Ask the Yarn Doctors: Tips for using double pointed needles

Using double pointed needles (DPNs) are easier than many knitters imagine. Having four or even five needles on the go might seem like wrestling hedgehogs but most of the time you really only have to think about two needles and can pretty much ignore the others. With DPNs you should concentrate on the two needles…

Learn at your yarn shop

Have you been thinking “new year, new yarnie skills”? If you’ve decided that now is the time to take on a new knitting or crochet challenge, your local yarn shops might be a good place to start. Whether you are looking for a formal workshop or support as you take on the big project or…

Ask the yarn doctors: Identifying mystery yarns

I want to organise the odd yarn balls in my stash but not all have labels, how can I check what yarn weight they are? There are a couple of ways you can narrow down the yarn weight of a mystery ball or skein. If you have a needle guage with holes for the different…

Ask the yarn doctors: Knitting from charts

I don't understand charts. Where do I start? Charts are simply another way of providing knitting instructions and if they are well drawn they should to some extent be a diagram of how your knitting should look. The most straightforward charts to understand are those for colourwork. Each square on the chart represents a stitch…

Ask the Yarn Doctors – Knitting on circular needles

I’ve only knitted on straight needles but I’m seeing more and more patterns for circularneedles. Why? And have you any tips? Historically garments have been knitted in the round all over the world but especially in Scandinavia and the Scottish Islands. It was only with the advent of modern manufacturing techniques that they have started…

Ask the Yarn Doctors: What are the best increases and decreases?

When you are deciding on which increases and decreases to use, it often depends where and on what sort of project you are using them. The simplest increase is to make a stitch by putting the yarn over your needle before working your next stitch – we’ve all done it by mistake when learning. The…

What’s in a sock yarn?

Our current appeal for socks and other warm items to go Ukraine mentions that the socks can be made in any yarn. This is because these are socks to sleep in rather than ones that will be worn all days inside boots If you are making socks for normal wear in boots or shoes you…

Shop Your Stash

Have you ever watched any of the decluttering or living for less type TV shows? You often come across experts showing people how to “shop their wardrobe”. This means taking out every garment they own – often a large amount including unworn garments, thanks to fast fashion – and creating new outfits as if they…

Decoding cable patterns

One question that regularly comes to the Yarn Doctors is about different patterns using different abbreviations for cables. There are several styles of notation for creating cables which can seem confusing but, despite this, the actual way of making cables remains the same. All cable instructions ask you to put a certain number of stitches…

Summer accessory knitting

Summer knitting is always a topic for debate. Some people think that working with yarn is a cold weather only activity while others of us wouldn’t be without our needles and hooks regardless of what the thermometer says. That said, casting on an over-sized chunky cardigan may not be the ideal option for a sunny…