Tips and Tricks

Knitting patterns usually have a list of abbreviations at the beginning, but sometimes they are omitted.

Here is a list of some of the most common knitting abbreviations that you may find in knitting patterns:

The Oeko Tex  standard 100 is an environmental certification for yarns and textiles. Oeko-Tex standard 100 tests for harmful substances, including: legally banned and controlled substances  chemicals known to be harmful to the health (but not yet legally controlled)  parameters for health protection. Only textiles and yarns that have been tested for Oeko-Tex 100 will receive the certification.  According to the Oeko Tex website,  Product certification according to OEKO-TEX® is only possible if all components of an item comply with the required test criteria without exception. [...] The criteria for OEKO-TEX® testing for harmful substances are revised every year and are...

Have you ever found a gorgeous pattern only to realise that you simply can't get the tension right? Or maybe the yarn is no longer available and you need to adapt your pattern to a different yarn? Maybe you simply want to make the pattern larger or smaller and need to work out how many stitches you need to cast on? The Prym Knitting Gauge Converter Tool is a brilliant little gadget helps you change the number of stitches and rows to suit your yarn or your tension. 

Maybe you have an idea for a jumper or a pattern for a scarf but no yarn yet. How do you find the right yarn for your project? Familiarise yourself with the properties of different fibres before you choose your yarn. Think about how different fibres behave and feel. Are you going to knit or crochet with your yarn? Do you prefer 100% natural fibres? How are you going to use your project? A beautiful and expensive yarn does not guarantee the right kind of outcome if you don't consider the quality of the fibres first. Structure & flexibility Do you want to make something...