Knitting From Both Ends of a Skein
The pattern collection I’m putting together at the moment has three patterns that call for holding multiple strands of yarn together. Sometimes the best way to work multiple strands of yarn together is to work using both ends of one skein of yarn. There are a couple methods for knitting from both ends of a skein of yarn.
With a CENTER PULL BALL
The first is to wind the skein into a center pull ball and hold the end of yarn on the outside of the ball together with the end of yarn at the inside of the ball. Winding a skein of yarn is often done with a ball winder, but you can also use a Nostepinne, (or replace the Nostepinne with a knitting needle, dowel, pencil, even a bottle of sunscreen.)
with TWO SEPARATE BALLS
The second is to split the skein of yarn into two balls, and work holding the end of each ball together. The tricky part about this method is getting the two balls of yarn to have the same amount of yardage. Generally the best way to do this is by weight.
Take the ball band off your skein of yarn and measure your skein. I just use a basic kitchen scale that I liberated from the kitchen and now only use for yarn.
If your skein doesn’t fit on your scale you can use a basket or bowl to hold it, but be sure not to include the weight of the basket in the weight of your skein.
If your scale includes a “tare” button, set your basket on you scale, and press “tare” this will zero out the weight already on your scale (the basket) and just weight your yarn.
If your scale doesn’t include a “tare” button, set your basket on your scale and make a note of it’s weight, then subtract the weight of your basket from the weight of your basket plus your skein of yarn.
Then divide the total weight of your skein in half.
Wind a ball, measuring it’s weight periodically, and stopping when it reaches half the weight of your original skein.
Break the yarn and then wind the second half of your skein into the second ball.
Then simply knit holding the end of each ball together.
I prefer using a center pull ball, but knowing how to split a skein into to equal balls is certainly useful, especially for knitting pairs of things, (like mittens or socks).
Shawl Edges: Smooth or Pointy?
A shawl isn’t done until it’s blocked.
Not only does blocking make your fabric look better, it gives you the opportunity to add another characteristic to your shawl.
The simplest blocking question is about your shawl’s edge.
Do you want it smooth or pointy?
Smooth.
Pointy.
Smooth.
Pointy.
Do you want the edge of your shawl smooth or pointy?
______
These photos are all part of a shawl collection I’m working on. Sign up for the mailing list to know as soon as it comes out.
How to Thread a Lifeline
So if you follow me on instagram or twitter you might have caught the ripping incident that happened last week.
The short story: I cursed a lot and ripped out a couple inches of knitting.
The slightly longer story: I had (for once) inserted a lifeline in my knitting. BUT had to rip out to a point before I had threaded the waste yarn. 
WHAT IS A LIFELINE ANYWAY?
A lifeline is a piece of waste yarn that you thread through a row of your knitting, so that if you have to rip back, or if you drop a stitch, the lifeline will catch your stitches.
Lifelines prevent your stitches from unraveling back to your cast on.
CHOOSING YARN FOR A LIFELINE
The best lifelines are ones that are skinny, smooth, and highly visible.
I usually use whatever lace weight or fingering weight yarn I have hanging around, but crochet cotton, or dental floss (the non sticky kind) also make good lifelines.
Don’t choose a color that blends right into your fabric, it just creates a headache.
High contrast lifelines are a very good thing.
THREADING THE LIFELINE
Grab a tapestry needle, and thread your waste yarn.
Then slip the tapestry needle with the waste yarn through each stitch on your needle. Remember to avoid any stitch markers. You do NOT want to thread your stitch markers onto your waste yarn.
Another way to thread a lifeline is to anchor the waste yarn to the needle and allow the needle to draw the lifeline through the stitches as you knit a row. Here’s a detailed tutorial from Knitting Yards.
BONUS PRO TIP
Lifelines help a lot more if you put them in before you need them.
