Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Tuesday Tip #28

Tip #28 f you're having trouble understanding a pattern get some graph paper and make yourself a chart.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book  
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Tuesday Tip #27

Tip #27 No-rinse wool wash is perfect for washing hand knits in the machine for squeaky clean results. Only don't wash super-wash yarns that way, as the wool wash will ruin it.



For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Tuesday Tip #26

Tip #26 When giving a hand knit gift include a card with the fiber content, washing instructions, and a yard of the yarn for future mending.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Tuesday Tip #25

Tip #25 Using a three needle bind off is the perfect way to join shoulders. Hold right sides together for a seam on the inside, hold wrong sides together for a seam on the outside.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book  
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Tuesday Tip #24

Tip #24 Choose needles with long graceful points for lace knitting.



For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book  
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Tuesday Tip #23

Tip #23 Use a sweater that is a good silhouette and fit for the basis for choosing the size for your sweater pattern. Lay it flat and measure and compare to the pattern measurements.

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book  
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Tuesday Tip #22

Tip #22 Always carry a second color in the same way, either under or over. Varying between over and under will change the height of you stitches which will be noticeable.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book  
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tuesday Tip #21

Tip #21 The needle size stated for the gauge is only a recommendation, always do your gauge swatch! And do your swatch using the needles you will be using as different needles can give you different gauges on the same yarn.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Tuesday Tip #20

Tip #20 When making a ball from a skein, wind the yarn very loosely to protect the fibers.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book  
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Tuesday Tip #19

Tip #19 If you're sewing a seam, leave a very long tail after binding off and use it to sew the seam.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Tuesday Tip #18

Tip #18 Moving your working yarn from back to front, or vice versa, when ribbing before taking the stitch off your needle will increase your speed and keep your tension even.

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book  
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tuesday Tip #17

Tip #17 Use a sticky note to keep your place in your pattern chart.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Tuesday Tip #16

Tip #16 The only time it is legal to copy a pattern is if it states clearly that it is in the public domain; Otherwise copyrights are in effect even if missing on the pattern. You can make one copy of a purchased pattern for your own use.

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book  
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Tuesday Tip #15

Tip #15 When getting your gauge, stitches per inch are more important than the row count. However, if your row count is off, you run the risk of running out of yarn, consider buying another ball if the row count is off.

Here's the best kind of ruler for measuring your gauge:





For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Tuesday Tip #14

Tip #14 Knitting chenille yarn in a tighter gauge will help prevent worming, a common complaint for chenille.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Tuesday Tip #13

Tip #13 When adding a new ball of yarn, leave a six inch tail from the old ball, hang another 6 inch tail for the new ball, and begin knitting. Weave in the tail ends later. Always add balls at the edge of your knitting.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Tuesday Tip #12

Tip #12 Row counting will make your garment pieces match perfectly.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Tuesday Tip #11

Tip #11 If you are left handed, do not try to learn to knit left handed; knitting is a two handed process!

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book  
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Tuesday Tip #10

Tip #10 If your needle has slipped out entirely, use a circular needle to pick up your stitches so you won't have to worry about the direction of the needle.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book
Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Tuesday Tip #9


Tip #9 When slipping a stitch, slip it as though to pearl; if you slip as though to knit, the stitch will twist and the fabric will tighten up.

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Tuesday Tip #8


Tip #8 Using a smooth, contrasting yarn, catch the yarn every 10 rows for easy row counting.

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Tuesday Tip #7


Tip #7 Enlarge color charts on a copier, and using magic markers, color in the colors corresponding to the symbols.


For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Tuesday Tip #6


Tip #6 Always read the pattern through before beginning.

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tuesday Tip #5


Tip #5 Never carry a second color over more than three stitches or your work will pucker.
For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Tuesday Tip #4


Tip #4 Washing and blocking multicolor knitting will even out the stitches.

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Even Hockey Goalies Knit!

Image courtesy of BradysCards.com


We were delighted to find an article on a sports blog by DC Sports Chick quoting Lucy Neatby's article on Jacques Plante, a famous Canadian hockey goalie who was a big knitter. You can read the article here.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tuesday Tip #3


Tip #3 Pull the first two stitches on each needle more tightly when using double pointed needles to avoid laddering.
For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tuesday Tip #2


Tip #2 When in doubt, tear it out! A hole or mistake will give you grief throughout the life of the garment, and whatever time it takes to fix will be long forgotten.

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Tuesday Tip #1

Hi friends and knitters,

Today is the first Tuesday blog post for my new tips and techniques project. Each Tuesday I will be posting a technical tip, based on questions I have received for my "Ask Jil" column in KnitSimple magazine. Let me know if you have any special questions!


Tip #1 One of the most important issues for perfect knitting is getting the correct gauge, or the correct number of stitches per inch and rows per inch. Always do your gauge swatch as instructed in the pattern. Check your gauge on your project after about four inches; if you're not getting your gauge begin again.

For a complete set of my tips and tricks, look for my latest book Jil Eaton's Knitting School: A complete guide to becoming a confident knitter.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Room with a View



For many years my studio was in a downtown cooperative, but when my son moved out I moved to a beautiful room on our second floor. Light and airy, my studio has a fabulous window view. The commute is great and the rent's even better!

My most recent book Jil Eaton's Knitting School included almost 100 tips and tricks, my special techniques for knitters. Weekly, I'm going to offer tips and tricks on my Facebook and on my Twitter. Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Outtakes




I just finished my Fall 2011 Collection, which with both kids and dogs is not an easy shoot!




Photography by Nina Fuller