Learn to Knit a Sweater – Woman’s T-shirt
Summertime knitting, and no prior sweater knitting experience needed!
This sweater is a top-down raglan style, knit in a light summery yarn. Learning to knit (and fit) this style of sweater will set you up to knit all kinds of other patterns. I’ve sized this sweater from XS to 3X.
Sizes: XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X) [Actual bust measurements 29” (32”, 36”, 40”, 44”, 48”, 52”).] The fit of this sweater includes 1 inch of ease at the bust.
Needles: Size 7 US 24” circular needles, size 7 US double-pointed needles, size 10.5 US needle (for loose bind-off)
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Sport in Honey Dew, 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8 ) skeins
Additional Materials: 4 stitch markers, scrap yarn for reserving stitches, tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: 18 stitches and 23 rows over 4 inches (blocked)
This pattern is available in three different formats, each includes links to 7-part video tutorial:
1. PDF Pattern, traditional and printable. $8.00 via PayPal
2. Amazon Kindle digital download (suitable for Kindle devices and devices that use the Kindle app): $6.00 US 
3. eReader (For non-Kindle eReaders, like Sony eReader and Barnes & Noble Nook, or any device using the Google Play Books app) $6.72 US
Learn to Knit a Dishcloth
I am offering this tutorial (pattern + instructional videos) for FREE! This is a traditional pattern, not my own design, that has been used for generations. I am presenting this for beginning knitters who would like to learn this technique, and to give a free sample of my video tutorials.
For knitters, knitting a dishcloth is similar to a chef cooking a perfect egg. It is a chance to really focus on basic skills and do them well. In knitting, that means beautiful stitches, even edge tension, and tidy finishing work.
Size: any size square, mine are about 9×9”
Needles: size 7 US, straights or circulars
Yarn: about 35 grams of worsted weight cotton (65 yards)
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: really not important, but I got 4.5 stitches per inch in garter stitch
UPDATE – this pattern has been updated to include instructions for working rectangular dishcloths.
Pattern + links to instructional videos FREE Ravelry download.
Be sure to check out my other video tutorials.
Squared
I really, really love what I do for a living, but because I knit for work, I don’t often get to play with yarn in any ol’ way I’d like. I’m usually knitting up a new design, or “piece outs” to use in videos, or samples for in-person classes.
But earlier this month I taught a class (at the request of my close knitting friends) in crocheted granny squares. AND NOW I CAN’T STOP GRANNY SQUARING. I have a new cardigan design that really just needs blocking and a zipper, and I didn’t touch it all weekend. Instead, I did this.
I’m using leftover Knit Picks Palette yarn, which is leftover from two projects from two knitters. My leftovers are from this sweater I knit for my mom a few years ago…
…and the other leftovers are from my friend Steven’s Vaila vest. I picked up his leftovers in a yarn swap earlier this year.
This photo is Steven and his Basenji girl, Kate. Steven and Jeff adopted Kate when they adopted Pona. I highly encourage you to check out Steven’s blog post on his Vaila vest. Awesomest photos ever.
When I met with my knitting friends on Saturday, Steven was pointing out the colors that he recognized in my granny square that were his vest leftovers. I love that.
Okay, back to work for me. If all goes well, we’ll soon have a video tutorial on a ladies’ cardigan sweater/jacket, with a zipper.
Here’s Abe, because he’s cute.
Double Knitting
Learn to Felt – Nagel Purse
Ah, the 80s, and those rad Nagel prints. The design of this bag (and the colors I used) were inspired by his artwork. The finished size of this bag is appropriate as a larger purse, or a smaller knitting bag.
In this tutorial we’ll learn how to felt, as well as how to complete the unique shaping of this bag. That includes picking up stitches on both the knit and purl sides, working the handles, and tricks for keeping your count just right to keep the bag sides symmetrical.
This pattern includes links to six instructional videos to guide you through the new techniques you’ll learn.
Size: (felted measurements) 18” wide and 9” tall
Needles: Size 7 US circular needle in 24” OR 32”
Yarn: Any felt-able worsted-weight yarn, for example: Patons Classic Wool; 2 skeins Black, 1 skein Plum Heather. (You’ll need 300 grams yarn total, 200 grams in one color for the bag bottom and top, and 100 grams in a second color for body of bag.)
Additional Materials: tapestry needle, scrap yarn
Gauge: 5 stitches per inch in stockinette
Pattern + links to 6 instructional videos $8 US via PayPal
Substituting Yarns
C25K
OMG you guys, I’m running.
C25K is short for “Couch to 5K“, a beginner’s running program. It is designed to ease you into running, and after 9 weeks, you’re running 3 miles in 30 minutes.
I started the program after seeing that a few of my Facebook friends were doing it, and doing it successfully. On Day 1, I had less of a “LET’S DO THIS” attitude, and more of a “okay, let’s see how long I’ll last” frame of mind. Seriously – I haven’t run since high school gym class, and I hated it back then. Since high school I have been a walker, walking with and without dogs every day for the last 20+ years. Sometimes I sprint for a block or so with the dogs, but never any sustained running.
I really had no idea if I could do it or not.
So on the first day I was running around the track when the lady’s voice from my iPhone app said “Halfway”. I thought – hey! I’m doing it! I finished up the rest of the run, got home, and then they hit me.
Endorphins.
Runners High, “high on life”, whatever you want to call them. I HAD NO IDEA HOW AWESOME THEY ARE. They make the world seem like a sparkly, happy, perfect place. And they make me feel like I could leap tall buildings in a single bound. Crazy.
Today I just finished Week 2, Day 2 of the program. Here’s a photo of me right after my run, totally whacked-out on endorphins.
I refuse to face the camera without at least mascara and eyebrow pencil.
People I tell about my new routine always ask the same questions – any joint pain? Sore muscles? I’m happy to say that I don’t have any joint pain, and I only had sore muscles after the first couple of days. Instead, my old enemy plantar fasciitis has reared it’s ugly head. I’m stretching and icing my foot after each run, because I do not want this to keep me from my precious endorphins.
On another note, if you’ve been reading verypink for a while, you’ll remember Chris (my ex, now my friend). He’s now a “former corporate guy, who left ‘Big Oil’, sold his home, and is beginning a life-changing journey to Central America.” He’s in Guatemala now, and he’s documenting his trip on his new blog, The Experiential Traveller. I’m curious to see how much of a hippie he’s going to turn into over the next few months.
Learn to Knit Lace
Lace knitting can be daunting to knitters who have never tried it…written instructions, charts, yarn-overs, decreases – not to mention keeping track of where you are and blocking it when you’re finished. With a little help, these techniques are simple to learn, and the reward of a finished lace scarf is totally worth it.
In this tutorial, we use this simple lace pattern to cover the skills you need to move on to more complicated lace. You’ll learn how to read both charts and written instructions, how to run lifelines in your work, how to avoid mistakes and keep track of where you are, blocking, and using blocking wires.
This pattern includes links to five instructional videos to guide you through the new techniques you’ll learn.
Size: 9” wide x 5’ long (or desired length)
Needles: Size 7 US, circulars or straights
Yarn: 100 grams sock weight yarn, approx. 462 yards (I used Knit Picks Stroll sock yarn)
Additional Materials: row counter, tapestry needle
Gauge: 6 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
This pattern is available in three different formats, each includes links to 5-part video tutorial:
1. PDF Pattern, traditional and printable. $8.00 via PayPal
2. Amazon Kindle digital download (suitable for Kindle devices and devices that use the Kindle app): $6.00 US
3. eReader (For non-Kindle eReaders, like Sony eReader and Barnes & Noble Nook, or any device using the Google Play Books app) $6.72 US
Mother’s Day Sale
From now until midnight Sunday, buy any one of my tutorials and get a second one free. That’s one each for you AND your mom!
Just make your purchase, send me an email at staci@verypink.com, and I’ll email you your second pattern (of an equal or lesser value, naturally) for free. The fine print – midnight is Central US time zone. I think that’s all the fine print I need.
If Ike understood it at all, I’m sure he’d be saying, “Happy Mother’s Day!”.
