52 Helpful Crochet Tips and Tricks for Beginners and Beyond

This collection of crochet tips and tricks will make your crocheting easier, more fun, and more productive. They cover everything from basic methods to keeping your supplies organized and in good order.

Many of these are beginner crochet tips, but whatever your level, you can always learn something new. You’ll also learn how to avoid common problems that pop up in crochet work.

This list of crochet tips will make your crocheting easier and more enjoyable. Whether you’re a beginner or have been crocheting for a while, you’ll find ideas to improve your skills, organize your supplies, and avoid common problems.

Where to Buy Yarn and Crochet Supplies

You can get almost any kind of yarn and crochet hooks on Amazon from home — including special hooks for arthritic hands. There are even kits with everything you need to start a project. Don’t forget a good crochet bag to keep your yarn and tools organized.

Where to Get Yarn and Crochet Supplies

Need some supplies? You can get everything you need shipped straight to your home.

Best Crochet Beginner Tips and Hacks

And now for some of the best crochet tips and hacks for beginners. I’ve compiled this list in two sections – “crochet tips” and “the “˜don’t’ crochet tips”, which is further down the page.

And now for all the crochet secrets…

1. Keep your yarn tidy

Use an empty, clean hand wipe container to hold your yarn ball. The yarn pulls through the original hole, so it won’t roll away.

2. Soften scratchy yarn

Try washing it gently or using a fabric softener designed for wool.

3. Wind your yarn into a ball before starting

Balls of yarn don’t tangle as easily. This helps prevent tangles. Consider buying a yarn ball winder to help you do this.

4. Keep an easy project handy

If you tend to get frustrated with tough crochet projects and burn out, keep an easy, fun project on hand at all times so you can work on it until you’re ready to face the more difficult one again.

5. Carry colors across rows

When a crochet pattern has several color changes a short distance apart, you can carry the color you’re not using across the previous row and crochet over it, then start using it again when you reach the next area where it belongs.

6. Use good lighting

Make sure you’ve got good lighting, like a dedicated craft lamp that mimics daylight. Good lighting can make a significant difference in seeing stitches clearly, especially with darker yarns.

7. Make center-pull balls

How to make a center pull ball, with pictures and instructions. This is a great crochet tip for beginners!

8. Mark your rows

To mark your rows, stick a bobby pin, safety pin, or paper clip through them, and close or twist.

9. Use a contrasting yarn as a row marker

Stitch a small piece of bright yarn into the first stitch of a row.You’ll be able to just pull it out later when you’re done.

10. Store hooks smartly

Store your crochet hooks in a pencil box, a jewelry box or traveling toothbrush holder, or hang them on a thin piece of wood (for smaller hooks, you can staple fishing line to the wood and hook them on it). You can also repurpose many used food and snack containers for this.

11. Create a tension gauge

Create a tension gauge, using a piece of cardboard marked with measurements to check your tension as you crochet.

12. Choose natural fibers for warmth

For warm items, use natural fibers like wool or alpaca for their insulating properties.

13. Left-handed?

If you’re left-handed, consider learning left-handed crochet techniques or using tutorials designed for you.

14. Know your yarn weights

Understanding yarn weight (like worsted, bulky, etc.) helps you select patterns appropriately.

15. Try join-as-you-go for motifs

When making motifs, learn the join-as-you-go technique to save time on sewing pieces together later.

16. Keep a crochet journal

Keep a crochet journal to document your projects, yarn used, and patterns for future reference and inspiration.

17. Block finished projects

Block your finished pieces helps shape and set your stitches, giving your finished work a polished look.

18. Don’t be afraid to frog (unravel)

It’s okay to unravel your work (frogging) if you make a mistake – it’s part of the process!

19. Map patterns in Excel or Google Sheets

This is a great crochet tip for techies! Print your pattern off so you can mark off your rows as you go. This helps you remember where you were when you get interrupted.

You can also make the pattern print larger for less eyestrain. And you can color-code the cells by filling each of them in with a color.

20. Use plastic sheet protectors and dry erase markers

If you don’t like spreadsheets, try putting your pattern down in a plastic sheet protector and use a dry erase marker to mark off rows on the plastic. Use a binder clip to make sure the pattern is secure enough not to move a row up or down from your marks.

21. Copy patterns to mark on paper

…or if your printer does copies, just copy the pattern and mark off rows right on the copy.

22. Convert yarn weights easily

To convert grams into ounces or vice versa, just use a search engine like DuckDuckGo. Type in a phrase like this: “convert 10 grams to ounces.” The search engine will give you the answer.

23. Estimate yarn needed by rows

To figure out how much yarn/thread you’ll need for a project, see how many rows you can get out of one skein/ball of yarn, then figure out how many rows your project needs. Divide the project’s number of rows by the number of rows the skein gave you, and you know how many skeins/balls you need to buy.

24. Make pom poms from scraps

A simple way to make a pom pom: wind the yarn around piece of cardboard about 40-50 times, depending how full you want it to be. The cardboard should be about 3-4″ wide. Slide the wound yard off and tie a piece of yarn around the center of it.

Cut both looped ends of the yarn. Holding it by the string of yarn you tied it off with, shake the pom pom out and use scissors to trim it until it’s round.

25. Use pom poms as gift wrap bows

Keep them on hand to use as homemade gift wrap bows.

26. Make granny squares from scraps

…or use your scraps to make granny squares as soon as you finish a project.

27. Create bracelets from scraps

These also make great gift items.

28. Stuff pillows with leftover yarn

Recycle scraps into cozy pillow stuffing.

29. Dye white washable yarn yourself

To avoid buying colors of yarn you won’t be able to finish using, use a white washable yarn for everything and dye it.

30. Fasten off with a yarn needle

To fasten off your project, use a yarn needle instead of a crochet hook to weave the ends back through. This secures them better and reduces the chances of raveling.

31. Learn how to make a slip knot

How to make a slip knot – instructions and pictures. This is great for beginners, even kids.

32. Learn the foundation chain

How to make a foundation chain – instructions and pictures.

33. Crochet granny squares

This is a great basic skill to have in your repertoire, because Granny Squares are so versatile.

34. Add grips to hooks with modeling clay or foam curlers

To make your hooks easier to handle, use Fimo or Sculpey modeling clay. Mold them around the handle, impress your grip on them so it’s customized for your fingers, then bake them according to instructions.

Or use a foam hair curler. Insert your hook through the middle of it carefully (so you don’t make the hole too big) until the curler is right where you grip it. Makes a cushy grip that’s good for keeping hands from aching. It pays a crocheter to listen to their body and follow ergonomic advice.

35. Use an Ace bandage as a hook grip

You can also use an Ace bandage. Fasten one end of it to the hook with glue (you can learn how to make glue for yourself) or tape, then wrap it around as many times as you like. Wrap it tightly enough that it won’t slide around, but loose enough to make the bandage squishy in your grip.

36. Carry nail clippers on planes instead of scissors

When traveling by plane, take a sharp pair of nail clippers instead of scissors, and you can keep your crocheting with you.

37. Keep a ready-to-go travel crochet bag

If you can’t stand to be without your crocheting, keep a crochet project in a travel bag that’s ready to grab and go at all times.

38. Hide loose ends by crocheting them in multiple times

Take the end of the stitch and crochet it into the other stitches a couple of times.

39. Use stitch markers frequently

Use stitch markers for marking rows or the first space in the round. Also use them to keep the edges straight. Use them to mark the beginning and end of each row.

You can also use stitch markers for separating pattern repeats. This helps you avoid mistakes and also see mistakes more quickly, so you can fix them with less fuss.

40. Pull loops loosely when working with multi-loop stitches

If your stitch has several loops, pull them up very loosely so drawing through them will be easier.

41. Dip yarn ends in clear nail polish to thread needles easily

When your yarn doesn’t want to go through the eye of a needle, dip the end of the yarn in clear nail polish and twist it tight while it’s drying.

42. Avoid ironing crocheted items; use starch spray instead

Ironing isn’t always great for crocheted projects. Instead, mix equal amounts of water and starch, spray the project with it liberally, and leave it to dry on a flat surface.

43. Store patterns in sheet protectors in binders

Sheet protectors are a great way to store patterns in a three-ring notebook.

44. Make your current stitch loop larger when interrupted

When you get interrupted suddenly, just make the loop on your current stitch really big. That way, if it gets jostled (or played with by pets or kids), the stitch won’t be lost.

45. Save web patterns as PDFs using print-to-PDF feature

To save web patterns to your computer, use the built in “print to PDF option” in Mac and Windows 10 to save the web page as PDF.

46. Use metal hooks for homespun yarn

For projects using homespun yarn, metal hooks are better than plastic.

47. Keep an index card listing your hooks and yarns

Make sure it lists all the types of different hooks and yarns you currently have. That way when you shop, you won’t buy stuff you already have.

48. Use bedding zipper bags or backpacks for storing projects

The zipper bags that sheets and bedding come in are great for storing yarns and unfinished projects. so are backpacks.

49. Foldable sewing scissors

These little guys are so portable and great for snipping ends. And they won’t snag anything in your bag.

50. Learn double crochet after single crochet

Learn the double crochet stitch once you’ve mastered the single crochet stitch. It’s used in many different patterns, starting with granny squares.

51. Use a larger hook for foundation chains if too tight

Use a larger hook size for foundation chains than what you’re using for the rest of your project. This helps prevent it from becoming too tight. Or if your foundation chain is too loose, you can correct it by going down a hook size.

52. Find free patterns online

Get free crochet patterns at LoveCrafts, EasyCrochet, AllFreeCrochet, and Yarnspirations.

53. Pull the last stitch of the old color through the new one

This is a great way to change colors. Or you can also twist the old and new yarn together to avoid gaps.

54. Foundation rows prevent curling

Tunisian crochet can tend to curl as you’re working. To prevent this, start your projects off with a foundation row in regular crochet.

What Not to Do When Crocheting

There is one bad tip I’ve seen on a lot of websites. If you’ve heard that it’s a great idea to put yarn and thread clippings into a mesh bag and hang it from a tree for birds to use as nesting material, it’s not!

Birds have much more sensitive respiratory systems than most other animals, and tiny fibers can be inhaled and cause damage – which could even be fatal. Do not leave yarn or thread where birds can get hold of it.