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| Featured Pattern of the Week: Luscious Little Pumpkin |
        Interested in crochet? Visit our sister site: Crochet Pattern Central  | Tips 'n TricksDo 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! Name: shirleyg Subject: knitting in the round Comment: I recently needed a set of double pointed needles to reduce my hat crown down to a close. Since I couldn't find mine, and didn't want to go out and buy some more, I found that the long wooden skewers you can sometimes find at the dollar store, or on sale at the end of the summer, make a perfect emergency substitute. You could pencil-sharpen the square end if needed, but mine worked fine without doing so. Name: Hannah Subject: Threading Darning Needles Comment: When threading a needle, fold the yarn around the tip of the needle, and stick the fold through the hole; it's easier than trying to get the frayed end of the yarn through. My mother taught me that, and it has never failed me! Name: Jane Subject: knitting reference books Comment: I'm not a beginner knitter but neither am I an advanced one and need help from time to time. When I do, my favorite source to turn to is "stitch 'n bitch" by Debbie Stoller. Not only is the resource helpful but the author has a sense of humor that I find refreshing. Name: beadcam39 Subject: pincushin for yarn needle Comment: I work at a mill and these are in abundunce and free foam earplugs put your yarn needle in there and easy to see because they are bright colors and small. also I use those small square zip up lunch bags to hold my knitting and the knitting needles don't poke through. thank-you for all your tips is worth the read. I found a lot of free patterns on the net. Name: debra wynn Subject: socks Comment: I have been on this site many times and this is the first time reading it. It is great. I now knit everything on two circular needles. Socks, hat, gloves even sweaters. It is so much easier, because everything come out the same size and even. Name: Cristy Subject: Where to hold cable needles.. Comment: When I am cable knitting, I have found the best place for me to hold my cable needle is for me to stick it in my hair right above my ponytail or bun. The needles stay put, and I dont lose them when I stand up. Name: Cristy Subject: alternative cable needles Comment: I have found that when using the small cable needle, the stitches have the habit of falling off the needle...My solution, I use a Double pointed needle the same size as the knitting needle I am using for my project. I can put down my project or let the needle rest without worrying that it will fall out. Name: Ffoenix Subject: Cutting Comment: I picked up several sets of nail clippers (2 for $1 at a dollar store) and use these to clip yarn instead of scissors. They take up less room in my notions bag and the benefits of "no points" is endless. Name: Cameron Subject: Do you find yourself teaching people to knit? Comment: I've been a member of a knitting group for 4 years- we meet every Monday night in a public library and anyone can join. Some people see our sign and come prepared to learn- needles and yarn in hand. But every few weeks someone wanders up & asks if we can teach them how to knit. I always carry leftover skeins of yarn from projects I've finished, wound in balls to give away. AND I teach these new knitters with wooden needles, which I also give away. How can I do this? I make them out of chop sticks! Wooden chop sticks are very very close, if not a perfect match, to a US size 8 needle. Often the tip is pointy enough but sometimes I have to sharpen it with a pencil sharpener. I then sand it with medium sandpaper followed by fine grain sandpaper. This takes about 5 minutes. Sometimes I finish the new needles with clear fingernail polish. It makes the new knitter feel special, I think, to be given their own 'training wheels' needles and yarn to keep. Name: Judy Subject: Capturing the best comments from this site Comment: I'm new to the knitting world and have found this site AWESOME. I suggest opening up a Word document as you review this site and copy and paste those comments you find most useful. That way you can save and print and put in your knit notebook for future reference. Name: Rowan Subject: Socks Comment: When knitting the heel flap on a cuff down sock, it can be awkward to work those first few rows, so, I leave my heel stitches on two needles. It causes less stress at the sides of the instep, and it is easier to work. Name: heather Subject: needle storage Comment: The best knitting needle holder in the world is made from two purchased cloth placemats. -its an improvement on the traditional knitting needle "roll". Place one placemat on top of the other,(horizontally) fold flap of top placemat. down about 4 inches,allows you to put taller needles behind flap in the back; then sew side and bottom seams with narrow seam around edges and sew vertical channels (from underneath flap to the bottom, through both layers--this gives you TWO layers of needles spaces -- front flap should still move, to show taller needles behind and cover points of shorter needles in front. Vertical channels can be made whatever size suits your collection. Very top of back placemat also folds down over everything and keeps needles secure: roll the whole thing up and sew two ribbons to each edge of shorter placemat sides,to tie around it.--this holds ALL my needles crochet hooks, circular needles, etc. and keeps them secure and organized for travel. Name: heather Subject: best knitting bag Comment: A knitting bag, that is long and vertical,(like a small duffel bag) with a drawstring at the top, and a side strap for slinging over your shoulder works much better than zippered (yarn catches) or purse/tote bag size.--it accommodates the needles length and the yarn doesn't flip out when you knit. Name: Kathleen Subject: Storing Needles Comment: I store my knitting needles in decorative wine bottle boxes. Name: linda Subject: knitting from charts Comment: before you start knitting from a chart (picture, fairisle etc.) usually on a4 size, get it blown up to a3, that way you can see the little squares easier and you can mark off the rows without ruining the original. i am thinking of bringing my knitting to the computer 'cos i can't stop reading these great tips!! Select a Page << Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Next >> Share your own hints by filling in the form below... |
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