ASK THE EXPERTS
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BAGGY STITCHES
Q
I am currently knitting a pair of
mittens on double-pointed needles
(DPNs) in the round but I’ve noticed
that when I swap from needle to needle I
get a ladder. The edges look also wonky
because of it. I have tried pulling as hard
as possible when crossing needles but it
doesn’t work. Can you help?
Zara, via email
When knitting in the round on DPNs,
laddering can be an issue, but there are
things you can try. One tip to try is to, when
moving from DPN to DPN, make sure that
at the moment you’re knitting the first
stitch on the new needle that all three of
your needles (the old right-hand one, new
empty needle and left-hand needle) are all
straight and perpendicular to each other in
a snug cross formation. Knit the first stitch,
then the second, and then tug the working
yarn snuggly at this point. Tugging the yarn
on the first worked stitch won’t work as it’ll
loosen as you knit the second stitch. KirstieSUSS THE SIZE
Q
I’m planning on starting my first
project with DPNs but cannot
work out which size I need. How
can I gauge the correct needle size?
Joanna, via email
The required needle size will be
determined by the weight of the yarn
that you are using. So in this instance
of using DPNs, it would be the same
method of gauging as when using
standard needles. DebbieBEGINNER’S LUCK
Q
Please help! I am overwhelmed
by so many projects, what do you
recommend as a perfect first project?
Heather, via email
How about a scarf in a beautiful yarn?
There’s no shaping involved and you get
to wear it afterwards and bask in the
compliments! Simple accessory patterns
are great, and knitted homeware is
making a comeback – cushions and
throws are so easy to make. DebbieIf you’re struggling to get
your required tension, don’t try
and knit tighter or looser thank
normal – it’s impossible to
maintain a way of knitting –
simply adjust the needle size
up or down until you reach
tension.Did you
know...?
Debbie Bliss patterns, books and yarns
are available from http://www.lovecrafts.comDEBBIE
BLISS...
YOU ASKED
When knitting mittens in the round on DPNS,
tackling ladders might be easier than you thinkTOO VARIEGATED?
Q
I’m knitting a simple crew-neck
jumper in variegated yarn, but try as
I might, I just can’t get the pattern to look
the same on the back as it does on the
front. What am I doing wrong?
Sandra Carol, via Facebook
Apart from a few variegated yarns that are
knitted to a specific pattern, to deliver a
particular outcome (such as Regia Wool And
The Gang Kinda Magic Sock Yarn), most
variegated yarns are designed to stripe
and merge colours in a random way. This
is, in essence, part of the fun of variegated
yarn. However, there are ways that you can
experiment with variegated yarns and create
favourable finishes. Working in stripes
allows you to have a certain level of control
whilst still allowing your variegated yarn to
show off its colour changes beautifully. The
cover garment on Simply Knitting’s 200th
issue was knitted with a variegated yarn.
The yarn was split in half, by unrolling half
the yarn ball. This randomises the progress
of the colours knitted with, and allows you
to knit defined stripes with a single ball
of yarn as the colours change at different
rates. At some points you may want to wind
the ball on a little to create a more definedcolour contrast between the stripes, but
rather than throw this ‘wound on’ yarn away
keep it, you may need to deepen the stripe
contrast later on in your project. If winding
the yarn forward to find the essence of a
repeated colour section hasn’t worked, it
may be that you have to embrace the true
nature of variegated yarn and fall in love with
its beautiful randomness. SophieUse variegated yarn to
create gorgeous
randomised stripesCreate a stained glass
effect with a black yarn
and a Fair Isle patternMix a variegated yarn
with a mohair one for a
tweedy, fluffy finishSimple accessories
in chunky yarn make
great first projects