betterknits
Jo in in g y arn
Start a new ball of
yarn at end of row or
seam edge. Drop old
yarn and begin stitching with new yarn,
leaving a 15cm tail. After working a few
stitches, tie ends together in a loose knot
at the side. When you’ve finished knitting,
undo knot and weave one end up edge
of fabric a few centimetres, doubling back
for a few stitches to secure. Weave other
end in opposite direction in the same way.
Before you get your needles clacking, cast your eye over these helpful hints
Colour twist
When you want to knit together
blocks of different colours, use a
separate ball for each section of
coiour. Twist different-coloured
yarns over each other to prevent
holes. Twist colour to be used underneath and
to the right of colour just used. Always change
colours on wrong side of work so colour change
does not show on right side.
Dropped a stitch?
You can pick up a dropped
stitch with a crochet hook,
even if it has unravelled
several rows down to create
a ladder-like effect. To pick
up knit stitches, insert crochet hook into the
dropped stitch, pick up the bar lying above, and pull
it through the loop of the dropped stitch. Repeat for
all bars in the ladder up to the top of the knitting,
then slip the stitch back onto the left-hand needle.
Knitting stitch em broidery
1. When working from right to left, bring
needle out in centre of stitch you wish to
embroider. Take it up and around head of
stitch from right to left (under stitch above).
2. Take needle back through centre of
the original stitch and out through centre
of stitch on left.
3. When working from left to right, bring
needle out in centre of stitch and take it up
and around head of stitch from left to right.
Yarn bobbins
When your pattern
requires you to knit
with more than one
colour, it helps
to wind a small
amount of each
yarn on separate plastic
bobbins, to prevent them
from tangling and to make
knitting easier. You can buy
plastic bobbins from large
craft and wool stores.
f t l i
Y ou r g o o d ie b a g
As well as yarn and needles,
essentials for your knitting
bag include a small, sharp
pair of scissors, crochet
hook, blunt tapestry needle,
tape measure and safety
pins. In addition, there are
various handy accessories
available like row counters,
stitch holders, needle
gauges, point protectors
and circular needles.
Knitter’s tips
■ If you tend to cast on too
tightly, use a larger needle. Too
loosely? Use a smaller needle.
Change back to the correct
size to begin knitting.
■ To estimate if you have
enough yarn to complete a
row, lay knitting flat and check
if remaining yarn will reach
across your work at least four
times. If not, start a new ball.
■ Always complete a row
before putting down knitting.
Otherwise, stitches may
stretch or come off the needle.
■ Never tie knots in the
middle of a row. They tend to
work their way to the front,
making the knitting look messy.
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BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS. MAY 2011 bhg.com.au
Knitter’s tips Australian Country Spinners, Fiona Connolly
