6 Ridiculously Simple Crochet Tips That Make a Big Difference
If you’re looking to level up your crochet skills without getting overwhelmed, these simple crochet tips are a great place to start. Each tip offers an easy way to make your projects look more polished and professional.
Sometimes it’s the simplest tips that make the biggest difference in our crochet projects. And today I’m sharing six things that I recently learned from one of my favorite and one of THE most talented crochet designers.
6 Ridiculously Simple Crochet Tips That Make a Big Difference
Simple Crochet Tips That Make a Big Difference
I’m on a mission to improve my crochet techniques. And I don’t just want to make more crochet projects, I actually want to get better at crochet.
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And imagine my delight as I was wandering through my local library when I stumbled upon a book from one of my favorite crochet designers, Janie Crowe. I had no idea that she had even written a book, but the title caught my attention and it’s Perfect Crochet Finish.
Find Perfect Crochet Finish Here
Of course I checked it out immediately. As soon as I got home I started going through the book and I was so impressed by all of these tips and tricks and they’re already changing the way I look at how I crochet.
So today I’m going to share some of my favorite tips as well as some of the techniques that I’m testing out now. And in case you’re not familiar with Janie Crow I want to share this amazing crochet designer with you!
Janie Crow’s Crochet Designs
I fell in love with Janie’s work very early on in my crochet journey. The one project that I attempted was Frida’s Flowers and I even bought the full kit. I was in the process of making this beautiful blanket that was inspired by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
This is when I discovered my sensitivities to 100% cotton and that is the kit that I bought. Now I won’t go into all the details about why I don’t use 100% cotton, but it just causes soreness in my hands and my joints. I’m not going to be able to finish it with the yarn that I already have, but it’s on my bucket list to remake this blanket in something a little bit stretchier like an acrylic yarn.
But every single one of her designs is absolutely spectacular. They are so gorgeous! Some of my favorites are Persian Tiles, Fields of Gold and Eastern Jewels. And these are just to name a few. Her work is absolutely extraordinary and that’s why I was so excited to see a book of tips from her because she is the master at crochet!
Perfect Crochet Finish: Simple Crochet Tips
I actually love the book so much that I went ahead and bought it from Amazon the very next day, because I needed to make sure that I had a copy that I could keep on my bookshelf forever. I’ve been reading this book like a novel front to back.
I want to read every single tip that Janie Crowe is willing to give to us and I have found it to be so incredibly insightful. And one of her first tips really struck me and I think it’s something that we as crocheters don’t talk enough about.
Why Choosing the Right Crochet Hook Matters
Choosing the right crochet hook is such an important part of any crocheter’s journey. It sounds very simple and it can make all the difference. But the problem is, is that we can’t take these crochet hooks for a test drive at the craft store!
Janie points out that you might have to “buy and try” and that is a very good point. Picking up different styles and brands of crochet hooks is a way that you can test drive them and you can send the ones back that you don’t like. Most craft stores and Amazon will take returns.
Crochet Hook Choice is Personal
The perfect crochet hook for you is going to be deeply personal.
- One factor to think about is how you hold your crochet hook
- Are you a knife holder are you a pencil holder
- What hook actually feels good in your hands
- Do you prefer ergonomic handles with a rubbery texture
- Or do you prefer thin metal handles
Another important point is: what is your budget. Some crochet hooks are very expensive and some are more budget friendly. One of the most important things to consider is what types of projects do you like to work on. Are you an amigurumi enthusiast like I am or do you love to make garments, home decor or blankets.
So if you’ve never thought about which crochet hook style is best for you I encourage you to do a little experimenting. The right crochet hook will make your hands happier and make finishing your projects even more fun!
S and Z Twist Yarns Explained
On page 18 I stumbled across a simple paragraph about S and Z twist yarns. This is something that I had never really heard of before and so it sent me down this winding trail discovering what this means and why it matters.
Yarns are made from several strands twisted together to create the desired weight. They can be spun with either an S or a Z twist and the type of twist can affect the softness of the yarn. Looser spun yarns in particular may start to unravel as you crochet.
Janie Crow
Wait what?
That one little paragraph opened up a world that I didn’t realize I needed to explore. The next thing I knew I was reading articles, I was watching YouTube videos and I had spent an entire half of an afternoon looking up the difference between S and Z Twist yarns.
Basics of S & Z Twist Yarns
So in case you’re not familiar with S and Z twist yarns, like I was, here is the basic gist of it.
When yarns are spun the fibers are twisted together. And the direction of that twist will determine whether it’s an S or a Z twist. S-twist yarns are fibers that have been spun and the direction of that twist is like the shape of the letter S and Z twist yarns are the exact opposite. Those fibers are twisted in a way so that the middle part of the letter Z, that’s the angle of the twist.
Why Does S & Twist Yarns Matter
Now here’s why this actually matters. Most yarns, especially ones that come from big box craft stores are spun with an S twist. This is especially beneficial for right-handed knitters. This is something incredibly interesting that I learned. Most yarns are spun with knitters in mind.
And here’s why this can get tricky for us as right-handed crocheters. Now if you’re a left-handed crocheter this is probably a good thing for you and I’ll explain that in just a minute. But if you are a right-handed crocheter and you have an S twist yarn, that yarn over motion that we use for crochet can actually untwist that S twist.
It especially happens with loosely twisted yarns. You will notice, if you’re working with a yarn and it’s starting to split, it’s starting to untwist, it’s because it’s likely an S-wist yarn and you’re a right-handed crocheter.
That blew my mind! But I did read that tightly spun S twist yarns are fine for right-handed crocheters. But a Z-wist yarn is spun in the opposite direction and it can actually work very well for right-handed crocheters. That yarn over actually increases that twist as we’re working, so it makes the yarn not unravel and it causes it to be less splitty.
What I found most interesting was commercially manufactured yarns are mostly made with knitters in mind and right-handed knitters in particular. Now if you are a leftie, you are in luck and crocheting with S twist yarns is actually going to be a great thing for you. Finally something for the lefties out there!
Yarn Twist Experiment: My Stash Test
I’ve just grabbed a handful of the yarns off of my shelves and let’s look and see if we can determine what the twist is.
The first one is Hue and Me. What I like about this one is that you can see the twist very easily. So I can see that the direction of the twist and it’s an S twist.
I tried to choose yarns that I could see the twist on them very well and this next one is Vividie from WeCrochet. This one is also an S twist.
Pallete is another gorgeous yarn from WeCrochet and it is 100% an S twist. You can actually see this pretty well!
I also grabbed the Premier Puzzle because these are two different colors that are twisted together so it makes it really easy. But I think this one’s a Z twist!
This is Furl’s Wander and it’s definitely an S twist!
This is Stylecraft Special DK and yep it’s an S twist.
Find Stylecraft Special DK Here
Here we have We Love Yarn Recycled Cotton and yep, it is an S twist.
Find We Love Yarn Recycled Cotton Here
I actually think this is super interesting that out of all of these different yarns that the Premier Puzzle is the only one that looks to be a Z twist. So I would I would love to know if that was on purpose or if it’s just the way they make some of their yarns.
Now I am so curious about S and Z Twist and I just want to know more!
Fixing Slanted Granny Squares
I remember once getting a question from a fellow crocheter about why her granny squares were leaning to the right. She had no idea what was causing this and at the time I didn’t really have a great answer for her because I had never run into this issue myself.
But now that I’ve read this book I know exactly what the problem was and I wish that I could have given her a better answer. What happened was that her granny square had become biased. Not that kind of biased, but the kind where it begins to slant and looks more like a diamond or a rhombus than a square.
I had never noticed this before but as I was testing it out and crocheting the granny square, I noticed that after every round, I would straighten everything out. I was using the Stylecraft Special DK which is an acrylic yarn. When using an acrylic yarn you can kind of straighten it out and you can shape it a little. But I noticed that I did that after every single round. So basically I was just fixing them as I went.
So with this one I tried really hard not to do that and my square turned out a little slanty. Now it’s not super noticeable but I can see that it is leaning a little bit to the right. I tried Janie’s way of doing it and it made a perfect square. No tugging and shaping needed!
Many of you are probably already doing this already and changing directions every round. And what that means is once you make your first round you’re going to flip it to the back side and work the next round. Then once you bind off that color you’re going to flip it back again to the right side and work the third round. So you flip it back and forth right side, wrong side, right side, wrong side. That naturally corrects the slant and you end up with a perfect little square.
Frogged Yarn Tip for Consistency
This next tip is really interesting and one that I had never heard of before. Janie explains that when you have to frog or unravel a project, the yarn that you’re pulling out can become stretched and uneven. So that when you go to crochet again it can actually distort those stitches. They can be stretched out and they may not match your stitches.
Janie explains that if you frog or unravel part of a project that yarn that you have pulled out can become stretched and uneven and if you end up using that yarn to finish your project that unraveled section can actually cause some issues. Those stitches and rows may not match.
Her advice is to actually cut out that unraveled section and add in fresh yarn. That way your tension and those stitches look consistent throughout the project.
That doesn’t mean that you have to throw that yarn away. You could put it back in your stash or you could wind it back up.
12 Ridiculously SIMPLE Ways to USE UP YARN SCRAPS
And if it’s just a small section there are so many things that you can do with scraps of yarn. It’s not a waste!
But if you are going to use that unraveled yarn, you may want to give it a little TLC. I read that you can soak it or give it a little steam and that will help to get all of those bends, kinks and wrinkles out.
Gauge Swatch Troubleshooting
This next tip answers a question that I have gotten so many times about gauge swatches.
Have you ever made a gauge swatch and you nailed the stitch count but your row gauge was off? Or maybe you got the rows right but your stitch count just won’t add up? Once you’ve tried the usual trick of going up or down in crochet hook size you’ve got a decision to make. If you’ve tried all the tips for achieving the correct gauge but still have a problem you need to decide which gauge is more important and choose between that of the stitches or of the rows. In other words don’t drive yourself crazy trying to make it perfect.
Janie Crow
Figure out which measurement matters most for you. Is it the stitch count or the row count? Do you care more about width or height for that project and prioritize that one. It’s a simple but empowering tip that helps you to move forward with confidence.
How Janie Crow Chooses Her Color Palettes
One of the topics that I was really hoping Janie would cover was how to choose the perfect color palette and she did not disappoint.
Janie has an incredible eye for color. Every single one of her projects is absolutely stunning and her color combinations really are like a work of art. When people have that gift I always wonder how do they do it and I am so glad that she broke it down into these simple steps.
In the book she starts off with a little section about basic color theory and it’s broken down into easy to understand categories She talks about:
- monochromatic
- compliementary
- analogous
- triadic
She’s got the little color wheel and a diagram to explain it all. But the real gem for me was a paragraph where she explains exactly how she chooses her color palettes.
She starts off by choosing a few shades from the same color family, a monochromatic base. Then she adds a little interest by choosing a darker and a lighter version of that color. From there she chooses one or two complimentary colors to really bring the palette to life. It’s a method that blends structure and creativity and it really makes each one of her projects feel very balanced.
What I love about her approach is that she takes out the mystery of how to choose colors while still leaving a lot of room for creativity.
6 Ridiculously Simple Crochet Tips That Make a Big Difference
And there you have it, simple crochet tips that can lead to big improvements in your projects! But we would all love to hear from you.
Let us know in the comment section which one was your favorite and what are your best crochet tips!
