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!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009Name: Mary Lee

Subject: Yarn Holders

Comment: To hold my ball of yarn neat and clean as I am knitting, I insert the ball into an old child's sock or cut a 6-8 inch length of old pantyhose and pull the string of yarn up through the opening. The knitted holder expands and contracts to keep the ball together and it's a great way to use those something you would normally discard.

Monday, April 27, 2009Name: Heather

Subject: Even Stocking Stitch

Comment: To make even stocking stitch when your purl rows are loose, use a needle one size smaller than the one with which you knit. If you are working ribbing, where that would interfere with your knit stitches, wrap your purl stitches in the opposite direction, to mount the stitch backwards. Be very sure to knit into the back of the stitch on the following row, lest you twist your stitches!

Thursday, April 23, 2009Name: Knitting girl

Subject: tip for bunny owners

Comment: If I have some scrap yarn then I like to knit my bunny a scarf. You have to make a button hole in it to pull the scarf through (make it low so that theres plenty of space). Make sure you give your bunny a reward! And dont leave your bunny alone. P.S. This sight is AWSOME!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009Name: theresa

Subject: measuring

Comment: for the knitter on the go i thought a knitting needle with inches etched in the needle so at the end of the row you can just use the empty needle to measure. i have been helped by you girls and i hope this will help you if enough knitters think this is a good idea maybe a company will make them tdk

Tuesday, April 07, 2009Name: nisha

Subject: knitting heels

Comment: When you first start knitting the heel, and need to do the shaping, you might encounter something like this: knit 16, knit two together, turn. Instead of turning, you might have ended up knitting the rest of the stitches. Well, don't do that and instead turn the knitting. This is done because the stitches have to remain on the needle, so you can decrease and make the heel, (this is for the dutch heel). On the next few rows, you will have to use the slipped stitches to decrease, and then heel will be done!

Sunday, April 05, 2009Name: Mary M Davis

Subject: mini tote bags

Comment: Buy mini tote bags (just right for one skein of cotton dishcloth yarn), cut one handle off and it's perfect for knitter's or crocheter's wrists. Keeps yarn clean.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009Name: Male knitter 1

Subject: Knitting scarves

Comment: I found a new and easy way to make scarves that keep you warm! Here's the pattern:
21 stitches, size 11 needles, and soft yarn
row 1: Knit 3 *Purl 3 Knit 3 (Repeat from star)
Row 2: P1 *K1 P1 (repeat from star)

Saturday, March 21, 2009Name: Jamie Faux

Subject: Twisted stitches

Comment: For newer knitters, if you find yourself 'twisting' stitches, look at the way you wrap your yarn around the needle. The yarn should move counter-clockwise. For a knit-stitch that should be down-up, for a purl-stitch it should be front-back. I didn't realize for the longest time that this was the culprit behind my twisted stitches.

Thursday, March 19, 2009Name: zoeknitsinco

Subject: edges

Comment: While slipping the first and last stitches will give you a nice looking edge, if it is in a seam who cares? At some point you might like to try an invisible seam, known as a mattress stitch. It is much easier to do if you have NOT slipped the first and last stitch.

Monday, March 16, 2009Name: nisha

Subject: seaming arm holes

Comment: What really helped me when I wanted to get the seaming straight for a armhole was pinning it closely, and taking the pin out right before I got to it. What also helps is to hold the edges of the knitting while doing it.

Thursday, March 12, 2009Name: Michele

Subject: Sewing Seams

Comment: When I join seams, I find it easier to use 2" wide tape (clear packing tape)on the underside so I can adjust the fit and alignment and it won't move while stitching.

Sunday, March 08, 2009Name: Sophie

Subject: Washing Natural Fibres

Comment: If your pure wool or natural fibre item is a little 'scratchy' especially if you or your kids have sensitive skin wash with baby shampoo as already suggested and rinse in your usual hair conditioner instead of fabric conditioner but do rinse thoroughly and it will be soft soft soft!

Thursday, March 05, 2009Name: Sharon

Subject: Yarn Tidy

Comment: To keep yarn from roaming, I ask fast food places for their old food containers which hold about 5 quarts, cut a hole either in the top center or along the side lip. insert yarn, feed through hole and replace yarn. If container is big enough, at end of knitting session, store scissors, needles, pattern etc inside as well. Both thrifty and eco-friendly.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009Name: Kiran

Subject: Easy Scarfs

Comment: My daugthers have a hard time knitting 15-20 stitches scarfs. All I tell my kids to do is to make scarfs 5 stitches long and make them extra long so you would get the same warmth as you would with a 15-20 stitch scarf!

Monday, March 02, 2009Name: Bryn

Subject: Washing wool

Comment: Rather than spending money on Woolite which actually attracts dirt after you use it, use dollar store baby shampoo. It leaves no residue and gets wool very clean.

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