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!

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Name: Mary Lou
Subject: Storing dp needles
Comment: I knit a strip about 4-5 inches wide. Change colors about every 1 1/2 to two inches at least 9 times. you slide your dp needles in using a different color for each size.

Name: Sandra
Subject: row counters
Comment: Just put Susan Bates Row Counter in your address bar. You can order as many counters as you want. They are only about $3.75 each. I wouldn't be without one when using a pattern that has odd rows.

Name: Pamela Atencio
Subject: Re: stitch markers
Comment: When I need stich markers I use colorful straws. I just nip them in small circles and store them on a divided compartment per color. They usually fit up to a size 10US needle. Have fun

Name: cathy
Subject: even edges
Comment: I always knit the last stitch even if it calls for a purl and my edges come out nicely

Name: arlene from Brooklyn
Subject: first line
Comment: I always make a slip knot after I have cast on the first stitch. the yarn doesn't have any leeway when you begin to work and it keeps its shape.

Name: barbara
Subject: pre wound skein
Comment: Pre round skeins can be kept neat down to the last yard of yarn by winding a rubber band around the paper label that is left on the skein. Depending on the size of the skein is the size of the rubber band. This is much more economical than buying yarn "bras".

Name: Sue
Subject: yarn storage
Comment: I buy clear plastic shoe boxes at the dollar store for storing my yarn. I then label them and then I can tell at a glance what box is which. I also have a box that holds my "extras". This works for me.

Name: Dawn
Subject: Stitch Markers
Comment: When I was knitting a complicated sweater that had many cables and other stitches, I put a marker in between each repeat of the pattern stitch. For the different cross stitches, I used a highlighter pen to color code each cross a different color. Printing off a copy of the chart allows me to color in the row with a highlighter and that lets me know what row I am working on in the chart.

Name: Susan in Arkansas
Subject: "unkrinkling" used yarn
Comment: I don't remember where I read it... but it works great! When unraveling something to reuse the yarn, wind it loosely around your "elbow to hand"... tie it loosely in 6-8 places with junk yarn and then soak it in a lukewarm Woolite bath for 5-10 minutes. Dry it by laying it on towels... and swap out the towels as they are wet. The krinkly yarn "unkrinkles" beautifully.
It only took about 2 days for a whole skein to dry.

Name: Kristine
Subject: Don't loose the small stuff
Comment: To keep from loosing all my small items, markers, point protectors, safety pins, etc. I use pill cases. I use a day of the week one for home and a small 2 compartment one for on the go!

Name: Nicole
Subject: knitting anything (general)
Comment: When you're knitting for a long time so many days a week, use a wrist support that you can get at Walmart or Walgreens and hand warmers that campers use (Walmart 6 for about $2). It helps your hand in more ways than one. I'm 20 and I'm having trouble with my hand (being a pet groomer and on the computer a lot doesn't help)and I have a habit of griping the needle with my pinky too tight and also gave myself repetative motion injury. I put the hand warmers under the wrist support and place it where I need it most and it helps my hand from not hurting so much the next day (there's either little pain or no pain). Also I'm a lefty but I knit and crochet right handed. I was taught crochet right handed but I just recently taught myself how to knit. I've tried knitting left handed and it's hard, so I knit right handed. Still reading all the tips I can from this site and I'm glad I found it because now I know which needles are better for my hands and which might hurt them more. Thanks everyone!
Happy knitting!!

Name: Cecelia
Subject: Storing small things
Comment: To store small things, like stitch markers and point protectors, take a sock without a match and sew around the top edge. Just a plain over-under type stitch will do. When finished sewing, take the ends of your string and tie them together. Voila! A draw-string pouch!

Name: Marabeth
Subject: circular needles
Comment: after you buy new circular needles, stretch them over the top rack of your dishwasher, points down. and wash dishes as usual. the circular needle comes perfectly straight.

Name: Marilyn
Subject: knitting needles
Comment: If you want to do a small project on straight needles, use two double pointed needles and put a point protector on one end of each as a "stop" ---when you have to put your work down, remove the one from the "empty" needle and put it on the other end of the one with your work to keep it from coming off.

Name: Simon from uk
Subject: Easy cables
Comment: I recently knitted a cabled scarf for my wife. Rather than using a cabling Needle, I used a PONY split ring marker which helped hold the 4 slipped stitches to the front or back with easy and no tangles :)

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