5 Reasons Why Your Knits Look Ugly: Useful Knitting Tips for Beginners
Everything you're doing wrong in knitting!
5 Reasons Why Your Knits Look Ugly: Useful Knitting Tips for Beginners
Ugly knits are some of the worst things to ever happen to crafters. Imagine toiling away for hours only to end up with a knitted fabric that doesn’t quite look the way you wanted.
Don’t worry, that just means you’re doing some things that are “ruining” your knits. Today, we’re talking about knitting tips for beginners that can improve your knits. So keep on reading!
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5 Reasons Why Your Knits Look Ugly: Useful Knitting Tips for Beginners
It’s a lot easier to improve your knits than you think! A few not-so-pretty projects at the start isn’t the end of the world.
Here are some reasons why your knits look ugly and everything you can do to improve them!
1. You’re working with the wrong yarn
Using the wrong yarn fiber and weight might be why your project feels “off”. Yarn that is too stretchy or made up of synthetic/elastic fibers won’t work well with knitting patterns that are not meant to stretch.
While non-stretchable yarn like cotton and linen don’t react well with stretchy patterns like knit sweaters, beanies, and socks.
Solution: Match the yarn fiber you’re using to the pattern’s suggestion!
2. You’re not using the right knitting needles
Your knitting needles can have a HUGE effect on your overall knitting experience. Sometimes, the reason why your project feels challenging is because you’re using the wrong pair of needles.
Metal knitting needles are durable and amazing to work with. But they are suuuper slippery! So, if you use “slippery yarn” like some silk, rayon, and cotton mixes, metal yarns won’t be the best move.
On the other hand, if you use bamboo needles, “grabby yarn” like wool and some acrylics will feel like a nightmare to work with.
Solution: Go for the opposite characteristic of your yarn or knitting needles.
- Slippery yarn/ metal needles = “grabby” yarn/ wooden needles
- “Grabby” yarn / wooden needles = slippery yarn/ metal needles
3. You’re not checking your gauge
Gauge can sometimes be detrimental to a knitting pattern. If you come across a knitting pattern that tells you to check your gauge, please do so!
Here’s a super easy tutorial on how to do that:
4. You’re not blocking your projects
It’s normal for stitches to come out a bit wonky and uneven fresh off your knitting needles. The key to getting your stitches and edges to cooperate is blocking!
Blocking is one of the best ways to improve your knits. This method involves soaking your knit fabric in a water and gentle soap mixture, then pinning it in the shape and size that you need.
We have a step-by-step tutorial on how to block your knits:
5. You’re not using the right detergent
Did you know that using the wrong detergent can absolutely wreck your knits? Some fibers need a bit more TLC than others. Using a gentler detergent will help preserve the condition of your fibers for much longer.
We have an amazing guide for our Top 3 Favorite Wool Washes. Make sure to check that out:
Top 3 Best Wool Detergent for Blocking Knits
Now that you know how to improve your knits…
It’s disheartening to follow a knitting pattern only for it to look a bit “off” in the end. But a little bit of patience and integration of the tips we laid out above can take your skills to a whole new level!
