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!

Saturday, April 24, 2010Name: Jessamine

Subject: top down sweaters

Comment: You are so right, Carolina Girl. Top Down Sweaters are the best!

Tip #1: When trying on top down sweaters, (for instance, to see if the length is right) slip stitches from the circular needle you're working on to a spare circular needle. You can then spread out all the stitches and see how you should proceed.

Tip #2: If you are making a sweater as a surprise for a family member, walking up to them and measuring various body parts is going to arouse some curiosity. (Ask me how I know this :)Instead, sneak a sweater that fits them well out of their room and measure THAT instead. You probably won't need to add ease. (Unless you intend the new sweater to be larger than the original.

Tip #3: ALWAYS CHECK GAUGE!!!!

Thursday, April 22, 2010Name: Tessa

Subject: Tips

Comment: Here are my tips which I've found useful over the years and which I hope will be helpful to others.

1. Do not bind off the stitches for the shoulder when knitting sweaters but leave the them on spare needles. When joining the seams, hold the two needles together with right sides facing each other then take a another needle of the same size, place in the first stitch on the nearest needle and push through to the first stitch on the furthest away needle. Knit the two stitches together and keep the resulting stitch on the right-hand needle. Knit the next two stitches in the same way then slip the first stitch over the second as you would do normally when casting off. Work along the rest of the two in the same way. A bit fiddly but easier than grafting and the pattern, if there is one, always matches exactly.

2. If you are re-using wool, wind it into skeins then place in warm water. Squeeze out excess water then hang out the skeins to dry. Your yarn will no longer have any kinks in it and it will be like knitting with new wool.

3. My husband made a container for my knitting needles using a piece of plastic drainpipe. He moulded a piece of metal round the base and put a plastic lid on it with a hanging strap. It's now been in use for almost 40 years.

Sunday, April 18, 2010Name: Carly

Subject: Cable needle storage

Comment: I love all the tips about storing cable needles in hair, but I have very short hair, so I only use the curved cable needles, and I keep it hooked around my ear when I'm knitting cables. I haven't lost one yet!

Sunday, April 18, 2010Name: rosemurphy

Subject: knitting

Comment: when I cast on stitches for left and right fronts, I cast on extra stitches for front bands and work them all at the same time. Much easier than making them seperate.

Sunday, April 18, 2010Name: Lucy

Subject: Cable needles

Comment: If you dont have a cable needle or have lost your cable needle you can use a stitch holder or a safety pin. Works for me!

Friday, April 16, 2010Name: Marrie

Subject: pencils

Comment: If you need a place to put your pencils, problem solved! Get an old can, and decorate it with a cover you knit specially for that reason. If you want, you can also add other things to the can, such as sowing on buttons, zippers, ribbons, and other things special to you, to customize your pencil holder.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010Name: Brenda

Subject: Picking up stitches

Comment: When I cast on sts for the right front of a cardigan I leave a long tail. When I pick up stitches for the front band, I start with the tail and add a new ball in the center of pick up row. Doing this creates a straight edge at the bottom and instead of two ends to weave in - there are none.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010Name: Brenda

Subject: Right Band

Comment: This tip is for a cardigan with a collar. Right band, right side facing, bind off row. When I complete the bind off and have one stitch left on the needle, I do not fasten off. Insert a crochet hook into the single stitch and make a crochet chain along the top edge. This creates a square corner and a neat top edge. Also there are no tails to weave in. Normally there would be two - tail from fastening off and second tail when you added new yarn to pick up stitches for the collar.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010Name: Sunmoonglow

Subject: Notions Bag

Comment: I always have about 10 projects in the works, and like to grab one as I leave the house. Invariably, I would not have scissors, needle gauge, stitch markers, tapestry needle, or some other necessity. I have a freebie cosmetic size bag, clear plastic with all notions in it. I simply grab a project, and put it in a tote bag along with the notions bag. Problem solved. Never without the necessities!

Friday, April 02, 2010Name: Winifred from Scotland

Subject: knitting bag

Comment: I use a large shopping type bag with pockets on th outside, but they can be on the inside also. I use this like a mans tool box, all my knitting accessories I keep in the pockets and there is enough room on the inside to keep the wool and pins I am working on, I have everythingh on hand, and never take them out of that bag so I always have all my knitting things together.

Sunday, March 28, 2010Name: Laurel

Subject: Organizing Internet Printed Patterns

Comment: I've been knitting for over 40 years, but just recently started printing patterns off the internet. I bought some 1 1/2", 3-ring binders and some 8 1/2"x11" plastic sleeves from the office supply store, and store my printed patterns this way. I labeled the outside of each book i.e."Womans", "Children", "Afghans", etc. so I know what's in each binder. When I want to use a pattern, I just take that plastic sleeve out of the book. That way, and the pattern stays nice and neat.

Saturday, March 20, 2010Name: GrammaJanice

Subject: Row/pattern markers

Comment: When following a pattern, use a hair clip to mark the row ~ the type that snap open and closed (shaped like an exclamation mark). Also great to mark a knit row. For instance is you have to knit six inches, mark at three then check by doubling the work instead of remeasuring each time. They don't snag the yarn either and can be used to secure yarn ends! :-)

Saturday, March 20, 2010Name: GrammaJanice

Subject: Matching sleeve length

Comment: When knitting identical pieces such as sleeves, I do them at the same time with two balls of yarn. In this way, I am sure they are the same length...and there will only be two. This was learned after I made three sleeves for one sweater!!!

Saturday, March 20, 2010Name: kshama deodhar

Subject: knitting needles

Comment: you can use corrogated box card sheet to keep your knitting needles safe. insert one needle from one side and other from other side. this keeps the numbers of them visible and also the points of them are safe to carry. even they remain smooth.

Thursday, March 18, 2010Name: Penny Cole

Subject: Shoulder Seams

Comment: When finishing a sweater (without lots of textures and patterns) don't cast off the shoulder seams as patterns often say. Put the stitches on holders and graft the two shoulder seams together. This gives a much flatter and smoother shoulder seam.

Notice: If you want to send me (the webmistress) a "thank you" using this form, that is fine (I appreciate it). However, I may not be posting it publicly for all to see, and I have no way of responding without knowing your email address.

Name Provide Your Name Subject Subject of Your Testimonial Comment What is your tip or trick? Type In the Letters/Numbers Submit

Notice: By submitting your content, you are agreeing to have it displayed on this page. I retain the right to edit and/or refuse unsuitable content. (Unsuitable content includes questions and help requests.) All submissions are checked before being published.