QuickTips Index

Sock Basics
Many knitters are afraid of knitting socks, but there's nothing to be worried about. Just trust the pattern and read this pep talk to get started.

Learn to Knit Intarsia
Intarsia knitting is not a very difficult technique once you get the hang of dealing with all the different yarns, but some tips for success should help make the learning process easier.

Fair Isle/Stranded Knitting Tips
Fair Isle or stranded knitting is not that difficult, but here are some pointers that should make it even easier for you to have success with this fun color knitting technique.

Stringing Beads onto Yarn
Stringing beads onto yarn before knitting is an easy way to have beads at the ready when you want to use them in your knitting projects. Just string the beads on the yarn, moving them down as you knit, then place a bead wherever you want.

Making Bobbles
Bobbles are a relatively common way to add dimensional texture to a piece of knitting. They involve increasing several times in the same stitch, turning the work, purling back and decreasing those stitches immediately.

Resizing a Hat Pattern
Sometimes you'll find a great pattern for a knit hat that you really love, but maybe it's not the right size to fit the person you are knitting for. Resizing a hat pattern is not all that difficult, but it does involve some math (and the dreaded gauge swatch).

Knitting Etiquette
Just like anything else in life, there are knitting etiquette rules. Here's a quick list of the most commonly accepted forms of knitting etiquette so you can stay on the good side of all your fiber friends.

How to Knit with Wire
Knitting with wire can be a lot of fun, but it's a little different from knitting with yarn. Here are some things you should know before you get started.

Knitting with Double-Pointed Needles
Double-pointed needles are the tool of choice when knitting a small circular object such as a sock. But they can be a little tricky to deal with. Here are some tips to help you use double-pointed needles.

Knitting a Circular Gauge Swatch
Knitting a gauge swatch in the round is vital if you really want to know how your yarn is going to behave when knit in the round. Fortunately, there's an easy way around knitting a gauge swatch in the round.

How to Drop Stitches
Usually dropping stitches in knitting is not a good thing, but sometimes a drop stitch can be used to make a very cool look. Here's how you drop stitches and why you would want to.

Knitting with Circular Needles
Knitting with circular needles is a little mysterious for the beginning knitter. Patterns assume that you know how to knit with circular needles, but if you don't, this guide will help.

Making an I-Cord
I-cord seems difficult until you know how to do it, and once you learn how to make an I-cord, you'll come up with tons of reasons to use them.

How to Read a Knitting Chart
Reading a knitting chart is a basic of multi-colored knitting, but it can be a little intimidating for new knitters. Here are some basics on how to read a knitting chart.

Learn to Resize a Simple Garment
If the bodywarmer pattern doesn't fit you, here are the calculations behind the pattern so you can resize it exactly to fit your needs. This is good practice for altering patterns.