When you begin to knit any project, is it necessary the yarn be in a ball?
I have heard different things about where to start your yarn. I’ve heard to start at the center of the yarn, after working the yarn; start with the piece easily accessible. Where do I start?
Why are some of the threads in red and the others are in black?
Thanks! Stephanie
Hi. Generally speaking it’s a good idea for the yarn to be in a ball before you knit with it. A hank of yarn will end up a tangled, snarled mess very quickly. You can start from the center or the outside, your choice. If your yarn has red and black in it, then it’s a multicolor yarn. Do you have a particular project in mind?
[COLOR=“DarkGreen”][B]Thanks for the responses!!!
Is there a good way to start forming a ball of yarn, and how do you keep it from rolling away from you? I guess if it’s in a ball there will only be one place from which I can start.
Also, when I meant thread I was referring to the color of the print on each persons thread (title/question).[/B][/COLOR]
[B]Winding a center-pull ball [/B]You could try this method. You might find a way you like here, too. https://www.google.com/#q=how+to+wind+yarn+into+a+ball+by+hand You can put the ball of yarn in a container of some sort to keep it from rolling away. I’m using a basket currently, sometimes I use a coffee can, other times a plastic bag from the store, it depends on what I’m making and what’s handy.
The thread titles change color when you’ve clicked on them. That way you know when there are new posts.
Have you started knitting already? There are lots of free videos here, see tab at top of page, and they’re really helpful.
[B][COLOR=“DarkGreen”]Great ideas for the ball of yarn!!!
Is there any type of notification when my question/thread has had a response?
I’ve begun a scarf for one of my daughters and I want to make one for my nephew. I have been watching the videos and they are very helpful and informative![/COLOR][/B]
You can subscribe to a thread and get email notifications. There is a Thread Tools button, top right, where you can subscribe. In User Settings you can set it to automatically subscribe you to any thread you start.
Scarves can be a lot of fun, lots of opportunity to play with colors and stitches. What pattern are you using?
[COLOR=“DarkGreen”]I’m not using a pattern, mostly because I have no idea how to read a pattern, and I am very new to knitting. The scarf I am making my daughter is all knit stitch, which I found out is a garter stitch. If I don’t learn anything thing new before I start my nephews his will be done the same way.[/COLOR]
[B][COLOR=“DarkGreen”]Do you only receive notifications through e-mail?
Thanks for all your help. I always hesitate asking questions because I’m afraid it will not be answered.[/COLOR][/B]
What I do to wind a center pull ball is, when I don’t have my ball winder nearby, is to grab an empty TP tube, put a small tear in it to hold one end of the yarn, then wind the ball as normal. when I’m done, pull the tube out.
I agree about winding a center pull ball of yarn. Pulling yarn from the center helps keep the yarn from rolling around, too. It you buy the yarn in a skein, locate the end that’s inside the skein and use that.
Welocme to the forum! We’re delighted with any and all questions.
[COLOR=“DarkGreen”]How do you find the end that’s inside the skein? I can never seem to find it without making a mess of the skein.[/COLOR]
It really depends on the yarn brand, but some of them such as red heart, will have it printed on the label. Others, just look on both ends of the skein, you’ll most likely see an end sticking out. In which case, when you start pulling on that you’ll see what’s known as “yarn barf” 
basically it’s a mess of yarn that comes out at once, but after that it should be smooth sailing.
There are a number of ways to wind yarn into a ball by hand.
Winding Yarn on A Nøstepinne I use a toothbrush case for a Nostepinne. I keep knitting odds and ends inside the thoothbrush holder.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-Wind-a-Ball-of-Yarn/
http://knitting.about.com/od/yarn/ss/ball-byhand.htmhttp://knitting.about.com/od/yarn/ss/ball-byhand.htm
What happens when your questions don’t get answered? :think:
Thread subscription notifications are by email only. However, once you have subscribed to a thread, when you go into “User settings”, all of your subscribed threads that have new posts will be listed; you don’t have to go looking for them among the rest of the forum.
I subscribe to all threads that I post in, mostly without notifications. When I visit the forum, I start in my User Settings to check for new posts in threads I’ve commented in before I look at the rest of the forum.
Now and then questions get overlooked. Send a private message to a moderator, a likely responder or perhaps someone involved in the thread. Just click the name and several options appear including, pm the person.
The best advice I’ve seen for finding the hidden end of yarn is to insert both index fingers and thumbs into the ends of the skein then find a single thread. Pull it out one end. More often than not, it’s close to the end. Sometimes it isn’t but often, success!
[COLOR=“DarkGreen”]If a question doesn’t get answered I research the heck out of it, if it’s possible.[/COLOR]
I think I understand about wondering will a question get answered. Most places say to search and search and see if it has already been answered, they don’t want you asking questions that are already in there somewhere. This place isn’t like that. Everyone is treated with respect and whenever possible they get a prompt answer, often more than one! Don’t worry about whether it was answered three years ago, if you have a question, ask it. It took me quite a while to get used to that here. It’s one of the reasons I check often to see if I can help someone. When I finally decided to ask questions here, I got responses and lots of help so fast I couldn’t believe it. It’s because of KH that I’m knitting at all. I’ll never be as good as a lot the knitters here but that’s OK. I still get treated as if I belong.
I was afraid she was going to leave us if we missed any of her questions! :pout: This is a really good place to ask questions and I’ve never seen anyone get turned away for asking them.
Since we seem to be talking about finding the center of a ball, I’ll throw in that I always work from the outside, rather than the middle – I don’t like the way the ball or skein collapses when the inside is taken out.
I could rewind it when that happens, but if I work from the outside, it never becomes an issue.
Since I use either ball-winder cakes or store-bought skeins, I just set it in the top of whatever I’m using to hold my project (tote bag, wicker basket, metal bucket, whatever), and that sits on the floor. As I knit, the yarn unwinds and usually doesn’t roll around.
Sometimes I have to give an extra tug, if it isn’t coming around the bottom smoothly, but usually I don’t have to do anything extra, as long as it is sitting below where my needles are and the yarn is pulled straight up. (Does that make sense? If the yarn is coming off the side, instead of the top, the ball tends to roll and flop around, so I try to keep it on the floor near my feet.)
I prefer using yarn from the outside also because I end up with a tangled mess when it collapses too. Winding from the outside when I make a ball from a larger one - I divide my sock yarn balls when I have the stuff that makes two socks - helps reduce the amount of twist added to the yarn.