I start new colors and new skeins of yarns, in the margins of the projects, to avoid a knot in the middle of my piece. It hides them, I can knot them twice, in 2 square knots, pull tightly, and it's on the edges, where I can crochet edgings over the knots or have them inside seams, if it's on clothing.
Also, I DO NOT do this, but.... I read once, how a lady does not knot her yarn ends together, when starting a new skein or color. What she does (this sounds too silly, to me) is she unravels about 3 - 4" of one yarn skein, and 3 - 4" of the other yarn skein, and she twirls both ends together, much like she's a yarn-joining machine, and she makes 1 yarn string, from 2 skeins. I've never done this, because I'm afraid it might unravel.
Also, when joining 2 different colors, I felt that the joined section, could possibly show up in the work, caddy-waumpus and look off-centered and totally homemade. I know the point of handmade it just that: handmade, but this method of joining 2 skeins, rather than knotting it in the seam or edge of the pattern, seems ridiculous, to me, IMHO. I don't think it'd work for me.
I got frustrated with the Empire dress. I need TWELVE INCHES on the skirt! I worked and WORKED on Wednesday on the dress, started working fast and furious on it today/Thursday. I went to measure it and only had 3".
It is a SC in Ch-1 stitch below, Ch-1, SK next SC, SC in next Ch-1 space, across. It's a very tight weave, which is good for a skirt, on a toddler, because it'll be more rugged and more like a fabric, although it's made from yarn and is crocheted. But it was taking too long. I got out some pink yarn, started working on a shoulder-tie shell-stitch tunic, which is lacey-looking. I like it, also, because the back is the exact carbon copy of the front. I can, if I want to, take a silk flower rose or a couple of button, to decorate the front bodice with, so they can tell the back from the front. OR I can leave any decorations off, so they can wear it both ways. This way, if it should snag or get stained on 1 side, their Dmommy can turn it around, and use the stain-free or snag-free side, as the front.
Also, I decided to make DGS-turning-6-in-Feb. a snake or two. The pattern's free, from Ravelry, and the snake has crocheted eyeballs and a crocheted tongue. What makes this snake unique is how it's a coil, which can wrap easily around the child's wrist, like it's a real snake!
It's so adorable in the photo, too. So DGSs will get snakes, hats, and puppets for their upcoming b-days.
I was "talking" to Dsis, via emails. She's having shoulder problems. I told her, in 2010, when I was in P. T. for my shoulder, for 11 months, had surgery, etc... Crochet was my lifesaver!
My affected shoulder, was my left shoulder, I'm right-handed, and I was able to write stories, letters, to journal, AND CROCHET! At that time, I had fewer grandsons, so that year, I was able to crochet, to keep my sanity, to cope, and have an escape from pain and the P. T. exercises 2 x daily. I made each grandson an afghan, for Christmas that year. It was cool, to be able to give of my heart, to them, and crocheting sure helped me emotionally that year. It was the Best Focus Ever. I'll never forget how it helped me so much. ♥