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: zlata ehrenstein
Subject: hobby
Comment: Your comments and hints are as valuable as ever. I learned much from them. I use knitting as a tranquilizer in the evening to unload after a long day. Also, in the middle of spring cleaning, when the work look like it is never going to get done, I always have some piece that I am working on.

I find it really helps to like the piece I chose to do. I look forward to finishing it.

Name: Sam
Subject: Yarn Stitch Holders?
Comment: I, personally, cannot use yarn as a stitch holder. Five rows later it ends up knitted into the project. A great alternative (if you don't want to go to Wal*Mart and get a pack for like...$1) are the small elastic bands used for hair. You can get a pack of several hundred for about a dollar, and they feel DRASTICALLY different, making it MUCH harder to knit them in.

Name: Alison - from Birmingham UK
Subject: New techniques
Comment: When trying new techniques eg figure of 8 cast on, first practise using waste yarn, preferably in a light colour, and double knit (or thicker), on fairly large needles.

This is much easier than trying the technique for the first time in a thin dark-coloured yarn, on fine needles (as I discovered). It's also easier to see the result.

Name: Angela
Subject: Clean Patterns
Comment: This is a cross-stitch trick I use for knitting patterns. especially cable patterns) After I photocopy the pattern to preserve the original, I use a light green coloring pencil to mark off what I've done. It allows the pattern to show through the coloring and doesn't make a mess of your hands or your knitting.

Name: melissa
Subject: stitch markers
Comment: i was knitting this hat on circular needles and i needed something to mark the beginning of the row, so i just used the barrette i had put in my hair to clip back my sidebangs. just clip it in the stitch and knit away! god bless and happy knitting!

Name: Betty Graham, Sweden
Subject: gauge/tension
Comment: If you are a loose knitter, or the back of stocking stitch shows groups of 2 rows, try a smaller needle for the purl rather than the plain. It took years before I read that most of us knit purl stitches more loosely.

Name: Anna
Subject: Stuffing
Comment: Hi, I was in need of large quantities of stuffing, and couldn't believe the price so bought a cheap pillow and hey I now have enough stuffing for lots of projects!! Happy knitting.

Name: Sophie
Subject: Pearl
Comment: To do pearl just put your needle behind instead of in front your other needle.Then....Hey Presto!! You've just made a pearl stitch!

Name: carol ferguson
Subject: storing needles, marking rows.
Comment: I use a tubular document holder, similar to a pringle tube, to store my needles in it is great. Also I have had row markers that I find sometimes fall out especially when using mohair or shimmer wool so I use a plastic curtain hook, it is great and doesn't fall out.

Name: Ashley (and my cat, Schroeder!)
Subject: bamboo needles
Comment: For your cat's safety (and the safety of your nice bamboo needles!), keep them away from your cat; I notice mine has a tendency to chew on my needles, and if they get ahold of your bamboo needles, the wood will splinter and makes it hard for the stitches to slip nicely. Happy knitting!

Name: Charyl
Subject: Cables
Comment: I use bamboo double pointed needles to do my cables - so much easier! Am a big bamboo needle fan anyway - have replaced almost of my needles. Word of caution tho, if you are a tight knitter, stitches can be difficult to slide off.
Happy Knitting!

Name: Josephine
Subject: reply to Rebekah (and everyone else out there who is obsessed with knitting)
Comment: Try looking in charity shops for knitting needles. You have to ask for them, because of health and safety, but they will be cheap because it's a charity shop. Happy knitting

Name: Silvia de Castillo
Subject: Pom Poms
Comment: I read this on a Patons pattern. When making pom poms, one very easy way is to wind the yarn around 4 fingers about 40 times, for a nice size. Then remove and tie tightly at the center. With a scissor cut the loops and trim if necessary. If you want smaller pom poms, use less fingers and less yarn. It works. From Guatemala City I wish you all a happy knitting and thank you so much for the great tips!!

Name: Rebekah
Subject: none
Comment: I only own a size 4, 8 and 15 knitting needles (considering i'm twelve and can only afford three pairs!). So when a pattern calls for a size '6' or '10', a number eight or four is pretty universal.

I only EVER use the 15 when working with thick THICK yarn, or else the completed project is very lacy and unstable.

Name: Beka
Subject: wrong side vs. right side
Comment: I always get confused about the 'wrong side' rows and 'right side' rows. So I buy a package of different color needles in the same size. Then I know that say a 'red' needle is the wrong side and a blue one is the right side. happy knitting!

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