Brilliant crochet tips and tricks

In today's blog post you'll find a list that is full of great crochet tips and tricks. Even though some of us have been crocheting or knitting for many years, there is always something new to learn!

Am I right? The idea came to me when I was following a Facebook conversation where people were sharing their best advice.

I thought to myself " I'll bet there are many more clever tips and tricks to gather". So I started to ask people if I could share their crochet tips and tricks on my blog.

So many of you took the time to help me! This list can be so useful, not just for beginners, but also for more experienced crocheters as well! I also learned a couple of new things when I put this list together. This is something that we all can benefit from. If you have some more crochet tips and tricks up your sleeve, be sure to write it in the comments below.

Thank you so much for your help!

Crochet tips and tricks

Health

• Buy ergonomic hooks
• Hold the hook how you feel comfortable, it doesn't matter if 'it's wrong because a book told you to use a different technique'. If you’re still managing to crochet you carry on!
• Good hooks and enough light - prevents pain in neck, arms, and hands.
• Watch out your wrists.

Little tricks - big impact

• Chain 2 (not 3) at the start of a dc row, the ch 2 stitches fit better against your first dc and won’t leave a gap.
• My grandmother, who taught me how to crochet when I was 6, told me that you should make sure the tension on all your stitches is perfect. When she first taught me how to make a chain, I had to make it over and over until each and every stitch was perfect. It was the same with every other stitch she taught me. So now, with every project I begin, my grandmother's voice pops into my head and I smile as I check my tension.

• Count your stitches.
• When you have made a starting chain, simply twist the chain a little and crochet your way back in the little "bumps" instead of the "v's". Your starting chain will look better.
• Learn why gauge is important.
• Make a swatch before starting on a bigger project (sweater, wearables).
• Never cut the ends, weave them in as you go.
• Work on keeping your tension consistent.
• Learn how to read patterns.
• Add a row of sc between rows of increase to prevent the hexagon/octagon shape with amigurumi when wanting a perfect circle.
• Learn how to do a magic circle.

Have fun with it

• "It's supposed to be relaxing" sometimes we forget.
• Start with a small, easy project so you don’t get bored or overwhelmed.
• Keep trying and most people won't notice small mistakes.
• Enjoy what you do.
• Crochet for the love of it, not money.

Organization

• Clean your yarn stash on a regular basis.
• Donate yarn to charity.
• Use up your scraps. I know this one is overwhelming, I try to finish small projects every week.
• Wash your finished projects.
• Block your work.
• Stitch markers are your friends! They make it easier to take a break and not get lost in the pattern.
• Don't buy lots of yarn unless you're actually planning a project with it.

Never give up!

• When you come upon a pattern that you just can't comprehend, write it out in your own hand. It will then make sense.
• Keep practicing! It gets easier! I had a practice skein that I used for new stitches. It helped me learn and saved my expensive yarn for projects.
• Practice ripping things out and don't let or break your heart. Frogging is just as much a part of crochet as creating.
• Practice, practice, practice!!!!
• Start small and achievable.
• Don’t crochet when you are tired unless you like frogging.
• Count your stitches and don't get distracted or you might have to count the stitches all over again.
• Keep your old projects, because they will show you how much you’ve learned.
• Don't get so frustrated if you have to frog it. Sometimes starting a pattern and then frogging is okay.  Because you get the idea of how the pattern works up. Frogging is sometimes necessary and can be viewed as a way of learning something better. Chin up, you got this!
• Don't give up if you can't get it straight away. I couldn't get a straight even project as I dropped or added stitches. I found C2C and stuck with that to start with.
• Always educate yourself, learn new stitches, and techniques to improve your skills.

If you have some more crochet tips and tricks that you would like to share with us, please write it in the comments below! I hope that you enjoyed this blog post. If you did, please share it!

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