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Archive for the ‘Knitting Tutorials’ Category

Making the Perfect Hat

Posted in Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized, tagged , on April 2, 2011| 1 Comment »

I know that I have been gone a long time, but, my time has not been wasted.  I was fortunate enough to spend time with my creative brother, who has come to love knitting.  Our time together was very productive.  We developed shortcuts, a bag of “fix it” tricks for knitter’s, a pattern for Tabi socks and lastly 2 new hat patterns.  And, to top it off, we fingered out a way to alter a cheap Styrofoam Wig head to replicate our individual head measurements.  So without further ado, here’s my brother Wayne, sporting his new look.

Here are some pics of his Mock Tyrolean Hat-

This ribbed  hat pattern, knit from the bottom up, includes three versions, all with visors, and 2 crown designs, and, unlike a lot of hat patterns, this one is not a beannie.

Here is my version, with the flatter crown.

My grandson says this will make a perfect hunting hat, as the back folds down to cover his ears and neck.  ” I want one in Camo.”

This pattern is available in my Etsy store.

Here is a sneak peak at my next hat pattern offering-

I call this one a Mock Tyrolean with recessed crown.  I have had lots of compliments on it.  Hope you like it.

Now, before I forget it, I have a free pdf that shows you how to alter a Styrofoam wig head to use for designing your own hats.

a wig head for hats

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Neat and Sweet

Posted in Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized, tagged on December 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

While in California , on a trip to help out the folks, I had an opportunity to spend many evenings knitting with my brother.  While he was worked on his “Tabi’s”, I was dinking around with shortrow heel swatches.  And….since I am always looking for improvements for each new design, I worked out the following closure to link the instep stitches and the heels stitches without any holes or need to put in extra stitches.

Interestly, it was my brother who pointed out that the reason that area is a problem, is that the sock is being pulled in opposite directions, and as a result, this stress often has a tendency to cause gaps.   Hummmmm……

So, one little mini sock after the other came flying off the needles until I finally came up with my offering for tonight.

Neat and Sweet Short Row Heel Practice

I hope you will find  my Neat and Sweet Short Row Heel Practice useful.

Knit-tweaker

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The Design Gallery

Posted in Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on September 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I have just completed my first two Needlepoint Knitting pillow designs.  Tropicana Rose is available as a PDF download on my new page, entitled ” Free Pattern Catalogue.”

  Tropicana Rose Pillow

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

This pattern offers the experienced knitter a few challenges, yet provides great fun at the same time-at least it did for me.

In the photo above you get a peak at the back of the pillow, without the fringe. This is just one of the options of this design.

Here it is fresh off the needles.

Just click on “The Design Gallery” at the top of the page.

Enjoy!

Knit-tweaker

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Cable Chain Diamond

Posted in knitting embellishments, Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, tagged , , , on September 5, 2010| 1 Comment »

As I promised a while back, I have been working on a tutorial that gives you the process of how to work with the Cable Chains to make a diamond pattern on a flat surface.  Why?  This great little stitch opens a world of possiblities for design.  Once learned, this particular pattern can be applied to sweaters, scarves, socks-  you name it. 

 I am in the process of developing a line of 16 inch  pillow designs using these and various other unusual stitches.  When I am ready, which I hope will be soon,  I will add a page entitled “The Design Gallery.”  If you are interested, you will be able to check there for the available patterns and contact me directly if  you wish to purchase one.   All the tutorials for these designs will be free.

This offering is a practice piece, similar to the Wandering Chains tutorial,  accept that it is a little more complex, and it is more geared toward the other designs I have in mind. 

 I don’t know if you checked out my post on ” Painting with Yarn,” but if you have, you saw the Iris Motif I designed.  That particular piece is one that will be included in my pillow collection. 

                                                                                                                          

Also, included in this collection, will be my Tropicana Rose design, pictured on the left.

For now, we will call this offering an introductory sample.  or….., perhaps, something to peak your creative juices.   Or….. , well….. something like that!

I hope you like it.  One more thing-you don’t have to do the letter in the middle, you could put whatever you like in it’s place.

 I have included a chart  in the tutorial, that will give you a visual layout, and have tried my best to walk you through the process with pictures and illustrations, along with written  instructions, row by row.   Fell free to download and print it off.

Cable Chain Tutorial and Chart 

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Raised Pansy/Dinkin’ around again!

Posted in knitting embellishments, Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized, tagged on August 31, 2010| 2 Comments »

I found these notes on my desk this afternoon, and decide I better upload them before I either lost them or forgot about them.  These pansies are fun to make, and the fan that makes the petals can be used for other flowers as well, even butterflies.  I am sure that some of you will come up with even more ideas on how to use them.

 

Try them out.  * Pattern note-  be sure to pull your loops at least 5/8 inch long.

Pansy tutorial

Feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Have fun!!

Knit-tweaker

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Wandering Chains/Just a little needle gymnastics!

Posted in Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized, tagged , , on August 30, 2010| 1 Comment »

Lately, I have been playing around with what I term as Wandering Cable Chains.   Why this term?  First, the stitch itself appears as if it is a crocheted chain laying on top of the knitted surface.  Secondly,  the method of moving the stitch is similar to when you work a “Cable” pattern; hence the term “Cable Chains.”  The “wandering” part, is the ability to take this chain st anywhere you want. 

 This stitch has enabled me to created many differents special affects for my lastest project-Needlepoint Knitting.  It can be used to outlines sections of any Intarsia design(if you like the smooth edge look),  draw designs on plain stockinette background, and best of all it is a great cover-up st for decreasing a very busy pattern on a raglan sleeve design.   The pictures below show just  a few possiblities for their use. 

This pillow top is one of my lastest Needlepoint Knitting designs. You can see that I have used the Wandering Cable Chain to create an oval frame and textured design around my roses.  Below is a close up of the detail in the frame of my Tropicana Rose Pillow.  You can see the chains forming  lattice work around the oval frame of the design.

 Below is another application of this technique.  This diamond design can be applied to sweaters or any flat surface.  I will be posting this pattern soon. 

 

Here is a example of how I used this stitch to cover the necessary decreases in this complicated pattern.

 But for now, I decided to post a tutorial that explains the process, and gives you a chance to play around with it.

This sample is just a swatch I played around with.  You will notice that it is not centered, that is because I was indeed just wandering around with my chains.   However, the pattern that I have in the tutorial is centered.  There are 14 pages of  written instructions and pictures,  as well as a chart that will give you a chance to try it out.  The chart on the last page has the symbols that I will be using in all my Needlepoint knitting patterns. 

I hope you have as much fun as I had working with these chains.

Wandering Cable Chains Tutorial

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

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Invisible Bind Off

Posted in Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized on May 14, 2010| 2 Comments »

I was messing around with  a swatch the other day and decided I would practice the Invisible Bind Off technique. During the process I took some pictures and thought I would share them, hoping that maybe they would encourage someone to try it. I am sure this has been around for eons, but I learned this method from a book entitled “Essential Techniques for Serious Knitters,” by Peg Arnoldussen, a book that contains many wonderful tips and techniques.  Check it out!

Why the Invisible Bind Off?

First off, on the plus side, it looks very neat and professional, it stretches well, and it provides my socks with a tube through which I can run elastic, if I choose.

On the minus side, it takes a bit of practice to get the tension right. It requires a bit more time and planning. It also requires learning the Kitchener Stitch. Yikes!!!!!

Why am I doing this tutorial?
It helped me think through the process, and hopefully it will help you, too.

I purposely did this tutorial using a small practice swatch.   I also used different colored yarns so that you could see the process better. At least, I hope you can.

I have knitted many of these practice swatches, but once I got the hang of it, I was never afraid to use the Kitchener Stitch for any closure.  Once you get it, you get it!!!

Invisible Bind Off Tutorial

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A Foot Note to Short Row Heel Tutorial

Posted in Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized on May 1, 2010| 1 Comment »

I recently received an email from a lady that was a bit confused with my explanation of what a SPR is-my term, of course.  So being one that believes that you can always improve things, I took a look at the picture on page 3.

When I pondered on it a bit, I realized that it was the horizontal loop laying at the base of the slipped stitch from the previous row that I  actually lift onto the right hand needle to be knitted.

I decided not to change the term SPR, but, I put a more clear explanation of the process in the chart key and replaced the illustration.

Here is the new picture.

This loop is made, when the purl or knit at the end of the row is forced to the left, or in the direction your are knitting, when you slip the first stitch after the turn. The “loop” is what forms the gaps.

I hope this clears things up.  Who knows, I might even come up with a better illustration in the future.  If I do I will post it.

Knit-tweaker

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Double Knit Slipper Socks

Posted in Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized on April 25, 2010| 3 Comments »

I designed my Double Knit Cozy Slipper Socks so I could use the “Slipper Toe”  pattern I stumbled on to while playing around with short rows.   I am delighted with the results.  And …. they feel so…… good on my feet.  My husband even said he might like a pair for next winter.  Hummmm… , maybe I could chart an  elk on them. There were nine on the hill behind the house this morning.

Here are the pictures of the ballerina slipper.  I will post the pattern as soon as it it off the press.

You will notice that I incorporated that rose I used in “Charting Your Knitting Ideas.”  Next time I’ll turn it around so I can see it.

Beside using the Slipper Toe, I was able to use several techniques for this project.  I picked up my stitches for the ribbing as I went- yes,  picked ‘um up on the fly.

I used the invisible cast off, which provided me with a tube through which to slide my elastic thread, for a nice fit.

Combine that with the fun of  double knitting, and what more could a girl ask for?

You may purchase the pattern in my Etsy store.  Click here.

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Just a little Magic Loop Tip

Posted in Knitting Projects, Knitting Tutorials, Uncategorized on April 17, 2010| 1 Comment »

I thought I would share tip with those of you who might NOT have done a lot of Magic Loop knitting.

Last night I was working on a pair of socks for my friend, and in the process of putting pictures of her Doxies on the leg  portion, using the Armenian weaving method,  I discovered that if  I divided my sock into smaller sections,  I didn’t have to worry about the ” laddering” at the needle divisions.  It  allowed me to lay the adjacent section out flat before proceeding to the next one to the left.   Here’s the  pictures of what I mean.

These three smaller sections (three Doxies, sections A, B and C) of stitches allowed me better control over the tension of the floats, especially between the sections.  It also saved me from having to use markers to identify the beginning of the chart, or new dog.

Hummmmmmmm??  Why,  I might be able to use this method as if I had double point needles.

I think I am going to opt for a 47 inch next time I order my needles from KnitPicks. I could , of course, pull the cord out at every section, but I guess I’m not very keen on pinching and pulling.

Below is a picture of the left foot sock, finished with an invisible cast off- my favorite.  This toe shape is the one I posted in “New Toe Shapes for Toe-up Socks.”

This cast off looks very professional. It makes your sock look like it came right from the factory.  I learned this wonderful technique from  a book by Peg Arnoldussen, entitled, “Essential Techniques for Serious Knitters.”  The book also includes working with “steeks” as well as various finishing tips. It is inexpensive and well worth the money.

You can get her book here.

Just a PS.  My socks are modeled on a sock form I made from an old sock. Just stuffed it with fiber fill, and made a heavy folded paper ring to go in the leg part.  It works great.

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