9 Habits That Will Make You a Better Knitter

Do not just put a knitting project in your bag and think it will be absolutely untouched by anything else in it! It will get caught on phones, pens, and books and collect dust. Be sure to put your WIPs in project bags to keep them safe! You can use the gorgeous organza bags or invest in some beautiful project bags to keep your WIPs safe!

If you are like me, your needles are either stuck in a knit back or sticking out of a jar decoratively, but that's not exactly the best way to care for them! Shop needles in pairs with rubber bands and mark them, especially if you have wooden needles where the size may have worn off, either with an indelible pen or a dot of nail polish to show you what size they are. A knitting bag is perfect for storing your individual needles, or a long case will protect your needles!

Living a busy life often means that knitting is sidelined and left until the evening, or perhaps for a Sunday. Try to make time for your knitting if you can, and give yourself a special slice of time that is yours and yours alone.

Even the most hardy of knitters make mistakes because they don't read their patterns properly! You might think you can skim through a pattern, but techniques change all the time, and so does yarn! Reading the pattern through thoroughly before you start will ensure that you have everything you need and will give you the chance to look up skills or techniques you either haven't come across before, or need brushing up!

As long as you do not have to rip out 30 rows of stockinette stitch, you should not make any mistakes. Turn it off and repeat - or you will discover the mistake every time you see the knit! Do not be afraid to knit backwards - reading and correcting your knitting is a fantastic way to expand your knitting knowledge. If you do not feel confident doing this on your own, ask a fellow knitter for help!

It's something we talk about a lot, but knowing your tension is essential for knitting garments that fit. Tension, or gauge, is the reflection of how you knit - whether you knit tightly, or loosely, measuring the size of your stitches themselves. If five knitters sat down with the same size needles and the same weight yarn and knit 10 rows, none of them would measure the same in size! It doesn't matter whether your tension is loose or tight - it's your personal tension. To alter it, simply change your needles up or down a size to make your stitches bigger or smaller rather than trying to knit tighter or looser.

We often have more than one project in the works, but that's not a bad thing! Often you need a project for easy knitting, a project that is relaxing and does not take too much out of you (think rows and rows of stockinette stitch), and maybe you have a project that requires real concentration. Try to be mindful when you knit, and by that I mean focus on what you are doing and really try to enjoy the moment - for relaxation or for progression - whatever - really focus on your knitting. Very few knitters, no matter what they say, can knit without thought.

If you do not like what you are knitting, stop, unless you are working on an assignment! Sometimes we start with a yarn we are not convinced about, or a pattern we do not actually like - and we persevere and persevere, but we do not enjoy it. My advice at this point is to just stop and quit. There's no point in knitting something for yourself that you'll never wear, and all the hours and time that go into this project are wasted if you do not really like it! I knit half a jumper in a gorgeous pumpkin shade before I realised there was no way I was going to wear it. Start something you love.

Your hands are your tools, and if they hurt, you will not knit! First, make sure you stretch your fingers and wrists before you start knitting and during to keep them supple. Take regular breaks and gently massage your palms and fingers to release tension - it's amazing how much tension we can shop in our hands! If you have the opportunity, have a professional massage your hands and you'll be amazed at the difference it makes! Invest in a good hand cream to keep your skin soft so it feels comfortable with the yarn, but also to prevent dry skin from cracking. There are many helpful tips if you find that your hands hurt: try using shorter needles, cable needles to keep the weight off long single points, and work with wood or bamboo, which is easier to grip than metal.