5 knitting hacks that'll improve your time and sanity
These simple tips are life-changing!
Do you know that famous Bill Gates' quote where he says, "I choose a lazy person to do a hard job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it"? Well, combine this with the creative mind of a crafter, and you'll have loads of amazing solutions for tricky everyday problems. Most of the hacking lists are for beginners, but these tips will try to change experts’ lives, too. I hope you enjoy it!
1. The incredible versatility of lightbulb pins
Norman, from NimbleNeedles, has an amazing video about how these little pieces of wire can change your knitting game forever. If you're using interchangeable needles, you can insert them into those little holes made for screwing the needle into the cable and hold your stitches.
You may also use them to count rows, especially in socks; they're very useful for this. Additionally, you can use them to count stitches in a very long cast-on. For example, if you have 300 stitches to cast on, place a pin every other 50 stitches to simplify your life and counting.
Use them to track your progress, mark the right side in reversible stitch patterns, and more! Discover a lot of other amazing tricks in Norman's full video, and support him on Patreon.
2. Never make a scrappy yarn cast-on again
The rubber cords for stitch-saving are already a must-have accessory for knitters. They're incredibly handy for trying on a sweater that is still on the needles or a sock that's on a 9-inch needle. But did you know that Laura Nelkin has taught us a very didactic way to use these babies for a provisional cast-on with much less effort than crochet chains or scrappy yarn? You can watch her full tutorial here.
This method can also be applied to extra cables; just attach your needles to them when you want to recover the resting stitches. Simply amazing!
3. Use straight needles for blocking
If you don't have blocking wires, or you feel that they're costly for the limited use you'll give them, you may be right. Your old straight needles can do the job just as effectively. The ideal needles for this task are the very thin ones used for baby clothes or socks. They work incredibly well for cowls or hats. Insert them inside the tube you wish to block, stretch, and pin it on your blocking mat.
4. Use stitch markers as cable needles.
Not everybody has a good relationship with cable needles, and if you haven't reached the "I cross stitches without help" level, this one is for you. If you find cable needles too big, slippery, or awkward to hold, fear not. That plastic locking stitch marker that EVERY knitter has in their notions bag can come to the rescue.
Simply place your stitches on the marker, lock them in place, and place them behind or in front of your work with the peace of mind that they'll be held still and safe. Watch a full tutorial here.
5. Knitted Kitchener stitch
Raise your hand if you've ever finished a top-down sock or needed to join a sweater shoulder while on the road without a tapestry needle nearby. Or perhaps you're still stumbling through the grafting steps, struggling to achieve that perfect invisible seam. Teresa from fuzzywhatknots teaches us how to achieve the same invisible result by simply knit-seaming the stitches. It's just amazing; check out her tutorial here.
Click here to read more articles on knitting hacks and tips.
—written by Tamy Antunes
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That's a great idea to use the cable for a provisional cast on.