Knit Tips & Tricks - Page 15

daniellecool2003 · 12-11-2008, 07:09 PM

I Just a beginner knitter and one problem i kept coming across was a tightness in my casting on which made it very hard for me to knit the first row. As once i start knitting my knitting is fairly good and not as tight. I found a solution to that though. What i do know is place two kneedles together as im casting on and then remove one needle once i have all the stitches i need. It made things so much easier. i recommend it to any new knitters who have a very tight casting on. It works wonders.

Arielluria · 12-12-2008, 12:25 AM

That IS a great tip!

Marria · 12-12-2008, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by daniellecool2003

I Just a beginner knitter and one problem i kept coming across was a tightness in my casting on which made it very hard for me to knit the first row. As once i start knitting my knitting is fairly good and not as tight. I found a solution to that though. What i do know is place two kneedles together as im casting on and then remove one needle once i have all the stitches i need. It made things so much easier. i recommend it to any new knitters who have a very tight casting on. It works wonders.

That is a great idea! Another trick I've used, because I still tend to cast on too tightly is that I use a needle one or two sizes larger to cast on my stitches and then just begin knitting with the needle size I am actually going to use for my pattern.

Arielluria · 12-12-2008, 12:56 AM

The cable cast on is also good, I almost exclusively use that for my socks especially.

12-12-2008, 02:17 AM

Originally Posted by Marria

That is a great idea! Another trick I've used, because I still tend to cast on too tightly is that I use a needle one or two sizes larger to cast on my stitches and then just begin knitting with the needle size I am actually going to use for my pattern.

This is a great one. I am also a tight knitter, so I use this trick also.

Kibben · 12-17-2008, 09:33 AM

I solved that problem of 2 "equal sides" as well as with the sleeves....I use two sets of needles and yarn and work at least 10 rows of the left side, then work 10 rows of the right side. If I have a detailed pattern, I will complete the pattern before moving on to the next side. Sometimes I use a counter.

G J · 12-17-2008, 01:39 PM

I do this, but do both sleeves on the same needles. The only drawback is that if I mess up, I have to frog two sleeves.

Kibben · 12-19-2008, 08:33 PM

I use two separate sets of needles & yarn. If you mess up on one set, you will not make the same mistake on the other set.
Go slow, speed comes with experience. Also talk to yourself i.e.k1, p1, yo, etc. This registers with your brain which sends the message to your fingers. (This method is a scientific fact & I use it to tutor music which helps to get the rhythm in the hands & aids the memorization process.) If you cannot afford the Knitting Help CD, an excellent source of technique info, then try the YouTube.com and search "knitting tech". Hope this helps.

Marria · 12-26-2008, 06:47 PM

I think most of us eagerly run to the patterns whenever Knitty puts out a new issue, but lately I've been going back and reading some of their technique articles, and there is some really good stuff there!

One I think is especially good is Jenna Wilson's article on gauge. Wish I could have read that when I was first learning and didn't get the concept of how important it is...otherwise I might not have ended up with the giant oversized sweater of doom that still lurks in my closet somewhere.

RuthieinMaryland · 12-27-2008, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Marria

I think most of us eagerly run to the patterns whenever Knitty puts out a new issue, but lately I've been going back and reading some of their technique articles, and there is some really good stuff there!

One I think is especially good is Jenna Wilson's article on gauge. Wish I could have read that when I was first learning and didn't get the concept of how important it is...otherwise I might not have ended up with the giant oversized sweater of doom that still lurks in my closet somewhere.

Hi, Marria!

WHAT an article! Thanks for posting this. My eyes have practically crossed reading it

but I can honestly say I'm enlightened! This is a GREAT article and I definitely plan to go into it again much more thoroughly.

Although I always understood, reluctantly, the importance of swatching, and did it, I had no idea of the intricacies involved that are explained in this article.

This is a great piece of work and I appreciate your generosity in sharing it!

Happy knitting (and swatching!)

Ruthie