Hot Knitting & Crochet How-Tos

How To: Knit a hat

This instructional knitting video will show you how to knit a hat using a fixed circular needle and bulky weight yarn. These step by step knitting guidelines cover casting on, knitting in the round, decreasing, and weaving in the ends. If you are a beginner, you may want to avoid thin yarns to save time and knit a warmer hat.

How To: Use a cable key for knitting

Learn how to use the cable key to tighten your Knit Picks Options Interchangeable Knitting Needles. Each needle tip has a hollow base that is grooved to accept the threaded stem of the cable. To insure a secure fit, use a cable key to tighten the knitting needle tip. You can also use the cable key to unscrew your knitting needle when you are ready to start a new knitting project.

How To: Filet crochet an open square

Add to your crochet skills by learning decorative stitches. This crochet how-to video teaches you how to do the filet stitch by crocheting open squares or meshes. Filet consists of squares worked with ch and dc. Each square is made of [ch 2, skip 2 sts, 1 dc]. The first dc in each row is made with 3 chains. Watch and learn how to crochet open squares with the filet crochet stitch.

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: Knit for Beginners

So Christmas is coming up, and you want to make a couple of presents for your friends and family, who you don't really feel like splurging on- but want to make something from the heart. You've tried other stuff, and you totally failed at the Cross-stitch from last year, have you tried Knitting?! Well here's a beginners guide to the simple knitting technique- an easy one!

How To: Knit the Ladder Stitch

The Ladder Stitch is wonderful for scarves, blankets, shawls. It might seem complicated at first, but once you get into the rhythm of it it goes along easily and it's fun to watch the ladder go up and up. Step 1: Row 1 (WS): P4 *k2tog Tbl, Wrap Yarn Twice, k2tog, p4; Rep from * to End.

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 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.