Hot Knitting & Crochet How-Tos
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: 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: 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: 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: 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 a Flower From a Knitted I-Cord
Once you learn how to knit an I-CORD you will find many different applications in which to use them. One thing I like to do is to make a FLOWER from an I-Cord. The flower can then be applied to a sweater, a blanket, a scarf, a purse. There are limitless possibilities.
How To: Add a new yarn to your crochet project
Looking to get started in the world of crochet? In this video courtesy of Craft Mastery, learn how! Quite often in crochet you would need to join a new yarn of a different color or sometimes yarn simply breaks or ends. In this video, learn how to add yarns without this happening!
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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Perform a knitted bind-off on the "wrong side"
This video teaches the viewer how to do a knitted bind-off on the back side of the piece, the side that this is not usually done on. In other words, it is a pearled bind-off. First, do two pearl stitches, then go into the first of the two stitches and pull it into the second of the two. Repeat the procedure with another pearl stitch and putting the needle into the stitch before it and pulling the yarn through the second one. On the last stitch, use a crochet hook to pull the yarn through the ...
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: 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: Darn socks
We spend all day on our feet and it doesn’t make it any easier having holes in your socks. Next time your sock has a hole you can have a little fun and fix it yourself. Grab your needles and do something nice for your feet today.
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: 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: Knit a Pointed Edge Scarf
Sometimes you just don't know how many stitches to cast on for a scarf, so here's the perfect solution. Just cast on a few stitches and increase until you have the width that you want for your scarf.
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 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: 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: 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: 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: Eliminate Ladders When Knitting on Double-Pointed Needles
Many knitters have trouble when knitting on double-pointed needles. They get ladders (or holes) when they switch needles. There's an easy way to eliminate those ladders. Follow the steps below and your troubles will be gone.
How To: Knit a Picot Hem
Knowing how to knit a picot hem is a good technique to learn. Usually, at the bottom of a garment you will have a ribbed edge. A picot hem, as pictured below, is a nice alternative. It's quite easy and here's how to do it.
How To: Do the Kitchener Stitch (Grafting)
Here is how to join two sets of stitches without leaving a seam. This method is good for the toes of socks, the top of hoods, baby garments, or anywhere else you don't want a bulky seam.. It's NOT recommended for shoulder seams on heavy sweaters or other places where you need the stability of a bound-off edge to hold the shape of the garment.
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: Make a loom-knitted snowy sparkle scarf (aka Crystal scarf)
Join Mikey from the Crochet Crowd as he walks you through knitting a sparkle scarf, also called the Crystal scarf. If you want to learn how to make this fabulous scarf using a loom, just watch! It looks like a feather boa, and it can be made in virtually no time at all. You can design it anyway you want by mixing up your colors. Eyelash or boa yarn will really make this magnificent!
How To: Crochet a beanie hat as a beginner
In this video, we learn how to crochet a beanie hat as a beginner. Start out with a slipknot then chain 50 chains. For row 1, you will single crochet in the second chain from the hook. Then, chain one and skin the next chain. Repeat this 24 times total. After this, single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and then chain one and skip the next chain. Continue this until you reach all the way around and make a beanie that is your desired size. Bind the knot off at the end, then you can wear...
How To: Make a triobite bar using two different colors of nylon thread
Who knew that knots could be their very own art form? According to TIAT, or Tying It All Together, knots can be sexy, sensual, and beautiful. And we're totally getting that by the looks of this pretty triobite bar.
How To: Knit a pretty tulip buttonhole with Eunny Jang
These tulip buttonholes are both pretty and all-purpose, usable for just about any knitting project that requires buttonholes. Composed of a petal-shaped hole rimmed at the edges with a briaded knit, this tulip buttonhold project is simple and great for knitting beginners.
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: 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: Count crochet stitches
How many stitches does your crochet art have? How can you tell? Why would you even want to know how many stitches are in your crocheted sweater or crocheted hat? Knowing how to count your stitches is a fundamental step in learning to crochet – assuming you want your finished product to be the right size and shape.
How To: Knit fingerless gloves like Twilight's Alice Cullen
In the smash hit Twilight, Alice Cullen wears chic fingerless mittens. In this tutorial, learn how to knit a pair of your very own and save some money. These gloves are perfect for wintertime or any cold day and really come in handy when you need those texting fingers ready. Have fun!
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 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 double treble stitch
For those interested in crochet, this video tutorial outlines the steps to doing a double treble stitch. This type of stitch is a much taller stitch than most others. To begin, you will start with a five chain series that will act as the first stitch. Wrap the yarn around the hook three times and insert it into the next stitch. You will then pull the yarn through working off two loops at a time. Working off essentially means dropping the loops off the crochet hook. Then, you just repeat these...
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