Crochet Challenge: Best crochet tips

This weeks challenge:  What is the best crochet tip you learned that you use all the time?
Answer:  I have some I use all the time. After 45 years crocheting, I've learned what makes for faster, smoother sailing so I can enjoy what I'm doing!

1. Keep regular count, no matter how tedious it is!  I use stitch markers to help if there are a lot of stitches to count, like on an afghan.  I'll mark every 25 stitches so if I lose my place it's easy to start again from the last marker.  Safety pins, coated paper clips, or just a short piece of yarn work just as well as purchased stitch markers.  Some use bobby pins, but I've read some that say they left little rust spots on white projects.
2. Put center-pull skeins of yarn in old knee-high hose or socks.  The stretchy compression shrinks with the yarn, keeping it from getting tangled, and it stays clean.  Make sure the end yarn piece is pulled out and wrapped around the outside so that it doesn't get pulled into the skein and get tangled.
3. Most projects will fit in a clear Ziploc bag.  I put each project in one, along with the yarn it will use, then put them in a bin.  It's easy to instantly see and grab the one I want.  If I get tired of one, I zip it up and grab another.
4. My hooks, needles, scissors, markers, ruler, paper, pencil, etc. are kept separate from individual projects.  That way no matter which project I grab, or any spur-of-the-moment idea I have, they're all together, ready to use.
5. If I'm using a pattern from a book or leaflet, I print a copy to work from.  That way I can make notes, mark my place, use a highlighter, etc.
6. If I'm reading a pattern directly from the computer that I don't want to print out (save that paper and ink!):

• If it's a .pdf  or .doc (Microsoft Word) file, I use the highlighter to highlight the part of the pattern instruction I'm on.  When I finish that piece of instruction, I highlight the next part, and so on.  This makes it fast to spot exactly where I am.
• If it is not a .pdf or .doc file, I copy and paste the pattern into a MS Word document so I can use the highlighter, and if there is a particularly long instruction for a row or round, then I can break it up into easier to read pieces.

For example, for this instruction:
With right side facing, join A with slip st in first sc to work across st of last row; ch 3, 6 dc in same st as join, *skip next 2 dc, sc in next dc, 6 dc in next sc; repeat from * to last sc, 7 dc in last sc; working down long side and in ends of rows, **sc in space between next 2 rows, 6 dc in sc of next color row, skip next color row;** repeat from ** to Row 1

I would hit the "ENTER" to break it into manageable segments like this:
With right side facing,
join A with slip st in first sc to work across st of last row;
ch 3, 6 dc in same st as join,
*skip next 2 dc, sc in next dc, 6 dc in next sc;
repeat from * to last sc,
7 dc in last sc;
working down long side and in ends of rows,
**sc in space between next 2 rows, 6 dc in sc of next color row,
skip next color row;**
repeat from ** to Row 1

This may seem like more trouble than it's worth but it's very quick to do and has saved tons of time reading, re-reading, missing stitches and starting over!

Tip:  Put a shortcut to MSWord (or your word-processing program)
on your computer desktop so it's handy.

What are some of your best tips?

Until next time!
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It's never too late to join the 52 Week Crochet Challenge by Julie at Red Berry Crochet!
One simple task per week - your skills, style & knowledge will evolve by just having fun! 

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