Friday, October 4, 2013

Cheaters Sometimes Prosper

Here's the second video I made yesterday while starting my hat.  This one is even less rehearsed than the first, but I think you'll get the idea. Just imagine we're in your living room having a conversation.  Feel free to offer me a cup of coffee.  Or some cake :-)

Here I show you how to fix a twist in your first row rather than have to rip the whole thing out and start over.  When you're new to knitting, it's easy to think that everything has to be done right.  But there are lots of things that can be fixed on the go, and this is one of those things. 

What I didn't mention in the video is that this only works when you do it on your very first row.  If you knit past the first row with a twist in your work, you will end up with a mobius, which is a whole different (and sometimes desirable) thing.


14 comments:

  1. This is the BEST tip ever! Even when I am trying not to twist the row it sometimes happens. Especially when magic looping since the first couple of rows are really awkward. Thanks for this tip!

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    1. It happens to the best of us ;-) Glad you found this helpful!

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  2. Gail you are a genius! I'm so anally retentive about not twisting that it's never happened to me, but this fix is just so easy and clever. It's also lovely to hear the "voice" behind the text ��

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    1. Thanks, Jillian! I'm a big one for finding cheats. And to put my money where my mouth is - I didn't rip back. I've continued with the hat as is and it's fine!

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  3. Excellent cheat ... and much appreciated!

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  4. Two years later and I STILL do this! I don't know what it is, but often find myself having to do this trick...it is such an important one for people to know.

    Nice one, Gail!

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    1. Thanks! I think it's especially important for people starting out; I always found this when I was teaching metalsmithing: people would focus on doing things the "right way" - but often there isn't really a right way, but various ways that get the result you want!

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  5. OMG - This is the smartest thing ever!! I will, undoubtedly, benefit from this info - and I'm surprised it has never occurred to me. Once you see it, it's so sensible! Thanks G.

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  6. You are brilliant, Gail! How I wish I had known about this trick this summer when I had to cats on my Bettie (over 200 stitches) twice in a row because I was a distracted mess. Seriously, I wish we could have knit night once a week in person - you are a wealth of knowledge my friend!

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  7. Thanks Gail, this is great! I've done this more times than I can remember and never thought there was such an easy fix.

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