I’m sitting here wondering if you’re all already doing this, because it seems so simple, but it’s something I only thought to do the other day.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m knitting a curl…
I’d increased it to around 250 stitches when I found myself heading towards the end of the first ball of yarn…
I looked at my reducing yarn thinking there’s not many things worse than tinking back nearly 250 stitches of lace ,because you overestimated how much yarn you have and ran out just before the end of a row, when I hit on an idea. If I started weighing my yarn a few rows before the end, I could see how much yarn each row was using and therefore if I had enough left for another row.
When I tried it, my first row teetered between weighing 5g and 6g. Subsequent rows measured…4g, 4g, 3g, 3g, 1g. I was confused by this pattern until I realised the yarn over rows would use less yarn than the ‘return rows’. I was still a little apprehensive, but I went for it and my theory held good. I made it to the end with yarn to spare.
So, is this a new discovery, or am I just an idiot who hasn’t done this before?
Never thought of doing that! I usually work with if the yarn left is 3 times the length of the length to knit then im ok. Thats usually worked for me x
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I have done that sort of thing, but have failed on more complicated patterns 😦
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Worth knowing. My experience is more simple stuff. Your idea will be good going forward!
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I think your idea’s great and would work for more complex stuff, if you work out how much per row, but that’s probably more of a faff than weighing. Weighing did make me think about the lace using different amounts or yarn different rows too – so weighing definitely feels a better option there.
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I like your weighing idea better. Seems less likely for yarn chicken!!!
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Where have you been all my life?
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🙂
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Not sure my scales are quite precise enough so I normally measure out a few metres of yarn and put a slip knot in for my next row before I think I’m going to run out, that gives me a good idea of how many metres I’m using in each row. I’ve also started splicing the yarn mid row if it’s a bit woolly – very much like that solution 🙂
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Interesting to hear other people’s solutions. Yes, you do need food scales or similar to use my method. I don’t like splicing mid row, even if it is woolly. Certainly would have been crazy to try it on this yarn
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First off, I’d have to buy me some scales. I tend to eyeball it which means I’m often wrong and or waste a lot of yarn 🙂 Next time I decide to make something finickety I shall bear this in mind.
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Sounds just like what i usually end up doing. 🙂 Unfortunately yes, it does incur the cost of scales if you don’t have any 😦
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lol I don’t usually weigh, that is a great idea! I am not afraid to change yarns mid row if necessary, though, especially if it is on a rest (purl ) row. I just leave a long tail on each end, and then weave it in after blocking.
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Oh no! I would never dream of doing that! I’ll be having nightmares now you’ve said that so casually.
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LOL – no nightmares! You don’t have to do it, truly you don’t. 🙂 But seriously, do you never do it when making a sweater or something more solid? It saves having so many leftover bits.
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No. Never. I hate having to make it neat and tidy, mush easier to hide my messy finishing in a seam
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😀
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I have weighed my yarn per row when working on shawls with lacy bits. I don’t why I never thought to post about it 🙂 It is definitely an awesome idea to see how much yarn you are using per row. Since so many patterns repeat, it lets you be the boss of your knitting.
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Great to hear I’m not the only one pulling out my scales 🙂 And I’m glad in a way you didn’t post, as it’s always nice make your own discoveries 🙂
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I knew this before – and constantly keep forgetting to weigh the yarn until it is too late *sigh*
If it isn’t bind off, I sometimes consider Russian Joint or simple felting. Depends on the pattern but if it isn’t too lacy, it blends in. I prefer braids anyway 🙂
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Oh yes, just watch me forget I ever thought of it. Russian join is a nice technique, but, as you say, not really suitable for my curl.
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I once took my heart shawl into a green grocers when I was in Falmouth and asked them to weigh it so I knew how much wool to buy for the next one. So maybe a bit similar?! 😃
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That’s an excellent idea. Was green grocer amused?
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I really need in invest in a small digital scale. 🙂 It will make such a difference.
Great idea to weigh as you go. And it worked! Thank you for the tip.
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You’re welcome 🙂 I ‘stole’ mine from hubby – he needed them for work. Although i also have a much more sensitive set for weighing yarn dye.
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Good idea, will definitely look into getting an accurate enough set of scales eventually! I usually use a combination of 4x row width and count the yards 🙂
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It’s interesting to hear people use different row width. I guess it depends on the sort of projects they usually work on.
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Sounds like a great idea. I need to invest in some scales full stop. I currently don’t have any at my house… :-s
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They’re the sort of thing you can usually wing it without 🙂
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Total genius and my mermaids tail would have benefitted from this rows back! Thank you. 10 brownie points!
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Oh no! Wish I’d told you sooner – although I only thought of it last week. Thanks for the brownie points 🙂
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I never thought of that!
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Hi. Me neither until now 🙂 Thanks for commenting and for following.
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