About.com Knitting

Hacks for Your Knitting

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:31:21 +0000

Lily Chin's Knitting Tips & Tricks. Potter Craft.

Lily Chin is well known as a knit and crochet designer, and after the publication of her new book, Lily Chin's Knitting Tips & Tricks, she's bound to become known as a very clever knitter, too.

The book covers all the basics of learning how to knit, the basic stitches and tools required, but it goes beyond your basic knitting tip book to include a bunch of fun shortcuts and techniques that you might not have seen elsewhere or thought about on your own.

From new ways to cast on and bind off, different methods of decreasing and ways to contain and control your yarn, this book is chock full of ideas that will make you smile at the cleverness and send you running to your needles to try out the techniques.
Hacks for Your Knitting originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 22:31:21.
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Knitting in the News: Spreading the Warmth

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:18:49 +0000
Much of the news about knitting I could dig up this week had to do with people knitting for others. There was a Pennsylvania knitter honored for her work knitting helmet liners for the troops in Afghanistan, and Canadian knitters working on Boomer hats distributed by soldiers to kids in that same country.

There are young knitters helping the needy in their area, a New Zealand supermarket chain's knit drive for hospitals, a group of knitters making prayer shawls and getting as much comfort as they give, and Florida knitters warming the heads of the homeless in Wisconsin.
Knitting in the News: Spreading the Warmth originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 14:18:49.
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Wordless Wednesday: Baby Legwarmers

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:53:10 +0000

Baby legwarmers, (c) Sarah E. White.

One of the first things I knit for my new baby was a pair of custom-sized legwarmers, which you can see here. There's not really a pattern to them, they just involved taking the measurements around her ankle, the top of her leg and the length of her leg, knitting a gauge swatch and doing a little math.

I think the results are pretty adorable, and the project is so quick and easy you won't mind that the baby you knit them for will grow out of them in no time. Mine are also made from a super wash wool, so caring for them is a snap, even with a newborn.

Wordless Wednesday: Baby Legwarmers originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 15:53:10.
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Tips for New Knitters

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:08:54 +0000

Debbie Bliss Tips for Knitters.

Debbie Bliss is well known for her simple, classic designs and great yarns. And now she's written a book full of tips for kntiters new and with more experience.

Debbie Bliss Tips for Knitters is a good choice for new knitters who need a handy reference on the basics that they can carry around in their knitting bag at any time.

It also includes some tips and tricks straight from Bliss on such topics as color knitting, using embroidery and buttons on projects, working cables and more.

If you're a fan of Bliss or a new knitter looking for an easy-to-use reference, this is a book worth checking out.

Tips for New Knitters originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 10:08:54.
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How Have You Altered Knitting Patterns?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:54:44 +0000

Knitwear designers always have a particular vision in mind when they knit a project, but while they love to see other people follow that vision, I think most designers are happy to see people take their patterns and make them their own by changing up the color, adding a stripe or a bit of intarsia, even altering the shape a bit if necessary to make it the perfect project for them.

But I also know a lot of people are afraid to make such changes to patterns they knit. Some people won't even go as far as to change the color or use a different yarn if the one called for has been discontinued or if, say, you're allergic or sensitive to the material used.

So this week I'd like to know how you have deviated from published knitting patterns you've worked. If you've seriously altered a pattern and loved the results, we'd like to hear about that, too.
How Have You Altered Knitting Patterns? originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 11:54:44.
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Texture and Tweed

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:37:46 +0000

Rice Stitch Scarf, (c) Sarah E. White.
When the weather is cool, I find myself irresistibly drawn to tweed yarns. They just look warm and cozy, like they'll make projects you want to live in.

I recently used some tweed yarn to make up a skinny but super-long Rice Stitch Scarf, which adds even more texture and interest to an already interesting yarn.

And while of course you could knit this project with any yarn you like, the yarn I chose is a great wool, alpaca and tweed yarn that's warm and soft, something you'll love wearing all winter long or giving as a gift to a man or a woman.
Texture and Tweed originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 22:37:46.
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Cozy Cardigans

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:45:34 +0000

Cardigans by Louisa Harding. Sixth & Spring Books.
I happen to be a big fan of the cardigan. I love a sweater that's easy to take on and off and that provides a quick extra layer.

Louisa Harding also happens to be a cardigan kind of girl, as evidenced by her new book, aptly named Cardigans. The book offers 25 patterns for classic designs and embellished garments using lace edging, Fair Isle and cable techniques, projects for every day and those for dressing up.

If you're looking for a quick way to warm up with ease, check out these fun options.
Cozy Cardigans originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 11:45:34.
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Knitting for Sweater Weather

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:48:37 +0000

The Knitchicks' Guide to Sweaters by Marcelle Karp and Pauline Wall. North Light Books.
Are you intimidated by the idea of knitting sweaters? If so, check out The Knitchicks' Guide to Sweaters by Marcelle Karp and Pauline Wall. It provides a great overview of the skills needed to knit a garment as well as 25 different options for sweaters and tops for women, kids and men.

The patterns are mostly pretty basic with little embellishments like eyelets, a bit of Fair Isle or a cable. A wide range of sizes are offered, and several of the sweaters are sized based on your chest measurement plus ease, which requires you to do a little math (not to mention a gauge swatch) but also helps you really understand how a sweater goes together.

For knitters with more experience, these classic designs would be quick to knit for gifts or a little special something to keep yourself warm when days and nights are cool.
Knitting for Sweater Weather originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 10:48:37.
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Knitting in the News: Knits for Paris hipsters, supermodels and sports fans

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:12:43 +0000

The New York Times notes that people who still think of grannies when they think of knitting (not that there's anything wrong with knitting grannies!) should seek out the knitting group Les Tricopathes (that's a combo of the French words for knitting and psychopaths) who put on monthly knitting events in bars throughout the city. They'll teach you to knit wacky wonders while retro rock blares in the background.

In celebrity knitting news, it turns out that model Paulina Porizkova is a knitter and says she'd rather be knitting toys for her son's school fair and teaching the other parents to knit that worrying about fashion.

Alabama and Tennessee are big rivals on the football field, and in the field of knitting as well. The towns where the two schools are located recently took part in a preemie cap knitting challenge, and it was no contest. Tennessee knitters whipped up 3,171 caps to Bama's 1,738, all of which will be donated to local children's hospitals. On the gridiron, Alabama won 12 to 10 last weekend.

Finally, a yarn store owner in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, is running a fun promotion around the Phillies' effort to repeat as World Series champs. The shop, A Knitting Party, is offering a discount on red and white yarns that goes up each time the Phillies score a run. So far the discount is running at 25 percent.

Knitting in the News: Knits for Paris hipsters, supermodels and sports fans originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 10:12:43.
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A Novel Way to Stay Warm

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:58:20 +0000

Pomp scarf, (c) Sarah E. White.
As I mentioned earlier this week, I kind of have a thing for scarves. I love big, long scarves that envelop you and keep you warm all day, but I also like scarves that are more like necklaces or fashion accessories.

The Pomp Scarf falls into that second category. This short little neck warmer is made with a yarn that's basically a piece of thread with pom-poms all over it. You work the thread without pulling the pom-poms through as you form the stitches. Worked in plain Garter Stitch, this is a really quick, easy and striking project that uses just one skein of yarn and is sure to keep you warm and brighten your day when the weather is cold and gloomy.
A Novel Way to Stay Warm originally appeared on About.com Knitting on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 14:58:20.
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