Tension (basic knitting tutorial)

My gauge guide is a silver metal bar that many non-knitters may mistake as a ruler with a series of holes in the centre.
You may have overheard a knitter say, "Wow, this sleeve looks too big. I hope my tension is correct."
What does that mean?, you may have wondered.
Well...
Tension refers to the number of stitches per inch. For example, a pattern may list the tension as 5 stitches x 8 rows = one inch
Many variable will effect the number of stitches you get to the inch. For example...
-the weight of the yarn (finger weight, worsted weight, chunky)
-the size of the needle (4.50 mm/UK 7/US 7)
-how tightly or loosely you knit
Using my gauge guide, ensures that my garment will be worked in the proper portion.

You: Do you work an entire sleeve, back or front and then measure?
Me: No, you work a sample swatch
You: What's a sample swatch
Me: Using the yarn and knitting needles you will use for your project, cast on twenty stitches and work in Stockinette stitch for four inches.
Measure the swatch using your gauge.
Do you have a 4 inch by 4 inch square?
If you have six or more stitches to the inch, work and measure another sample swatch using a large needle. Conversely, if you have four or fewer stitches to the inch, work and measure another sample swatch using a smaller needle. When your sample swatch measures 4 inches by 4 inches you have the correct size needle for your project.

Some projects such as scarves don't need to fit. This is why no tension information is given on the patterns for such projects.
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Next post: Celebrating Mayne Island Little Theatre's anniversary.

Buying Yarn by Leanne Dyck

Buying Yarn

The Rural--Urban split

...Seen through rural eyes, an urban knitter need only open their front door to venture forth into the world of yarn. Rural knitters envision yarn shops on every corner. The reality may be sadly different. With big box stores vying for customers, establishing a small independent yarn shop is not easy.

Urban knitter chant, "Support your local yarn shop."

Rural knitters respond, "We would love to!"

Some rural knitters are fortunate to have wool producers in their backyard, such as Meadowmist Farm on Mayne Island.

For those who don't, purchasing yarn requires a long drive to the nearest city. This shopping trip is squeezed into a long list of tasks--not for the rural knitter a day devoted to visiting a multitude of yarn shops.

The Internet is the great equalizer. Access to a computer allows both rural and urban knitters to shop until they drop.

Start here...

Yarn Canada

Knitting tutorial: Hank's having a ball by Leanne Dyck

Okay, so, you walk into your favourite local yarn shop. Look around, and find it. The perfect yarn. Trouble is it looks like this... You can't knit with it in this state. Question: how to transform a hank into a ball? Step 1: untwist Hank and lay him on your lap. Step 2: Find an end.

Step 3: Make several loops.

Step 4: Begin to form a ball.

Step 5: continue winding...

Don't stop until you have a ball.