Crochet Tips

CROCHET TIPS &
TRICKS
15 Techniques You
Need to know!
Video Tutorial Included
WWW.MJSOFFTHEHOOKDESIGNS.COM
CONTENT
01-01
MAGIC KNOT
02-03 09-16
THUMB JOIN STRIGHT EDGES
03-05 10-18
RUSSIAN JOIN LOCKING MARKERS
04-07 11-19
MAGIC RING HOOK STYLES
05-09 12-20
COLOUR CHANGE FOUNDATION STITCHES
06-11 13-22
SEAMLESS JOIN COUNTING STITCHES
07-13 14-23
STARTING CHAIN WEIGH SCALE
08-15 15-25
STITCH COUNTS FELTING JOIN
VIDEO
HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/WTRW6E5HUNU
Step #1
01 Magic Knot
The magic knot is a quick and easy way to join yarn. You can use this
technique when changing colour or adding a new ball of yarn. I have
demonstrated with two different colours to make it easier to see.
MJSOFFTHEHOOKDESIGNS.COM| PAGE 01
Magic Knot
Step #1 Step #2
Place each tail end of
yarn side by side.
Step #2
Take colour A and tie Step 3
a knot around colour
B.
Step #3
Take Colour B and tie
a knot around colour
A.
Step 4
Step #4
Take ball end of colour
A and B and pull tight.
This will draw the
knots together.
Step 5
Step #5
Trim tails. Avoid
cutting them too close.
Step #1
02 Thumb Join
The thumb join is the quickest way to join yarn. You can use this
technique when changing colour or adding a new ball of yarn. This
technique is a little more difficult to perfect. It just takes a little practice.
Thumb Join
Step #1
Place each tail end of
yarn side by side between
the thumb and index
finger. Place the new ball
of yarn on the outer side
of the thumb.
Step #2
Take the new yarn and Step #2
wrap it around the thumb
and yarn tails two times.
Wrap a third time going
between the thumb and
tails
Step 3
Step #3
Take tails and tuck them
over the yarn strand and
under the thumb.
Step #4
Pinch tails with thumb
and pull on both ends of
yarn to knot. Trim tails if
needed.
Step #1
03 Russian Join
The Russian join is the most secure way to join yarn. I love this technique
when I don't want a knot in my work. You can use this technique when
changing colour or adding a new ball of yarn. This technique takes a little
more time and patience.
Russian Join
Step #1
Loop the tail ends of Step #2
colour A & B.
Step #2
With a yarn needle,
weave the tail end of
colour A back through
the centre of A yarn
strand. Fill up the yarn
needle and pull the tail
through. This will
secure colour B. Step 3
Step #3
With Colour B, repeat
step #2.
Step #4
Pull yarn tails to
smooth out strands
and trim excess tails. Step 4
Step #1
04 Magic Ring
The Magic Ring is the perfect way to start any round. It makes a tight and
secure start that doesn't come loose.
Step #2
Magic Ring
Step #1
Wrap the yarn around your
index finger 3 times.
Step #2
Insert the hook under all
three loops. Grab the first Step 3
loop with the hook and pull
through.
Step #3
Chain to secure the ring. For
hdc chain 2.
Step #4 Step 4
Work pattern stitches in the
ring (ex. 6 hdc).
Step #5
Pull the yarn tail. It will pull
in only 1 loop (only pull
slightly). Grab the loop that's
pulling in and pull it to
Step 5
tighten the other loop. Next,
pull the tail tight so that both
loops are snug.
Step #6
Slip stitch in first st to join. Step 6
05 Colour Change
How to seamlessly change colour throughout a row. This technique can be

used to change colour at the end or throughout a row. Carry yarn along
and change seamlessly as needed.
Step #1
Colour Change
Step #1
Last yarn over of
stitch pull through
with new colour.
Step #2
Work stitch pattern
Step #2
working over yarn
tails as you go. This
will allow you to
change colour as
needed.
Step 3
Step #3
Last yarn over of
stitch pull through
with starting
colour.
06 Seamless Join
When finishing off your work, instead of slip stitching to join, make a
seamless join instead. This technique creates a faux stitch that blends
seamlessly with a row or round.
Step #1
Seamless Join
Step #1
Fasten off yarn.
Step #2
With yarn needle,
weave tail under
Step #2
both loops of the
first stitch.
Step #3
With yarn needle,
weave tail end
Step 3
under the back loop
only of the last
stitch. Weave in
ends.
07 Starting Chain
When working into a starting chain, work your first row into the back leg
or hump of the stitch. This creates a nice clean edge with both loops of the
stitch exposed. It also makes it easier to work into when completing edging
or a border.
Step #1
Starting Chain
Step #1
Make a starting
chain any length.
Step #2
Rotate the starting
Step #2
chain so that you
can see the back
humps.
Step #3
Complete the first
Step 3
row of stitches
working through
the back leg (hump)
of each chain.
08 Stitch Counts
If you're a beginner and struggle keeping stitch counts the same each row,
this technique will keep you on track. Add a marker to the first and last
stitch of every row. This makes sure that you don't miss a stitch.
09 Straight Edges
This technique will help keep your edges straight. It also prevents a large
gap when working a border around your piece.
Straight Edges
Swatch #1
The swatch on the
bottom is worked in
double crochet
stitches with a
starting chain of 3.
Swatch #2
The swatch on the
top is also worked
in double crochet
stitches but with a
starting chain of 1.
This keeps the edges
straight.
10 Locking Markers
When you finish working on a project, there's nothing worse than having it
unravel in your WIP bag. To prevent this from happening, add a locking
stitch marker to the last stitch of your work. You can pull on it, and it won't
come undone.
11 Hook Styles
The gauge can vary between hook brands and styles, even if they're the
same hook size. To keep gauge consistent throughout a project, use the
same hook. I like to add a note to my WIP bag stating the hook size, brand,
style of hook I used and my pattern gauge.
12 Foundation Stitches
Many patterns will have you start a project with foundation stitches.
When creating this stitch, you work the foundation chain and stitch all at
the same time. This creates a nice stretchy foundation for your project
and has a nice edge showing both loops of the stitch.
Step #1
Foundation
Stitches (SC)
Step #1
Chain 2. Rotate the
starting chain so that you
can see the back hump.
Step #2 Step #2
Insert hook through the
back loop and back hump
(leg) of the chain. Yarn
over (yo) and pull up a
loop. Yo and pull through
one loop (foundation ch),
yo, and pull through both
loops completing a sc st.
Step #3
Rotate work, insert hook
through the foundation
chain and back hump
repeating step #2.
Step 3
13 Counting Stitches
When counting long stretches of stitches it's a good idea to mark as you go
with stitch markers. Place markers every 20 stitches or so. This way if you
lose track you only have to go back to the last marker.
14 Weigh Scale
I use a scale for every pattern I design. These tips are helpful for
designers, testers and crocheters.
Tip #1
If I forget how many balls of yarn I've used to make a project I just weigh
out my finished project in grams. I then divide total grams by the number
of grams on a ball to determine the total number of balls used.
Weigh Scale
Tip #2
To determine how many
grams you've used from a
ball of yarn. Weigh the
remaining yarn. Take the
total grams on a ball and
subtract the grams
remaining. This will tell
you how many grams you
used.
Tip #3
How much yarn you need
for a project. Make a
swatch and weigh it. For
example; You are making
a blanket 50" x 60". Let's
say your swatch is 4" x 4"
and weighs 20 grams. The
area is 16. Now let's do
the math 20g/16a = 1.25
Blanket - 50x60=3000a x
1.25 = 3750 grams needed.
15 Felting Join
The felting join is a technique you can use to join wool (animal fibres). Test
out the yarn to make sure it works before joining through a project.
Superwash wools do not work for this technique.
Felting Join
Step #1 Step #1
Separate tail ends of
fibres 3-4".
Step #2
Wet ends with a
spray bottle.
Step #3
Rub ends together Step #2
vigorously between
hands for at least
one minute. Add
more water if
necessary. The heat
and friction will fuse Step 3
the ends together. It
will look like felt
and join balls of yarn
seamlessly.
Hey! I'm MJ
I'm a busy mom of four, a loving wife to an Ontario farmer, and the driven creative
behind MJ’s Off The Hook Designs and Sentry Box Designs. I strive to bring
inspiration to the crocheting community through my creative pieces, driving the
idea that crochet can be trendy, fun and modern.
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CROCHET TIPS &

How to seamlessly change colour throughout a row. This technique can be

LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH

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