What "tricks-of-the-trade" or shortcuts have you learned?
* a 7" or 6" or 12" template (cardboard or plastic) for squares
* a smaller template for pompoms
* a sheet of styrofoam for blocking
* rustproof pins for blocking
* a compartmented plastic container that holds beads, jingle bells, and other trimmings
*
a gadget from someone else's idea! You start with an unfinished wood box from the craft department and a wooden toilet roll
holder. Glue the roll holder to the lid of the box, et voila! The box holds all sorts of stuff, and the holder holds your thread while
you crochet.
* a free-standing paper towel roll holder can hold thread balls.
* an upright paper towel holder to put balls of thread on when it calls for using double strand of thread for the project. This works just
great at keeping the balls aligned.
* a wire coat hanger can be bent into a stand for holding small spools from the weaver's shop.
* bobbins to hold different yarns for color changes
* labels (to attach to work sent for exchanges)
* a bright, bright lamp (all the better to see the stitches with)
* a swing-arm lamp on a free-standing base with full spectrum bulb for crocheting at night
* a big jar for "yarn jam" (all those tiny, little bits of yarn you don't know what to do with, but just can't part with)
* an attachment that came with a knitting basket. It's a long, strong cardboard tube, like the one that holds cling wrap or foil. It has
a bottom attached to it and it's been covered with fabric. Attached to the basket with a ribbon, this holds thin, long stuff like knitting
needles, afghan hooks, a ruler, and pens.
* pretty baskets or boxes for thread:and yarn so they'll look presentable when you keep them nearby while you crochet in the living
room
* plastic baskets - the kind with a with a snap-lock lid and handles. They're easy to stack or ferry around. When going away on long
trips, one of these can hold a crochet project or two (with a bit of room left over for a junky novel or two) and are not too bulky
* a clear plastic make up bag (about 5" x 7") that has 2 zippered compartments. Use it for hooks, scissors, a 6 inch ruler and other
items needed to take along. You can see right through the plastic, so you don't need to dig for anything. .
* vinyl zippered bags for organizing yarn and thread stash.
* zip-lock baggies - small and large ones - to hold all the little "odds and ends" of leftover yarn. Keeps the yarn clean and keeps it
from becoming a cat toy!
* duffel bags. a good place for WIPS. You can keep yarn, pattern and hook all together. Besides, when company comes, there's
nothing better than a couple HUGE duffel bags to cram clutter in until they leave!!!!
* post-it notes to mark your place on a pattern or make notes about the pattern
* a piece of yellow clear plastic/acrylic film. It should measures about 8" by 1". It is static so it sticks to the pattern on the line being
worked. It can be moved down easily but doesn't just fall off and is excellent for keeping your place.
* a document stand for patterns. These are meant to hold a document in place while you're typing or word processing, and have a
stable, swivel base, a clip top, and a ruler down the side.
* a free-standing document holder with sliding ruler for reading patterns.
* plastic rings - they come from bottle tops and many other places. They can be transformed into wreath ornaments.
*
arnica oil - to ease the (crocheting) pain! Note: Check into this before trying it. It may not be good for everyone.
http://www.aromatherapynaturalhealing.com/arnica-oil.html
* "Handeze" gloves (seen on Annie's Attic, Herrschners, Amazon)
. http://www.handeze.com/
* tapestry needles for weaving in ends
* "promotional" magnets - the ones given away as advertising. They can be cut up and used for your crocheted fridgies!
* an electric footwarmer or "foot spa": takes the crocheting experience into another realm!
*
paperclips - to mark the beginning of rows when doing round items that don't have you join; to hold a 2 or more page pattern
together; to mark every 10 rows or so in a large item so you don't have to count rows all the time;.and a big paperclip can also mark
your place on a pattern.
* bobby pins can be used as stitch markers.
* a diaper pin to mark stitches and to hold the last stitch when not working on a WIP so it doesn't self-frog! Also, use it to hold the
last stitch on thread projects so you can untwist the thread. For some reason, the thread tends to twist so just hold the item up and
let it unwind with the pin keeping it from frogging.
* paperclips also come in handy when whiipstitching pieces together. Use paperclips about every 10-15 stitches to "pin" the squares
to each other so you can match corners and stitch evenly across.
* use safety pins to mark the right sides of the patterns or to keep track of rounds in doilies
* use color coded paper clips to keep your place on more complicated patterns.
* an old Mayonaise jar (commercial size) to keep the skein of yarn you are currently working with so things like puppy or kitty fur don't
get tangled up in the yarn. (The same principle applies to ice cream cartons, big coffee cans, etc - almost any large container.)
* magnets and a magnet board (see cross stitch supplies!) for doing graphed afghan. Put the pattern (graph) in a sheet protector
with the metal board behind it - then place the magnets on top to mark your place. Makes it much easier to use a pattern again and
again!
* use index tabs at the top of the pages of your favorite patterns in larger pattern books
* plastic toothbrush holders to hold hooks. There are different colors and shapes so you can color code.
* a plastic video tape boxes for Brittany hooks. Line it with felt and add elastic loops to hold each hook in place.
* the plastic containers for the lead for mechanical pencils to hold yarn needles. The lids snap on so they don't come open.
* keep yarn needles and T-pins in old medicine bottles with child proof caps. Just tape a label on them. This makes the needles and
t-pins easy to find and keeps the kids out of them.
* use pill bottles for beads or for other small "ornamentations" ie. ribbon roses...
* needlenose pliers for pulling needles through threadwork.
* beeswax for use with thread for stringing beads; also for getting the thread end through the eye of a beading needle.
* three-ring binders and plastic document protectors for organizing pattern books, leaflets and loose pattern pages
* sheet protectors for all your loose patterns. Again, it keeps them clean and you can put them in a notebook when they're not in
use so that you don't lose them.
* a database program to organize crochet patterns and links
* if you love to make afghans, even in the hot summertime, use a card table for a lap so you can crochet no matter how hot it is.
* a scanner or copier so you're books and leaflets don't get damaged or torn while you're working on a pattern. Put the copy in a
sheet protecter and keep it with your work. If you make changes, you can write on the copy. Once you know you like the changes,
then make the notation on my original pattern.
* waxed paper - to get those wooden hooks sliding easier.
* a coffee mug - the collectible ones with sayings or pictures on them. Keep a pair or scissors, a 6" ruler, a pencil or pen, stitch
markers, tapestry needles, hooks you are currently using, a tapestry needle and maybe a chap stick and travel size container of
hand lotion in it.
* a comfy couch or chair. The best place to crochet. (Note: not the only place, just the Best)
* your favorite drink on the table.
*
a good movie with very few visual effects; a movie you can listen to while you crochet. Some suggestions: "While You Were
Sleeping;" "Sense and Sensibility;" "Apollo 13;" ........
* Note: These are all things I've collected from various on-line crochet groups I've belonged to over the past few years.
A couple are actually mine. If you have something you'd like to share, I'd be happy to post it here.
