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Tutorial - November 16, 2020

How to work Knitted Bow Knots

Worked by creating yarn-overs that are dropped on the following row and then knotted into bows this technique is unique in that it happens on top of the work instead of within the stitch pattern itself. A perfect addition to knits that need an extra special embellishment these tiny bows would look darling on the brim of a baby hat, the top of a knit stocking, or sprinkled in amongst some simple lace on a shawl. How to Work Them For this sample I worked 1 bow knot every 5 stitches, over 24 stitches. A note on placement: each bow...

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Tutorial - October 06, 2020

How to: Circular Cast-on

A circular cast-on is a very useful method for beginning a center-out shawl, top-down hat or toe-up sock. Stitches are cast on around a loop of the active yarn that is later tightened up to create a beautiful rosebud center. When finished, this cast-on looks exactly like a cut and sewn-through bind-off -- cutting the active yarn, threading it through the remaining stitches and pulling tight. How to Work It Begin by looping the active yarn to the left, down and around. The tail should be to the right and the yarn crosses with the active end over top of...

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Tutorial - September 22, 2020

How to: Knit in the Round on Two Circular Needles

Knitting in the round is a useful skill that is excellent for hats, mittens, socks and pullovers. It negates the need for seaming as the item is worked in a continuous spiral from the cast-on upward. Special needles are needed since this type of knitting cannot be worked on a pair of straight needles. For small-circumference knitting (like hats, mittens and socks) knitters have traditionally turned to double-point needles -- a set of four or five shorter needles with points on both ends. These needles are the oldest type of knitting needle and are still widely used today. However, with...

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September 01, 2020

Rainchain Shawl: LYS Day 2020 Pattern Promotion!

Oh man, what a year this has been! I think it is safe to say we could all use a little more yarn and a LOT less chaos- so how about a Local Yarn Store day pattern promotion? Sound Good? Last year The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) had a pattern competition for a new shawl pattern to be featured on local yarn store day. I entered thinking that there was NO WAY I would be lucky enough to win it and be able to support so many local shops at once. My entry was a shawl based on a beautiful...

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How to, Tutorial - July 07, 2020

How to: the Eyelet Cast On

Simply Decorative: The Eyelet Cast on Border Sometimes a project calls for a little something special on the edge, a fancy cast on that will take the finished item out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. The Eyelet Cast on Border is just such a cast-on, a very simple single row pattern is worked to create a long chain with clearly defined eyelets on either side. These eyelets are then picked up into for the live stitches needed in the knitted piece. This border pushes out vertically when worked (horizontally when picked up from) and is extremely stretchy, making...

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