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Russian Bind-Off

To work the Russian Bind-Off:
1. Knit 2
2. Slip both stitches back to left needle
3. Knit two together
4. Knit 1
Repeat Steps 2-4 across all stitches, until just one stitch is left.
Break yarn, pull end through last loop and tighten.

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 yarn I used in the samples is Malabrigo Chunky, in color Polar Morn. The needles I’m using are Clover Bamboo DPNs.

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

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There’s a Knot in My Yarn!

You’re knitting happily along, and BOOM! You see that there is an ugly knot in your yarn, that has to be dealt with. Here are a couple of ways to cut out and get past that knot, so that your knitting doesn’t suffer for it.

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.

I’m not 100% sure of the yarn I used in the sample – it is probably Cascade 220. The needles I’m using are Clover Bamboo DPNs.

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

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Japanese Short Rows

Instructions for working Japanese Short Rows:
Turning, knit side:
1. Knit up to the turning point
2. Turn — you’re now on the purl side — and slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right, so that you working yarn is coming from the stitch on your right needle
3. Attach a pin to the working yarn — the pin should go around the yarn, not through it
4. Continue, ignoring the pin, it won’t be used until the gap is closed

Turning, purl side:
1. Purl up to the turning point
2. Turn — you’re now on the knit side — and slip the next stitch purlwise, from the left needle to the right, so that you working yarn is coming from the stitch on your right needle
3. Attach a pin to the working yarn — the pin should go around the yarn, not through it
4. Continue — if you flip the knitting over, you’ll see the pin attached to a loop

Closing the gap on the knit side:
1. Knit until you reach the gap, clearly marked by the clippie marker between two stitches
2. Grab the clippie and pull the yarn it holds onto the left needle. The loop should be correctly mounted with its right leg in front
3. Knit that loop together with the next stitch on the left needle
4. Remove the pin

Closing the gap on the purl side:
1. Purl until you reach the gap, clearly marked by the clippie marker between two stitches
2. Grab the clippie and pull the yarn it holds onto the left needle. The loop should be correctly mounted with its right leg in front
3. Purl that loop together with the next stitch on the left needle
4. Remove the pin

Information on things you’ll see in the video:
The bulky yarn I used in the sample is Malabrigo Chunky, knit using size 10.5 US needles.

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 clippie markers I’m using can be found here.

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

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Fancy Stitch Combo – Wishbone Stitch

Instructions for working the Wishbone Stitch:
Cast-on a multiple of 8 stitches, plus 1.
Row 1: *k1, yo, k2, s2kp (slip 2 stitches together knit-wise, k1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch), k2, yo*, repeat between *s to last stitch, k1.
Rows 2 & 4: Purl all stitches.
Row 3: *k2, yo, k1, s2kp, k1, yo, k1*, repeat between *s to last stitch, k1.
Row 5: *k3, yo, s2kp, yo, k2*, repeat between *s to last stitch, k1.
Row 6: Purl all stitches.
Work to desired length, then bind-off purl-wise on wrong side of work.

To work this stitch in-the-round:
Cast-on a multiple of 8 stitches, join in-the-round.
Round 1: *k1, yo, k2, s2kp (slip 2 stitches together knit-wise, k1, pass 2 slipped stitches over knit stitch), k2, yo*, repeat between *s to end of round.
Rounds 2 & 4: Knit all stitches.
Round 3: *k2, yo, k1, s2kp, k1, yo, k1*, repeat between *s to end of round.
Round 5: *k3, yo, s2kp, yo, k2*, repeat between *s to end of round.
Round 6: Knit all stitches
Work to desired length, then bind-off normally on Round 6.

The bulky gray yarn I used in the sample is Malabrigo Chunky, in color Polar Morn, knit using size 10.5 US needles..

The blue yarn I used in the lacier sample is leftover Blue Moon Fibers sock yarn – sorry, I don’t remember the color name! That sample was knit on size 7 US needles.

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.

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Lifelines in Ribbing

Let’s say you’ve knitting ribbing, you’ve made a mistake, and you need to rip back. Here is a way of stringing a lifeline through rib stitch, so that you don’t have to worry about retrieving dropped stitches!

Information on things you’ll see in this video:

The sweater on the mannequin is my Three Rectangles, Two Triangles pattern + video tutorial.

The shawl I’m wearing in the video is the Clapotis, knit in Noro Silk Garden.

The purple yarn I used for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky. The bamboo needles I used are made by Clover.

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Knit Snowman Scarf and Bookmark

To see the card-making part of this collaboration, visit Kristina Werner’s video.

New to knitting? You can see my knitting basics video playlist here.

Or, here is a good first project for new knitters, which also teaches you to knit.

Instructions for working this scarf bookmark are as follows:
Using leftover sock yarn and size 3mm needles, cast on 5 stitches.
Work every row in knit stitches until the piece measures 10 inches.
Bind-off, and add 4 double strands of fringe to each end (as demonstrated in the video).

The shawl I’m wearing in the video is the Clapotis, knit in Noro Silk Garden.

The red yarn I used in my snowman scarf is Jawool sock yarn.

The light blue yarn I used for demonstration is Malabrigo Chunky.

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Setting in Sleeves

Setting or “easing” sleeves is probably the most challenging part of finishing a pieced sweater. Here are some tips to make that easier.

Info to things you’ll see in this video:
The finished sweater I’m seaming is my (yet undyed) Ombre Dyed Sweater, pattern + video tutorials.

The clippie markers I use can be found here.

The poncho on the mannequin is the Easy Folded Poncho, knit in Knit Picks City Tweed DK.

My “Embrace the Swatch” water bottle can be found here.

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Fancy Stitch Combos – Sand/Rice Stitch

Instructions for working this stitch:
Cast-on an even number of stitches.
Row 1 (RS): K all stitches
Row 2: *K1, P1*, repeat between *s to end of row
Row 3: K all stitches
Row 4: *P1, K1*, repeat between *s to end of row
Work to desired length, bind-off normally on a right-side row.

Instructions for working this stitch in-the-round:
Cast-on an even number of stitches.
Round 1: K all stitches
Round 2: *K1, P1*, repeat between *s to end of round
Round 3: K all stitches
Round 4: *P1, K1″, repeat between *s to end of round
Work to desired length, BO normally on odd-numbered round.

The two stitches used in this pattern are the knit stitch (link to slow demonstration video).
And the purl stitch (link to slow demonstration video).

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The poncho on the mannequin is the Easy Folded Poncho, knit in Knit Picks City Tweed DK.

My “Embrace the Swatch” water bottle can be found here.

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

The yarn I used in the pink sample is Be Sweet Bambino Taffy in Licorice, using US size 4 (3.5mm) needles.

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Fancy Stitch Combos – Sideways/Horizontal Herringbone

Instructions for working this stitch:
Cast-on an even number of stitches.
Row 1: *K2tog tbl, dropping only the first stitch off your needle,* rep from * to last st, ktbl.
Row 2: *P2tog, dropping only the first stitch off your needle,* rep from * to last st, p.
Repeat these rows to desired length, then bind-off while working a right-side row, pulling one stitch over the other every time you have two stitches on the right needle.

In the video, I mention a pattern available from Purl Soho which gives you a pattern for working this stitch in-the-round. You can find that pattern here.

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
In the video, I refer to yarn weights and needle sizes in US terms. A yarn weight conversion chart can be found here.
A needle conversion chart can be found here.

The poncho on the mannequin is the Easy Folded Poncho, knit in Knit Picks City Tweed DK.

My “Embrace the Swatch” water bottle can be found here.

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

The yarn used in the gray swatch is Malabrigo Chunky, and I used size 10.5 US (6.5mm) needles.

The worsted-weight yarn I used in the darker green sample is Cascade 220.

The needles I used are bamboo, made by Clover.

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Fancy Stitch Combos – Rickrack Rib

Instructions for working this stitch:
Row 1: P1, *Ktbl the second stitch on the left needle (leaving that stitch on the needle), K the first stitch, pull both stitches off the left needle, P1*
Row 2: K1, *P into the second stitch on the left needle (leaving that stitch on the needle), P the first stitch, pull both stitches off the left needle, K1*

Repeat these two rows for the pattern.

For the nicest looking bind-off, BO on Row 1, in pattern. It’s a little tricky to pull one stitch over the other after working into the second stitch on the left needle, but it’s possible! Otherwise, you can work the BO in a P1, K2 rib.

Instructions for working this stitch in-the-round:
Cast-on a multiple of 3
Row 1: *P1, Ktbl the second stitch on the left needle (leaving that stitch on the needle), K the first stitch, pull both stitches off the left needle*
Row 2: *P1, K into the front of the second stitch on the left needle (leaving that stitch on the needle), K the first stitch normally, pull both stitches off the left needle*

Information on things you’ll see in this video:
The bulky yarn I used for demonstration is Lion Brand Hometown USA. I demonstrated using size 13 US (9mm) needles.

The yarn used in the gray swatch is Malabrigo Chunky, and I used size 10.5 US (6.5mm) needles.

The yarn I used in the pink sample is Be Sweet Satisfaction, color Raspberry 709, using size 10.5 needles (6.5mm).

The needles I used are bamboo, made by Clover.

The poncho on the mannequin is the Easy Folded Poncho, knit in Knit Picks City Tweed DK.

My “Embrace the Swatch” water bottle can be found here.

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