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Stellar Swatching

Some tips and tricks for swatching, including how to knit an in-the-round swatch on a small, flat piece.

The yarns I used for the swatches is Australian Superfine Merino by Cleckheaton. For more information (including info on free shipping), visit their website.

cleckheaton

The colors of Cleckheaton yarn I used are Soft Blue, Mid Navy, Coral, and Smoke.

Instructions for knitting the stockinette swatch:
(The number that your pattern lists as stitches over 4 inches = X)
Cast-on X, plus 10
Bottom Border: Knit every row for 9 rows (you will have 5 garter stitch ridges)
Row 1 (RS): Knit across all stitches
Row 2: K 5, P “X”, K 5
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you’ve worked the number of rows in your pattern states as 4 inches.
Top Border: Knit every row for 10 rows (5 garter stitch ridges)
Bind off.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The cowl I’m wearing is a new free pattern which will be released December 17 – watch for it!

The stitch pattern for the cabled coral swatch is called “Windswept”; from Vogue Knitting Stitchionary, Volume 2, Cables.

The stitch pattern for the diagonal lacy pattern is called “Slanting Open-Work Stitch”; from Interweave Press Harmony Guides, Lace & Eyelets.

The little bamboo marking pins I use can be found here.

The circular needles I use in the video are by Knitter’s Pride/Knit Pro.

The watch ring I’m wearing is by Davis, and can be found here.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Lupita”.

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Giveaway! Knitter’s Pride Nova Cubics Interchangeable Set

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to US and international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until 12:01 am (US Central Time), December 10, 2014; and the winner will be announced in video on December 11, 2014. The winning comment will be chosen by random number generator.

You are welcome to comment here, but you must click through to the video on YouTube to enter the contest.

Since not everyone can win, you can purchase your own set of these needles here.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The sweater I’m wearing is a free pattern + video tutorial, which can be found here.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Malala”.

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Correcting Gaps in Socks

Cuff-down or toe-up, there is always a chance that you’ll get a hole in your socks right where the heel meets the rest of the sock. Here’s how to keep that from happening.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The yarn I’m using in my socks is Knit Picks Hawthorne Fingering, in color Irvington. One hank of this yarn = one pair of adult socks.

The sock pattern I’m using is a basic toe-up pattern from Knitty.

The needles I’m using are Addis, size US 1 (2.5mm), 40″ circulars.

The sweater I’m wearing is a free pattern + video tutorial.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Malala”.

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Kick-Off the Holidays Sale

kickoff sale MD

Buy any two patterns, get the third one free. Just put three patterns in your cart, and one of them will be zero dollars. 🙂 Feel free to share with your knitting/crocheting friends.

May I suggest Learn to Knit a Christmas Stocking, or learn some new techniques with one of my Sock Tutorials. My new Bulky Sleep Socks tutorial makes for quick holiday gifts, and my Rodeo Drive Poncho will add some luxury to your winter wardrobe. The classic Learn to Knit a Men’s Sweater is a big hit with the guys.

You can shop here from my website, or visit my Ravelry Store directly. Promotion is good through Friday, November 28.

Stay warm, my friends!
S t a c i

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Pinhole Cast-On

The Pinhole Cast-On can be used when working just a few stitches on double-pointed needles, and it is unique in that it can be tightened, leaving no hole or gap in the very center of your work.

The pattern for the square swatches I show in the video is as follows:
CO 8 stitches, divide between 4 double-pointed needles, then K around all stitches.
Row 1: KFB all stitches
Row 2: K around all stitches
Row 3: *KFB, K2, KFB*, repeat on other 3 needles
Row 4: K around all stitches
Row 5: *KFB, K to last stitch, KFB*, repeat on other 3 needles
Row 6: K around all stitches
Repeat Rows 5 and 6 to desired size, BO normally.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The double-pointed needles I’m using are Knitter’s Pride Bamboo.

The bulky yarn I use for demonstration and on the finished piece is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky, in colors Yonder, Crush, and Silver.

The sweater I’m wearing is a free pattern + video tutorial, which can be found here.

The French Market Bag I mention in the video is a free pattern (not my design) and can be found here.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Malala”.

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Crochet for Knitters – Tunisian Stripes Blanket

Tunisian Stripes SM cropped

Size: 36” wide by 40” long (easily modified, info on modifying below and in free pattern)
Hook: Size K (6.5mm) Tunisian crochet hook with 24” cord attached, additional 40” cord, two end stoppers (scrap yarn can be used instead of 40” cord)
Yarn: Any worsted weight yarn in three colors, 660 yards each color, plus one extra skein in your color of choice for fringe (details below on the yarns I used)
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for cross stitching design and weaving ends
Gauge: 3.5 stitches and 3.5 rows per inch

Pattern + links to four-part video tutorial is a FREE RAVELRY DOWNLOAD.

Tippy blanket SM

INFORMATION ON MODIFYING PATTERN
You can make this blanket any size, using any yarn weight or hook size you like, as long as you like the fabric you are creating.

To determine your starting chain number, you’ll knit to make a swatch. Using the yarn and hook size you’d like to use, chain 20 (or so), and work up a small sample. Bind-off and wash swatch, then either block or dry the swatch as you will the finished blanket. (If you choose a machine washable and dryable yarn, you can machine wash and dry the swatch.) Then measure the number of stitches you’re getting per inch, and make note of that number.

Multiply that number by the number of inches wide you’d like your finished blanket, and use that number as your starting chain number. Here are some standard blanket sizes from About.com:
Crib: 45 by 60 inches
Twin/Throw: 66 by 90 inches
Double: 80 by 90 inches
Queen: 90 by 90 to 100 inches
King: 108 by 90 to 100 inches

An easy way to determine the amount of yarn you’ll need if you’re modifying the size is to work up your first stripe, and make note of how much yarn you used. There are 11 stripes total in the blanket. Remember to allow enough yarn for a wider Center Panel, and allow extra for fringe.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The interchangeable Tunisian Crochet hooks I’m using can be found here.

The yarn used in the pink/blue/green blanket is Knit Picks Brava Worsted, Blush – 3 skeins, Sky – 4 skeins (extra skein for fringe), Mint – 3 skeins

The yarn used in the Sock Monkey colors blanket is Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted, Cranberry – 3 skeins (extra skein for fringe), Oxford Grey – 2 skeins, Wheat – 3 skeins

The sweater I’m wearing is a free pattern + video tutorial.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Malala”.

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Giveaway! Knitter’s Pride Interchangeable Tunisian Crochet Hook Set

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to US and international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until 12:01 am (US Central Time), November 12, 2014; and the winner will be announced in video on November 13, 2014. The winning email address will be chosen by random number generator.

(For mobile device users, here’s the link provided within the video that you’ll probably need: https://verypink.com/subscribe-stay-current/)

Since not everyone can win, you can purchase your own set of these hooks here.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The sweater I’m wearing is a free pattern + video tutorial.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Malala”.

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Bulky Sleep Socks Tutorial

bulky socks SM
Cold feet? These bulky slipper socks, made of wool, are just the ticket to keep your feet warm all winter. They also knit up quickly, and therefore make good holiday gifts. Even if you’ve never knit socks before, the bulky yarn makes these toe-up socks easy, and will teach you the skills necessary to knit other toe-up socks patterns.

3 sm
Sizes: Kids, Women, Men – any shoe size
Needles: Size 9 US double-pointed needles (5.5mm)
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky, one hank each in two colors (smallest size won’t use all of the yarn). Wind the main color (MC) into two equally-sized balls.
Additional Materials: size K crochet hook, tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
Gauge: 4 stitches per inch

Yarn Note: Worsted-weight yarn, (also called “4”, “Medium”, or “10-ply”) held double-stranded, can be used instead of bulky yarn. Just be sure to check your gauge.

Pattern + links to four-part video tutorial $8 US via PayPal. addtocart

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The yarn in my finished socks is the same yarn I use for demonstration, which is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky. The colors you see in the video are:
Crush (pink)
Silver (gray)
Yonder (blue)
Avocado (green)

The sweater I’m wearing is a free pattern and tutorial.

The needles I use for demonstration are Knitter’s Pride Bamboo.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Malala”.

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Sweater Progress, Day 21

Day 21 sm

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen the photos I’ve been posting of the progress of my “recreational” knitting project. The sweater is finished, so I’m giving a rundown of all of the photos, showing the progress.

Here is some info about the sweater (and no, I don’t have any plans to do a tutorial on this pattern)…the pattern is Cold Breath, knit with Malabrigo Rios in color Pearl Ten. The needles I used are Knitter’s Pride Nova Cubics interchangeables. I have some pattern notes at the bottom of the post, after the photos.

Day 1 sm

Day 2 sm

Day 3 sm

Day 4 sm

Day 7 sm

Day 8 sm

day 9 sm

Day 11 sm

Day 12 sm

Day 14 sm

Day 19 sm

Notes on my experience with knitting this sweater:
– If you ever want to take photos of a sweater progress, don’t choose eggplant purple! This color was difficult to photograph.

– The pattern was well-written, and easy to understand. I’d put the knitting skill level at intermediate, meaning probably not a good first sweater for a newer knitter.

– The yarn was a dream to work with.

– The sweater ended up fitting me well, without any alterations. That never happens to me, as I’m nearly 6′ tall…petite women might want to shorten the length and sleeves.

– The sleeves, especially at the top of the arms, are pretty snug (as you can see in the Day 9 photo). They fit me, but my arms are kind of spindly – I can see them being uncomfortably snug for many women.

– I’m really happy with the sweater except for one thing – the cables along the shoulder didn’t flatten out much, and it kind of looks like I’m wearing shoulder pads. I think it’s probably due to the “loftiness” of the yarn I chose. I’m going to try steam blocking the cables to see if I can get them to flatten out a bit.

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Cropped Raglan Cardi Tutorial

cardi vp2

In this tutorial sponsored by Lion Brand Yarns, I walk you though knitting this versatile raglan cardigan. Get your free copy of the pattern here on the Lion Brand website. Important note – the pattern uses Lion Brand Organic Cotton Yarn, which has been discontinued. In my sweater, I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease.

Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, 1X, 2X
Actual Sweater Bust Measurement: 35 (38, 41, 44, 48) in. [89 (96.5, 104, 112, 122) cm]
Finished Length: 14 (15½, 17½, 19, 20½) in. [35.5 (39.5, 44.5, 48.5, 52) cm]
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease, 3 (3, 4, 5, 6) skeins
Needles: Size 7 and 8 US (4.5mm and 5mm) circular needles, 24″ or 32″ long
Gauge: 18 sts + 24 rows = 4″ (10cm) using larger needle size and stockinette stitch (knit a row, purl a row)
Additional Materials: 4 stitch markers, tapestry needle for weaving ends
Note: Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning.

To find a Lion Brand retailer near you, visit their website here.

Instructions for knitting the gauge swatch I show in the video:
Using the larger needle size, cast-on 28 stitches, work 5 ridges of garter stitch (9 knit rows).
Row 1: K across all stitches
Row 2: K 5, P to last 5 stitches, K 5
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until stockinette part measures 4″.
Work 5 garter stitch ridges (knit all rows), and bind-off.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The yarn I used for my sweater is Lion Brand Wool-Ease in color Oxford Grey.

The yarn I use for demonstration in the tiny sweater is Lion Brand Wool-Ease in color Mushroom.

The circular needles I use for demonstration are Knitter’s Pride Nova Interchangeable circulars.

The stitch markers are made by this seller on etsy.

The nail polish I’m wearing is by Julep, color “Malala”.

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