a few stitches and a little roller

thank you again for your comments on last weeks yarn along post, i know my friend was touched by all

the sweet words for her little girl, red riding hood. and it touched me too, to feel so much love.

and now, the progression of a very enjoyable knit, this sweater. hopefully by next week i'll have more interesting photos to show. ( i do prefer the finished object pictures to this).  rav notes here.  :)

i thought it might be of interest to share some helpful ideas i use here, all in regards to knitting of course. above is a double point needle holder. for many years i've tried different ways to organized these small, useful needles, until finally i made this...

it took less than a yard of fabric. i didn't have a pattern to go by, but used the needles for reference (length wise). unfinished ends are bound in bias tape and individual pockets are sewn to keep sizes of needles separate.

then each pocket was numbered with a sharpie. i wish i would have known this was going to be used
forever, i would have put a bit more thought and care into the making ,and sewn straighter too. :)
it is super handy though, rolls up easily and ties to close with a piece of wool.

the next method of organizing needles is with this notebook. i knit with circulars and dpn's. only ever. i love them so much, and only like the look of  (but not to use) straights.

this notebook (found for a quarter at a second hand shop) is the best way i've found to organize circular needles. using these see through pages, each one holds one needle. again, with the sharpie,
each sleeve gets labeled with the size and length. if you go one step further and keep the pages in numerical order, easily finding the needle you want is a breeze. (except if your like me and don't own the one needle that your project calls for). i've also attached one of those needle sizers to the notebook. sometimes it's hard to see the markings on the smaller needles, and this helps when you go to return your needles to the correct sleeve.



 remember to return after using...  :)

in another notebook are printed out patterns i've saved. and in the pocket on the left, bands from wool. being pre ravelry, i still like to keep these things, you never know when you might need just the one.

and here is my favorite way to keep track of where you are, even when you put one project down in favor for another. after years of small hands playing with counters, those little pegs falling out of the keep track board, magnets getting bumped (or moved, small hands again), this works. it takes a bit of time at the start, to write everything out, but it is a good way to ensure you've read through your pattern and understand whats in store.

on index cards with a hole punched in the corner, first number the cards (oops, i did not do that on these examples, look below or just imagine i have. then on each card, you will want to write out the directions of one row. you can even do this with charts, i've tried it, it works.  :)

make sure to leave a card for any directions you won't want to forget, as well as a photo, to check your progress. this way of keeping directions is super portable for travel. the best part is that you won't lose your place again (be sure to keep cards securely tied).

again, through trial and error, this see through plastic box is my favorite way to carry the essentials.
i like this so much because i can see what i'm looking for in an instant, things don't get squished,
the counter (i do use sometimes) doesn't get accidentally clicked. and best of all,
it holds everything i need for every project. and it's easy to move from basket to bag if i want.

always with me:  needle protectors, needle gauge, pom pom makers, blunt nose needles, burt's bees (for soft hands, calculator, markers, counter, thimbles, measuring tape, needle case, diaper pins (my babies old ones, good for holding stitches and for reminiscing), scissors, swiss army knife, seam ripper, crochet hooks and cable needles (small stitch holders are in use at the moment).

i hope you enjoyed reading these tips, i have more (and i like to share). have any of these been helpful

to you? and do you have any tips you'd like to share too? i would love to hear. joining today with ginny

at small things and the weekly yarn along.

p.s. astonished about this