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Interview with Judy Graham – “Knitting Tips by Judy”

When Hollywood needs custom knits for tv and movies, who do they turn to? Judy Graham! You might know Judy’s name from her website and YouTube channel, Knitting Tips by Judy, as well as her video blog (links below). This video was shot at the YouTube Space LA on my recent trip to California.

Judy has so many great stories and mementos from her work in Hollywood, and it was a pleasure to get to know her. We had a great time doing this interview!

Links to find Judy –

Judy’s website, Knitting Tips by Judy.

Judy’s Knitting Tips by Judy YouTube channel.

Judy’s video blog.

Judy on Facebook.

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Fancy Stitch Combos – Bead Stitch

To work this stitch flat:
Cast-on a multiple of 7 stitches.
Row 1 (RS): K1, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, *K2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk* repeat between *s to last stitch, K1
Row 2: *P2tog tbl, yo, P3, yo, p2tog* repeat between *s to end
Row 3: K1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, *K2, yo, ssk, K1, k2tog, yo* repeat between *s to last stitch, K1
Row 4: P2, yo, p3tog, yo, *P4, yo, p3tog, yo* repeat between *s to last 2 stitches, P2

To make the prettier side of the CO the right side of the work, start on Row 4, then work through Rows 1-4 normally.
BO normally after Row 4.

To work this stitch in-the-round:
CO a multiple of 7
(If you’re using DPNs, put a multiple of 7 stitches on each needle)
Round 1 (RS): K1, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, *K2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk* repeat between *s to last stitch, K1
Round 2: *k2tog, yo, K3, yo, k2tog tbl* repeat between *s to end
Round 3: K1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, *K2, yo, ssk, K1, k2tog, yo* repeat between *s to last stitch, K1
Round 4: K2, yo, k3tog, yo, *K4, yo, k3tog, yo* repeat between *s to last 2 stitches, K2

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The green swatch is knit with Be Sweet Whipped Cream yarn in color Moss, using size 9 US (5.5mm) needles

The cotton blend pink swatch is knit with Knit Picks Comfy Sport in color Rosebud, using size 7 US (4.5mm) needles

The DK weight, dark pink swatch is knit with Madeline Tosh, Tosh Sport, color
Vermillion, using size 10.5 US (6.5mm) needles

The sweater on the mannequin is my Ombre Dyed Sweater, pattern + video tutorial.

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Ten Stitch Blanket

work table

Click here to get your free copy of the pattern!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The pattern designer has updated and changed the pattern since I released the video tutorial in 2013. The construction and the techniques used are the same, but the row-by-row instructions I use in the video are different than written in the updated pattern. Please follow the pattern for row-by-row instructions.

This pattern is designed by Frankie (Rosemily on Ravelry). You can see her other designs here.

To learn more about Frankie’s work with the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation and to donate, visit her website.

Many thanks to Frankie for the great pattern!

To see thousands of examples of this finished blanket by other knitters, visit the Ravelry project page.

Links to the different video parts
Part 1: Intro
Part 2: Mitered Corners
Part 3: Picking up stitches on the flat sides
Part 4: Using markers to keep careful count
Part 5: Finishing

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The yarn I used in my finished blanket is Berroco Vintage, in colors: cream – 5104, purple – 5155, and petunia – 51105. I bought three hanks of each (but only used 2 of the cream), using size 7 US (4.5mm) needles. After machine washing and drying, my blanket is 40″ square, with a gauge of 4.5 stitches per inch.

The bulky yarn I used for demonstration is Lion Brand Hometown USA. I demonstrated using size 13 US (9mm) needles.

Clippie markers like the ones I use can be found here.

The sweater on the mannequin is my Ombre Dyed Sweater, pattern and video tutorial.

To change color with a clean color break, start your new color in the first row of a mitered corner. Instead of slipping the last stitch in the first row of the mitered corner, knit all the way across. Then work the rest of the corner as written.

To bind-off at the end of this project, BO normally (knit-wise) on the wrong side of the work.

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Choosing a Sweater Size

In this video I give you some pointers on choosing the correct sweater size in a pattern. Since patterns are written differently, these are sure-fire ways to get it right. I also talk about how to fit a sweater when your largest measurement is not chest/bust, but hips or belly.

This website will show you how to accurately measure for a sweater.

The shawl on the mannequin is my Learn to Knit an Aran Shawl, pattern + video tutorial.

The website I recommend in the video is Ravelry.

My “Embrace the Swatch” mug can be found here.

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Steaming-Out Yarn Kinks

This video demonstrates a method for smoothing and straightening a few yards of kinked-up yarn, after you’ve ripped back to correct a mistake. If you have more than a few yards to straighten, you’ll want to follow the technique I demonstrate in this video, Reusing Yarn.

The shawl on the mannequin is my Learn to Knit an Aran Shawl, pattern + video tutorial.

A blocking board like mine can be found here.

My “Embrace the Swatch” mug can be found here.

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Loveknitting.com Interview

I did an interview earlier this week with LoveKnitting.com, and the blog post just went live today. I’m their “Blogger of the Week”. You can see the post here. If you leave a comment on that post, you’ll be entered to win a free copy of my Shaker Dishcloth pattern.

Other than that, it’s 102 degrees Fahrenheit in Austin, Texas right now (and rising). Brutal! We’re all taking it easy this weekend.

meltingtippy

Tippy looks so worried in this photo! He isn’t worried about a THING, I promise.

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Fancy Stitch Combos – Waffle Stitch

Instructions for working the Waffle Stitch:
Cast-on a multiple of 3 stitches, plus 1.
Row 1 (WS): K1, *P2, K1*, repeat between *s to end
Row 2: P1, *K2, P1*, repeat between *s to end
Row 3: K across all stitches
Row 4: same as Row 2
Work to desired length, bind-off normally on Row 3.

To work this stitch in the round:
Cast-on a multiple of 3 stitches.
Round 1: *K2, P1*, repeat between *s to end
Round 2: *K2, P1*, repeat between *s to end
Round 3: P across all stitches
Round 4: *K2, P1*, repeat between *s to end
Work to desired length, bind-off purl-wise on Row 3.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The green sweater on the mannequin is my Learn to Knit a Woman’s Sweater, pattern + video tutorial.

The bulky orange yarn I used in the sample and for demonstration is Berroco Peruvia Quick.

The DK weight yarn I used in the striped sample is Madeline Tosh, Tosh Sport.

The long-strand dyed yarn I used in the sample is Noro Silk Garden Chunky.

The wood needles I use for demonstration are by Clover, size 10.5 (6.5mm)

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Fancy Stitch Combos – Fisherman’s Rib

Instructions for working Fisherman’s Rib:
Cast-on a multiple of 2 stitches, plus 3
Setup Row (RS): K across all stitches
Row 1 (WS): *P 1, K 1 into stitch below*, repeat between *s to last stitch, P 1
Row 2: K1, *K1, K 1 into stitch below*, repeat between *s to last 2 stitches, K 2
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 to desired length, BO on WS, while working Row 1

Instructions for working this stitch in-the-round:
Cast-on an even number of stitches, and join to begin working in-the-round.
Setup Round: K around all stitches
Round 1: *K1, K 1 into stitch below*, repeat between *s to end
Round 2: *P 1 into stitch below, K1*, repeat between *s to end
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 to desired length, BO while working Round 1
To purl into stitch below, approach the V below the current stitch from back to front.

This is the photo of the “swatch” I started knitting to test the instructions I wrote for knitting Fisherman’s Rib in-the-round. It was turning out so nice, that I decided to keep going! I think I’ll turn this into a cowl/open-ended cap, since I don’t want to mess up the line of this stitch with decreases.

fishermanSM

I cast-on 70 stitches on to 16″ size 8 US (5mm) needles with worsted weight (Aran, 10ply) yarn. The yarn I used is Berroco Vintage.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The green sweater on the mannequin is my Learn to Knit a Woman’s sweater, pattern + video tutorial.

The green cotton/acrylic yarn I used in the lacier sample is Knit Picks Comfy worsted, knit on size 10.5 US (6.5mm) needles.

The bright pink yarn I used in the worsted-weight sample is Araucania Merino Worsted.

The gray bulky yarn I used for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

The wood needles I use for demonstration are by Clover, size 10.5 (6.5mm).

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Fancy Stitch Combos – Raised Rib

Instructions for working the Raised Rib Stitch:
Cast-on a multiple of 4 stitches, plus 3.
Row 1 (RS): *P1, ktbl, P1, K1*, repeat between *s to last three stitches, P1, ktbl, P1
Row 2: K1, ptbl, K1, *K2, ptbl, K1*, repeat between *s to end
Bind-off normally on the right side of the work.

To work this stitch in-the-round:
Cast-on a multiple of 4 stitches.
Round 1: *P1, ktbl, P1, K1*, repeat between *s to end of round
Round 2: *P1, ktbl, P2*, repeat between *s to end of round

This video is part of a new series called Fancy Stitch Combos. In this series I hope to demonstrate stitches that have been requested, and hopefully introduce you to some new ones that I think are pretty and useful. Feel free to drop me a note if you’d like to submit an idea for a video in this series.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The green sweater on the mannequin is my Learn to Knit a Woman’s sweater, pattern + video tutorial.

The bright pink yarn I used in the worsted-weight sample is Araucania Merino Worsted, knit with size 5 US (3.75mm) needles.

The gray yarn I used in the bulky sample is Malabrigo Chunky, in color Polar Morn.

The bulky purple yarn I used in the bulky sample and for demonstration is Berroco Peruvia Quick.

The wood needles I use for demonstration are by Clover, size 10.5 (6.5mm)

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Runrig Muffatees Fingerless Mitts

RunrigSM

You can get your free copy of the pattern here, and follow along with the video tutorial.

This pattern is designed by Annie of knitsofacto.blogspot.com. Many thanks to Annie for letting us use her pattern in this tutorial! You can see Annie’s other designs here.

Yarn weights notes: In this tutorial I talk about “worsted” weight and “DK” weight yarns. Worsted weight yarn is also called “10 ply” in some parts of the world, and DK is also known as “8 ply”. DK weight and Sport weight (aka 5 ply) are close enough that you can get gauge for this pattern with either.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The sweater on the mannequin is my Learn to Knit a Women’s Sweater, pattern + video tutorial.

The circular needles I’m using are Knitter’s Pride Symfonie Dreamz interchangeable needles.

The red yarn I used for the cast-on is Lion Brand Thick & Quick in Cranberry.

The bulky turquoise yarn I used is Lion Brand Hometown USA in Charlotte Blue.

The DK mitts I made in the oatmeal color are made with Madeline Tosh, Tosh Sport, in Luster.

The worsted-weight mitts I made in the brown color are made with Dream in Color Classy, in Tea Party.

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