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Other knitting tips & tricks

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Videos: 32
1:16
How to use a marking thread (MT) between two stitches

It's many times a great idea to use a marking thread to mark where to make inc, or dec, the start of the round or the sides when working in the round on double pointed needles or circular needles etc. You can let the thread follow your work and then just pull it out afterward. In our video we are inc 1 st each side of the marking thread.
5:17
In the round on two circular

When you work a smaller piece in the round like a sock or a cuff, and you don't want to use or you don't have double pointed needles, you can knit in the round using two circular needles. Cast on with one circular, divide sts by moving half the sts to another circular. Pull needles through to the side where you have the working yarn. Make sure sts on round are not twisted when joining. Start knitting sts on the needle not attached to working yarn. Always make sure to tighten first stitch on needle. Knit with the same needle as the worked sts are on, let the other needle rest.
4:09
Pleat knitted

Making pleats on the waistline, or at an empire cut cardigan creates very elegant and feminine knitwear design. The video shows first a pleat that opens up to the left and then a pleat that opens up to the right. This pleat is worked over 10 sts and we are slipping 5 sts onto cable needle to front of piece, K first st from cable needle tog with first sts from needle, 5 times in total.
8:45
Wrap collar or front bands

To make a wrap over mid front on a knitted garment you start by picking up new sts behind the existing mid sts. If you want the collar/front band to be 14 sts wide you beg 7 sts before marker mid front.. Work 14 sts in desired stitch pattern and stockinette st on the remaining sts. At the end of the round pick up 14 new sts behind the front band and then turn. Next row from WS: work first 14 sts in stitch pattern and stockinette st on the remaining sts until you reach the 14 sts on right front, work these in pattern, turn. Continue back and forth on needle with 14 front band sts in stitch pattern each side. It's a good idea to use markers to seperate the sts for collar/front band from the other sts.
6:18
How to knit magic loop

In this DROPS video we show how you can knit the magic loop technique. If a pattern requests both double pointed needles and circular needle in the same size, then you can use a circular needle and work with the magic loop technique. This means you can knit a smaller tubular piece using a circular needle instead of double pointed needles. The circular needle should be long (at least 80 cm = 31 1/2") and have a flexible cord. Cast on your number of sts and push the sts to the middle of the cord. Separate and pull out the cord in the middle of the sts. Slide sts to the needle tips each side, make sure sts don't get twisted. Your working yarn is on the back needle and you start working the sts on your front needle. Draw out the back needle to work the front needle. When front needle is done, turn work and slide sts back to the other tip and work that side the same way. Continue in the round, make sure to always pull out the needle at the side where you have the working yarn. You must read the pattern to be able to follow. You’ll find patterns where you can use this technique by clicking on the pictures below.
2:32
Flounce

When you add a flounce you knit the flounce separate. To make wrinkles on the flounce, on the last row (from WS if working back and forth on needle) knit sts together 2 by 2 alternately (to go by what the video is showing). If you want more or less wrinkles, then you knit more or less sts together, or according to instructions. Then lay the flounce outside the other piece and knit sts together 2 and 2. I.e 1st stitch on flounce together with 1st stitch on the other piece, 2nd with 2nd and so on. Keep working in the round or back and forth and you now have added a wrinkled flounce.
3:26
Garter on a few sts (round)

Sometimes our patterns tell you to work a number of rows in garter st on the middle sts with remaining sts in stockinette or pattern as before. This is how we do it when working in the round. The sts that are worked in garter are purled on every other round, and knitted on every other round, and the other sts are knitted on every round as before.
4:08
Garter on a few sts (back and forth)

Sometimes our patterns tell you to work a number of rows in garter st on the middle sts with remaining sts in stockinette or pattern as before. This is how we do it when working back and forth on needles. The marked sts in the middle are knitted on all rows, while the sts each side in stockinette continues to knit from RS and purl from WS.
4:53
Split for neck

We make a split with edges in garter st. First work a couple of rows with garter st on the middle sts of the front piece according to pattern, and the rest of the sts as before. Now divide piece for split and complete each side separately; work a row from RS and in the middle of the garter sts, turn and work the row back from WS. Keep working back and forth with garter sts towards the split and rem sts as before until finished measure according to pattern. Now make the other side, begin from RS and mid front. Beg by picking up 1 st in first st on the other side of split and work this tog with first st on needle. Do this to make bottom of split even. Continue as on first side.
3:01
Loop - built in

Every potholder, wash cloth and towel needs a loop to hang and it's very practical if it's built in. When piece reaches full size, then knit next row with built in loop as follows: Knit until 2 sts are left on row. Before the last 2 sts cast on 7 new sts on row, then knit 2 last sts on row tog. On next row bind off all sts in garter sts (includes the new sts for built in loop).
1:59
Put stitches on a thread – all at the same time

In this video we show how to put stitches on a thread all at ones.
1:16
Move stitches from a thread back onto needles

In this video we show how to move stitches from a thread back onto needles.
6:28
Knitting Backwards

When working short rows as on a string, a belt, a headband, working over bobbles, turning heels, or working short rows, being able to master backwards knitting will save you a lot of time and effort not having to keep turning your work back and forth all the time. In the video we show you both continental knitting as well as US knitting and later also an example of knitting a bobble with this technique. Make sure to wrap the yarn the right way around the needle when going from left to right, so that your stitches are facing the right direction on your next row.
1:35
How to lift the 1st stitch instead of knitting it

In this DROPS video we show you how to lift the 1st stitch on each row if you have trouble getting a nice edge when the 1st stitch is knitted. First we show when the 1st stitch is knitted, then we show how to lift the 1st stitch over instead of knitting it. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in this video.
2:27
How to work a marker thread around a stitch

In this DROPS video we show how to work a marker thread around a stitch. When using marking thread in a work, you often put a marking thread between two stitches, but sometimes you have to put a marking thread in a stitch. To avoid letting the marking thread sit in the stitch, you can let the marking thread follow the stitch around. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video
5:31
How to knit stitches from a loose strand

In this DROPS video we show how you can knit stitches from a loose strand. For example in a sock / mittens pattern, it tells you to work a loose strand over an amount of stitches. Later on the loose strand is pulled out and the stitches from each side of the strand are put back on double pointed needles. Pick up a few stitches each side and work in the round for a heel / thumb. You must read the pattern to be able to follow. You’ll find a pattern using this technique by clicking on the picture below.
6:10
How to knit with 3 skeins at the same time

In this DROPS video we show you how to knit with 3 skeins at the same time to avoid long yarn jumps on wrong side. We first knit with one green skein, then 1 gray skein and then one skein green again. To avoid holes at colour change twine the yarns together. We use DROPS Snow in this video. You will find a pattern where this technique is used by clicking on the picture below.
8:27
Tumb gusset on a knitted mitten

In this DROPS Video we show how many of our popular gloves are knitted. Below is a diagram of the entire mitten and a diagram of the thumb. We have knitted after the large chart to where we should start increasing for the thumb (the black squares in the large diagram). You will then knit by the large chart and the small diagram (thumb). When you have done all increases in thumb chart, put x-number of stitches (the number that is in the pattern) on a holder. Now cast on x-number of stitches (the number that is in the pattern) behind the thumb and now knit the mitten after the large chart. When finished knitted mitten, put sts from the holder back on needle, knit up x-number of stitches (the number that is in the pattern) behind the thumb and then work after the thumb chart. REMEMBER - you will need to read the pattern to be able to follow. To see a pattern with this technique, go to: DROPS 157-8
8:28
How to work an easy thumb

In this DROPS video we show how to work an easy thumb to a mitten. We knit a marking thread (pastel pink) for the thumb opening when we work the mitten. Then we pull out the thread and place the stitches on double pointed needles. In addition, we also knit up new stitches on each sides (read pattern for how many stitches), then work the thumb finish. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video. You must read a pattern with this technique to be able to follow this video properly. You’ll find a pattern by clicking on one of the pictures below.
6:21
Slip 2 legs for pants on to the same circular needle.

In this DROPS video we show you how to slip 2 legs for pants on to the same circular needle and knit back and forth. When the legs are on the needle, work as follows: ROW 1 (RS): Bind off 4 st, K the rest of the needle, turn. ROW 2 (WS): Bind off 4 st, P the rest of the needle, turn. REMEMBER - you will also need to read the pattern to be able to follow. To see a pattern with this technique, go to: DROPS BabyDROPS 20-23
3:36
How to put together 2 legs

In this DROPS video we show how to put together 2 legs and cast on new stitches between the two legs. We have already worked the 2 legs and start the video by casting on new stitches, knitting the first leg, casting on new stitches and knitting the last leg. We use the yarn DROPS Snow in the video. You will also need to read a pattern with this description in addition to watching the video. You’ll find a pattern by clicking on the picture below.
5:51
Hood

When you want to add a knitted hood to a garment you pick up sts from the right side around the neck opening or knit the hood separate as in the video and sew it to the garment afterward. Work back and forth on needles until desired length of hood. In our video we are working in stockinette with 3 sts in garter each side toward the face opening. When the hood is finished, you bind off, fold double and sew from RS with stitches the same size as the knitted stitches. The seam will be invisible. An alternative to bind off is to do a 3-needle bind off, or sew together the sides with kitchener sts, and you can find separate videos for that in our video library.
7:19
Extension of knitted sleeve or body

Has the sleeve or body become too short and you want to extend it? This video shows how to put the stitches from a sleeve on needles, cut off the rib and then extend the sleeve first with stockinette and then the rib. The transition is almost completely invisible. At the end of the video we also show a sample piece with two different colors to clearly see how the transition goes. The sleeve in this video is knitted bottom-up, but the extension is worked top-down. The same technique can also be used to extend the body of a sweater or jacket.
2:33
How to remove fill / refill into a pouffe

ometimes one may wish to wash the pouffe cover after a time of use and in this DROPS video we show how we cut up the assembly thread and remove the filling (duvet) and how we put in the filling (duvet) and sew again. To see the pattern, go to: DROPS 163-6