ASK THE EXPERTS
Subscribe at http://www.theyarnloop.com/simply-knitting 71
LOSTABOUTLABELS
Q
I’mrelativelynewtoknittingand
everypatternsuggestsI refer
totheyarnlabelforvariousbitsof
information,doI reallyneedto read
allofthistoknitmyhat?
JessicaWebster,Devizes
Theballbandisthepieceofpaperyou
findwrappedaroundyouryarnorskein
tokeepit neatandtidy.It alsoincludes
lotsofimportantinformationbecause
it’swherethemanufacturersputallthe
detailsknittersneedtoknowaboutthe
yarn.Forexample,therecommended
needlesizes,thetension,weightand
length,thecompositionandthedyelot
number,tonamejusta few.It’salways
a goodideatokeepyourballbandsto
referbacktowhenyouwasha garment,
orincaseyoudecideto knit the same
pattern again.Jen
WASHINGMYWORK
Q
I ampetrifiedofwashingmy
lovelycardigan,whichhasbeen
madefromanexpensiveyarn.Doyou
haveanytipsonwashinggarments?
Jen,viaemail
It’salwaysa bitnervewrackingwhen
youwasha handknitforthefirsttime.
Lookcarefullyatthewashing
instructionsontheballbandandif you
arestillfeelingnervouscontactthe
companyyouboughttheyarn from and
ask for advice.Debbie
NAMETHATNEEDLE
Q
I’vebeena keenknitterforfiftyyears
andamquitesetinmyways.I am
usedtocallingknittingneedles‘8s’and
‘10s’andsoon.PleasetellmehowI can
adapttocallingmyneedles‘4mm’ and
‘3mm’instead?
MarionWalsh,Cheshire
Myphilosophyisneversaynever!If you
wouldfindit easiertolearnneedlesizes
inmillimetresthentherearedefinitely
waysthiscanbedone.Themostobvious
methodwouldberepetition!I keepa
needleconversionlistinmyknittingbag,
onetuckedinmycircularneedlescase
andoneinmypurse.Alongsidemyneedle
gauge(whichgoeswithmeeverywhere)
theseconstantremindersmakeit somuch
easiertoconvertquicklyinmyhead.It goes
withoutsayingthatfavouritesizeswillbe
rememberedmorereadily,butI’msure
you’ll get faster as time goes on.Sophie
LOOKINGFORLUXURY
Q
I’maftera 4plywoolyarnthat
knitsupquitequicklyandisnice
andsoftagainsttheskin.Anyideas?
StaceyHill,Aberdeen
Mynewyarn,Toast,ismadeof65%
wool,10%cashmereand25%polyamide
andit’swonderfullysoftagainsttheskin.
Thestitchdefinitionisreallyimpressive,
creatinga luxuryfabric.Debbie
A touchofcashmere
adds a luxurious feel
Whenchoosingyarnsforyour
garmentstryandmatchthemup
withthetexturesinthefabric.
Variegatedyarnsoftenlookbestin
plainstockingstitch,sothatthe
coloursareshownoff,whereas
plain-colouredyarnsmake
greatcables,laceand
slip-stitch patterns.
Did you
know...?
DebbieBlisspatterns,booksandyarns
are available fromwww.loveknitting.com
DEBBIE
BLISS...
YOU ASKED
A needleconversion
chartisa handywayto
convert your needles
Theballbandcontainsuseful
and important information
GETTINGINTOPOSITION
Q
I’vebeenlookingatotherknittersandI canseethattheyareholdingtheirneedles
completelydi erentlytome.AmI doingsomethingwrong?A Bailey,USA
Therearetwomainwaystoholdyourneedles:theKnifeMethodandthePenMethod,
buttherereallyisnorightorwrongway.Theideaisthatyouholdyourneedlesthemost
comfortablewayforyou.Asyoubecomemoreskilledyourhandpositionmaychangetosuit
thespeedyouknitat.Takea lookatthediagramsbelowtogiveyoua goodideaof the two
most common options and choose one that best fits your knitting style.Jen