Index of Articles & Tips

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

Here are articles and tips from past issues of HeartStrings Knitterly News, the e-Newsletter publication of HeartStrings FiberArts. 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.

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.

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.
• 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.
• 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?

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.
• 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
  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.

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.
• 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.

Other Articles and Quick Tips

• 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?
• Smoother Wooden Needles
  Help your stitches move more easily across the needles.
• Circular Needle Organizer
  A home-grown solution.
• Small Beads
  Reduce abrasion when stringing smaller beads relative to the yarn size.
• Be a Bead Counter
  A bit of quick counting in beaded knitting avoids errors discovered later.
• 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 Story
  Guest article by Ellen Sandin of Earth Faire.
• 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?

HeartStrings Knitterly News

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