Some tips that have saved my sorry knitting wotsit!

Although I've been knitting and crocheting for around 40 years, I wouldn't call myself an expert knitter.  Maybe I'm being too harsh on myself but I have to admit I still find myself making silly mistakes when I would have thought I was way beyond that sort of thing.

Over the years, I've developed a bag of tricks that has saved me from many a knitting or crocheting disaster.  Looking back, I can see that I actually have become a skilled knitter, if a little lazy!  I've come to accept the odd mistake as a badge.  After all, if I wanted everything to look manufactured I wouldn't bother to knit would I?!

So here are some of the things that I've relied upon for all these years to dig me out of whatever yarny hole I find myself in!

Frogging - pulling knitting back to just before the mistake was made.  I did this just this morning.  I am currently making a jumper for my grandson Connor, and am doing the sleeves.  The pattern is written for flat knitting but as I hate (and I do not use the word hate lightly!) seaming, I knitted the front and back in one piece.  When I was nearly up to the armholes, I realised I had cast on more stitches for the back than the front.  Grrrr.  I "fixed" this by knitting a couple of stitches together while casting off for the armholes and am fairly confident any unevenness won't be noticed.  They are my favourite mistakes - the ones that look like they were meant to be there!

If you look closely you can see the side panels are slightly different widths

Now I'm doing the first sleeve in the round as well, until I reach the shaping.  I mis-read the pattern which said increase on the 7th and every following fourth row until the increasing is done.  Well, first of all I increased on the first row (old habits die hard) then every 4th row as instructed but found that the increases were finished about 2 inches up the sleeve.  Now that didn't sound or look right to me, so I put the sleeve back into my knitting bag for a couple of days, hoping that I would decide this was OK.  Alas, it was not OK.  I dithered about, not wanting to pick it up, but wanting it finished anyway, until I bit the bullet this morning and pulled back the sleeve to the ribbing. 

This time I am increasing on the 7th, 4th, 7th etc rows until I get the right number of increases.  Even now I'm not convinced that this was correct but that is how I've interpreted the pattern.  I know that  patterns can't be too long and wordy, but I do really like the ones that spell it out row by row...I wonder why?!

In case you are wondering, here is the actual text of the sleeve increases -

Excerpt from Peter Pan Jeanie Bk 341

And of course, I've just re-read the instructions for the first size (not the one that I'm doing) and it says, inc 1st then every 10th row.  This means that I am doing it wrong AGAIN!!!  Oh well, it should still be fine...shouldn't it??   Postscript - I've just checked the Blog preview and realised I should have increased every 8th row not every 4th........now where is the "smash head against keyboard to continue" button??!!

What does all this rambling have to do with handy tips?  I'll tell you what - READ the pattern BEFORE you cast on!  Get the design into your head first so the instructions are logical.  Don't start something then have to give up when it gets complicated by a new stitch or technique that you are having trouble mastering.  I shall call this Tip number 1.

Tip Number 2 - Use stitch markers.  When you are knitting lace or anything that has panels of stitch patterns, stitch markers can make the difference between pulling back a few stitches to pulling back entire rows....no fun when you are knitting cables or lace.  Markers are pretty much essential for circular knitting too.  You must know where the beginning of a row is.  You can use all sorts of things as markers, from pieces of scrap yarn tied around the needle, to beautiful handmade beaded markers.

Tip number 3 - If you are tackling a new stitch pattern consider doing a test swatch first.  Tension (gauge) swatches are a common task when knitting with a new yarn or needle size that is different to your normal one.  I'm trying to design a knitted messenger bag using cable stitch panels and I'm finding it easier to knit the panels out of cheap yarn first to make sure I have the pattern correct.  Once I've done this, I'll be much more in tune with the design and hopefully won't make too many mistakes.  (This relates to Tip 1)

There are hundreds of handy tips and hints to help make your knitting life a little easier and the ones I've listed are only a few of my faves.  If you have a favourite, why not let me know by adding your comment?

What is in your knitting toolbox?

As you gain more experience with your knitting, you'll find that just needles and yarn aren't enough.  Everyone has their favourite tools and accessories and I am no exception.  Here is a bit of a look inside my knitting toolbox (Actually it's more of a knitting tub, with sub-branches in my desk drawer, current project bag, under the couch, tangled in bedsheets etc!

So, just what is in the box?

Knitting needles – goes without saying!  I do love to try different types of needles and I must say my favourites are circular needles.  I haven’t used straight needles for years and my collection is stashed away in a storage shed.  Having said that, if you are happy with your needle choice then stick with it, until you get the urge to play with something different.  I will add at this point though, that I really don’t like plastic needles.  Don’t know why, I just don’t!

Non twisty circular needles

In my collection I have some old circulars that I bought back in the 80’s I think.  They are the English Milward brand and have stood up to numerous outings over the years.  Like most early versions, these needles have very twisty cords and need to be soaked in warm water every now and then to relax the cord.  Most modern needles have soft cords with less “memory’ so they don’t get twisted up when you use them.  I have a set each of KnitPro and Addi interchangeable as well.  They have proved super handy to have around, as I can change the needle tip and cord length to suit almost every project I want to do. 

Twisty Circular Needles need pre-soaking to soften the cable

If I had to guess the number one reason that some people back away when offered a pair of circular, the twisty cord syndrome would probably be the answer.  The other reason could be that you hold circulars in a slightly different way to straights, causing the weight of the knitted item to be distributed differently.  Personally I find circulars more comfortable to use and don’t get that annoying poke in the chest that can happen with straights.  I can also knit on public transport without attacking my neighbour.  It is also easier to store your project in a smaller bag, as the needles pretty much fold up.

Crochet Hooks – Again, I have a selection of hooks, including some very old lace hooks (I went through a doiley phase some years back and I have kept them for the next dabble), bamboo and hooks with comfort grip handles, which for some reason I find more annoying than comforting, but there you go.

Even if you are a non-crocheter, I would suggest that you keep a couple of hooks in your toolbox.  They are the best thing for picking up dropped stitches that you only notice a couple of rows down.  If I’m faced with the choice of pulling back my knitting to rescue the stitch, or taking a minute or so to bring the errant stitch back home row by row using a small gauge crochet hook, I know which option I’d choose!

Stitch markers – I have a fairly short attention span these days (it must be some strange medical condition, because I am NOT getting old, OK?!)  I’ve recently decided to get back into some lace knitting, nothing complicated, just a simple 12 row pattern for a soft wrap.  It can take me a couple of repeats to get the flow of the pattern and be able to see what goes where, so until then, I slide on stitch markers at various points to help me remember. 

Fibretrends Easy Lace Wrap knit using Heirloom Pixie 4ply

I also love knitting top down garments and use them to divide the different parts of the garment.  And of course, as I prefer circular knitting these days to straights (I think I’m allergic to seaming) I use a marker to tell me where the row starts.  There are plenty of different type of stitch markers available, from simple plastic washers to elaborate hand beaded ones.  If desperate, don’t dismiss the humble safety pin, which is just slid over the needle when needed.

Needle Gauge – These are especially good to use with circular needles.  Some brands don’t have the size printed on the needle tips so it’s essential to check the size.  Some gauges also have a small ruler printed on them so they can be used if you don’t have a tape measure.

Tape measure – Another essential.  Even if a pattern says to knit a number of pattern repeats instead of giving a length, yarns can differ in gauge and drape.  If you don’t measure as you go, you might end up wearing a cropped top instead of the tunic you thought you were making!

Well, that’s just the essentials covered.  I also have sewing needles, long pins, scissors, spare yarn, stitch holders and a bunch of other stuff.  But the items I’ve listed are ones that I just can’t live without.

I wonder what is on your “don’t leave home without it” list of tools?