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!

Sunday, January 18, 2009Name: Margaret

Subject: New to all this

Comment: I'm new to knitting at the ripe old age of fifty - thanks for all the tips I'm having a wonderful time reading and applying them. A funny story: long ago my grandmother knitted. When my parents met in the late 1940's, my mom says my dad didn't have a dime to his name but had about 20 pair of the most beautiful argyle socks you have ever seen - I recieved my grandmother's knitting tote many years ago (when she died) that my grandfather had made and painted, I'm finally using it for it's intended purpose!

Sunday, January 18, 2009Name: Margaret

Subject: slipping first stitch

Comment: Thanks all of you that mentioned slipping the first stitch of the row - I am self taught and wouldn't have known to think of that, the "messy" edges were irritating me!

Saturday, January 17, 2009Name: Debbie

Subject: needles

Comment: I only use circular needles. I never search for lost needles. I love my Denise interchangable needles sizes 5-13 and storage case. The smaller size needles not in the set I store in plastic page protectors that only open at the top and keep them in a binder with copies of patterns and knitting tips that I want to keep on hand.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009Name: Ally

Subject: Storage/Organization

Comment: You can make a really cool needle case/wrap thingy and not have to buy one from a store. I sewed mine by hand and it's really easy. It is basically a little wrap that you can tie up and carry around (kind-of like a burrito...). If you are using cottony materials, you might want to double layer it. Other materials like canvas, burlap, or stronger materials can just have one layer. You can make pockets to put your needle, hooks and other supplies in. Make sure that your stiches are small and tight so the needles don't poke through. Machine sewing is probably the best way to make the wrap the most durable.

I made a patchwork quilt wrap for my friend (who was unorganized to the utmost extreme) and she loves it. This is a really fun, easy project. You can personalize it-make it super funky or just..plain...

Another suggesstion: Make a 1 1/2 to 2 inch flap at the top to keep your needles from falling out and/or being polky (as needles tend to be).

Wednesday, January 14, 2009Name: Jonshi

Subject: Patterns

Comment: When working on a complicated lacy type pattern, I scan the pattern on the computer and enlarge it. Make several copies and then you can use colored markers to mark you place if interrupted.

Saturday, January 10, 2009Name: shell

Subject: correcting mistakes

Comment: I string another color yarn horizontally though the stitches on the needle after my pattern is complete, therefore I only rip out those rows where the mistake is.

Saturday, January 10, 2009Name: Karen

Subject: Reading Patterns

Comment: When reading fair isle patterns (designs), remember to read left to right on even rows and right to left on odd rows. Nobody told me that, but duh. Once you get fair isle down, it's much easier to remember where to cross the strings when working in intarsia.

I print my pattern and put it in a binder, so that I don't need to depend on my net connection to read it. **Note your gauges and needle sizes in the notebook!**

It helps me to write the number of stitches for the start and end of each row on the pattern. That way, if I mess up, I can spot it ASAP. Shh, I also use scrap paper to write per stitch if the pattern is complicated and/or long, but don't tell anyone.

Tip #1 If you're tired, you will definately mess up. Knitting is supposed to be relaxing. It seems like it'd be bad karma to knit with stress instead of love.

Peace, Mah Knitta!
Karen

Saturday, January 10, 2009Name: Jess

Subject: storing

Comment: i place my yarn in plastic sandwich bags. this way i only pull out as much yarn as needed and i dont get tangles or the yarn falling apart!

Tuesday, January 06, 2009Name: Tabs

Subject: fun yarn!

Comment: I always try if I can to work with yarn that inspires me, like soft textures, or pretty colours....there's nothing worse than yarn that doesn't inspire! :)

Monday, January 05, 2009Name: trish

Subject: needles

Comment: I keep a cork in my knitting bag. when i have to put it away i stick the needles in to it. That way the points never stick in anything and my work never falls off the needle. Also my daughter is lefthanded, I found sitting her in front of a mirror she could copy my hands no problem

Monday, January 05, 2009Name: ina

Subject: predicting yarn

Comment: well sometimes when you are knitting u run out of yarn u should get backup yarn in case u run out. One more tip use two colors of yarn together when u knit it would look much prettier i know i rock :)!!!!!

Saturday, January 03, 2009Name: cutie pie

Subject: easy knitting

Comment: if you are a beginner knitter and find knitting hard use light colours of wool and yarn as you see where you are in the pattern much easier

hope this helped

Friday, January 02, 2009Name: irene

Subject: beginner knitting needles

Comment: i'm a beginner. i learned to knit when i was 6, but am always dropping my stickes so i gave up and took up crochet. i'm now 65, have just gone back to knitting. i didnt give up, keep on practicing. a good way to start is to use chopsticks. you can get them free from chinese food restaurants or take-outs. the wooden/bamboo sticks dont slip. they are not as easy to use but you dont loose any stiches and after completing one or 2 projects, you can then use the regular knitting needles. my next set of needles were the plastic ones that are not too slippery. now i'm using the metal ones that are slippery. see how good i am now. this is over a period of about 3 years. i'm now starting to do different stitches. as a beginner, i just do knit all the time. i would make scarves for everyone i can think of. you have variation by changing colors and textures of yarn.

Thursday, January 01, 2009Name: M

Subject: patterns

Comment: if a pattern doesn't work for you,(I'm not much of a pattern follower) you could just wing it! I did for a baby sweater and it turned out adorable!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008Name: Conner yo

Subject: easy slip knots

Comment: I am a beginner in knitting, so I cast on an extra stitch from where my patterns call because I always have a long tail from the space for tightening my stitches on my right needle i always undo my slip knot at the end of the first row because it always knot my knitting at the end of the first row
P.S.I AM A BOY KNITTER ITS OK GUYS!!!!!!

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