Hot Knitting & Crochet Posts
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: Cast on with work in progress when knitting
Ever wonder how to cast on with work in progress when knitting? Well, wonder no more with this knitting demonstration video!
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: Crochet a sweater for your dog
Are you looking to dress your dog in style? Give your pooch the VIP treatment by making him his very own dog sweater! In this three-part video tutorial, learn how to crochet a special sweater to keep your special friend warm in the winter!
How To: Switch from a straight needle to a round needle
This is a great knitting tip. See how to switch from a straight needle to a round needle when knitting, and why, with this easy, up close demonstration by Judy Graham, Knitter to the Stars.
How To: Tie a rope helix for bondage and bdsm play
Strings of DNA aren't the only things that contain helixes. With a bit of skill and practice, you can make your own rope helix for fun or bondage and bdsm play by watching this video by Two Knotty Boys.
How To: Crochet a Cord for a Drawstring
For the knitted purses pictured above, as well as other knitted items requiring a drawstring, like a cinch sack, you will need to know how to crochet the drawstring cord. Watch the video for instructions, and check out the brief steps below.
How To: Knit a Mobius Dog Scarf
If you save scraps of yarn, and have a dog, this is an easy project for you. The Mobius scarf has the advantage of not having any ends to come untied, or dangle down for your dog to trip over, or get tangled in branches and stuff. I made this one for Pepper, my 16lb rat terrier. Step 1: Choose Your Yarn: I had very little yarn to work with. I had one more ball, but it had just a little more on it than the largest shown here.
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: Join granny squares with crochet flat brain joining
These crochet how-to videos demonstrate how to do flat braid joining to join granny squares. Start by crocheting a border on the first square. Then proceed to join the first and second granny squares with the flat braid joining technique. Watch and learn how simple it is to crochet with flat braiding. Follow along until you have joined all four granny squares.
How To: Bind Off Ribbing
Now that you have learned how to knit ribbing, you will have to know how to bind off ribbing. If you have knitted something that needs to have a stretch to it, such as socks or a neck, this is a very important technique to know.
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.
How To: Crochet arms or legs for amigurumi stuffed toys
If you can single crochet stitch, you're most of the way there to amigurumi. Amigurumi is a Japanese style of crochet of making tubes and spheres to create stuffed animals. Watch this video crocheting tutorial and learn how to crochet arms and legs for amigurumi stuffed toys.
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: Cast on using a circular loom
Learn how to cast on to knit using a circular loom. Start at the beginning with an empty loom and wrap your yarn around the beginning peg. Working to the right, wrap the yarn behind each peg, and around in a clockwise fashion. Do the same on the next peg, until you have returned to the beginning again. Repeat this process for the second row. Take your tool, which will come with the loom, and lift the bottom stitch over the top stitch and off the peg. Work all the way around the loom to the be...
How To: Knit alternating colors for a two-row stripe
Need some stripes in your knit-work? Judy's going to lend you her expertise and show you how to make stripes of two rows. She starts out adding a row of red yarn above previously knitted gray row, to make her stripes. Just follow her guidelines for stitching and you should have no problems knitting stripes in your future projects.
How To: Knit with two colors of yarn
In this video, we learn how to knit with two colors of yarn. Carry your yarn in the hand that you are most comfortable with. Then, don't tension it around your pinkie so you can control the yarn. Now, put your dominant color over your forefinger and the accent finger on the bottom of your forefinger. This way, you will be able to turn your hands to decide which color is going to go up and over the needle. Once you have this technique down, you will be able to continue to knit until you have t...
How To: Crochet a galaxy or snowflake stitch
Watch this instructional crochet video to crochet a galaxy stitch. This crochet method creates an intricate snowflake pattern. Use any type of thread and crochet needle to complete this project. This galaxy or snowflake pattern creates a complex crochet weave for warm yet breathable blankets, sweaters and winter caps.
How To: Use a Needle Mounted Row Counter When Crocheting or Knitting on Circular or Double Pointed Needles
I like to use a row counter as it saves me the trouble of counting rows when increasing, decreasing, or working a cable pattern. All I have is a small needle mounted counter that is hard to keep track of when it is not mounted on a knitting needle. When knitting on circular or double pointed needles, or crocheting, I have to count rows ever so often. This is time consuming, and I have to admit to sometimes being inaccurate. To solve this problem I threaded a piece of fishing line through the ...
How To: Knit The Raspberry Stitch
There are many beautiful stitches to learn in knitting. Some are harder than others. Some look hard, but really aren't. The RASPBERRY STITCH (shown in the header) is a quite easy. Once you get into the rhythm of doing it and practice for awhile you'll agree.
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: Basic treble crochet a scarf
This wonderful two part tutorial will have you crocheting in no time. It's a back to basics account, to have you easily crochet your very own treble stitch scarf. Using single crochet, double crochet, and half double crochet. This is great for beginners or someone looking for a new adventure.
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: Knit a button loop
Berroco knit bits shows how to knit a button loop easily within minutes. 1) Thread a tapestry needle with a 18-24″ piece of yarn. 2) Knot the end of the yarn and insert the needle where you want your first button loop. 3) Make a second stitch an inch or so away from the first stitch. 4) Tighten up the thread, placing your fingers in between the yarn and the button band creating a loop. 5) Work blanket stitch around this loop, stacking each stitch on top of the previous one until the ent...
How To: Change yarns on a knitting machine
This instructional knitting video demonstrates how to how to change to a different yarn on a circular knitting machine. Simply cut the yarn when you want to switch to a different color an tie a slipknot to the next type of yarn. It's easy!
How To: Crochet a fringe on a scarf
In this tutorial, we learn how to crochet a fringe on a scarf. Start be going to the end of your last row with your hook. Then, chain one and pull it tight. Next, decide how long you want your fringes to be and pull your thread that long. After this, cut it on the bottom and pull the loop out of the chain. Now, take your hook under the first stitch and fold three twelve inch strands in half. Then, hook these onto the crochet hook and catch the tail with the strands. Continue to crochet the fr...
How To: Crochet a basic curly cue with single crochet stitches
Improve you crocheting skills by learning decorative stitches. This how to video is a tutorial that will show you how to crochet a curly cue with single crochet stitches. Watch and see how simple it is to add even more personal touches to your work.
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: 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: 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: Cast on when using a serenity loom
In this video, the author teaches us how to cast on with serenity: wrap your material around twice, grab the back and then up (around your fingers) forming a slipknot. To start off, we will focus on the inside of the loom, pulling the material towards the outside (using a grochet hook). Take needle between two pegs, pulling material through and put the needle down and pull up (rotating towards you) and repeat. This forms a tier duct and if this is done properly, you should be able to do this ...
How To: Decrease on a Circular Needle
Decreasing on a Circular Needle is as simple as decreasing on a straight needle. You can still do it both ways. Either K 2 tog or K, slip, psso. You will need to know how to decrease on a circular needle when you make hats or purses. If t don't know how, see the bottom of the page for instructions.
How To: Knit a hat on circular needles
In this video, we learn how to knit a hat on circular needles. First, use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round and make sure no stitches are twisted around. Now, join the two ends by knitting your stitch and using both of the loose ends at once. You will now start knitting and going around. You can make as many knits as you want and do any types you would like, making sure you go in the circular motion around the brim of your hat. You can style this as you prefer, then enjoy whe...
How To: Attach granny squares together with a single crochet
Granny squares are lovely on their own and make funny indie chic coasters, but sometimes it's nice to attach a bunch together and create a quilt or afghan. So after you've crocheted your pretty granny squares, take a look at this tutorial to learn how to attach granny squares together using a single crochet.
How To: Crochet Japanese amigurumi dolls
This crochet how to video is a demonstration of how to make a stuffed ball shape using single crochet in the style of amigurumi.
How To: Create a flat panel on knitting loom
Learn how to create a flat panel on a circular knitting loom. The flat panel demonstrated shows the use of garter stitch to prevent the curling that occurs when knitting a stockinette panel.
How To: Knit a spider stitch
Watch this two part instructional knitting video to knit a spider stitch. A spider stitch is a stitch used in lace making to fill in open spaces with threads resembling a cobweb. The knitter's version of this stitch makes an elegant, open weave pattern.The Continental method is used here, meaning the yarn is held with the left hand.
How To: Knit a 1x1 rib stitch
Watch this two part instructional knitting video to knit a 1x1 rib stitch using an even number of stitches. Begin the row with a knit stitch and end the row with a purl stitches. The Continental method is used here, meaning the yarn is held with the left hand.
How To: Create fuzzy socks using a knitting loom
Looms are to crocheters/knitters what easels are to painters: you don't necessarily need them for every project, but they help you accomplish your work faster and more easily. The knitting loom will guide your needle and yarn with dexterity to where it needs to go.
How To: Crochet a human ear for an amigurumi doll
Watch this instructional video to crochet a human ear for your amigurumi doll. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. Amigurumi are typically cute animals (such as bears, rabbits, cats, dogs, etc.), but can include inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features. So, you may need a crocheted human ear for a number of amigurumi projects. Amigurumi are almost always crocheted or knitted out of yarn. The simplest desig...