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New Series – Crochet for Knitters!

Even if you’ve never crocheted before, being at least a little bit handy with a crochet hook will only make your knitting better!

We’re jumpstarting this series with three Crochet for Knitters videos. The first is an intro, then we go on to the two most basic stitches – chain stitch, and single crochet.

More Crochet for Knitters videos in the weeks to come!

Information on things you’ll see in these videos:

The sweater on the mannequin is the Saroyan Scarf, designed by Liz Abinante. Free pattern and video tutorial here.

The sweater I’m wearing is the Featherweight Cardigan. I knit mine with Malabrigo Lace yarn.

The yarn I’m using for demonstration is Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick, and the size N metal crochet hook is Susan Bates.

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Saroyan Scarf

This lovely scarf, called Saroyan, is designed by Liz Abinante of feministy.com. After receiving a ton of requests for this, I’m happy to offer this video tutorial on Liz’s design. (Note – feministy.com appears to be down this morning, and I’ve let Liz know. Please check her website again later. The free pattern is still available via the Ravelry link below!)

This pattern is a FREE RAVELRY DOWNLOAD. The video below will walk you through the trickier parts of the lace.

Size: any length you like – the recommended yarn and gauge will give you about a six-foot long scarf
Needles: Size 10 US (6.0mm), circulars or straights
Yarn: about 350-400 yards of worsted (10 ply) yarn. For the green scarf, I used 2 hanks of Madeline Tosh Tosh Vintage in color “Jade”. For the blue scarf, Liz used Femme Fatale Fibers Venus Worsted
Additional Materials: a row counter is a good idea, you’ll also need a tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: 4 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch

Links to things you’ll see in this video:

The scarf on the mannequin is my Spiral Scarf, free pattern and video tutorial.

The yarn I used on my green finished Saroyan Scarf is Madeline Tosh, Tosh Vintage, in color “Jade”.

The red yarn I’m using to demonstrate is Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick-n-Quick.

The double-pointed needles I use for demonstration are made by Inox.

Information about the stitch markers, blocking board, and green row counter can be found on my Frequently Asked Questions page.

Slower, detailed demonstrations of the different stitches in this pattern can be found on my Techniques page.

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2 Socks at-a-Time, Magic Loop

After receiving many requests, here you go! This tutorial demonstrates how to knit two socks at-a-time, using magic loop – or one long circular needle to knit both socks.

This pattern is packed full. In the download, you will receive:
1. Two patterns – one uses worsted-weight yarn, the other uses sock-weight yarn.
2. Two sizes – each pattern has sizes for both men and women.
3. Both charted and written instructions for the heel, so you can choose your favorite.
4. Links to a five-part instructional video (video is viewable at the bottom of this post).

Once you learn the techniques I demonstrate here, you can easily use your new skills to work any sock pattern this way. Additionally, I believe I have invented a new way to work a heel – and once you learn this heel, you can easily substitute it in other patterns. (If you have seen this heel elsewhere, let me know. I haven’t!)

For the worsted-weight version:
Size: Medium (to fit any size woman’s foot, average width), Large (to fit any size man’s foot, average width)
Needles: Size 6 US (4mm) circular needles, at least 24” in length (longer is better); you will also need two additional needles in the same size or close to it for the cast-on (I like to use two double-pointed needles)
Yarn: at least 200 yards of worsted-weight yarn, wound into two equally-sized balls. (For a longer sock, especially in the men’s size, you may want more than 200 yards of yarn.)
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: 6 stitches per inch in stockinette, unstretched

For the sock-weight version:
Size: Medium (to fit any size woman’s foot, average width), Large (to fit any size man’s foot, average width)
Needles: Size 1 US (2.5mm) circular needles, at least 24” in length (longer is better); you will also need two additional needles in the same size or close to it for the cast-on (I like to use two double-pointed needles)
Yarn: at least 400 yards of sock-weight yarn, wound into two equally-sized balls (I used Hazel Knits Piquant Lite in color “Arroyo”)
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: 8 stitches per inch in stockinette, unstretched

Pattern + links to 5-part instructional videos $10 US via PayPal

Links to things you’ll see in this video:

Beautiful green circular needles (size 6 US, 32″) are by Signature Needle Arts.

The yarn I use in the sock-weight socks is Hazel Knits Piquant Lite in color “Arroyo”.

The Spiral Scarf on the mannequin is a free pattern and video tutorial.

The worsted weight yarn I use for demonstrating is Ella Rae Classic, color “Plum”.

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Steam Blocking

This is a handy technique that I talk about and use all the time! It’s super useful for smoothing out your knitting prior to seaming knitted pieces together.

Links to things you’ll see in this video:

The mannequin is wearing my Spiral Scarf, free pattern and video tutorial.

The sleeve sample I use for demonstration is my Ombre Dyed Sweater, pattern and video tutorial.

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Moebius Basketweave Cowl

Just one skein of yarn, a few hours of knitting, and a quick seam! Free pattern + free video tutorial.

Size: approximately 40” long (before seaming into a moebius) and 7” wide
Needles: Size 15 US, 24” or 32” circulars
Yarn: One skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick (a super bulky weight yarn), 106 yards (The colors I used were Cranberry and Charcoal)
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming
Gauge: 2.5 stitches per inch in stockinette

This pattern is a FREE RAVELRY DOWNLOAD, and the video can be viewed at the bottom of this post. (There are also links to the three parts of the video in the pattern.)

I am getting many questions about modifying this pattern. It’s a simple pattern and easy to modify. Here are some guidelines:

You can use any yarn/needle combination you like. To knit the pattern as written, you will need to find a yarn/needle combination that gives you 2.5 stitches per inch. (You can also get gauge by holding more than one strand of thinner yarn together.) If you would like to use a different gauge, you can knit a swatch, measure your stitches per inch, then determine how many you will need to cast-on to get 40″ total length. Remember, you will need to cast on a multiple of 4, plus 2 extra stitches for the seam.

If you use a different yarn weight and gauge, here is how you can determine the yardage you will need. Start with a full skein/ball of yarn, and measure that on a kitchen scale. Knit the first 5 rows of the pattern, and measure the yarn again. Subtract the weight of the used skein from the weight of the full skein. This number is 1/4 of the number of grams/ounces you will need to finish the cowl. If your gauge is considerably smaller and you’d like to work more than 20 rows, you will need to double the weight of the first 5 rows, then multiply it by as many 10 row repeats as you’d like to work.

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Weaving in Ends in Seed Stitch

Weaving in the ends in seed stitch can be tricky – you want the end secure, but you also want to try to hide it as much as possible in the patterned fabric. Here’s how I like to do it.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The sweater I’m wearing is my Ombre Dyed Sweater, pattern + video tutorial.

The sweater on the mannequin is my Zasio Sweater Coat, pattern + video tutorial.

I don’t remember the name of the yarn I used in the seed stitch sample, but I do remember that it is a chunky wool/alpaca blend, and very soft!

My nail color is by OPI, called “Every Month is Oktoberfest”.

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Advanced Tinking

“Tink” is the word “knit” backwards, and “tinking” means to take out stitches, stitch-by-stitch, to correct a mistake. In this video I demonstrate how to tink back when the stitches aren’t as straightforward as plain knit stitches. This technique will be especially helpful if you need to tink back through a cable or lace pattern.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The sweater I’m wearing is my Ombre Dyed Sweater, pattern + video tutorial.

The sweater on the mannequin is my Zasio Sweater Coat, pattern + video tutorial.

The patterned project bag on the table is by dellaQ Knitting Bags and Cases.

The circular needles I’m using are Addi Turbos, available through many online knitting supply stores.

I don’t remember the name of the green yarn I’m using, but it’s a bulky wool/alpaca blend.

My nail color is by OPI, called “Every Month is Oktoberfest”.

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Simple Magic Loop

Most of us find that we don’t always have the correct size of circular needle, in the correct length, for every project. Knowing how to work magic loop will allow you to use a long circular needle to knit a small circumference tube. This is especially helpful if you have an interchangeable needle set, which doesn’t come with 16″ cords!

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The sweater I’m wearing is my Ombre Dyed Sweater, pattern + video tutorial.

The sweater on the mannequin is my Zasio Sweater Coat, pattern + video tutorial.

The patterned project bag on the table is by dellaQ Knitting Bags and Cases.

The circular needles I’m using are Addi Turbos, available through many online knitting supply stores.

The yarn I’m working with is Rowan Magpie Aran, color name “Tranquil”. (I do not believe that Rowan is making this yarn anymore.)

My nail color is by OPI, called “Every Month is Oktoberfest”.

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