Learn why some yarn splits and some don't. It has to do whether yarn is s twisted or z twisted, how you crochet and what you can do to prevent the splitting

Looking for amigurumi tips for beginners, or just want to improve, these amigurumi tips and tricks will help to advance your amigurumi skills!

Learn the shocking truth about how to never crochet gaps and bulk when using the perfect Alternative Turning Chain with this easy formula.

Whether you've tried knitting or crocheting, you probably have seen some yarn splitting while working. It can be frustrating and problematic when your finished project doesn't look as sharp as it could. Heidi is here to provide tips and tricks that will help prevent yarn splitting while crocheting. No matter how you describe it: yarn getting fuzzy, splitting, unraveling, or just plain coming apart, it's a problem. When yarn splits, it makes crocheting more difficult and loosens the fiber, which results in a crochet piece that doesn't look professional. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help avoid this common crochet problem and this video tutorial features the easiest solutions. We even asked our audience for additional tips on how to keep yarn ends from fraying, and those tips are below as well. We think these ideas will help you keep your yarn behaving during your next crochet project.

[thrive_leads id=’2591′] I have fallen head over heels in love with amigurumi! I am entirely self taught when it comes to crochet (with help from youtube and blogs, of course!) and my first amigurumi projects turned out… interesting. Big gaps, floppy, misshapen heads… Not to mention that I didn’t know where to get half the...

There are two different methods for single crochet decrease, but for amigurumi the invisible decrease is my absolute favourite. Read more.

This is a question that gets asked a lot in the crochet community: "How do I keep my tail weaved in, so my project doesn't fall apart?"

Whether you have been sewing for years or are just getting into it, learning new tips and tricks can help you save time and improve your techniques.

7 ways to make a ruffle, ruffles, 7 ways to make ruffles, ruffle tutorial, how to make a ruffle, making ruffles, ruffle making

Straight lines are always difficult. Drawing a straight line, cutting a straight line, and especially sewing in a straight line. With How to Sew a Straight Line by Hand, we will go over some tips, tricks, and techniques for learning how to sew straight. We are also providing a tutorial for how to sew a straight line that will help you to practice. When starting a hand stitch, it can be difficult to remain even in your stitching but that can be corrected with practice. Whether you are sewing seams or adding a border to a fabric piece, learning to sew a straight line is something that will come up frequently in sewing patterns and projects. Sewing by hand involves more patience and skill, which we will help you master with our tips. This skill is also essential when working on embroidery or hemming a garment. It is also an important skill to teach children who are learning how to sew by hand. Even if you don't think you need to know how to sew straight just yet, learning it now will save you time later. Of course, you can bookmark or pin this for when you need to learn at a later date. Either way, if you sew, learning the patience of a straight line is invaluable. Looking for more? Sign up for one (or more) of our awesome free newsletters!

Check out these helpful top stitching tips from National Sewing Circle to enhance your next sewing project

13 Quilting Tips, tricks and ideas to make quilting easier

Serging and overlock stitches look complex, but they are super easy to remove. Easy to follow video guide to unlock the secret. Don't just pull!

The invisible join is aka the invisible finish. It is a great way to give a professional look to your finished crochet projects. It's a quick & easy way to make your project look professional.

Learn how to increase and decrease in crochet using basic stitches. Learn sc2tog,, hdc2tog, and dc2tog with this photo tutorial.

In today's Crochet 101 lesson, I'll teach you how to increase and decrease stitches. This is helpful when it comes to working on a variety of projects.

Discover the best tips and tricks for crocheting with black yarn. From lighting techniques to stitch selection, ease your frustration with these tips.

Amigurumi is a special subset of crochet that requires its own skills. Even the most experienced crocheters can be startled when they pick up their first amigurumi pattern and discover it's full of new terms and techniques! In this post, I'll cover all the essentials you'll need t ...

I have the ultimate trick for you all - you're gonna love it!

How to crochet faster. 6 tips to improve your crochet speed. Consider your hooks, yarn, position of you your hands and more.

I’m very excited to share with you my newest method of preventing the gaps in Amigurumi when crocheting over single crochet decreases. I’m especially proud of this tutorial because this Amigurumi Hack is actually something that I came up with myself! I haven’t seen this tip anywhere else on the internet but obviously the world...

Gathering fabric is beautiful, but it is also time-consuming. In this article, you will learn the easiest and fastest way to gather fabric. Any kind of it!

Sewing is often a slow process. It is so easy to let your imagination wander when you are choosing a design for your new dress, or fabric and a pattern to use in your next project. It takes a lot of time also to prepare the pattern, to cut the fabric, to sew all seams and press them. And usually we can’t sew all day long. So I am always looking for ways to be more efficient and sew faster. I don’t want to stay with one project for a few weeks, I noticed actually that the less time it takes from an idea to the result the more I am enjoying the process and I am also more satisfied with my garment. Over the years I discovered many ways to sew faster and to get professional results. I am going to share them with you in this list.

Summer's over and it's back to school time, which means it's also back to sewing school time! (Did you know that I have a FREE beginner's sewing course?) Last week I mentioned that I have a new free pattern for a pencil-shaped pencil case to share with you (update: here's the info on the pencil

It's that time of year when velvet starts making its triumphant comeback with holiday dresses for girls of all ages. Get tips from the pros who can sew it best.

Learn how to discretely change colour when crocheting in continual rounds, using a standing single crochet and invisible join.

Learn sewing secrets that every beginner should know. These sewing tips will save you time and frustration!

Find the best user-submitted tips, along with editor-curated advice, and general tips to make crochet easy and enjoyable. These crochet tips cover organization, tricks and hacks, techniques, and so much more. Master everything crochet.

Learn how to have an invisible crochet color change especially for amigurumi patterns without jagged lines. Secret Tip with Video Tutorial.

Have you ever approached a crochet project that includes a square or rectangle shaped piece and you wind up with wonky edges? Or the dreaded trapezoid

Learn all about crochet gauge including how to make a swatch and adjust your gauge to ensure your project's the right size. Crochet gauge chart included!

If you love knitting (or crochet) you should start a knitting group! Get together like-minded fiber friends and make sure your knitting group is successful!

Make Do And Mend With Crochet Hello! This week I'd like to focus on one of my core values when it comes to crafting: How To "Make Do And Mend"! Crocheting opens up a world of creativity for us, but what about those leftover bits of yarn and those clothes with minor tears? Don't toss them aside, instead embrace the culture of "Make Do and Mend" with crochet. There are many ways that we can make the most of what we have and in this blog post I'm going to share my top 4 tips to breathe new life into your crochet. 1. Conquering the Leftovers:We've all been there - our project is complete, but now we have a basket overflowing with colorful yarn scraps. These beauties are perfect for creating all sorts of small projects such as amigurumi or hats. You may need to get creative in the way you combine your yarns, but that's all part of the fun! My Air Balloon Beanie is a two colour pattern which could be made in multiple colours to use up your leftovers. Find the pattern on my website here. 2. Patching Up Perfection:A small snag doesn't have to spell doom. Crochet patches are both a fun and functional way to extend the life of your favourite garments and reduce landfill waste. Choose contrasting or complementary colours to create a unique design element. My Sunshine & Showers pattern set might be ideal for your next cover up! Find the pattern on my website here. 3. Visible Mending Magic:Embrace the current trend of visible mending! Instead of trying to hide your repair, use contrasting yarn to mend tears in a bold and artistic way. My dad is constantly bringing me his woollen socks to darn and initially I would choose yarns that were similar in colour to the original, but now I just go wild with my colour choices! Mending in this way adds a personal touch to your clothes and promotes sustainable practices by letting others see your "Make Do And Mend" attitude. Win-win! 4. From Scraps to Spectacular:Tiny yarn ends don't have to gather dust either; you can turn them into a vibrant scrappy blanket! This classic project is one of my favourites because it's perfect for using up even the tiniest scraps. You can experiment with colour combinations and create a unique masterpiece for your home. The thing I like most about scrappy blankets is that as I use each yarn I get to remember the original project I used it in. I have 3 scrappy blankets free here on my blog, this is my most recent one but you can use the search bar at the side to easily find the others. Don't forget to share your mending journey online! The online crochet community thrives on inspiration and resourcefulness. Share photos of your visible mends or quirky scrap yarn creations. You might inspire others to embrace the "Make Do and Mend" spirit with crochet! Tag me on Instagram @marta.mitchell.designs and I'll share your photos to my stories. By incorporating my 4 tips, you'll save yourself money, reduce waste and also unlock a whole new realm of creative expression. So, dig out those leftover yarns & scraps and get crocheting – it's a sustainable and rewarding way to keep your love for crochet thriving. If you like these tips, please consider signing up to my mailing list, when you do so, you'll automatically be sent my PDF with 25 top tips that every crocheter should know! Until next time, happy crocheting, Marta xx

A beginner's guide on how to whip stitch for crochet pieces

Hello! There are lots of yarn festivals going on at the moment (anyone off to Yarndale this weekend?) and I thought I'd take the opportunity to share my 9 top tips for attending a yarn festival, helping you to make the most of your experience. 1. Plan ahead. Take a look at the list of vendors in advance and if there are any you're especially interested in check out their website or social media platforms to find out what they're currently up to. Similarly, if any new vendors jump out at you, go and follow them online, find out more about what they do. Some vendors have special offers, exclusives or advance orders that you can pay for in advance then pick up at the show - again, worth checking out! 2. Set yourself a budget. Attending a yarn show can be a bit like going into the world's biggest sweet shop, so it's a good idea to be realistic before you go about how much you will spend. You can always support small businesses you admire but don't buy from by taking photos at their stalls and sharing them on social media or adding them to your list for the future. 3. Go with projects in mind. It's a good idea to look at the patterns in your Ravelry library, other downloads or books and plan which yarns you need to buy. If you go armed with "I need 6 skeins of BFL fingering weight for this jumper" it gives you focus and helps prevent you from coming home with a skein of this and a skein of that. 4. On the day have your ticket handy on your phone or printed out. This saves you from faffing around looking for it when you're at the front of the queue (and gets you in faster!) 5. Stay hydrated. Take plenty water with you, these events can get very hot & sticky with all the people in one building! 6. Don't be shy! Talk to vendors, ask questions, show them things you've made from their yarn or patterns. Also if you recognise anyone else on the day from the yarny community don't be afraid to introduce yourself - build connections, you never know where they'll lead! 7. Have a fairly swift look around first before commiting to any purchases (unless there's something exclusive you know there are only limitted numbers of). Go round and simply soak everything in - perhaps even go outside for some fresh air before heading back in for a closer inspection. 8. Bring a notepad & pen! There will be items you want to take note of, email addresses and websites to swap ... all sorts of things! This one comes from experience - I didn't take either and really needed them! 9. Take lots of photos! There's so much inspiration at a yarn festival, so snap away so you remeber it later. Ask people if they're happy for a selfie with you or ask someone to take your photo. Share online too to help the event and whoever/ whatever is in your photo to gain recognition. What about you? Have you got any tips you'd like to add? Leave me a comment below, I'd love to hear from you! I'll be back next week with more tips and crochet news - if you'd like to receive these posts straight to your inbox, consider subscribing to my mailing list. Until then, happy crocheting, Marta xx

Ah, the invisible decrease! A superhero among amigurumi stitches! In this tutorial,...

Crochet stitch anatomy can be confusing for new crocheters and even seasoned crocheters. Especially if the stitch you are crocheting is new to you, or you haven't made the stitch in quite some time.

A complete guide to US to UK crochet terms (or convert UK to US crochet terms) with a useful conversion crochet terms chart and all terminology explained.