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, May 13, 2008Name: Nirth

Subject: Needles

Comment: I found that when you have to stop knitting (which I'm sure we all hate!) you can use your row counter as a stopper on the needle so that your piece will not fall off.

Saturday, May 10, 2008Name: Megan, 13

Subject: cables

Comment: when creating a cable, don't have too much tension in the yarn, but don't have it loose. I found cables easier when I was just beginning with a more bulky type of yarn, but as I got more comfortable, I moved to the lace patterns.

Friday, May 09, 2008Name: Taylor

Subject: edges

Comment: When I knit, I make my sides neater by, on the first stitch I always (it can be a purl or a knit) just put it on the other needle without knitting or purling it.

Sunday, May 04, 2008Name: Angela

Subject: re patterns

Comment: I have been a keen knitter for ages, I have found if I take the time to read through the pattern there is less chance of me making a mistake.

Saturday, May 03, 2008Name: Milisa 10 years old

Subject: knitting

Comment: knitting is great thihg because you can go out and buy wool. If a don't have a hat a can always knit one. that is why I love knitting so much.

Saturday, May 03, 2008Name: pat holman

Subject: containers for balls of yarn

Comment: I save the Cheetos and Fritos round cans and punch holes in the plastic tops. Just drop your ball of yarn in the can and pull through the hole in the lid. These work great especially when using various colored balls of yarn.

Saturday, April 19, 2008Name: Ann

Subject: working from ball of yarn

Comment: I like to place the ball of yarn in an empty cube type tissue box. Draw the yarn thru the top of the box and this keeps the ball of yarn "in place" while you're knitting.

Monday, April 14, 2008Name: pamela

Subject: begin with yarn from centre

Comment: I like to begin knitting from the inside of the ball of wool by carefully pulling out the very centre of the ball. This stops the ball rolling and it is quite compact to get at the wool.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008Name: Cathie

Subject: yarn starting

Comment: I'm fairly new to the art of yarning. one thing drives me crazy, balling the yarn takes forever! I started to use the bottom of an old empty cd holder. Set the skein over it and it will spin off as needed. Works pretty well.

Monday, March 31, 2008Name: Alison - from Birmingham UK

Subject: Thanks for the lifeline

Comment: Many thanks to Jeanne for the tip about the lifeline. I have not much experience of lace knitting, but now I'm trying my first pair of lace socks, using the fish-scale lace pattern from the Red Dwarf Knee High socks pattern.

I have been carefully counting my stitches, but now have an extra stitch in the lace panel. I am scared to 'frog', so will probably unpick 1 stitch at a time.

>From now on, I will use the lifeline method...................

PS - this is my second pair of toe-up socks. I love the way you can try them for fitting as you work.

Monday, March 31, 2008Name: Sarah

Subject: ravelry

Comment: ravelry.com is a great place to go if you're a beginner knitter! although there's a bit of a waiting list to join, once you're in you'll find lots of support and answers to all your questions. don't completely desert this site, though.. kuz it's awesome!

Sunday, March 30, 2008Name: Elizabeth Rebecca Firth

Subject: knitting

Comment: Make your knitting loose and it will be easy. So give knitting a try.

Sunday, March 30, 2008Name: Jeanne

Subject: Lifeline - keep your place

Comment: I'm a new knitter, but I like working on challenging patterns. I learned to put a "lifeline" through a finished pattern to hold the place. For example: my pattern has 4 rows, then repeats. When I finish the 4th row, I thread a piece of ribbon through the finished row with a tapestry needle. Then continue knitting as usual. If I drop stitches or mess up, I can always put my needle back in the row with the lifeline, then just un-ravel the knitting back to a known-good row. It has saved me a lot of re-work! Remember to keep your lifeline in place until you finish another full pattern and put a new lifeline in place.

Monday, March 24, 2008Name: cherry1cauldron

Subject: knitting

Comment: when knitting a squares pattern throw - knit practice squares first, so any mistakes you encounter will be on the first squares ..so you will know what you are doing for the same square second time round ...

Sunday, March 23, 2008Name: Rosemarie Robinson

Subject: friendship squares

Comment: With a group of friends, a lovely way is to share "friendship squares" and make a rug for each person. e.g. if there are 9 of you, each knits three squares for every person, (giving you 27 towards a rug). Our knitting group decided on a uniform size (6" square) in 8 ply wool on 4mm needles with a border of 5 sts right around knitted in moss stitch. The pattern was up to the knitter, and some did plain basket-weave, others more complex leaf patterns, etc. The recipient decided what colours they would like and whether or not electing pure wool or synthetics. I chose autumn colours, others wanted squares in a natural shade, some pinks, purples, blue & whites, and so on. You sew up the squares yourself adding whatever border you wish. And what a great way to have a keepsake!

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