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!

Friday, August 06, 2010Name: Mabelline

Subject: rows

Comment: if you are working quite a few rows and suddenly have to stop, (lets say you have 40 sts and have to knit 25 rows in st st), then i like to knit/purl the number of stitches+the row you are on. this tends to work better when you have more sts than required rows. (being 13, i have come up with several shortcuts like this so i can keep my mind on other things:)

Thursday, August 05, 2010Name: Daphne

Subject: Keep patterns like new

Comment: I photocopy the pattern I'm working on keeping it safe and clean and use the photocopy. I use a pencil to tick off where I am on the pattern and take it with me without spoiling the original.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010Name: jan

Subject: keeping your place on a pattern

Comment: i use a magnetic board and magnetic strips (from my cross stitch materials) to hold my knitting directions and to help keep track of where i am on the pattern. when i put the materials away for the day i write on a sticky note where i left off on the pattern and stick it on the magnetic board.

Sunday, August 01, 2010Name: Ukrainian Knitter

Subject: Online Patterns

Comment: Instead of printing online patterns straight from the publishers website, I copy the pattern into Microsoft Word. Then I cut out pictures that I don't need, maybe shrink the font, etc. If there are two versions of a scarf, and you only want to knit one, erase the other one! It will save you a fortune on ink and paper.

Sunday, August 01, 2010Name: Ukrainian Knitter Age 14

Subject: Projects

Comment: I like to have a lot (about 8 or 10!!) of projects going at the same time. If I have to go with my mom on a shopping trip then I grab the garter stitch scarf that is so mindless to knit. If I feel bored at home, then I get the lace baby blanket that requires you to concentrate. Plus, with so many projects going on at the same time, you can have one in every room of the house, all ready for you to knit while you're in there!

Monday, July 26, 2010Name: cathy

Subject: when stitches fall off dpn

Comment: The beauty of dp needles are that you can use any number to contain your stitches. I have 2 sets of most needles. Then you won't have stitches fall off the needles.

Saturday, July 17, 2010Name: yvonne

Subject: stoppers for dpns

Comment: I had trouble losing stitches off the dpns while working on one needle. my husband cut me several little pieces of rubber tube which fit on the ends of the needles and keep the stitches from falling off.the tubing which holds flyscreen wire in place is perfect for 2.75m needles .He had some larger tubing which fit the 4.00m needles. Now i don't lose stitches and it is easier to keep the yarn tight when starting on the next needle.

Saturday, July 10, 2010Name: Ginny

Subject: Pattern Folder

Comment: I have this opaque plastic flexible envelope that is big enough to store all of my knitting patterns. It's waterproof and won't bend your papers easily. It also has two snap buttons.

Monday, July 05, 2010Name: Janean

Subject: Pointy protector

Comment: To avoid injury from reaching in my project bag and getting stuck on the point of scissors or an embroidery stiletto or some other possibly pointy object, I stick the scissors or awl into a wine bottle cork pointy end in. Pushed in far enough it will stay and be easy to locate your scissors and keep you safe. A great excuse to finish off that bottle too.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010Name: Jillian

Subject: Patterns

Comment: I am new at knitting and I like to have my patterns all together so I print them off for online and I glue them into a notebook (you can get them at the dollar store) so them I have them all in one place and I can throw it in my purse with my knitting it came in handy when I had nothing to do after my exams were done :)

Saturday, June 26, 2010Name: Anna

Subject: Yarn holder

Comment: Cut an empty 2litre soft drink bottle in half for a practical yarn holder. Pop the yarn in the bottom half and fit the top half over it - the thin plastic is easily bent a bit so the top fits back on. Pull the yarn out through the neck. The bottle can stand on the floor next to you when you knit and your yarn stays clean, the cat can't play with it and the ball doesn't roll away!

Thursday, June 24, 2010Name: Cindi

Subject: Healthy and Green Way To Store Circular Needles

Comment: I now store my circular needles in Crystal Lite plastic drink powder containers (the ones that are oval with a lid). The labels are easy to remove and my needles fit perfectly. The containers are almost clear so you can see inside. On the lid, I mark with a Sharpie the needle size(s). It's Healthy because Crystal Lite is low/no calorie and Green because it keeps the plastic out of the landfill.

Monday, June 21, 2010Name: brenda

Subject: so much fun knitting

Comment: i find knitting helps my arthritis and did you know that knitting keeps your brain active...they say that if you exercise your brain with knitting that it helps avoid diseases such as alzimers

Wednesday, June 16, 2010Name: Ashley

Subject: beginning

Comment: I'm a begginer, but i learned how to knit when i was younger. i was at a craft store and thought, it is summer,i have nothing else to do and i decided to relearn knitting! it is so easy- all you need is needles, yarn, your brain, and TONS of paitence. Begginers, YOU CAN DO IT!

Monday, June 14, 2010Name: skittles

Subject: patience

Comment: As I tell every new knitter... be patient!!!! It really helps! Such as.... keeping track of your stitches, following directions on you're patterns, and enjoy the fact that your really knitting!! :) <3!!

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