Brand new knitter - what I have learned so far

[Irishmam]

I have been knitting for about 1 month now and was taught by YouTube (really)

Here are my top 3 things I have learned so far - please add yours

1. Always count your stiches. You should see the scarf! Never mind, at least I got to practice how to decrease.

2. Never leave your knitting where your 4-year old can reach it. She pulled out the needle holding all the stiches.But like I said, it was not a very good scarf.

3. Be careful you do not spend more time online looking at yarns and talking about knitting than actually doing some knitting

Irishmam

[sgtpam]

Welcome to our wonderful world of

You learned #3 after only a month?...I think most of us here are still working on that one

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I'll add
4. Make folders on your computer for all your knitting patterns right from the start (I never thought I'd save so many that I had to name them better than just "baby blanket 1, 2,3, 58, 74"....

5. Free..Free...Free.. patterns all over the net! check out the blogs that our members link to in their signatures

6. Knitters (and crocheters) love to share!!! Patterns, tips, yarns, stories, and charity (check out all the opportunities to get involved in the Charity Forum)

Again.........welcome, and don't be shy asking for help or sharing your sucesses

[Jan in CA]

#7. Learn what your stitches look like. It helps a lot when doing anything from ribbing to more complicated patterns.

#8. Use a lifeline in lace or other complicated patterns.

[Irishmam]

Hi Jan

What is a lifeline?

[shifio]

yep me 2 whats a lifeline

[Quiltlady]

A life line is a WONDERFUL suggestion. I just used one while knitting a lace shawl...I ended up needing it twice!! I was so glad I used one. Here read all about it..

http://www.knittinghaven.com/lifeline.html
I thread the life line thru a row and mark down on paper what number that row is so I know that if I have to ever rip back to the life line I will know at what row in the pattern it is on and where I need to begin knitting on my pattern in the next row.
I remove and move up the life line frequently and write down again what row it is on in case it's a different row each time. That way if I do need the life line again I only have to rip back a few rows to get back to where I have to start knitting again on my pattern.
Welcome to the wonderful world of knitting...its' addicting.

[Jan in CA]

What is a lifeline?

A lifeline keeps you from having to rip out your whole project if you make an error. You move it up every 10 rows or so as the rows remain error free. If you do goof you just pull out the needles and rip back to the lifeline and continue on fixing your mistake.

It does take a little extra time, but it's much faster than restarting 10 times.
Here's the KH video.
http://www.knittinghelp.com/apps/fla...yer/play/150/1

[jheatherley]

Very important rule: never lose your sense of humor.

[lulubell]

Pay the bills and do the grocery shopping BEFORE you visit the yarn store!

[hookedonknitting]

NEVER ever let you cat or kids near your project!! That may even apply to some husbands too!!