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!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010Name: Max (i am a girl maxine)

Subject: knitting

Comment: i like having recycled stuff and all that so i thought why not use a shopping bag to knit with... so I took a plastic shopping bag tore it into strips and knitted my own reusable shopping bag!! cool!

Sunday, February 14, 2010Name: orla mc elwee

Subject: toy stuffing

Comment: for cheep toy stuffing i use the insides of old pillows or cushions that i have washed before hand

Thursday, February 11, 2010Name: Mary

Subject: Notebook of Tips

Comment: I have learned so many tips & tricks from reading all these wonderful ideas but I'm afraid that I'll forget some of them when I really need them. Soooo, I opened a page in Word Processor and just copy/paste all the tips that I want to remember. When I get a full page I print it out & keep it in my notebook with all my patterns.

Thursday, February 11, 2010Name: Alexis

Subject: Aromatherapy Your Yarn

Comment: I keep my yarn in a king size, clear plastic, zip top comforter bag inside a steamer trunk. To make my yarn smell good (because comforting scents are part of relaxing) I bought a few bars of artisan soap on Etsy and tucked them into the yarn trunk.

Monday, February 08, 2010Name: Audrie

Subject: Odd bits of wool

Comment: I travel a lot with my husband so I always bring some knitting with me. I have found that I have many small balls of yarn in my bag, so I started to knit them together. I cast on 100 stitches and knit...adding another ball when one runs out. When it gets too large to handle I cast off and start another piece. I have just joined four large pieces into a very colorful afghan. Reuse, Recycle !!

Saturday, February 06, 2010Name: shirleyg

Subject: knitting in the round

Comment: I recently needed a set of double pointed needles to reduce my hat crown down to a close. Since I couldn't find mine, and didn't want to go out and buy some more, I found that the long wooden skewers you can sometimes find at the dollar store, or on sale at the end of the summer, make a perfect emergency substitute. You could pencil-sharpen the square end if needed, but mine worked fine without doing so.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010Name: Hannah

Subject: Threading Darning Needles

Comment: When threading a needle, fold the yarn around the tip of the needle, and stick the fold through the hole; it's easier than trying to get the frayed end of the yarn through.
My mother taught me that, and it has never failed me!

Monday, February 01, 2010Name: Jane

Subject: knitting reference books

Comment: I'm not a beginner knitter but neither am I an advanced one and need help from time to time. When I do, my favorite source to turn to is "stitch 'n bitch" by Debbie Stoller. Not only is the resource helpful but the author has a sense of humor that I find refreshing.

Saturday, January 30, 2010Name: beadcam39

Subject: pincushin for yarn needle

Comment: I work at a mill and these are in abundunce and free foam earplugs put your yarn needle in there and easy to see because they are bright colors and small. also I use those small square zip up lunch bags to hold my knitting and the knitting needles don't poke through. thank-you for all your tips is worth the read. I found a lot of free patterns on the net.

Monday, January 25, 2010Name: debra wynn

Subject: socks

Comment: I have been on this site many times and this is the first time reading it. It is great. I now knit everything on two circular needles. Socks, hat, gloves even sweaters. It is so much easier, because everything come out the same size and even.

Monday, January 25, 2010Name: Cristy

Subject: Where to hold cable needles..

Comment: When I am cable knitting, I have found the best place for me to hold my cable needle is for me to stick it in my hair right above my ponytail or bun. The needles stay put, and I dont lose them when I stand up.

Monday, January 25, 2010Name: Cristy

Subject: alternative cable needles

Comment: I have found that when using the small cable needle, the stitches have the habit of falling off the needle...My solution, I use a Double pointed needle the same size as the knitting needle I am using for my project. I can put down my project or let the needle rest without worrying that it will fall out.

Friday, January 22, 2010Name: Ffoenix

Subject: Cutting

Comment: I picked up several sets of nail clippers (2 for $1 at a dollar store) and use these to clip yarn instead of scissors. They take up less room in my notions bag and the benefits of "no points" is endless.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010Name: Cameron

Subject: Do you find yourself teaching people to knit?

Comment: I've been a member of a knitting group for 4 years- we meet every Monday night in a public library and anyone can join. Some people see our sign and come prepared to learn- needles and yarn in hand. But every few weeks someone wanders up & asks if we can teach them how to knit.

I always carry leftover skeins of yarn from projects I've finished, wound in balls to give away. AND I teach these new knitters with wooden needles, which I also give away. How can I do this?

I make them out of chop sticks!

Wooden chop sticks are very very close, if not a perfect match, to a US size 8 needle. Often the tip is pointy enough but sometimes I have to sharpen it with a pencil sharpener. I then sand it with medium sandpaper followed by fine grain sandpaper. This takes about 5 minutes. Sometimes I finish the new needles with clear fingernail polish.

It makes the new knitter feel special, I think, to be given their own 'training wheels' needles and yarn to keep.

Monday, January 18, 2010Name: Judy

Subject: Capturing the best comments from this site

Comment: I'm new to the knitting world and have found this site AWESOME. I suggest opening up a Word document as you review this site and copy and paste those comments you find most useful. That way you can save and print and put in your knit notebook for future reference.

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.

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