Storing Knits for Summer

The weather is warming up in the US, so it’s time to put away the wooly winter sweaters to make room for warmer weather clothes. Here is my advice for safely storing your knits to keep moths (and other critters) away.

The sweater on the mannequin is my Woman’s Zippered Letterman’s Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

The pattern for the sweater I’m wearing can be found here (not my design).

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

Math for Knitters – Calculating Yardage on a Partial Ball of Yarn

You have a partial ball of leftover yarn…is it enough for the project you want to make? Here’s how to calculate the yardage of that partial ball.

If you have a video suggestion for the Math for Knitters Series, please leave me a comment or drop me a note at staci@verypink.com.

The sweater on the mannequin is my Woman’s Zippered Letterman’s Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

The pattern for the sweater I’m wearing can be found here (not my design).

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

Tidy Finishing on a Circular Bind-Off

The bind-off row in circular knitting can leave your with an enormous “jog” between the first and last BO stitch, especially in larger gauge knitting. Here is how to smooth that out.

Please excuse the green screen background – we’re under a bit of construction in the studio. Exciting changes to come!

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 purple scarf I’m wearing is this pattern.

The yarn I used in the bulky sample is Berroco Peruvia Quick.

The needles I used are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is by OPI, “Berries in the Canaries”.

iCord Side Edging (i-cord)

Instructions for working this edging:
Right Side: Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front, Knit 1, work across row to last three stitches, Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front, Knit 1
Wrong Side: Slip 1 with yarn in front, Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front, work across row to last three stitches, slip 1 with yarn in front, Knit 1, slip 1 with yarn in front

Please excuse the green screen background – we’re under a bit of construction in the studio. Exciting changes to come!

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 purple scarf I’m wearing is this pattern.

The yarn I used in the bulky samples is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky, in color Silver.

The bamboo needles I used are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is by OPI, “Berries in the Canaries”.

Latvian Long-Tail Cast-On

The Latvian LTCO is pretty, fairly deep, and has decent stretch to it. But I think most knitters will get excited about this fact – after close inspection, I’m pretty sure it’s IDENTICAL ON BOTH SIDES.

Please excuse the green screen background – we’re under a bit of construction in the studio. Exciting changes to come!

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 purple scarf I’m wearing is this pattern.

The yarn I used in the bulky samples is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky, in colors Jam and Silver.

The bamboo needles I used are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is by OPI, “Berries in the Canaries”.

Lifted Increases

Instructions for working both right and left lifted increases.

Please excuse the green screen background – we’re under a bit of construction in the studio. Exciting changes to come!

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 purple scarf I’m wearing is this pattern.

The yarn I used in the sample is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in color Yonder.

The yarn I used for demonstration is Lion Brand Hometown USA in color Charlotte Blue.

The bamboo needles I use are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is by OPI, “Berries in the Canaries”.

Purl 1 Below (P1B)

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 purple scarf I’m wearing is this pattern.

The yarn I used in the samples and for demonstration is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in color Yonder.

The bamboo needles I use are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is by OPI, “Berries in the Canaries”.

Fancy Stitch Combo – Corded Rib

Instructions for working this stitch:
Cast-on a multiple of 4 stitches, plus 2
Every Row: K1, *SSK, M1L, P2*, repeat between *s to last stitch, K1
Repeat this row to desired length, BO in 2×2 rib.

To work this stitch in-the-round:
Cast-on a multiple of 4 stitches
Round 1: *SSK, M1L, P2*, repeat between *s to end of round
Round 2: *K2, M1R purlwise, P2tog*, repeat between *s to end of round
Repeat these rounds to desired length, BO in 2×2 rib.

A slow demonstration of the SSK stitch can be found here:

A slow demonstration of the Make 1 stitch can be found here:

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

The scarf I’m wearing is called Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

The yarn I use for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

The bamboo needles I’m using in the video are by Clover.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Asphalt”.

Russian Join

You’re knitting along, and you run out of yarn. There are a few ways to attach a new ball – you can spit splice, just tie a knot, or try this technique – the Russian Join. The Russian Join is ideal when you’re working with a cotton or acrylic yarn that will not felt (for spit splicing).

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

The scarf I’m wearing is called Hitchhiker, knit with Hazel Knits DK Lively.

The yarn I use for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Asphalt”.

Changing a Knit to a Purl

Yikes! You’re knitting along, and suddenly you notice that a few rows back, you knit a stitch that should have been purled (or vice versa). Instead of ripping out entire rows to make the correction, here is how to drop a single column and make that K a P, or P a K.

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The sweater on the mannequin is my Easy-Knit Sweater Jacket, pattern + video tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing is the Clapotis pattern, knit with Noro Silk Garden yarn.

The super bulky yarn I’m using for demonstration is Lion Brand Hometown USA. The needles I’m using are Clover Bamboo DPNs.

The nail color I’m wearing is CND Shellac polish, in color “Midnight Swim”.