Spreading the joy of knitting
Learn how to drop a stitch and let it ladder down in order to correct one or more stitches without affecting the rest of your knitting. This trick can literally save you hours. I cover both the basic and more complex situations with edge stitches, garter stitch, and multiple-stitch errors.
Short rows are a technique for shaping the knitwork that allows you to knit a gentle curve or slope by adding extra length of fabric to parts of your knitting. Learn how to knit perfect short rows with the wrap and turn method.
I have tried out a whole bunch of different selvedges, so that you don't have to! Get to know all the best edge stitches in knitting.
Learn how to slip stitches in knitting! Slipped stitches are really pretty on their own, but they are also a crucial part of many decrease stitches and they allow you to create neat and even edges.
If you seem to have a chronically sore fingertip from knitting, then you are not alone. One way of sliding the old stitch off the left needle is to push it off with the help of your right index finger, but pushing a sharp knitting needle repeatedly into your finger can hurt quite a bit. Luckily, you don't have to use your index finger at all!
When you knit through the back of the loop, the stitches are twisted at the base. Learn how to twist your stitches to knit the prettiest ribbing.
Your knitwork has uneven edges, and no matter how much you pull on your working yarn, the final stitch of every row is a gigantic loop that you don't know what to do with. Sound familiar? Then this is for you.
Yarn labels are brimming with valuable information that will help you pick the right yarn for your project, or alternatively, the right project for your yarn. Here are the typical pieces of information you will find on a yarn label.
Stitch markers will simplify your knitting experience. They help you keep track of where you are in a pattern. Once you start using stitch markers you will wonder how you ever managed without them. Generally, they are used to mark a place where you have to pay special attention to your knitting. This allows you… Continue reading Knitting with stitch markers
Learn to unknit your stitches, one at at time. In this guide I will take you through basic tinking, relevant for the brand new knitter AND advanced tinking of lacework and cables.
Blocking is the finishing touch to a knitting project. It is a simple matter of washing or wetting your newly knitted item and letting it dry flat in the shape you wish it to have. It evens out the stitches and the edges and gives your piece that finished look. Some people never block their… Continue reading A guide to blocking your knitting
When you knit the last row of your knitting project, you are not quite done. First you have to bind off to secure the stitches and give the piece a nice finished edge, then you weave in the yarn tails, and as the icing on the cake, you may choose to wash and block your… Continue reading Finishing a knitting project
Learn how to switch between knit and purl stitches within a row. I cover how to position the working yarn, how to avoid mixing up ribbing and seed stitch, and a trick to prevent tension issues between knits and purls.
Before you cast on your very first knit project there are a few things to consider. Should you knit something for yourself or a gift? How long time will it take to knit a scarf? What is the right yarn for a dishcloth?
It happens to all of us... sometimes a stitch drops off the needle tips, and more often than not, we don't even notice and keep knitting. That dropped stitch can unravel an entire column, so it must be fixed, sooner rather than later. Step one: Don't panic! It's not a disaster, and it's easy to fix.
One of the most common mistakes for new knitters is accidentally adding new stitches by doing something called a yarn over. You may realize your number of stitches is growing because the edges of your knitting is slanting outward, or maybe you have been keeping track by counting your stitches every few rows. Another way… Continue reading Mysterious holes and extra stitches