Frequently asked questions about knitting

Name: O – The Skirt - The Statement Skirt
Brand: Cosymonday
Price: 130.0 NOK
Availability: InStock

Ninety-six questions I've been asked, and my answers. Use your browser's search (Ctrl+F) if you're looking for something specific — or jump straight to the topic you're wondering about.

Getting started · Stitches and basic technique · Sweaters · Socks · Yarn and needles · Washing, blocking and care · When something goes wrong

Getting started

IS KNITTING HARD TO LEARN?

Hi! It takes a bit of patience, but most people pick up knit and purl fairly quickly. 🧶

Learn to knit in 1-2-3- →

CHOOSING NEEDLES

Pick:
Aluminium – for you who knit fast.
Wood – for small pieces where the stitches need to stay put.
Circular needle – for bigger pieces such as sweaters, dresses and scarves.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

🤸‍♀️ Mistakes = learning
🤸‍♂️ Most mistakes don't show
👵 Everything can be fixed – or lived with 👱‍♀️

KNITTING ABC

In Knittipedia's knitting ABC you'll find explanations of the words and terms you're wondering about.

Knitting ABC →

WHICH KNITTING PROJECT SHOULD I START WITH?

Start with something small, like a scarf in stocking stitch. You get plenty of practice with the technique, and the satisfaction of finishing your first piece. 🧶

WHAT DO I NEED TO START KNITTING?

You need:
– Knitting needles (about 4–6 mm for beginners)
– Yarn in a medium weight, for example Tjukk Mohair from Rauma
– Scissors and a darning needle
– A simple pattern, like a scarf or a dishcloth 🧶

IDEAS FOR YOUR FIRST PROJECT

A scarf, a dishcloth or a headband are all good places to start.

IS A SWEATER HARD TO KNIT?

No, look for «easy sweater» or «top down».
Cosymonday's patterns are written to be easy to follow and easy to understand.

THE EASIEST TYPE OF SWEATER

– A raglan sweater
– Sweaters knitted top down
– Stocking stitch with no pattern

Stitches and basic technique

DO I HAVE TO KNIT A GAUGE SWATCH?

Yes, if you want the garment to fit.

WHAT IS GAUGE, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Gauge is how many stitches and rows you get over 10 cm. The right gauge gives the garment the right size. 🧶

WHY IS MY KNITTING TOO LOOSE OR TOO TIGHT? 🧶

It usually comes down to how you hold the yarn. Practice helps. You can also change needle size or needle type (aluminium or wood). 🧶

WHAT DOES CAST ON MEAN ?

Casting on means making the first stitches on the needle – the start of your knitting. 🧶

See how it's done here →

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CROCHET AND KNITTING?

Knitting uses two needles, crochet uses one hook. The technique is different, and knitted fabric is more elastic. 🧶

WHAT IS A STITCH?

One loop on the needle - and the building block of all knitting.

WHAT ARE KNIT AND PURL ?

Knit – the yarn sits behind the needle and gives a smooth surface.
Purl – the yarn sits in front of the needle and gives a more textured surface.
These two stitches are used in almost every pattern, and they make up ribbing and moss stitch, among other things. 🧶

HOW DO I READ A KNITTING PATTERN? 🧶

Cosymonday's patterns are written step by step and are easy to follow.
Common abbreviations:
– k = knit
– p = purl
– st = stitch
– rnd = round
– row = row 🧶

WHAT DOES CAST OFF MEAN ?

Casting off means finishing the knitting so the stitches don't unravel. 🧶

HOW DO I CAST OFF?

Knit two stitches, then lift the first one over the second and off the needle.
Carry on like that until all the stitches are cast off. 🧶

WHAT DOES KNIT THE STITCHES AS THEY APPEAR MEAN?

«Knit the stitches as they appear» means:
Knit over knit stitches and purl over purl stitches. 🧶

WHAT IS A ROUND?

One trip all the way round when you knit in the round on a circular needle (a hat, for example).

WHAT DOES «KNIT IN THE ROUND» MEAN? 🧶

It means you knit in a circle without turning the work.
You keep going the same way all the time, so there's no seam edge.

INC 1 ST 🧶

«Inc 1 st» means you make one new stitch – you increase the stitch count by one. 🧶

WHAT DOES «K2TOG» MEAN? 🧶

It means decreasing by knitting two stitches together into one..

WHY ARE MY EDGES UNEVEN? 🧶

Very common! It gets better with practice, or by using edge stitches. 🧶

WHAT DOES- TURN THE WORK MEAN?

You change which way you're knitting.

Sweaters

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH SIZE TO KNIT?

Measure your bust and pick the size from the pattern – not your usual clothing size.

WHAT DOES «FINISHED CHEST WIDTH» MEAN? 🧶

The width of the garment around the chest, usually a little wider than the body.

WHAT DOES «RAGLAN INCREASE» MEAN?

It means you increase stitches along the raglan lines to shape the sleeves and the body at the same time.

WHAT DOES «DIVIDE THE WORK» MEAN?

It means you put some stitches on hold (usually the sleeves) and carry on with the rest separately.

WHAT IS THE BODY?

The body is the main part of the sweater – the piece without the sleeves.

MAGIC LOOP

A technique for knitting small circumferences with one long circular needle.

DO I HAVE TO SEW THE SWEATER TOGETHER?

Not if it's knitted top down or in the round. Then it's almost seamless.

THE SWEATER IS TOO BIG / TOO SMALL – WHY?

Usually the wrong gauge or the wrong needle size.

THE NECK IS TOO TIGHT – WHAT CAN I DO?

Cast off more loosely, use a bigger needle for the neckband, or cast on more stitches.

PATTERN LANGUAGE

-st = stitch
- rnd = round
- k/p = knit/ purl
- inc = increase stitches
- dec = decrease stitches

Socks

SOCKS: ARE SOCKS HARD TO KNIT?

No, they look hard, but once you've learnt the heel and the decreases it goes fine.

WHICH SOCKS ARE EASIEST?

- Socks knitted top down
- Socks with a classic heel
- Solid-coloured yarn ( easier to see the stitches).

WHICH YARN IS USED FOR SOCKS?

Sock yarn ( often wool with a little nylon for durability).

WHICH NEEDLES DO I NEED?

-Double-pointed needles ( a set of 5)
- Or a circular needle with magic loop

WHAT IS THE "LEG" ?

The part at the top of the sock, above the ankle.

WHAT IS THE HEEL?

The part that shapes the sock around your foot.

WHAT IS A HEEL FLAP?

The back of the heel, knitted back and forth.

WHAT IS THE HEEL TURN?

When you shape the heel itself , by decreasing stitches.

WHAT IS A GUSSET?

Stitches that are increased after the heel by decreasing stitches.

WHAT IS THE FOOT?

The part between the heel and the toe.

WHAT IS A TOE DECREASE?

When you decrease the stitches to shape the toe.

HOW LONG SHOULD THE SOCKS BE?

The foot length should be about 2-3 shorter than your foot when you measure.

DO I HAVE TO KNIT A GAUGE SWATCH?

Recommended - especially if you want the socks to fit well.

HOLES AT THE HEEL - WHY?

Common - fixed by picking up a few extra stitches and tightening a little.

The sock is too big/ too small - what do I do?

Change the needle size or the stitch count, or wash and full the sock down a size.

Yarn and needles

WHICH YARN IS BEST FOR BEGINNERS?

Thick yarn in wool or acrylic in a light colour – then you can see the stitches better. 🧶

Can I use a different yarn than the one in the pattern?

Yes, but check the yardage and the gauge.

What does yardage mean?

How many metres of yarn there are per 50 g / 100 g.

Why are there so many needle sizes?

Different needles give a different gauge and a different look.

What are edge stitches?

Extra stitches at the sides that give neater edges.

Washing, blocking and care

HOW DO I WASH KNITWEAR?

- Check the yarn label.
- Wool should usually be hand washed in cold water and dried flat.
- Some yarns can take a machine wash on the wool programme.

What does blocking mean?

Washing and shaping the garment so it turns out even and neat.

Do I have to block?

Not always, but it gives a neater result.

How do I wash my knitting?

Follow the washing instructions on the yarn - usually hand wash.

Why does my knitting look different from the picture?

Different gauge, different yarn or different light.

The knitting goes out of shape after washing

Fix: Shape the garment while it's wet. If it has gone crooked, dampen it lightly and gently again, with a spray bottle for example, and shape it back. Dry it flat.

Pilling on the garment

Fix: Use a fabric shaver or a soft brush gently, then steam lightly with an iron and a damp cloth on a low setting.

When something goes wrong

DROPPED A STITCH? 🧶

Pick it up again with the needle or a crochet hook where it dropped down. 🧶

See how it's done here →

I have too many / too few stitches - what do I do ?

Count your stitches often. Small errors can usually be adjusted later by making new stitches, or by knitting stitches together.

How do I rip back several rows?

Pull the needle out and tug gently on the yarn. Rip back until the stitches are even again.

What is a lifeline ?

A thread threaded through the stitches so you don't rip back too far.

What is a stitch cord?

A rubberised cord you can slide onto the needle tip so the sleeve stitches (in top-down patterns) can be moved onto the cord while you knit the body, for example.

Can I change the length or the width myself?

Yes, knitting is flexible - just make a note of what you change.

What do I do if I don't understand the pattern?

Read the whole pattern first, then take one section at a time. Send a chat message on the left of the page, and you'll get an answer as soon as possible.

What if I drop a stitch?

Fix: Use a crochet hook or a knitting needle and pick it back up.

Too many/ too few stitches

Fix: Count often. If you're missing a stitch, you can increase discreetly.

Holes in the work

Fix: Pull the yarn a little tighter between the stitches.

Twisted knitting

Fix: make sure the stitches aren't twisted when you join in the round.

The sleeves end up different lengths

Fix: Count rounds , or measure as you go. If one sleeve is the wrong length, rip it back and knit it again to the right length.

The toe of the sock turns out pointy or lumpy

Fix: Decrease evenly and finish with Kitchener stitch.

Misreading the pattern

Fix: Mark the row you're on as you go, use a stitch marker, and read the whole pattern and make a plan before you start.

Skipping increases or decreases

Fix: Use stitch markers. If you don't have any to hand, thread a short length of yarn through a button, for example, and use that as a marker.

Stop before you rip back 1. - checklist

1. Does the mistake show? A lot of mistakes don't show once the garment is finished.

Stop - before you rip back 2.

2. Is the mistake far down in the work.
The further down it is, the less it's worth ripping back.

Stop before you rip back 3 - alternatives

Can it be picked up without ripping back ?
- Pick up a stitch
-Ease out a tight stitch
- Sew over it with a darning needle later

Stop before you rip back 4 - alternatives

Does the mistake only affect One stitch?
A single stitch can usually be adjusted with no consequences.

Clever tricks 1.

Put in a lifeline
Thread a length of yarn through the stitches where everything is correct.

Clever tricks 2

Go down just a few stitches.
You don't have to rip back everything - only as far as the mistake.

Clever tricks 3

Use the darning needle to " cheat-fix"
Small mistakes can be camouflaged neatly.

Fit vs. perfection

If yes - consider fixing it.
If no - leave it be.

Will you notice the mistake in a week?

If the answer is no, keep knitting 🤎

Remember this

💥Finished garments beat perfect garments
💥Handmade = small variations
💥Most people only see the whole

When should you rip back?

- Wrong stitch count
- Wrong size
-A clear pattern mistake
-Wrong yarn / needles

Before you rip back - Tips 🤎

1. Take a breath - ripping back is part of knitting, not a defeat.
2. Work out how far you need to rip back. Count rounds / rows.
3.Put in a lifeline ( optional, but smart), by threading a length of yarn through the stitches on a correct round, i.e. the first correct round.

How to rip back

1. Take the needle out carefully. Hold the knitting steady.
2. Pull slowly on the yarn. The stitches come undone one by one. Don't yank.
3. Stop often and check. Make sure you don't rip back too far.

Ripping back part 2. When you're at the right place

1. Put the stitches back on the needle. They should all sit the right way round and not be twisted ( you can fix this as you knit).
2. Count the stitches, so they match the number in the pattern.