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, August 08, 2006Name: grace kelly

Subject: Yarn scraps

Comment: Don't throw out those scraps of yarn that seem so annoying! Store them in a large plastic bag. They build up quikcly. Then you can use hanfuls of yarn scraps to stuff things such as small pillows or anything you want. This way you don't have to buy fiberfill or whatever it's called, especially if you knit or crochet often. Hope this helps! :-)

Friday, July 28, 2006Name: Kristen

Subject: Buying Cheaper Yarn

Comment: Go to ebay and buy your yarn. The yarn at stores is so expensive.

Friday, July 28, 2006Name: Benjamin J. W.

Subject: Adding a stitch

Comment: To add a stitch in the middle of your project (in case you lost one) do a regular knitting stitch.Before you slip it off the loop do a purl stitch and finish it like you would a purl stitch. You will now have an extra loop on your row.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006Name: Hydee

Subject: weaving in tail yarn

Comment: I learned a trick from www.knittinghelp.com. After you have cast on your stitches and you begin to knit, knit the first 3 or 4 stitches including the tail yarn so you don't have to weave in ends after you are done with the project. You can just cut off the tail yarn! Try it!

Monday, July 17, 2006Name: Jennifer Watson

Subject: circular needles

Comment: I use those clear page protectors to put my circular needles in. Just label them, and keep them in a notebook, it keeps all your needles organized and all in one place!

Monday, July 17, 2006Name: Annie

Subject: teaching left-handed knitters

Comment: a suggestion for teaching left-handed people how to knit: when you teach them how to knit, teach them how to knit right- handed but teach them to pick instead of throw, because then they get to use their left hand domanately but they don't have to go through the hassle of trying to find left-handed patterns or trying to convert left-handed ones.

Friday, July 14, 2006Name: Anne Maurer

Subject: How Much Yarn?

Comment: When wondering how much yarn will make a scarf, keep in mind that appox. 100 yds. will make an average-length scarf, so if the yarn label says 100 yds. or more you need one skein, less than 100 yds., buy 2. To stretch your yarn, make the scarf narrower by casting on fewer stitches.

Thursday, July 13, 2006Name: Anne Maurer

Subject: Circular Needles

Comment: Store your circs in those wonderful plastic zippered bags that cushions and bedding comes in. They are see-through and they keep the needles from getting lost. In fact, I use clear plastic zippered bags for storing my knitting notions and knickknacks. A cosmetic bag works well.

Thursday, July 13, 2006Name: Anne Maurer

Subject: Counting Stitches

Comment: When casting on lots of stitches or counting stitches, count by fives, 5, 10, 15... This makes the counting easier. Five stitches are easy to see also. Place a marker every 50 stitches, and count from there.

Saturday, July 08, 2006Name: Trees

Subject: wool

Comment: Hi from Australia: When starting a new ball take from the inside so the ball does not move while knitting

Saturday, July 08, 2006Name: Sarah

Subject: putting a project down

Comment: Instead of actualy buying the end protectors for my needles, which are expencive I use a pink eraser with a hole drilled in the middle, only I break the eraser apart so that I use more of it than I would have making mistakes in math class. It makes it easy to put my work down no matter where I am in a row because I know I can always come back and not have lost anything.

Saturday, July 08, 2006Name: Friedchickenonmyknitten

Subject: Stitch Markers

Comment: I have found that the extra long Pixie Stick straw is the best stich marker I hav used yet. I bought it because someone was selling it on the corner. After I finished eating it I cut the straw into thin stitch markers. Very flexible and if you accidentally misplace it you can cut it out and its so cheap you wont miss it. Also because of how long this straw is you have a never ending supply of stitch markers. If you don't have access to a pixie stick you can always use regular straws.

Monday, July 03, 2006Name: Nancy

Subject: Stitch markers

Comment: As a new knitter, I found myself without all the "toys" needed to work a project. On a whim I used a rubber band (that comes on your newspaper every day) as a stitch marker and it works great. It also helps hold the needles and work together when I have to put the project down.

Saturday, July 01, 2006Name: Mary Ann

Subject: keeping track

Comment: When I need to keep track of my place in a pattern repeat, instead of marking up the original pattern book I use post-it pads. They stick right on the pattern page and I can cross off my rows on them.

Thursday, June 29, 2006Name: Diane

Subject: Needles

Comment: I make many of my own needles by purchasing dowels of any size I want, cut the length desired and sharpen the end in a pencil sharpener, and smooth with sandpaper, emeryboard, and/or fine steel wool. Then put a rubber band on the other end to keep yarn from slipping off, and bingo a needle is born. I buy packs already cut to 12 inch legnth for $1.49 at HL and have an endless source for teaching grands to knit.

Notice: If you want to send me (the webmistress) a "thank you" using this form, that is fine (I appreciate it). However, I may not be posting it publicly for all to see, and I have no way of responding without knowing your email address.

Name Provide Your Name Subject Subject of Your Testimonial Comment What is your tip or trick? Type In the Letters/Numbers Submit

Notice: By submitting your content, you are agreeing to have it displayed on this page. I retain the right to edit and/or refuse unsuitable content. (Unsuitable content includes questions and help requests.) All submissions are checked before being published.