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Operating a tapestry needle is not like operating a chainsaw 😂 I will remember this for the rest of my life! Thank you Norman!

If you're making something for yourself, know what you're actually going to wear. I hate going into yarn shops and having the clerk tell me that I need to experiment with color more. I love black, gray, and navy. I do buy things in other colors, but the majority of what I wear is black, gray, or navy. I know too many people who've bought the most exquisite yarn in the most interesting color, and worn the sweater they made twice because it doesn't go with anything they own, or the color just doesn't suit them. It's great to get out of your comfort zone and try something new now and then, but a time consuming sweater in expensive yarn isn't a great opportunity to do so. If you want to branch out into new colors, go try on some clothes at a shop and see how you really feel in those colors. If you're making something for someone else, know what they actually like. Pick something specifically for them. If your friend has expensive taste, and only wears top of the line clothing, they probably don't want an acrylic scarf. If your friend doesn't like to put a lot of effort into how they dress, a fussy pattern, or yarns that have to be hand washed are probably a poor choice. Someone very sporty probably doesn't want a delicate cashmere and silk sweater. They'd probably appreciate something in super wash instead. Also, consider what colors they wear most. I don't want a yellow sweater, no matter how sumptuous the yarn is. If your friend has young kids, they probably aren't going to want something in white. If you've never seen your grandson in a cardigan, don't make him a cardigan. Make him a crew neck. If you've never seen your niece in a chunky sweater, choose something lighter weight. People like to say that with handmade gifts "it's the thought that counts" but what they should really say is, *"It's the amount of thought that counts."* There's nothing more discouraging than making something for someone that they don't wear often. Put in as much thought as possible when you pick projects for gifts. Moreover, if you've given someone more than one or two pieces, and they don't wear them, don't make them anything else. Move on, and make something for someone who will appreciate it.

I would add another non-knitting tip: get a manicure! I was working with a looser yarn and my dry cuticles kept snagging the yarn. If a manicure isn't in the budget, going to sleep with some heavy duty moisturizer on your hands will help immensely. Love your videos Norman!

I have been knitting since i was 6 yrs old and I am now 70 yrs old. My memory is getting worse and I have cataracts so reading patterns and keeping my place is a challenge. Your suggestion of using cards with cut out windows to place over the pattern so I can find my place. Brilliant.

When I’m really involved in a project I need to remind myself that nothing good happens after midnight. 😉 Thanks for another great video. I’m guilty of leaving yarn out where it can fade, so appreciate the nudge to get it put away.

I like the blue/yellow setup in this video 🕊😌

I love you, Norman!! How many other knitting instructors will tell you that weaving in ends is as important to knitting as taking out the garbage is to cooking!?! Great suggestions. Last night, "just one more row" on a short-row sock led to ripping out five.

Came to the comment section to point out that I in fact finished a project (not knitting but crochet is close enough 😆) after having it float around for 4 years. Then I remembered about those tails that still need to be weaved in 🙃 Thank you for this video, I've picked up knitting again a few days ago and am already guilty of "just one more row" and bad-light-knitting.

I recently got one of the neck lights I absolutely love it. My eyes don’t feel as tired, also I noticed some of my migraine problems went away. I completely agree the neck light is the best $20 tool I’ve added to my kit. I still have the bad habit of not taking breaks when I should, I started setting a timer on my phone just to ensure that I put the needles down and get some fresh air.

I am one of those weird souls who enjoys weaving in ends! I find it very meditative and relaxing. You make some very good and important points in this video, Norman. You are such a good teacher, very straightforward in your approach and I really like that. Your comments about choosing the yarn and not being seduced by every hand dyed colourway are so important. I myself have purchased some yarns that looked amazing on the skein but whatever you do with them, those amazing colours just don't look the same at all. I don't mean pooling because that can be controlled - just working whatever stitches or pattern you try can detract from the colourway you thought would emerge. Art isn't always practical in that way! Great video.

I bought the neck light you recommended, and it is wonderful! I have even purchased them as presents for both knitting and non-knitting friends. Everyone loves them for crafting and reading. Thank you, Norman!

I enjoy your straight to the point content. My favorite parts of this video were "Don't sit on your knitting needles" (or step on them, as I have), and throughout I noticed a recurring color scheme, which I appreciated as well. Prayers for peace to all. 🧶

Great useful video as usual. Lovely subtle use of colour to show your solidarity too 💛💙✊🏻

How right you are about one more row. Finally, after years of knitting, I've learned that lesson.

Thank you for the video. I can definitely relate to “just one more row”! Loved your colour theme! 🇺🇦💙💛🕊

Hi Norman! I just wanted to say thank you again for your videos. I now watch at least one everyday to help set my knitting mind. It’s like therapy to me. Every one of your videos is such a great pep talk. I take so much comfort in your voice, in how to be a better crafter. I take solace in the hours that I knit. But I needed to be reminded that taking a break and enjoying the journey by checking my work every so often, taking care of my other needs throughout the day (and much more) is a part of the ways in how to enjoy my knitting life. Thank you for being here.

Norman I love your channel! You are a ray of sunshine that lifts me up. Your advice about taking proper care of your hands is paramount for pain-free knitting. I have been knitting for many years, I will be 60 soon, and my hands are so painful that I can no longer knit for 8 hours.

Great video once again and love the scarf and hat 🇺🇦

I haven't been knitting for long - only a few months now - but I learned quickly not to leave my knitting unattended on the couch. I set it down on the couch one evening and stepped outside with one of my corgis. The other stayed inside (I thought he would follow, they have a dog door!) When we went back in, my knitting was in the middle of the room and he had this "It wasn't me!" look on his face. Luckily no damage was done, but it taught me a lesson. He also likes to boop my yarn with his nose while I'm knitting. The other one wants absolutely nothing to do with yarn or knitting needles.

Mistake #11- when using contrasting yarn colors, always swatch with both colors, give a good long soak and check there will be no color transfer! Hand dyed/ indie dyed yarn AND fiber can still bleed. It shouldn’t, but you don’t know till you check with your soap/wool wash and your water (acidity can vary).

One of my granddaughters has recently taken up knitting. I shared this video with her. I’m sure she will be a huge fan. Thank you for helping us realize our best knitting.😊😝

12:45 p.m. What an informative and stress relieving video! I have never listened to a video that presented such basic points to follow in knitting! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

I liked how the blue tulip "slouched" at 7:30 as we're told not to slouch ourselves. 🙂

Thank you Norman for these for neglected but wise suggestions. Can’t tell you how much your videos have helped me understand knitting better.

You know what? You are a real knitting professor…..I like your KZfaq’s so much. 💐❤️🌷❗️ thank you so much.🙂

Thank you for wearing the colours of the Ukrainian flag to show your quiet support of Ukraine

Great tips as usual Norman. Picking the right yarn! I don’t see this discussed enough but it’s crucial - yarn weight, fiber type, variegated or solid, how the yarn is spun even, it all makes such a difference.

So true!!! The "one more row" is my kind of problem... this habit is a strong one for me. As you said, it may turn bad sometimes. Thank you Norman, you are such a fine observer!

Oh my God, you just put science in knitting! Love, love, love it! Greetings from Romania!

I really appreciate and enjoy the positivity in these tutorials! 😊

Here's a mistake I've made more than once: finished a gauge swatch, and lost track of the needle size I used! Was that knit on the #5 or the #6 size needles? I've cast off, set things down alongside other needles without thinking, got distracted or whatever. Now I can't remember, and now I'm starting over. I started a habit of tying the same number of knots in the cast on tail as the needle size I'm using (only really useful if using US needles, not mm) so if a #4 was used, tie 4 knots.

I watched your podcast and listened to all your tips. Then picked up my knitting about 10pm. I started to make mistakes with my tension, ripped it back several times, then at quarter to 1 in the morning actually noticed myself thinking "just one more row" 🤔😳. Then I thought again and decided to go to bed! Thank you for your videos Norman 🙂

Love you Norman. You are such a valuable distraction in these troubled times. Your voice is so soothing and advice so sound. Thank you so much.

This statement about weaving in ends, both made me laugh and called me out: "You really need to get your act together" 😅😆

And don’t forget to use a stretchy bind off on the 1x1 rib swatch or else you’ll have a trapezoid and not a square.

Thank you norman for sharing your wisdom with us! Im a knitter and a crocheter of 2.5 years, and I think these are super important both to knitters and crocheters.

so helpful! and you crack me up! this will have to be be watched every once in a while. It's like taking an online driving school course. always wise to review your habits.

I’m so glad to hear you talk about choosing yarn. I’m a newish knitter and I thought I was spending too much time dithering over yarn selection. I feel better about my process now. Finding out what experienced knitters do is helpful for me.

I really don't enjoy weaving in ends, but I do try to do weave in the ends as soon as I can, sometimes as I go. Otherwise you can't start enjoying your finished project... However, if it's possible for the project I'm working on, I try to choose a method of joining a new ball of yarn (from your video on that subject) which eliminates the need for weaving in those ends! I was so happy when I discovered there were ways to do that! I dislike seaming much more than weaving in ends and had the pieces for a tea cosy that had been lying around for months, making me feel guilty. Your video was the incentive I needed to finally sew the pieces together!

Oooh Norman… everything in this video is so true and also relates to crochet.. I can relate to most of the mistakes you mentioned… some learned the hard way: like not blocking a swatch to end up with a top twice the size it was supposed to be.. the one more row business… And thank you for the pep talk regarding weaving the ends … you’re 100% right, and you gave me another approach to the task. Thanks again for a fantastic, informative video xx

I'm Ukrainian, and I recently found your channel. I admired content already, but then I wondered if blue hat and yellow scarf meant something... and it did! I admire you even more now❤

Thank. You for these suggestions. I need to watch this several times.

Another tip, if you have to use reading glasses to read, then you should get yourself a very good pair of reading glasses to wear while knitting....anything that will help prevent eye straiin....once your eyes get too tired, your eyesight is gone forever.....don't let a lack of reading glasses or bad lighting ruin your eyes further....it is worth it to preserve your eyesight as long as possible....my grandfather told me a few months before he passed away at the age of 86 that one of the biggest regrets he had was not getting a good pair of reading glasses when he noticed his eyesight was fading....he loved to read the newspaper every day, but he tried so hard beftween the ages of 40 and 60 to read it without the glasses.....by time he was 72, my cousins had to take turns reading the paper to him at breakfast

Hello and 'thank you', Norman. I am literally laughing out loud at your list common mistakes, as I seem to do all of them, most especially the staying up late to knit one more row! Just getting back into knitting after thirty years and your wealth of videos is just what I was looking for. Happy Knitting from Canada, Heather

I am so glad you mentioned the need to stop knitting when it’s too late and we are tired. I finally figured that out after I noticed myself making mistakes and having trouble concentrating to fix them. I get so mad when I start to get tired because I know I have to stop lol

Just turned on the light! Knitting while watching your video. Thanks!

Hi Norman. I love your mistakes videos the best. I always have multiple “ah-ha” moments while watching them. This video is gold for me as I am guilty of so many of these actions and really never realized their impact on my work. Thanks so much. I’ve just ordered the neck light.

Haha! Weaving in the ends! When I do them, I sing”Weaving in the ends, weaving in the ends, I will be rejoicing, weaving in my ends” , to the tune of Bringing in the Sheaves. Makes me 😊

Thank you for soooo many great lessons and tips on your channel. I just find you few days ago and I feel like I find a rare gem. What ever questions i had or have, you give me ananswer. ❤

After I write this, I'm going to weave in some tails on a sweater I finished 2-3 weeks ago! I just found you and already love your practical, down to earth approach!

You have such a soothing voice to learn from. ❤

Like the statement your hat and scarf make.

PS, "...professional yarn hoarder.", love that! 😹💖🙌🙌🙌😺

I love your channel. Such a good teacher. Thank you for your time.

Thank you for this information! I've been knitting for the past 8 years, and I wish I would have heard this first.. you would have saved me from the dozens and dozens of the mistakes I have made in those years. Thank you, again, now I'm off to weave in ends and stretch!

For trackign my progress, I use google spreadsheets - I've been sloggin through a beautiful but complex dress pattern for a long while, and I just couldn't keep up with the chart until I copied it, line by line, into a spreadsheet. It also let me customize it for my needs (I use the stitch count in a repeat to make sure I didn't drop any yarn overs, for example, and rather than counting the empty boxes on my pattern with my finger on the screen, I just wrote down the needed number in every place there is more than 3 simple knit stitches). I gave different colors to sections that blend together to make it easier to keep track. And when I'm done with a row, I simply hide it, so the one at the bottom of the spreadsheet is always the one I need to proceed with. I think that without it, I would have frogged that dress months ago, but that way I can easily come back to it after weeks of hibernating.

I read all my patterns entirely. I write out my patterns by hand so I can read them better as I go along. I read them again after I’ve written them to make sure I haven’t skipped anything. I make 2 copies of my patterns (one to write notes on and the other if I need to knit that item again.) I know knitters who don’t block their items and don’t like weaving in. I block all my items and actually enjoy weaving in my ends. I keep all my yarn in plastic bins too.

Norman, You're such a joy to listen to and watch. I thought of a question when you mentioned sock forms. How do you block socks without a form? Thank you for your time and great instructions, all things knitting. BTW, loved the knitted crocus action! 😹😹😹 💖🙌🙌🙌😺

I love my knitting neck light and am glad to see you recommending it! I enjoy listening to the practicality and usefulness of your posts. Thanks for sharing!

You are so right :). Great video, thank you. Anyone who knits should absolutely take all your tips to heart :).

a TOO funny not to mention. it was 11:30 PM when I was watching this....knitting in hand...LOL. Yes I put it away:). Thanks again, your videos are very enlightening!!

The best best advice for me is the neck lights!! I now fly through the dark yarns! Thank you so much!

Thank you for subtly honoring your Ukrainian neighbors with your flowers and yarn choices! Really enjoyed this video!

I’m retired now, but I spent a large chunk of my working day using a keyboard and staring at a screen. We were instructed to take short breaks every 20 minutes or so, and focus our eyes onto different distances, and also loosen up our hands, shoulders and arms. It’s just as important to do the same with knitting. You are as insightful as always Norman!

Hi Norman Adding stitch markers and knitting either before or after for top down sweaters

Norman, I really appreciate how you coordinate your outfits with the backgrounds in your videos. I also thought it was super cute the way you had your knitted purple tulips sitting on the desk next to that massive vase of yellow tulips. Lovely use of a complimentary palette. 👏👏👏👏

Just one more row ... that's me. I can't possibly remember the number of mistakes I've made late at night. So I'm going to be more vigilant about taking this advice. Thank you.

OMG!! :) I've made most of those mistakes and learned the lesson the hard way. Anyone reading this please listen to him.

Great advice! I have to bribe myself to tuck in ends. I have to weave in 5 ends before I can pick up my knitting! Just 5 doesn't take long but if done daily I can finally finish projects.

Thank you. I ordered the knitting light right after I watched your informative video.

I've had projects I've unraveled projects at least 5 times before finding the right pattern and yarn combination, or reworking closed cables. Yarn will "talk" to you. If it doesn't like the pattern, it will be stubborn to work with.

Thank you Norman for all the great advice. I’ve been knitting for years and didn’t know a lot of that.

That's true with choosing the right yarn. I spend ages in the yarn shop

Hello Norman. Found you today when I was feeling frustrated by my knitting😢😊 mistakes. Learned a LOT. FEELING better. I WILL KEEP WATCHING AND KNITTING. THANK YOU. ❤

18:12 I’ve recently found your videos and can’t get enough! Love your comments on weaving in ends - so funny! Such wisdom in your knitting tips; I am already implementing some. I bought see-through plastic bins today. Btw, I love the scarf/shawl you’re wearing and might have to look for a similar pattern. Thank you for all the good advise and good humor!

You are my new Knit Hero. I have one of those neck lights too, it is a truly amazing little gadget. Only downside, at least for the one I have, the charge only last about an hour or so, and it takes at least 3 hours to charge it back up. I am an English "picker" which is strange even to me because I'm right handed which means I hold the working yarn in my left hand in crochet. When I started knitting, I thought for sure when I learned that I would be a continental knitter, but I'm just more comfortable the other way. Confession time, I've never swatched. I'm too impatient, I'm ready to dive into the project. But that also means that I may have to pull it out and start over numerous times before I get it right.

Great video, Norman! I love your holistic perspective of knitting, and I couldn't agree more. Picking patterns and yarn is part of knitting, even though needles don't click when I do it! So is weaving in ends. Those are all knitting. Also, I love your tip on picking the right yarn. There are so many projects where I just fell out of love with them as I was knitting, and it was because I chose the wrong yarn, or the wrong combination of yarns. So, I unravel (or don't unravel and instead just cut the yarn and abandon it to the scrap pile), and then I begin again with a better yarn choice, finding the love all over again. Regarding tracking progress, for people who like to use a smartphone or tablet, I recommend knitCompanion. It is a great tracker. Again--excellent video, as always.

I recently got a kit from a reputable company and found what i thought was a discrepancy in the written instructions from the pattern designer, turns out there was an error, in the chart. I contacted the pattern maker and they agreed there was a mistake, corrected it and sent the correction to the company using it for their kit. People need to learn how to read both the old school patterns and new school charts.

Q: Who are we?? A: Knitters!! Q: What do we want?? A: All of the yarn!! Q: What are we going to knit?? A: We don’t know!!

Norman, all of these mistakes can be applied to Crochet. 💃🙏

Oh my goodness, the crocus slouching on cue gave me a much needed laugh. Another great video Norman.

Absolutely a super video; thank you so much! Keep up the good work💜🙏

Norman! It’s me again. I just found and purchased the scarf pattern on Etsy. I’m over-the-moon ecstatic about attempting this project. Thank you soooooo much!

This is good advice, Norman ♡ As knitting is a fairly new hobby of mine, I kind of look forward to weaving in the ends as it means I have finished a project successfully (only a handful so far). I make a little celebration out of it by treating myself to a nice cup of tea and a yummy snack, maybe even watch a favourite movie while taking up the tapestry needle to weave in the ends... Also, I took your advice and got one of those neck lights - I'm a fan!!!

HS anybody else experienced this? I hang out in the yarn aisle in Walmart all to frequently. One day, while in there, I saw lovely cakes of yarn and a sweater for my great niece jumped into my head. I knew exactly what I wanted it look like, and the stitches I would use. A week later, the cardigan was finished, and she's been wearing it for more than a year. It turned out exactly the way I had envisaged. But it was the yarn that inspired me. Has anyone else had this sort of experience?

Thank you Norman, for your “to the point” video and for your kind and gentle way and your support! ❤️🧶🙏

Thank you for this really useful video, Norman!

Totally agree with all your points, particularly the one about not knitting ”one more row” when you’re tired. That has caused me grief.

I usually crochet. Taught myself through youtube. I found a lot of tutorials that explained every step and why. With most knitting tutorials I miss that. I gave knitting a try but got very frustrated because steps were not explained and i always ended up with mistakes. Like knitting a stitch. I always went through the loop to the back to pull the yarn. On the next row it changed and you were to go in from the left side of the loop to the back but no heads up was given. I find that a lot of youtube knitters don't take into account that beginners might stumble over their videos. They miss out on new subscribers because from personal expirience, I usually don't subscribe to a channel if at the beginning of their videos they are already 10 rows into the project or don't give verbal explanations. The most annoying ones are where they only play music and stitches are written on the screen in abbreviation. For a beginner that's not helpful at all. I subscribed to your channel because I like that you went into detail and explained as to why this or that way. Big thumbs up for that. 👍

Weaving in the ends is a happy moment for me. It means I'm almost finished!!!

Grand merci pour cette vidéo. C'est bon pour les débutants comme moi

I never attempt to fix a mistake (other than a simple dropped stitch) at night. I mark it, sometimes write myself a note, and put my work aside for the next day. Sometimes a clever idea to correct the mistake will occur to me. Plus, the mistakes are never as catastrophic as they seemed.

Thank you Norman. I love your attention to so many important details!!

Just ordered the neck lights on your recommendation - woohoo!

I am new to this channel and already a fan. You are amazing! I can watch your videos all day and never stop learning. I have started experiencing wrist pain already, I will take frequent breaks going forward. Thank you for the amazing tips! You are doing so much for us knitters!

Dear Norman, I was so inspired by your beautiful scarf with tassels that you wear in this video, I decided to use my precious 100% cashmere teal/blue fingering yarn to make a crocheted triangular scarf with tassels like yours.

I am enjoying watching your video's so very much. You have such helpful advice for those of us whom are just learning! Even the comments section on video's are very helpful! I have learned so much here on your channel! I have just finished knitting my first ever pair of socks using a circular needle / cable needle. I am so pleased with myself that now I am now determined to learn to knit socks on the dpn set of needles. But I am going to have to watch your video on that many more times to be able to hold and operate all those needles with out using bad language! :0)

As a beginner, I buy cheap acrylic yarn as I want to practice kitting different things before buying more expensive yarn for more durable knits.

Yeah, the lighting one was learned the hard way for me. I was making a wrist cuff-type-thing and I could barley see the stitches on my needles. I’ve also knitted in the dark and my mom said I’d hurt my eyes doing that lol.