Help

OK so I see a lot of the same questions asked over and over.  Instead of telling people 'use a search engine'  I typically do take the time out to answer each and every one.  Today I got asked one of the questions I answer most often, and I thought to myself  "Self, why dont I just write this all down so I can link to it or just copy and past it?"  I laughed at myself and said  "Why self that will never work... or would it?"          
                 
So here we are.  My 'Help!! How do I _____________?  I will slowly add to the page as I come across common help requests.  Heck I might even throw in random stuff that just might be handy in someone elses case.   Feel free to leave a question in the comments if you want me to add it to the page.                          


 (last updated 2/18/2016)

Why are there gaps when I decrease while working in the round?

This can be a few things.
Either your using a hook too large for the yarn. I always recomend a hook 2 sizes or more smaller then the hook on the label for amigurumi/stuffed animals.
It could be the way you work your decrease. There is the normal decrease, work hook into next stitch pull up a loop, work hook into next stitch pull up a loop, then pull threw all loops. This way will be very visible and will tend to leave a gap regardless. You can avoid this by working a invisable decrease by only working into the front loops, hook under loop DO NOT PULL UP A LOOP, hook under next loop, yarn over and pull through both loops, yarn over and pull through remaining loops on hook. This should leave the smallest gap.

Best way to hide tails on a flat fabric?  

Typically I would work over my tails as I crochet to hide them some times they will be just long enough that a small bit hangs out at the end, just give it a small tug snip 1/4 inch longer then what was hanging out then straighten out your fabric autohiding your tail for you.
-For FO tails, I use a darning needle and weave them in.  I try to do a ----> for 1/3 the tail length then double back for the other 2/3 <----------- to 'lock' the tail into the fabric.

How do you do a color change?

I do them 2 ways--

1- If its in the middle of a row, in the last stitch BEFORE you switch, work as normal but stop at the last pull through, using the new color to do the last pull threw and continoue on with it.  I make sure to work over both strands as I go.  That not only hides them but if you are swaping back to the original color after a few stitchs it carries it along so you dont need to cut it and worry about hiding tails.
2-If I am starting a new row, in the new color I like to do a standing stitch, they show over on Moogly how to do a standing DC, the method is the same for all stitchs just adjust accordingly to the stitch you start with.  ((I tend to start of sc rows with a standing hdc instead as the hight looks better))

Help, I am mid row and only have a foot of yarn left how do I join an other skein?

I actually do it the same way I do the color change mid row.  Work till you have about 6 inches of tail left, work your stitch as normal only at the last pull through use the new skein. IE SC- pull up a loop then with the new skein pull through both loops on the hook; DC-wrap, pull up a loop, pull threw first 2 loops, with new skein pull through last 2 loops; HDC-wrap, pull up a loop, with new skein pull through all loops.

My scarf is shrinking as I work!!! Help!!!

Typically I need to see it to diagnose what exactly is happening.  Here are some of the most common beginner mistakes. In order of  how frequent I have seen them.
1-You are dropping your last stitch of every row. Solution - Use a stitch marker in your first and last stitch to ensure you dont 'skip' or drop them.  Anything from bobby pins, scrap yarn, to those $5 plastic loops sold just to mark stitchs will work.
2-You are dropping stitchs in the 'shell' pattern or dropping whole shells. Solution- Stitch markers! (yes I am like a dog with a bone, but trully SM's can save your project)  If you are loosing shells (by shell I mean any stitch where they want you to work 3dc in one or simular patterns that is not just one in one normal) mark off ever 5 shell's so you will be able to tell if you skipped/dropped one as you work.  Bonus it also lets you do a count faster if you know there are 5 between each marker.
3-Your tension is finally eventing out or its tightening up.  Solution - If your just starting, this could be your tension evening out -- in this case no real fix.  I recomend doing some warm up stitchs before starting a project this way you can get your tension 'set' so when you start you wont have this issue.
Now on the other hand if you are not new, it could be a case of your just tightening up, in this case it could be an enviorment or mood issue.  I know when I am upset I tend to crochet tighter so I avoid picking up any WIP as it will affect how I stitch.
4-On the very rare ocasion, you may have picked up a hook in the wrong size.   Solution - sadly frog it back to where you where, and make sure to use the right hook.   I tend to leave my hook with my WIP so that wont happen just leaving it weaved into the fabric.  If you need the hook for something else just jot down on some scrap paper the hook and pin/leave it with the WIP.  I have several G hooks and they are not standard some are larger then others so I make sure to note exactly which one it is IE G 4.25 (soft pink/gold/green) SB/Boyd.          

I lost/misplaced/dont have a yarn needle but need to sew or hide tails!!

Easy! There are a few 'hacks' you can do.  You can always use a paper clip to MacGyver a needle.  If you have a sewing needle (to small the thread yarn through) and thread handy you can always thread the needle with a small length and tie the tail end to the yarn so as you use it the thread will pull it along behind.

How do I do _______ stitch?

Well there are a few answers.

I like pointing people to Crochet.gif's as they show a selection of stitchs.  They brake them down into easy to fallow steps with out having to pause/stop a video/teacher.  You can always request the site to do a specil gif stitch they are always looking for new ideas.

Option 2, Youtube.  I suggest watching at least 2 or 3 versions just in case one of them works the stitch in a weird way or labels the stitch wrongly and shows you something different entiraly.

Can I block acrylic yarn?

Yes!  It is possible to block acrylic yarn but only with steam blocking.  You can do this with an iron that has a steam setting, just be very careful to keep the iron on the lowest setting while still producing steam and keep it 2-4 inches from the project so you don't melt the yarn.  Alternatively if you have a garment or other steam machine feel free to use it.  A warning once you steam block it it will be permanent you can not undo it by washing it like with animal/natural fibers so make sure everything is exactly how you want it before you even heat up the steamer.

I keep  doing (insert stitch here) wrong, how do you keep them straight?

Term conversion chart if you need to translate UK to US

Well I use USA terms when crocheting.  Keep in mind UK (and other country's) uses different terms so switching between patterns can get confusing with the stitches if your new. 

For a SC- I associate it with a single pull though.  That is once you have all the loops worked onto the hook and your ready to work off, you do it in a 'Single' pull.
DC- I associate it with a double pull through. So work till you have 3 loops on the hook, then you work the first two loops off, and repeat for the last two making it a 'Double' pull.
HDC- This is a mash up of the SC and DC in my head, you start it like a double, but pull threw like a single IE your doing 'Half' of the work of a DC.
TR/TRB- Again like with the double, when you go to work off the stitches you have to pull threw 3 times. Treble actually means 'three times' so that helps me out in remember to do 3 pulls.
DTR- Now this stitch is the most misleading named stitch.  You are not doubling the treble crochet, just working an extra wrap, which makes it an extra pull threw at the end so you do 4.  I like to think of it as a Quadro Crochet, quadro means 4 in Latin.

Help my favorit/family heirloom blanket has a hole in it how do I fix it?

I did a whole post here showing how I repaired two  different blankets, one was a granny square that came apart at the center, the other was a free hand blanket where the yarn frayed badly at a color change and the section near the color change unraveled.

Bullion Stitch tip to make it easy.

Bullion stitch can be daunting, and frustrating.  Get your yarn and hook, wrap the whole a million and one times, now try to pull a yo threw the whole thing.  Your hook get stuck, or did the yo you pulled on slip off the hook?  Yup thats the hard part is getting the hang of making that last pull threw.  What I find helpful is before you do all those wraps, use a straw or semi firm piece of paper to cover the shaft of your hook, wrap the yarn over that, so when you do your final pull threw the hook slides along inside  of the tube taking about 70% of the difficulty of this stitch away

Why  does my piece have ridges and the photo in the pattern doesnt?

Its mostly likely you are only working into 1 of the top loops.  As a general rule if a pattern does not state what loop(s) to work into you should be working under both loops of that top V.  If it says BLO (back loops only) that means always work into the loop farthest from your body, even if you turn your work.  FLO (front loop only) is the front loop closest to your body, even when you turn.

Also only working into one loop can leave your piece misshapen so if your doing everything right (stitch count wise) but it isnt looking right this could also be your issue.

I messed up badly and no longer want my WIP can I save my yarn?

Simple answer yes.  Long answer, depending on the yarn type it can be easy to frog yarns like RHSS, but yarns with a fuzzy halo will be more of a hassle to unravel.
Tips to helping with Frogging your project-
Wind the yarn into a ball (Ball winder or on your thumb or even a TP roll insert) as you frog so the yarn doesn't tangle up.
With novelty yarns like funfur or fuzzy halo yarns, when your pulling on the yarn pull towards the bottom of the stitch, be gentle, and do not be afraid to use scissors to snip any tangling fuzz.
Most important dont pull hard, if it isnt unraveling with a gentle tug the yarn is caught on something or the previous stitch has tighten up enough it is pinched just take a moment and a hook to loosen things up and try again. 
Worst case scenario you have to cut the yarn, and can just use a Russian join to join it back together before winding it into a ball.