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: Sandra
Subject: Keeping Yarn Neat
Comment: Cut a small corner off one side of the bottom of a gallon size zip-lock storage bag just large enough to put the strand of yarn through. Place yarn in bag and run end of yarn through the hole. Close the zipper on the bag. What ever you are knitting can then also be placed in the bag through the top and stored until you are ready to continue again. This works great if you want to take your knitting with you if you have long waits in a waiting room or where ever you take knitting with you. This way, everything is in the bag.

Name: Gaede
Subject: Counting
Comment: I always keep a notebook in my knitting bag. As I knit, I mark off the rows. I find this much easier than using row counters, etc...for keeping track of my pattern, and if I need to look back, it makes a good reference.

Name: Kody May Moore
Subject: Circular Knitting
Comment: I find that if you cast on an extra stitch when working in the round, then at the end of the first row knit the last st of that round (the extra st) and the first st of the next round together, you have a much neater round join.

Name: black_dragon
Subject: down w/ increasing
Comment: im 13 and i learned how to knit a year ago. when i was learning, i found a pattern for a knitted hackey sack. i didnt know how to increase, so i did this: instead of increasing, cast on an appropriate number of st at the end of a row. it might not look very professional, but its a heck of a lot easier.

Name: Carol Mellors
Subject: Keep track of pattern
Comment: Write each row of the pattern on an index card. Leave a blank space between each row. Use a small paper clip on the edge of the card and position it on the row you are working on. Slide it to the next row as you start it. When you put your work down, always leave the clip on the row you should start with when you pick it up again. No more trying to figure out where you are!

Name: Norie
Subject: circular needle storage
Comment: I keep my smaller circular needles in a CD library zip pack -- I've also found that a nice zipped cosmetic bag works great for my 'sock in progress' to tote along when I've got to wait for the kids --

Name: Lauren
Subject: casting on
Comment: If you're using the long tail cast on method and you're never sure how long the tail should be, try this: wrap the yarn around your needle as many times as the number of stitches you want cast on. Pull a little extra yarn out (enough to weave the end in securely), make a slip knot, and cast on! You now have plenty of yarn to cast on with (good when you have a large number of stitches), but not so much that you have a big long tail dragging all over the place (very good when you're using yarn that's so special/expensive that you don't want to waste an inch!)

Name: Allie
Subject: Sewing
Comment: If you can't get a tapestry needle to sew up your purses and seams, I find that bobby pins and saftey pins (using the rounded side) work as a pretty good alternative.

Name: Georgi
Subject: Patterns, Photos, Labels
Comment: A few tips:
1)Before starting a project I always photocopy the original pattern and work with the copy. In this manner my original is always intact for future use.
2)I use a computer word processing program (MicroSoft Word) to make a Project Sheet (in table format) for the project I am working on. The table includes information such as the Project Name, Source (the name of the pattern and its originator - Leisure Arts etc), Start/Finish dates, information about the yarn/needles used and who will be receiving the gift. However most importantly in the table I indicate the # of rows for the entire pattern. I keep a copy of the Pattern & Project Sheet on a clipboard in my knitting bag. As each row is completed it is checked off on the Project Sheet. In this manner I always know where I am in the project and it definitely helps when I have to "rip" or "frog" rows.
3)I always photograph my projects before delivery. In this manner I too always know what the gift looked like.
4)Finally I ALWAYS add labels to my projects. I think it adds a special touch and the recipient will always know who it came from. I have ordered labels - both name & care instructions - from http://www.namemaker.com

Name: Josie
Subject: random tips(they really helped me!!!!!!)
Comment: hi im a knitter at 12,and i have tried to do so many different things to help me knit and most of them are really simple. one thing is i made my own knitting needle case with a really pretty fabric.you could also knit one...and another thing is that people say to use scrap yarn for stitch markers,but transferring them is REALLY hard so i dont suggest it.you could also buy regular graph paper,and knit a swatch,then mark with a pen or pencil thru the stitches where they are and TA-DA!!!!!! graph paper in the guage of your knitted piece!!hope this helped
Josie

Name: grace kelly
Subject: Yarn scraps
Comment: Don't throw out those scraps of yarn that seem so annoying! Store them in a large plastic bag. They build up quikcly. Then you can use hanfuls of yarn scraps to stuff things such as small pillows or anything you want. This way you don't have to buy fiberfill or whatever it's called, especially if you knit or crochet often. Hope this helps! :-)

Name: Kristen
Subject: Buying Cheaper Yarn
Comment: Go to ebay and buy your yarn. The yarn at stores is so expensive.

Name: Benjamin J. W.
Subject: Adding a stitch
Comment: To add a stitch in the middle of your project (in case you lost one) do a regular knitting stitch.Before you slip it off the loop do a purl stitch and finish it like you would a purl stitch. You will now have an extra loop on your row.

Name: Hydee
Subject: weaving in tail yarn
Comment: I learned a trick from www.knittinghelp.com. After you have cast on your stitches and you begin to knit, knit the first 3 or 4 stitches including the tail yarn so you don't have to weave in ends after you are done with the project. You can just cut off the tail yarn! Try it!

Name: Jennifer Watson
Subject: circular needles
Comment: I use those clear page protectors to put my circular needles in. Just label them, and keep them in a notebook, it keeps all your needles organized and all in one place!

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