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Write toouraccomplishedQ&Aexpertsand haveyourtricky
knitting queries and questions answered in no time!
ASK THE EXPERTS
KirstieMcLeod
Editor
Queenofsocksandgadgethoarder,
Kirstiehasmanyyearsofknitting
knowledge to share.
JenBartlett
TechnicalEditor
Stitchexpertandtechnicalwhizz,
Jenlikestotacklethetrickiest
of knitting problems.
SophieJordan
DeputyEditor
ProductexpertandFairIslefanatic,
Sophielovestalkingaboutthelatest
trends and cool colour combos.
DebbieBliss
KnitwearDesigner
Famedforhere ortlesslystylish
knitcreationsandextensive
knowledge of knitting.
LACEWORKTOOLKIT
Q
I’mgoingawayforChristmasthis
yearandtakingmyfirstlacepattern
withme.WhattoolswillI needtobring?
DebraSmith,viaFacebook
There’snothingmorefrustratingthan
findingoutyoudon’thavewhatyouneed
toknityourprojectwhenyou’reawayfrom
home,Debra.Here’swhatI alwaystakewith
mewhenI’mknittinglacework:
Safetypinsinvarioussizesareperfectfor
stitchholders,markingrepeatsorcatching
droppedstitchesfurtherbackinyourwork.
Wasteyarnmakesreallygoodstitchand
rowmarkers,isperfectforholdinglive
stitchesandalsotomakelifelineswhen
yourlacepatternisreallycomplex.It’sbest
if theyarnissmoothandfinerthanthe
knittingyarn.It’salsoa goodideatomake
sure it’s colour-fast so that you can wash it
CONTACT
GotaquestionUS!
experts? forour
Thenemail
[email protected]
co.ukorwrite
Knitting tousatSimply
,EagleHouse,
ColstonAve,Bristol
BS1 4ST.^
KNIT
guru
withyourlace,if necessary,andsothatthe
dyecolourwon’trubo onyourwork.
Pencilsareveryhelpfulwhenyou’reknitting
lacesothatyoucanmakeanynotesonthe
chartstraightawaybeforeyouforget.
Contrastbackgroundsuchasa pieceof
fabricorcardwillreallyhelpyoutosee
yourstitchesmoreeasilyasyouworkyour
pattern.If youneedtosortouta mistake,
youcanuseit asa backgroundtohelpthe
individualstitchesshowupreallyclearly.
Tapestryneedleforsewinginanyloose
yarnends– thefinerthebetter!
Crochethookinthesamegaugeasthe
knittingneedlesyou’reusingorfiner,which
willhelpif youneedtopickupstitches.
Double-pointedneedlesinthesamegauge
astheknittingneedlesyou’reusingorfiner,
whichwillallowyoutoworkup several
stitches at a time.Kirstie
STRIPESMADEEASY
Q
ShouldI cuttheyarneverytimeI end
a stripeorshouldI pick up the yarn
againwhenI needit?
JenaWring,viaemail
Thisdependsontheproject,Jena,asit is
decidedbyhowfartheyarnmusttravel
betweenstripes.If youareusingtheyarn
soon,perhapsinthenextroworsothenyou
won’tneedtocutit.Whenyoubegintouse
it again,carryit uptowhereit isneeded,
makingsuretheyarnislooseenoughso
that the knitting doesn’t pucker.Kirstie
QUESTION OF
THE MONTH
Takethebrainstrainoutof
knittedlacebyhavingall
the essential tools to hand
Forthinnerstripedknits,
carryyarnonthewrongsideof
your work without cutting