Index of Articles & Tips

From the knitting needles and spinning wheel of Jackie E-S

My wish is that a tip or comment here will cause you to think of something in a new way, or you will recall something long forgotten, or lead you to other random thoughts and "un"-ventions. These are offered to you without charge, but if you find them helpful and would like to donate something, of course I would be most appreciative.

In addition to the listings here, there may also be some other articles of interest to you in recent issues of HeartStrings Knitterly News, the e-Newsletter publication of HeartStrings FiberArts. I also invite you to subscribe to the newsletter so that you can read the newest articles as I write them.

Creativity

• The Role of Individual Creativity
  Spinning straw into gold.
• Creative Expression
  Using patterns as a jumping off point for your own creations.
• Discovering the "Wrong Side"
  New insights and creative pleasures await you on the other side.
• Creatively Ethereal
  Kim's handpainted roving scarf version.
• The 3 R's of Knitting
  Use the theme of Reading wRiting aRithmetic to learn about our fiber arts.
• When Oops! Turns into Creativity
  Turning mistakes into creative learning experiences.
• What Kind of Project Are You?
  Just for fun, we ran this easy one-question survey to get all of us thinking about how we approach our knitting projects. How do you compare?
• For Art's Sake vs. Utilitarian – Does your knitting have to have a practical purpose?
  Where does the Art of Knitting fit?

Fiber Frenzy

• Warm Fibers that are Cool
  Wool and silk are fibers that keep you both warm and cool. How do they know when to do which?
• Superwash Wool
  The convenience of machine washability in a natural fiber.
• 5 Favorite Tips for Knitting with Handspun
  These tips are my top 5 favorites from a workshop with Rita Buchanan that have served me well through the years.
• Knitting with Cotton
  "Give Me Five" quick tips for success with cotton yarns.
• Rayon
  A great choice for cool comfort in warm weather.
• What is Silk Noil?
  Lovely texture from the waste product of combed silk.
• What's that Smell?
  How to get rid of the fishy odor that is sometimes found in silk.
• Knitting with Silk
  Quick tips for handling silk on and off the knitting needles.
• Using an Umbrella Swift
  Try the "ferris wheel" method for smooth reeling with less tension.
• Yarn Direction
  Yarns with a nap.
• Must I Wash Yarn before Using?
  Knitting with a variety of yarns in the same project.
• What is Wraps Per Inch (WPI)?
  Measuring and universally communicating a yarn's thickness.
• How Ends Per Inch (EPI) correlates to knitting gauge
  Translating weaving terms like Ends Per Inch (EPI) and 8/2 type yarn measurements into knitting terms.
• What is Blooming?
  Flowers bloom, but what about yarn?
• Playing with Color in your Mind's Eye
  What might yarn colors really look like when knitted?
• Alternating Balls of Handpainted Yarn
  3-ball method to achieve same thickness at both ends of the knitted row.
• Spinning a 2-ply Laceweight Yarn
  Spinning hand-dyed silk roving into a 2-ply laceweight yarn.
• Cotton Roving - braiding, dyeing, spinning and knitting
  An outline of steps to take cotton roving from its undyed, natural state to a colorful knitted scarf.
• Spinning Jacob Wool – one fleece, many colors
  Create a palette of tones from light to dark from a single Jacob Sheep fleece.
• Wool Damage
  Don't make the mistake I did.
• Can You Use Same Size Needles and Number of Stitches for 2 Different Yarn Weights?
  If so, what is the reasoning behind it?

Finishing as an In-Process Activity

• Intro to Finishing Starts at the Beginning
  Exercise choices and employ techniques to make more of your projects like the "when you're done, you're done" category.
• To Seam or Not to Seam?
  Make the finishing steps of your knitting project easier and seem effortless by making good choices at the very beginning of your project.
• End-less Knitting
  Options that help reduce ends that need to be woven in later.
• To Swatch or Not?
  Like any other planning activity, swatching can help make the final finishing steps easier.
• Making Swatches Bigger (so you can make bunnies)
  Need motivation to make bigger swatches? This fun idea came in from Bonnie of Maryland.
• To Begin the Tale
  What good is a tail of yarn?
• Cast On for a Good Finish
  Getting off to a good start can save you from dealing later with finishing problems or disappointments.
• What to do with Ends?
  Hiding yarn ends in lace knitting. Includes instructions for joining yarn using the "Stitching Together" method.
• A Continuous Yarn: Splicing
  How to splice two ends of yarn for an invisible join using the "Splitting Plies and Re-twisting" method.
• Russian Join
  Joining yarn with the "Interlocking Loops" method.
• Slimmer is Better
  Quick tip for joining and finishing ends with a blunt-ended sewing needle.
• Gathered Woven Closure
  An improved approach to closing off the last few stitches of a circular item.
• Suspended Stitch Bind Off
  A method to achieve a loose bind off edge.
• What is Crochet Bind Off?
  Using a crochet hook for regular bind offs and for decorative effects in lace knitting.
• Doily Finish Using Crochet
  A method to achieve a smooth invisible join.
• No-Sew Method for Attaching Buttons
  Have you ever thought about attaching your buttons directly onto a sweater button band as you knit/crochet, rather than sewing them on afterwards?

Blocking and Care

• Blocking Tips
  Make blocking a pleasurable part of the knitting process.
• Blocking in Progress
  Blocking is something we usually think of as only doing in the final stages of completing a knitting project – usually the very last thing! But have you ever worried while knitting whether you were going to like the outcome? Avoid the uncertainty of whether something is going to turn out satisfactorily by doing a blocking in progress.
• Knitted Lace Blocking Magic
  Do you believe in magic? Well, just compare the before and after of blocking knitted lace!
• Weaving in Ends
  Should you block first then weave in the ends, or weave in the ends then block it?
• Extracting Water
  Tips for use with small hand-washed articles.
• Special Soap?
  Treat your fine woolens as you would your own hair.
• Washing Socks
  Hand washing method for deep cleaning delicate yarn.
• Is Dry Cleaning OK for a Lace Gift?
  Q&A: Should I advise the wearer to have it dry cleaned when necessary, since she won't have blocking materials?
• Wash Before Giving?
  Remove any doubts that the item is thoroughly clean and fresh, while making your item look first-class.
• Blocking a Smoke Ring
  Keep it simple - how to block a smoke ring. Even though a smoke ring is a tubular item, the lace can be successfully blocked as two layers rather than complicating matters by trying to block in-the-round. Here's how ...
• What percentage can you expect lace to increase in size after blocked?
  Is it a general rule of thumb that a piece of lace will typically increase in size by 25% after blocking? It depends ...
• Repairing a hand-knit sock with a knit-in-place patch
  Considering the time and expense of making hand-knit socks, it is well worth the effort to repair them if you eventually wear through a hole.

Spinning Yarn

• 5 Favorite Tips for Knitting with Handspun
  Here are my "top 5" favorite take-aways that have served me well through all these years. Whether it is something new to you or just a reminder, I hope you find them useful when knitting with hand spun yarn or even choosing commercially spun yarn for your projects …
• Deb Robson explains scouring fleece
  Deb Robson is the presenter in Knitting Daily TV Episode 603's How-to Segment. This segment focuses on the the process for producing yarn before you even knit a stitch. Deb explains step-by-step the process …
• Cotton Roving – braiding, dyeing, spinning and knitting
  Here is a fun way to play with cotton roving …
• Spinning Jacob Wool – one fleece, many colors
  Jacob sheep are small, multi-horned animals somewhat resembling goats. I love their spotted colors because of the fun I've had with their wool fleeces. From just one Jacob Sheep fleece, I can create a palette of tones from light to dark. Let me share …
• Knitted lace blanket in handspun Cotswold wool
  The background on spinning for my Cotswold Lacie Blankie entry to the Save the Sheep Project, sponsored by Interweave Press and included in the book Handspun Treasures from Rare Wools. …
• Moody Blues, handspun pima cotton plied with silk
  Besides the hypnotically soothing relaxation I feel when spinning, I think that a great joy in handspinning your own yarn is practiced control over the creative results. There often is the serendipity, too, and this leads to even more adventures and exploration …
• Spinning a 2-ply laceweight yarn for a scarf
  I am often asked about the laceweight yarns I have handspun and used to knit scarves or shawls. At the top of my list of favorites, I like to spin a laceweight 2-ply yarn from hand-painted silk, cotton or fine wool blend. Here's how …
• Deco-organizing a spindle spinning collection
  There's nothing more cost-effective than decorating with items you already own. And there's nothing more satisfying than organizing in a creative way. Put them together and you get "deco-organizing".

Knitting with Beads

• What Weight Yarn with which Bead Size?
  Guidelines for bead sizes and the corresponding yarn weight that can be used.
• Combining beads and yarn: Learning to make good choices
  The importance of selecting quality materials for your projects cannot be underestimated.
• How to use a knitting needle gauge to determine bead size
  Have you acquired some seed beads and you are not sure if they are the size you need?
• Bead Weight Conversion
  Many beads are sold by weight only. How do I know how many beads I am buying?
• Stringing Beads for Knitting or Crochet
  Tips for stringing beads onto your yarn/thread without special beading needles.
• Simple Beading Needle Options
  You don't need fancy needles to string beads. Use something you probably already have on hand.
• Transferring Pre-strung Beads
  Step-by-step visuals to show you how I transfer beads pre-strung on a temporary thread to the project yarn/thread.
• Tips for Stringing Tiny Loose Beads
  How you get loose beads strung onto your thread is a personal choice. Practice makes things go faster, so be patient and just experiment with what works best for you. Here are some ways you can try.
• Small Beads
  Reduce abrasion when stringing smaller beads relative to the yarn size.
• Stringing Beads in a Planned Color Sequence
  The color sequence in which we string beads is in the reverse order to the order in which they will be knitted.
• Easy Knitting with Beads
  Slip/sliding a bead into place.
• Beaded Garter Stitch: A Peek Behind the Scenes
  There are several intriguing things about this beading technique.
• Be a Bead Counter
  A bit of quick counting in beaded knitting avoids errors discovered later.
• Bead Row Pre-Counting Tip
  This is an expanded version of the above "Be a Bead Counter" article.
• The Beading Truth
  Beads want to go to the bumpy side of the fabric (and will do so unless something is holding them back).
• Sizing Up Crochet Hooks
  For beginners, a common question that comes up is: What size crochet hook do you use for beads when you're knitting them into a pattern?
• Using a crochet hook to pull a loop of yarn through a bead
  Before attempting on live stitches, you can practice with a loop of yarn. This also checks the crochet hook will work with beads and yarn for your project.
• Some Other Options for Hooking Beads
  For placing a bead on the yarn loop of a live stitch, you don't absolutely have to use a crochet hook. Anything that will pull the yarn loop through the hole in you bead can be considered, e.g. wire, superfloss (photo tutorial included) and fishing line.
• Spinning Yarn for Beaded Knitting
  Is it strong enough for beads?
• Selecting Beads to Go with Your Yarn
  Guest article by Linda Michaluk of Swallow Hill Creations.
• A Heart-Warming (Pulse-Warming) Story
  Guest article by Ellen Sandin of Earth Faire.
• Ideas for Finding Places to Buy Beads
  Guidance for what to look for, what to ask for, and where to look.
• What Kind of Bead Color Person Are You?
  There is no right answer. A lot has to do with personal taste. But it can also be a bit anti-intuitive because other factors need to be considered in making a final choice of what color beads to use with a yarn.

Miscellaneous Articles and Other Quick Tips

• Have Our Eyes Fooled Us?
  Do you sometimes think you are following instructions, then find out later your eyes fooled you?
• A Nifty Measuring Tape
  A nifty little gadget to take easier, more accurate and consistent body measurements.
• Support Full-service Yarn Stores
  Have you found your local yarn store yet?
• Choosing Needle Size
  A useful method to choose a starting needle size to use for swatching your yarn.
• What is the Correct Knitting Gauge?
  The actual knitting is what tells the true story.
• Reading Out Loud
  Have your eyes fooled you? Do you sometimes think you are following instructions, then find out later your eyes fooled you? Maybe your first clue is that things are not working out. Or maybe something is just not making sense. Here's a tip that can help ...
• Smoother Wooden Needles
  Help your stitches move more easily across the needles.
• Circular Knitting Needle Organizer
  A home-grown solution for creating an interesting wall hanging while at the same time keeping circular knitting needles organized by size.
• The Lifeline
  "Insurance" for knitters.
• Repairing a Lace Knitting Disaster
  Nearing the big FO (Finished Object) stage for a shawl, I instead detoured to the "disaster" stage. I washed and went to block the shawl and a big area in one of the corners was nearly disintegrated. Here is the story …
• A Less Stressful k3tog
  Tips for less stress on both you and the thread.
• SSK Alternative Method
  A no-slip, no-remount method for making a left-leaning decrease.
• Crazy Quilt Combination of Colors
  Using small amounts of yarn in knitting projects.
• Cable Take-up
  Guidelines to avoid flare and puckering.
• Lever-Action Knitting
  This is not an endorsement of the way I knit. I am describing here, only because so many people have asked. If you are looking to add to, change or refine your repertoire of knitting methods, I hope you find these ideas helpful. The basic premise is that less wasted motion means quicker knitting. A side benefit is the reduction of risk for repetitive motion stress ailments.
• Seamless Shoulder-down Sweater Sleeves
  A neat construction alternative to knitting sleeves from cuff to sleeve cap, then sewing into the body of the sweater.
• Sizing Up a Pattern
  Knitting for the larger figure.
• The Weigh-Down on Stitches
  Struggling to work the first row or two of your knitting?
• Easy Knitted Circular Center Start
  How to avoid the struggle of beginning the center of a circularly knit piece.
• Avoiding Finger Pain
  Knitting should NOT be a pain. There shouldn't be any stress or strain on the finger in continental knitting.
• Will a circular needle work for making this blanket?
  Why you should consider using a circular needle for flat knitting when there are a lot of stitches.
• Substituting Circular Needles for Double Point Needles
  By using this tip, you can substitute circular methods (either two circulars, or even one circular) for any patterns written for double point needles.
• Join Without Twisting
  Avoid mishaps of twisting your stitches while joining for circular knitting. This fool-proof method assures you get it right the first time.
• The Pedantic Cabler
  Tips for knitting a perfect cable.
• How to Stiffen Lace
  Tried and true stiffening that can't be beat.
• How long can triangle shawl be with the yarn you have?
  A Balancing Act: When 1/4 = 1/2
• Take Time to Save Knitting Time: Rehearse the Process
  A little bit of rehearsing will save time in the end by building confidence and reducing the chances of set-backs.
• Will this keep my edges from curling?
  What NOT to do.
• Changing the Needle Size to Make Pattern Smaller or Larger
  It isn't a matter of gauge only.
• A Pretty Yarn Bowl
  Protect your yarn from rolling around and tangling, while supporting a local artist.
• Fleece Piece Keepers: Sort and Wash Mesh Bags
  These poly mesh bags can be used for washing fleece, for dyeing, controlling balls of fine yarn, and with caring for your small accessory knits like socks.
• Ways to Wear Triangle Shawls
  Discover new ideas for weaingr your triangular shawls.
• Beeswax Cakes for Crafting
  Did you know beeswax is useful in crafts?
• A Different Take on Making Lemonade Out of Lemons
  Do you love silk, but hate when it snags on your hands while knitting or spinning?

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