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, January 16, 2006Name: Laurie

Subject: yarn knotting or tangling

Comment: I was having issues with yarn taking off across the room when using 2 or 3 stands of different types. So I bought 5 heavy marble paper towel holders and I slide the individual yarn on each like a large bobbin and it keeps them from going across the room.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006Name: Lindsey

Subject: Storage

Comment: I was tired of my yarn getting tangled up. So I bought an 8 oz. rubbermaid drink cup with a lid and a pop off spout. It's light weight and protects the yarn. For longer skeins, I got a 2 quart drink pitcher from a dollar store. Either way is a cheap solution from frustration.

Monday, January 09, 2006Name: Shirley

Subject: Storage

Comment: If you like to keep your knitting tools within reach, try using florist's foam (the green stuff that comes in brick shapes). You can pick it up at department stores for very low cost. Poke in your knitting needles, hooks, sewing needles, pencils, and even your gauge measure and they all stay within reach. No more searching between your sofa cushions for lost items!

Monday, January 09, 2006Name: Javis

Subject: left-hand teaching

Comment: When teaching a left-handed person to knit or crochet place a mirror in your lap facing the other person. Knit or crochet in front of it and it will be left-handed to the other person. This is how I taught my daughter and she got it on the first try.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006Name: SYLVIA

Subject: Winding a ball so the strand comes from the middle

Comment: When winding a ball of yarn, which we all need to do from time to time, start by winding the end around your right thumb (if you are right-handed) and then proceeding to wrap the yarn around your fingers as usual, but always making sure that the end going to your thumb stays straight out, not getting caught up or doubled back. When the ball is finished and the end secured, a gentle tug on the thumb line will give you knitting yarn coming from the middle of the ball. No more ball rolling around the floor.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005Name: Cheyenne Brady

Subject: Knitting Tips

Comment: Hello, I'm a 12-year-old knitter from Florida!! I've come up with a few ideas to help you out. First, you can use old thread spools if you need bobbins for intarsia knitting. Also, when I take projects with me, I use a pretty locking box I got at Claire's so my pesky cousins can't get in it. Next, you can use a big kilt pin or diaper pin for a stitch holder (I figured this out while I was knitting and beating myself up for losing my holder lol.) Also, use big beads or earrings, even cheap wine charms for markers. If you're part of a crafting group (I am part of a knitting circle in my area) you often get your tools picked up, so I knit and monogrammed tiny blue mice and tied them to my stuff. I hope my tips helped, happy knitting!!

Saturday, December 24, 2005Name: Latisha

Subject: Row Counting

Comment: I have read some of the hints on this site, and noticed there are a lot of entries from older people (and those new to knitting)that have trouble counting the rows. I simply use a spool counter that slides right on the needle. The counter has two sets of numbers that easily turn to the next when finished your row. You never ever lose count!

Thursday, December 22, 2005Name: MaryAlice

Subject: beginners

Comment: my grandaugher used two different colored knitting needles and told a story of Mr. Green needle and Mr. White needle making a sweater (she is 12) she could keep the routine straight and I bet she could explain it to another child. I was entertained and I knit anything

Thursday, December 15, 2005Name: emma

Subject: knitting faster

Comment: if you've just started knitting try holding one of the needles to chest with the top facing upwards this way you can get complete control over your knitting also it is more likely that you won't drop a stitch

Friday, December 09, 2005Name: Victoria

Subject: making your knitting faster

Comment: to make your knitting faster rub hand lotion on the tips of your needles. be careful your yarn may slide off easier.

Thursday, December 08, 2005Name: Megan

Subject: Circular Needles

Comment: When I first get a new set of circular needles, to unwind the plastic cord, I hold them in hot water to the count of 5, then pull them straight for a minute or so. This straightens them out, and they'll never 'bounce back' to that loopy shape again.

Monday, December 05, 2005Name: sarah

Subject: scrap yarn usage

Comment: it's really fun to use scrap yarn to make a crazy hat. I did this one time and it's so cool.

Monday, December 05, 2005Name: Bettie

Subject: row counting

Comment: I use an ordinary paperclip to mark my first row of several rows of patterned work, or anytime the pattern says to knit a specific number of rows. I use the coloured paper clips, I find it much easier to see.

Thursday, December 01, 2005Name: bambi

Subject: pattern shorthand

Comment: I am not an overly experienced knitter, and being an old person, my eyesight isn't great either.I find it hard to remember my place in an intricate pattern, so I keep a small pad of lined paper and a pencil with the item I am working on and I read through several rows of the pattern or a repeating section.Then I jot down in my own shorthand using a line on the paper for each row of the pattern such as PPKKSLIPK2TOGETHER etc.. Then I make a checkmark on each line when I have finished that row like this:xxxx. that way I know when I have competed the correct number of rows, if I have to stop knitting, I can see exactly where I left off and how many rows have been completed. Just be sure to leave enough room on the line to make the checkmarks.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005Name: Paula

Subject: Two substitutes for bobbins

Comment: If you are working with several different colors of yarns on the same project and you need bobbins, you can wind the yarn around match books (after removing the matches) and tuck in the cover so the yarn won't escape, or you can wind small balls and keep them in small zip-top baggies with an opening small enough for the strand of yarn.

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