Is it Knitting or Crochet? (by Debbie Stuckey)

This form of crochet is called broomstick lace. Having been around for many years this technique was originally done using an actual broomstick handle and a crochet hook.  That’s obviously how it got the name.

By using the broomstick lace method of crochet a project can be completed in no time at all.  Today you have a much more practical option than using a broomstick- a large knitting needle is used.  I typically use a size 19 knitting needle.  I find it even better to use a lager size needle like a 35.

It helps to have some basic knowledge of crochet such as knowing the chain stitch and double crochet.

In most crochet projects you work a row, then turn your work and then go back down the other side.  With broomstick lace you work on the same side throughout the entire project. Using a large knitting needle you can make quite an eye catching item in little or no time at all.

 

A basic pattern for a small scarf (using the broomstick lace method) is as follows:

Abbreviations 

Chain = ch

Double Crochet = dbl

Supplies

Size J crochet hook

Size 19 or 35 knitting needles (you only need 1)

Yarn of your choice.  The gauge of the yarn is not important for a broomstick lace project.

 

Chain 17 – Work a single crochet back across and you should have 16 single crochet. Do not turn your work.

 

1. Place your hook into the first single and pull up a stitch, place the stitch on to the knitting needle.  Do this across placing every stitch you pick up onto the knitting needle.  By the end of the row you should have 16 stitches on the knitting needle.

2. Slide 4 stitches off your knitting needle and place your crochet hook into these 4 stitches. Take and make a loop pulling yarn back through all 4 stitches and chain 4 (counts as your first dbl work).  3 more double crochet in the same stitch.

You should have 4 stitches worked.  Slip 4 more stitches off and work 4-dbl crochet into the loop.  Repeat this across and you will have 4 sets of 4 going across.

Do not turn your work.

3. Repeat row 1

Do not turn your work.

4. Repeat row 2

Do not turn your work.

Continue until you achieve the desired length for your project.  Finish it off as you would any crochet project by weaving in your ends.

Time to switch ‘em up (by Debbie Purcell)

It’s that time of year again.  It is for those of us in the northern hemisphere.  It is not yet November and I’m sorry to say I had to turn the heat on in my house.

I’m somewhat frugal and try not to turn the heat on until at least November.  Yesterday I broke down and turned on the furnace because it was cold in the house.  In Boston we had our first brush with snow this past Thursday, burr!

I’m almost finished with my second market bag from the Naughty Knitterz fall knit-a-long event created by Gypsy for our Facebook group.  It was a wicked fun project for me.

The market bag pattern created by Gypsy is super easy to follow.   I made my two market bags using this red cotton yarn I found.  What a deal it was.  I paid $4 for a giant spool of yarn at my local Walmart.

It’s perfect for the bags I’ve made so far.  What else does a person do with that much red cotton yarn?  Look for a picture of my bag posted to the Facebook knit-a-long event.  I use my bag to carry the other canvas grocery bags I use.  It is perfect to then use to carry home the bread I buy.

My market bag has drawn some attention where I shop for my groceries.  One woman asked where I got the idea.

Now is the time of year I want some warm wool around my fingers so I’m knitting these Cabled Fingerless Mitts.  I found this cool pattern which I downloaded from the Pattern Share page.  I will be knitting up these gloves using the American Gothic yarn you can find on the Misfit Knitterz page.

I was apprehensive about using a yarn blend using pistachio, purple, mauve, and olive brown colors.   From the description I thought the yarn would be pretty but wasn’t sure.  I love it.

I don’t know what I was so concerned about.  All I can say is that the American Gothic yarn is absolutely beautiful.  How does Michele come up with these color blends?

I should know by now to trust any yarn she creates for Misfit Knitterz will be pretty.  This is a lady who taught us to dye yarn using Kool-Aid.

Look for an email coming soon announcing an end of the year deal on the new Misfit Yarnz page.  You should visit the page to see this funky picture slide Mike added which shows all the yarn available in an automated way.

Knitting in Public (by Deb Wunder)

Since I knit (and crochet) in public a lot, I am often asked why I knit and crochet.  The short answer is usually that, “It’s cheaper than therapy and I have socks (or whatever I am working on) when I’m done.”  When asked about spinning (I will use a drop spindle in public), the answer is that, “It’s cheaper than therapy, and I have yarn when I’m done.”

In truth, though, I knit and crochet because it’s what I do.  It’s what I’ve done ever since my parents taught me when I was a kid.  And, yes, I said parents.  My mother taught me to knit, but Pop taught me to crochet. (Pop also taught me the joys of geometrical design, but that’s another column.)

Like many craftspeople, I have my strengths and weaknesses.  My strengths are my color sense, and my love of textural knitting.  My weakness is designing, although I can claim one of the first toe-up sock patterns on the Web (“Deb’s Almost-Easy Toe-Up Sock),”  at Socknitters.com.

Currently, my favorite things to knit are socks, shawls, and shawlettes.  My favorite designers are many:  Wendy Johnson, Cookie A, Vickie Howell, Ysolda, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Mary Ann Beattie, and many others.  I have at least five projects going most of the time, and I switch back and forth depending on mood, event I will be at, and whether I can do the pattern from memory, or need a printout or proximity to a computer.

My current main project is the Year of Stash Socks 2011 Challenge.  This challenge involves making at least one of the offered patterns each month, or a “plain vanilla sock” of one’s choice.

When I am not plying needles or hooks, I am either making beaded jewelry, writing (I’m a freelance writer by trade), reading, walking, or some combination of the above.

I live in Brooklyn, NY, with a roommate and two cats, and I love to show off my city, wander through parks and museums, and try most of the ethnic foods so readily available in New York (Indian and Hispanic are particular favorites).

I look forward to meeting many of you online, and possibly in person if you are ever in New York City.

 

Knit Intarsia (by Connie Johnston)

Knit Intarsia:

Intarsia is actually a woodworking term, where it refers to inlaying different colours or types of wood to create a design.

Intarsia is also a knitting technique used to create patterns or designs with more than one colour in a block or section. The intarsia sections can be any shape or design you like.

From my perspective there are 4 types of intarsia knitting.

1. Knit a picture as you knit the garment – such as a truck on the front of a boys sweater, or a heart on a girls sweater. The pattern is provided on a graph.
2. Create a geometric design over a whole garment such as tumbling blocks as per a Kaffe Fassett design.
3. Let your mind take over and knit in a freeform way using many colours as I do on all or part of your garment or art piece.
4. Icelandic Intarsia – where all the work is completed in garter stitch only.

Unlike Fair Isle knitting, in intarsia the yarn is not carried across the back of the work. You knit with a separate length of yarn for each block or section of colour

Knit Intarsia – basics:

Straight vertical stripes are the simplest intarsia design to create. After the first row, the pattern is continued by always knitting each stitch in the same colour as the previous row, changing colours at the exact same point in each row. 

When you wish to change the colour bring the new colour up under the old, and trap the old yarn between the new yarn and the knitting which reduces the risk of a hole at a junction of two colours.

The twisting and changing of yarns always occurs on the wrong side of the work.

Getting this right reduces the risk of holes at the colour changes and is the most important technique to master.  

Do try to keep your tension consistent as you switch colours and to not knit too tightly or too loosely with a new colour although blocking will improve slight uneven tension in the knitting.  

Learn to manage many yarns in one row without too much tangling. The yarns will tangle, so it is a matter of working out the best way for you to manage them. You can use bobbins or use lengths that are more manageable. Run your fingers through the yarns as you do to reduce the problem works well if using many short lengths of yarn.

Weave in the ends of the yarn as you go where possible.

Swiss darning can be used to change a section if you wish.

1. When knitting a picture – to change the colour of a section of the design.
2. If you missed a colour change add it when garment is completed.
3. Embellish an intarsia knit

Knit Intarsia – work a simple design:

Create a washcloth using the intarsia technique:

Knit a wash cloth in cotton in two colours with a stripe knitted up the centre 15 stitches using the intarsia method.

1. Cast on 45 stitches with an appropriate needle for the cotton being used.
2. Knit 15 st white, 15 st red, and 15 st white.
3. Knit to the desired size. 
4. Cast off

OR

1. Knit 16 rows
2. Reverse the colour sequence – knit 15 st red, 15 st white, and 15 st red
3. Repeat 2 times more or till the wash cloth is the size you wish it to be
4. Cast off

Create a scarf using the intarsia technique:

Knit as above with wool or mohair yarns and an appropriate needle size and continue with the 16 rows of each sequence until you have the right length for a scarf.

Knit Intarsia – work a simple charted design: coming next!

Find Your Knitting Mojo (by Whitnee Regan)

We have all had those times where we want to knit or crochet, but we just don’t know which project to work on. So many lovely patterns out there but sometimes it is hard to find one to start working on. I can’t tell you how many times I have sat down wanting to knit only to get frustrated because I just couldn’t find my knitting mojo.

It wasn’t because I didn’t want to. It wasn’t because I didn’t have patterns or yarn. It was just because I couldn’t find the inspiration that I needed. Where can someone who has lost their mojo turn to? There are many different places and resources available.

The most readily available resources most of us have are knitting books and magazines. There are so many to choose from. Most libraries have at least a few knitting books. Sometimes beautiful patterns can be found in the most unlikely books or magazines. As far as magazines are concerned though, don’t just flip through looking at the pictures. There are so many wonderfully written articles about all different aspects of crafts that it can really get those creative juices flowing.

As for those of us that are a little more comfortable with the wealth of information that is available online, there are many resources there as well. There is everything from craft related blogs, to different types of online communities. The possibilities are endless when it comes to the internet. If you have particular yarn you want to use, no doubt there is a website for that yarn that you could gain inspiration from. There are even podcasts to listen to.

You don’t have to have an iPod to listen, just download it to your computer! They are like little radio programs about all sorts of different topics. I put knit in the search bar and there were so many to choose from! I was hooked instantly. I now have more than I could possibly ever listen to in a normal amount of time, because I like to go back and listen to all of my favorite podcasters episodes.

Imagine, getting to listen to someone talk about their achievements, difficulties, and general yarn journeys!   Plus I can listen to them when I can’t have yarn in my hands.

Besides books, and the internet, the biggest thing that I do to keep track of my inspiration is to keep a journal.  I write down everything. I make lists and notes constantly.  I write down websites that I enjoy, blogs that I read, patterns that I love, and sometimes even notes on patterns that I am working on. It is meant to be something that I can look at to spark creativity when I am not feeling so creative. Having a knitting journal can also be really helpful in keeping my thoughts somewhat organized, even though there when there is no rhyme or reason to the order in the notebook itself.

And I can take it with me anywhere I go so if inspiration hits me when I am out, I can write it down and save it for later! Everyone has things that inspire them more than others and surrounding yourself with those things can really help find your knitting mojo.

Also, check out the other Gypsy Knitterz column posts for more tips and tricks on keeping you fiber projects organized and finding your knitting mojo.

Top 5 Library Guide For Knitterz

Starting out as a new knitter the plethora of reading material can seem overwhelming. Being a former bookstore employee and current library card holder, I have come in contact with many, many books full of knitting patterns and techniques.

This “top 5” guide is a compilation of the titles I have found most helpful and entertaining to read and knit. Of course, this is all my opinion. Be sure to leave your thoughts and favorites in the comments!

Number 5:
Bag Style: 20 Inspirational handbags, totes, and carry-alls to knit and crochet, Pam Allen and Ann Budd

*** ½
My Notes:
While very light on technique, Bag Style is full of beautiful, high quality patterns. Bag Style’s patterns have a decent time commitment and are not for the faint at heart. He difficulty level isn’t immensely high, butt this definitely wouldn’t be the book to find your first project in. If you’re looking for always fashionable bags for any occasion, this is the book for you.

Bag Style

Number 4:
ColorWork Stitches: Over 250 designs to knit, edited by Susie Johns
****
My Notes:
I believe ColorWork Stitches is a must-have for a knitter’s library. From simple embellishments to a full alphabet, ColorWork Stitches is a wonderful guide, especially for anyone new to colorwork or in need of ideas to brighten up otherwise bland yarn colors This too is fairly light on technique, but definitely has the goods to back it up.
Colorwork Stitches

Number 3:
Stitch n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook, Debbie Stoller
****
My Notes:
This was actually the first knitting book I purchased. Now this is important: if you are offended by the title, then Stitch n Bitch is not for you. SNB is without a doubt the best book I have found for learning technique, especially when the reader is going in blind. Stoller includes step by step illustrated instructions for everything you need to know to start out and fabulous patterns to practice what you learn. This book is a must have for new knitters. (Be sure to check out her other titles as well!)

Stitch N Bitch

Number 2:
Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Joelle Hoverson
**** ½

My Notes:
After 34 pages of wonderful basic information for newbies, Last Minute Knitted Gifts has a full 76 pages of gift patterns for any occasion broken down by time commitment. I was most impressed by how well Hoverson compiled patters for anyone, regardless of age and gender. If you are on a budget, be sure to pay attention to the fiber type, weight, and gauge of the projects to make correct substitutions, as the suggested yarns are a bit pricey. In all honesty, this is one of the best investments I have made in the knitting department.

Last Minute Knitted Gifts

*drumroll* Number 1:
Awareknits: Knit and crochet patterns for the eco-conscious stitcher, Vickie Howell and Adrienne Armstrong

*****
My notes:
Being a HUGE Green Day fan, I was excited to see their frontman’s wife Adrienne had collaborated with pro-stitcher Vickie Howell to create an eco-friendly knitting book. I was even more excited when I purchased and read Awareknits and realized just how fabulous it is. This book is just great pattern after great pattern with projects for every member of the family as well as the home.

The best part? All of the patterns use eco-friendly yarn and have tips to keep your projects green. This book is truly what it says it is. Stellar patterns for the “eco-conscious stitcher”.
AwareKnits

Looking for a few more titles? Here are some honorable mentions:

Mason Dixon Knitting by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne

Knit One, Felt Too by Kathleen Taylor

Big Girl Knits by Jillian Moreno and Amy R. Singer

Hollywood Knits by Suss Cousins

Knit happy!!!

How do you make Christmas stockings? (by Ina Gilmore)

When my friend Erika asked if I could design a Christmas stocking, I thought, “Why not?”  Why let something small—like never having knit one before—stop a knitting project? 

Deciding to start at the beginning with some basic research, I plowed into the project.  After studying Christmas stockings’ construction, I decided it wouldn’t be any harder than knitting socks.  And was pleasantly surprised to find they were easier to knit than I thought.

So just how do you make Christmas stockings?

1. Knitting Christmas stockings is very similar to knitting socks.  Yes, the original Christmas stockings were actually stockings children wore the rest of the year.  So, the overall pattern is roughly the same as a sock pattern.
2. Modern Christmas stockings tend to be larger than socks. Larger in diameter and leg length, although the foot is often knit shorter.
3. To hide the stocking stuffers from little eyes, their stockings are often knit in stockinette stitch rather than a lace pattern.  Stockinette stitch is also a traditional pattern for stockings.  Stockinette stitch even gets its name from knitting stockings.
4. Because most Christmas stockings are knit in the round, stockinette stitch is all knit stitches.  Many knitters prefer the knit stitch to the purl stitch.
5. If this is one of your first projects knit in the round, the yarn and needles are usually heavier than those used to knit socks to be worn.  This makes knitting Christmas stockings easier, especially if you’re not used to knitting with either a set of double-pointed needles or two circular needles.
6. Christmas stockings usually are knit from the top down, although there’s no reason they couldn’t be knit from the bottom up.  You might have to adjust a motif or graph if you’re knitting your sock in more than one color.
7. Because the stocking is for decoration, the heel usually looks squared and is often different than the main stocking color.
8. The toe is often the same contrasting color as the heel.
9. And left-handed knitters will be happy to note that Christmas stockings can be knit left-handed, too.  If the pattern has an asymmetrical motif, you may end up with a mirror image unless you reverse the graph.  The good news is most Christmas motifs are either symmetric or can be just as lovely as a mirror image.

So you can see that knitting Christmas stockings isn’t so complicated after all!  And they’re fun to knit, then display or give away.  There is a picture of the Victorian version of Christmas Stocking to the left on this page.  See all 3 designs on the Stocking Kit page. 

Keep knitting to your heart’s delight — or someone else’s…Ina

When you’re ready to try a Christmas stocking, check out the kits The Naughty Knitterz made from the patterns I designed.   Find all three kits at http://theknittingyarn.com/stockingkits.

Article Source: http://theknittingyarn.com/?p=2506

The Fiber Files (by Aubry Mayes)

It is my opinion that every yarn crafter should have what I call the Fiber Files. Whether its stored on a computer, in a recipe box, binder, or even address book, the Fiber Files are a necessary part of crafting for others. The Fiber Files contain vital information necessary to successfully complete a project.

Without this information, severe FO crises may occur, with symptoms including short sleeves, too small head-hole, or the dreaded socks that were made to have a 6 inch cuff that, well, doesn’t.

What should be in the Fiber Files?

• Name
• Age
• Gender
• Measurements
• Color Preferences
• Allergies
• Style

Name and age are the first steps to creating a proper Fiber File. Normally, I would suggest that date of birth would be better than age, but this is one place where I find it necessary to keep the number. This step will help to remind you to update your file at least yearly.

The gender listing in the file is strictly a formality. When it comes to crafting and gender, I don’t like getting into the messiness that comes along with it. Yarn crafting is such a feminine sport as it is, we really don’t need to muddy it up by trying TOO hard to find “manly” yarn. All that results is a brown sweater and some black socks.

Sure, gender is a fantastic way to search for a pattern, particularly when it comes to fitted garments. But, being a big girl, I know how hard it can be a to find a “girlie” pattern that doesn’t look like a knitted trash bag.

(Be sure to check out my upcoming article on how to get more girlie bang for a drab pattern buck.) So in simpler terms, be sure to mark gender, but don’t be afraid to cross lines. Its fun to be edgy.

Measurements are probably the most important aspect of the Fiber Files. As I say in my article, “Size Matters”, there are so many measurements that need to be taken in consideration. These are:

• Arm Length (shoulder to elbow, shoulder to wrist, shoulder to middle finger tip, elbow to wrist, and elbow to middle finger tip, as well as upper and lower arm circumferences, all in SUM*
• Standard Shirt Size
• Standard Pants Size
• Standard Shoe Size
• Hips, Waist, in SUM
• Leg Length, in SUM
• Bust (where applicable) in SUM
• Head & Neck Circumference in SUM
• Wrist to tip of middle finger in SUM

*SUM: Standard Unit of Measurement

 To accurately record color preferences, be sure to list both love AND hate colors. For me, I love my purple, but I hate hate hate that horrible brown color that seems to infest men’s sweater patterns in knitting books from the 90′s. By listing color preferences, it simply helps to assure you that your gift is a win.

Style is a similar aspect. Just by remembering that your niece is fashionista, or your son is a punk rocker and crafting accordingly, you can win major brownie points.

Finally, we come to allergies. This subject has arisen a lot in my articles. Personally, I am allergic to sulfates and metals containing nickel. While sulfates don’t usually pop up in knitting, nickel does A LOT. Buttons, zippers, pins, accents- if its not stated as being hypo-allergenic, then it should definitely be expected that it has nickel as at least one of the primary metals.

Wool allergies are also very common. Be sure to check on the allergies of the recipients, as we wouldn’t want to be responsible for health problems, nor would we want our beautiful creations to be discarded.

When it comes to storing your Fiber Files, be sure to keep them organized in a manner you will recognize, as well as a manner that can be updated easily. Some ideas could be:

• Each person on an individual index card in a recipe-type box
• Each person on their own page in a binder
• A separate computer file for each person, in a folder specific to relationship to you, first letter of last name, or any other organization method you can think of.
• A scrapbook page including a picture of each person with detachable pieces for the changing information.
• The possibilities are endless!

The hardest part will always be getting the information from the people themselves. My advice to you: Get it yourself. What woman doesn’t lie about her weight? What man will admit to having small hands? The best way to ensure honesty is to get it yourself.

Hold a party and invite everyone you need measurements from. Bait them with food, booze, movies, whatever it is that gets them to your house and get those measurements!

Measure happy, knit happy!

Choosing Yarn – Big Box vs. LYS (by Jenifer Rank)

What is the first thing to look for when choosing yarn?  Is it color, weight, feel?  Or is it the location that you purchase it from? 

There are basically three options if you want instant gratification and want to start your project immediately.  You can head to a local farmer’s market, a “big box” craft store – think JoAnn, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, etc., or a local yarn shop (LYS).  What is the difference, really?  They all have yarn and a good variety of yarn at that!

So, let’s start with the largest of the options: the craft store.  This is a fantastic option if you are trying to a project on a small budget.  A ball/skein of yarn can cost anywhere from $2.99 to $10.00 – and that’s the maximum of the range.  There are always sales, and usually coupons. 

There is a wide variety of acrylics, wools, cottons, sequins, blends, eco-friendly, baby yarns, and sock yarns to choose from.  When I started knitting about ten years ago, you could basically get either acrylic or cotton yarns from the craft stores.  The stock (and quality of that stock) has improved drastically in the last decade.  Some of the latest additions that I’ve noticed have been the “Bamboo Ewe” and “Full o’ Sheep” from Debbie Stoller’s new line of yarns. 

The craft stores are a great, economical option – especially if you are trying a new skill, like knitting in the round, or attempting to learn to crochet.  The downside of the craft stores is that chances are, there might be one or two employees there that knit or crochet, and they probably won’t be working when you are there.  It’s an “on your own” type of experience, and if you’re a novice, should the yarn your pattern calls for isn’t there; substitution might not be a possibility.  There is also the environmental factor – these goods are shipped cross country in most cases, made in other countries, and the stores do little to support your local economy.

Next up is the LYS option… awesome choice!  I’m a huge proponent of these, even though they are slightly pricier – anywhere from $7.00 all the way to $50.  The stores are usually staffed with the owner and a small, select group of employees – who have experience with the product.  They are on hand to make recommendations, substitutions, and help with pattern selection. 

Often, patterns that your LYS carries won’t be available anywhere else.  The variety of yarns might be smaller than at a big box store, but orders are usually possible and only take a few days… most also have websites or email where you can arrange an order a few days in advance. 

Many LYS also have knitting space, serve tea or coffee, and are a great place to meet and chat with other knitters and crocheters.  These shops are usually arranged by weight as opposed to by brand or type like in a craft store. 

Smaller, more intimate, and based in your community, your local LYS usually participates in things like school fundraisers or “First Friday” events, and offers special discounts on classes and yarns depending on the month or season.  These stores also tend to stock local products, and occasionally spun yarn from the employees themselves!

Finally, there is the option of the Farmer’s Market.  Talk about choosing to support directly from the source!  Many markets have farmers that also have sheep, and they will bring the wool (from sheep, alpacas, llamas!) as a side product – this is usually already spun, but you can find bags of straight wool.  One of the farmers I’ve seen even puts the name of the sheep it came from on the label. 

So when you name your sweater ‘The Maybelle Sweater’ on Ravelry, it actually came from Maybelle!  A quick word about online shopping – yes, this is a great way to go if you already know the product or are prepared to make a large purchase so that your dye lot is consistent.  Shopping via the internet – or trading too, is perfect if you are in the planning stages of a project and have time to wait.

No matter which store you choose, as craft stores are improving their selections, the LYS becomes more endangered.  Support them!  Go to a knitting night, escape from the house and go chat and sip tea and make new, knitty (or crochet-y) friends!

Got Tri-loom? (by Pamela Kelly)

Start by getting a loom and some of your extra yarn because next month we will start weaving!  If you don’t have a loom and decide to purchase one you can do so by going to www.sunflowerfibers.com along with sending me an email ( sunflowerfibers@gmail.com )  and I’ll make sure you get a 10% discount on the purchase of your very own tri-loom.

So now you’re asking what can I do with a bunch of woven triangles?  You can do a lot of things with a two foot triangle.  For example, putting 8 together you can make the “8 Piece Woven Wrap”  which is pictured on the right .  You can also purchase the pattern for this wrap at www.sunflowerfibers.com. 

To get started designing with triangles, make yourself some paper triangles and laminate them.  Than just put those triangles together and see what you come up with.  Use your imagination.  You’ll have a blast!  It is also great fun to mix woven triangles with woven squares. 

I would like you to start thinking about what you can make with a bunch of woven triangles.  Next month I will be teaching you how to weave on a triangle loom.  Also in the coming weeks I will post complete triangle weaving instructions on my website - www.sunflowerfibers.com.  I’m also working on instructions for weaving on the  square loom. 

If you have any ideas, any questions or just need a little help contact me.  Thanks for reading.  Now, Got Tri-loom?

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