One of the things I love about knitting is that there is always something new to learn. There is so much information about – in magazines, books and websites – that it becomes confusing quickly if you do not know what to look for.
Here are the questions that come up most often.
Why does my knitting curl at the edges?
Because it is stocking stitch. Knit and purl stitches pull differently, and in stocking stitch they all face the same way, so the fabric rolls.
This is not a mistake and it cannot be fixed by knitting more carefully. Add a border in garter stitch, seed stitch or ribbing – that is exactly what those borders are for.
Why is my scarf getting wider?
You are adding stitches at the edges. Almost always the yarn is sitting in front of the needle at the start of a row, creating an extra loop that looks like a stitch.
Make sure the yarn is behind the work before knitting the first stitch, and count at the end of every row.
Does gauge really matter?
For anything that has to fit, yes, and more than any other factor. Stitches per inch multiplied by inches gives your stitch count – a small difference multiplied across a garment becomes a large one.
For a scarf, a blanket or a dishcloth, you can skip it.
What does blocking do?
Wetting relaxes the fibres so they set into the shape you pin them to. It evens out the stitches, opens lace, and makes pieces the right size for seaming.
It is transformative for wool and lace, does less for cotton, and barely works on acrylic, which has no such memory.
Which yarn should I use?
Whatever weight the pattern specifies, in a fibre that behaves the way the garment needs. Wool for structure, cotton and silk for drape.
And machine washable for anything that will actually be washed.
How do I fix a dropped stitch?
Catch it with a crochet hook and work it back up the ladder, one rung at a time, until it reaches the needle.
It is much less alarming than it looks, and worth learning early – it turns a disaster into a two-minute repair.
Why does my yarn keep splitting?
Too sharp a needle tip for that yarn, or working too tightly. Try a blunter tip.
How do I stop my hands aching?
Stop gripping, let the weight of the work rest in your lap rather than hang from your wrists, use good light, and take a break every half hour. Most knitting strain is posture rather than hands.
