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: katy
Subject: stand
Comment: i put my knitting patterns on a music stand, that way they last longer and it is a lot easier to see them, you dont have to keep looking down at the pattern and it doesn't keep falling on the floor lol

Name: katy
Subject: keeping track
Comment: i discovered a really easy way to keep track of where you are when you are knitting and make your patterns last forever, i get the laminated then punch holes in them and attach them together with treasury tags, then i bought a wipeable board marker and i can write all over my patterns and then wipe off, it really does make life so much easier

Name: CKC
Subject: A little bit of everything...
Comment: Pattern problems? Type/write your pattern on index cards, slip them onto a embroidery floss ring, and you're set to go! (Also to maintain your spot when flipping back and forth, try to get all different colored index card, or a bread tie to put in between cards.)
Where are my stitch markers? You could put these in an old prescription bottle, mint tin, film container, or a small coin purse.
I don't remember how to do this? It's not realistic to carry around all of your knitting books, so photo-copy the pages you are frequently using, i.e. make one, yarn over, 3-needle bind off...slip them in a folder or a report cover. (It's good to have the basics too if you happen to teach someone new, so they can have a visual.) Hope these tips help!

Name: Princess Grandma
Subject: Yarn
Comment: hello to all those knitters out there. if you are doing a project and don't have enough bobbins all u need to do is get some cardboard and some scissors and cut out a shape that looks like a bobbin. Hey presto!! u got urself a handmade bobbin!!!

Name: Sheila Diamond
Subject: fingernails
Comment: Keep a small emery board with your knitting supplies to file that rough spot on a fingernail that keeps catching on your knitting. This is especially handy when travelling.

(This section on "Tips" is great.)

Name: George W.
Subject: Fast Fair Isle!
Comment: My tip for Fair Isle knitting, is to hold a colour in each hand. Knit one colour English Style, and one colour Continental. Using this method, you will never have tangles in your yarn, not to mention it's twice as fast as constantly dropping and picking up yarn.

Name: bonnie
Subject: markers
Comment: When knitting I have lost markers, so one day I went into the garage and got some of my husbands 0-rings and used them. So now when I need a marker I have plenty of all different sizes.

Name: Heather Tucker
Subject: Intarsia Knitting
Comment: When I want to knit intarsia on my knitting machine I enlarge the pattern and tuck it in a plastic sleeve. Then as I knit each row I mark it off on the sleeve with an eye brow pencil. Then when I have finished the pattern I just rub the marks off. I never loose my place.

Name: knitter
Subject: storage
Comment: my friend recently told me this really awesome idea for storing yarn. she has this plastic thing that you hang on the back of your door (pretty much a shoe organizer) and she stuck a ball of yarn in each clear plastic pocket. You can see the yarn, it's organized, and its easily accessible!

Name: lily
Subject: keeping track
Comment: To keep track of what yarn you used, how to treat it, and what you used it for, do the following:
Buy a blank paged journal, paste the paper that comes with the yarn on it (only paste the top so you can flip it over), tape in a small piece of the yarn, and a picture or description of what you made.

It is easy and helpful, esp. when you need to know what can be washed and how.

Name: Jordi
Subject: Knitting Log
Comment: I hate it when i forget where i left off on my knitting. So I record it in a knitting log. It helps me remember. You all should try it!

Name: Abbigail
Subject: Choosing a yarn.
Comment: HOW TO CHOOSE A YARN
First think of the reason you are making the project. If it is for a baby, use light soft yarns. For Christmas use Christmasy colors, and so on and so on.
Next think of how talented you are. If you are a beginner, use a simpler yarn. If you are an old timer, you can use harder yarns.(novelty)
Finally think of who it is for. What do they like to wear? What are their hobbies? How do they spend their time? Find yarns that remind you of them. (If you are making it for yourself, just find a yarn that is your style!)

Name: Lindsay
Subject: Casting on tips
Comment: to make the first knitting row easier, try casting on a needle that is 2-3 sizes larger than what you are going to use. for example, if the pattern calls for a size 7US, cast on a size 10US. then use the size 7 to knit the first row.

Name: Bjorn
Subject: Lace knitting
Comment: If you want to knit airy lace without a pattern and aren't sure what needle size to go with, generally a needle 4-6 US sizes larger than the normal needle size for the yarn weight works well. It gives a ethereal look without huge holes if a stitch is a little irregular. So, for example, you could knit sports weight yarn lace on size US 10.5s. I knit a lace scarf in fingering weight yarn on size US 6 needles, and it turned out very nice looking.

Name: ladybug
Subject: knitters beware
Comment: Cat owner? A number of years ago i took my cat to the vet to be spayed.When i picked her up after surgery the vet told me i was a knitter.I was so surprised and asked how she knew. During surgery they found wool wrapped around the cats intestines. Could be very dangerous. So hats off to the lady that found a way to keep her cats from jumping in her wool bag. Hope this message is helpful to cat owners.

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