I don’t like No Mail Mondays and I don’t quite get it. We have President’s Day to celebrate … past presidents? Lincoln and Washington? What? And do people honestly go out and have celebrations that cause them not to be able to work today, thus giving many a day off? I can see being off for the Fourth of July – there are parades and picnics and fireworks. On Martin Luther King day there are remembrances and ceremonies and special events. But what happens on President’s Day that necessitates a no work day? (Or – more to the point – a no mail day?) I’m glad to have Knitting Daughter home, and I’m glad for all of you who get a day off today because of it, but I sure wish the mail was still going through. I have a bucketload of boxes here (ok, way more than a bucketload) that I know you’re all waiting for at your house. Alas – it’s a No Mail Monday.
So as long as you’re off work, and not getting mail today, you might want to pop on over and check out all the new yarns we put up! Wonder Husband worked on photos all weekend long, just for us. We have new Yarn Pirate colorways, new J-Knits colorways, more Cherry Tree Hill colorways in both solids and variegates, and lots and lots and lots of Lorna’s Laces in solids and variegateds. Please know, that I have more Yarn Pirate, more J-Knits, and more Lorna’s Laces on order, so if you miss a color you really wanted, it’s already in the works again. Our goal is to always have the regular “big yarn companies” in stock, and to get orders from our wonderful indie dyers as often as they can dye up big orders for us. Some of the big companies are great about getting new orders out within 2 weeks, others don’t keep as much stock and we wait anywhere from 6-10 weeks for an order. (That’s always fun – thinking, “Hmmm – what colors will we be out of 10 weeks from now, that I ought to order today?”) I do have more of all the new colors of Lorna’s Laces coming back in in a couple of weeks – so if you miss them today, watch for those to be back in stock even quicker. I also added Needle Gauges (am I the only one that needs one of these in every knitting bag?) and Circular Needle Point Protectors in the Fun Accessories section.
I finished the first Crystal Palace Panda Cotton sock and I love it. (Note – I didn’t even knit out the skein, so this is out of just under one skein with my size 11 feet, knit on size 1 needles with 60 stitches.) It’s such a comfortable sock on my foot and this pattern knit up SO quickly. I will do this one again, for sure. You really ought to try this yarn. It’s worth it just to see the cute little skeins (someone called them skeinlets!) in person. I’ll put it up in the photo gallery as well. Did you notice that I added The Loopy Ewe Quarterly Challenge photo gallery over the weekend? I have already had people sending in their Frank and Martha photos, so it was time. Remember, it’s easy for you to add these photos yourself via your Loopy Ewe account. Who else has finished their Franks and Marthas?
It’s time for our February blog contest! I will draw a name next Monday, from all of the comments on this post. The winner will receive our monthly “Loopy Loot” prize. (And it’s a good prize – lot’s of fun stuff in there!) I thought it’d be fun to share knitting tips for this one. It can be an organizing idea, a stitching idea, a storage idea, or any idea that you have come up with to make knitting and/or 
stashing better in your life. Here are two of my latest thoughts. I bought this over-the-door shoe holder to put on the back of our closet door, and I keep my favorite handknit socks in there where they’re easy to see. Of course you can only fit so many pairs in there, but it’s fun to keep favorites on display like that. My other tip is that I make an enlarged copy of the stitch pattern that I’m using on the cuff of my socks in progress, attach it to a piece of cardstock to make it sturdier, and then can keep that in my Zelda bag (where my current sock project always resides) without having to put the whole pattern in there. When I’m done with those socks, I tuck the card into the top-loader with that pattern, and keep them all in my pattern notebook. That way, the next time I want to use that pattern, the pattern card is already done and ready for me.
So – tell me your favorite tip, either original or a good idea heard elsewhere – and we’ll all have fun reading them! Then, pop over to The Loopy Ewe to check out the new yarns……..
Sheri thinkI’llgobackandfinishmysecondFRANKsocknow
My favourite way is to both stash bust and store at the same time. I store all my sock yarns in a clear box with a snap-on waterproof lid (perfect for keeping yarn clean and safe on a fishing boat!). This way, I can see exactly how many skeins I currently have, what colours they are and be actively thinking about them while knitting on my current projects. All current projects are kept in a cardboard box but I’m in the process of covering a wooden box so it will at least look prettier! I hate the idea of wasting cardboard boxes so I save the lot of them. I keep my pattern idea envelope next to the sock yarn stash and my SKS and Knitting on the Road so I will never be short of ideas but I do like to have a pattern in mind BEFORE I buy the yarn. I havent knit enough socks for myself yet to warrent a sock holder but I do take care that my one pair doesnt get tossed in the sock box but have a special place in the undie, bra and bedclothes drawer! A revered spot indeed 🙂 When I have finished a pair, I put a sticky in the book or on the pattern itself that details the, well, details, such as yarn used, time, any changes and the specifics such as # of repeats and heel flap details.
First of all, Sheri, what big feet you have!!! But at least you know if 1 skein is enough for a pair of socks. I always have left over yarn for my tiny size 8 feet.
I have made my own sock bags for carrying projects. Several people sell a similar bag but it is easy to sew up. I keep one project in each bag along with whatever I might need for that pattern in the bag. It is easy to pick up a bag or two and through it in a purse or back pack to carry with you. I write out my pattern on large index cards and keep a copy of the pattern in the bag as well.
For web based patterns, I always print a copy out in color and file it in a page protector. I also print out a black & white copy and keep them in folders.
I have also started keeping several skeins of sock yarn in a large basket in the living room so that I see it. This makes me hurry up and knit socks. I will send you a picture soon of this stash. The colors in the basket liven up the living room.
My tip — I’ve posted a page on my website to keep track of my sock yarn. I list them by brand and by colorway, and when I knit up a pair, I put that colorway in italics. It’s still a work in progress, but you can go see it here:
http://wendyknits.net/sockyarn.htm
Don’t tell anyone I have so much sock yarn, okay?
I keep my “regular” needles in a crystal vase. Some needles are new – some were my mothers. My DPN’s are in a small antique pitcher that belonged to my grandmother. I keep my DPN’s, my mother’s darning egg and some of my grandmother’s’s crochet hooks she used for tatting together in the pitcher. My mother and grandmother have both been gone many years now but just seeing the needles reminds me of them and I love that.
I store my socks in a drawer, socks lined up the width of the front of the drawer. New socks and just washed socks always are added on the left side. That way I can easily see socks that have been worn less often are to the far right.
Just my way of keeping track of wear rotation.
I keep my sock yarns in clear plastic containers also…so I can look quickly to see what I have!
I keep my dpn’s in a clear plastic case that has snaps on both ends…
My other favorite is my Loopy Ewe Sock Book…..I keep track of everything I have made and all my Sock Data……
Diane
For pdf files, I print them on card stock paper so they are thicker and last longer for me. I use those plastic protectors and have them in a binder. Currently my yarn is in plastic containers, labeled. My yarn list is on Excel and references the bin. Different bins for different types of yarn. When I use the yarn, I move it to a different spreadsheet where I list what I made with it. This is in an attempt to not buy the same color over and over. Yes I have done that.
Since I’m getting ready to have a craft room, yes a whole room that is mine, I have trying to decide how to organize it. I haven’t been searching online for how people have organized their stuff. I’m not sure what type of cabinets to put in there but I hope to make a decision one year.
I can’t wait to read other people’s ideas. I am one of those people who love to organize. I am sorry to say that I have yet to figure out a good system for my stash. What I want is a room set up like a mini-yarn shop with lots of cubbies built in to nicely store and display all my yarn and sewing and crafting stuff. Alack and alas! Space and budget will not allow that.
Here is my tip: I keep a three ring binder full of clear page protectors you can buy at office supply stores. Inside this binder go all my patterns that are not already bound in a book…the free hand-outs from yarn companies, patterns on yarn labels, and the print-outs of patterns from the the internet, etc. That way I can easily browse my patterns whenever I am looking for a project to do. When I decide to use one of these patterns, I can just remove the entire page protector from my notebook and the pattern does not get messed up as I carry it about. However, sometimes, to be honest, I will make a copy of the pattern instead, and leave the original in the binder. That way I don’t risk loosing it!
When I use a pattern, I can also insert notes and/or scraps of yarn in the page protector with the pattern to help me remember any fiber I used, any changes I made and how it worked up.
My favorite storage for patterns is the plastic covers enclosed in a ring-bound notebook. I have separate notebooks for: socks; children’s wear; adult wear; shawl/purses/hats/scarves/gloves and mittens. My sock notebook is divided into categories: children’s socks; then adults with sub-categories of fingering weight and DK. In all the notebooks I keep all patterns from the same designers together within their category or sub-category.
I keep my circs and dpns in the “Circular Solutions” organizers. I just hang them on the back of my closet door. Nice and easy access to needles. A friend actually uses the canvas paint brush holders from craft stores. I also use the big wine gift boxes/totes for my straights. Nice, contained and pretty! By the way, I love the sock! And the blockers are way too cute!!!
I created a circular needle organizer out of a leather mini-skirt. I made 30 small grommet holes all over the skirt — through both sides — and just dangle my needles through them. The whole silly contraption hangs from a regular skirt-hanger. I like that it keeps the needles organized in a way that lets the cables stay relaxed (before this, I kept them jumbled up in a shoebox).
I don’t know about anyone else,but I hate starting a round on a purl stitch,so if possible I “re-write” the sock pattern so that I can start on a knit stitch. I rearrange the stitches after finishing the leg(if necessary so that the pattern is even)It doesn’t matter to me about the foot section- I almost always make a plain foot.
I’m still relatively new to knitting so i don’t have a ton of stuff but I do like keeping things in somewhat orderly fashion. I have all of my needles in a needle case I got off Etsy but I know you can sew them yourself and it’s an easy project. I might do it soon so I can store more needles. I have all of my yarn in a giant plastic tub with a good snap on lid. I keep all of the smaller things- cable needles, tapestry needles, etc. in a clear shoebox with a snap lid and all of my stitch markers go in cute coin purses. I also have a bunch of nails on my wall from which I hang various scissors of various sizes so one is always available and I have a hook from which I always hang a tape measure.
Great update! I’ve been stalking that Yarn Pirate yarn for a while now 🙂
This is kind of silly. When I’m knitting on the couch I keep a spray bottle of water next to me, so if the cats get too friendly with the yarn or needles I can get them to stop quickly.
Lest you think I am cruel, if they want some lovin’ I always put the knitting down and give them the best lovin’ I can. If they just want to destroy, well, they have toys for that.
I made a large three ring binder to keep all of my single sock patterns and I also created a seperate section forsock hints and tips that I have printed off the website. Not a terribly exciting tip I know but I have only just returned to knitting after 5 years.
I bought a low-sided wicker basket that I stack my yarn in/on. It sits on a shelf in my livingroom and becomes part of my decor. I’ve just started buiding my stash of sock yarn so what I have still fits in the basket.
I also place my patterns in sheet protecters and keep them in a binder. I then add the label from the wool I am using and a piece of the leftover wool. When I finish a project I take a picture to add with the pattern. It is nice to have the specifics of the wool I used and a sample of a wool to see and touch. Also its great to have a picture as a reminder of what I made especially if I am going to give it as a gift.
My sister gave me those little elastic things to attach to your glasses, they are the perfect size to keep you DPN’s together and then you can mark on the little bead with a sharpie the needle size. And to store all the neat little bundles, a pencil box, you open one end and the box slides out, all of your needles are there ready for you. I also keep my stitch markers and tapestry needles in little compartment cases I got from the travel section of the department store, that is the best thing. And all my gadgets (tape measure, gauge measure, pencil, pen, crochet hooks, scissors etc..) go in one of the zippered pencil bags that are made to fit in a 3 ring binder, where many of my patterns are in sleeve protectors, It all goes into my Bag Smith Bag, which I love. This weekend my sister informed me that the little m&m mini’s tubes are the perfect size for 6″ dpn’s I have some of those to store my bobbins in for sewing. She says the great thing about them is, that every time you open them to get out a set of needles, you get a whiff of chocolate. Not too good for those of us trying to avoid sweets, but a wonderful idea.
Mine is a post knitting tip. I have a small mesh bag for lingerie that I keep all the dirty hand knit socks in. That way they don’t accidentally go into the washer if they aren’t supposed to.
One of my favorite tips is to store patterns in a plastic sleeve and organized in notebooks. When I want to knit a particular pattern, I photocopy the original and use the copy to work from. That way I can write all over it if I need to and not mark up the original!
Another favorite tip is to use Highlighter Tape whenever I work a multi-row pattern or graph. It’s available over the internet if you google it.
I’m not organized at all because I work fulltime and have two boys under 4. So my only trick for keeping organized with my current knitting is to only have one project on the go at a time. I might bump this up to two: one plain mindless stockinette sock, and one complicated pay-attention sock.
I’m also a shopaholic, and love shopping online for yarn and knitting books. (Beats taking two little kids to a yarn store!) But to curb impulse buying, I just keep a cart on the go, and don’t buy anything until I’ve at least slept on my “buy” decision. My amazon shopping cart has a ton of knitting books on it, but some of them have been in it for months, as I waffle about how much I REALLY want them or if they’ll just add to my existing clutter. Same with my Knitpicks cart — books and yarn go in and out of the cart as I shop virtually, just enjoying the shopping experience. (I only wish more online stores had carts that stayed “full” when you logged off the computer.)
Thanks for the tips. I love getting new tips. I use those plastic drawer systems that you can buy at most stores. I have my yarns divided out and organized by type so that I can easy find what I’m looking for. The first drawer is my sock yarn collection, the second drawer has my worsted weight wools and dishcloth cotton and the third drawer holds my leftover yarn from previous projects.
I also have a binder that has tabbed sections to hold all of my patterns I have printed out. I put them in sleeve protectors. Sock patterns have their own tab, sweaters, dresses, etc. I have my electronic patterns separated into their own folders on my computer too. If I want socks I just go to the sock folder and where the patterns are divided up into folders called DPNs, 2 Circs, or Magic Loop. It makes finding things so much easier.
My many patterns were starting to eat up too much room–tons of cross stitch that I didn’t have the heart to toss even though I haven’t felt the urge to stitch for a while and lots and lots of knitting patterns. I put the scanner to work and saved it all to our computer (and burned it all to cd’s)–took me about a month or so to work on what I had at the time. We’re talking 1+ GB of patterns (eek). I have them sorted by craft (cross stitch, knitting, knitting tips, sewing, etc.). The knitting patterns are sorted by project type (socks, shawls, sweaters, etc.), and the bigger folders like socks are broken down even more (ribbed patterns, cables, lacy socks, etc.). I kept a notebook of favorites, but the rest was able to go. Cleaned out 3 file drawers to put the majority of my knitting books in.
When I want to knit something, I can print out the pattern as is, or (preferred) I’ll create a “pattern card” (4×6) or cards I can throw in my bag and take with me. Socks are easiest, since it’s generally just the cuff I put the fancier cables or lace on.
I’ve been accumulating so much sock yarn, I set up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of what I’ve got (ended up with a few duplicates). The clear plastic tubs and bags of sock yarn are sorted as well (more or less)–misc handpaints, self-striping, opal, claudia, etc. The cat just loves to help me organize the yarn. Her favorites are the claudia, fleece artist, etc.–i.e., the pricier handpaints and pure wool. She doesn’t chew on the yarn, but she’ll roll around in it and isn’t too happy when mommy puts it away.
I keep a sock knitting kit at my feet by my knitting spot. I never have to chase my tools. They are always where I need them and ready for use. I have trained my family to leave the kit alone if they value thier lives….:D
Here’s the link:
http://1870pearl.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/02/checked_in_and_.html
I have a great tip that I use when I am working on current projects. I bought a set (4 or 5 packages in a set) of small (thin) post it flags (you can get them at any Walmart, office store, etc.). I put one in each of my works in progress. I use them for when I am knitting and I am interupted especially during any chartwork, etc. I can just pluck down a post it flag right on my pattern and then I can come right back to it. I love the post it flags because they tend to stick better than a regular post it and they are more colorful which they can be used for other areas of your pattern that you want to bookmark and you can still write on them (just like a post it).
Being easily distracted by bright colors and shiny objects of all sorts, I have trouble concentrating on a single project. So I don’t. But to keep my attention, I like to have one of those cute bags made up. I make them myself, in a print that has the same colors as the socks I’m working on. Then I print off my pattern. If I can, I print it at half size, or otherwise alter it so I can print it on cardstock at 5.5×8″. It fits right in the bag, along with a pair of tiny scissors. That way, when I want to work on something, I can grab the right bag (convenient color coding!), with everything in it and take it with me. And I can move from one project to another without having to find all the bits to any given project. I also like to use pretty beaded stitch markers. Since I convert my patterns to the magic loop, I use stitch markers to mark where DPNS WOULD be if they were there.
To save time, or if I have time on my hands, I will swatch up my yarns to find the gauge and write the info down in my little handy-dandy notebook. I really hate swatching so now I look forward to getting my yarn out and casting on rather than going through the tedious process of knitting row after row only to undo it at the end.
I wanted to be able to display my knitting needles so that I could actually see them each day and enjoy them whether I am using them all or not. I started storing my straight knitting needles in beautiful vases that I buy at a very great discount (in fact, down right cheap!) at either Ross or a second hand store such as Goodwill. I have found some really gorgeous vases and they make wonderful storage for needles. This way I am able to make a great fashion statement in my house, as well as have my knitting needles near me in more rooms than one! 🙂
BTW, I love, love, love the idea of using the shoe storage as a sock display! Very nifty!
My tip is for handling those dangly yarn bits at the end of a long-tail cast on. (Does anyone else use that cast on? I know there are better ones that don’t leave dangly tails, but somehow I just like it.) You can sort of wind the yarn round your fingers until it’s in an orderly little wad, then use a hairclip (one of the flattish bendy metal types that snaps apart and together again) to keep the wad from coming undone. That way the dangly tail marks the beginning of the rounds, but you don’t have to worry about it getting in your way all the time!
In my knitting notebook I keep a shoe size measurement chart, along with a list of shoe sizes for all my family and friends. My shoe size list also make note of any known foot idiosyncrasies of each recipient (e.g., high instep, long toes, etc.). If only the nieces and nephews would stop growing!
I knit socks on one circ (magic loop) and keep all my needles organized by storing them in labeled ziplock bags I tack to a bulletin board in my yarn room. I use the rest of the board to post knitting inspiration, like patterns, yarn scraps, pictures from magazines, etc. that help me brainstorm for upcoming projects.
I’ve also put the master sewer fiance to work by having him make me bags for my projects. It’s a win-win, he gets to so something he enjoys, and I get a custom knitting bag!
I love that you do fun things like contests. You make spendin my hard earned money on yarn so fun and easy! I think I almost have my credit card number memorized, thats bad!
Hmmm….I am really new to knitting. I have only been knitting less than a year but I also have been crocheting for longer. I use a zipper pencil case to hold my tape measure, yarn needles, stitch markers etc. in my knitting bag. I also use the little altoids cases for little items.
Since I am getting a rather large stash of needles I started putting them in vases as decorations next to my knitting books on the shelves.
Love the idea of the over the door shoe holder. I will have to get one, maybe for more yarn storage.
have a great day!!
Glad it doesn’t have to be original – I read one not long ago that I thought was pretty brilliant. When you’re knitting something that’s supposed to be a certain length – let’s say seven inches – tie a piece of scrap yarn to your needles, and cut the yarn to the length you’re knitting to – that way, rather than pulling out your tape measure every three rows (“surely I’m there by now!) you can just check the length against the 7” scrap yarn.
Also, this one’s probably pretty common – but I don’t buy expensive bead threaders for my beaded knitting….I just use el cheapo dental floss threaders. And if I ask nicely, my dentist will give me a few packs for free at my cleanings, so then they’re really economical!
My tip is to create a gallery with pix your whole stash on your blog (if you don’t have a blog, create that FIRST and THEN the gallery! LMAO).
I love to be able to go on my blog and look through what I have “in stock” – sorta like shopping but you already HAVE it at home! 😀
I can look and plan and I have all the specs for the yarn at my fingertips so if I see a pattern I wanna make I go to the gallery and see if I have enough of any one yarn there. I have the gallery broken down into weights but you could organize it any way you’d like.
See mine here: http://rosi-g.com/soapyknitter/wp-gallery2.php?g2_itemId=291
PS: This is in ADDITION to my anal spreadsheet!
PPS: I got my order today!! WOO HOO! Customer for life here! I look forward to placing my next order.
PPPS: Apparently my brain SUBLIMINALLY only ordered ONE skein of the interlacements – not enough for anything – hence…I’ll DEFINITELY need to place another order SOON! 😉
I don’t like those no mail days either. I wasn’t sure if today was one of them or not, so I had to look it up in the newspaper. I thought it was interesting that my son has class today at the community college, but so many people have the day off. Dh is working and dd and I are home. We homeschool so we don’t pay attention to the holidays normally. I took the van in for some repairs this morning and the place was packed!! The service manager said it was because so many folks had the day off. I decided I wasn’t waiting for them to take me home, I can take the train and bus, and it only took me less than 45 minutes. It probably would have taken longer since they had to take that waiting room full home as well.
Anyways, my ideas are already taken above, but I’ll add them anyways.
Several years ago, like 4 or more, I had a friend make me two needle quilted holders. One for my double points, that I can roll up. I also keep other things in it, like scissors, a small ruler, a pen or pencil, and I can safety pin my stitch markers inside of it. I also have space for my Chibi. The other needle holder is different and can hold my circulars and hang up. For the most part though I just roll it up and put it in a drawer.
I also have several 3-ring binders that I finally organized last year, each one has patterns in sleeve protectors and labels on the outside of the binder.
My other organizational tip (Ha), I have two baskets that hold yarn. One is wicker and the other looks like an old apple basket. The apple basket one came from my grandma one year. She didn’t know what to get us for Christmas one year so she filled it with canned goods.
I love reading everyone’s comments. Now to go look at the goodies on your website.
So here’s my tip for storing circular needles…does everyone know this already?? Go to your favorite Sporting Goods Store and buy a vinyl Bait Holder..yup..bait. It zips open to reveal ring bound zip lock bags that you can lable and store a circular needle in each one. They cost around 9 bucks instead of the 50+ for the fancy ones in yarns stores. And it’s really fun to tell your family…”I’m going to Sports Authority for some knitting notions!”
Someone has already mentioned using the ‘post-it’ flags for marking your pattern. When working from a chart I like to cut (on an angle) each side of the ‘post it’ flag so that it comes to a point – similar to an arrow. Now I can easily see which line of my chart I’m working on or left off at because the ‘arrow’ is pointing to it.
Since I’m a big fan of organizing and neat ‘n tidiness, I like to wind my yarn as soon as I get it! Once my skein has become a nice tidy cake I am left with what to do with many, many yarn labels. I bought some clear, plastic protective pages and they are the kind with individual slots – made for collectibles such as hockey cards. I slot each one of my yarn labels in a pocket and label where it was purchased and the date with a black ‘sharpie’ on the outside. These pages fit nicely into any three ring binder.
Now I’m off to pout as there was no holiday in Canada today and when I got home from work you all had beat me to the new Yarn Pirate!! Ooooooh how I wanted that Apple colorway 🙁
Here is my knitting tip: when working in the round, don’t place the end of round marker until you’ve knit a few rounds. The first round or two is often fiddly and not having the marker until the fiddly rounds are complete makes things easier. The tail tells you where to put the marker. Just don’t get too many rows away from the tail or you may end up with the marker in the wrong place!
Several organization tips:
I keep my needles inventoried on an excel spreadsheet so when I’m browsing patterns and getting ready to buy supplies, I already know whether I have the needles I need.
When buying supplies for a specific project, I put all supplies in some sort of bag (might be a basket, sewing bag, etc.) Then, when I’m ready to start, I have the pattern, yarn, and needles all ready to go.
My best stashing tip is to take EVERYTHING out once and a while to admire/fondle/question/what have you. Excel sheets, lists, they’re all great, but part of the joy of knitting is the tactile sensation of it all. Nothing reminds you how much you love a skein of yarn like taking it out and petting it.
At the same time, nothing reminds you of just how much yarn you have like the mountain of skeins staring back at you when you’re done. Just to put it all into perspective.
I love having several of The Loopy Ewe black or red project totes, each packed with a small project to go. I put all of the yarn, needles, and other tools needed for the sock I am working on in it. Type out the pattern design I am using on the leg and put it in the bag.
I am always ready to grab this small see-through “purse” as I go out the door so I can knit when the opportunity arises. Having my project “purse” with me on a recent trip saved me as the plane sat for three hours before taking off.
I love reading so many great tips. Currently, my stash is stored in gigantic ZipLoc Bags. They have not worked as well as I would like–they’re too big, and it’s hard to find what I need. I think I’m going to switch to the plastic drawer systems.
When I get a gorgeous new skein of sock yarn, I store it in a vase so that I can admire it for days. Even my DH liked this, and he complains that my knitting has taken over the house!
My tip is for dpn users without fancy storage devices (my storage system is an Elmer the Elephant pencil tin, lol). Keep your different sizes of dpns separated in bundles with plastic kitchen twisty ties, using a different colour for each size. Cheap and easy!
love the sock storage system Sheri! I bought one of those doodads a couple of months ago intending to put fabric scraps in it from my quilting. Now that I’m on a sock bender my goal is to fill every pocket with handknit goodness!
My idea is for all you sock knitters out there with tiny feet. I wear a size 6 and struggle to make my socks fit snugly without going down to a size 00 needle. I have found two solutions to my predicament. One is to cast on the prescribed number of stitches and knit approximately to gauge given on the pattern, but when I get to the foot I go down a needle size for a tighter fit. This also results in a denser, stronger sole and toe for long wear. Alternatively, I knit the leg as given in the pattern directions, but when working the gusset I go ahead and decrease on down to around to 54 or 56 stitches for the foot. I like a good, snug fit. It also helps to choose patterns with ribbing down the top of the foot instead of stockinette.
I have a “sock book”…a page in a blank book for each person for whom I knit socks. I list the date, the yarn type, color, pattern used, anything that will jog my memory of that sock in the future. It helps when I go to knit that person a pair, and I see I’ve already made her 3 pink pairs, so it’s time to choose a different color!
I keep my sock projects in a clear zipper bag that new sheets are sold in
I have an insulated lunch-bag that is a perfect size for a sock in progress, pattern, tape measure, all the sock accoutrements, that I can also slip a wallet in and be ready to go anywhere! And if you have a monstrously tight gauge (9 st/in on a relaxed day) and have cast off too tight to get the blessed sock on your foot, the 2 st picot bind-off is your friend. Trust me on this!
I don’t know if I heard this one or thought it up, but I thought it before Stephanie Pearl-McPhee said it…there are no knitting police. If you want to change a pattern…okay. If you want to do something different…okay. Want to use a different knitting yarn…okay. No one is going to come up to you and say “You’re doing that wrong.” Or, if they do, you get to kick them in the shins.
I found a rolling cart that has 20 drawers in it. I use it stash my needles- dpn’s , circs, straights. The first drawer holds the smallest needles, 0000-00, in a small, 3- compartment tackle box, and the other drawers hold the larger sizes in increasing order. It holds all the way up to 50’s!! I also keep a needle sizer, scissors, and measuring tape in the top drawer, too. The drawers are colorful, and I can roll it from room to room. I also found 2 gallon ziploc bags are great for storing larger projects- patterns, needles, and all of the yarn.