Tips 'n Tricks

Do you have a helpful hint or handy trick that will make any aspect of knitting easier? Share it! Post ideas on scrap yarn usages, stitch markers, color changing, maintaining your sanity while following a difficult pattern, etc. There is most probably someone out there that will benefit from your help. Need ideas yourself? Read others' comments--we all live and learn!

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Name: Eric
Subject: joining knitting in the round
Comment: I found that when you join the first row, start the first stitch opposite of the directions, with the short end. If the first stitch is Knit, then pearl the first stitch using the short in of the yarn, then knit the first stitch again, with the working yarn, and there you will have a good foundation with no long gap when you start the second row.

Name: Zach
Subject: knitting techniques/ideas
Comment: If you haven't already, get your hands on a copy of Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop. She's got some really neat ideas in it!:)

Name: knit chic
Subject: the most important thing
Comment: The most important thing of all is 2 have fun!:-)

Name: nina
Subject: old people
Comment: i think old people are wise and give you lots of good advice. keep on knitting!:)

Name: knittercritter
Subject: listening
Comment: whenever i go to a local yarn store, and i'm having trouble with a project, i simply ask whoever is there to help me. I am 11 years old, and i started to knit when i was 9, so i do have some experience knitting hard projects. That means i've asked a couple of times.

Name: Marla Davis
Subject: Yarn Tails
Comment: My favorite use for yarn tails is to put them in a mesh onion sack from the store and hang it out in the spring for the birds to use for nesting. It's quite fun to see a bit of my yarn show up now and then in a nest in one of my trees!!

Name: Addana
Subject: Kitten's post
Comment: People like Kitten are who give people the idea that every teenager or young person is ignorant and prideful.

I am 15, and I can think of *no* greater blessing than to have help from a older and wiser person than I.

Name: Nancy in Toronto
Subject: counting large # of st
Comment: Hey Knitty Folks!
Ever lost your count when casting on a large number of stitches? As this is usually done on a circular needle (to accommodate the large number of stitches), I have found that the plastic bread closure tabs (not the twist ties) work great! Place them every 10 (or 15 stitches), then all you have to do is multiply the number of tabs by 10 (or 15 or whatever) and you are done! And you can just take them off when you are done, without having to knit the stitches or remove them from the needles.
Happy knitting! :)

Name: TAhrens
Subject: Kitten's post
Comment: How old are you? How long have you been knitting? Did you teach yourself to knit or did someone take the time and patience to teach you? Maybe you should consider not asking for help or advise from "old people" and figure out your knitting problems by yourself. Everyone has their own way of knitting what works for them might not work for others. My Mother taught me to knit 40 years ago. I've picked up some very useful advise from other "old people" knitters that have worked for me and some that haven't. I don't know about any other knitters out there but I try never to carefully place a mistake in my knitting, it happens by accident, hopefully, I catch it before I'm finished. Bottom line, there is no need to be disrespectful to knitters or crocheters of any age.

Name: Alison - from Birmingham UK
Subject: Kitten's Comment
Comment: I was disappointed to read this comment; for me, one of the joys of re-discovering knitting is to make contact with knitters everywhere, who seem to ba a very diverse bunch in terms of age, nationality, geographical location and experience. I think it's great that older and younger men and women around the world are finding a common interest and enjoy sharing it with each other.

How sad then that Kitten seems to display prejudice towards a certain group ('old' people). Knitters everywhere generally strike me as people who do not discriminate on any grounds, and are willing to help and encourage any other knitter, irrespective of age or experience level.

In fact, rather sadly, Kitten seems to be guilty of the very attitudes she attributes to another group of people.

Kitten, you have obviously had some bad experiences - ignore them and move on. For every person who discourages and tries to impose their view, there are dozens more who are willing to share their experience, and in turn learn from others.

We are lucky to belong to a great bunch of people - let's enjoy our diversity!

Name: Beth
Subject: Old People
Comment: The best person to learn form is my oma because she's made every mistake possible, and makes up new ones just for fun.

I think ignoring people who are smarter and know more than u is just stupid.

Name: Kitten
Subject: Old people
Comment: My best advice when knitting, especially if you are new to it or learning a new technique is to ignore old people. They have ideas such as the best way to knit faster and refuse to consider that if you wanted your knitting over and done with you wouldn't bother knitting, you'd just buy it for much less in store. ignore people who tell you it's done wrong, every truely great knitter knows every piece contains a carefully placed mistake as an admission that no ones perfect. Well the modest knitters do anyway, can't say much for the older ego's who think their ways the only way.

Name: pretty-flower345
Subject: keeping track
Comment: when i am knitting, even the simplest things, i always question myself on whether i have got the right no. of rows correct ect, so i use a small notebook, and keep a tally of my rows. This is very helpful if you get confused or mixed up easily by knitting! :)

keep on knitting! xx

Name: vanillapod958196
Subject: Hydees Post
Comment: That might not be such a good idea to knit the starting cast on tail of wool into the knitting but i might try it for the starting of the next balls of wool. As one gets older less stress is necessary. The starting tail of wool helps me see at a glance which is the right ie outer side of the knitting. Looking at the knitting then is the second opinion ie the check and that Oks me for going on. That is necessary anyway for garter stitch because i cannot tell which is outer side and which is inner without the tail yarn of the knitting being left on and that tail helps me for cardigan fronts to decide which side has buttonholes.

Name: knittergirl
Subject: all things are possible
Comment: If you are scared to try cables, lace, or anything, just remember: "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12

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