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, October 01, 2006Name: Shirley

Subject: Keeping track of rows

Comment: I love to knit afghans, but always forget what row I'm on. To solve my problem, I type the rows in big ole bold print, triple space and then cut the rows and staple, so I have a little book and turn each page as I go. A little extra work, but no more frustration.

Sunday, October 01, 2006Name: Christina

Subject: Sewing

Comment: A good way of sewing together a sweater, blanket, etc. Crocheting them together is so much easier, faster, and has a stronger hold.

Saturday, September 30, 2006Name: Kristina

Subject: Funky Yarn

Comment: How I make my own funky yarn is I cut up little pieces of yarn and knot them on the yarn I am using.

Thursday, September 28, 2006Name: Human Being

Subject: Circular Knitting

Comment: if you're like me and don't have a clue how to join circular knitting to form a tube, try this: when you're casting on, cast on one more stitch than required and when you get to the end of the row k2tog.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006Name: ContiKnitter

Subject: Preventing Tangles

Comment: When doing Fair Isle Knitting, I put one ball on one side of me, and one on the other. When you do this, your yarn will never get tangled, and will make your knitting more fun than stress.

Monday, September 25, 2006Name: Sandra

Subject: Keeping Yarn Neat

Comment: Cut a small corner off one side of the bottom of a gallon size zip-lock storage bag just large enough to put the strand of yarn through. Place yarn in bag and run end of yarn through the hole. Close the zipper on the bag. What ever you are knitting can then also be placed in the bag through the top and stored until you are ready to continue again. This works great if you want to take your knitting with you if you have long waits in a waiting room or where ever you take knitting with you. This way, everything is in the bag.

Friday, September 22, 2006Name: Gaede

Subject: Counting

Comment: I always keep a notebook in my knitting bag. As I knit, I mark off the rows. I find this much easier than using row counters, etc...for keeping track of my pattern, and if I need to look back, it makes a good reference.

Monday, September 18, 2006Name: Kody May Moore

Subject: Circular Knitting

Comment: I find that if you cast on an extra stitch when working in the round, then at the end of the first row knit the last st of that round (the extra st) and the first st of the next round together, you have a much neater round join.

Friday, September 15, 2006Name: black_dragon

Subject: down w/ increasing

Comment: im 13 and i learned how to knit a year ago. when i was learning, i found a pattern for a knitted hackey sack. i didnt know how to increase, so i did this: instead of increasing, cast on an appropriate number of st at the end of a row. it might not look very professional, but its a heck of a lot easier.

Friday, September 15, 2006Name: Carol Mellors

Subject: Keep track of pattern

Comment: Write each row of the pattern on an index card. Leave a blank space between each row. Use a small paper clip on the edge of the card and position it on the row you are working on. Slide it to the next row as you start it. When you put your work down, always leave the clip on the row you should start with when you pick it up again. No more trying to figure out where you are!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006Name: Norie

Subject: circular needle storage

Comment: I keep my smaller circular needles in a CD library zip pack -- I've also found that a nice zipped cosmetic bag works great for my 'sock in progress' to tote along when I've got to wait for the kids --

Tuesday, August 29, 2006Name: Lauren

Subject: casting on

Comment: If you're using the long tail cast on method and you're never sure how long the tail should be, try this: wrap the yarn around your needle as many times as the number of stitches you want cast on. Pull a little extra yarn out (enough to weave the end in securely), make a slip knot, and cast on! You now have plenty of yarn to cast on with (good when you have a large number of stitches), but not so much that you have a big long tail dragging all over the place (very good when you're using yarn that's so special/expensive that you don't want to waste an inch!)

Sunday, August 27, 2006Name: Allie

Subject: Sewing

Comment: If you can't get a tapestry needle to sew up your purses and seams, I find that bobby pins and saftey pins (using the rounded side) work as a pretty good alternative.

Saturday, August 26, 2006Name: Georgi

Subject: Patterns, Photos, Labels

Comment: A few tips:
1)Before starting a project I always photocopy the original pattern and work with the copy. In this manner my original is always intact for future use.
2)I use a computer word processing program (MicroSoft Word) to make a Project Sheet (in table format) for the project I am working on. The table includes information such as the Project Name, Source (the name of the pattern and its originator - Leisure Arts etc), Start/Finish dates, information about the yarn/needles used and who will be receiving the gift. However most importantly in the table I indicate the # of rows for the entire pattern. I keep a copy of the Pattern & Project Sheet on a clipboard in my knitting bag. As each row is completed it is checked off on the Project Sheet. In this manner I always know where I am in the project and it definitely helps when I have to "rip" or "frog" rows.
3)I always photograph my projects before delivery. In this manner I too always know what the gift looked like.
4)Finally I ALWAYS add labels to my projects. I think it adds a special touch and the recipient will always know who it came from. I have ordered labels - both name & care instructions - from http://www.namemaker.com

Friday, August 11, 2006Name: Josie

Subject: random tips(they really helped me!!!!!!)

Comment: hi im a knitter at 12,and i have tried to do so many different things to help me knit and most of them are really simple. one thing is i made my own knitting needle case with a really pretty fabric.you could also knit one...and another thing is that people say to use scrap yarn for stitch markers,but transferring them is REALLY hard so i dont suggest it.you could also buy regular graph paper,and knit a swatch,then mark with a pen or pencil thru the stitches where they are and TA-DA!!!!!! graph paper in the guage of your knitted piece!!hope this helped
Josie

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