• To determine the amount of yarn needed to cast on stitches, loosely wrap the yarn around the needle 10 times. This is the amount needed for 10 stitches. Now, divide the number of desired stitches needed by 10. This number tells you how many times to multiply the length of the yarn. For example if you are casting on 40 stitches, wrap the yarn around the needle 10 times. If this takes 12 inches of yarn, multiply 12 inches by 4 inches and make the slip knot 48 inches from the end. I usually give myself a little extra just to be on the safe side, so probably would put the slipknot at 52 inches. Also, once you get the hang of this, you don’t have to measure in inches. Just double the yarn over itself till you have made the required number of repeats.



• To avoid knitting with the wrong end of the yarn after casting on stitches, tie a knot in the short end of yarn so that it can be felt without looking. This is also helpful when the piece is completed. On squares or strips of knitting you can tell at a glance which end was cast on and which end was bound off. This hint came from my mother, Ethel Volpe.



• To wind yarn into a ball, which pulls from the inside, wrap the yarn around the fingers on your left hand while holding on to the end of the yarn between your left thumb and index finger. After 10 or more wraps, remove the yarn from your fingers and start wrapping the yarn around the original wraps, again holding on to the end. Then, wrap the yarn every which way, always keeping track of the end. When finished, the end will pull out easily. This hint came from my husband’s Aunt Zoe Gallentine.



• To determine if you have enough yarn to make another item, identical to the one just finished (like a potholder or dishcloth), weigh the finished item on a postage scale. Then weigh the remaining yarn.



• To thread a needle with yarn to sew the knitting project together, fold the end of yarn in half and pinch it between your thumb and index finger. Force the needle down between the 2 fingers into the yarn.



• In a pinch, use a toothpick when a cable holder is not available.



• A cable holder isn’t always necessary when making cables of 2 or 3 stitches. Instead of slipping the 2 or 3 stitches to a cable holder, slip them off the left needle to the back or front of the work and knit the next stitches on the left needle. Then, pick up the slipped stitches and knit them. They usually haven’t gone anyplace and it sure saves a lot of time.

Copyright 2001-2002 Ann V. Gallentine