Hot Knitting & Crochet How-Tos

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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 in the round using a fixed circular needle

Learn how to knit in the round using a fixed circular needle. Use this technique to knit sweater sleeves, hats, socks, and scarves. There are many way to knit in the round, but this video demonstrates how to knit a hat shaped form with a fixed circular knitting needle.

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: Knit the Bamboo Stitch

The bamboo stitch is a beautiful, versatile stitch that can be used for lots of different kinds of projects. I especially love using it for baby blankets and scarves. It is an easy, reversible stitch. Both sides aren't the same, but both are very nice looking.

How To: Knit eyelets with a knitting machine

Watch this instructional knitting video to knit eyelets on a knitting machine. You will need a three prong tool as well as a single prong tool. By making a few twists with the pronged tools, you can knit a neat eyelet pattern in a matter of seconds.

How To: Finger knit

This video will provide step by step instruction on how to finger knit. Finger knitting is a bunch of fun if you've got a whole bunch of yearn and absolutely no needles.

How To: Knit in a new ball of yarn

This video will teach you how to join a new ball of yarn to your knitting using the "knitting in" method. With sly handiwork you can begin to weave in a new ball of yarn without dropping the old strand of yarn. It helps to knit in the new yarn in a less visible area.

How To: Weave in ends on a stockinette stitch project

Let the Knit Witch show you how to weave the ends on your stockinette stitch project with this video tutorial. She takes a simple swatch of knitted pink fabric and shows you how to accomplish this simple but useful trick with black yarn so that it can be easily seen. Don't let your yarn unravel or ruin a project by skipping this easy to learn step! She explains it so clearly and demonstrates the technique so thoroughly that you'll be sure to have mastered it in just a few short minutes!

How To: Knit with double pointed needles

Have you ever wanted to knit with double pointed needles? Don't be intimidated by them anymore! Follow along in this great how to video, and you'll be on your way in no time! Learn how to knit with double pointed needles: We are starting with forty stitches. Be sure that stitches are divided as evenly as possible. Transfer ten stitches onto to another needle. (Slide the stitches down the needle so they don't fall off). Using another needle, slide another ten stitches to it. Repeat this until ...

How To: Knit using the Eastern Continental style

This is Eastern Continental style knitting, with all of the loops in the opposite orientation, and continentally with the yarn in my left hand. This is not combined style.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Do a purl increase stitch in knitting

In this video, we learn how to do a purl increase stitch in knitting. First, make sure your yarn is in front, then do a normal purl stitch. Before you take your yarn off the left needle, go into the back of that stitch and pick it up from behind. Then, do a normal purl loop. After this, take the needle off. This is all you have to do to do a purl increase while you are stitching. If you don't understand it at first, then keep practicing and you will eventually learn how to do this. When you l...

How To: Chain stitch embroidery fro knitting projects

This instructional knitting video shows how to use chain stitch embroidery to embellish knitting and crochet projects. Use a tapestry needle and a piece of yarn to add a special decoration to a hand knit sweater, scarf or pair of socks. It's an easy knitting embroidery trick that renders satisfying results.

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 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: Sew seams together on a knitted garment

Expert knitter Rachel Ong shows you how to sew the seams of a knitted garment together. All you need is a yarn, a yarn needle, and then sewing the seams together is easy when you follow this video. This is for more advanced knitters. Sew seams together on a knitted garment.

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: 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 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: 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.