Knitting A Baby Sweater – Part Two (by Robyn Devine)

Here we go with the second half of our Knitting A Baby Sweater post.  Hopefully you’ve completed part one and you’re ready to finish your sweater. 

Now that you’ve got the yoke of your sweater done you’re ready to start working on the sleeves and the lower body.  As tricky as some of these instructions may seem I promise they’ll go just as fast as the yoke part of the sweater.

First up is dividing for the sleeves and body. What I love about a pattern like this is that you knit the sleeves in the midst of knitting the body so there’s truly no seaming to be done. According to the directions you knit through the first 22 stitches and then put them on a spare needle, a stitch holder or some yarn. For this I just leave the stitches on the needle.  Once you start working on the sleeve it’s pretty clear which stitches are which and then you don’t have to futz with any extra tools.

Follow the directions for the sleeve: knit a row, purl a row, continue along until you decrease.  You already know how to do this thanks to the first half of the sweater!   Then knit seven rows in stockinette stitch. Bind off to the last stitch leaving the loop free for seaming up the sleeve.

It should look something like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now fold the sleeve in half, as seen in the photo below, with the right sides together. You’ll be grabbing a crochet hook (I use size “I” for this) to slip stitch up the sleeve.  To slip stitch in crochet, insert your hook through one stitch on either side of the sleeve and wrap the yarn around the crochet hook, from back to front.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pull the hook (with the yarn wrapped around it) through all three stitches you now have on your needle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and you’ve got yourself a slipped stitch!

Continue like this all the way down the side of the sleeve, until you come to the armpit of the sleeve. You should have one stitch left on the crochet hook and see a bit of space between the needles and where the arm should join the sweater.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To get rid of what will end up being holes in the armpits I simply pick up a few stitches before I move on.  This isn’t in the instructions but it helps get rid of those holes that will otherwise show up and we’ll get rid of those extra stitches later on! 

To pick up stitches, simply insert your right needle into a free spot between it and the sleeve. Do this twice and then slip the stitch off the crochet hook and onto the right needle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pick up two more stitches between the sleeve and the left needle (using the right needle again) and then knit across the back stitches. Repeat this same “sleeve making process” for the other sleeve and finish knitting across the row.

The rest of the sweater is easy! You simply knit a row, then purl a row, until the sweater is long enough that you want to add the bottom edge on. If you want to get rid of those four extra stitches under the arms simply knit two together four times around each armpit on your first knitting row after adding the sleeves.

The bottom edge of the sweater is simply a few more rows of garter stitch which should seem like a cake walk compared to all the new stitches you’ve now mastered.   All that’s left is to weave in the ends and you’ve got yourself a great new baby sweater!

Now if you’re anything like me you’ve already gotten addicted to it and you’re about to cast on another!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t forget to make one or two and donate them to your local hospital – the babies will thank you!  You can also send your sweater to the Knit for Needs charity and Meridith will make sure it gets to a baby that needs a warm sweater.

Not All Needles Are Created Equal (by Aubrey Mayes)

We’ve all been there. Perusing our LYS or hobby/craft store, our heart all a-flutter with the prospect of the new pattern we just found, looking for perfect needles. But what exactly is the perfect needle? How do you determine which set to buy? It may seem like an obvious answer for some, but these are actually some of the most repeated questions I receive. Just like you wouldn’t buy the first yarn you see, the same should go for the trusty needles you depend on for your craft. There are many types of knitting needles, and all have their merits- and downfalls.

When purchasing new needles, always be sure it is a brand you trust. If it looks like something that would crack under the pressure you would put on it, then it’s probably not a financially sound choice. Also, though they may be more expensive up front, they do make sets of interchangeable circs, and I must say that they are worth the money in the long run. Interchangeable circs come in virtually any size, are usually made of quality materials, and do not generally need to be replaced as often as others may need to.

The first kind of needles I bought for myself came from EBay- a nicely sized lot of various gauges of needles, all plastic, save for an afghan set- which only cost around $5, including shipping. These needles demonstrate the importance of quality when it comes to the material the needles are made from. Slowly, one by one, all but two pairs of those EBay needles have broken. The plastic used in the needles was very low quality, and it could not handle the strain of garter stitch coaster knitting, let alone anything that required a purl stitch. It was not until I was stranded in the middle of a project with one and a half size 5 needles that I realized the importance of quality.

            Not all plastic needles are poor quality. They are still not my personal preference, but they can be a little easier on the hands, and can come in handy when knitting something quickly, without dropping stitches. On the upside, plastic needles can be less expensive, and are definitely a good buy in a penny-pinch. On the downside, they can break very easily if they are very flimsy or have a small gauge. For instance, a size 2 may not endure as long as a size 10. When shopping for plastic needles, here are the things you should ask yourself:

• Is the plastic strong enough even in a small gauge to complete my project?
• Are the tips strong enough to not snip off as it enters a tighter stitch?
• They may be the best deal, but is the lack of quality worth the price drop?

Granted, just because they are plastic, it does not mean they will snap on their first project- to the contrary, many brands have high quality needles at low prices, just be sure you know what you’re buying.

            Aluminum needles are very popular with the knitters I have met. They usually cost a little more, but I must admit, I do love them myself. They generally have a long usage life, and are easily cleaned. They are also some of the best for knitting quickly, due to the slick surface. This quality can also be their downfall, as the slick exterior makes it easier to drop stitches, especially if you aren’t fully paying attention to what you are knitting (i.e. at a movie or a knitting circle) You can also not carry these onto an airplane or in federal buildings. When it comes to buying aluminum needles, I adore Susan Bates needles- not very expensive, high quality, and very durable. I also prefer aluminum needles when it comes to circs and DPNs, because it makes working in the round flow a bit better.  Here are some questions you should ask yourself when shopping for aluminum needles:

• Am I buying these needles to use multiple times, or for a single project? (Esp. helpful when looking at prices)
• Are these quality needles, or just showy?

 Bamboo needles are really having a heyday, and I must admit, I am an avid supporter of bamboo needles. For instance, bamboo replenishes itself quicker that other trees, so I don’t feel as though I am damaging the environment as much. They also allow for quick knitting, but without the tendency to drop stitches like aluminum needles do. They are also a lot easier on your hands than aluminum needles, which can be especially helpful if you are a knitter with arthritis or carpal tunnel. On the other hand, they can be a bit more susceptible to breaking, though bamboo is highly sturdy and dependable. Also, dogs are very prone to chewing on them, and that is one test they do not endure well (Ask my size 8s…).  When you go to buy bamboo needles, ask yourself these questions:

• Is this a respected and reliable brand?
• Is this something I can keep out of my pets reach?
• Is this brand an environmentally friendly choice?

Some helpful, general tips:

• Never buy needles you question before your project is cast on.
• Lowest price does not always mean lowest quality, and highest price certainly doesn’t mean highest quality.
• Don’t buy needles based solely someone else’s opinion or your own opinion. Always follow instinct, but don’t always allow your instinct to be driven by trends.
• Remember that needles are not only a financial investment, but an investment in your project. How can you expect a quality finished object if you are not using quality needles?
• Remember to always check gauge and length, whether the set is straight or circular.

 Happy knitting!

The Knit Stitch and Garter Stitch (video)

Hello Naughty Knitterz! This video is designed to give you lots of clear and helpful information about the foundation stitch of knitting: the knit stitch.

I also talk about garter stitch fabric, what it looks like, what it’s good for and how you can make it.

Enjoy and Knit Happy!

Knit For Needs – Help a Great Charity!

Knits for Needs is a knit and crochet charity created by Meridith Zelaya in January of 2009.  Meridith, like many of us, saw many of our neighbors in need of items to help keep them warm.  Although unlike many of us Meridith took action to help address the situation.  She organized the charity Knit for Needs.  Since being founded earlier this year, Knit for Needs has really delivered on its promise of helping people.  Knit for Needs has donated almost four hundred knitted and crocheted items to people in need! 

Knits for Needs, based in Atlanta Georgia, donate to people in need located all across the United States. Donations are made to the homeless, chemotherapy patients, prematurely born babies, our veterans, many hospital patients and basically anyone in need of warm stuff.

 Members of Knits for Needs are spread throughout the world and communicate through the many internet outlets. Members connect using social networks like Facebook, Ravelry and Twitter.  These networks help members not only communicate but also organize their collective efforts.  We encouraged you to interact with the organization via any of the aforementioned social networks or through the Knit for Needs blog at http://knitsforneeds.blogspot.com/. We now proudly promote the Knit for Needs charity at our Naughty Knitterz Internet Knitting Circle. 

Knits for Needs accepts all types of knitted and crocheted items. Once received the items are properly cleaned and then delivered directly to our neighbors in need of warm things made with love. 

Knit for Needs can be reached by email address at knitsforneeds@gmail.com and the charity’s mailing address is: Knits for Needs, PO Box 551, Woodstock, GA 30188.

Join Naughty Knitterz in our support of Meridith’s giving spirit and the Knit for Needs charity!

How to Knit a Hat (video)