Hot Knitting & Crochet How-Tos
How To: Knit with 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.
How To: Tie a slip knot for knitting
So you're staring at your un-knitted ball of yarn wondering, "What have I gotten myself into?" Fear not, a simple slip knot is the first step in any knitting project, so after this lesson you'll be an expert in getting started.
How To: Knit with holes
In this episode of LetsKnit2gether, we demonstrate lace knitting stitches and how to read lace charts.
How To: Knit a simple baby hat
Purchasing expensive and oh-so-cute babies clothes poses a conundrum: Yes, your little pea in a pod will look like as cute as a jelly bean, but he or she will soon outgrow the sailor outfit in less than a few months, letting all cuteness go to waste.
How To: Knit the rib stitch
The rib stitch, or ribbing, is often used on the edges of pieces where you need a snug fit, because it's stretchy and doesn't curl. Best of all, since you've already learned the knit stitch and purl stitch, you're practically already done.
How To: Crochet with plastic bags
Cristen Andrews of CRAFTzine shares with us her plastic bag crafts and shows us how to get started with crocheting plastic bags.
How To: Judy Becker's magic cast-on
Learn how to do Judy Becker's magic cast-on. Believed to be the best magic cast-on to use.
How To: Knit with two circular needles
Learn the tricks of casting on to 2 circular needles, joining, and knitting around. You'll learn about the "udder needle," napping and resting, that it doesn't matter whether the inside or outside of the knitting shows, how to find your way if you put your knitting down, and more.
How To: Work paired increases for knitting socks
Cat Bordhi shows you how to work the most invisible, smoothest paired increases for your socks.
How To: Use letter markers for knitting
Learn to use letter markers - markers that can be identified alphabetically - to help you know exactly where you are in your knitting.
How To: Shift stitches between two circular needles
Learn to shift stitches from one circular needle to the other when knitting in the round with two circular needles. Taught by Cat Bordhi.
How To: Do the kitchener stitch or grafting
Watch this video to learn how to do the kitchener stitch or grafting. You would do this when you need to weave together two sets of live stitches.
How To: Crochet a circle worked into a single chain stitch
Watch this instructional crochet video demonstrating a crochet circle worked into a single chain stitch.
How To: Knit short row decreases for turning a heel for a sock
Watch this instructional video to learn how to turn a heel when knitting a sock.
How To: Do the twisted German cast on
Learn this nice stretchy cast on that is good for socks and mittens. The video demonstrates the twisted German cast on.
How To: Do magic loop knitting
Watch this instructional knitting video demonstrating magic loop knitting.
How To: Do a slip 1 knit 1 pass slip stitch over
Watch this instructional knitting video demonstrating a "slip one, knit one, pass slip stitch over" decrease.
How To: Knit a two together through the back loop decrease
Watch this instructional knitting video to learn how to do a "two together through the back loop" decrease.
How To: Knit one front and back increase
Watch this instructional knitting video to learn how to "knit one front & back" increase.
How To: Use up yarn
Expert knitter Rachel Ong shows you how to use up excess yarn by making pom-poms and tassels to add to finished garments. Use up yarn.
How To: Do a yarn over
Watch this video to learn the yarn over increase technique for knitting.
How To: Make a triple crochet stitch
Watch this video to learn how to make a triple crochet stitch.
How To: Make a double crochet stitch for beginners
Watch this video to learn how to make a double crochet stitch.
How To: Make a single crochet stitch
Watch this video to learn how to make a single crochet stitch.
How To: Crochet a flower applique
Thread Heads Quickie: turn an old afghan (or some piece of fabric) into a cute little flower applique.
How To: Make a garter stitch
Knitting is the perfect way to pass any dull day. Needle your way through this and you will know how to knit the perfect garter stitch. Make a garter stitch.
How To: Begin knitting
This is a small sample of knitting, shown from cast-on to bind-off. Topic covers how to weave in cast-on and bind-off ends, and how to avoid those loose side stitches. This is a long overall stitch demo, from just string and sticks, to knitted fabric! Great tips for how to deal with common problems. Begin knitting.
How To: Create cables
Cable stitches are a decorative stitch where the main stitches are knit and the background stitches are purled. If you twist the cable needle every once and a while, you will have this decorative stitch. Watch as Amy shows you how to use cable needles to create this stitch. Create cables.
How To: Double knit with a knit stitch and purl stitch
Double knitting or reverse knitting is twice as thick and looks like stockinette on both sides. Watch as Amy shows you how to double knit by doing a knit stitch followed by a purl stitch in the opposite color. Double knit with a knit stitch and purl stitch.
How To: Knit with two colors at one time (stranding method)
Knitting with two colors at the same time is called Stranding (and used to be called Fair Isle). The important thing to know about the stranding method is that it carries both colors through all the time. Watch as Amy shows you how to use this method. Knit with two colors at one time (stranding method).
How To: Do small diameter circular knitting
Using double pointed needles is the most common way of knitting small-diameter objects in the round. This video shows you everything you need to know to do small diameter circular knitting. Do small diameter circular knitting.
How To: Knit using the elongated stitch
The elongated stitch is a decorative stitch and you can make each stitch as long as you want. Learning how to use this stitch is a great way to ad some variation to your knitting. Knit using the elongated stitch.
How To: Knit right loop increase in English knitting
This video demonstrates how to make a right loop increase in English knitting. This increase is ideal if you ever need to do two increases side by side without any stitches between them. This is the easiest method to teach children. Knit right loop increase in English knitting.
How To: Make a left slanting decrease in Continental knitting
This video demonstrates how to make a left slanting decrease in Continental knitting. This is the most common left slanting increase and is also known as SSK (Slip Slip Knit). This decrease is necessary in some patterns to keep the flow of the decorative stitches. Make a left slanting decrease in Continental knitting.
How To: Do a basic knit bind-off in Continental knitting
This video demonstrates a basic knit bind-off in Continental knitting. This is one of the most used binding off methods. This method would be good for an afghan that you would add edgeing to. Do a basic knit bind-off in Continental knitting.
How To: Make one away (increase) in English knitting method
This video demonstrates how to increase a stitch in English knitting. This is a good, all purpose increase, as long as you don't mind a loose increase that can show a small hole. Also remember this is the best method to teach children. Make one away (increase) in English knitting method.
How To: Make one right (increase) in Continental knitting
This video demonstrates how to make one right or make one back (increase) in continental knitting. This is very neat, tight, invisible increase, but it can be tricky to work. Make one right (increase) in Continental knitting.
How To: Do single crochet bind off
This video demonstrates how to do a basic single crochet bind-off. This leaves a nice edge finish. You don't need to know how to crochet to do this bind-off. Do single crochet bind off.
How To: Do a double crochet bind off
This video demonstrates how to do a double crochet bind off. This method of binding off gives a nice decorative edge that looks nice on pockets. Do a double crochet bind off.
How To: Do a sloped bind-off in Continental knitting
This video demonstrates how to do a sloped bind-off in Continental knitting. Ideal for shoulder or neck shaping, this bind-off avoids the stair stepping that is caused by other methods of binding off. The seams on your pieces will look much neater and smoother with this method. Do a sloped bind-off in Continental knitting.