How To

Using Blocking Wires To Block A Lace Shawl

2009-05-06T12:11:00Z

How to Block A Lace Shawl Using Blocking Wires You can always use pins to block any lace project. But for generations, women have used thin wires, or even strong lengths of cotton thread, in place of pins to shape their lace shawls. This tutorial shows you how! Why use wires? Some people find that using blocking wires gives them a more accurate result in a shorter period of time. There are many ways to use wires to block lace shawls. Some knitters run the wires through the straight edges and pin...(read more)

Mattress Stitch Tutorial: Horizontal Seams

2009-04-10T18:11:00Z

How To Do Mattress Stitch: Horizontal Seams Fear the mattress stitch no more! Here's a step-by-step tutorial to help you master this easy seaming stitch. This tutorial is for seams worked horizontally (such as a shoulder seam). For seams worked vertically (such as a side seam), check out the companion tutorial . Step 1: Locate the last stitch at the end of a column of stitches. Insert your needle under both "legs" of the stitch, as seen in the photo at right. Note: In the photos here...(read more)

Mattress Stitch Tutorial: Vertical Seams

2009-04-10T13:51:00Z

How To Do Mattress Stitch: Vertical Seams Fear the mattress stitch no more! Here's a step-by-step tutorial to help you master this easy seaming stitch. For seams worked vertically (such as a side seam): Locate the "bars" between each column of stitches. In the photo at right, I've caught one of these "bars" on my needle. You will be stitching using these bars all the way down the seam. A tutorial for working horizontal seams in mattress stitch (such as a shoulder seam...(read more)

Picking Up Stitches: Cast-On or Bound-Off Edges

2009-02-16T13:00:00Z

Picking Up Stitches: Cast-On or Bound-Off Edge Picking up stitches is a way to add new stitches to an already finished bit of knitting--along the sides for a buttonband, perhaps, or at the neckline for a collar. You can add stitches to any edge: a cast-on edge, a bound-off edge, or the side edges. Related information: Picking Up Stitches From a Slipped-Stitch Row Edge (such as a sock heel flap) Step 1: Look at the edge. See how the top row of stitches look like little V's? Holding a needle in...(read more)

Picking Up Stitches: Slipped-Stitch Side (Row) Edge

2009-02-16T13:00:00Z

Picking Up Stitches: Slipped-Stitch Side (Row) Edge Picking up stitches is a way to add new stitches to an already finished bit of knitting--along the sides for a buttonband, perhaps, or at the neckline for a collar. You can add stitches to any edge: a cast-on edge, a bound-off edge, or the side edges. Related information: Picking Up Stitches From a Cast-On or Bound-Off Edge What is a Slipped-Stitch Edge? Some patterns will instruct you to slip the first stitch of each row in order to create a neat...(read more)

How Insert Thrums in Your Knitting

2009-02-13T18:36:00Z

How to Thrum a Mitten: Knitted Instructions Patterns: Knitted Thrummed Mittens by Jennifer Appleby available in our pattern store Crocheted Thrummed Mittens by Marlaina Bird from Interweave Crochet , Winter 2009 Related information: What is a thrum and why is it in my mitten? How to make thrums How to Thrum a Mitten: Crochet Instructions Step 1: Insert right needle into the stitch where you wish to place a thrum. Drop your working yarn to the side. Step 2: Pick up a thrum and loop it over the right...(read more)

Continental (Long-Tail) Cast-On

2008-05-22T16:30:00Z

Cast-ons Leaving a long tail (about 1⁄2” to 1” for each stitch to be cast on), make a slipknot and place on right needle. Place thumb and index finger of left hand between yarn ends so that working yarn is around index finger and tail end is around thumb. Secure ends with your other fingers and hold palm upwards, making a V of yarn (Figure 1). Bring needle up through loop on thumb (Figure 2), grab first strand around index finger with needle, and go back down through loop on thumb (Figure 3). Drop...(read more)

Working In The Round

2008-05-20T19:30:00Z

Working In The Round Losing the Ladders (Working on DPNs) Converting Stitch Patterns For Working In The Round...(read more)

Ripping Out & Reusing Yarn

2008-05-20T19:27:00Z

Ripping Out & Reusing Yarn Ripping Back Without Ripping Your Hair Out After The Frog Pond: Bringing Yarn Back From The Dead...(read more)

Measuring Yourself & Your Clothing

2008-05-20T19:25:00Z

Measuring Yourself Measuring tutorial with photos About Positive Ease, Negative Ease, and Those Pesky Measurements Using The Clothes You Already Own To Find What Fits You...(read more)

Cabling Without A Cable Needle

2008-05-20T19:23:00Z

Cabling Without A Cable Needle The following are links to online tutorials for this popular technique. Cabling without a Needle...(read more)

Reading Charts

2008-05-20T19:22:00Z

Reading Charts Unless otherwise indicated, read charts from the bottom up. On right-side rows, read charts from right to left. On wrong side rows, read charts from left to right. When knitting in the round read charts from right to left for all rows. What does "no stitch" mean? A "no-stitch" box is just a placeholder; it does not represent an actual stitch. It simply makes room on the chart for an increase or a decrease in the next row/round. Think of it this way: If you decrease...(read more)

Wraps Per Inch

2008-05-20T19:19:00Z

Wraps per Inch If you substitute or spin a yarn for a project, you can compare the weight of the yarn to the project yarn by comparing wraps per inch. To do this, wrap your yarn around a ruler for on inch and count the number of wraps. If you have more wraps per inch, your yarn is too thin; fewer wraps per inch, your yarn is too thick....(read more)

Grafting On The Needles

2008-05-20T19:17:00Z

Grafting Techniques Grafting On The Needles...(read more)

Blocking

2008-05-20T19:16:00Z

Blocking Blocking Tutorial, Part One Blocking Tutorial, Part Two...(read more)