5 Crochet Hacks To Level Up Your Skills!

[@judibess6173]

In regards to the weight formula, it's essential to have the original label so when I have a leftover I roll the label and then roll the yarn up around it. For future reference the label is still there.😊 TFS!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Great tip!

[@annieo660]

I am sooo glad to see your tip on how to thread yarn onto a needle. It drives me NUTS when people try to thread it by pushing the yarn end thru the eye of the needle. That way is always almost impossible and takes forever. Do it the way you show here and 1, 2, 3, it's done!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Oh my gosh, I crocheted for so long before I discovered this method! It did NOT go well for me trying to thread the end in😂

[@MyMaxKitty]

Newbie here! Wow, the yarn weighing to get yardage is a game changer!!! I'll have to remember this for the future.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

It's been sooo helpful for me too! No more unraveling projects to messily and inaccurately figure out yardage 😆

[@TheThirdWiseMonkey]

Excellent hacks on both videos but best of all for me is that you are a fast talker and get right down to the brass tacks without any nonsense. Outstanding!

[@bronwynpotter8001]

Do love your 🎉ideas

[@marywegrzyn506]

Hi!!! Your video is not too long!!! Not long enough sounds better !!!!!! Thank you SO much for these tips!!!! Hacks are so helpful !!!

[@gailtrask]

Ok you are just a genius! How have i never thought of ANY of these ideas in all my 52 years?!?

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I had the same reaction the first time I saw these tricks- why didn't I figure this out sooner? haha 😄

[@KarenLajoie]

I create a lot of donation items and because of this I receive a lot of donation yarn, much of which is leftover yarn. I like to re-skein my yarn, weigh it and estimate its yardage. I'm so pleased to see yo share how to identify yardage in used yarn. (s I'm a video watcher not blogger) I have tried to share this tip in comments but having you include this tip in a helpful video will surely be a great help to many, many Crafters. Thank you

[@CraftersAutonomous]

You are so very welcome! Always appreciate hearing that someone found one of my videos helpful. BTW- I think it's awesome you use this skill to donate and help others!

[@mariab.1997]

You may want to round down and not up on your yardage. You have 103 yards and 20 inches, not 104 yards. When calculating what you need those 16 inches you don't have may make a difference.

[@amara560]

Round up for pattern yardage indication, round down for calculating what you have left.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Great point! I usually err on the side of caution, and make sure I have several yards over. I've had enough projects where my tension was slightly off from the pattern and ended up needing more yarn. Losing yarn chicken is never any fun!

[@WyomingWindy]

@@amara560 Absolutely right. I caught that. I probably would round down more than a couple of yards (depending upon how much yarn we are looking at)!

[@SharonBlessedGrama]

Thank you for teaching me how to figure out how much remaining yarn I have left and how to calculate how!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

You are so welcome! Glad it was helpful.

[@flowrpowrera]

I'm an old school crochet/knitter and I loved seeing those long worded row instructions. I have a ton of those books and have made doilies, table covers, and bedspreads. I always use a post-it note to stick under where I stop- which row, which part of the instructions within that row. It also helps if it tells you to do that rep a certain number of times by making tally marks each time you complete one.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Yes, I always have to track the repetitions too so I don't get lost!

[@flowrpowrera]

@Sabrina Zarogoza I have row counters, but I find it easier to use the post-it and tally marks. Especially when the instructions say to work even for so many inches and I'm going to have to make an exact double like socks or gloves. I'll have the number of rows right there. And I keep the notes in the books so when I go back, maybe years later, it's right there for how many rows.

[@colson8327]

I like the stitch to make those tiny critters! The math one is helpful also. All good but these helped me.

[@paulahersey9094]

I love your hacks. Help a lot. Been crocheting for 40 years

[@CraftersAutonomous]

That's awesome!

[@brendamaun5455]

Just discovered your channel and love your tips. I'm a retired chemistry teacher and I taught that conversion method for many things we did in class. The rule is start with what you know... divide by the same unit and multiply by the unit that is equivalent. Works for anything in your life that you need to convert. Thanks!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Glad you enjoyed the video! I loved chemistry when I took it in high school btw

[@brendamaun5455]

@@CraftersAutonomous Glad to hear that but you know you're in the minority. Most people groan when I tell them that's what I used to teach! 🧪⚗️

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Haha for sure! I was a math major in college, and people would get this look of horror on their face when I'd tell them.

[@brendamaun5455]

@@CraftersAutonomous 😂

[@SooZQ929yt]

Just yesterday I actually completely frogged a 4” coaster to find out how many yards of yarn I used for my written pattern. Thanks to you, next time I will simply weigh it 💛

[@CraftersAutonomous]

That's exactly what I used to do too! So frustrating! 😭😂 I only found out about weighing the yarn a couple months ago and it's been such a game changer! Glad you found it helpful as well.

[@donna2240]

I think the weighing of the yarn to find the yards is very helpful.

[@cadyconcepcion]

I use half of the temporary fasten off. I make a big loop, slip it around my yarn ball and tighten it up!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Another great option! I always say when it comes to crochet, if it works it works.

[@justv3289]

I like to use a stitch marker to keep my working loop from unraveling when I need to set it aside.

[@vegangelist]

1. I do a variant of this. I pull up a loop and then tie together with the working yarn. And it's easy to open up when needed. 2. Threading by folding definitely changed my life when I learned it. I've used it ever since and wonder why I EVER bothered threading it with the end. It's especially a game changer for those fluffier yarns. And, yes, metal needles all the way. I use bent end, pointy tip needles that are, tragically, discontinued. But I've hunted down multiple packages of them and paid more than retail just to have a big supply of them since I NEVER want to have to use any other needles. Lol 3. I don't always use something to keep track of my rows. But for more complicated patterns I've used a sticky note and just move it along the pattern so the sticky covers the previous rows and is just over the row I'm working. This also works really well for charts that are not in the round (and charts are actually my preference). 4. I don't do amigurumi but, yes, yarn under is the way to go. However, I've definitely had to correct newbies who want to default to yarn under for their regular stitches, explaining that it'll make their stitches too tight which you only want for certain projects (such as ami). 5 oh my stars, yes! I weigh all the time for SO many reasons. You can figure out how much yarn you need for a particular size based on a swatch. You can weigh before and after a row to determine how many more rows you can get out of that ball. And on and on. I weigh yarn for projects all.the.time! I've seen people talk about that more recently but, honestly, I just did it instinctively because I figured: it's an equation. I just need to solve for x, effectively. And I've got the numbers on the ball band (or in some cases the ravelry database) to plug in to the equation. I weigh things so often that I bought a second digital scale so that I can keep one in my main crochet area. Beat the pants off of stealing the one from the kitchen all the time. LOL

[@juditrimble2604]

All of the hacks are great, but taking a picture of the patterns and highlighting is a big game-changer for me! Thanks!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SierraSadie1]

Thanks for the tip about weight and yards. Most definitely will use it from now on. 👏❤

[@gaylescovel7308]

Omygosh! That last hack is brilliant!

[@stephanieodom6094]

The threading hack is GREAT!!!

[@maryjones1]

Thank you so much for the tips. I quite like the IPhone hack, and an easy way to know if you have enough yarn for a project; you made the instructions for this very clear.

[@deborahrichardson]

I loved the hack about figuring out how much yarn I have. I have often wondered if there was a way to figure that out. Thank you for all the tips

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Glad it was helpful! I used to drive myself crazy trying to figure out the yardage, but weighing makes so much sense! I was kicking myself for not figuring it out sooner. 😄

[@funniful]

Wow! Hacks I haven’t heard a million times! Thx!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Awesome! Glad to share something new with you!

[@scwheeler24]

I’d love to see the pattern for the green granny square with the flower in the beginning

[@vb6345]

The threading the needle hack is one I’ve used since Home Ec in school! 😃 Great tips, as always. 👍

[@CraftersAutonomous]

That's awesome! I wish there were more Home Ec classes these days. I'm very blessed that my parents have taught me a lot of the things that would be covered in a Home Ec class, but I wonder how much knowledge the average person today is missing out on. Thanks for watching!

[@peggyharwell3674]

Thank you fir these hacks. I especially enjoyed the weight measure.

[@lynneclark5313]

Great tips! I've been using the folded tip to a needle for forever. RE weighing yarn: Since you NEED the label, I'm thinking - put the yarn and label into a zip bag and work from there. When you are done, you just have to zip the bag closed. This would keep the yarn and the label together.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Great idea! Anything to keep the chaos of the yarn stash a little more organized is a win in my book.

[@sickandtiredofbeingsickand]

OMG! Threading a yarn needle! Wow!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I used to drive myself crazy weaving in the ends before I found this hack. Still don't enjoy weaving in ends, but at least it's not quite as frustrating anymore! 😂

[@jackieflesner3118]

I love the needle hack, omg THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I used to get so frustrated thread yarn onto a needle. I thought it was near impossible! So glad you enjoyed the hack.

[@sheiliaprather4006]

That threading the needle is cool! I never would have thought of that. Thank You.💗

[@CraftersAutonomous]

You are so welcome!

[@char8059]

I love all your hacks! Don't ever feel your videos are too long! The longer the better, in my opinion! I've seen some of these hacks before but am happy you brought them all up! I'd forgotten a couple! My favorites are taking a screen shot of pattern & then editing as you crochet (new to me), using a food scale to determine how many yards of yarn are left in a partial skein, and pulling the skein through a large loop on end of project to prevent unraveling. I really can't wait to use the screen shot/edit hack! Love it! And I've added the food scale to my Amazon cart! Great hack! Thank you so much for these awesome hacks. Please post more whenever you feel like it. They're always welcomed and appreciated! Love your videos! Phoenix, AZ 🏜️🌄🌵

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Thanks so much, and I'm glad you enjoyed the hacks! I laughed when I saw the comment about nobody having time to watch the video because 150k people who watched must have thought otherwise! 😂

[@char8059]

@@CraftersAutonomous That's too funny about no one having the time to watch these videos! People are loving all your videos, and especially videos like this one. All crocheters are looking for a hack(s) to make their crocheting easier or their results more beautiful! The number of viewers supports that! By the way, what crochet hooks are you using in your videos (silver hooks)? The heads look different to me and I was curious as to what brand they are. (Maybe it's just me and they're Boye or another familiar brand.) Thanks!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

@@char8059 It's been so fun having the hack video take off! The hacks have made a huge difference with my crochet, so it's fun seeing others get excited about discovering new tricks. I think the metal hooks in the videos are Boye, but I have a combination of Boye hooks I bought when I first learned to crochet and Boye hooks my great grandmother sent me when she wasn't able to crochet anymore. I usually stick with the Boye crochet hooks because they are tapered, and I tend to snag the yarn more when I use an inline hook. I do think the heads are a little different on the older ones than on the new ones. It's almost like they are a little more "angled" or something for a tapered hook?

[@char8059]

@@CraftersAutonomous Exactly..... I thought the heads looked kind of "squared off", although that doesn't exactly describe them. I have some old Boye hooks & some new ones; I'll compare them to see if they're different. Thanks for your reply. Keep all types of videos coming; they're really appreciated! 🙂

[@CraftersAutonomous]

@@char8059 I'd be curious to know what you find when you compare your hooks!

[@debbiefox6846]

These hacks are great. Taught myself most already. Loved the phone pic. Had a suggestion for your Amigurumi decrease stitch. If you just go threw the Outside loops only your won't even see the decrease at all. So instead of going threw both lips go under the outside on 1st & 2nd stitch. It looks amazing and the stitch is nice and tight. I love the "going under on the hook trick" and especially weighing the yarn to see how much i used. I'll use those next time! Thanks 😊

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Yes, invisible decrease is another great one! I sometimes like to combine working in just the outside loop with yarning under to get the ultimate unnoticeable decrease.

[@lindawiltshire9646]

Thank you for the math lesson. I am so happy to be able to know how to be able figure out yardage. I need to watch your other hack videos.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I was mind blown when I realized how easy it is! So glad you enjoyed it too.

[@marcellespeake4272]

Have had the problem of how many yds left when I did not keep the label. Guess I will be keeping labels now, ha, ha. But I usually tend to buy the same brands so I can always use a label from another skein. Awesome hack, thanks.

[@lizdenton1435]

Amazing hacks never thought of weighing the yarn to see what’s left thank you

[@KarenLajoie]

I really like the "crossed Single crochet". The YO vs YU has actually been a question I've had for years. I'v always liked the look of Yarn Under but forced myself to follow patt as written in case I end up messing the look of the pattern. I should have thought to test a swatch. Thank you for identifying that yarn under is an acceptable stitch.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

That's the fun thing with crochet - there's not always a "wrong" way of doing things. Of course, things have definitions (a double crochet means something specific), but if you come up with something and it works there's no rule that says you can't do it! That's how we expand the limits of the craft- by trying new things! One note on the YO vs YU that I don't think I mentioned in the video - yarn under can make the stitches a smidge shorter than YO. It's never been enough to mess up a project for me, but just an fyi. :)

[@wmorado5458]

Love the weight formula!

[@susandoney4656]

Great hacks I knew all the first four but the last one where you weigh the yarn to find out how much you got left, that's a brilliant one thank you so much from Western Australia 🇦🇺🌹🌹🌹🤗😊

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I discovered that one very recently, and it's been so helpful for my own projects. Glad you found it helpful too!

[@luckylibra11]

The yardage equation is fantastic!

[@pamelatroutt]

Great ideas that will really help. Thank You.

[@chelseamullins7000]

I love these videos, can't wait to watch more of yours! Also, if the video is "too long", you can speed it up with the playback speed 🤷‍♀️

[@crochazyrose3023]

Fantastic hacks! Thanks so much ! Cheers!

[@karenughoc2849]

I love the one of the pattern using the highlighter.

[@bbsamazon]

#5 is the best one. Thanks!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

You're very welcome!

[@erinstoops1081]

I now use 2 of your hacks from the last video. I already use the 1. I can't remember the other 2. I use the second one already but I don't use a needle to sew in the loose ends when I'm done, I just use my hook. I've always done yarn under bc my yarn kept falling off the hook. I learned to knit first so my stitches are ALWAYS tight. So, as a rule of thumb for myself, if I want stitches bigger and not so tight, I use a larger hook.

[@Greatgrandmabarb]

Thank you for the formula for yarn.

[@mysteria_1305]

You can also pull the loop and tie it to the working yarn. Much faster to start working again

[@lisasg3cell]

Great hacks!! I saw your other video a couple of weeks ago & have used the chainless start hack a lot already. Love that one! I'm so glad you shared a way to figure out yarn amounts. I tried to figure it out for myself a while back and got completely confused. You're right, though, it's so easy! Thanks so much!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Glad you like them! Figuring out the yarn yardage by weight has been so helpful for me too! My old method was unravelling projects and it was a pain 😂

[@stephanieyancey4414]

I'm so happy to know these!

[@leonahall4157]

Good to know how to work out if you have enough wool in your stash for a certain pattern. All ways pin label on the left over wool for that reason.

[@normacollins9100]

I like the amount left in a ball of yarn! I have always wondered about that!! But I liked the way you showed to thread the needle with different kinds of yarn!! Thank you so much, Norma Collins from Texas

[@CraftersAutonomous]

So glad you enjoyed these hacks! I've found them so helpful over the years myself.

[@paulettegarcia3266]

Loved the threading the yarn needle video. Thanks

[@CraftersAutonomous]

You are so welcome!

[@ruthannklos9649]

So many , many informative tips ❣❣❣Thank You

[@CraftersAutonomous]

You are so welcome!

[@lindawellinghoff5432]

Last hack is super

[@catharinepizzarello4784]

Really Awesome! Lots of great hacks!

[@gailwiese4098]

thanks for the yards hack.. love it

[@TheJoyfulWeirdo]

The threading the needle hack has changed my life! Thank you so dang much!!

[@pegfrey6038]

You are a good teacher, Amanda, THANK YOU!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

You're so welcome!

[@teresawitmer6667]

Hack number 5!!!!!!

[@missapippin9020]

Liked all your hacks Thank you.

[@ebujvt65]

Love these hacks. New to crochet,

[@ashleysullivan8033]

You're totally awesome girl!!!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

So glad you enjoyed the video!

[@sudhamehta2633]

All tricks well explained. Thanks.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

You are very welcome!

[@noraigra4887]

Hi great tips special one the weight to know if you have enough yarn just great thank you Nora

[@tsunamis82]

I just loved hack #5. Thank you. I am currently using a 1987 pattern, the recommended yarn is long gone and I can work out how much of a substitute yarn I need. As long as there is yardage on the label or in the pattern. I made the mistake of just using how many grams and was three short. Those lovely slubs of colour was not yardage but added to the weight of the ball. I guess yarn firms used their scraps as slubs and sold more wool.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

It's so interesting how the industry has changed over the years!

[@papermason]

Wow the 5th hack blows my mind!!! Thanks for the excellent video and information!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

So glad you enjoyed the idea! When I first discovered that trick, I was like "why haven't I been doing this all along???" 😂

[@kevinbrookehudson6575]

Great hacks, thank you.

[@juliescott6287]

Great hacks. I especially like the one about threading the needle, thank you! ❤

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@fayecapps1969]

I'm a relatively new crocheter (? Such a word?) and found the hack for figuring out the number of yards of yarn you have to be one I think I will utilize the most. Thanks for sharing all of the videos with me.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

I never know if crocheter is the right word either haha! So I say go with it 😄 So glad you enjoyed the video!

[@fayecapps1969]

BTW I am 75 years old and pretty much home bound needed something to occupy my time and decided to attempt crochet. To be honest I'm a work in progress but see improvement with each project. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with me.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

@@fayecapps1969 Hey, it's never too late to learn something new! Everyone has to start somewhere, and I was once in the learning stages like you are. Thanks so much for watching my channel, and I'm glad you've enjoyed!

[@juliefinnegan6548]

Fantastic! Thanks.

[@michellenash6802]

The photo hack is an awesome idea!!! Thx

[@deec4177]

Loved how to measure how much yarn you have on hand!!!!!

[@jenpetunia]

Thanks for this video! I love the weight/ yardage hack! I will try to use it to help use up all of my remnant balls of yarn. I’ve also used the needle threading technique for years.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Awesome! The needle hack really makes life so much easier. I'm glad I discovered it early on in learning to crochet!

[@marielaiten6760]

Hello, I’m Newbie here. I loved the hack figuring out how much yarn I still have, the yarn weighing to find out the yardage…..wow, is something and how to keep the track of the pattern. Thank you for all the great hacks!

[@fsocs369]

Thank you! I put it all in a spreadsheet for my next project.

[@caroleelwell2325]

Love the yarn amount hack, brilliant

[@ramonacowman7409]

Very helpful information! Thank you for sharing!💕

[@CraftersAutonomous]

So glad you enjoyed! Always happy to share new content.

[@jazmingaston1733]

Why didn't I think of this (weighing the yarn)?! Makes sense. I'll be doing this from now on- life saver. I'm so glad I ran into you!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

This was my reaction too when I first found out about it haha! Thanks for watching my channel 😊

[@terrilynnstalvey1416]

I love them all. Thank you and I like the progress...yee haa 🤣

[@marcy7162]

For the weighing yarn hack, I would do it differently. I would first divide the yardage on the label by the weight on the label to get how many yards per ounce. Then multiply the ounces of the yarn ball by that number. 377 divided by 4 = 94.25 yards per ounce. 94.25 times 1.1 = 103.675. You get the same result, but this way makes more sense to my brain.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Hey, the math checks out so go for it! The whole idea is to make life easier, so if that method works for you, then it's a win in my book. :)

[@islandgirl1949]

These hacks are all amazing! Thank you for sharing ❤

[@callistehawke9213]

OMG! I've been crocheting for 58 years, designing and selling crochet patterns for over 20, and still I find very valuable hacks in your videos! My favorite for this video was the weight-to-yardage formula. What I wouldn't give to have known that formula decades ago!!! Thank you, thank you! Wish we'd been able to share tips via computer l-o-o-o-ng time ago.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

So glad it was helpful! Before I found this method, I always wondered how people figured out yardage when writing patterns. My old method was mostly guesswork based on the total size of the yarn ball ("I think I used 2/3 of this skein, so I guess it's roughly 2/3 of the yardage...?") or else the dreaded "unravel the entire project and attempt to measure by hand". Not very good methods at all 🤣

[@viggycat8592]

OMG! How did I not know these things?! Oh yeah, I know. I did t see this vid! 😹😹👏👏👏👏

[@suestern344]

These hacks are all great !! Thank you for sharing them .

[@donsumner9268]

Thank you for these crochet hacks, I have just gotten back to crochet after retiring from the workforce. I have never weighed my yarn before, but will from now on because it is simple math formal. I subscribe to your channel in hopes of more crochet tips and inspiration.

[@Ottolineification]

This is useful, thank so much!

[@tammyhellier9801]

Never heard of the weighing the yarn. Great idea. Thanks.

[@marieglaze5954]

Love it, Love it! Thank you so much for your Hacks. I so appreciate you taking the time to share these!

[@darlenegagne2465]

Great hacks!!

[@barbarasmith2693]

Excellent. Now I am going to buy that scale I've been coveting from Ikea!

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Yes, go for it!

[@leesanchez8432]

Please show us the chai less double crochet foundation. And thanks for your wonderful hacks.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Here's a link for that tutorial - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaOYlXWGpd9rp8U Enjoy!

[@Bdizzy0331]

This video was EXTREMELY informative and helpful. THANK YOU!!!!

[@DavidBrowningBYD]

I’ve done the algebra calculation to determine yardage before, but your version is simpler than mine!

[@DavidBrowningBYD]

You calculate % of initial weight and multiply by total initial yards. I was calculating yards/oz and multiplying by current weight. Your method is so much simpler.

[@happyhedgewytch4573]

So helpful !!! thanks

[@pamelafreeman4548]

Love your helps!!

[@judipierry549]

You can use a thin strip of stiff paper folded over on the tip of the yarn to guide it thru the eye of the needle if folding it tightly doesn’t work. The strip must be thin, the width of the eye of course. Learned at my grandmother’s knee and now I’m a grandmother. I use this only when all else fails but keep the tiny slip of paper in my supplies at all times.

[@CraftersAutonomous]

Smart idea! I love how these things get passed down from generation to generation. Thanks for sharing!

[@catherinefleming3112]

Great stuff!!

[@debabrams8438]

Hello I like all the hacks.lm refreshing my crochet it helps. Thanks

[@CraftersAutonomous]

You're so welcome!