Hot Knitting & Crochet How-Tos

How To: Rig up a harness out of rope to carry large boxes

You will need around twenty feet of thick, sturdy rope (something smooth like jute or nylon will also prevent the harness from digging into your skin). Tie as demonstrated in this video, and you'll have an instant messenger bag for carrying boxy things around!

How To: Make Simple Mittens in Single Crochet

This is a simple pattern, designed to produce a well-fitting mitten. Both the right and left mittens worked the same up to the shaping for the top of the mitten. A slight adjustment for making one right and one left, then they are worked the same. The gusset for the thumb constructed with the increases made in the center of the gusset, rather than on each side. This makes it easy with a minimal amount of counting stitches as you go. I have been crocheting for 56 years. In doing research for w...

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.

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: 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: 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 thread in crochet for changing colors or joining skeins

Most crochet projects are going to require you to change colors of threat or join two skeins at some point, and that means changing threads. Watch this video to learn an easy trick to changing thread that will make your crocheting life easier.

How To: Start a crochet blanket

Watch this instructional crochet video to start a crochet blanket. Begin with a loose chain until you've reached the desired length. The process of changing rows is one of the most difficult tasks when starting a crochet blanket. Follow these clear guidelines to avoid unnecessary troubleshooting.

How To: Knit a basic purl stitch with ramen noodles

Here is a tutorial for knitting ramen noodles with chopsticks, narrated by Carissa Browning. This how to video demonstrates how to knit the basic purl stitch with slippery, wet ramen noodles! This is a creative and unexpected knitting tutorial - so simple & fun. Knit some ramen noodles today.

How To: Knit the rib stitch in Eastern European fashion

This video is a how-to demonstration of Eastern European Knitting. Please note, this is not continental knitting, as here we enter through the back of the loop in both the knit and purl stitch. The resulting fabric appears exactly the same as both English and Continental knitting styles. Great thing to love about ribbing using this method is that the yarn is held at the back of the work the whole time.

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 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 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: 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: 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: 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: Knit Ribbing on Double Pointed Needles

Ribbing on double pointed needles is quite simple. Here's what to do:

How To: Knit On Circular Needles Or Knit In The Round

Knitting on circular needles is called Knitting in the Round. You cast on to your circular needle in exactly the same way that you cast onto straight needles. The first row where you make your join will be the hardest. After that, it's easy.

How To: Thread a bobbin on the Brother LS 2125 sewing machine

Many habitual sewers like to sew by hand if possible for smaller projects, since all it requires is some finger dexterity, a needle, and some form of thread. Sewing machines can create stitches and embellishments of great beauty, but as with all electronic devices sometimes their constituent parts have complications. The bobbin, which holds the thread beneath the machine, is one of those pesky things sewers have to deal with.

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: 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: 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: Bind Off on Double-Pointed Needles When Knitting

Binding off on double-pointed needles is the same as binding off on a straight needle. The difference is is that you have to be very careful as you work on each needle.

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: Make Fringe

There will be times when you will want to add FRINGE to your work. Scarves, blankets, shawls, etc., sometimes look better with FRINGE added.

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: End a Knit Hat

Some time, when you are making a hat and after you have done your decreases for the crown, you will get to the end of your hat pattern and it will simply say "end the hat". Here's what to do.

How To: Knit a Fake Mobius Scarf

There are different ways to knit a Mobius scarf. I call this one the Fake Mobius. Check out the video demonstration below, then proceed to the written tips and pictures.

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: 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: Make a Pentacle Wreath Out of Ribbon

This is a perfect gift for the Wiccan or pagan on your holiday gift list - make a wall hanging or wreath shaped like a pentacle. A perfect blend of Christmas and Yule! You will need 16 gauge wire, along with your favorite ribbons and beads.

How To: Loom-knit a poodle scarf using Pomp-a-Doodle yarn

If you have some looming skills when it comes to knitting, then this scarf should be a great project to try out! It's a poodle scarf, called that because of its use of Pomp-a-Doodle yarn from Red Heart. It's an exceptional scarf that you can loom-knit in virtually no time! You can design it any way you want it, with whatever colors you'd like. Mikey used one ball of Pomp-a-Doodle yarn for this scarf.

How To: Knit a picot cast on for baby sweaters, blankets and other knitted projects

Master knitter Judy shows you how to knit a picot cast on in this knitting video. If you haven't figured out how to cast on yet, you should probably watch her video on that first. This is a sweet edging for the bottom of a baby sweater or blanket. There are many other instances where you would want to use a picot cast on, as well. Learn it with this up close demonstration by Judy Graham, Knitter to the Stars.

How To: Join crocheted granny squares using the flat braid joining method

The flat braid join is a method of stitching granny squares together using chain-3 loops. This tutorial demonstrates how you can use the flat braid technique to easily and quickly join your own granny squares together for your next crochet project.

How To: Crochet a shell beanie hat

In this video we learn how to crochet a shell beanie hat. There are a total for seventeen rounds to make this beanie hat. Start out with a chain one and then single crochet in the starting loop. Continue to do this throughout the round and then join in the beginning single crochet. For the next round, you will single crochet and then create shells in the hat. Start out with round three, where you will start with a double crochet and then join the half double crochets with the beginning. When ...

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: Crochet a reggae rasta style slouchy hat

Reggae berets have been around and popular since the days of Bob Marley, but when chanteuse Gwen Stefani started sporting these for her solo tour and integrating rasta patterns into her clothing line, L.A.M.B, the rasta print become near uniform for admiring girls across the country.

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: Double crochet intarsia using a chart or graph

In this five-part video tutorial, learn how to double crochet intarsia using a graph or chart. Intarsia knitting is an advanced knitting method, used to knit with several colors of yarn. The simple heart chart used in this video is available here.

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.