Blog RSS
How to Estimate the: Perfect Yarn Tail
The Perfect Tail Have you ever started a new project, estimated a yarn tail for your cast-on and then run out of yarn? Well why not eliminate the estimation process totally? Use two balls of yarn when you are casting on stitches instead of one length of yarn folded. By using two balls of yarn you won't run out! Begin by making a slip knot, joining the two ends of yarn together and placing onto the needle. Work the stitches using one end as the active looping yarn that goes around the needle and the other one as the...
How to Read Knitting Charts
Let's Talk Charts! Charts are an excellent way to communicate patterns in knitting and help a designer distill pages of densely written text into one picture. With a few simple rules, charts are easy to understand, give visual clues as to what your finished piece will look like, and can be understood across language barriers. A chart for knitting is typically set into a grid pattern comprised of squares that are populated by symbols. Each of these symbols indicates what type of treatment to give each stitch. The chart is worked in horizontal lines with each line representing a...
In search of epic texture: Grand Boulevard
Have you ever worked with a springy yarn? Not just a nice merino with a decent ply; I'm talking a tigger tail-trampoline bouncing-lamb on a pogo stick kind of yarn. The kind of yarn that creates texture as high and crisp as the Rocky Mountains and helps your cables be seen from space. No? I hadn't either, until I met Elemental Affects Cormo worsted, and let me tell you the love affair has only just begun. The combination of longer fibers and extra twisty spin makes for a stretchy bouncy yarn that just pops your cables right off the knitting. I...
Lindy Pop: How to work a twisted k2tog
My latest pattern release; Lindy Pop, is a fun (and sort of wild!) fringed shawl. It uses 8 colors of sport or fingering weight yarn, a garter stitch bias center and charted lace and cable vertical edges. This pattern came to be when Lux Adorna sent me a gigantic set of their Cashmere Sport, called a lofty lux braid. The colors were amazing... but not anything I would ever choose on my own. Lime Green? Yes, probably the color of my soul, Deep Plum? Okay, I do like that one too, but all those cooler colors? sage green? denim blue?...
Bander Ridge, the Socks that Knit Themselves.
Okay, not reaaaally, no socks actually knit themselves (well maybe Mrs Weasley knows how, but I don't). The point is that this newest pattern release; Bander Ridge is a very specific kind of sock pattern, one of my favorite kinds. I've come to realize that there are two kinds of sock knitting experiences that I personally enjoy. One is the Totally Committed; fancy patterning, all kinds of cables and lace and nupps and beads, and maybe even a fancy technique or two. Keeps the knitter totally mind-rapt and focused because each row is a little adventure through the woods and you really really...
Tags
- All
- Adult designs
- Ancient Arts
- Baby
- Baby designs
- Beaded
- Beads
- Bobbles
- Book Review
- Bulky knit
- Cables
- Cables and Lace
- Cascade 220
- charts
- Child
- Color Changing yarn
- Color Theory
- Colorwork
- Cowl
- Cowls
- Creative Knitting
- DK weight
- Easy knit
- german
- handspun
- Hikoo yarns
- How to
- Independent Designs
- Infinity Scarf
- Interweave Knits
- Knitpicks
- Knits for Men
- Knitting fever international
- Lace
- Lace Shawls
- Lark Crafts
- Malabrigo
- MalabrigoRios
- Men
- Mittens
- Mosaic Knitting
- New Pattern Release
- Noroyarns
- ParadiseFibersYarnClub
- Plymouth yarn
- Porifera
- Prism Yarns
- Shawl
- short rows
- Sock Yarn
- socks
- Stranded patterning
- Technique Tuesday
- Test Knits
- Texture
- Toddler
- Toddler to Preschooler
- Tube Gathers
- Tutorial
- Twist Collective
- Unisex
- warp and turn
- Wrap
