Make every link in your starting chain the same size without even thinking about it.
I have always hated the fact that my starting chain was so raggedy looking. Each loop was a different size, some too large and some far too small. One day I was reading a pattern and just running the chain through my fingers without thinking. When I was done reading and went to continue crocheting, I noticed that my entire chain was perfect! Doing this with your first two or three rows of crochet, especially when you are new to it, helps even everything out so you don't get the dreaded rows that are shorter than the chain because your tension isn't right yet.
It really is a simple as holding your chain (with the hook still in) firmly in one hand and running your chain and/or chain with rows through the fingers of your other hand gently, but firmly. I am proud of my starting chains now and I used to hate doing them.
Try it. You'll be amazed! I was.
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Shazzade,
Great observation and very well put!
That's quite a good idea, actually! It makes sense, too...It must get the yarn to evenly distribute itself through the chains...
Wow that is awesome. I too hated the dreadful beginning chains especially when you have more that 50 to do.
Thanks Shazzade.
Blue Ridge Mountain Girl
http://joinwithaslipstitch.blogspot.com/
Great and easy tip! I always take along time with my chain, for just that reason--trying to get them even!
Blue Ridge Mountain Girl
Brilliant! So simple, and so effective. Thanks.
I have a front load washer and I love to felt. For anyone who is worried about felting with one, I haven't had any problems yet with mine and I have been felting with it for three years so far. I just set the clock on my stove,for anything up to 40 minutes, then cancel the cycle when the timer goes off. That way what I'm felting doesn't go through the spin cycle.
I have felted everything from small swatches and toys, to a huge camping jacket for my 6 ft tall, 190 lb husband without any problems.
So hopefully anyone who is worried about constantly cancelling the program to check the stage of felting, will not worry quite so much.
Felting can take a long time to dry. I crocheted and then felted a camping jacket for my husband who is 6 ft tall and weighs in at around 190-200 lbs depending on the holiday. I try and post a picture of it somewhere on this site. I thought this jacket was going to take YEARS to dry. I had read somewhere that a fan could help the process along.
After turning the fan on it was dry just over 24 hours later. It was amazing. So if you need a felted item dry quickly, use a fan.