SlipKnot and Incorrect Foundation Chain Count - Crochet Tip #59

When I learned to crochet, I was taught that a slip knot was added to the crochet hook as a crochet technique alone. After that, you made a specific number of chains. I have never counted the slip knot as a stitch. Some people have been taught to count the slip knot. This will be another reason why the foundation chain count may be off when working a project. It will depend on how the crocheter was taught and how the pattern author was taught. This is something to keep in mind as a crocheter and deciphering the many patterns you come across. Each author is going to have a different interpretation in how they guide you to make a project.

This video shows how to attach a slip knot to the crochet hook.

Recycle from Clothing - Crochet Tip #58

If you have old clothing that is going to be thrown away, check it thoroughly to see what you can recycle.

• Save the buttons. They work well for eyes or decorations on your crochet projects.
• Pockets and zippers may come in handy as an embellishment.
  
• Some clothing may have unique designs that can be sewn on to a crochet hat or afghan.
  

This is a great way to stretch your crafting budget. Please share your ideas on what you recycle and use with crafting.

How to Sew and Join the Edges on Crochet Ribbing

Tight Crochet Grip - Crochet Tip #57

Quite often, pain while you are crocheting, can be attributed to holding your hook and yarn to tight when you are crocheting. Repetitive motion may also cause pain.

When I was first learning to crochet, I would have pain in my wrist and arm from the repetitive motion with long hours of crochet. If I were crocheting with thread, I would run a groove in my finger. I was holding my yarn/thread and hook to tight but did not know I was at the time. It took quite a while for me to learn that I do not have to hold my work with such a tense grip. I attributed the pain to crochet. I have fine tuned my crochet style to reduce pain. The gel grips help a lot too.

I am sharing my experience because pain can be associated to how you hold your work and several hours of crocheting. If you are having constant pain you are not sure about, you should seek medical attention.

Modifying Hat Sizes - Crochet Tip #56

There are several sizes of hats that can be made with in a larger hat pattern. Modifying sizes can be a lot of fun. You may even find your own unique design as you are experimenting with different sizes. When making a custom hat, you will need the head size of the child/person you are making it for.

I did a recent example of different sizes in one pattern, with the Pixie Cap. The pattern shows four different stopping points, to continue on with the length of the cap. This can be done with any adult size cap when you are looking for a child/youth size or even a toddler/baby size. There may be an amount of trial and error, with fine tuning the size you want.

Hat Size Chart

Pixie Cap

What type of modifications have you made to hats and caps?

What is the Right Side of a Crochet Piece?

From time to time you may come across crochet instructions telling you to have the "right side of the work facing you." Right side means, the side facing out after your project is finished.

1. If you like the look of the back of the stitches, that can be your right side.
   
2. When you work the afghan stitch, you will have two distinct looks. Either side of the work can be used as your right side.
3. The front side for a hat made in rounds, will be the side facing you as your are making the hat. Maybe you like the look of the inside better so that can be your right side.
   
4. If you are familiar with doily's, the part facing you as you are making the doily will be your right side.
5. Think about a store bough T-shirt. The wrong side is the inside with all of the seams holding the shirt together. The right side is the external part that looks nice and neat.
   

When working in rows you will always alternate sides so both sides could be considered the right side or the front side. When working in rounds, some people like to turn so the stitches are alternating in both directions. If you do not turn with rounds, you may have a distinct front side that will look a little different than the back. Right side is open for interpretation. Front side does not always mean right side.

Turning Chain at the End of a Row - Chain and Turn or Turn and Chain - Crochet Tip #55

There can be a lot of confusion with written instructions that say "Chain and turn" or "Turn and Chain".  It all means the same thing.  I like to turn and then chain because that is what I have become accustomed to. The chain represents a stitch or the step up for the first row. 

How you turn your work is also preference and up to you. Sometimes I will notice a difference on the edge, if I turn my work counterclockwise.  Most of the time it does not make any difference and is not noticeable. If it is something that will be covered up with an edge, it will not matter.  


It is something left up for you to decide if you want to chain and turn or turn and chain.  The direction you turn your work is also preference.