Trouble Using Knifty Knitter

RE: Trouble Using Knifty Knitter Post by cwmom98 (1) | (01/23/2008) Contact While I have been an avid crocheter & knitter for more years than I care to admit to, I LOVE my kniffty knitters. I have been a crochet instructor for Michael's & have considered approaching them about a job teaching the knitters. I will try to answer some of ya'lls problems... Tension: You don't want to wrap tight for 2 reasons...1, it makes it difficult to lift the bottom loop up & over the top loop & off the peg, & 2, it stretches out your yarn. Practice wrapping it around your fingers to feel how tight it should be. In fact, if you have heavy-weight yarn, you COULD actually knit right off your hand just using your 4 fingers! Hold your hand, palm facing you. Simply hold the yarn end against your palm with your thumb, wrap yarn clock-wise around your index finger all the way around then, around your middle, then your ringer, TWICE around your pinkie, then counter-clockwise around ringer, middle, index, then hold with your thumb. Next, take hold of the bottom loop & lift it up & over each finger. Your work will build down the back of your hand. Then just wrap your fingers again until you have 2 loops again, & work off as before. Getting back to using the looms, if you get a feel for how tight by wrapping your fingers, you'll get a better idea of how much pull on the pegs as you wrap. You can use any kind of yarn goods on the looms, but a couple of suggestions. If you use baby yarn, instead of only 2 loops, wrap 4 loops, then lift the 2 bottom up & over the top two. If you use the furry or eyelash yarns, I suggest you combine the furry with baby yarn, 1 strand of each. That gives it more substance & support. Some of you mentioned confusion about the side peg. If you are working on the round looms & making a complete circle, you only need to wrap the END of your yarn around that side peg until you've completed lifting your first stitches. After that you can unwrap that side peg & let the tail trail down as your piece grows. If you are using the the side pegs for a flat piece, the side pegs are simply to anchor your yarn until you complete each row. Does that make sense? Even though I knit the regular way, I like the knifty knitter because I can lay it down & not worry about stitches accidentally falling off. I hope I've been helpful & I hope you won't continue to be frustrated. Remember, this is supposed to be FUN! Hugs, Ann RE: Trouble Using Knifty Knitter Post by Cyinda (339) | (01/11/2008) Contact I was at Walmart last night & saw the Knifty Knitter & thought of your post, So I read the directions again & as I posted earlier, you DO have to use 2 strands of "worsted weight" yarn, which translates to on strand of "bulky weight" yarn... Hope this helps! ---> ALSO: They now a bunch of shapes of "Knitters" these days, long & rectangle, plus a bunch more sizes & shapes, including a "Straw Loom"... * Has anybody tried this "Straw Loom"? RE: Trouble Using Knifty Knitter Post by Jantoo (588) | (01/10/2008) Contact Thank you for asking about this. I too bought the Knifty Knitter and had so much trouble getting started with it that I went back to knitting with needles. I'll try it again now. RE: Trouble Using Knifty Knitter Post by audrey_b_45205 (2) | (01/10/2008) Contact it takes a bit of try and try again to get it right, as you loop the yarn on the second round push the yarn slightly inbetween the pegs with your index finger of your left hand as you wrap the next peg with your right hand this allows you to not wrap the pegs not so tight and you will find out it is better to use two strands of yarn instead of one so the hats don't look so thin. I make hats and scarves to give to the kids and the homeless here in Cincinnati. RE: Trouble Using Knifty Knitter Post By Debbie Reece (Guest Post) (01/10/2008) I crochet and saw a friend with one of these at work so I just bought one to try too and whenever you get a new "toy" its always trial and error at first. Don't be discouraged and give up. Check out the instruction page and at the bottom their website is listed and go there they have lots of cool projects I can't wait to try. After a few rows you do need to the beginning row off the outside peg or it will get in the way. And there will always be two rows on the pegs at a time. Thanks for the tip on using bulk yarn or two strands of worsted at a time! RE: Trouble Using Knifty Knitter Post by Kreatvmuzk1111 (23) | (01/09/2008) Contact I too have arthritic hands, but love using my "Knifty-Knitter"! I use regular yarn but always two strands. I've look for the little white handle, I don't know what it's called, and can't find one. So, I got a "swamp cooler" hose and cut a piece of it, used my needle to thread the yarn through the piece hose and da...da...it works great and makes going around the pegs, faster and easier. I made everyone in my family a new scarf and hat for Christmas and working on a shall for me now using simply soft yarn. I find the tension is fine but I do admit that the first row is really tight. I think my next project will be making pot holders. I also do regular knit and crochet but this is easier on my fingers. Sorry it doesn't work for you but I love it! RE: Trouble Using Knifty Knitter Post by Jean220 (1) | (01/08/2008) Profile | Contact thanks, I took it back also, because I have arthritic hands & it was too heavy to hold & work with. I do knit some, just need more practise, thanks again, Jean RE: Trouble Using Knifty Knitter Post by Cyinda (339) | (01/07/2008) Profile | Contact Unfortunately, You usually have to use "BULKY" yarn or 2 strands of "Worsted" to get the tension right with a Knifty-Knitter.... (because the prongs are to far apart. For my 2 cents, I think unless you are a beginning knitter or trying to teach a teenager to knit, Leave the "Knifty-Knitters" for those people... Because IF you already know how to knit, it's faster to knit with needles than to use the "Knifty-Knitter". It's slow & at the end you have to keep your tension very light so you can get it off... I Crochet too (advanced) and I Knit (beginner)... I'd recommend you buy yourself a pair of knitting needles & go on line (to the "About" site, & type in "Knitting") then print out "How to cast on" or have someone show you (MUCH EASIER!)... Then learn the basic "knit & pearl" stitches... or learn by watching that Knitting program on the DIY network... I taught myself from a book... Just the basics. But, you can also usually learn for free at a knitting shop (as they want you to buy their yarn)... A GOOD knitting shop will also print out instructions for you to take home for FREE. ---> I, myself also bought the "Knifty-Knitter", but took it back, because it was slow & a pain in the rear compared to "regular" knitting. Maybe we can hear from some of you out there who actually ENJOY knitting with it... And a question for all of you Knifty-Knitters: Do you ONLY use the Knifty-Knitter, or do you also knit "regular" style too? And, Which way do you like most & WHY? * Hey! ... I have lots of free knitting & crochet pattern sites, & also Basic, beginner knitting information. Send me a note on ThriftyFun if you're interested.