When you needlepoint it helps increase the coverage of your canvas if you first "strip" your yarn. That means that you need to separate the yarns "plys". For Paternayan, that means that you will end up with three pieces of yarn. For cottons and silks you can have more. The plys will then tend to lie parallel and therefore give you better coverage.

    Synthetic yarn is great but it can be damaged by using high dryer heat. If you feel you must use the dryer, use a low heat to maintain the nice hand (feel) of the yarn. Better yet, dry flat.

     When you wash wool, think of your hair. Would you wash your hair with dishsoap or better yet, laundry detergent? If the answer is, "No!" then don't wash your woolens with them. It's hair too! Use a ph neutral cleaner like Wool Mix or Orvus paste or a very inexpensive shampoo (save the good stuff for you.) You'll be surprised at how much better the wool feels.

      If your yarn comes in a skein instead of a ball, take care when winding it into a ball. If you wind the ball too tightly then you will stretch out the wool and when knit, will change the gauge of your knitting. It helps if, as you wind the ball of yarn, you place one or two finger over the area your winding onto. Then pull your fingers out, rotate the ball and repeat the process. This will make a soft ball of yarn that will knit with the correct gauge.

      Not all cast-on methods are created equal. Some are more elastic than others. The bottom edge of a sweater benefits from and elastic cast-on. The edge of a cuff might be better with one that is a bit inelastic so that it doesn't stretch out easily.

     Do you have an itchy woolen sweater that you just can't bear to wear? Try adding some inexpensive hair conditioner to the rinse water (you'll need about four ounces). Let the sweater soak and then drain. You may wish to rinse the sweater again if you want to reduce the scent or to remove the excess. Your sweater will feel like lamb's wool.

      If you're having trouble with your needlepoint "racking" or becoming distorted, using the basketweave stitch will help. Or better yet, consider placing your work on a frame before you start to stitch. It keeps your canvas cleaner, too.

    MOTHS! How we hate those creatures. Using herbals smell good but do little to deter an attack. Always put your woolens away clean. Moths love dirty wool. If you are going to store them then use a sealed container. Moths love dark undisturbed places.

    Freezing to kill the eggs only works if you have a -50 degree freezer. A household freezer just isn't cold enough. And, unfortunately, the only thing that will kill the eggs, larva and moths are mothballs. If you do use mothballs never put them in contact with the wool. Place them in tissue or a paper bag and then into the sealed container. To remove the smell, hang your woolens out in fresh air or try scented mothballs.