KnitList Frequently Asked Questions

2. How much mail will I get?
E xpect about 50 posts a day - sometimes more, sometimes less - if the volume is too high for you, consider digest mode where you get 25 messages packaged up with a table of contents. You can change your subscription mode to the right of this page.

3. Are there any rules I should follow?
There are 6 simple rules. Enforcement of these rules is up to the listmoms. Do NOT take it upon yourself to "chastise" anyone for not following them - if you feel the need to comment, direct it to the listmoms. Please remember that we are a group of volunteer listmoms. Sometimes it takes a little time for us to get back to you, we haven’t forgotten you.

 

1) Stick to your knitting	This list is for the discussion of knitting, the listmoms will attempt to guide the discussion back to the subject of knitting, and if non-knitting discussions continue we will stop them... therefore we will not discuss such non-knitting controversial topics as religion, politics, pets or baseball.
2) Value your content	Have knitting content in your posts. No "Me too" posts - no sharing virus alerts, jokes, electronic greeting cards etc. It’s a large list with a lot of traffic and the clutter irritates the members. All posts should contain at least 80% knit content.
3) "Look at this on my blog" posts ARE NOT OK	Unless it includes significant knitting content. The following is considered significant knitting content: When you're asking for help with a problem and you've posted a picture on your blog to illustrate the problem - particularly if the problem is not easily described in words. When it will provide information to answer a question or when you've added information that will benefit all of the members. After you've written a KNITTING post, including the URL for your blog as part of your signature IS OK - but please remember that your signature lines are limited to 3 total lines.
4) Be Polite both publicly and privately	No personal attacks or flaming permitted. It's fine to have a difference of opinion, but watch your tone and phrasing. It’s OK to say, "I really don't enjoy using that particular pattern." It's not OK to say, "What intelligent person would ever consider using such a pattern." If you ever receive a private flame, please alert the listmoms, that's what we are here for.
5) No Advertising	It’s OK to answer requests for where can I find item x, y, or z with the catalog number for some mail order place, store info, or a website, etc. but try and add some knitting content as well - Have you used the product? Did you like it? (remember to strive for 80% knit content) -- BUT its not OK if it becomes an ad... No responding to a request ON LIST with something you will get money for, but it's fine to respond privately if you sell the answer to the question asked. If you have things to sell or promote - use Knitlist-ads@yahoogroups.com- it’s the perfect place for posting: Buy my products Buy my stash To join knitlist-ads, send a blank message to: Knitlist-ads-subscribe@yahoogroups.com It is ok to mention free patterns that you have on your site. Now some may split the hair that free patterns on a site where other things are for sale is a “buy my stuff” type of ad, but if it’s truly promoting just FREE stuff - that is ok. After all, a lot of free patterns exist on sites that have advertising banners which is just a third party buy my stuff situation. If you are unsure if your post is allowed, run it by a listmom first. It is ok for promoters of an event to mention the event ONCE. This is to allow members time to plan to go to events.
6) Copyright	Be very careful if you wish to post a pattern to the list. if you hold the rights to it, fine. But if in doubt, keep it out. Questions about copyright may be asked on list and if the discussion stays useful and knitting related it may persist, but if it gets heated or too off topic, you may get a gentle reminder to continue off list.
7) Don't Repost Digests	Make sure when replying that you aren't sending an entire digest back to the list. Cut out the parts that don't pertain to your post before you hit send. Reposting digests makes the digest SO large that many listers cannot receive the whole thing.
8) If you are unsure of whether or not a certain post is permissible, please run it by a listmom first.
9) Limit your posts to two a day to keep list volume reasonable. Combine your answers. Joan Schrouder is an excellent example.

4. What are some other hints to keep in mind about posting?
A. If the reply is in answer to a post, is it one that you believe everyone should receive, or is it one you should respond directly to the poster? Think of the list as an auditorium of over 9,000 knitters, do you want to announce it so publicly?

B. Be specific in your subject. When you are specific, you are more likely to receive a response.

C. Break your post up into sections, with appropriate headers. Much easier to read.

D. Don't quote an entire post, just the relevant part.

E. Sign your mail with your name and e-mail address for the convenience of those whose programs strip the addresses and keep your signature short - 3 lines maximum. Use that space to advertise, share your website, or have a knitting related literary quote, but please ONLY 3 LINES of post signature information including blank lines. (And again, no religion, politics, or baseball)

F. Don't post virus messages, please.

G. Please don't post the pullover/cardigan joke - we've heard it too many times. (If you don't know it, there's a version of it here.)

H. Don’t send attachments, we've set the list to ignore them, as a precaution against viruses.

I. Re-read your post - would you say it this way in person? Are your hands shaking? If you have some doubt about your tone, wait 8 or 12 or 24 hours before hitting send.

5. Why am I not getting any mail? Is the list down?
Check with a few friends to see if they are getting mail. Or check the website, groups.yahoo.com to see if anything is posted there or email a listmom. PLEASE do not post to the list to ask!

6. What the heck do all the initials mean?

7. What do "tink" and "frog stitch" mean?
tink: (verb) The act of undoing knitted fabric stitch by stitch while the fabric is still on the needles. Coined by Amy Tyler. Wendy Chatley Green's DH astutely noted that "tink" is "knit" spelled backwards.

frog: (verb) The act of undoing knitted fabric by "ripping" out the stitches in one fell swoop. Originally "rip-it, rip-it," which sounded like a frog to one Amy Detjen -- thus "frog-stitch" or "frogging."

8. Should I be concerned about copyright?
In a word, YES!
http://www.geocities.com/jbtocker/copyright/index.html  she digs into copyright for sales and donations
also
http://www.girlfromauntie.com/copyright/index.asp has a great compendium of copyright info for knitters/crafters)

9. Is there a knitting group in my area of the US? Can I add my knitting group to a list?
Check out the editable map for knitting groups:
http://find.mapmuse.com/re1/interest.php?brandID=KNITTING_CLUBS

10. Are there any yarn shops in Anytown, USA? Can I add my favorite to a list somewhere?
Check out the editable map for knitting shops: http://find.mapmuse.com/re1/interest.php?brandID=KNITTING_SHOPS

11. How do I contact TKGA (The Knitting Guild Association)?
The Knitting Guild Association
1100-H Brandywine Blvd
PO Box 3388
Zanesville, OH 43702-3388
800.274.6034
Fax 740.452.2552
email: tkga@tkga.com
Website: http://www.tkga.com

Dues include 4 issues of Cast On magazine. Cast On has articles and patterns for both hand and machine knitters. The Master Knitting program offered by The Knitting Association consists of three levels: Advanced Beginner (Level I), Intermediate (Level II), and Advanced (Level III). To participate, you have to be a member of and pay a fee for each level. You have to complete each level before proceeding to the next. For each level, you are required to demonstrate mastery of specific knitting skills by answering questions and knitting up swatches, and the requirements get tougher.

There is also The Canadian Guild of Knitters, http://www.cgknitters.ca.

12. Where are the Knitlist Holiday Gift Patterns archived?
You can find them right here on this site.

13. I can't find a digest! Where can I get it?
All messages since 11/29/2000 are available online at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/knitlist/messages

14. Why knit facecloths (or washcloths)?
Because they're fun and quick. There are patterns on the Knitlist gift exchange page.

15. What is Wonderful Wallaby?
The Wonderful Wallaby's basic design is a seamless sweatshirt, with or without a hood, and a pocket in front. You can get this Cottage Creations pattern at your local yarn shop.

16. What is the Einstein Coat?
The Einstein Coat is a pattern from Sally Melville's Knitting Experience. It is a coat knit with bulky weight yarn in garter stitch in, as she puts it, "many directions". It's a lovely, simple pattern that produces a great coat. It also has sizes for toddlers to adult men (with some modifications on length and collars for men and women). There's also a baby version called Baby Albert in dk weight yarn.

17. What do "yarn forward" and "steek" mean?
Here are some definitions from Annabel Smyth, Brixton, London, England:

yarn forward: Basically you have a translation problem -- Americans call yfwd "YO", or "yarn over". What's happening is that you are making an extra stitch--when you knit two together, you decrease by one, and you need to increase again so that you have the right number of stitches on your needle. If you bring the wool to the front of the work and then knit a stitch, you will have a loop of wool going over the needle. This forms a new stitch, and also leaves a small hole in the work, which it's meant to do as part of the lace pattern. In some old patterns, "O" for "over" will appear. This is the same as YO or yarn forward. Conversely, "N" in old charts means "narrow" or k2tog.

steek: If you are going to have to cut a garment -- a cardigan worked in the round, for instance, and then cut up the middle, the steeks are extra stitches to mark the cutting line and provide a little hem.

18. What does "ssk" mean in a knitting pattern?
It's a decrease; it means, "slip one stitch as if you were going to knit it; slip the next stitch the same way; put both stitches back onto the left needle and knit them together. Here is a tip from Helene Rush, sent in by Doa Bumgarner: Okay, here's my contribution to the list. This technique I came up with several years ago and some of you may like to use it. Work "ssk" as follows: Insert needle in front of first st and in back of next st and k2tog. This will look exactly like the traditional "sl 1, k1, psso", or "slip, slip knit (ssk)", but is done in one movement.

19. What is the difference between Fair Isle and intarsia?
Well, first, let's note the similarities. Both intarsia and Fair Isle knitting deal with color. But the way color is used is entirely different. In Fair Isle knitting, usually not more than two colors are ever used at once in a row. The two yarns are carried all the way across the row, using whichever color is appropriate at the time, with the other color carried loosely behind the worked stitches, creating a float or strand. This is also called stranding. Usually, one tries to limit carrying the non-worked yarn over long distances, usually no more than 5 stitches. Otherwise, the stranded yarn must be woven in. Fair Isle is usually worked in the round, with steeks (see above) at the armholes, and possibly the neckline.

In intarsia knitting, the colors are worked in solid blocks. Usually, because of the nature of the pattern, one cannot easily strand the non-working yarn. In this case, each yarn is worked only in the area that it is needed, and kept in bobbins. When one color is "abandoned" for the next, the yarns must be twisted around each other to keep a hole from forming.

20. What is "I-cord"?
Here is a definition from Clifford Williams: I-cord started out being called Idiot Cord because it resembles what an idiot might make by mistake. But, wait, it can be used many ways for decorative effects. So, now it is I-cord (and it gets a little respect). It is done on double point needles, but it is "almost" like regular, flat knitting. Cast on three or four stitches. It doesn't work well with more than that. Now, slide the stitches over so that you can knit from the "wrong" end. (It will make more sense in a minute.) Knit the row across. Slide the stitches to the other end of the needle. Do not turn. Place the knitting in the other hand. And knit again from the "wrong" end. This will twist the knitting into a small cord. Just like what some of us used to do with wooden spools and nails.

21. What’s the “Magic Loop Technique”?
Magic Loop is a technique for knitting a small circumference item (sock, sleeve, neck, mittens) on one long circular needle. It can also be used to knit two socks, sleeves, mittens, etc. on the same long circular. This is explained in a Fiber Trends leaflet by the Magic Loop name.

22. How do I convert among US, UK, and metric knitting needle sizes?
There is a needle conversion table here on this site.

23. I have a pattern in a language I can't read. Where can I find an international knitting glossary?
With the help of many members of the Knitlist, Kim Salazar has compiled a knitting glossary. It contains common knitting and crochet terms in 14 languages. It's available at: http://www.wiseneedle.com/glossary.asp

24. Where can I find reviews of various kinds of yarn?
Thought about making something in a certain yarn and are uncertain, about its care, yardage, etc.? With the help of many people, Kim Salazar (she has been busy!) has been compiling yarn reviews. Her web page has information on over 4000 yarns and 1900 reviews. The reviews contain information about a yarn's yardage, fiber content, quality, care instructions, and so forth. http://www.wiseneedle.com/yarns.asp

25. How can I get replacement Brittany needles? Do Denise Needle Sets have a warranty?
Brittany makes wooden knitting needles in birch. If you break one, they will replace it, free of charge by contacting them: http://www.brittanyneedles.com/bkguar.html

Brittany Co.
PO Box 130
Elk, CA 95432
707-877-1881
email: knittingneedles@mcn.org

Denise needles do have a lifetime guarantee on the new kits for normal usage. Replacement parts are also available. http://www.knitdenise.com/faqs.cfm#fcat10

Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles
1618 Miller School Rd.
Charlottesville, VA 22903
888-831-8042
email: info@knitdenise.com