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: shell
Subject: correcting mistakes
Comment: I string another color yarn horizontally though the stitches on the needle after my pattern is complete, therefore I only rip out those rows where the mistake is.

Name: Karen
Subject: Reading Patterns
Comment: When reading fair isle patterns (designs), remember to read left to right on even rows and right to left on odd rows. Nobody told me that, but duh. Once you get fair isle down, it's much easier to remember where to cross the strings when working in intarsia.

I print my pattern and put it in a binder, so that I don't need to depend on my net connection to read it. **Note your gauges and needle sizes in the notebook!**

It helps me to write the number of stitches for the start and end of each row on the pattern. That way, if I mess up, I can spot it ASAP. Shh, I also use scrap paper to write per stitch if the pattern is complicated and/or long, but don't tell anyone.

Tip #1 If you're tired, you will definately mess up. Knitting is supposed to be relaxing. It seems like it'd be bad karma to knit with stress instead of love.

Peace, Mah Knitta!
Karen

Name: Jess
Subject: storing
Comment: i place my yarn in plastic sandwich bags. this way i only pull out as much yarn as needed and i dont get tangles or the yarn falling apart!

Name: Tabs
Subject: fun yarn!
Comment: I always try if I can to work with yarn that inspires me, like soft textures, or pretty colours....there's nothing worse than yarn that doesn't inspire! :)

Name: trish
Subject: needles
Comment: I keep a cork in my knitting bag. when i have to put it away i stick the needles in to it. That way the points never stick in anything and my work never falls off the needle. Also my daughter is lefthanded, I found sitting her in front of a mirror she could copy my hands no problem

Name: ina
Subject: predicting yarn
Comment: well sometimes when you are knitting u run out of yarn u should get backup yarn in case u run out. One more tip use two colors of yarn together when u knit it would look much prettier i know i rock :)!!!!!

Name: cutie pie
Subject: easy knitting
Comment: if you are a beginner knitter and find knitting hard use light colours of wool and yarn as you see where you are in the pattern much easier

hope this helped

Name: irene
Subject: beginner knitting needles
Comment: i'm a beginner. i learned to knit when i was 6, but am always dropping my stickes so i gave up and took up crochet. i'm now 65, have just gone back to knitting. i didnt give up, keep on practicing. a good way to start is to use chopsticks. you can get them free from chinese food restaurants or take-outs. the wooden/bamboo sticks dont slip. they are not as easy to use but you dont loose any stiches and after completing one or 2 projects, you can then use the regular knitting needles. my next set of needles were the plastic ones that are not too slippery. now i'm using the metal ones that are slippery. see how good i am now. this is over a period of about 3 years. i'm now starting to do different stitches. as a beginner, i just do knit all the time. i would make scarves for everyone i can think of. you have variation by changing colors and textures of yarn.

Name: M
Subject: patterns
Comment: if a pattern doesn't work for you,(I'm not much of a pattern follower) you could just wing it! I did for a baby sweater and it turned out adorable!

Name: Conner yo
Subject: easy slip knots
Comment: I am a beginner in knitting, so I cast on an extra stitch from where my patterns call because I always have a long tail from the space for tightening my stitches on my right needle i always undo my slip knot at the end of the first row because it always knot my knitting at the end of the first row
P.S.I AM A BOY KNITTER ITS OK GUYS!!!!!!

Name: Giovanni
Subject: circular needles
Comment: Getting started on a row with circular needles makes me very nervous as I tend to twist the yarn and then discover it 5 rows up..Now I start the first two rows on straight needles and then go to circular. I can see the 2 rows clearly and never twist the yarn. A little creative sewing can join the two rows when you are finished with the piece. Works for me!

Name: Emma Smith
Subject: Handy Hint to help sewing up your work
Comment: This isn't my tip, but one from my grandma, as I've only been knitting for two months, but it has really helped me when I'm stitching up my work.

Slip the first stitch of every row and ALWAYS knit the last stitch.

This creates little bobbles at the ends of the rows (if you do it you'll see what I mean) which are easily matched up when stitching your work together!

Simple but genius ... Thanks Grandma!!

Name: Karen
Subject: :-D
Comment: Tip
If you don't understand what you're reading, remember that you can always watch how-to videos for free, and sometimes the 10th try makes the first success that much sweeter. It does help to use different methods.

Encouragement
FYI, Im horrible at math and I had to teach myself, so if I can pick it up, you'll be a wiz in no time.

Fun Fact
Check out this article:
Knitta Please! It's graffiti that you can cuddle up to.
Talk about a revolution:

http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/01/11/knitta-please-graffiti-you-can-cuddle-up-to/

Your Thread-headed Buddy,
Karen

Name: Lisa
Subject: Dpn tip
Comment: I actually found this out by accident. If you are new to double pointed needles it may help to knit the first row on two needles before moving them to the other needles. It really helps me!

Name: Winifred from Scotland
Subject: wine bottle bag
Comment: I have already sent a tip about this, but I had to tell you I came across a wine bottle bag that holds nine bottles in the pound shop, you can imagine how much wool that will fit into that. You will always have different colours with you when you need them. Also if you have lots of knitting needles you can keep sizes separate and it makes it easier to find.
I do hope any tip I send helps somebody.

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