Hot Knitting & Crochet How-Tos
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Tie a supersized rope spider web for Halloween
Spooky Halloween parties necessitate a certain amount of creeptastic spider webs, but the cheap cottony stuff that comes in plastic bags at most retailers feel fake and have been overused over the last few years.
How To: Loom Knit Newborn Baby Mittens
When making these knit newborn mittens use 2 strings at the same time for warmth. Wrap the string around your finger twice to create a slip knot (back loop over the forward, and then pull it down to leave the loop). Use only 7 pegs from the 24 peg loom. Use the anchor as the starting point. Put the slip knot over the first peg. If you're right-handed, work towards the left; and likewise, if you're left-handed, work towards the right. Now, wrap over and back down the peg beside your first peg....
How To: Knit a Turkish cast on with double point needles
The Turkish cast on is a great technique for avoiding the bulk of traditional seams. This video knitting tutorial shows how to knit a Turkish cast on, specifically for rounded doll accessories. Learn how to knit a Turkish cast on with double point needles by watching this instructional video.
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: 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 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: Install a zipper into your knit
In this tutorial, we learn how to install a zipper into your knit. The first way you can do this is to take it to a tailor and they will do it for around $15. To do this by hand, grab your piece that needs a zipper and then steam the edges. After this, take a sewing needle and start to sew the zipper underneath both sides of the edges of the piece. You can also use pins to place into these so it stays in place. Do a backstitch also, to help make the zipper more sturdy and stay on longer.
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: Crochet a bead rope necklace
For anyone interested in learning a new jewelry technique, this video tutorial shows how to crochet a bead rope necklace. You can use large pony beads like the video tutorial, or use much smaller beads. The pony beads are suggested for beginners so that you can see what you are doing. To begin, thread all of the beads you will use onto your yarn. You can alternate colors or place them onto the string at random. Both techniques will yield two different effects. Begin with six chains slip stitc...
How To: Crochet a scalloped crochet edge
This crocheting how-to video shows you how to add a scalloped crocheted edge to your next dishcloth, loomed or knitted project. This scalloped edge is worked in two rows, the first row all around is just single crochet. The next row will be your pattern that makes the scalloped edges. Watch and learn how to crochet scalloped edges.
How To: Knit a 2-color checkerboard pattern stitch
An up close demonstration of how to knit a checkerboard pattern stitch by Judy Graham. The checkerboard pattern stitch will be a two color pattern. Learn how to knit from these simple and clear instructions.
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: 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 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 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 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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Make a double-crochet edge
This video demonstrates how to make a double- crochet edge. The video uses a large cardigan neck to create a double crochet edge on. First, back the yarn around the hook and go into the next stitch. Then pull through a loop on to the hook. Take another loop on to the hook. Next, go through the first two stitches at the end of the hook. Then take another loop onto the hook and go through the last two stitches. So, you wrap, insert through next stitch, pull on another loop, draw the hook throug...
How To: Crochet a single crochet base chain
Learn to crochet with these easy to follow how-to video tutorial. This particular video demonstrates how to crochet a single crochet base chain. It is very simple to do, start by making a basic slip knot and chain two. Insert your hook into through the back, yarn over and pull through. You now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over once to make a chain and yarn over a second time to complete the single crochet.
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 a garter stitch to prevent the curling that occurs when knitting a stockinette panel. To learn how, watch the video on YouTube from user PurlingSprite.
How To: Knit the Garter Rib Stitch
Step 1: Cast on an Even Number of Stitches. Step 2: K2*P2, K2, End K2
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 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: Knit Fingerless Mitts
Fingerless mitts are all the rage. They can be fancy or simple, long or short. This article will show you how to make a simple pair of fingerless mitts—for men or women. By adding more colors in stripes or other patterns, you can make them more interesting. You can also add to the length to make them longer.
How To: Repair holes in your socks by darning them
Don't throw out your holey socks! You can use a technique called darning to repair them. You don't even need yarn - you can use embroidery floss or another sturdy thread to create the darn and extend the life of your socks.