Knitting & Crochet

How To: Knit a Ball

Knitted balls can be used for all sorts of projects. The obvious is a Christmas ornament, but knitted balls can also be the basis for knitting toys or snowmen. And of course, they can be used simply as balls which make a lovely gift for a baby. They can be all one color, striped or patterned. To get started, follow the directions below for a one-color knitted ball. You will need to know how to knit on double-pointed needles, so if you need help with that, check out my other article.

How To: Decrease Stitches In Knitting

When you make an actual garment you will have to know how to decrease and increase stitches. For this article we'll deal with just the decrease.

How To: Make a crochet super star afghan for a baby

Baby clothes and accessories are the cutest around: delicate polka dotted bibs, fuzzy knitted booties, and of course perfectly cozy knitted Afgans to cover them up as the get their first ZZZs.

How To: Make Fringe for a Scarf

Sometimes you will want to add fringe to your knitted scarves. Follow the steps below for an easy way to make fringe.

How To: Add a new ball of yarn when knitting

See how to add a new ball of yarn when knitting, with this easy, up close demonstration by Judy Graham, Knitter to the Stars. Judy's knits have appeared in movies, television, and concerts for over thirty years. She herself has been hand-knitting for over fifty. Watch as she teaches you how to add a new ball of yarn when stitching.

How To: Increase Stitches on a Purl Row

Most of the time you will increase on Knit stitches. You can see my article on that here. However, there will be times when you will need to know how to increase on a Purl stitch. Here's how:

How To: Bind Off Knitting on a Circular Needle

Binding off on a circular needle is as easy as binding off on a straight needle. Follow the steps below to learn how to bind off on a circular needle:

How To: Sew knitted pieces together using a whip stitch and other stitches

Tie loose ends together - in the literal and original sense sense of the phrase - by sewing together the ends and/or hems of your knitting projects like a pro. Whether you're fusing together two pieces of wool-knitted cloth to form the back of a beautiful winter sweater or just want to join patchwork knits into a rasta-cool beanie, knowing how to stick pieces together is integral for a tidy project.

How To: Tie off the end of your crochet project so it does not unravel

You've finished your very first crochet project! Congratulations! But now how do you tie off the yarn in such a way as to keep the whole thing from unraveling? This video demonstrates a simple and easy technique to finish your project and keep it together.

News: DIY LED Carpet-Light

For the craftsters & LED lovers, great idea by Johanna Hyrkas. The LED carpet-light: a simple, yet novel DIY project. A single strand of LEDs is encased in a knit tube; the knit tube is wound together to form a carpet. Brush up on your knitting skills, and get creative.

How To: Knit with a serenity loom

This video demonstrates how to knit with a serenity loom. A serenity loom can produce a blanket up to 10 feet. To start, thread a double loop of thread through a straw. Then use the loop of thread to pull through a piece of yarn. The straw will help you place the yarn around the pegs of the loom easier. Tie a loop around the anchor of the inside of the loom. Then loop completely around each peg, being sure to place the loops in the middle of the pegs consistantly. Wrap as far as you want your...

How To: Increase Stitches at the Beginning of a Row

When you make an actual garment you will have to know how to decrease and increase stitches. For this article we'll deal with just the increase.

How To: Bind Off on a Purl Stitch

You've come to the end of your work and are ready to BIND OFF, but you're on a PURL row. What to do? You've learned how to BIND OFF on a knit stitch, but this is something new. Usually you will do the BIND OFF stitch on a knit row, but now your pattern is telling you to BIND OFF on a Purl row. Sometimes, like in ribbing, you will need to do both. If you've never bound off purling here are the instructions to follow.

How To: Join two granny squares together using a single crochet stitch

The single stitch is a very simple stitch, easy for beginners to master, which can be used to join two granny squares together. This is a useful technique for joining any two crochet pieces together of any size or shape, not just granny squares!

How To: Knit a Spiral Ruffle Scarf

These lovely scarves have different names. I call it the Spiral Ruffle Scarf. It's easy to make and looks great in either a fine or a medium weight yarn. I made mine with softball cotton yarn and size 8 needles. Here are the videos and written directions:

How To: Make a shawl when knitting on a large circle loom

This video shows us how to make a shawl when knitting on a large knitting loom. Here are the following steps:

How To: Knit a variation on the Like Lace stitch

If you've mastered the like lace stitch when knitting, this tutorial will show you a lovely and elegant variation. This stitch is great for knitting a shawl, wrap or something else you want to give a beautiful lace like look.

How To: Knit a Snowflake

For the holiday season, a great knitting project is a snowflake design. It's perfect for handmade Christmas gifts. You can knit just one, or a row of them, or use them as full pattern on a sweater or blanket—or whatever project you choose.

How To: Set up a Singer knitting machine

In this video, the demonstrator sets up a knitting machine for the first time. This is a unique opportunity to provide a video guide for going through the first real run through on a knitting machine. This instructional video should help out new machine knitters or folks who want to look at how to look at their machines and how to start knitting on them.

How To: Crochet a super fast 3 color granny square

In this tutorial, we learn how to crochet a super fast 3 color granny square. Start out with your first color on the crochet needle. Then, chain four and put the needle back into the first chain. Before you pull everything tight together, you will move your middle finger into the stitch with your thumb so when you pull it will wrap around your fingers. Then, chain three and do this over twice more to create the outlining area around the hole. From here, you will use two other colors using the...

How To: Change colors in the middle of the row when knitting

It's easy to add a new yarn color in the middle of your row. See how to change colors in the middle of the row when knitting, with this easy, up close demonstration by Judy Graham, Knitter to the Stars.

How To: Cast On at the End of a Row in Knitting

Sometimes your pattern will instruct you to CAST ON AT THE END OF A ROW. CASTING ON AT THE END OF A ROW is quite easy. Here's how to do it:

How To: Darn holes in socks, scarves or other knit garments

Are your socks developing holes? A gap in your favorite scarf? You don't have to throw them out! Darning is a technique used to rejoin a knitted garment that has become undone, and this video shows you how to become your own darner.

How To: Crochet spiral scrubbies with a pattern

Learn all there is to learn about yarn from Naztazia... watch this video tutorial to learn how to crochet spiral scrubbies with a pattern.

How To: Add Color on Circular Needles When Knitting

Adding color on circular needles is as easy, if not easier than adding color on a straight needle. You can use this method for knitting stripes or simply just changing from one color to another.

How To: Decrease Stitches on a Purl Row

Usually you decrease on Knit rows, but there will be times when your patterns tells you to decrease on a Purl row. It's easy to do and here's how.

How To: Do the Two Needle Cast On Knitting

There are so many different ways to cast on knitting. I have my own favorite. It's the way I learned when I first started knitting. My way is called TWO NEEDLE CAST ON. I like this 2 needle method because you don't have to guess how much you need to measure out a length of yarn at the beginning. I also think it makes a tighter and straighter edge.

How To: Edge a knitted piece with a single crochet

In this tutorial we learn how to edge a knitted piece with a single crochet. Start to attach the yarn to the right side, working in a forward direction. Now, work a slip stitch at the edge. From here, stick the hook in the fabric and pull through one loop. The, yarn over again and pull through both loops with the hook. After you do this, do it over again! You will repeat this process until you reach the end of the row. Once you're finished with the row, you will be finished with the edge and ...

How To: Make a Pom-Pon pom pom for baby hats

We don't know why you wouldn't like to make a pom pom. After all, they're cute, chubby, and make anything they're attached to - keyrings, the tops of berets, air - look absolutely adorable. But then again, they do take a lot of patience to make.

How To: Cast On Stitches at the Beginning of a Row in Knitting

Sometimes your instructions will include having to CAST ON AT THE BEGINNING OF A ROW. It's not difficult and here's how to do it.

How To: Change colors in a granny square for right handers

If you've proven yourself beautifully adept at making snug and cozy granny squares (usually used as coasters), then why not add some spice to your crafting by adding different colors to the mix?

How To: Unravel a Bound Off Row

There will be times when you've finished a project, such as a scarf, that you've already bound off, when you will realize it's not quite as long as you want it to be. You will have to unravel the bound off row, add more yarn, and then start knitting again.

How To: Knit Straight on a Circular Needle

I love circular needles! I use a circular most of the time, even when I am knitting straight. One of the reasons I love knitting on a circular is because with a circular needle, you don't have to worry about dropping a needle. You just have one. It's particularly good to knit straight on a circular needle when you're making a large project such as an afghan or blanket, but I use one even if I'm knitting a small project such as a scarf or wash rag. The photo below is of a scarf I'm making with...

How To: Knit a bikini top with Threadbanger

Worried you'll find yourself topless in the middle of a crowd?  With the help of Knit Knit and her knit bikini top tutorial everyone's worst nightmare will have no chance of surfacing this summer.

How To: Use a pocket knitter

This video tutorial teaches how to cast off, knit stitch, pearl stitch, and end off on a pocket knitter. Those who want to learn how to use a pocket knitter instead of traditional knitting needles will learn how to do the same basic knitting stitches with the pocket knitter. Use a pocket knitter.

How To: Edge a knitted piece with the crab stitch

In this video, we learn how to edge a knitted piece with a crab stitch. First, attach your yarn to the left edge of your work. After this, work one chain stitch, then go backwards with the hook. Insert it into the fabric and grab the yarn and pull it through the loop. Go around the yarn again and pull it through again. Keep going backwards and grabbing more yarn as you go in reverse. You are working with one loop on the needle while going into the fabric. Make sure you're consistent with the ...

How To: Crochet a lightweight skull cap beanie

This how-to crochet video offers a simple pattern and instruction for stitching your own cute and easy crocheted hat. Knitted hats don't have to be for winter. While a cozy hat will protect you from the cold, a lighter yarn can add some style in warmer months as well. Check out this video d.i.y. arts and crafts lesson and learn how to crochet your own lightweight beanie skull cap.

How To: Crochet a crescent moon

Watch this instructional video to crochet a crescent moon. These visual guidelines will walk you through each step in creating this crochet ornament. This is a small crochet project, but the crescent moon may take a few tries to master.

How To: Make a Tassel

Knowing how to make a TASSEL is a very useful technique to know. You can attach them to a scarf, a hat, a shawl...there are many uses for a TASSEL.

How To: Knit the Rice Stitch

The rice stitch is another easy and versatile stitch. Both sides are different, however they both look nice. This means the work can be used on either side. Pictured in the thumbnail image above is side one of the rice stitch. Pictured below is side two of the rice stitch.