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: Beth
Subject: hook containers and clothespins
Comment: My daughter discovered that my steel hooks fit in the plastic container that her mini M&M's came in. She then put the hook she uses for her knitting loom on another one. It keeps the hooks from disappearing in the project. With larger hooks, G and above, I use a clothespin to keep the hook in the last stitch when I'm not working on the project.

Name: Gabrielle
Subject: Yarn You Didn't Know You Had
Comment: We all have an sweater that we don't wear because we don't like the way it fits, it's too loose, or too tight or out of style or just isn't flattering. Give the yarn a second chance to be something wonderful by ripping (unravelling) the sweater and using the yarn for something else! I've got a large blanket with cheery yellow yarn that I love that's about to be reincarnated into another blanket with a pattern I actually like!

Name: Silvia Castillo
Subject: Stitch Markers
Comment: The other day I didn't find my stitch markers, and since necessity is the mother of invention, I ended up using twisties instead. Worked fine!

Name: Therese
Subject: sleeves from the cap down
Comment: If you're not sure whether you have enough yarns for both sleeves, start from the cap down reversing the shaping from the pattern. By doing this you can also make adjustment to the length of sleeves.

Name: isabella
Subject: storage
Comment: if you want to take your knitting around get an old backpack or messenger bag and shove some things in there

Name: Joanne
Subject: left over yarn
Comment: In the past when completing a project I had all these small to medium balls of different ply and color of yarn. Didn't want to throw them out (cardinal sin) so I started an afgan which is single crochet (only stitch I know) I've been at this for about 15 yrs. My afgan is very thick and looks a little Aztec...........good way to use up little bits and pieces and add to your collection of afgans.

Name: Joanne
Subject: storing knitting needles
Comment: I use the large empty container of Quaker Oats..........

Name: Bridget Bytheway
Subject: Cast off stitches too tight
Comment: If your cast off edge is always too tight, use a needle 2 sizes bigger to cast off.

Great tips from everyone!

Name: karen
Subject: wool
Comment: i like to knit with chunkey wool, as i find it easy and fast to work with.

Name: Ruth in Chile
Subject: Cast on
Comment: We are taught a little different as the ways you show. Many times kids love one sweater or else, so I cast with 2 strands that goes below the needles,so it gives an extra strength on the edges. I use also 2 needles to cast, then I take out one, the cast on is much more easy to knit.

Name: Claudia
Subject: storage
Comment: I use those little spacemakers for pencils to store things like dpns, crochet hooks and stitch holders and an old mint can (altoids for example) for stitch markers

Name: anne
Subject: winding balls
Comment: If you forget to have the knitting store wind a ball of yarn. put the yarn on the back of a chair. it is easier than having someone hold it

Name: Maggie
Subject: Worn out bamboos
Comment: If you've worn off the size on your bamboo needles, the next time you're near a needle gauge, take note and write the U.S. size in Sharpie and then coat it with clear nail polish.

Name: Gabby
Subject: needle stoppers
Comment: To keep my project on the needles I use foam beads that children string got them at the dollar store and they work great. Like all the ideas.

Name: marina c
Subject: count your stiches
Comment: if you are new to knitting, every once in a while count your stitches. make sure if you cast on 15 for example, make sure you still have 15 stitches.

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