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Giveaway! Knitter’s Pride Platina Deluxe Needle 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 21, 2015; and the winner will be announced in video on January 22, 2015. The winning email adddress will be chosen by random number generator.

The link to sign up for the Knitter’s Pride newsletter (and enter the contest) is here.

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

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

The sweater I’m wearing in the video is store-bought. 🙂

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Super Chunky Cowl Tutorial

garter sm

Super chunky cowls and scarves are not only warm and luxurious, but very high fashion. And really fun to knit!

The yarn and needles I use in this video are from ColorwaysGallery on Etsy. Use the coupon code VERYPINK in the store, and you will get a 10% discount.

The cowl kit, including needles, with your choice of color, can be found here. Use the coupon code VERYPINK for a 10% discount.

One pound (38 yards/35m) of ColorwaysGallery yarn is enough for:
1 Stockinette Cowl and 1 Short V-Shaped Cowl (instructions below)
or
1 long Garter Stitch Cowl (instructions below)
or
1 Triangular Shawl (instructions below)

Stockinette Gray Cowl (pictured in video thumbnail) –
CO 3 stitches using the long-tail or knitted cast-on
Row 1: K 3
Row 2: P 3
Repeat these two rows until scarf is 76″ (193cm) long, bind-off, seam into a cowl if desired.
Note – you can see in the video and the photo that the stockinette curls around itself. This is normal, and the curling gives it sort of a tubular shape, which looks really cool.

Short V-Shaped Gray Cowl –
CO 3 stitches using the long-tail or knitted cast-on
Knit every row until scarf is 28″ (71cm) long
Seam into a V-shape, as demonstrated in the video.
ColorwaysGallery has a special kit for this cowl, which can be found here.

short cowl sm

Cream Garter Stitch Cowl (pictured at the top of this post) –
CO 3 stitches using the long-tail or knitted cast-on
Knit every row until scarf is 70″ (178cm) long (just use all of your yarn!)
Seam into a cowl, if desired.
Note – before taking the photo for this post, I shortened my cowl to a 56″ (142cm) scarf, then seamed it into a cowl again, for a tighter fit when it’s double-wrapped around my neck.

triangle sm

Triangular Shawl –
CO 2 stitches using the long-tail or knitted cast-on
Row 1: K1, YO, K to end of row
Repeat Row 1 until you have 22 stitches on the needle (almost all of your yarn), BO
You can wear this shawl by poking one of the ends through the yarn-over hole at the other side, as I’ve done in the photo.

In the video, I say that this isn’t a good project for brand-new beginning knitters. ColorwaysGallery assures me that they’ve seen lots of beginners use their big needles and yarn with great success. If you are a brand-new beginning knitter and you’d like to see my basic knitting videos, visit this playlist.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The sweater I’m wearing is store-bought, sorry. 🙂

My reading glasses are from Eye Bobs, style “Dot Com”.

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

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German Short Rows

Plenty of knitters don’t like working wraps & turns when knitting short rows. German short rows are an alternative to w&ts that actually do their job and look good! In this video, I show you how to work them, and how to substitute German Short Rows for w&ts in patterns.

Here is a link that I mention in the video to a list of my sock tutorials. The “toe-up” patterns use wrap and turns (including my Bulky Sleep Socks Tutorial), and German Short Rows can be substituted.

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

The yarn I’m using for demonstration is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky.

The needles I’m using are Knitter’s Pride Bamboo double-pointed needles.

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

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Winding Yarn into Two Equally-Sized Balls

For some patterns and yarns, it’s important to wind your yarn into two-equally sized balls before you start knitting – especially when you’re knitting toe-up socks. Here’s my tried-and-true method for doing that.

My ball winder and swift are from Strauch Fiber Equipment Company. You can learn more about the company here.
They also have a YouTube channel.

The Woolery is the retail outlet for Strauch Fiber Equipment Company. You can find my ball winder here.
And my swift here.

The kitchen scale I use is by Tefal – I don’t think they are making the exact model I have anymore, but I think they’re all about the same, anyway. I don’t remember how much mine cost, but I know I didn’t get an expensive one.

The pink yarn I use for demonstration is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in color Crush.

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Sixes and Threes Cowl

Sixes and Threes SM patt and VP

Stripes and solids, no wrong side, no seam! The Sixes and Threes Cowl is a free pattern and three-part video tutorial.

This pattern is a FREE RAVELRY DOWNLOAD.

Size: (after grafting) 25” long by 5.5” wide (before grafting, “scarf” is 50” long)
Needles: Size 4 US (3.5mm) 16” circs and size 4 US (3.5mm) set of DPNs, crochet hook size G or H
Yarn: Three 50 gram hanks of any fingering weight yarn, in three colors. I used Louet Gems Fingering, (this yarn has been discontinued). A good substitute for Gems is Knit Picks Stroll sock yarn, but any fingering weight yarn will work.
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for grafting, a few feet of scrap worsted-weight yarn
Gauge: 6.5 sts per inch, 8 rows per inch

darker cowl SM patt and VP

Colors I used of Louet Gems Fingering
Lighter-Colored Cowl: one hank each of Cream, Steel Gray, and Seafoam Green
Darker-Colored Cowl: one hank each of Goldenrod, Burgundy, and Pewter

Instructions for Working Three-Color Swatch
(Before starting swatch, name each color – “Color 1”, “Color 2”, and “Color 3”. It won’t make a difference which is which, they are used and striped with each other. Remember these color names, because they are referenced in the cowl pattern.)
Using Color 1, CO 30 stitches.
Knit 9 rows (5 ridges).
Row 1 (RS): K across all stitches
Row 2: K 5, P 20, K 5
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 once more (4 rows total), then switch to Color 2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 a total of 7 times (14 rows total), then switch to Color 3.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 twice (4 rows total), then knit 10 rows (5 ridges).
BO on RS.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The 16″ circular needles I use in the video are by Knitter’s Pride, I use both Novas (metal) and Dreamz (wood).

The crochet hook I use is from a Waves set by Knitter’s Pride.

The ball-chain stitch markers I use are from a seller on Etsy who no longer has a shop, but similar markers can be found here.

The bulky yarn I used for demonstration is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky.

The striped sweater I’m wearing is store-bought. 🙂

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

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Winner Announced – Knitter’s Pride Nova Cubics Needle 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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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