Knitting

Today's hints and tips are for knitting. These tip will show you how to work with different kinds of wool, to little hints and tips that will make your knitting more enjoyable and bring better finishes.

KNITTING

Use a loose – leaf ring binder to keep patterns in.

When knitting a complicated pattern, sometimes it easier to copy the basic pattern on a separate piece of paper.

Use the kitchen roll ,empty roll, as a knitting needle holder. Cover it one end & all the round if you like, Or use a piece of curtain tape to slot needles in.

Mark your knitting needle in inches to use to measure whilst knitting.

When undoing wool which you have knitted wrong or from an old garment, wrap the wool around a hot water bottle. The wool should have no kinks & will be easier to knit with.

Put mohair or angora wool in the fridge to cool before using it to knit with. Keeps the fluff down.

Before knitting with white wool, dust your hands with scented talcum powder. This keeps the wool clean & will give the garment a fragrant smell.

To avoid eye strain when knitting with dark coloured wool, cover your lap with a white cloth so its easier to see.

When starting to knit a new garment , leave at least 8 inches (20cm) of wool & use this to start sewing seams with. Stops seams becoming undone at the bottom.

If the tension of knitting is rather tight & the stitches difficult to slide off, put a spot of polish on a cloth & pull the needle through a few times.

Instead of joining wool by tying knots, thread one end of the wool through a darning needle & weave it into the end of the new ball 2-3inches (5-7cm). This makes a neater stronger join.

To no if there is sufficient wool to complete another row, the wool must equal three times the width of the work..

To stop the edges of knitting rolling inwards, knit the first stitch of every line. This also makes sewing up easier.

If you tend to cast off too tightly , try using a larger needle at this stage.

When knitting bands for the edge of a cardigan, use two balls of wool & at the same time mark button spacing.

When sewing up knitted garments, tack in place with pins with large coloured heads. They are more easily seen in the wool.

Use embroidery threads of a matching colour to sew up knitted garments. This gives neater seams, less sagging & lasts longer.

When knitting children's clothes , line the elbows with nylon . this gives longer wear.

If you have problems finding buttons to match a knitted cardigan, buy some small curtain rings & crochet round them with matching wool.

When making a round neck sweater, sew a few stitches of different coloured wool on the inside back of the neck to help tell which way round you wear it.

After completing an aran garment, fold it neatly & sit on it for about half an hour. This gives a natural pressing & improves the finished look.

If knitting squares for a patchwork cover, knit the first square and then join the next colour & proceed with the next square, join the strips of squares to complete