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| Author Spotlight |
| Phyllis Serbes |
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Crochet TipsEnjoy these 210 Crochet tips created by Phyllis Serbes, our exclusive Crochet Guru and industry expert contributor. If it's Crochet information you're looking for, you'll find it here with 25 different categories ranging from Advanced Stitches to Yarns. Pattern RepeatYou'll hear this term used often when making an item that requires multiple rows in length to complete a stitch pattern. For example, it might take repeating the same four rows over and over again to create a certain look in your finished product, so the pattern will refer to it as a "four-row pattern repeat." It might be helpful to write down each row of a pattern repeat on a 3x5 card so that you can keep track of which row of the repeat you are on by flipping each card over when done (keep track on a separate card how many times you've completed a full repeat). jobs by
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Caldera Medical - Agoura Hills, CA - 7 days ago
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Ball Winder and Yarn SwiftIf you find yourself making large projects with multiple balls of yarn, then you might want to consider investing in a ball winder and a yarn swift. A hank of yarn is spread out around the yarn swift, which looks a lot like the inner workings of an umbrella, and the end of the yarn is attached to the ball winder. As you crank the ball winder, the yarn swift turns with it to feed out the yarn, and a beautifully-wound flat ball is your reward! Keeping CountKeeping count of the number of stitches in a row can be challenging, especially if the instructions are having you perform multiple stitches into one chain or one stitch from the previous row. So, if the instructions tell you to "ch 2, 2 dcs in same st, 1 dc in next 10 sts, 2 dcs in last st", then you should have a total of 14 stitches by the end of the row. Count each single stitch, but not the ch-2 at the beginning of the row (unless the instructions say otherwise), even if you performed multiple stitches in the same stitch below, and you should have the correct number by the end of the row. The Chainless Foundation RowNo, it's not an urban myth! You can make your first row of American single crochet stitches without first chaining. Just chain 2, then insert your hook into the first chain and pull up a loop, then pull up another loop through the loop you just made, then pull a loop through the 2 loops on your hook. You've just finished one single crochet stitch! Now, insert your hook into the base of the stitch you just made and repeat the process again (pull up a loop, pull up another loop through that loop, then pull a loop through both loops on your hook). Repeat until you have the number of stitches you desire for your first row. Ring in the (Yarn) TensionMaintaining uniform tension when feeding out the yarn while you crochet is one of the hardest things to do when first learning how to crochet. It does come with time -- just keep experimenting with different ways to hold the yarn that allows it to flow easily but not too loosely. One trick I just learned from Kelsey Innis on FaveCrafts is to try feeding the yarn through a smooth ring that you wear while crocheting. Now, it has to be a ring you're willing to part with til the end of the project because it's going to be trapped in the yarn til then, but just feed the yarn through the ring, slip it on your ring or middle finger, moving the yarn to your palm side, and let the yarn loop over your index finger. See if that helps with the tension. Ouch!It's tempting to just throw your project into your bag when you're tired of working on it, but you might have a painful reminder when you reach back in later! To protect your needles and hooks (and yourself) when not in use, get some point protectors the next time you are in the craft store or your LYS, but in the mean time, you can use those pink erasers that fit on the end of a pencil. Your needle or hook might not fit snuggly, but you can jam it on enough that it will stay in place. |
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