I usually have a half dozen or so crochet projects going all at once, and sometimes don't recall the size hook I was using. I've started keeping the plastic bread closing tabs and writing the hook size on it and attaching it to my project during construction.
I retired and have to keep busy, so I crochet, knit, and embroider. I was always looking for my scissors, or crochet hook.
Recently, I did a project where I had to count stitches to make sure the chains were all the same length. Well, they sure weren't. I often have to compete with visiting kids and their video games, radios, videos, dogs...you name. It is hard to find quiet.
I had heard of using the tags/closures for bread packages to mark your projects while knitting or crocheting, but came upon another use for the little white tags while crocheting.
When you want to make an afghan with a different color in each square, but your stash doesn't stretch to that goal, you might want to try this.
When crocheting things like a bed spread, you can buy tobacco string and use it like crochet thread. It comes on a cone and a lot cheaper then the crochet thread.
My mother is in her eighties, and was crocheting an afghan of cats. The pattern consisted of about 8 rows, each one different, and then a repeat of these 8 rows.
I have over 200 plastic stitch markers from China (cheaper that way and they seldom snag the yarn). Someone showed me to mark a few of them with hook sizes (G, H, I, J). Some ladies put the metric size (4.00, 4.5, 5.00, 5.5). This helps to remember what size hook you are using with a project when you have multiple projects going at once.
Just today after about 45 years of crocheting! I was at the end of a row and was starting to pull the yarn up so it wouldn't easily pull out until I got back to working on my pineapple afghan that I was making; I saw my "clover" plastic safety pin that I use to mark stitches when knitting . . .
Whenever I know I'm going someplace (like the doctor's appt I have today!) I always take a small carry-all with me that has a small amount of yarn and a crochet hook. If I need a pattern, I copy it on my scanner and print it out to take with me.
When working on a crochet pattern you will need to know a variety of crochet stitch abbreviations to follow the instructions. This is a page about basic crochet abbreviations chart.
I like to work on multiple projects when crocheting and would use the same hook for whatever I was working on. When I went back to the project I would forget what size hook I was using.
When making something where you have bought more than one skein of a given color, save one of the papers wrapped around the skein, and write on it near the color name...
I make a lot of crocheted doilies and when it comes time to block them I use the cardboard from cakes that I have purchased and saved. This cardboard has a shiny surface on one side so the doilies do not stick.
I've just started to crochet so I don't do complicated stuff. Just finished making a round rag rug which wasn't difficult BUT the whole thing has buckled and looks frilly round the edges.
