Knitting needle forms: straight, circular, and double-pointed
See how needle construction changes where stitches sit, how the fabric is supported, and which shapes are practical for flat or circular work.
Knitting — Learning library
186 guides and workflows
Gauge is a fabric measurement, not a needle promise
Understand why the same needle and yarn can produce different dimensions, and how a representative, finished swatch turns a chart into a reliable size.
Yarn twist and ply: structure before stitch
Read a yarn as a structure of fibres and singles so you can anticipate cohesion, surface, stitch definition, and the difference between ply count and thickness.
Wool crimp, moisture, and static charge
Connect wool’s wavy, layered fibre structure with elasticity and moisture response—and understand why dry air can change static behaviour.
Knitting decreases: direction is part of the design
Learn how right-leaning, left-leaning, and centred decreases shape edges and motif lines.
Why stockinette curls and balanced structures behave differently
Connect loop geometry to edge curl, rib contraction, borders, and better finishing decisions.
Yarn label anatomy: turn symbols and numbers into decisions
Use weight category, fibre, gauge, care, length, and dye lot as a project checklist rather than a promise.
Why wool felts: moisture, movement, scales, and control
Understand why untreated wool can densify irreversibly—and how fibre treatment changes the risk.
Reading knitting charts: rows, rounds, symbols, and repeats
Find the start, direction, key, and repeat before turning a grid into knitted fabric.
Block knitting and crochet without guessing at fiber care
Choose wet, spray, or steam finishing from the yarn label and a swatch, then shape gently and dry with support.
Picking up stitches without a wavy band
Use the finished body and band gauges to plan a straight edge, then check the joined fabric.
How much replacement yarn do two labels imply?
Convert an original ball count into required length, then round replacement balls once.
How many whole balls does a length requirement need?
An 850 m requirement with 10% reserve needs 935 m. At 200 m per ball, round 4.675 up to five balls: 1,000 m in total.
Estimate a rectangular project from a weighed sample
A finished 10 × 10 cm sample weighing 5 g scales to 150 g for a 50 × 60 cm rectangle. With 10% reserve, plan 165 g before rounding packages.
How much yarn is needed when one yarn is held double?
For 400 m of working length held double, both strands travel the full distance. With 10% reserve, the requirement is 880 m of the single yarn.
Budget two different yarns held together
For 400 m of working length with one strand of each yarn and 10% reserve, yarn A and yarn B each need 440 m. Their lengths cannot be pooled.
Combine component quantities without mixing colors
Two parts using 120 m and 80 m of color A total 200 m before reserve. Color B uses 60 m separately. At 100 m per ball and 10% reserve, buy three A balls and one B ball.
Estimate making time from a timed sample
If 50 comparable units take 20 minutes, 500 units take 200 minutes at that sampled pace. A 15% time allowance gives 230 minutes, or about 3 hours 50 minutes.
Fit stitch repeats between fixed edges
A target of 102 stitches with an eight-stitch repeat and four fixed edge stitches fits 100 or 108 stitches. The fixed edges are counted once, outside the repeated area.
Calculate knitting stitches for a target width
At a finished gauge of 22 stitches per 10 cm, a 45 cm width requires 99 stitches before repeat or edge adjustments.
Calculate rows for a target length
At 30 finished rows per 10 cm, 60 cm corresponds to 180 rows. Row gauge must be measured independently of stitch gauge.
Replace a discontinued yarn when its original quantity is known
Start with three original 200 m balls: 600 m. A replacement labeled 150 m/50 g needs five balls with a chosen 10% reserve. Confirm fabric suitability before committing to the quantity.
Plan a project with two yarns held together throughout
Keep one complete length budget for each yarn. For 400 m of working length plus 10% reserve, both A and B need 440 m, then their package quantities round separately.
Project finished dimensions from a before-and-after sample
A sample changing from 10 × 10 cm to 11 × 9 cm grows 10% in width and shrinks 10% in height. A comparable 50 × 60 cm piece projects to 55 × 54 cm.