Binding Off

To keep bound off stitches from being too tight and pulling in your project (or not being able get a sweater over your head), use a needle 1 or 2 sizes bigger to bind off. The nature of bound off stitches is non-elastic so make sure you either knit very loosely or use a bigger needle.

Threading Beads Onto Yarn

Use a dental floss threader as a needle when stringing beads onto yarn. They look like a giant embroidery needle and are very flexible. Put your yarn in the loop as if you were threading the needle. Pick up the bead and slide it down over the loop which will collapse and you can pull the bead on to the yarn. This works especially well if you have a tight fit between the bead and the yarn.

Scarf Edge Stitches

To make a pretty scarf selvedge edging, the easiest is to slip the first stitch of every row purlwise which makes the edge look like a chain stitch. Another edge idea is to add 8 stitches to your cast-on. Then k1, yo, k2tog at the beginning of every row or k2tog, yo at the beginning of every row.

Casting on in the Middle of a Row

Most times when you have a pocket or buttonhole to insert in your project, the pattern will say to cast on a certain number of stitches while you are in the middle of the row. It’s easily done if you turn your work around (wrong side toward you) and use a knitted on or backward loop cast on method. Then turn your work so it’s front facing again and continue to knit.

Yarn Weights

If you have the perfect pattern but not quite the right yarn to get started, use this general guide:
If you double lace weight yarn, you’ll get close to sport weight;
Doubling fingering weight gives DK weight;
Doubling sport weight gives worsted weight;
Doubling worsted weight gives super bulky weight.
Or you could use the problem as an excuse to go yarn shopping!

Casting On Using Double Pointed Needles

When using double pointed needles, instead of dividing your stitches among 3 or 4 needles when you cast on, use just 2 needles. You can knit the first couple of rounds on 2 needles no matter how many stitches you have. Then divide your stitches onto 3 or 4 needles. This will make it easier to make sure you don’t have twisted stitches.

Buttons and Buttonholes

If you are knitting a cardigan and want to make sure the placement of the buttons are exactly opposite the buttonholes, knit both fronts at the same time and knit a reverse stitch or another marking stitch on the button band in the same row as you make your buttonholes on the buttonhole band. Sew your button over the marked stitch.

Stretchy Cast On Edge

For most knitters, it’s easier to make a stretchy bind off than cast on edge so if a tight cast on is a problem for you, try this. Use a provisional cast-on, then come back later, pick up those stitches and bind off.

Gauge Problems

Usually, if you can get the right number of stitches per inch but have too many rows per inch, your yarn is too thin. If you can get the right number of stitches per inch but have too few rows per inch, your yarn is too thick.

Bind Off In Ribbing

To make a smoother bind-off in ribbing, always have your yarn in the back of the stitches whenever you pull the finished stitch over to bind off. So after a purl stitch, move the yarn to the back before slipping the stitch off the right-hand needle

Creating Scarves

An easy way to create a scarf is to look at all of the free dishcloth patterns available online. Most are about 8” wide which is a good size for a scarf. Just add a 3 stitch garter border and knit to length.

Decreasing Slants - k2tog or ssk

If you have a hard time remembering when to use a k2tog and when to use a ssk while decreasing when using a chart, here’s a tip for you. The symbols on the chart follow the shape of how you work the stitch so use this guide:
/ follows the curve of the number 2 so you k2tog (knit two stitches together)
\ follows the curve of the letter S so you ssk
(slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip 1 stitch knitwise (or purlwise), then knit both of those stitches together through the back loop)

Blocking Acrylic Fibers

Blocking really finishes your knitting projects. Even if you are not using natural fibers, blocking is possible. Check out this link (http://beadknitterpatterns.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-block-acrylic.html) to block acrylics which will show you a before and after blocking photo along with detailed blocking instructions. Or click the title of this post to see the article.

Ribbing Transition

For a good looking transition from ribbing to stockinette or a pattern in the main portion of your garment, on the last ribbing row, SLIP every knit stitch purlwise and purl every purl ribbing stitch. On the next row, change to a larger size needle and begin the body of the garment.

Circular Needle Bind-Off

When binding off using circular needles, most times there will be a noticeable edge where the first and last stitch meet. To take care of that, using the tail of your yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, insert needle into the first bound-off chain to the left of the first stitch. Go under both loops of that chain, then insert the tapestry needle back down into the last chain (which is where your yarn tail came from). Pull slightly to even out and then weave the end into the back of your work.

Connecting Circular Knitting

To connect circular knitting, use “bulldog” type clips or snap type clothespins. After casting on, clip the stitches every few inches so the stitches will all hang downward and you can connect your circle being confident it will not become a mobius piece unintentionally.

Knitting With Circulars

If you are a tight knitter and sometimes have trouble on circulars getting your stitches to move up to the left needle tip, interchangeable needles are made for you. The needle on the right determines the gauge of your project so you can use a smaller needle on the left and have those stitches slide easily. You’ll knit faster and your hands will appreciate the break.

Felting Mittens

An easy way to felt mittens for yourself is to use a double sink. Fill one side with cold water and one side with hot water. Add a little soap or shampoo to the hot water. Put the mittens on your hands and wash your hands with the mittens on, alternating between the hot and cold water until they fit. Rinse in warm water, take the mittems off, shape with plastic bags inside of them and let them dry.

Sewing Seams

If you need to sew seams together, use a sewing pressing ham. The knitting pieces will stay in place and the ham is curved just enough to let you easily pick up the seam edges for a mattress stitch seam. You can also sew while it is in your lap or on the tabletop.

Variegated Yarn

When knitting a project using variegated yarn, make sure you pull from the skein the same way (i.e., from the outside or from the center) for the entire project. There's a distinct diffeence in how the color patterning appears with most variegated yarns.

Beginner Knitters

If you are new to knitting, make your first project using variegated yarn. The changing colors will make it much easier to see your stitches.

Smooth Transition to Ribbing

If you want to create a smooth line for ribbing when knitting a top down sweater, on the last round before the ribbing, change to a smaller sized needle which is usually 2 sizes smaller than the body of the sweater. Work one round of the body stitches (stockinette or pattern). On the first round of ribbing, SLIP every knit stitch and purl the purl stitches. On the next round, knit the normal ribbing stitches to the desired length.

Bind Off Using A Crochet Hook

You can save quite a bit of time by using a crochet hook instead of the right hand knitting needle when binding off. Here's how:

Using a crochet hook about the same size as your knitting needles, hook the first loop on the left-hand needle and knit the stitch onto the hook. Knit the next stitch onto the hook and pull the new stitch through the stitch already on the hook. Continue across the row pulling your new stitch through the one already on the crochet hook. At the end of the row, pull yarn through the last loop on the hook. It makes a nice even edge and is a major time saver.

Long Tail Cast-On - Which Strand?

If you use a long tail cast-on, do you ever accidentally pick up the tail end to knit only to find out half a row later that you are using the wrong strand? When you finish your cast-on, tie a slip knot in the tail or else wrap it into a butterfly knot so you can tell immediately which is the strand for knitting.

Placing Buttonholes Evenly

To evenly mark buttonholes, use about a 12-15” length of 1” wide elastic. Lay it out without stretching and using a permanent marker, mark a dot every inch leaving an inch selvedge on each end. To use it, use a binder clip to fasten one end of the elastic to a ruler or yardstick. Stretch it to the needed length and clip the other end. Now you have a movable ruler marked to your buttonhole specifications. I do recommend marking the sweater (clips or the like) right away to avoid errors in the event that the binder clips slip. When stretched, the dots will mark your buttonholes evenly down the length of front band so just use a clip stitch marker at the spots where the dots are.

By the way, to remember which side for buttonholes, use this saying:
Holy Moly! Girls are always right and boys are always out in left field. (The holes would be on the right for girls.)