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Giveaway! “Embrace the Swatch” Knitting Bag and Mug

Note – feel free to comment here, but to enter the contest, you must comment ON THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE. Thanks!

Please watch the entire video for instructions on how to enter the giveaway. This contest is open to international viewers (customs charges may apply outside the US). The contest is open until March 27, 2013; and the winner will be announced in video on March 28, 2013.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

My Zazzle shop with “Embrace the Swatch” tshirts, mugs, and knitting bags can be found here.

The “Embrace the Swatch” logo was designed by TJ Morris of Toonicatures.

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

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

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Reading Your Knitting

Reading is fundamental! Recognizing knit stitches and purl stitches, and learning how to count them makes finding your place much easier.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The super big sample I’m using is knit with roving. Similar products can be found here.

The size US 35/19mm needles I’m using are Chiaogoo wood needles.

The sweater I’m wearing (not my design) is called Harvest Moon.
And I knit it with Berroco Blackstone Tweed in color Wintry Mix.

The sweater on the mannequin is my Women’s Zippered Letterman’s Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

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Crochet for Knitters – Rugged Ripples Blanket

Get your free copy of the pattern HERE.

Many thanks to Stephanie Gage of Spinning Colors for allowing us to use her pattern in this tutorial. Be sure to visit her shop, Spinning Colors, where she sells hand-crafted yarns.
She also has other patterns on Ravelry.

Info on things you’ll see in this video:

The yarn I used in my blue blanket is Berroco Vintage.
The finished size of my blanket is 40″ x 58″ and I used 9 100 gram hanks of Berroco Vintage, three hanks of each color.

The yarn I used in the bulky sample where I’m demonstrating is Berroco Peruvia Quick.

The scarf I’m wearing is the Clapotis.
Knit with Noro Silk Garden in colorway #87.

The scarf on the mannequin is Cozy.
Knit in Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino.

The red nail polish I’m wearing is OPI, in color Chick Flick Cherry. The polish on my sparkly accent nail is OPI, in color The Living Daylights.

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Crochet for Knitters – Spiked Edging

One of my favorite ways to work crochet into your knitting is with crocheted edgings. Here I show you how to work a spiked edge.

Crochet instructions for the spiked edging:
This edging looks best if you do it in a contrasting color. *Single crochet into 2 stitches, then make a “spike” by inserting your hook into the stitch below (or lower). Grab the yarn and pull up 1 loop, grab the yarn again and pull through two remaining loops. Skip next stitch. Repeat from *.

Knitting instructions for the long moss stitch:
CO an even number of stitches.
Row 1 (WS): *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row
Row 2: *P1, K1*, repeat to end of row
Row 3: *P1, K1*, repeat to end of row
Row 4: *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row
Row 5: *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row
Repeat Rows 2-4 to desired length. BO in pattern on RS of work.

Info on things you’ll see in this video:

The yarn I used in the blue sample is Berroco Vintage.

The yarn I used in the bulky sample where I’m demonstrating the stitch is Berroco Peruvia Quick.

The scarf I’m wearing is the Clapotis.
Knit with Noro Silk Garden in colorway #87.

The scarf on the mannequin is Cozy.
Knit in Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino.

The red nail polish I’m wearing is OPI, in color Chick Flick Cherry. The polish on my sparkly accent nail is OPI, in color The Living Daylights.

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Crochet for Knitters – Picot Edging

One of my favorite ways to work crochet into your knitting is with crocheted edgings. Here I show you how to work a simple picot edging.

Crochet instructions for the picot edging:
Single crochet into 2 stitches, chain 3 (or 5). Insert your hook into the left leg
of the first chain. Grab the yarn and pull up one loop. (Two loops on hook). Grab the
yarn again and pull through both loops on hook to close with a single crochet. Skip
next stitch, and repeat from beginning.

Knitting instructions for the long moss stitch:
CO an even number of stitches.
Row 1 (WS): *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row
Row 2: *P1, K1*, repeat to end of row
Row 3: *P1, K1*, repeat to end of row
Row 4: *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row
Row 5: *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row
Repeat Rows 2-4 to desired length. BO in pattern on RS of work.

Info on things you’ll see in this video:

The yarn I used in the blue sample is Berroco Vintage.

The yarn I used in the bulky sample where I’m demonstrating the stitch is Berroco Peruvia Quick.

The scarf I’m wearing is the Clapotis.
Knit with Noro Silk Garden in colorway #87.

The scarf on the mannequin is Cozy.
Knit in Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino.

The red nail polish I’m wearing is OPI, in color Chick Flick Cherry. The polish on my sparkly accent nail is OPI, in color The Living Daylights.

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Crochet for Knitters – Scalloped Edge

One of my favorite ways to work crochet into your knitting is with crocheted edgings. Here I show you how to work a simple scalloped edge.

Crochet instructions for the scalloped edge:
Single crochet into 1 stitch, *skip 2 stitches, 5 double crochets into next stitch, skip next 2 stitches, single crochet into next stitch, repeat from *. End by working a slip stitch into first single crochet. Note — at the corners of a square, work your count so that you work the double crochet stitches in the corner. I found that working 8 single crochets (instead of 5) made a nice corner.

Knitting instructions for the long moss stitch:
CO an even number of stitches.
Row 1 (WS): *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row
Row 2: *P1, K1*, repeat to end of row
Row 3: *P1, K1*, repeat to end of row
Row 4: *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row
Row 5: *K1, P1*, repeat to end of row
Repeat Rows 2-5 to desired length. BO in pattern on RS of work.

Info on things you’ll see in this video:

The yarn I used in the blue sample is Berroco Vintage.

The yarn I used in the bulky sample where I’m demonstrating the stitch is Berroco Peruvia Quick.

The scarf I’m wearing is the Clapotis.
Knit with Noro Silk Garden in colorway #87.

The scarf on the mannequin is Cozy.
Knit in Lana Grossa Cool Wool Merino.

The red nail polish I’m wearing is OPI, in color Chick Flick Cherry. The polish on my sparkly accent nail is OPI, in color The Living Daylights.

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Crochet for Knitters – Half-Double Crochet Stitch

Half-way in height between a single crochet and a double crochet stitch, we have the half-double stitch. A pretty, compact stitch that looks like it’s made of little fans.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

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

The sweater I’m wearing is the Featherweight Cardigan.
I knit mine using 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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Crochet for Knitters – Double Chain Stitch

Looking for a quick alternative to knitting icord? This might be your answer!

The entire Crochet for Knitters Series can be found here.

More Crochet for Knitters videos in the weeks to come!

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

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

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

The yarn I’m using for demonstration is Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick, and the size N (10mm) metal crochet hook is Susan Bates.

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Crochet for Knitters – Granny Square Blanket

Size: Any size, each finished block of 6 rounds in the gauge below is approximately 6” square
Hook: Size H crochet hook (5mm)
Yarn: Three colors of worsted weight (10 ply) yarn (info on yardage amounts below)
Additional Materials: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: 4 double crochet stitches per inch

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

Typical Blanket Sizes: A baby blanket (at 42” square), will require 49 granny square blocks (7 blocks by 7 blocks). A throw blanket (at 48” x 66”) will require 88 granny squares (8 blocks by 11 blocks). A king-sized bedspread (at 90” square) will require 225 granny square blocks (15 blocks by 15 blocks). You can use the information in the pattern to make any size of blanket.

Yardage: In the gauge listed above, each granny square will require approximately 32 yards of yarn. In the photo above and in the video, I change color every two rounds.

For a 42” square baby blanket, 49 granny squares, changing color every two rounds:
• Color A (center of square), 220 yards
• Color B, 588 yards
• Color C (becomes border color for each square), 760 yards

For a 48” x 66” throw, 88 granny squares, changing color every two rounds:
• Color A (center of square), 396 yards
• Color B, 1056 yards
• Color C (becomes border color for each square), 1364 yards

For a 90” square king-sized bedspread, 225 granny square blocks, changing color every two rounds:
• Color A (center of square), 1012 yards
• Color B, 2700 yards
• Color C (becomes border color for each square), 3488 yards

Note: Working in a different gauge will require different yardage amounts. You can work up a single granny square and measure the amount you will need if you choose to use a different yarn weight and/or hook size.

The entire Crochet for Knitters Series can be found here.

More Crochet for Knitters videos in the weeks to come!

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The yarn I used for the granny squares in the photo above (pink, cream, and green) is Berroco Vintage. (Sorry, I don’t have the information on the color numbers I used.)

In the multi-colored, single (giant!) granny square block I show in the video, I used a size G (4mm) crochet hook and Knit Picks Palette yarn.

The yarn I used while demonstrating seaming in the pink colorway is Three Irish Girls Riddermark Merino.

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

The sweater I’m wearing is the Featherweight Cardigan. I knit mine using 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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Crochet for Knitters – Making a Chain Ring

A crocheted chain ring is the starting point for many different projects. For knitters, this is where we can really start to see one of the benefits of crochet (alone, and in combination with our knitting) – creating shapes in crochet is much easier than it is in knitting.

The other Crochet for Knitters videos can be found here.

More Crochet for Knitters videos in the weeks to come – next week we will start our first project!

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

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

The sweater I’m wearing is the Featherweight Cardigan.
I knit mine using 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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