Knit Tips & Tricks

[CountryNaturals]

I use earrings as stitch markers. My favorite one is a continuous hoop but I'll use anything hoopy. I don't wear earrings anymore so it's nice to get some use out of them!

I bought a toe ring at a craft show about 25 years ago. I haven't worn it in years, but I dug it out for a stitch marker. Makes me feel like hot stuff, having a Real Gold stitch marker. It also brings back great memories of The Sawdust Festival.

[CountryNaturals]

When I have to attach a new skein in the middle of a job, I use a square knot, so both ends lie flat (one before the knot -- the other one after the knot--and the knot is flat, too). I leave about a 1-2" tail on each piece, then knit the first tail in as I go, working across the knot, then working the 2nd tail in after the knot. (I hope this makes sense.) The result is NO TAILS TO WORK IN LATER, which is one of the few things I don't like about knitting.

[Shandeh]

I bought a toe ring at a craft show about 25 years ago. I haven't worn it in years, but I dug it out for a stitch marker. Makes me feel like hot stuff, having a Real Gold stitch marker.

I used my wedding band once.

[CountryNaturals]

I used my wedding band once.

LOL! I hope the project was a gift for Hubby.

[Shandeh]

[Dianeadae]

This is such a helpful post! Thank you all.

I am about to knit my first lace scarf (in between knitting an afghan), and appreciate all the tips here. I have no extra tips to add yet, but hope to soon.

[cacunn]

I seem to do more knitting away from home then at home, lunch at work, riding the metro etc., so I carry a lot of odds and ends. Once of my favorite odd or maybe end is a thread puller/nit picker from my sewing knit. This is the little latch hook devise used to pull snagged threads to the back side of fabric or clothing. I has a cover to protect the hook and extend the handle when in use. If I drop a stitch while out I pull out my nit picked and reach through the last loop and pull the yarn back through. Since it is small and light weight it is a great addition to my knitting bag.

Also, I normally use two circular needles to knit socks but while at my LYS I saw some DPs on sale. I picked them up to try. Got back to work with time to knit and replaced the circular needles with DPs. When I started to pack up my knitting I was concerned about the needles falling out of the stitches. Looking around I saw two old dried up markers that I had just thrown out. the caps looked like just the right size to go around the needle points. I cleaned the caps and then taped a rubber band around the ends of the two caps. I now have a DP needle holder that I'm not afraid to lose.

[cacunn]

As I said in the post above I do a lot of KIP(K) (knitting in Public - frequently Kilted) and carry a lot of odds and ends but often it in not easy or easy to pull out what I need. One item is the tape measure to see where I am. Therefore I have taken a set of knitting measurement:

base of palm to tip of longest finger = 8 inches
hand side to side at base of fingers = 3.25 inches
longest finger - 3.5 inches
tip of thumb to tip of pinky fnger ( stretched ) = 9.25 inches.

These are not exact, but what I'm looking for is a gauge to tell me when to pull out the tape measure. If the foot of my sock is 9 1/2 inches before I start the gusset then I don't have to worry about the tape measure until I reach from the tip of my thumb to about 1/2 the way up my pinky finger.

I find that it is easy to forget my tape measure but it is not easy to knit if I have left my hand at home.

[klymyshyn]

When joining a second color:
Do not knot the new yarn but leave a tail so the first stitch won't pull out, you may then adjust the tension of the first few (new color sts.) later. Also, when knotting these (for finishing) if your yarn is strong enough: untwist the tail (to be knotted) into (2) 2 ply strands, pull one of these through the nearest st and tie the 2 plies tog. for a bulk free knot!

[klymyshyn]

When knitting a seamed item such as a sweater I like to reduce knots wherever possible ('cause I don't like having to hide them!) - by leaving a tail long enough to work the side seams before casting on a sweater bottom; also before the wrist rib on a sleeve.