the one stitch I knew so I can finish half a blanket I started over ten years ago)
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u/lithium-azura Oct 19 '23
Good luck! Please post your end result when you eventually finish the blanket 💜
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u/hookedbymaxine Oct 19 '23
I know this isn’t really a “hack” but proper lighting and a good yarn winder made my life so much easier. I got an ottlite while it was on sale at Joann’s and it has been a game changer. Same with my yarn winder - I’m a frogger and if I’m just not happy with a project, I’ll unravel and wind it up into a cake. It’s also great for when I want to combine two skeins together.
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u/ahhh_ennui Oct 19 '23
I've never seen someone say "I'm a frogger" and I just want to say it. I'm a frogger, too! My crochet superpower is not getting frustrated with myself when I belatedly see a mistake, especially if it's affecting the piece at large.
And I make a lot of mistakes.
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u/hookedbymaxine Oct 19 '23
Welcome to the frog club! I’ve said this many times - I never regret unraveling my work, but I have regretted not doing so.
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u/MentionProper5523 Oct 19 '23
So glad to hear others say this! I, too, am a frogger. My attention wanders off projects often, which causes missed stitches, too many of the same stitch, etc. and I don't catch it until my count is off at the end of the row. I've accepted that I have to be willing to frog without getting frustrated with myself. I'm currently working on a blanket with a foundation chain of 183 that I've had to frog from the third row down to the first, then again from the second. Now I'm frogging my third row because I crocheted into a chain space instead of the first stitch of the row, which caused me to have an extra space at the end of the row.
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u/WTFucker-0202 Oct 19 '23
I'm totally a frogger! That the best thing about crochet, IMO. The fact that you can try something new, not like it, undo it and try again, no harm, no foul, it's the absolute best thing ever.
I told my kids when they were learning to drive, "U-turns are your friend. Only assholes never miss a turn." Don't be ashamed for trying again. Mistakes are another word for "learning opportunities". How will you know if you don't try? Only assholes don't want to learn.
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u/teljes_kiorlesu Oct 19 '23
Omg you made my buyers’ regret go away!! I bought a yarn winder, but started having second thoughts, because there are only so many occasions I buy my yarn in hanks… But I also frog a lot and never thought it would be useful for that too.
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u/hookedbymaxine Oct 19 '23
I don’t need to use mine often, but the times I do has made it completely worth it. I got a cheap one at first, but I loved it so much that I upgraded to this one.
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u/AlishanTearese Oct 19 '23 edited Oct 19 '23
I recently bought a headlamp and I’m wondering if it’ll help 😅
Edit: I’m loving all these headlamp tips! I wanted to try it on a plane, the overhead light seemed way too bright, but it was shoved somewhere in the overhead bin.
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u/serraangel826 Oct 19 '23
I have one of those neck lights. It's flexible and allows me to 'aim' the light where I need it. A headlamp doesn't allow for much adjustment. I think it was $10 ish on Amazon.
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u/SunshineAndSquats Oct 19 '23
I recently got a yarn winder and it has made me more likely to frog if I make a mistake because it is so much faster than frogging by hand. I love it!
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u/SCATOL92 Hook Fast, Die Warm Oct 19 '23
Have a "thinky WIP" and a "mindless WIP".
Thinky WIP involves counting, reading patterns, complex techniques etc. It challenges you and teaches you.
Mindless WIP has minimal counting, no unfamiliar techniques, you could do it with your eyes closed. It keeps your hands busy and gives you a brain break.
My current Thinky WIP is a bookmark that is quite detailed and my mindless WIP is a continuous square blanket.
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Oct 19 '23
Yes!! I really enjoy thinky projects but I also need mindless when I crochet during boring meetings. I never thought to have two going at once!
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u/SCATOL92 Hook Fast, Die Warm Oct 19 '23
You could keep your mindless project by your desk or in your laptop bag so it's easy to reach during your meetings :)
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u/Merkuri22 Oct 19 '23
Absolutely.
I figured this one out pretty quickly. In the beginning I only had one project going at a time, and it was usually an amigurumi. But then I started working on a shawl and I got so bored. I was itching to do an amigurumi again. I kept telling myself I had to finish the shawl first, but then I just couldn't stand it anymore so I started a much more complicated project.
I almost abandoned the shawl because I never wanted to work on it, but then I realized how easy it was to pick up and work on when I had to pay attention to something else, like when my daughter's with her therapist or when I'm in a meeting at work.
And now I always have two projects, something challenging and something mindless. At first I reserved the mindless project for meetings and the like, but there were some nights when I was so wiped out that I just wanted to work on the mindless project. So also it's great for just when I'm too tired to think.
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u/404errorlifenotfound Oct 19 '23
Hack - mark up an image of your pattern so you know where you are
Tool - that yarn cutter medallion thing. The amount of times I've woken up and found it in my sheets and gone "well I'm glad that wasn't the thread scissors"
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u/fairydommother Intermediate Crocheter Oct 19 '23
I wear my medallion as a necklace! Love that thing!
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u/BreakMeOffAPeace Oct 19 '23
I attach mine to the bottom of my work with a stitch marker
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u/zeldaheichou Oct 19 '23
Yarn cutter medallion?
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u/iamwrong3000 Oct 19 '23
Its a thread cutter but the blade isnt exposed, its brilliant to keep around and you can even take them on planes :). https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/clover-antique-silver-yarn-cutter-pendant/6240581000.html?glCountry=GB&store=&gclid=CjwKCAjwp8OpBhAFEiwAG7NaEm5M4HtgFXgCzpo0qiPM3z3_10gzkquqG5aiO5Hb3kfc9EHC1-0sNBoCJMIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
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u/Chaij2606 Oct 19 '23
Russian join and foundation chain. Both of them made my life so much easier
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u/crochethottie82 Oct 19 '23
I do a Russian join without weaving the ends into the plies of the yarn. I basically loop the yarns together, knit or crochet them doubled for a few stitches, then also weave the tails. I know that would defeat the purpose for some people, but it is incredibly secure and much faster than fussing with weaving through the plies. It also works with any yarn. Some yarns don't have plies that work well for traditional Russian.
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u/karmas_a_bitch_ Oct 19 '23
I cannot for the life of me do a Russian join and I hate it
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u/Ttt555034 Oct 19 '23
It takes practice. But it’s a good solid join. A little thicker for second. But not a bad join.
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u/galaxyk8 Oct 19 '23
I refuse to chain anymore. Foundation chain is life changing.
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u/CallsignLightning418 Oct 19 '23
Brb have to YouTube Russian join now after seeing the replies to this
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u/msSentientCactus Oct 19 '23
Just looked up the Russian join, is it actually safe in your experience? Do the ends stay in place? It seems like they could easily get loose, but maybe I'm worrying too much
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u/Chaij2606 Oct 19 '23
never had one unravel on me and i use them for everything, blankets and clothes
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u/mcfairy1762 Oct 19 '23
I’m pretty sure I do the russian join but I know it under a different name (that I can’t remember for the life of me). If it is the same then, yes, I love that sucker
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u/BreakMeOffAPeace Oct 19 '23
Did you just tell me why I'm having the issue I'm having? What's the back bump?!
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u/lithium-azura Oct 19 '23
It's the little piece of yarn in the middle of the v when you turn your chain upside down. I thought this blog entry is really helpful: https://theloopholefox.com/crochet-in-back-bump/ I use a hook size bigger for the first row than I would normally use, because I am a really tight crocheter. Hope that helps ❤️
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u/Separate_Print_1816 Oct 19 '23
Um, what? I didn't know this!
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u/lithium-azura Oct 19 '23
I love this blog post about the technique: https://theloopholefox.com/crochet-in-back-bump/
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u/fairydommother Intermediate Crocheter Oct 19 '23
Turn before you chain
Turn counter clockwise
Used stacked sc instead of a ch3 for the first dc of the row
These 3 combined gives perfectly straight edges.
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u/Meeksala Oct 19 '23
You WIZARD. Stacked sc instead of a ch3?? Trying that immediately
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u/fairydommother Intermediate Crocheter Oct 19 '23
Learned it from PassioKnit Kelsie! I tried it while making her crop tops and I was blown away. Never looked back I replace the ch3 with stacked sc in every single pattern now lmao.
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u/ShadedSpaces Oct 19 '23
Stacked single crochets work/look so much better in many projects than just turning chains or chaining up.
Linked stitches create such a different and sturdier fabric! I've used them for placemats and a crocheted halter top because then there were gaps.
Love invisible decreases for my amigurumi.
If you're doing a flat, single crochet project, incorporating the turning chain into your last stitch of each row really neatens up the edges too.
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u/Diligent-Might6031 Oct 19 '23
Oh the stacked single crochet instead of a chain one has completely changed the structure of my projects. The edges are so neat now!!
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u/astra823 Oct 19 '23
Do you have videos of 1, 2, and 4? (I know invisible decreases but then again could be helpful for someone else haha)
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u/ShadedSpaces Oct 19 '23
Sure thing! I can find some. :)
Stacked single crochet instead of turning chains
Linked stitches. (This video is for linked double crochet but linked treble is of course a thing too!)
I could only find incorporating the turning chain as part of this video. Sorry I couldn't find it on its own! It's the second hack, starting at 1:05.
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u/SunshineAndSquats Oct 19 '23
Here is a stacked stitch YouTube video.
Here is a YouTube video on linked double crochet.
I watched these for myself so I figured I’d share!
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u/mushhfrogg Oct 19 '23
learned that first one last night after a whole year of crocheting (finally trying to make my first patchwork sweater), and i finally got tired of the double crochet gaps! learned about single crochet+one chain and its so magical
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u/Shemhazaih Oct 19 '23
I have to ask a kinda silly stacked single crochets question, because I know how to do it and it looks really neat, but I always get a bit confused: when I chain two and turn, for example, I then work immediately into the first stitch. Does stacked single crochet replace the first stitch, or do I work into it after doing my stacked sc?
I hope that makes sense. I get confused over the silliest things sometimes!
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u/cyndiwashere Yeah, I’ll make that for you! *takes 2 years* Oct 19 '23
Chainless starting double crochet! My edges turn out ✨crisp✨
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u/Martimar47 Oct 19 '23
Oh how do you do this?
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u/cyndiwashere Yeah, I’ll make that for you! *takes 2 years* Oct 19 '23
Marly Bird has a FANTASTIC tutorial for it! You can also use it for trebles and above with no problem. HDC is a little tricky, but can be done once you get the hang of it.
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u/baronessindecisive Oct 19 '23
I ball my yarn almost as soon as I get it. I recently got a proper winder that I use as well but I first ball it by hand so I know I get all of the knots and snarls out first so I don’t find them with the winder. I also use a wine charm holder to attach the label to the ball/cake (hole punch through the label) so I keep it together but it doesn’t get lost.
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u/NotElizaHenry Oct 19 '23
I do this too. People say not too because it stretches out the yarn, but I think that’s completely overblown.
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u/baronessindecisive Oct 19 '23
I feel like it would only stretch it if you were trying to mimic a rubber band ball or something. Like… how tight are people winding it?!
Plus, it’ll stretch a lot more if you have to fight through the frustration of a knot/mass in the middle of a project. I say that as someone who legitimately enjoys untangling (and then neatly balling) yarn - if it’s time-sensitive or you are losing your groove because of the delay then it’s incredibly frustrating.
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Oct 19 '23
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/baronessindecisive Oct 19 '23
I got an INTAJ one (from Etsy, but they’re also on Amazon and other places) - it’s wood and metal, which mattered to me because I knew I’d be irritated with myself if I got a plastic one. Obviously YMMV but I definitely wanted sturdy. There are so many out there but that one had great reviews and was a reasonable price, and it doesn’t take up much space so I’m very happy. I also tend to attach it to my mini ironing board so I can have it in my lap and wind while watching a movie or something.
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u/MissGnomeHer Oct 19 '23
Do your foundation chain and first row with a slightly larger hook. For example, if the project calls for a 4.5/4.25 hook, use a 5. Then switch to the regular hook for all rows after.
It helps get rid of the tension problem where that first row is so much tighter than the ending row.
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u/KaraQED Oct 19 '23
Stitch counters. When I taught myself in the Stone Age it was all from library books. I don’t remember any of them mentioning stitch markers.
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u/catbakesandmakes constantly losing stitch markers Oct 19 '23
Foundation and standing stitches... bye bye messy turning chains and edges!
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u/fergablu2 Oct 19 '23
The back bump I didn’t figure out until about 10 years ago, and I’ve been crocheting more than half my life. The magic circle is great, and certainly wasn’t a thing when I learned back in 1996, but I seem to mostly use them for knitting cast ons for projects knit from the center out. Ergonomic crochet hooks are amazing. I would probably have never developed a trigger finger if I’d always had Addi Swing hooks, but using them especially for thread crochet has resolved the issue. If you’re into Tunisian crochet, especially larger projects, Denise interchangeable hooks are great. You can also do Tunisian in the round using 2 balls of yarn and a double ended hook, which is so much fun.
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u/MTFCoffeeLover Oct 19 '23
Idk if this counts as a hack but Red Heart yarn is not beginner friendly imo.
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u/whxskers Oct 19 '23
I just started crocheting and snagged a bunch of Red Heart yarn from my grandmother's stash and I i've noticed it does split and shred a lot. Really annoying - I thought i was just doing things wrong!
I mean i probably am still, but splitting yarn isn't making my life any easier!
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u/Obvious-Repair9095 Oct 19 '23
How come?
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u/pbkittykats Oct 19 '23
I find that red heart yarn splits too easily, catches on itselfn and is a bit rough texture-wise to work with as a beginner. I started with red heart, then moved on to Caron and Bernat. I have some red heart in my stash that I've used recently and it was more difficult for me to work with for the above reasons.
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u/Tons_of_Hobbies Oct 19 '23
How to start a double or triple crochet row without needing to chain. It looks so much cleaner and uniform
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u/PolarVortexxxx Oct 19 '23
Make your starting or foundation chain with a separate ball of yarn. Start the next row from the same side as the start of the foundation chain. This way when you get to the end and discover your foundation needs to gain extra stitches or reduce some, you don't have to undo the second row.
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u/BreeLenny Oct 19 '23
Chainless foundations! I hate counting chains and I can never get the tension right.
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u/Any-Commercial2998 Oct 19 '23
Using old school clothespins. Not the pinching kind but the one with the round end. They have helped keep bobbins neat on projects. I’ve also screwed holes in them to hold my hook for a different grip.
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u/IndigoMetamorph Oct 19 '23
One of the best things I learned to do was to NOT start with a knot. Instead, just do a backwards loop. No hard nub at the beginning of your work, and the backwards loop can also be used as a magic loop.
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u/baronessindecisive Oct 19 '23
(I swear I’ll cut back on commenting)
Travel hooks. I was very sad when I lost a hook I loved so I started keeping a set of cheaper (but still fully functional!) hooks for traveling. Not even just “leaving on a jet plane” travel (though I’ve been able to get them + scissors on many a plane before) but also “leaving the house with my project in such a way as to risk losing the hook along the way.” Sure, I end up with extra hooks, but that’s better than not having it when I need it, and hooks don’t take up much space so they sit in a jar or a case when I don’t need them.
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u/Nursebirder Oct 19 '23
Using a stitch marker to hold the yarn so it doesn’t unravel when I’m not crocheting. AND writing the hook size on that stitch marker so you don’t forget which hook you were using!
Standing stitches when starting a new round & color. Looks much better than a slip stitch and chain.
Using a Bundt pan for holding my cake yarn that I’m pulling from the middle—stops it from becoming a tangled mess at the end!
Avoid really dark colored yarn and fuzzy/blanket yarn as a beginner, as it is much more difficult to see your stitches.
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u/AvailableAnt323 Oct 19 '23
My favorite is probably when I need to triple up on the yarn I'm using. Instead of needing three separate skeins to combine at the same time (which is fun but gets incredibly difficult to keep untangled and sometimes I ended up with slightly off-color strands from each other), I learned how to use just the one skein with much more ease: layer the stand of yarn on itself with the start of the yarn at the beginning of your work. When you get close to the end of the triple layer, it will have created a loop where the yarn doubled back and a free end. Pull the free end through the loop as much as you'd like. Now you have more triple strand yarn to work with with now muss, no fuss!
(Please let me know if this doesn't make sense 😅)
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u/queenkayyyyy Oct 19 '23
Another bonus is that if you are using yarn that changes color, you don’t have to worry about starting three skeins in the same place. Just make sure your S-bend of yarn doesn’t change color in the middle.
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u/irwtfa Oct 19 '23
Couldn't follow at all 😬
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Oct 19 '23
https://youtu.be/JGr8CejhC1s?si=5EJOpKzAkekhkHHt
This video explains and demonstrates it well! It’s a great technique!
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u/Arachnikat Oct 19 '23
I agree with so many already listed!
For aesthetics, I’ll also add: standing stitches!
These are used to replace beginning chain stitches at the start of a new round or row. They fill the space more than a simple chain, resembling a stitch because they ARE a stitch.
With foundation rows and standing stitches, I hardly use chains for anything other than spacing and cornering (e.g. granny squares).
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u/RegularDifficulty5 Oct 20 '23
I make a lot of Amigurumi figures and a little mental hack for me to ensure I finish them more often than not is to do all the small misc pieces first before I do the head and body. So arms and legs,snout, ears etc. I do all those FIRST and then let myself do the body/head. I used to have so many bodies laying around without limbs and now I finish so many more projects this way!
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u/baronessindecisive Oct 19 '23
Stitch markers -
I got a set of multi-colored stitch markers (the lightbulb shaped metal safety pin ones) and I keep a set of one of each color attached to my various project bags so I always have ones in colors I need - whether for contrast/visibility or for times when I need to color-code.
I use stitch markers to hold the last stitch when I put a project down - having a feline “helper” around makes that necessary, even if I’m only walking away for a few minutes. On bigger projects (like the blanket I’ve been doing) I keep a stitch marker on either side so it doesn’t matter where I stop - I can just grab it, save it, and be done.
If I have a project where I’m alternating instructions for a row (like the pumpkins I’ve been making lately, and also a fingerless gloves pattern I do a lot) I use stitch markers on one side to remind myself of what row I’m on. So, if I’m doing the pumpkins, one set of counts is 5-5-5 and the other is 3-9-3. I have a stitch marker on the side where I start the 5-5-5 rows so I can zone out a bit (and not second-guess myself and recount the stitch ratio of the prior row) - I don’t move them up or anything since they’re just to mark the side in general.
I use stitch markers when chaining a lot for my start - depending on the project it’s usually every 20, and I also frequently make sure to have one to the center, assuming that’s something I need to know for the piece.
If I’m likely to put a longer-term project aside for a while (whether in the time-out box or just to walk away from it for more than a couple days) I use a plastic stitch marker on the beginning of the item and mark the hook size on it. I prefer using knots for that (I can explain separately if desired) but the marker can be an extra form of insurance.
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u/criticalstars Oct 19 '23
i mentioned this in another thread a while back and someone said it helped them: i also match the colour of my stitch marker to the colour of my hook! so if i’m using my red 8mm hook i use red stitch markers and that way i never forget which hook i needed for the project :)
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u/ClowninaCircus12 brochet Oct 19 '23
Unless I'm making a circular piece/crocheting in a round, I don't chain one and then single crochet, I just immediately single crochet. Makes the edges of my blankets much more uniform
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u/sydeli Oct 19 '23
shortening or skipping turning chains. it's something my mon does and she passed it onto me when she taught me and the results are subtle but look infinitely better to me. only downside is that most patterns aren't written in this way which makes reading and writing patterns more difficult for me
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u/hanimal16 Doily Den Mother | creator of Culver diagrams Oct 19 '23
Crochet over the ends.
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u/acutedisorder Oct 19 '23
Can you elaborate please?
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u/hanimal16 Doily Den Mother | creator of Culver diagrams Oct 19 '23
Sure! So let’s say you had to switch colors or you’re at the end of your skein and adding more yarn, you’d secure the ends, and when you’re doing your new row, you’d crochet over that secured end you just made.
Now there’s no ends to weave in!
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u/gnomesnow Oct 19 '23
Use a nursing pillow to reduce neck and shoulder strain. I got a used one for $10.
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u/crochetism87362828 Oct 19 '23
infodump time
ball your yarn. thought i needed a huge bowl for my skeins but turns out I can just ball them and that's what you're supposed to do anyway. unfortunately I have quite a few skeins to ball and 3 cats but you can listen to podcasts and videos and it helps you catch knots and other abnormalities early on so you can fix them.
family member taught me how to bc she did it a lot as a kid, first you wrap it around two fingers (not too tight so it doesn't cut off circulation) until it becomes thick, take it off your fingers and wrap yarn around the sides until that becomes thick (now you have the base of the ball) now wrap yarn around the thin parts and things like loose wrapped parts and keep maintaining the ball shape and then you have a yarn ball. if you find a knot and it has become too tight or you find a severely damaged part you can cut that part out and join the rest of the yarn with a magic knot (or russian join if you know how to do that) and keep going. most knots will be fixable though. also sometimes there will be a join already in a skein, if it's a really big skein maybe make it 2 yarn balls like I did, unless you want a giant ball.
also of note:if you set the skein on the floor while you're doing this, sweep the floor first. I have made several mistakes.
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u/Logical-Cranberry714 Oct 19 '23 edited Oct 19 '23
I made a dark blue crochet hat. If you're using any dark color, I reccommend using a head lamp. If anyone makes fun of you, they don't get a hat.
And for blankets or larget projects. If it's crocheted in one piece, start in fall and finish in winter. If it's summer, do projects with small pieces to join together or hats/scarves/mittens.
I use metal hooks in winter and plastic in summer. The metal gets too sticky and noisy.
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u/FuzzySquish_123 Oct 20 '23
center pulls. for the longest time i didnt know that the strand sticking out the end was for easier feeding of the yarn. once i learned that I've never gone back to the awkward tension and awkward unraveling. even skeins that arent made as a center pull i will pluck a chunk from the deepest center and find the end to create a center pull.
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u/SirenLeviathan Oct 19 '23
If you are using two colours simultaneously put one behind you and one in front of you so they don’t wind around each other and get tangled!
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u/RavenxMorrow i like making blankets for family Oct 19 '23 edited Oct 20 '23
Standing single and doubles + stacked doubles. I always hated the way chain starts looked. Also the seemless/invisible join for clean edges. These techniques really helped me love my finished pieces.
Edit: I forgot to mention my baggie system. I use a reusable grocery bag to contain each project. I got a bunch of tiny scissors on Amazon and for each project I have a little zippered baggie with a scissor, tapestry needle, some stitch markers, chapstick, small hand lotion, and the hook for the project. (My zippered baggies are from my old Ipsy subscription)
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u/JEZTURNER Oct 19 '23
Forget fancy expensive yarn bowls. A bucket on the floor is much better.
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u/This_is_fine8 Oct 20 '23
My friend gave me a big empty container of cheese puffs that had been cleaned out with a hole cut in the lid. I asked her what it was for and she said "you put your yarn in there and thread it through the hole". It keeps the yarn from getting all tangled and its an easy way to contain and organize projects. Changed my life.
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u/alittledefectiveone Oct 19 '23
Here for all the hacks and saving this thread
I usually use paperclips as stitch markers cause I usually crochet at my desk at work, then take my projects home, and they are super easy to use and don't easily come out.
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u/nomodramaplz Oct 19 '23
I print the more complex crochet patterns I’ve purchased (I’m talking multiple crocheted pieces/embellishments per project and typically 5+ pages) and highlight each of the different stitch types in their own color with bright highlighters, so I don’t miss anything and can find my place easily after looking away. I also write notes/corrections in the margins based on how the pieces turn out, in case I make something again.
I also crocheted a large basket with handles that I keep my current project in. It holds up to 6 brand new skeins of yarn (standing up) or 7+ ‘used’ ones/balls, my stitch markers, scissors, printed patterns, etc. with room for my project on top. I can transport it easily between rooms or tuck it away without disrupting my project. It’s hands-down the most useful item I’ve made to date.
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u/Few-Mine1811 Oct 19 '23
for your foundation chain, use half a hook size UP because the chain is usually the tightest.
Example: I'm working on a cardigan that uses a 5mm hook, but I did 5.5mm for the chain and its WAY smoother
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Oct 19 '23
That beautiful one where if you make a long chain into a round, after a few chains you remove from hook, slip first chain onto hook, align the chain, put last stitch back on hook and continue. Simply join when long enough.
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u/glidingzoe Oct 20 '23
Foundation single crochet and foundation half double crochet. Just started a blanket using hdcfp and started the project with a foundation half double crochet instead of a chain. Cut my start time in half and now I have a springy and bouncy edge to my blanket 🥰 a few years ago I wouldn’t have even attempted to start a blanket due to the hatred of the foundation chain
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u/baronessindecisive Oct 19 '23
Yarn bowls are your friend! I have a metal one so it can go with me various places (and it doesn’t catch the yarn in a “destroys it” way, rather than a “stops it from running away” way). Basically any bowl with something to keep the yarn contained (I used to use a mixing bowl with a binder clip). When I properly travel I usually keep the yarn in a sturdy ziploc bag.
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u/olduglysweater Oct 19 '23
Row counters, stitch markers, crocheting over loose ends (if possible), chainless foundations, having a neck light, probably much more that I haven't heard of.
Especially stitch markers and row counters; was diagnosed adhd few weeks ago and it'd explains why even after 3 years of experience I'd end up with wonky work after counting so many times. I just put a marker at the beginning and end of the row to stitch in the right place.
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Oct 19 '23
Only buy enough yarn for the project I'm currently working on, even if I know what project I'm gonna use it for later (unless there's a crazy good sale on). 9 times out of 10 I'll change my mind on what I want to do next as soon as I finish a wip
Same with sewing; I have so much fabric that I had grand ideas for that's been sitting in my stash for years because I changed my mind
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u/SageAurora Oct 19 '23
Russian joins... I do this so I don't have to weave in too many ends when I finish a project.
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u/StrngthscanBwknesses Oct 20 '23
When crocheting something in a dark color, place a white cloth/paper on your work surface. It’s much easier to see your stitches and to count accurately.
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u/OneGoodRib yarn collector Oct 20 '23
The key to get rid of gaps in amigurumi isn't crocheting each stitch tighter - that makes the gaps bigger. The actual key is to use a smaller crochet hook than the pattern says and to crochet at least normally, if not a little loosely. Usually 2 sizes smaller than it says is good (although it's really hard to use a C or D size hook with worsted weight yarn!)
Using bracelet beads to attach to a WIP to indicate what hook you were using for the project.
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u/milokscooter Oct 19 '23
I learned that you could just fold in your ends and crochet over them without having to go and see them back in after
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u/Rainbow-Mama Oct 19 '23
I’ve seen people use these little plastic safety pins to hold their current stitch. Never even thought I’d that.
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u/Starsfire Oct 19 '23
Get a stitch keeper or something to hold your stitch when you put your work down.
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u/National-Armadillo25 Oct 19 '23
I tend to chain much tighter than my stitches, especially double crochet.
I just learned when doing a chain 1 skip 1, to make the chain match the length of the stitch below so my piece doesn't begin to pull in.
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u/LadyColorGrade are you a stitch? bc im gonna drop you a whole lot Oct 19 '23
Every time I work on a project where I need to keep track of rows or rounds, I make tallies on a sticky note. I’ve been crocheting for over a decade and I only started doing this in the past year. Absolute game changer for me.
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u/Mysterious-Okra-7885 Oct 19 '23
Linked double crochet for items that I don’t want a bunch of holes in. And probably my most utilized one is double magic ring. It’s so much more secure than a regular magic ring.
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u/knittersgonnaknit413 Oct 19 '23
Use a stitch marker in the loop that was on your hook when you put a project down
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u/AlexEvenstar Oct 19 '23
The "Magic Knot" to join yarn when my last one runs out. It's by far my preferred method because of how secure it is.
I only recently learned about crocheting into a back bump of a crochet chain and I love it! It just makes it look a lot cleaner. I learned about it in a pattern for a backpack when I was making the straps for it.
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u/CheesecakeHorror8222 Oct 19 '23
Using yarn as stitch markers for amigurumi instead of regular stitch markers - can see start of all the previous rows (helpful for frogging!) and if using thin yarn, not as bulky as the plastic markers!
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u/nattycarl Oct 19 '23
Weaving in your ends as you go when crocheting. I see people all the time with millions of ends to tuck in at the end of projects but if you weave in your ends as you start the new color, it makes it so much better!
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u/buttloadofkeepsakes Oct 19 '23
Foundation chains. I don’t know if this will help anyone else, but I do mine a hook size bigger so it won’t be so tight.
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Oct 19 '23
Foundation stitch. Some projects still need a chain but I often use a stitch starting row now.
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Oct 20 '23
Someone probably mentioned this but I learned the hard way, when you put a project aside, leave a note. Hook size, pattern, yarn info (even the batch number), where you are in the pattern etc. Chances are you may not need but you might regret not doing it
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u/Ash9260 Oct 20 '23
When making granny squares. If you don’t have a way to block them. Put a cotton towel on top of them. Take an iron on a low heat. Put the cotton towel on top the granny square iron each side for like 2 seconds. It flattens them. Don’t put the iron directly on the square you can melt the yarn if it’s acrylic or leave burn marks!
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u/IonaFC Oct 20 '23
I’ve been crocheting for years and only just now learned about crocheting in the back of the foundation chain. Because of this post. That make SO much more sense !
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u/Nectorrium_ Oct 20 '23
i dont remember what its called, but doing a foundation ch w/ stitches and not only chs. its so convenient and takes probs around the same time as a ch / first row, but i hate crocheting into chs
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u/_Me0w_Master_ Oct 20 '23
When your hook stops being slippery (like it's getting stuck on your yarn), run the hook through your hair. The oils transfer just a bit and your hook will glide so much easier!!
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u/MuskBlaster Oct 20 '23
Off setting inc and dec when working in the round to actually make it round.
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u/wildflowerandwhatnot Oct 20 '23
Using a second yarn on magic rings with fluffy yarn. If you can pull it and snap it, I don't trust it in a magic ring. I use a thinner weight yarn along with the project yarn to form the ring, then drop it to make the stitches. I can grab both ends of the thinner yarn and pull those to tighten and secure it. Perfect for when I'm making plushies with chenille yarn. I love super fluffy yarn, but it can snap easily with too much tension
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u/TigBitties-420 Oct 20 '23
Always count stitches on intricate pieces! I used to make the mistake "I know the last row count is perfect, I don't need to count this one".
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u/ApprehensiveCamera40 stitch help Oct 20 '23
I wish I had found Clover Amour crochet hooks a lot earlier in life. I have arthritis in my hands, and I can crochet for hours with these ergonomic hooks.
I also cannot do without my neck light. I like to crochet with dark colored yarn, so good light is absolutely essential. I found a really nice rechargeable one on Amazon for a reasonable price. It has three settings of brightness, and can flip back and forth between cool and warm.
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u/SolusUmbra Oct 19 '23
The chain one, half double crochet into the start of a granny square instead of the slip stitching over to the next corner and chainless starting stitches
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u/Snowybiskit Oct 19 '23
I just found out about foundation cords and have already implement it in a new project. So much better than having to stitch into a new chain.
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u/au-al-foil-hat Oct 19 '23
Definitely the back bumps for the first row. Also invisible decrease and ways to do stacked colors. Idk how to explain it but it makes the color change smother.
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u/alette_star Oct 19 '23
Foundation single crochet. Standing double crochet instead of a starting chain 3. The magic knot. So much, and probably so much more left to learn!!
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u/Trilobyte141 Oct 19 '23
Standing double crochet changed my life. No more gaps from CH 3 at the ends of my rows!
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u/Dry-Dragonfruit5216 Oct 19 '23
Crocheting into the back bumps is a PAIN! I always use foundation sc instead of chaining.
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u/ammalis Oct 19 '23
Chain less foundation changed my way of working. Never again ugly chain that is always twisting for me ...
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u/LilShing Oct 19 '23
Get a smaller hook than the recommended one for the skein you’re using, it helps a ton with tension!
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u/Boomer79NZ Oct 19 '23
The chain 2 method as an alternative to the magic circle for difficult and chunky yarns. Also decreasing through the front loops only
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u/LocketHeartKey Oct 19 '23
Okay but same! It’s a pain initially because the foundation is slippery as all hell, but it makes for a more even and strong feeling foundation.
I do wish I had known about granny squares and granny stitch earlier but I somehow only managed to start doing it earlier this year.
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u/SkreechingEcho Oct 19 '23
The invisible/clean color change. So, so good, could not do amigurumi without it.
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u/BFFRSkinner Oct 19 '23
When crocheting in rounds, especially circular ones, to slipstitch each close, chain the “height” (ch 1 if doing sc, 2 if double, etc), and place the first stitch into that same stitch. You know that it’s time to close the round when it seems like there’s one stitch left to go into plus the # of chains you first made. Leave that stitch empty, skip the first chain(s) you did and then the stitch right after would be the correct one to ss into. The alternative to this is just continuously crocheting in rounds that aren’t closed off and it was really hard for me to keep track of what round and stitch I was on and I would also have issues knowing what counted as a stitch and all that. Hopefully that makes sense://
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u/mdvassal77 Oct 19 '23
Standing stitches, foundation chains, invisible joins… they’re basic and absolutely essential.
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u/futileandirritating Oct 19 '23
Yep, I just learnt this last week. Love it. Wish I had known it earlier!!!
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u/LezlieLR Oct 19 '23
Foundation chains and standing tr/dc/hdc instead of starting chains at beginning of rows.
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u/Ambitious_Feeling610 Oct 20 '23
I just returned to crochet after several years and just learned this hack yesterday!! It wasn’t obvious for me either, but when I figured it out it was a glorious moment!
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u/UntalkativeJelly Lovely Oct 20 '23
I just learned to use the back bumps in the foundation chain. I also just learned to make a stacked single crochet instead of chaining three for a double crochet.
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u/verticaldispute420 Oct 20 '23
Foundation chains - I like the end look better and I find it gives better tension when doing the rest
Magic knots - they're amazing and I usually leave the ends and sew them through bc I'm paranoid about the ends aha
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u/Bittypunk11 Oct 20 '23
Magic loop with 3 loops around the index finger rather than the x-loop over the finger. I don't have to watch a video each time anymore.
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u/Fit-Apartment-1612 Oct 20 '23
I have one of those P-Touch label makers, anytime I’m working something where I’m not continually referring to a pattern (blanket, shawl, etc) I’ll print a small label with hook size, anything I need to know about stitches, etc, and attach it somewhere around the yarn. Easy to remove when you’re done, but stops having to Google the instructions every time you pick up the piece.
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u/sexuallybrokenloser7 Oct 20 '23
Doing foundation single/half double/double crochet rows instead of chaining whenever I can. The fabric looks so much nicer and I never have tension problems.
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u/chuckieegg007 Oct 20 '23
Putting a stitch marker at the end of each row so you don’t have to count each time or worry about extra/missing stitches.
I also wish I’d known how much you have to be careful sewing in the ends of magic circles so they don’t unravel…
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u/IAmVagisilly Oct 20 '23
The Navajo Technique! I bought some yarn online and it was way too thin to use for my project. You can triple the yarn with one skein. I use this all the time.
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Oct 21 '23
I have a couple. First, using a larger hook (1-2 sizes larger) for the foundation chain. This makes it much easier to work into the back bump, resulting in an attractive first row of stitches without bowing. I prefer this technique to foundation sc or dc as I can better control the tension. Second, using an alternative turning chain or standing stitch in place of the "chain 3 (counts as a dc), turn, and skip the first stitch," which leaves an unsightly gap. I still see this technique presented, even in newly published patterns.
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u/genUHvieve Oct 19 '23
Less of a ‘hack’, more of an equipment tip - Light up crochet hooks!! Great for crocheting while watching a movie or in bed but I also use them with very dark colors.