Monica Knits

If you prefer visual methods, as some of my knitting students do, you might like the following technique that was used for managing decreases in the cabled cap and increases in a glove wrist. The number of stitch markers used is equal to the number of increases or decreases required.

Use locking stitch markers if you don't want to use math or hash marks scribbled on paper. Leave them unlocked while you eyeball the spacing -- adjust if necessary. You don't even have to lock the markers, if you are going to knit the row/rnd immediately. Read more ....

The provisional or temporary cast on is used when you will knit from the foundation row, in the opposite direction, at a later stage of construction. By request, I have added a video showing the single row provisional cast on. To read the full article with step-wise illustrated instructions and view an instructional video "Provisional Cast On", Read more...

To help manage the yarn tails associated with horizontal stripes and color changes I tie a small, temporary square knot. This quick measure prevents gaps from occurring in the knitting and allows me to continue knitting past the color changes until I'm ready to weave in the yarn tails. The yellow arrows point to three of the four color transitions. Read more ....

Earlier this week I was grafting another cabled headband which had both purl and knit stitches, which meant I was grafting "in pattern." For the cabled headband, my preferred method of joining it in the round is with the Kitchener (also called grafting or weaving) stitch, because it creates an invisible join and does not add bulk. When grafting knitted pieces that are "in pattern," a combination of the two basic grafting stitches is used and it is helpful to have a mnemonic to remember which grafting stitch to use and thus reduce confusion. Read more .... for memory aid.