If you have been curious about how a Brother garter carriage works, this 2 part video will show some basic steps to casting on and knitting a baby blanket. The charity blanket pattern used is available free on the internet. This video machine-knitting tutorial also shows a trick to switch yarn without the joint showing. Follow along with this video and learn how to knit a baby blanket using the Brother Garter Carriage knitting machine.
Crocheting and knitting are similar but different enough that the same patterns will not work for both. If you've found a crochet pattern you like and would rather knit it, watch this video to learn how to convert your pattern into the kind you want.
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...
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....
Strings of DNA aren't the only things that contain helixes. With a bit of skill and practice, you can make your own rope helix for fun or bondage and BDSM play by watching this video by Two Knotty Boys.
If your little youngster is celebrity his first Fourth of July and you want to get him decked out for the occasion without posing any potential choking hazard with beaded necklaces or bracelets, then this fuzzy hat is the perfect way to get him in the spirit.
In this video, we learn how to increase using the purl stitch in knitting. First, take the thread in between two stitches and twist it onto the left needle, then purl it off. Do this over and over again, then purling the next stitch. This is the easiest way to do this, and the most efficient in saving time. When you reach the end of a row, start a new row and do the same process over again. When you are finished, you will have a beautiful type of knitting that wasn't hard to learn and is easy...
When you are getting started in crochet, one of the most important things to master is the chain stitch. This video will show you how to get started in crochet, with hook holding styles, how to create a slip knot and how to make a chain stitch.
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.
Knitting with beads is a lot like regular knitting, only you're attaching beads to your string in order to create a more pearlized look, or to add complexity to a knitted purse, flower, or hat. Adding beads is a wonderful way to switch up the old knitting routine at minimal cost and effort.
This is a fun and versatile tutorial—choose your favorite colors of yarn, then follow along to learn how to crochet a multi-colored pansy. This lesson has been specifically designed for left-handed crochet artists. Check out Crochet Geek's full guide by Teresa Richardson for more help.
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!
Motif with flower elements. With this motif you can make a jacket or something beautiful. In this Macrame sample are used Square knot. The square knot is the basis of many designs. It is also called a Flat Knot or Reef Knot. If you can only learn one knot, this is the one to learn.
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.
The Garter Rib Stitch is a wonderful stitch to use for a scarf. It's the same on both sides and has nice texture. Be sure you follow the directions and the 2 row pattern couldn't be easier.
Crocheted leg warmers make great gifts for family and friends. Learn the ins and outs of making this garment in this free instructional crocheting video series. Click the link below to see all of the videos.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
There are times when your pattern will direct you to slip a stitch. Usually, this is done on a knit row. I always slip the first stitch of every row because it makes a neater selvedge. It's a very simple technique. Here's what to do:
Adding color on a circular needle is done exactly the same way as on a straight needle, no matter if it is at the beginning of a row, in the middle of a row (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbo4sov1gU4), or even fair isle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ9OWatSqKA),.. Don't be afraid to add color. It adds another element to your project. Here's a picture of a colorful hat I knit by using only two colors.
Once you have mastered the technique of knitting something in one color, you will want to go to the next step, which is learning how to add color to your knitting. You might want to knit stripes or knit something with two colors. It isn't as difficult as you might think, and once you've done it a few times you will wonder why you never attempted it before.
Most of the time, when you are directed to 'slip a stitch', it will be on a knit row. But there are exceptions and there will be times when you will need to know how to slip a stitch on a purl row.
The mistake rib stitch is very beautiful and very easy to do. The mistake rib stitch is a multiple of 4+3. Watch the video demonstration on knitting the mistake rib stitch below for a step by step demonstration.
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:
This project makes for a nice gift. This pillow was made for a baby, but with a change of the hankie, it could easily be made for the home. It's easy and fun. Here's the pillow back:
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:
Sometimes your pattern will ask you to purl in the back of a stitch. This tends to twist the stitch and make it tighter. It's easy, and here's what you do.
Sometimes your yarn might be too thin. In that case, it's easy to use two strands of yarn to achieve the thickness you want. There will be other times when you want to add more color to your project. In that case, use two strands of different colored yarn.
There will be times when you will want to knit an edging onto your work. Here's how to do it. It's best to use a smaller needle for edging than the one you used for the project.
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.
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.
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.
