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When knitting a fine gauge sweater, attach flat buttons on the inside of the neckline. Make a decorative matching scarf with fine loops along the center inside edge which can be attached to the buttons. The scarf can be worn securely in place as a companion piece.
***** KNITTING TIPS *****
Despite the best efforts of designers and publishers, pattern typos do happen. Sue Schroettinger reminds us to look ahead and "do the math" before beginning your pattern to make sure the numbers of stitches jive. It is not only important to check the stitch multiple, but the numbers for armhole, neck, and sleeve shapings.
When embellishing with duplicate stitch, Sue works the duplicate stitch in vertical columns, as horizontal columns may distort the fabric. This is especially important with yarn that is slightly textured or tweedy.
When seaming garments made with textured yarns such boucles, Sue recommends
the slip stitch crochet method, which is much easier than sewing with a tapestry needle. This technique is also useful when easing a set-in sleeve into its "cap".
When blocking ponchos or sweaters, Lisa Carnahan places the garment under a ceiling fan to help it dry quicker. Could it be that Lisa occasionally has deadline knitting?
Our thanks to Sue and Lisa for sharing their helpful hints...
***** YIPES, STRIPES! *****
When working narrow stripes, carry the color not in use up the side of the work, twisting around the working yarn at the beginning of the row. This avoids cutting ends
and extra finishing later on…
***** WORKING WITH BIG NEEDLES *****
When working with large needles, take care to work your stitches on the thickest part of the needle to get the correct gauge. Working too
close to the tip of the needle will result in tight stitches, making it difficult to move the stitches freely on the needle...
February 2005 Tips and Ideas
***** FRINGE MADE EASY *****
Here's an easy way to make fringe the same length. Cut a piece of cardboard half as long as the fringe length you desire. Wrap your yarn around the cardboard as many times as needed, keeping the strands next to each other as you wind. Cut the yarn all the way across the edge where you began wrapping to get even lengths...
Shanta Moitra recently shared a tip for neat selvedge edge. Shanta credits Horst Schultz as the original source of this technique: Knit into the back of the first stitch on the left-hand needle. Work across stitches on needle to just before the last stitch. Bring yarn forward and slip the last stitch as if to purl. Turn work, knit into the back of the first stitch on the needle, and work the next stitch giving the yarn a little tug to tighten the stitch.
Shanta's mother-in-law taught her to weave a few yards of yarn left over from a sweater project into the body seam. Extra yarn will be available if needed for mending. Since the
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