by

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.

, ,
by

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”.

, ,
by

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”.

, , ,
by

Pinhole Cast-On

The Pinhole Cast-On can be used when working just a few stitches on double-pointed needles, and it is unique in that it can be tightened, leaving no hole or gap in the very center of your work.

The pattern for the square swatches I show in the video is as follows:
CO 8 stitches, divide between 4 double-pointed needles, then K around all stitches.
Row 1: KFB all stitches
Row 2: K around all stitches
Row 3: *KFB, K2, KFB*, repeat on other 3 needles
Row 4: K around all stitches
Row 5: *KFB, K to last stitch, KFB*, repeat on other 3 needles
Row 6: K around all stitches
Repeat Rows 5 and 6 to desired size, BO normally.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The double-pointed needles I’m using are Knitter’s Pride Bamboo.

The bulky yarn I use for demonstration and on the finished piece is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky, in colors Yonder, Crush, and Silver.

The sweater I’m wearing is a free pattern + video tutorial, which can be found here.

The French Market Bag I mention in the video is a free pattern (not my design) and can be found here.

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

, , ,
by

Math for Knitters – Substituting Yarns

Knowing what the “put up” of a yarn is will help you when you’re substituting one yarn for another in any given pattern. In this video, I explain “put up”, and demonstrate how to do the yardage math for yarn substitution.

The screenshots shown in the video are from Ravelry, an excellent resource for knitters and crocheters. You can get an account for free here.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The sweater I’m wearing is a tutorial coming next week, October 22!

The needle I used as a pointer is Knitter’s Pride Bamboo.

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

, , ,
by

Math for Knitters – Changing Gauge in a Pattern

There is a pattern you’d like to knit, but you’d like to substitute a thinner or thicker yarn, and/or a different needle size. Can you do it? Here’s how to determine if it’s possible, and how to do the math when it is.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The pattern for the sweater I’m wearing (not my design, in a discontinued cotton yarn) can be found here.

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

My Barber Pole Cowl, free tutorial and pattern, can be found here.

The blue hat pattern (not my design) can be found here, knit with Shalimar Breathless in color Neptune.

The bamboo pins I use to check gauge can be found here.

The pink yarn I used in my bulky swatch is Cascade 128 Wool.

The double-pointed bamboo needle I use as a pointer is Knitter’s Pride Bamboo.

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

, ,
by

Saving a Dropped Stitch with Scrap Yarn

Nooo! You’re knitting along, and you realize you dropped a stitch AGES ago. You can rip back to fix it, but it’s worth a try securing that stitch with a stitch of scrap yarn, and seeing if it looks good enough to forget the mistake ever happened. In this video, I demonstrate securing a dropped edge stitch.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The lace in the video thumbnail is Ishbel (not my design), knit with Malabrigo Lace.

The project I’m fixing in the video is one that I can’t share (at least not yet), and the yarn used is Infinite Twist Helix and Halo.

The bent-tip tapestry needle I use for demonstration can be found here.

The sweater I’m wearing (not my design) is this pattern, knit in a discontinued cotton yarn.

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

, , ,
by

The Mysteries of Row Gauge

In this video we discuss the differences between stitch gauge and row gauge. My technique video on checking gauge can be found here.

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

The pattern for the sweater I’m wearing (not my design, in a discontinued cotton yarn) can be found here.

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

, ,
by

Judy’s Magic Cast-On

Instructions for working a sock toe using this cast-on can be found on knitty.com.

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

The pattern for the sweater I’m wearing (not my design, in a discontinued cotton yarn) can be found here.

The circular needles I use for demonstration are Knitter’s Pride Dreamz interchangeable needles.

The green yarn I use in the video is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in color Avocado.

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

, ,
by

Attaching Buttons

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

I mention in the video that I lost my favorite needle threader – it was this kind.

Needle threader that I use in the video.

The buttons I use are random buttons from my sewing kit – sorry, I don’t have any information about them.

The pattern for the sweater I’m wearing (not my design, in a discontinued cotton yarn) can be found here.

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

The knit sample I use is a swatch from my Easy Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + video tutorial, knit in Knit Picks Bulky in color “Wine”,

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

, ,