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August 18, 2009

More Knitting Tips

Filed under: Knitting — Tags: , , , , — @ 4:20 am

Casting on using your thumb – Sufficient length of yarn must be left for casting on stitches – approximately 12.5cm for every 10 stitches of 4 ply on 2.75 needles.

Place point of needle beneath loop on thumb, drawing loop up slightly. Hold yarn in right hand ready to pass around point of needle. Wrap yarn around point of needle and draw through loop on thumb. Draw up stitch on needle, pull both ends of yarn firmly and repeat until sufficient stitches have been cast on.

Casting on with two needles – Make a loop and hold it on left hand needle. Place point of right-hand needle from left to right through loop on left-hand needle. Holding yarn in right hand, wrap yarn clockwise around point of right hand needle and draw yarn through loop on left hand needle, thus forming a second loop. Place this loop on left hand needle. There are now 2 stitches on left hand needle.

Place point of right hand needle between the two stitches on left hand needle. Wrap yarn around point of right hand needle and draw a loop between the two stitches on left hand needle. Place this loop on left hand needle. Repeat until you have cast on the number of stitches you require. Make sure you always put the needle between 2 stitches nearest the point of left hand needle.

Going great, keep going. Happy knitting :)

August 17, 2009

Knitting Stitches and Tips

Filed under: Knitting — Tags: , , , , , — @ 5:58 am

Garter or Knit Stitch - This is done by using any number of stitches and knitting every row. Both sides of the fabric look the same and each ridge represents two rows.

Stocking Stitch – This is achieved by knitting one row and purling one row. This produces a fabric which is smooth on one side and ridged on the other.

Moss Stitch - Moss stitch is usually worked over an uneven number of stitches. A moss stitch row follows k1, (p1, k1), repeated throughout.

Ribbing – Ribbing is usually worked over an even number of stitches k1, p1, repeated throughout. There are several variations in ribbing such as k2, p2 or k5, p5 – cast on a multiple of stitches repeated to the end.

Casting On -Making a Loop – An even cast on is important for a good finish. Don’t cast on too tightly or the edge will break when wearing. Never knit into the back of the cast on stitches. To cast on wrap yarn around first and second fingers of left hand. Place point of needle under the front loop and draw back loop through. Withdraw fingers from loop and draw loop up on needle. Working with length of yarn in left hand, pass this around left thumb.

Casting on can also be done using your thumb or using two needles these will be looked at in another post.

Have Fun & Happy Knitting :)


August 16, 2009

Knitting – Basic Stitches

Filed under: Knitting — Tags: , , , , , — @ 6:43 am

How to Hold the Needles

Keep stitches on the left hand needle close to the point and hold the needle with hand over the needle.Hold the right hand needle as you would a pencil, with the hand under the  needle. The yarn should come over the first finger of the right hand, under the second, over the third and under the forth. The yarn should flow easily through the fingers, but also be held firmly enough to  help maintain an even tension.

The Knit Stitch

Also known as plain stitch. Hold the needle containing the cast on stitches in the left hand. Holding the yarn at the back of the right hand needle, insert the right hand needle from left to right through the first loop.

Wrap the yarn clockwise round the point of the right hand needle , draw a new loop through and retaining this loop on the right hand needle, slip the first loop off the left hand needle.

The Purl Stitch

Hold the needles as for knit stitch but hold the yarn at the front of the right hand needle. Insert the right hand needle from right to left through the first loop, wrap the yarn around the point of the right hand needle, draw a loop through stitch on to right hand needle and slip stitch off left hand needle.

July 14, 2009

Crocheting Know How cont;

Filed under: Knitting — @ 4:32 am

More Stitches…

Slip stitch – This stitch has almost no depth and is, therefore, used to move invisibly from one position in the work to another or for joining stitches together. It requires no turning chain.

Make four chain. Insert the hook into the next chain from the hook from front to back, yarn around hook, and draw the yarn through both the chain and the loop on the hook.

Double crochet – Make 12 chain. Insert the hook in the third chain from the hook, yarn round hook draw the yarn through so that there are two loops on the hook yarn round hook again and draw it through both loops, slipping them off the hook. This makes one double crochet. Work nine more to complete the row.

Half treble – Make 12 chain. Yarn round hook, insert the hook in the third chain from the hook, yarn round hook and draw yarn through (three loops on hook) yarn round hook and draw yarn through all the loops on the hook. This makes one half treble.

Half treble requires two turning chain.

Treble - Make 12 chain. Yarn round hook, insert hook in the fourth chain from the hook, yarn round hook and draw yarn through (three loops on hook), yarn round hook and draw through the first two loops (two loops on hook), yarn round hook and draw yarn through both loops. This makes one treble.

Treble requires three turning chain.

July 13, 2009

Crochet – Know How

Filed under: Knitting — Tags: , , , , , , — @ 3:45 am

Holding The Work

All crochet stitches are based on the principle of drawing one hoop through another. The hook is held in the right hand. Left-handed people may find they can learn to crochet using their right hand.

  • Begin by making a slip loop at the end of the yarn.
  • Hold the hook in the right hand like a pencil. Put the hook through the loop and pull the yarn tight.
  • Wind the yarn round the little finger of the left hand across the palm and behind the forefinger.
  • Hold the loop at its base, close to the hook between the thumb and forefinger.

The Stitches

  • Chain – Take the hook under the yarn and then from the back over the top, hook the yarn and pull it through the hoop. This is described as ‘yarn round hook’. This makes one chain. Repeat moving your hold up the work as you go.
  • Foundation Chain – Crochet usually begins with a length of chain into which the first row of stitches is worked, this is called the foundation chain. The hook is inserted into the centre of the last chain stitch, there will be two threads above the hook and one below.
  • Turning Chain – Because crochet stitches are worked from the top down, chain are used to take the yarn up to the top of the work at the beginning of each row. These are called turning chain.  The turning chain acts as the first stitch of the row.

Practice these stitches for a while, some more stitches will be introduced tomorrow. :)

July 4, 2009

Knitting and Crocheting continued……

Filed under: Knitting — Tags: , — @ 6:27 am

Hand-knitting requires two or more needles and usually a single yarn. More needles and yarn are sometimes used for different effects. Knitting produces a fabric with interlocking loops if the yarn is broken the fabric can come undone.

Some Symbols Used in Knitting Patterns

  • K = knit
  • P = purl
  • inc = increase
  • dec = decrease
  • beg = beginning
  • yrn = yarn
  • y fwd = yarn forward
  • st = stitch
  • tog = together
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • psso = pass slip stitch over
  • rep = repeat
  • alt = alternate

Knitted Animals

Requirements

1 ball of 4-6 ply yarn, 1 pair no. 9 needles

Directions

1. Cast 40 stitches (less if using thicker wool) knit until work measures 10cm. Fasten off.

2. Join to make a cylinder 10cm long

3. Gather in one end by using running stitches. Secure to close end.

4. Stuff with cotton wadding or other filling. Gather in other end, secure to form   a ball.

5. Add trimming to make selected animal; eg. spider, bee, chicken, octopus.

6. Use felt pieces, pipe cleaners or feathers etc.

These are quick and easy to make, the kids will have a great time on rainy Sunday afternoons. A great opportunity to be creative and spend quality time together. Make six to eight brightly coloured animals and turn them in to a beautiful mobile.

July 3, 2009

Knitting and Crocheting….a forgotten art.

Filed under: Knitting — Tags: , — @ 3:16 am

I remember my grandmother teaching me to knit and crochet, I have yet to teach my daughters. I remember every winter as a child I would start to crochet a new rainbow coloured rug. I have such wonderful memories of sitting with my nan as she told me stories and showed me how to wrap the yarn around the needle. Keeping warm with the ever growing rug on my lap I attempted to make an even bigger rug every winter. I loved it but who of us has the time now, still I think if you can find the time your daughters will enjoy it just as much as I did. You may also create more than just a rainbow coloured rug you may create some cherished memories for your little girls.

The Rainbow Coloured Rug

Any kind of wool is fine depending on the type or style of rug you prefer. Have a design or style in mind before you begin and try to keep the thickness of the wool consistent. When crocheting the Rainbow coloured rug you will use the granny square stitch. This starts with a 5 stitch chain and use a slip stitch to close and form a circle. Chain 3 then 2 crochet stitches in between, repeat 3 times to begin to build a square, double up in the corners.

Really anything goes with this rug but if you want an eye catching finished product have enough colour to finish each round, keep your wool type consistent and blend colours nicely.

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