Knit Tips & Tricks

[ArtLady1981]

So, my 2nd Viking Knits pullover back in 2004...and it is all seamed up...and I am wearing it in fact...and I look down at my cuff...and spot a MIS-CROSSED cable! Aaargh. Being the Logical Knitter...I had to do something about it...but how? Tear apart the sweater, unseaming everything, and re-knitting the sleeve down to the cuff? I don't think so! Not today, not ever!

So being an embroiderer at one time...I thought that the lazy daisy stitch looks an awful lot like a st st. So, that is what I did! I laid a double row of lazy daisy stitches right on top of the mis-crossed cable. (I had erroneously crossed the cable to the left...and the cable was supposed to travel to the right.)

Here is a photo of the lazy daisy 'repair"! Can you tell? Me, neither.


And here is me, wearing my 'repaired' sweater!

[sgtpam]

Gorgeous! I'm going to try cables someday...they're just a little too intimidating to try yet

Gorgeous! I'm going to try cables someday...they're just a little too intimidating to try yet.

I was scared, too, but I did my first basic cable on Monday and it is actually WAY easier than it looks. I am self-taught from a book, but if you are worried about it and know someone who can show you in person, do that. Also, I bought a set of 3 basic wooden straight cable needles, but I can see the appeal of the ones that are hooked on the end or bent in the middle--I bet they are easier to hold for some knitters. My LYS had a way better selection of cable needles than the chain craft stores near my house, so if you have a LYS with a good selection, check there. You can do it!

[suewoz]

Cables are pretty easy to do. I like the cable needle with the dip in the middle. I got them at the LYS. Don't remember what brand. They are a little bit more time comsuming that straight knitting but well worth it.

Love the red sweater and I sure can't see anything that indicates there ever was a mistake. Great job.

[ArtLady1981]

My best friend, who is a longtime knitter, and I were sitting under the sun, chatting and knitting happily away!

She was working on a project which incorporated cables. I glance over and notice that she is dragging an old blue metal 8" dpn out of her what-not bag. I asked her: "What is that for?"...to which she replies: "For working my cables." I respond: "Barb, don't you have a regular cable needle like this?" To which she responds: "Never needed one". I comment: "But Barbara, a dpn is so cumbersome and it will slow you down"...to which she says: "What's wrong with slow? It works, that's all I care!"

LESSON: To each his own! The dpn is what she had always used, and the dpn is what she continues to use!

She does excellent work, BTW!

[Shandeh]

"What's wrong with slow? It works, that's all I care!"

My sentiments exactly!

People who watch me knit always say, "You know, you could knit faster if you used the Continental method". To which I reply, "I ENJOY knitting English style, and I'm not in a hurry."

There's no reason for me to RACE when I'm knitting. I want to RELAX when I knit. Plus, I like seeing each stitch form, with careful attention.

Also, I have constant pain in my arms, so I can't do Continental knitting anyway.

[RuthieinMaryland]

Artlady! This re-knitting tip is awesome! And so is your discussion on washing/blocking! Keep those WONDERFUL tips coming - we all benefit from each other's experience.

Thanks much,
Ruthie :o)

[gingerbread]

I know this has been said before but this is a great thread. To see all the hints are just wonderful. Yes Artlady does have great tutorials to give us. Thanks to everyone that has donated to this thread.

[laikabear]

I actually just learned to cable withOUT a cable needle! There are a bunch of different videos and tutorials out there, but OF COURSE, I found Amy's video the most helpful. (Actually a couple of the You Tube videos were doing it a different, and IMHO, way more confusing, way.)

It works best for if you are crossing only a few stitches, otherwise use a cable needle if the cable is several stitches wide. But for my Koolhaas hat, it is perfect. The video is much easier to follow than any explanation I could write out. Just remember to grab the stitches from behind for a front cross cable and from the front for a back cross cable. One thing that makes it even easier is that for the Koolhaas, I am putting in a lifeline before each cable row. It prevents me from pulling out the stitch I dropped off the needle. Once I get better at it, maybe I'll stop with the lifelines. I am addicted to them, LOL.

For my Palindrome scarf I had been using one of the metal needles with a bend in it, but I was having trouble with it sliding out when I let go. When I get back to the scarf (and I WILL!!!) I'm going to try either a wooden DPN, or the no cable needle method.

[G J]

My sentiments exactly!

People who watch me knit always say, "You know, you could knit faster if you used the Continental method". To which I reply, "I ENJOY knitting English style, and I'm not in a hurry."

There's no reason for me to RACE when I'm knitting. I want to RELAX when I knit. Plus, I like seeing each stitch form, with careful attention.

Also, I have constant pain in my arms, so I can't do Continental knitting anyway.

Shandeh, I'm like you--knit English, but had arm pain UNTIL I learned Portuguese knitting. It's what I do almost exclusively now b/c it doesn't require much arm movement. Look at the older videos that come up in the link. Keep watching them and then practice on a swatch or something you already have started. I find my gauge is pretty much the same with English and Portuguese, so I can swap back and forth as I need to.

I guess my TIP here for anyone, is to learn multiple ways to knit so you don't end up with repetitive stress injuries.