Helpful Knitting Tips
I am the laziest, most laid-back knitter on the planet, which is why I do most or all of the following when I’m working on a project. I want to enjoy my knitting time, not stress out over it. Do everything you can to make your knitting life easier!
- Make a copy of your pattern so you can mark it up and highlight or circle the numbers for the size you’re working on.
- Enlarge charts or instructions to make them easier to read.
- I often re-write patterns on the computer in a way that makes more sense to me.
- Keep a knitting journal – as fancy as a gorgeous leather notebook or as simple as a post-it note. Write down the date you knitted a project, what size you made, what yarn you used, how much, what needle, and any comments or corrections for your future self. (I’ve knit sweaters from the same yarn and same pattern for my son half a dozen times and had to do a gauge swatch the first three times because I never wrote down what needle I used – learn from my mistakes!!)
- Office supplies can be a knitter’s best friend. Three ring binders are great for holding single patterns; I go through dozens of page protectors in a year; paper clips can be used as stitch markers or to mark right side/wrong side; post-it notes are great for keeping track of what row you’re on or marking your place in a chart. Calculators are great for figuring out substitute yardage, gauge, decreases, all that kind of fun stuff.
- Keep a pen and paper handy in your knitting bag so you can jot down things as they occur to you.
- When you get stuck on a project, by all means head out to your local yarn store and ask the friendly person there to help you. Here’s a secret: solving problems is the most interesting part of their job, so don’t hesitate or think you’re bothering them.
|
 |
 [click to download this page as a PDF]
|
