Knitting instructions: More Tips 'N TricksHere are some tips 'n tricks of the knitting trade. Let me know your favorite tips or tricks and I'll list them in a future article (with proper credit where credit is due, of course).
- From reader Crisa McCarty: I keep my patterns in the three-ring page covers (plastic envelope with opening at the top with three holes punched in edge). When I'm ready to work on a pattern, it's visible and not damaged by my teacup or dog drool. When I'm done, it goes back in the binder. Best of all the $12 package of nearly 100 (approximately...I haven't bought any in awhile) comes with tabs to adhere to the edges so you can categorize: children's, women's, tips, etc. I use Post-Its on the plastic to keep track of my rows, making hash marks as I go along. No permanent marks, no confusion as the Post-It can be repositioned where I leave off.
- From reader Patricia Smith: I have stopped using the straight knitting needle pairs when I knit. Instead, I use circular needles for all of my projects, even though I am not knitting in the round. The reason I have done this is because I always hated crawling around on the floor trying to retrieve my knitting needle if I have dropped it while turning my work around after finishing a row. Can you imagine how embarrassing it is while flying on an airplane and you keep dropping your needle? Not to mention the other people in your row get really ticked off after about the third time you say, "Excuse me, I must get up and get my needle again, so sorry." ;-) Plus, when working on an extremely large project, using the longest circular needle is easier to keep your work on than the longest straight needle.
- From a reader I've inadvertently lost the name of (sorry!): Put mohair in the freezer prior to unraveling a sweater or rows to correct an error; this prevents it from "hooking" on itself.
- Make a note of the row number where you begin binding off for armholes. The other half of the sweater will then match exactly.
- When knitting Aran sweaters, use stitch markers to keep the various patterns separated and thus, easier to follow.
- Keep track of the yardage used to complete sweaters of various gauges. Keep this information in your purse and you'll be prepared the next time you go to your favorite yarn store...you'll know about how many skeins you need.
- If only a few balls of yarn are available at a super sale, buy them anyway. You can always use them for stripes or an intarsia pattern.
- Use selvedge stitches so that patterns match up when pieces are sewn together. You'll get a much more professional look if the seams match.
- Don't pull too tight when sewing together pieces using the mattress stitch. If you do, the seam won't have an elasticity and will pucker.
- If designing your own Aran sweaters, try to use patterns with the same number of row repeats. This makes it much easier to keep track of the patterns as you knit.
Knitting instructions for new knitters
