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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.

all for vp logo

Pattern + links to instructional videos FREE Ravelry download.

Be sure to check out my other video tutorials.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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 [email protected], 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!”.

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Upcoming Classes

If you’re in Austin, Texas and you’re looking to learn some crazy mad knitting skillz, here is what I have coming up in May and June.

All classes are at the super fabulous Gauge Knits.

In May, I’m teaching three classes…


A Clapotis knit-along.
Get started on the popular scarf/shawl pattern from knitty.com. The Clapotis is a dropped-stitch pattern, knit on the bias. The pattern can be intimidating to some knitters…but if you can knit and purl, you can learn to make the Clapotis.
Saturday, May 14, 1 to 3pm, $42 + materials


Learn to Knit Socks
In this class, we use worsted weight yarn and size 5 needles to easily learn all of the elements of sock knitting, giving you the skills to knit any cuff-down sock pattern. No prior knowledge of double-pointed needles required! This class will set you up to knit socks like a pro.
Sunday May 15 and Sunday May 29, 2 to 3:30pm, $42 + materials


Beyond the Basics
Are you intimidated by patterns that call for skills you don’t have yet? In this class, we’re going beyond the basics of knitting and purling, and getting comfortable with more complicated stitches and techniques. We’ll cover: increases, decreases, seaming, weaving in ends (the right way!), working cables, reading charts, correcting mistakes, dropped stitches, blocking, and more.
Saturday, May 28, 1 to 3pm, $42

In June, I’m teaching these classes –


Learn to Knit Mittens
Basic mittens are quick and fun to make, and are full of skill-building techniques you’ll use in tons of other patterns you knit.
Sunday, June 5 and Sunday June 12, 2 to 3:30pm, $42 + materials

Beyond the Basics
Same class as the one I’m teaching in May.
Saturday, June 25, 1 to 3pm, $42
Update – this class has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 18, 1 to 3pm


Learn Tunisian Crochet (And make a Texas Flag Blanket)
If you’ve never tried Tunisian Crochet, you’re missing out! It is sometimes described as a cross between knitting and crocheting. It works up quickly and in a plain fabric that can be compared to stockinette in knitting. In addition to Tunisian Crochet techniques, we’ll also learn how to work cross-stitch on the Tunisian Crochet fabric, which is how the star is done on this blanket. The finished dimensions of the blanket are 60” by 40”.
Sunday, June 26, 2 to 4pm, $42 + materials

For more info or to hold your spot in any of these classes, call Gauge at 512.371.9300.