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: Alexis
Subject: Beginning
Comment: If you have friends or family who are beginning to knit tell them not to freak out, my little sister started she got so mad because she kept messing up but she slowly got better and is pretty good at it.

Name: Caitlin
Subject: just a few tips
Comment: lately a lot of my friends have been impressed with these so I thought I'd share them...

when I knit a project, especially with two or more colours, I keep the ball in a zip lock baggie. this prevents tangles and since i bring my projects everywhere, crumbs and such in my purse don't get stuck in the yarn.

also, if you're looking to start your needle collection, check out your local thrift store. I got so many in fine condition for about 50 cents per pair!

Name: Winifred Scotland
Subject: tidy bag
Comment: When I have to work with more than one colour or even just to keep wool from rolling about I sometimes use a wine bottle bag, the wool fits neatly into it and you can see at a glance the colour you are working on.

Name: Olivia
Subject: Needle Storage
Comment: If you're like me and you have multiple sets of needles in one size, those organisers that you hang from a door for shoes work well because you can organise your needles by size. One pocket, one size.

Name: Chelsey
Subject: Lion Brand Box
Comment: I recentally purchased the Lion Brand knitting box and it has all the things in it for a beginner. I'm not really a beginner but I loved it. I still use it to put some knitting stuff in. (no,i dont work for lion brand)

Name: Alison - from Birmingham UK
Subject: Yarn storage
Comment: Do you know those storage 'nets' sold for storing soft toys? They hang from a hook, are made of netting and usually have three or more divisions?

I recently found one that has 6 divisions. I bought it and have managed to store ALL my yarn, with space to spare. I am amazed at the amount it holds.

I hang it next to a set of shelves, it doesn't look unattractive, and it takes up minimal space.

In England, they can be bought in the pound shops - I think they are called thrift shops in the US.

Name: Sky
Subject: Yarn/Patterns
Comment: I'm new to knitting, but just recently I printed out a bunch of patterns and three-hole punched. After sticking them in a binder, I found that I had created my own little knitting book!

A good idea is to have a zipper-top baggie with which you can put of of the yarn scraps, that can't be knitted, into that bag. That way, if you run out of stuffing, you have extras on hand.

Name: Sally
Subject: going the right way
Comment: When I first started to knit I would have one part of a row longer than the other. A friend told me that when you lay your work down in the middle of a row and pick it up again always have your yarn on the right side that way you are going in the right way.

Name: Sally somerset Wisc
Subject: stretch yarn
Comment: For left-over yarn I roll it in a ball. To keep it loose so it does not get stretched out I wind it over my fingers about 10 times then take my fingers out and place them over the ball and repeat until complete. Put it in a baggie with the lable with the color/dye lot etc. for further use.

Name: Aneeta Patel
Subject: Knitting Rules!
Comment: Rule Number One: Always count your stitches at the end of every row. This is especially helpful to beginners and if you are knitting a new stitch pattern.

Rule Number Two: Don't put down your work in the middle of a row. It's so easy to forget where you are!

Rule Number Three: Knit at least two rows every days. This is a good one for beginners to get used to the techniques and if you are knitting a complicated pattern (so you remember the pattern from one day to the next and don't have to spend the first half an hour remembering where you are!)

These rules are from my new book: Knitty Gritty - Knitting for the Absolute Beginner, by Aneeta Patel (published by A&C Black 2008). For more info, http://www.KnittingSOS.co.uk

Name: Rowan
Subject: Keeping it together
Comment: When I leave the house, my purse holds my wallet, a measuring tape, scissors, a crochet hook, my project, a darning needle and scrap yarn. This way, I have everything I need. My knitting keeps me from stuffing receipts in my purse, and my project allows me to work anywhere I have a minute.

Name: Hannah Beth
Subject: Stopping Work
Comment: I got this tip from my teacher:
When you are in the middle of a row (Or end or beginning, it doesn't matter!) You push all of your work down the needles and stuff the pointy ends of the needles into the yarn.

Name: Winifred Scotland
Subject: patterns
Comment: Always take care of your patterns never write on them. If you find it hard to follow a pattern when there are more than one size just copy and then you are able to mark it any way you want with the amount of rows you need to do or anything you need to remember. Then when you need to use your pattern again you just fresh and don't get confused. Keep your patterns in the see through sleeves and store them in a folder.

Name: Johnica
Subject: Slipping work
Comment: When I am putting my project down -to prevent the stitches from falling off the needles I take the yarn and wrap it around the end then, the other end and all around ( from end to end) and then repeat. It prevents your work from slipping off and you dont have to have anything on hand to do it.

Name: Patricia
Subject: Tip
Comment: If for any reason you are going to leave your project on hold, it is better to put a piece of waste yarn and out of the needles, this way, when you restart, your project will not have the marks of the needle.

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