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I Recommend…

Or “VeryPink Recommends”…

I get dozens of questions a day asking about knitting supplies that I recommend. My producer, Parker, has done a nice thing and cataloged my favorite and most-used items on this Page.

These are tried-and-true items, and things that I choose to use, after testing just about every product on the market. There are two items that I use every day that aren’t available on Amazon, so I’ll list them here:
Blocking Board
Pink Notions Case

You might notice that there is one item on there that has nothing to do with knitting. That’s the pedometer I use. Ten thousand steps a day! After I had several requests on Facebook about which pedometer I was using, we added it to the list.

I hope this helps you to make good buying decisions! I know it can be stressful to put your money down for knitting supplies that you aren’t sure that you will like. The items on my list are truly what I use each and every day for both professional and personal knitting.

Dang. This post needs a photo. Here are my dogs.

ChiefsofState

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Giveaway! Mountain Meadow Wool Dryer Balls

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), March 5th, 2014; and the winner will be announced in video on March 6th, 2014. The winning comment will be chosen by random number generator.

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

You can purchase your own set of Mountain Meadow Wool Dryer Balls here.

To learn more about this product, here is a very cute video from Mountain Meadow Wool.

The poncho on the mannequin is my Rodeo Drive Poncho, pattern + video tutorial.

The green scarf I’m wearing is Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

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Fancy Stitch Combo – Corded Rib

Instructions for working this stitch:
Cast-on a multiple of 4 stitches, plus 2
Every Row: K1, *SSK, M1L, P2*, repeat between *s to last stitch, K1
Repeat this row to desired length, BO in 2×2 rib.

To work this stitch in-the-round:
Cast-on a multiple of 4 stitches
Round 1: *SSK, M1L, P2*, repeat between *s to end of round
Round 2: *K2, M1R purlwise, P2tog*, repeat between *s to end of round
Repeat these rounds to desired length, BO in 2×2 rib.

A slow demonstration of the SSK stitch can be found here:

A slow demonstration of the Make 1 stitch can be found here:

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The poncho on the mannequin is my Rodeo Drive Poncho, pattern + video tutorial.

The scarf I’m wearing is called Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

The yarn I use for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

The bamboo needles I’m using in the video are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Asphalt”.

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Fancy Stitch Combo – Dropped Stitch Scrunch

Instructions for working this stitch:
CO a multiple of 3 stitches, plus 2
Rows 1, 3, and 5 (WS): K2, *P1, K2*, repeat between *s to end of row
Rows 2 and 4: P2, *K1, P2*, repeat between *s to end of row
Row 6: P2, *allow next stitch (a knit) to drop off the left needle, and unravel it for 4 rows, so that there are 4 “ladder rungs” above it. Put your right needle into that stitch from front to back, and knit through that stitch. After you complete the stitch, you’ll see that all of the “ladder rungs” are also caught up in the stitch, creating the scrunch, P2*, repeat between *s to end of row
Bind-off after Row 6.

Instructions for working this stitch in-the-round:
CO a multiple of 3 stitches
Rounds 1-5: *P2, K1*, repeat between *s to end of round
Round 6: *P2, allow next stitch (a knit) to drop off the left needle, and unravel it for 4 rows, so that there are 4 “ladder rungs” above it. Put your right needle into that stitch from front to back, and knit through that stitch. After you complete the stitch, you’ll see that all of the “ladder rungs” are also caught up in the stitch, creating the scrunch*, repeat between *s to end of round
Bind-off after Round 6.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The poncho on the mannequin is my Rodeo Drive Poncho, pattern + video tutorial.

The scarf I’m wearing is called Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

The yarn I use for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

The yarn I used for the worsted-weight green sample is Be Sweet Whipped Cream, mohair/wool/silk blend, in color “Moss”.

The bamboo needles I use are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Asphalt”.

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Russian Join

You’re knitting along, and you run out of yarn. There are a few ways to attach a new ball – you can spit splice, just tie a knot, or try this technique – the Russian Join. The Russian Join is ideal when you’re working with a cotton or acrylic yarn that will not felt (for spit splicing).

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The poncho on the mannequin is my Rodeo Drive Poncho, pattern + video tutorial.

The scarf I’m wearing is called Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

The yarn I use for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Asphalt”.

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Changing a Knit to a Purl

Yikes! You’re knitting along, and suddenly you notice that a few rows back, you knit a stitch that should have been purled (or vice versa). Instead of ripping out entire rows to make the correction, here is how to drop a single column and make that K a P, or P a K.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The sweater on the mannequin is my Easy-Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing is the Clapotis pattern, knit with Noro Silk Garden yarn.

The super bulky yarn I’m using for demonstration is Lion Brand Hometown USA. The needles I’m using are Clover Bamboo DPNs.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Midnight Swim”.

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Russian Bind-Off

To work the Russian Bind-Off:
1. Knit 2
2. Slip both stitches back to left needle
3. Knit two together
4. Knit 1
Repeat Steps 2-4 across all stitches, until just one stitch is left.
Break yarn, pull end through last loop and tighten.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The sweater on the mannequin is my Easy-Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing is the Clapotis pattern, knit with Noro Silk Garden yarn.

The yarn I used in the samples is Malabrigo Chunky, in color Polar Morn. The needles I’m using are Clover Bamboo DPNs.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Midnight Swim”.

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Winner Announced! Knitter’s Pride Interchangeable Sampler Set

If you didn’t win this time, this needle set can be purchased here.

In the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride retailer here.
Outside the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride (Knit Pro) retailer here.

The random number generator I used to pick the winner can be found here.

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel – new knitting video every week, and more giveaways coming soon!

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There’s a Knot in My Yarn!

You’re knitting happily along, and BOOM! You see that there is an ugly knot in your yarn, that has to be dealt with. Here are a couple of ways to cut out and get past that knot, so that your knitting doesn’t suffer for it.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The sweater on the mannequin is my Easy-Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing is the Clapotis pattern, knit with Noro Silk Garden yarn.

I’m not 100% sure of the yarn I used in the sample – it is probably Cascade 220. The needles I’m using are Clover Bamboo DPNs.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Midnight Swim”.

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Giveaway! Knitter’s Pride Comby Interchangeable Sampler 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), January 15th, 2014; and the winner will be announced in video on January 16th, 2014. The winning comment will be chosen by random number generator.

You are welcome to comment here on this blog post, but to enter the contest, your comment needs to be on the YouTube watch page HERE.

This needle set can be purchased online here.

In the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride retailer here.
Outside the US and Canada, you can find a Knitter’s Pride (Knit Pro) retailer here.

The sweater on the mannequin is my Easy Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing is the Clapotis, knit in Noro Silk Garden.