Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Tips for Knitting Faster and More

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tips for faster knittingMost of us knitters would like to be more productive with our knitting, whether that means knitting faster when we have time to or making more time for our knitting in the first place.

A few years ago I took a faster knitting workshop with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, who is mentioned in this oldie but a goodie Craftsy article about how to knit faster. She uses a style called pivot knitting, which is a great way to knit super fast but also takes a lot of practice.

Practicing your own style of knitting and working on ways to be more efficient within that style is a more practical way to learn to knit faster. I learned to knit by dropping the right-hand needle when I formed the stitch, but I trained myself to stop doing that and it made my knitting a lot faster and more efficient.

Things like knitting on circular needles so you don’t have to stop when you get to the end of a round (or focusing on what Stephanie calls “kick turns” when you change rows) is another way to make your knitting faster.

And of course you’ll be able to knit more if you combine knitting faster with knitting more often. I have an article on ways to make more time for knitting, most of which you are probably already doing, but can get you thinking about ways to get more knitting in.

Do you have a tip for knitting faster or more? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo via Craftsy.]

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.