Are you dreaming of being able to finish those knitting projects faster? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll go over 13 actionable tips you can use to help you knit faster.
Let’s dive in.
1. Find A Comfortable Pattern
One of the easiest ways to knit faster is to choose an easier pattern to practice. It’s not always easy to determine which patterns to do first, especially if you are new to knitting.
I’ve got you covered though. Here are some easy patterns you can practice with:
Scarves and cowls
Scarves and cowls
Baby Items
Home Decor
Simple Knitted wearables
2. Use Sharp Knitting Needles
Sharper needles make it easier to knit. They let you to penetrate the yarn much easier and faster.
Sharper needles also make knitting smoother. Don’t ruin your flow over dull needles, sharp needles will keep you going without issue
Ensuring you have the right tools when you start is important to your speed. The right tools are crucial to ensuring that you can knit as fast as you possibly can.
3. Use Circular Knitting Needles
Circular needles contain two needle tips connected by a flexible cable. They give a seamless and effortless knitted fabric for round tubes like hats, socks, scarves, and mittens.
I also suggest this needle if you’re doing large projects like afghans, blankets, or wraps. Circular needles come in different lengths, cables, and diameter.
The tips can be either bamboo and metal. For beginners, I recommend bamboo because they have a better yarn grip. The metal tip ones tend to be heavier and sharper.
4. Reverse Knitting
You can save time by knitting backwards. With mirror knitting, you don’t need to turn your work over and do the purl stitches. Simply knit the row backward, and it’s the same effect. You won’t have to go through changing needles or picking up the yarn.
Do this in small stitchwork projects. Work your way backward by moving new stitches to your opposite hand and carry the same way as you’re doing it a purl.
“Entrelac knitting” is a perfect example of a reverse knitting technique. It shows the front of the work always facing and usually has a basketweave texture.
Its intricate work may deceive you, and it may look like strips of plaid fabric, but it’s one continuous knitted work. It’s a little hard to control tension using backward knitting, and you may still consider purling than this method.
5. Learn To Knit Without Looking
One of the best ways to knit faster is to learn how to knit without looking. When you don’t look, you develop muscle memory. Knitting will become second nature. You will become more efficient at what you do.
When you become more efficient you will be able to knit much faster. You can continue knitting despite distractions and interruptions.
6. Take Notes
It’s easy to forget what size of needle you use the last time you knit.
So, instead of wasting your time figuring it pattern out, keep notes for later use. This will help you save time down the road.
7. Review Your Work
Stop and review your work. You should review your work regularly and determine fabric errors early to deal with the mistakes early on.
This will also give you a chance to recognize the mistakes you continue to make. If you find that you continue making a particular mistake then you can focus on improving in these areas.
Reviewing your work will help you adjust and focus on your weaknesses so that you can get faster.
8. Avoid Ripping Rows
If you make a mistake often times the go to method for correction is by ripping rows. Instead of ripping any rows, use a crochet hook to work your way up again and re-do the unraveled column stitches.
Lifelines also add security to your work. Do this with larger and complicated projects. This is a great way to minimize mistakes and help you solve them faster than ripping the rows.
9. Perfect Tension Management
There are a lot of factors that may affect your movement. It can be a little tricky to sustain. But you can smoothen all of these in a way that works for you by perfecting your tension management.
Understanding tension management will give better control and feel when you knit. The more control you have over your yarn the faster you will be able to knit
This is often overlooked by beginners but a crucial step to getting faster at knitting.
10. Channel The Strength Of Your Fingers
Beginners tend to exert a lot of effort in exaggerated hand movements. Doing this won’t help you knit faster. Instead, try focusing on the majority of the stitch work through your fingers. You can use ergonomic needles to help you hold the needles more naturally.
The company, Prym, makes two types of ergonomic needles: the straight and the double-pointed needles. Leave the rest of your hand to handle the needles and lessen strain while working.
You can also do a simple stretch on your fingers when it starts to feel fatigued. Place your arms in front of you as if making a “stop” sign, then bend each wrist gently and hold for a few seconds.
11. Knit On The Tip Of The Needle
Working with your yarn closer to the needle will lessen the movement and effort to finish a stitch.
It’s an easy standard tip, but you should remember that this affects your gauge, and stitches tend to slip before you are ready to control them.
12. Play With Different Styles
There isn’t any hard and fast rule on what constitutes right or wrong knitting. Some say that there are styles that are requiring less movement and are more speedy than others.
Either way, it’s for you to figure out which one works with your hands. The more comfortable you are with style, the more efficient and faster you can finish whatever it is you’re working on.
Below are some of the different styles you can use:
13. Practice
We often underestimate the importance of practice.
Ok. This tip may be obvious. But it’s vital to get better at any skill, including knitting. With knitting, the more you practice, the more your eyes and hands can develop muscle memory.
The stronger your muscle memory, the faster you will be able to knit while paying less attention. Desire is key to getting good at something. But action is more critical to honing your skill.
Conclusion
The thought of mastering knitting may be intimidating. But with persistence, dedication, and the right tricks in your pocket, there’s no doubt you’ll get there.
Go ahead, give these tips a try and master knitting sooner than you ever thought you could.
