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!

Monday, June 16, 2008Name: Marla Davis

Subject: Yarn Tails

Comment: My favorite use for yarn tails is to put them in a mesh onion sack from the store and hang it out in the spring for the birds to use for nesting. It's quite fun to see a bit of my yarn show up now and then in a nest in one of my trees!!

Monday, June 16, 2008Name: Addana

Subject: Kitten's post

Comment: People like Kitten are who give people the idea that every teenager or young person is ignorant and prideful.

I am 15, and I can think of *no* greater blessing than to have help from a older and wiser person than I.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008Name: Nancy in Toronto

Subject: counting large # of st

Comment: Hey Knitty Folks!
Ever lost your count when casting on a large number of stitches? As this is usually done on a circular needle (to accommodate the large number of stitches), I have found that the plastic bread closure tabs (not the twist ties) work great! Place them every 10 (or 15 stitches), then all you have to do is multiply the number of tabs by 10 (or 15 or whatever) and you are done! And you can just take them off when you are done, without having to knit the stitches or remove them from the needles.
Happy knitting! :)

Sunday, June 08, 2008Name: TAhrens

Subject: Kitten's post

Comment: How old are you? How long have you been knitting? Did you teach yourself to knit or did someone take the time and patience to teach you? Maybe you should consider not asking for help or advise from "old people" and figure out your knitting problems by yourself. Everyone has their own way of knitting what works for them might not work for others. My Mother taught me to knit 40 years ago. I've picked up some very useful advise from other "old people" knitters that have worked for me and some that haven't. I don't know about any other knitters out there but I try never to carefully place a mistake in my knitting, it happens by accident, hopefully, I catch it before I'm finished. Bottom line, there is no need to be disrespectful to knitters or crocheters of any age.

Sunday, June 08, 2008Name: Alison - from Birmingham UK

Subject: Kitten's Comment

Comment: I was disappointed to read this comment; for me, one of the joys of re-discovering knitting is to make contact with knitters everywhere, who seem to ba a very diverse bunch in terms of age, nationality, geographical location and experience. I think it's great that older and younger men and women around the world are finding a common interest and enjoy sharing it with each other.

How sad then that Kitten seems to display prejudice towards a certain group ('old' people). Knitters everywhere generally strike me as people who do not discriminate on any grounds, and are willing to help and encourage any other knitter, irrespective of age or experience level.

In fact, rather sadly, Kitten seems to be guilty of the very attitudes she attributes to another group of people.

Kitten, you have obviously had some bad experiences - ignore them and move on. For every person who discourages and tries to impose their view, there are dozens more who are willing to share their experience, and in turn learn from others.

We are lucky to belong to a great bunch of people - let's enjoy our diversity!

Sunday, June 08, 2008Name: Beth

Subject: Old People

Comment: The best person to learn form is my oma because she's made every mistake possible, and makes up new ones just for fun.

I think ignoring people who are smarter and know more than u is just stupid.

Wednesday, June 04, 2008Name: Kitten

Subject: Old people

Comment: My best advice when knitting, especially if you are new to it or learning a new technique is to ignore old people. They have ideas such as the best way to knit faster and refuse to consider that if you wanted your knitting over and done with you wouldn't bother knitting, you'd just buy it for much less in store. ignore people who tell you it's done wrong, every truely great knitter knows every piece contains a carefully placed mistake as an admission that no ones perfect. Well the modest knitters do anyway, can't say much for the older ego's who think their ways the only way.

Saturday, May 31, 2008Name: pretty-flower345

Subject: keeping track

Comment: when i am knitting, even the simplest things, i always question myself on whether i have got the right no. of rows correct ect, so i use a small notebook, and keep a tally of my rows. This is very helpful if you get confused or mixed up easily by knitting! :)

keep on knitting! xx

Wednesday, May 28, 2008Name: vanillapod958196

Subject: Hydees Post

Comment: That might not be such a good idea to knit the starting cast on tail of wool into the knitting but i might try it for the starting of the next balls of wool. As one gets older less stress is necessary. The starting tail of wool helps me see at a glance which is the right ie outer side of the knitting. Looking at the knitting then is the second opinion ie the check and that Oks me for going on. That is necessary anyway for garter stitch because i cannot tell which is outer side and which is inner without the tail yarn of the knitting being left on and that tail helps me for cardigan fronts to decide which side has buttonholes.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008Name: knittergirl

Subject: all things are possible

Comment: If you are scared to try cables, lace, or anything, just remember: "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12

Sunday, May 25, 2008Name: vanillapod 958196

Subject: Undoing knitted with 2 balls

Comment: Undoing knitting which has been knitted with 2 strands of wool held together. This is better undone half a row at a time approximately, unwinding 2 separate balls which can then be re-used singly. To make the wool straight again one can steam it after winding it round a chair back eg to make 2 hanks of the wool. Then when held in hot steam above a pan of boiling water-and after about 10 to 15 minutes the hank of wool can be removed from above the pan's steam and the hanks pulled straight again. It does denature the wool a little though. It will never be the same as it was.

Saturday, May 24, 2008Name: Rosie

Subject: to keep track while you are knitting your rows

Comment: while you knitting numbers of rows, I use abacus to count the rows so you won't get messed up or lose which rows you are on

Thursday, May 22, 2008Name: nutty knitter

Subject: casting on

Comment: When I first started knitting I found that the first row was nearly impossible because I knit tightly. So, whenever I cast on, I use both needles. Cast on your appropriate stitches by holding two needles together. That first row is then a breeze and if you knit tightly, no one will ever know you cast on to 2 needles.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008Name: Connie

Subject: Yarn tails

Comment: I keep my cut-off yarn tails in a clean peanut butter jar for my two-year-old granddaughter to play with. She loves to dump out the jar on the carpet and choose a favorite color to give to her mom with a cheery "Hey yo" (here you go). I'm for almost anything that will keep a two-year-old happy!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008Name: dian capill

Subject: enough yarn?

Comment: To be sure you have enough yarn to complete a second row, place a loose knot half way down the yarn. If you do not have to undo the knot to complete the first row you have enough yarn to complete another row.

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