Hi everyone! I thought I would list a few links to online classes, for those who may be interested. I personally have not taken any online classes, but have heard from another knitter that they are nice/helpful.
Annie Modesitt's Online Classes
Stefanie Japel's Online Classes
And you can find a number of classes over on Craftsy!
Happy Knitting!
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
S-n-P Podcast Episode 15
Hi everyone! It's certainly been quite a while since I did a show. Now that the weather is warmer, I can sit outside to record.
Here are the things I talk about in this episode, in no particular order
Magazines (you can find links to each of these in the Magazine tab at the top of the blog)
Filati Handknitting - Home
Filati Pocket
The Knitter
Simply Knitting - free gift - wooden purse handles
Knit Today - free gift - some really sheep shaped yarn bobbins
Knitscene
Hobby Lobby Visit
I recently went to Hobby Lobby for the first time. I loved their selection of knitting books, and while I typically do not knit with acrylic yarn, they did have some nice yarn also. There were a few I liked, but in the end only got a few skeins of Andes Alpaca by Yarn Bee, in the color Camino. I have decided to make my first top down shawl with this yarn. I also got two pairs of rosewood needles - one having an inlay of mother of pearl on the top. As you all know, I love my Addi Turbo neeldes, but am quickly becoming fond of the rosewood needles!
Autumn Acorn Cowl
This is my latest pattern, which is available for purchase on Craftsy. This is a quick knit, using Lighthouse Waves yarn featuring the Acorn Cable stitch. Even if you have never knit cables before, this is an easy stitch. There is also a video tutorial of the stitch incase you need help with it. I know the weather is beginning to warm up, and probably the last thing on your mind is making something to keep you warm. The mornings and evenings are still rather chilly, and a little warmth around your neck can help keep away the chill. Also, a lot of offices crank up the AC in the summer, and a cowl is nice to help keep the air off your neck. And of course, if you make it now, you can have it ready to go when autumn/winter returns.
Project Bags
I've told you before about using those nifty little plastic bags that bras and bed sheets come in to take along a small project when you go on a trip, etc. I recently purchased some sheets which came in a nice little cloth bag. The extra pillow cases also come in little bags, which are perfect for a small project, needles, a few notions, and a copy of your pattern. I love these! They are soft, pretty and just the right size for carrying along where ever you go! I got mine at Walmart, but I am sure you can find them in any store that sells sheets.
Longer Stitch Videos
You asked, and now you will receive! An overwhelming majority of you voted to have longer videos demonstrating cable and lace stitches. I will still be doing the shorter, less complicated stitch videos, but now will also be including longer videos too. You can find all of the stitch videos over on The Weekly Stitch.
That is going to wrap it up for now. You can find me on Facebook and Twitter. Mostly on Facebook, Twitter is just for when I put up a new video or pattern mostly. Feel free to send any questions, comments or suggestions to sapphiresnpurls at gmail dot com.
Until next time, Happy Knitting!
Here are the things I talk about in this episode, in no particular order
Magazines (you can find links to each of these in the Magazine tab at the top of the blog)
Filati Handknitting - Home
Filati Pocket
The Knitter
Simply Knitting - free gift - wooden purse handles
Knit Today - free gift - some really sheep shaped yarn bobbins
Knitscene
Hobby Lobby Visit
I recently went to Hobby Lobby for the first time. I loved their selection of knitting books, and while I typically do not knit with acrylic yarn, they did have some nice yarn also. There were a few I liked, but in the end only got a few skeins of Andes Alpaca by Yarn Bee, in the color Camino. I have decided to make my first top down shawl with this yarn. I also got two pairs of rosewood needles - one having an inlay of mother of pearl on the top. As you all know, I love my Addi Turbo neeldes, but am quickly becoming fond of the rosewood needles!
Autumn Acorn Cowl
This is my latest pattern, which is available for purchase on Craftsy. This is a quick knit, using Lighthouse Waves yarn featuring the Acorn Cable stitch. Even if you have never knit cables before, this is an easy stitch. There is also a video tutorial of the stitch incase you need help with it. I know the weather is beginning to warm up, and probably the last thing on your mind is making something to keep you warm. The mornings and evenings are still rather chilly, and a little warmth around your neck can help keep away the chill. Also, a lot of offices crank up the AC in the summer, and a cowl is nice to help keep the air off your neck. And of course, if you make it now, you can have it ready to go when autumn/winter returns.
Project Bags
I've told you before about using those nifty little plastic bags that bras and bed sheets come in to take along a small project when you go on a trip, etc. I recently purchased some sheets which came in a nice little cloth bag. The extra pillow cases also come in little bags, which are perfect for a small project, needles, a few notions, and a copy of your pattern. I love these! They are soft, pretty and just the right size for carrying along where ever you go! I got mine at Walmart, but I am sure you can find them in any store that sells sheets.
Longer Stitch Videos
You asked, and now you will receive! An overwhelming majority of you voted to have longer videos demonstrating cable and lace stitches. I will still be doing the shorter, less complicated stitch videos, but now will also be including longer videos too. You can find all of the stitch videos over on The Weekly Stitch.
That is going to wrap it up for now. You can find me on Facebook and Twitter. Mostly on Facebook, Twitter is just for when I put up a new video or pattern mostly. Feel free to send any questions, comments or suggestions to sapphiresnpurls at gmail dot com.
Until next time, Happy Knitting!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Piecework March/April 2012 and Knit Simple Spring/Summer 2012
In this issue, explore traditional tools such as Tambour, Knitting, Crochet, Punch Needle and Flowermaking; Knit a Viking cable beret; Discover the ultimate helper - sewing birds; and finally, Bosnian Crochet.
NOTE: As of the date of this post, their website is not reflecting the latest issue
This issue features quick and easy knits such as scarves, drop stitches and little girl dresses; Beach coverups; Flower Looms and 5 easy flowers to make - Be sure to enter for your chance to win a Bloom Loom! Check out the website (link can be found in the "Magazines" tab at the top of the page) for details.
Happy Reading!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Converting Flat Stitch Patterns for Round Knitting
This is just a little tutorial I put together to help you out if you would like to knit something in the round, but aren't sure how to get the stitch pattern to work out. I will be perfectly honest - this is not an easy thing for me! It does take me a little while before I "get it" with some stitch patterns. So, you are not alone if you aren't able to convert stitch patterns easily. I do get a thrill when I finally figure out some of the trickier ones, which is what makes me keep trying different patterns. Practice makes perfect - so don't get discouraged if something doesn't work out the first time. Keep trying!
Of course I did not come up with this information on my own. This all can be found in Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting, as well as various other places on the web. Also, Margaret Radcliffe has a new book due out in just a few short weeks, called Circular Knitting Workshop: Essential Techniques to Master Knitting in the Round. I pre-ordered this back in December and have been so anxious to get it, I keep checking to see if maybe it will be released sooner! This book is supposed to have information on converting stitch patterns for knitting in the round, which is the reason I want it.
Below are instructions along with a few stitches for you to try out to get your needles going if you have never converted flat to round knitting. You can print this tutorial out so you can have it in your hands - which I find is a lot easier than having to constantly looking at the computer. There is also a free hat pattern using Star Stitch for you to print out too. Last but not least, there is a video briefly going over the tutorial and I will show you the stitches given in the tutorial.
I hope this tutorial is helpful, and that you like the hat pattern. Happy Knitting and Enjoy!
Converting Flat Stitch Patterns for Knitting in the Round
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Interweave Spring 2012
This arrived in my mail box not long ago. I can't wait for the weekend to wrap up in a blanket with a cappuccino and read it from cover to cover!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Knitting Ruffles
There are many different types of ruffles that you can add to your knitting in many different ways. I'm just going to cover a few simple ruffles here. If you like ruffles, you may want to check out Knitting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein
First up is the simplest and most basic ruffle. It is just a gentle ruffle - nothing too frilly or over the top.
All you have to do is cast on twice as many stitches as you plan to use for your main pattern. Knit a few rows - I like the look of a stockinette ruffle, but you can certainly use garter stitch if you like; or experiment with different stitches such as seed stitch. After a few rows, you will need to decrease. Just work a row of K2tog - or P2tog even. So for instance, if you plan to work with 10 stitches and you've cast on 20, you will be removing 10 stitches on the decrease row and be left with the 10 you need for your project.
Next is a more ruffly ruffle. This one simply expands on the above idea. Cast on three times as many stitches as you plan to use for your main pattern, work a few rows, then decrease. You can simply work a row of K3tog or P3tog as the decrease, or you can flex your knitting brain and calculate how to work the decreases over the next two rows instead of just one. Knitting or purling 3 together can be a little tight/tricky, so you may opt for spreading the decreases out over two rows. For instance, let's again say you want to work with 10 stitches. You have 30. You could work the decreases this way: Next row, *K1, K2tog* along the row. This should leave you with 20 stitches. Next row, K2tog across the row, and you should have left the 10 stitches for your main pattern.
Finally, you can pick up and knit along the edge of a finished piece to make the ruffle. You want to add the ruffle to a finished edge, not live stitches. Ruffles need a nice, firm edge to hold on to. If you add a ruffle to live stitches, the ruffle will spread the fabric out.
In this particular sample, I picked up 14 stitches along my cast on edge, then knit a few rows in stockinette, then increased big time. I knit into the front and back of each stitch in the next row, as well as making a yarn over between each stitch, totaling 42 stitches. I next worked a plain row and then bound off. This gave me a very ruffly, eyelet edge.
You can knit the ruffle as long as you like, but the longer it is, it will turn to a flounce as opposed to a ruffle. It's really all a matter of personal taste. So get out your yarn and needles and start playing. You might like the same method of making a ruffle in one type of yarn but not another. Experimenting is part of the fun of knitting.
First up is the simplest and most basic ruffle. It is just a gentle ruffle - nothing too frilly or over the top.
All you have to do is cast on twice as many stitches as you plan to use for your main pattern. Knit a few rows - I like the look of a stockinette ruffle, but you can certainly use garter stitch if you like; or experiment with different stitches such as seed stitch. After a few rows, you will need to decrease. Just work a row of K2tog - or P2tog even. So for instance, if you plan to work with 10 stitches and you've cast on 20, you will be removing 10 stitches on the decrease row and be left with the 10 you need for your project.
Next is a more ruffly ruffle. This one simply expands on the above idea. Cast on three times as many stitches as you plan to use for your main pattern, work a few rows, then decrease. You can simply work a row of K3tog or P3tog as the decrease, or you can flex your knitting brain and calculate how to work the decreases over the next two rows instead of just one. Knitting or purling 3 together can be a little tight/tricky, so you may opt for spreading the decreases out over two rows. For instance, let's again say you want to work with 10 stitches. You have 30. You could work the decreases this way: Next row, *K1, K2tog* along the row. This should leave you with 20 stitches. Next row, K2tog across the row, and you should have left the 10 stitches for your main pattern.
Finally, you can pick up and knit along the edge of a finished piece to make the ruffle. You want to add the ruffle to a finished edge, not live stitches. Ruffles need a nice, firm edge to hold on to. If you add a ruffle to live stitches, the ruffle will spread the fabric out.
Say you are knitting a scarf and want to add a ruffle to each end after the fact. To make the picking up easier, you may want to use the crochet cast on so that the cast on stitches are clearly defined and easy to pick up. Your standard knitted bind off also created a nice edge easy for picking up and knitting. I'm sure there are other cast ons and bind offs that will give you a nice edge to pick up, but since I typically just use the ho-hum knitted bind off and crochet cast on or long tail, I couldn't give an example of any others.
In this particular sample, I picked up 14 stitches along my cast on edge, then knit a few rows in stockinette, then increased big time. I knit into the front and back of each stitch in the next row, as well as making a yarn over between each stitch, totaling 42 stitches. I next worked a plain row and then bound off. This gave me a very ruffly, eyelet edge.
You can knit the ruffle as long as you like, but the longer it is, it will turn to a flounce as opposed to a ruffle. It's really all a matter of personal taste. So get out your yarn and needles and start playing. You might like the same method of making a ruffle in one type of yarn but not another. Experimenting is part of the fun of knitting.
Here is a video of the ruffles in this post. Happy Knitting!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Join a New Ball of Yarn
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| Yarn is Cascade 220 |
How great is this join?! Simple and easy to do - you can use any yarn, too. Other than the Spit Splice, or Felted Join, this has to be my favorite method of joining a new ball of yarn. Rather than still photos, I am just doing the video on this one. If you haven't tried this yet, you must. You will need a yarn or tapestry needle to do this, and about 30-60 seconds. That's it.
In the picture above, I used two different colors just for ease of demonstration, but most likely you will be using the same color of yarn. Even if you are using two different colors, once you've knit the join area, it really blends in well with the fabric and you will be hard pressed to tell where the join is once it is done.
Hope you like it. Happy Knitting and Enjoy!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Spiral I-Cord
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| Sample was knit with Lily Sugar n Cream on US Size 6 needles - 4 stitches |
It is very simple to do and I willingly admit that I am darn proud of myself for having an idea that actually works! So, without further ado, here is what I did. I am assuming that you already know how to make the standard I-Cord by the way.
Cast on 4 stitches - you can use either DPNs or a circular needle
Slide stitches to the other end of the needle as normal and knit all stitches
Row 2 - Knit 2, Slip 1, Knit 1
Row 3 - Knit 2, Slip 1, Knit 1
Row 4 - Knit all stitches
Repeat Row 2 - 4 until cord is the desired length
What to do with the curly I-Cord? Maybe replace the standard fringe on a scarf with these nifty spirals, or top off a hat. You can even add beads - I have a tutorial on that too. You are only limited by your imagination.
This is by no means the only way to knit a spiral cord. I encourage you to play around with different yarns and needle sizes, and even a different number of stitches. Perhaps add another row or two where the stitch is slipped - heck, slip two stitches. You may come up with a better curling cord. If you do alter this "pattern", I would love to see what you come up with!
Here is a brief video of the technique. Enjoy!
Beaded I-Cord
If you are looking for a way to add some pizzazz to your I-Cord, beads might be the answer you are looking for. Here are two ways to add beads to your I-Cord.
I suggest pre-stringing the beads, since I-Cord is fiddly enough as it is. Having the beads on your yarn from the start is more convenient. Also, if you are following a pattern you will place the beads as directed by the pattern. Otherwise, put them where you like, as many or as few as you like.
Method One:
When you reach the point where you would like to have your bead, slide the bead up the yarn and to the needle. Bring the yarn to the front of the work, and slip the next stitch on the left needle purlwise. Take the yarn back to the back of the work, and continue knitting. (I find it helpful if I hold the bead in place with my thumbnail at this point)
Repeat this where ever you would like to place a bead on your I-Cord.
Method Two:
When you reach the stitch where you would like to have a bead, insert the right needle into it, but don't knit it just yet. Next, slide your bead up the yarn to the needle. Now, make the knit stitch, pulling the bead through the stitch along with the yarn. Continue knitting. On the next row when you get to the stitch with the bead on it, slide the bead up over the needle and to the back of the stitch. When you make the new stitch, the bead should pop out to the front of the I-Cord.
Here is a video demonstrating both of these methods.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Finding the end of your yarn
Just thought I'd share this tip, incase you have issues finding the beginning of your yarn like I do. Sometimes this works like magic, but other times I still wind up having to pull out half of the inside of the skein and end up with a huge pile of yarn barf! I've had success on larger skeins as well as smaller ones. Sometimes the yarn just does not want to cooperate though.
If there is a false tail sticking out (you know what I mean, the one that you are happy to see because you think it is the tail you need to start knitting, but when you pull on it, it won't budge), just pull it out and tuck it into the ball band. Then, put your index fingers into each end of the skein and twist them. If you are lucky, the beginning tail of your yarn will find your finger and easily pull out of the center of the skein. And because I had a few spare minutes, I made a video :0)
If there is a false tail sticking out (you know what I mean, the one that you are happy to see because you think it is the tail you need to start knitting, but when you pull on it, it won't budge), just pull it out and tuck it into the ball band. Then, put your index fingers into each end of the skein and twist them. If you are lucky, the beginning tail of your yarn will find your finger and easily pull out of the center of the skein. And because I had a few spare minutes, I made a video :0)
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Sapphires-N-Purls Podcast Episode 14!
Well, I finally had a chance to record a new show! It has been quite a while. This episode was filmed outdoors, so I do apologize for the background noises.
In this episode, I show you the magazines waiting for me to read them, some new yarns I have, and the Martha Stewart Knit and Weave Loom Kit.
There are links to all of the magazines in the "magazine" tab at the top of the blog. Here they are, in no particular order:
Sabrina Fashion Knits
Sandra Knit Trends
Simply Knitting
Knit Now
Knit Simple and Knit Simple Plus Knits
Knit 'n Style
Interweave Knits
Knit Today
Knit Scene
Knitting Today
Love of Knitting
Australian Knitting
Vogue Knitting
Jane Austen Knits
Linking this one directly:
Woman's Weekly Best of Our Knitted Toys
The Amazing Curly Scarf Pattern that I wear in this episode is a free pattern on the blog, along with a video on knitting spiral scarves.
Lily Sugar 'n Cream scented yarn. Nice! None of the fragrances were overwhelming or stinky to me. The Camomile and Aloe Vera were the ones that appealed to my nose the most today. The fragrance will of course wash out eventually, but how nice to make a few dish cloths, tie them up with a ribbon and give to a friend? Just my opinion of course! Although I found all of the scents to be light and fresh, someone sensitive to fragrances might feel otherwise. I recommend giving them a sniff yourself if you see them in the store, before buying online. Today was the first time I have seen them at Michaels; can't find it on their website though! I've never seen them in my Joann's, but they do sell them on their website.
You can find out more about Carol's Needleworks and the yarn I got there HERE.
And finally Martha Stewart. I've always had a love/hate thing with her. Simply love a lot of her ideas on decorating, cooking and everything else, but hate her attitude sometimes. I even forgive her for her... ahem... problems in the past. We all make mistakes, and I am sure the humiliation she suffered was enough to keep her from making the same, or similar, mistakes again. Anywho, I suppose the reason I got this knitting and weaving loom is because it seems to be so versatile and has so many possibilities. I've not done any loom knitting before, but am kind of anxious to expand my knitting horizons. Does any one own this? Feel free to let me know what you think, and I would love to see pictures of your finished items. I will do a more in depth review once I have had a chance to play around with this gadget!
As for her yarn, however... I will definitely take a pass on that. I have a brief video from when I was checking out the line at Michaels on my YouTube channel. I really can't believe her name is on this stuff. It really isn't all that nice, and you don't get very much yarn. For the price, I'd expect at least twice as much as what you get. You can get better quality yarn, and a lot more of it, from some of Lion Brands other lines, as well as other manufacturers. The Mambo is just ridiculous. 5 - yes, FIVE measly yards, for $5-6?? Seriously? If I am paying about $1 per yard of yarn, that stuff better be spun from gold! It would actually make a neat rug, but you'd have to buy so much to get a decent sized rug that I would hang it on the wall as art instead of actually put it on the floor and walk on it. I don't know what else you would do with Mambo; Lion Brand has a bracelet pattern for it. Not my style! The Glitter Eyelash is kind of gaudy - but then I don't much go in for that type of yarn to begin with. Might be nice for some type of holiday decorations though. OK, enough ranting on Martha's yarn! You should of course decide for yourself :0)
In this episode, I show you the magazines waiting for me to read them, some new yarns I have, and the Martha Stewart Knit and Weave Loom Kit.
There are links to all of the magazines in the "magazine" tab at the top of the blog. Here they are, in no particular order:
Sabrina Fashion Knits
Sandra Knit Trends
Simply Knitting
Knit Now
Knit Simple and Knit Simple Plus Knits
Knit 'n Style
Interweave Knits
Knit Today
Knit Scene
Knitting Today
Love of Knitting
Australian Knitting
Vogue Knitting
Jane Austen Knits
Linking this one directly:
Woman's Weekly Best of Our Knitted Toys
The Amazing Curly Scarf Pattern that I wear in this episode is a free pattern on the blog, along with a video on knitting spiral scarves.
Lily Sugar 'n Cream scented yarn. Nice! None of the fragrances were overwhelming or stinky to me. The Camomile and Aloe Vera were the ones that appealed to my nose the most today. The fragrance will of course wash out eventually, but how nice to make a few dish cloths, tie them up with a ribbon and give to a friend? Just my opinion of course! Although I found all of the scents to be light and fresh, someone sensitive to fragrances might feel otherwise. I recommend giving them a sniff yourself if you see them in the store, before buying online. Today was the first time I have seen them at Michaels; can't find it on their website though! I've never seen them in my Joann's, but they do sell them on their website.
You can find out more about Carol's Needleworks and the yarn I got there HERE.
And finally Martha Stewart. I've always had a love/hate thing with her. Simply love a lot of her ideas on decorating, cooking and everything else, but hate her attitude sometimes. I even forgive her for her... ahem... problems in the past. We all make mistakes, and I am sure the humiliation she suffered was enough to keep her from making the same, or similar, mistakes again. Anywho, I suppose the reason I got this knitting and weaving loom is because it seems to be so versatile and has so many possibilities. I've not done any loom knitting before, but am kind of anxious to expand my knitting horizons. Does any one own this? Feel free to let me know what you think, and I would love to see pictures of your finished items. I will do a more in depth review once I have had a chance to play around with this gadget!
As for her yarn, however... I will definitely take a pass on that. I have a brief video from when I was checking out the line at Michaels on my YouTube channel. I really can't believe her name is on this stuff. It really isn't all that nice, and you don't get very much yarn. For the price, I'd expect at least twice as much as what you get. You can get better quality yarn, and a lot more of it, from some of Lion Brands other lines, as well as other manufacturers. The Mambo is just ridiculous. 5 - yes, FIVE measly yards, for $5-6?? Seriously? If I am paying about $1 per yard of yarn, that stuff better be spun from gold! It would actually make a neat rug, but you'd have to buy so much to get a decent sized rug that I would hang it on the wall as art instead of actually put it on the floor and walk on it. I don't know what else you would do with Mambo; Lion Brand has a bracelet pattern for it. Not my style! The Glitter Eyelash is kind of gaudy - but then I don't much go in for that type of yarn to begin with. Might be nice for some type of holiday decorations though. OK, enough ranting on Martha's yarn! You should of course decide for yourself :0)
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Carol's Needleworks
Today I stopped in at Carol's Needleworks, in Bridgeville Pa. A bit out of my way, but I have been wanting to check it out for a while now. It is a small store, but has a nice selection of yarn, notions and patterns. The store is neat and organized. I also had the pleasure of being waited on by Carol herself. Carol is absolutely lovely! Probably one of the nicest people I have ever met. I was greeted by her as soon as I walked in, which is not something you always get upon entering a store these days. Whenever I go to a yarn store, I always ask if they carry any Lorna's Laces; I've been lusting over Helen's Lace for quite some time, but really didn't want to shell out the bucks before fondling it to make sure I felt it was worth the money. (For the record, no store I have been in has ever had Helen's Lace, and Carol was the only one who ever offered to order some for me.) Carol does not carry any Lorna's, but when I told her what I was interested in, she pulled out a color/sample card which had a few strands. Honestly, it wasn't quite as nice as it looks in the pictures on Jimmy Beans.... sorry. I was glad I hadn't decided to buy any! She also suggested a similar yarn by Abstract Fiber called Hepburn, which is 1,000 yards of exquisite merino and silk (80 and 20%, respectively). The color.... Tequila Sunrise. How could I resist? I had to get it. I also fell in love with Audrey from Schaefer Yarn. The color I chose is called The Brontes, after the Bronte sisters of course. Audrey is a scrumptious blend of 50% merino, 50% cultivated silk. I cannot wait to get this stuff on my needles!! And, to satisfy my chunky yarn cravings I have been having, I picked up a nice hank of Elaine, also from Schaefer. Elaine is 99% merino, 1% nylon. I am not sure what the color is called, that tag must have fallen off. I don't care what it's name is -- it is fabulous!
If you are in the area, I do highly recommend stopping in at Carol's Needleworks. She definitely knows her stuff, is extremely nice and eager to please all of her customers. Excellent customer service! Below are some pictures of the shop, the yarn I got, and one of Carol herself. She let me take the picture since she was having a good hair day! Again, very nice lady and I can't wait to see her again!
Here is where you can find Carol's Needleworks:
429 Washington Avenue
Bridgeville, PA 15017
If you are in the area, I do highly recommend stopping in at Carol's Needleworks. She definitely knows her stuff, is extremely nice and eager to please all of her customers. Excellent customer service! Below are some pictures of the shop, the yarn I got, and one of Carol herself. She let me take the picture since she was having a good hair day! Again, very nice lady and I can't wait to see her again!
Here is where you can find Carol's Needleworks:
429 Washington Avenue
Bridgeville, PA 15017
Friday, November 18, 2011
Knitting With Beads
If you have never tried knitting with beads, I hope this will encourage you to do so! It isn't as hard as you may think.
Beads come in many sizes, shapes, colors, and are made from different types of materials. You can find them in craft stores such as Joannes and Michaels; your local yarn store may even carry beads. There are also plenty of places online to find beads.
One thing to consider when choosing your beads, is whether or not they will fit onto the yarn you want to use. If you are in love with a particular bead, but your yarn is too thick to fit through the hole, you can use a thinner yarn to put the beads on, and knit with both strands. Choose a complimentary color, or a contrasting color - the choice is yours. If you only want a few beads here and there, sewing them on afterward is also an option. Something else you may want to consider is how much weight the beads will add to your finished item. Using lots of big, glass beads for example may make your scarf uncomfortable to wear.
There are probably as many ways to add beads to your knitting as there are knitters. The most common is stringing the beads onto your yarn before you begin knitting, or adding the beads one at a time as you go along with a crochet hook. The second method is the one I prefer. My problems with stringing the beads on beforehand are: A) If the yarn is a fine, thin yarn the weight of the beads may break the yarn B) The moving of beads up and down the yarn can cause a bit of fuzziness or pills on the yarn. If you are using a fine, delicate yarn and prefer to pre-string your beads, just do a few at a time. When you run out of beads, break the yarn, add more beads, and continue. This will also leave you with extra ends to weave in, which can be a pain.
As I said, I prefer adding the beads one at a time with a crochet hook. This method is the fastest and easiest for me, and the beads appear equally well on both sides of the fabric. There is no worry that a bead may be stubborn and want to show itself on the wrong side of your fabric! To add beads this way, you will need a crochet hook that is small enough to fit through the hole in your bead. I use a US Size 11 hook, which is teeny tiny. Since it is so small, it tends to snag on thicker yarns sometimes as you pull the yarn through the bead. If that happens, all you have to do is pull the rest of the plies through the bead, and it will be fine once the stitch is back on the needle and you have knit it.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
How to Knit a Scarf
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| Extreme Pastels Scarf pattern below |
Also check out my other scarf patterns. Video tutorials on each scarf.
Free Patterns:
Flutter Scarf (a potato chip scarf)
Amazing Curly Scarf (a spiral/corkscrew scarf)
Lacy Ruffle Scarf
Available for Purchase:
Quite Contrary Scarf
If you are new to knitting, you may be wondering how to knit a scarf. Scarves are good beginner projects, because you generally don't need to worry about gauge - something which often confuses newbies. Scarves can be knit as long as you want, as wide as you want, as skinny as you want. You can use any yarn you like, any needle size, and any stitch pattern. It can be simple, such as garter stitch, or something more complicated like lace.
Even though a scarf is a simple project, all of the options can be overwhelming. If you aren't ready to go it alone, there are more scarf patterns available on the web than you can shake a knitting needle at. If you would like to design your own, here are a few steps to get you started.
Find a stitch pattern you like. There are many web sites with stitch patterns if you don't own any stitch pattern books. The Weekly Stitch has a new stitch pattern posted each week, most with a video demonstration of the stitch.
Choose your yarn and needles. If you aren't sure of which needle to use for you yarn, check the ball band and start with the recommend size. While you don't have to swatch first, you certainly can if you like; you can decide from there if you like how the fabric looks, and if you'd like to make a denser fabric then try a needle size smaller than the one recommended. If you'd like something looser and airy, shoot for a larger needle size. Also, a swatch can tell you how wide your scarf will be. Myself, I just guesstimate and don't worry about it. Obviously, what type of yarn and needle size you use will affect the width. Finer yarn will require more stitches, and heavier weight yarn will require less.
Once you have your yarn, needles and stitch pattern you are ready to cast on.
There are many cast ons - use which ever cast on you like. Long tail cast on is one of the most common ones. Backward Loop is also common, or you can even do a knitted cast on.
There are many cast ons - use which ever cast on you like. Long tail cast on is one of the most common ones. Backward Loop is also common, or you can even do a knitted cast on.
Begin knitting your scarf; keep going until it is as long as you want it to be. Now you can cast off, or bind off. Use any bind off you like. The standard knit bind off will do fine, but of course there are many different bind offs. If you like to purl, you can try the standard purl bind off, or if you crochet perhaps the single crochet bind off will feel most comfortable for you.
If you have knit your scarf with wool or another animal fiber, you may want to block it before wearing it. Blocking is not required, but can open up your stitches and give the scarf a more finished look. You can always add fringe to your scarf if you like! Now you are ready to wear your new scarf!
Scarves are a good way to use up left over yarns; you can use several strands at once, or just knit with one until you run out and then begin with another. The scarf above was knit with four strands of yarn on large needles. I wanted to use up some scrap yarn, as well as get it done fast.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Thanksgiving Knitting Patterns
The holiday season starts with Thanksgiving - and turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and more turkey just when you think you can't possibly eat one more bite. And then the pumpkin pie!
Before you eat yourself into a tryptophan coma, here are a few cute Thanksgiving/Fall themed patterns for you to knit up.
Corn on the Cob Pot Holder (requires a bit of crochet knowledge also)
Autumn Leaves Placemat (you will need to sign up for a free account to view this one)
Gobble Gobble!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
October/November 2011 Knitting Books
Haven't done this in a while - here are a few of the books you can find out this month and next!
OCTOBER
Knits Extraordinaire
OCTOBER
Knits Extraordinaire
- by Lena Maikon
-by Kara Gott Warner
-by Kari Cornell, Sue Flanders, Janine Kosel
-by Sharon Turner **Just a note on this one. I flipped through this in the store a week or so ago, and was excited when I first saw it because I love stitch pattern books. My excitement waned as I saw the stitches though. I didn't see any "new" stitches; practically all of them I have seen in my other books. I have all of the Harmony Guides, the first two Walker Treasuries, Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns, Essential Stitch Collection, among others (you can check them out in myLibrarything in the left sidebar). If you have several stitch pattern books, I would pass on this one. You probably already have these stitches in there, or they can be found online. If you only own one or two stitch books, or none at all, then you might enjoy this one.
NOVEMBER
-by Iris Schreier
-by Sue Pearce
-by Lisa Shroyer
-by Barbara Sander
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Breast Cancer Knitting
I can't believe I forgot to post about this this year! I was in Michaels this morning, and saw the Bernat set up with their pink yarn and patterns, and it reminded me.
Go to the Bernat website for their patterns and yarns for breast cancer awareness knitting. Lots of nice stuff.
Here are a few more links with patterns:
Classic Elite Yarns -- this is for 2010, it doesn't look like they did anything for 2011 that I could find
Pink Ribbon Scarf
Breast Cancer Awareness Washcloth
Breast Cancer Prayer Shawl
Tit Bits - designed by Beryl Tsang, found at knitty
Breast Cancer Support Scarf - from Knitting Daily
Go to the Bernat website for their patterns and yarns for breast cancer awareness knitting. Lots of nice stuff.
Here are a few more links with patterns:
Classic Elite Yarns -- this is for 2010, it doesn't look like they did anything for 2011 that I could find
Pink Ribbon Scarf
Breast Cancer Awareness Washcloth
Breast Cancer Prayer Shawl
Tit Bits - designed by Beryl Tsang, found at knitty
Breast Cancer Support Scarf - from Knitting Daily
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Podcast Episode 13
Hi knitters! Here is info on what I talked about in this episode. You can find links to all of the magazines I show in the 'Magazines' tab at the top of the blog.
THE MAGAZINES:
I did not have Knit Simple or Knit n Style on hand, but those issues are also currently available right now.
The Knitter
Knitting Magazine
Simply Knitting
Knitter's Magazine
Filati Handknitting
Verena
Cozy Winter Knits - Special issue from Knitting Today!
Love of Knitting - Special holiday issue
Knitting Traditions - from Interweave
Knit.Wear - Also from Interweave
THE DVD'S
My latest purchase of Lucy Neatby DVD's
Sock Techniques 1 (Lucy Neatby: A Knitter's Companion)
THE MAGAZINES:
I did not have Knit Simple or Knit n Style on hand, but those issues are also currently available right now.
The Knitter
Knitting Magazine
Simply Knitting
Knitter's Magazine
Filati Handknitting
Verena
Cozy Winter Knits - Special issue from Knitting Today!
Love of Knitting - Special holiday issue
Knitting Traditions - from Interweave
Knit.Wear - Also from Interweave
THE DVD'S
My latest purchase of Lucy Neatby DVD's
Sock Techniques 1 (Lucy Neatby: A Knitter's Companion)
And, the beautiful yarn, Silky Merino by Malabrigo, which I got from Jimmy Beans Wool. Love this yarn, and can't wait to make my vest!
Finally, if you would like the pattern for Lemon Seed Lace, please visit my stitch blog, www.theweeklystitch.blogspot.com
That's going to wrap it up for now, or should I say, this is the Bind Off! Until next time, Happy Knitting!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Adding Fringe
Hi all! I am in the process of adding fringe to a little project I've been working on, and thought I'd share how to do it, incase you have never played around with fringe before. Here is the video. Enjoy!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Halloween Knitting Patterns and Stuff
It is that time of year again... my favorite time. October, autumn... and Halloween! Here are a few knitting patterns for your perusal.
Halloween Cat Dishcloth - from One Crafty Mama
Halloween Witch Doll - from Purl Soho
Happy Halloween Mitts - from Home Makers Insanity
Hallowig - from Knitty
Lacy Jack-O-Lantern Dishcloth - from Coats and Clark
There are oodles of other patterns out there, just Google or Bing away and you will find them.
Also, I will once again be watching my favorite Halloween movie several times between now and Halloween.
This is a favorite of my sister and I - for some reason we just love it and must watch every October. It's fun and something you can watch with the kiddies, if you have any.
I think I mentioned last year, I have some black and orange Sugar n Cream floating around in my stash somewhere. I never was able to track that down, otherwise I would have my own pattern posted here. I will have to check again and if I find it see if I can come up with something quick.
I've been making an effort to finish up my UFO's that are lying around. If you follow me on facebook, you may know that I finally joined the sleeves to my sweater a couple weekends ago! Yay! It was a lot less scary and much easier than I anticipated. So, I now only have about 8 inches or so and it will be done! I am a little apprehensive about doing the collar for some reason, but I am sure that will be like the sleeve fear - easier than expected!
I've also been thinking about breaking out the Kool-Aid and dying some yarn. I have some Lion Brand Fisherman Wool that I'd like to dye some autumn colors - maybe brown, dark orange and orange-red. I'd like to do that this coming weekend, if I have time. I may need to do a Kool-Aid run to make sure I have enough of the flavors I need to get these colors. I would like to try and get some deeper, richer colors this time than I have in the past. I've heard coffee or tea will make a nice brown - I may have to do that in conjunction with the Kool-Aid. Either way, I am excited - I love dying yarn!!
Well, fellow knitters, I am going to go and do some work on that sweater! Here are a few pictures of where I am. I will certainly be posting pictures once it's complete. Hopefully by the end of this month!
Halloween Cat Dishcloth - from One Crafty Mama
Halloween Witch Doll - from Purl Soho
Happy Halloween Mitts - from Home Makers Insanity
Hallowig - from Knitty
Lacy Jack-O-Lantern Dishcloth - from Coats and Clark
There are oodles of other patterns out there, just Google or Bing away and you will find them.
Also, I will once again be watching my favorite Halloween movie several times between now and Halloween.
This is a favorite of my sister and I - for some reason we just love it and must watch every October. It's fun and something you can watch with the kiddies, if you have any.
I think I mentioned last year, I have some black and orange Sugar n Cream floating around in my stash somewhere. I never was able to track that down, otherwise I would have my own pattern posted here. I will have to check again and if I find it see if I can come up with something quick.
I've been making an effort to finish up my UFO's that are lying around. If you follow me on facebook, you may know that I finally joined the sleeves to my sweater a couple weekends ago! Yay! It was a lot less scary and much easier than I anticipated. So, I now only have about 8 inches or so and it will be done! I am a little apprehensive about doing the collar for some reason, but I am sure that will be like the sleeve fear - easier than expected!
I've also been thinking about breaking out the Kool-Aid and dying some yarn. I have some Lion Brand Fisherman Wool that I'd like to dye some autumn colors - maybe brown, dark orange and orange-red. I'd like to do that this coming weekend, if I have time. I may need to do a Kool-Aid run to make sure I have enough of the flavors I need to get these colors. I would like to try and get some deeper, richer colors this time than I have in the past. I've heard coffee or tea will make a nice brown - I may have to do that in conjunction with the Kool-Aid. Either way, I am excited - I love dying yarn!!
Well, fellow knitters, I am going to go and do some work on that sweater! Here are a few pictures of where I am. I will certainly be posting pictures once it's complete. Hopefully by the end of this month!
This is the quite the order I wanted the pictures posted, but blogger is not cooperating and letting me arrange them how I'd like. Until next time, Happy Knitting!
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| Sleeves with the underarm stitches on waste yarn to be seamed with the body later |
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| Close up of the sleeve and body joined, with the reserved stitches waiting to be seamed up later |
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| Here is the body, with a portion of stitches reserved to be seamed with the underarm of the sleeves later |
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| This is just a close up of the body with the reserved stitches |
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| This is a few rows after the sleeves have been joined |
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