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Archive: Knitting

September 28, 2009

Lion Brand Yarn Studio Hat and Scarf Collection for Charity

CRAFT: Cozy Up to Yarn

The Lion Brand Yarn Studio in New York is collecting hats and scarves for The Partnership for the Homeless, a organization committed to helping New York City families in need. From now until December 1st, let the staff know you are working on a hat or scarf for the charity and you'll get 10% off all yarn, hooks, needles, and supplies. Once you finish making all your hats and scarves, drop them off at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio. As a thank you, you'll receive a 20% off coupon for your next purchase.

Starting October 1st to November 22nd, the staff of the Lion Brand Yarn Studio will be knitting and crocheting scarves in the window during operating hours to donate to The Partnership for the Homeless. (We'll post some pics of these when it happens!)

For more information, visit the Lion Brand Yarn Studio blog.

September 26, 2009

How-To: Make Lace Knitting Charts

Sylvie at Chez Plum shows you how to make your own lace knitting charts using software like Excel.

September 25, 2009

Compost Critters: Fingerless Mitten Pattern

Of course we need our mittens and gloves when taking walks, but there are many times we need are fingers, say when we are turning compost piles, taking pictures, or drawing little sketches of squirrels running around the warmed up soil.

These are really fun to work up because they are both simple, cute and really quick. How can you make a pair of fingerless mittens in just an evening? Well, you just let a little knit fall in love with a little crochet and then you have some great little fingerless mitten critters to keep your hands nice a toasty warm in a snap.

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Best of the CRAFT Pattern Podcast: Short-Rows Wavy Hat

CRAFT Pattern Podcast

Today we're dipping into our pattern archives to feature one of my favorite hat patterns by the awesome Lee Meredith of leethal.net. (This was first featured back in April 2008.) Make your own short-rows wavy hat. A great way to mix up your favorite yarn colors and reate some great wavy stripes.

Download the Pattern PDF | Subscribe in iTunes

Leethalquickknits
Subscribe to the Leethal Quick Knits Club!
I just got my package for September's "Back to School Knit Set" and I love opening up and playing with all the goodies that Lee packs in each bag. Thank you Lee!

Three month subscriptions are now available starting with the October club, with the sign-up deadline next Thursday on Oct 1st. There's no club in December, so the 3 months will be Oct, Nov, and Jan, and you save $2 per month by subscribing! Find out more about leethal quick knits.

Each club package includes:

a 15 yard mini-skein of recycled hand-dyed yarn
a 10 yard mini-skein of spun recycled yarn
quick knit patterns exclusive to the club*
any crafty bits called for in the pattern (e.g. buttons)
extra mystery leethal goodies and/or bits of crafty fun

September 22, 2009

Three-Season Mitts E-Book and Sarah Mitts Pattern

CRAFT: Cozy Up to Yarn

Threeseasonmitts
Robyn Devine of A Devine Life just launched the Three-Season Mitts E-Book for sale on Ravelry. The e-book is just $8 and features six unique patterns for hand/arm warmers, each one matching the personality of the friend she was making them for (or the level of warmth needed!). I love all the beautiful details in each pattern. From a subtle cable to a button accent, you'll be keeping your hands warm in style. You also have the option to purchase each pattern separately too. Make them for yourself or start working on your holiday gifts for friends.

Threeseasonmitts2

Sarahmitts Devine
As a special to CRAFT readers, Robyn is sharing with us her pattern for these awesome Sarah Mitts!

Download the PDF for the Sarah Mitts Pattern
(Note: If you are having problems viewing the PDF, please right-click on the link to download the file to your desktop.)

September 21, 2009

How-To: Knit Caution Tape

CRAFT: Cozy Up to Yarn

Knit Caution Tape
Police line: do not cross-stitch.
By Michelle Kempner

In the days before mass production, things had to be made by hand. From stockings to gloves, knitters worked long hours making beautiful garments and accessories. Who's
to say that the earliest cops didn't knit their own police tape?

I first knitted police tape in 2006 as an experiment. I wanted to learn how to knit with color, incorporate text into my craft projects, and design something that my partners at the Graffiti Research Lab might find useful for urban pranks and hijinks. The result is a simple pattern for knitted police tape that's perfect for crafty barricades, marking a crime scene, or wearing as a unique urban-inspired scarf. Experiment with your own color-switching technique and customize your version for the protesters without permits in your town.

Materials

Worsted-weight acrylic yarn, 2 skeins gold and 1 skein black I used Dark Horse Fantasy #26 and #1, but you can swap these for your own faves.
US 8 knitting needles
Tapestry needle

Directions

Letter chart: Each letter is separated by 2 rows of gold; each word is separated by 6 rows of gold; and each group of words is separated by 16 rows of gold. One group of words is about 3 feet long.

Note:This pattern includes a letter chart and 2 variations of the tape: one that knits fast for rapid production and one that takes more time for a polished look.

Pattern 1 (for rapid production)
1. Cast on 18 stitches in the gold color.
2. Knit 2, purl 2 to end. On wrong side, purl 2, knit 2 to end. Continue in 2×2 rib pattern.
3. After 16 rows, begin knitting the text according to the letter chart. To work the letters, knit 2, purl 2, and then begin working each letter as shown.
4. Once the police tape has reached the desired length, bind off and sew in all ends. Block for good measure. One skein of yarn creates about 9 feet of police tape.

Pattern 2 (more finished look)
1. Cast on 29 stitches in gold.
2. Knit 14, purl 1, knit 14. Continue in stockinette with the 15th stitch always purl on the right side and knit on the wrong side.
3. After 16 rows, begin knitting the text on an RS row according to the letter chart. This is a 2-sided pattern with the letters appearing on only one side. Therefore, knit 2 stitches before working the letter. After the letter, complete the row in pattern.
4. Once the police tape has reached the desired length, bind off. Sew in all ends. Block the police tape.
5. To finish, put the right sides together and use a tapestry needle to seam the open side using a backstitch. Pull the police tape right side out, and you're done. One skein of yarn creates more than 4 feet of police tape.

For other variations on knitted police tape, check out Crime of Fashion by Marnie MacLean on marniemaclean.com.

For more knitting projects in the urban landscape, visit knittaplease.com.

About the Author:
Michelle Kempner has a degree from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program. She lives in New York and splits her time between technology and crafts.

How-To: Felted Christmas Trees

It's not too early to start some Christmas home decor projects, especially if they are of the knit variety. These charming felted Christmas trees from Whitney at The Purl Bee are just the thing to try.

September 18, 2009

CRAFT Video: Inside the NYC Lion Brand Yarn Studio

Last Friday, Natalie and I got a tour of the NYC Lion Brand Yarn Studio on 15th Street in Manhattan. Zontee and Patty showed us around their rotating window display, their luscious yarn offerings, and told us all about the classes and events that take place in the studio.

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

Natalie also took some awesome pics at the studio, check out her Flickr set! Pictured aboe is Becky, Natalie, and Zontee.

September 15, 2009

Slip Stitch Strategy: Using Up Yarn Bits

CRAFT: Cozy Up to Yarn

Slip Stitch Strategy: Using Up Yarn Bits
By Kristin Roach

3149082207 85A61Bbe8A B-490X291
Often it's those last 10 yards that are the hardest to find uses for. What the heck do you do with those? Thankfully there are many answers to that question! But today I am going to just focus on one: Slip Stitch Knitting!
Traditionally, fair isle work using up more yarn - so creating a complex color pattern can actually suck up more yardage than say just straight knitting. Well, fears be put to rest! You can have fancy color work and as much yardage as possible!

I love slip stitch knitting patterns for 2 reasons. {coffee cozy pattern above}

1. They use significantly less yarn than fair isle patterns because you do not have to carry the yarn along the back side of your knitting.

2. You only work one color each row.

So working in the round means you just drop the color at the end of the row and pick it up again when you need it again. Soooo nice.

It does make a tighter fabric. It also uses more yarn than straight knitting. And you can not slip a color more than two rows without the fabric starting to pucker.

The first slip stitch pattern I ever used was the dish cloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide. I love that book and I have made that dish cloth a million times over.

A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker has a great collection of slip stitch patterns.

Knitty.com has a great article on slip stitch knitting and even two example patterns. The author also links up to a few of her favorite books on the topic.

I have been having so much fun knitting up a slip stitching storm lately, so expect some new knitting patterns next month :) I'm excited about it and I know you will like them as much as I do!

To finish reading Slip Stitch Strategy and for the Tea Pot Cozy pattern head on over to Craft Leftovers. We are also excited to announce that Kristin Roach will be guest blogging here on CRAFT all next week!

About the Author:

Kristin Roach of Craft Leftovers teaches fiber art classes full time, while also hosting the local Sewing Rebellion. You can find her current class schedules, free patterns, and links to all her online projects at http://krostudio.com/blog.

September 14, 2009

Easy House Slippers

CRAFT: Cozy Up to Yarn

Easy House Slippers
Do as the Norwegians do and make these super-simple slippers.
By Liecel Tverli Scully

There's a saying where I am from: "Don't just sit there with your hands in your lap — knit something!" I grew up in the far north of Norway, above the Arctic Circle in Saltdal, a small town on the edge of a fjord. Knitting was the perfect way to pass the time during the dark, cold winters. At school, knitting class was a requirement; when I was in the 5th grade, we had to make a pair of socks using five needles. It was a complicated project and I remember having a really hard time with it. But my poor friend Roger was so frustrated he threw his half-done sock into the fireplace at home, needles and all. That's right — at my elementary school the boys had to learn to knit as well!

This is a pattern that is really popular in my valley right now. It's an easy project that makes a fun, cozy slipper. If you know basic knitting, you'll knit these in no time.

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Basket Weave Baby Blanket

Jen at The Purl Bee has a pattern to knit this gender friendly basket weave baby blanket using Koigu merino in a multi-color with a strand of natural white to soften up the colors.

September 11, 2009

How-To: Knit Owl Bicycle Handle Bag

Craftster user teriyakimoto shares the chart for this cool knit bag she made to hang on bicycle handlebars.

I just knitted a long rectangle (stockinette then moss stitch for the top edges) w/ a button hole, folded it in half, and knit some straps w/ button holes.

What a fun, stylish way to tote your things around while you're on the go!

How-To: Knit and Felt a Skinny Ruffle Scarf

CRAFT: Cozy Up to Yarn

A long skinny ruffle felt scarf? What could be more in fashion right now? The concept for this scarf came from my love of felting, and my love of making the best of my mistakes. I knit a ton of scarves in the garter stitch on my circular needles. It's the fastest method I know. But the first time I tried the technique, I accidentally cast on too loose and then cast off too tightly. This created uneven tension, and gave the scarf a neat ruffle. When you purposefully try it, the ruffle is even more exaggerated.

Add the amazing Landscapes yarn to the mix. Landscapes is a very cool blend of 50% pure wool and 50% acrylic. When you knit it, and then felt it, the wool felts, but the acrylic does not. That leaves these very interesting spots of color embedded in the felt. I am a very basic knitter, with only knit and perl in my repertoire. When I use a yarn like Landscapes, even with my simple stitches, I get beautiful and interesting effects.

Oh, and if you are interested, please check out my book, Feltique, for more fun felting projects!

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Best of the CRAFT Video: Skeleton Cardigan

This week learn to make a digital image into a knitting pattern to make your very own skeleton cardigan. The first video shows the image processing needed to make the pattern, and the second video shows you the stranded knitting method for switching colors. Combine those with the pattern PDF, and you've got yourself a sweater! I brought the skeleton cardigan with me to Maker Faire Bay Area 2008, and it was unfortunately lost with my suitcase on the return trip, but thankfully it still lives on, in video form here on CRAFT!

Subscribe to the CRAFT Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video of part 1 or part 2.

More:

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September 10, 2009

Yoga for Crafters: The Knit and Crochet Edition

CRAFT: Cozy Up to Yarn

Over on Crafting a Green World, Becky Striepe has added a new addition to her Yoga for Crafters series, this one focused on tackling the aches and pains that come with hours of knitting or crochet, perfect for our Cozy Up to Yarn month.

Social Knitworking

Hilary Grant and Stefan Agamanolis have been developing conversational patterns into knitwear for their project, "Social Knitworking" at the distance lab in Scotland. I can't wait to see how the project develps! Via Fashioning Technology.

September 9, 2009

Coquette Cocktail Hat

CRAFT: Cozy Up to Yarn

Andrea Coquettehat
One of my longtime blog friends, Andrea Tung of Making Things created this adorable knitting pattern to make this Coquette Cocktail Hat. A name I like! You can pick up the pattern at Ravlery for £2.00 (or around $4).

Andrea writes:

How to be unforgettable; wear a beautiful hat! There is no other fashion accessory that can achieve what a hat can do. This miniature beret style cocktail hat was inspirited by the likes of old Hollywood film beauties, like Audrey Hepburn- graceful, sophisticated and full of personality. This is a speedy knitting project, so you can knit one up in time for a party of night out (possibly make one for all the girls for a hen night)! Or be bold! Wear it nonchalantly on the street and receive lots of smiles and attention from passing strangers! It is called "Coquette" after all; it's French for "flirt".

Fablehandknit Andrea
You can read my interview with Andrea back in 2006 on Make:Online (before we had Craftzine.com). Andrea is also the proprietor of Fable Handknit, an online shop she created that sells her luxurious baby alpaca yarn.

September 4, 2009

How-To: Loom-Knit Sock Monster

Lisa at Polka Dot Cottage shares how she whipped up this simple sock monster as a gift her her son's friend. Be sure to check out the tutorial for a cute picture of the sock monster in progress, looking like he's eating the loom knitting device!

Intern's Corner: Crash Course in Chicken Knitting!

CRAFT: Intern's Corner
Every other week, CRAFT's awesome interns tell about the projects they're building in the Craft: Labs, the trouble they've gotten into, and what they'll make next.

By Meara O'Reilly, projects intern

When I started interning at CRAFT magazine, my skills and interests tended more toward soldering and sawing than knitting and sewing -- but I was ready for a crash course! Of course I'd knitted a few scarves growing up, and taught myself to crochet just by messing around with yarn, so I thought learning how to knit objects would be cinch!

I'd had a great time knitting the hyperbolic baby pants from CRAFT Volume 06 and was really excited about learning how to mold different shapes and build my stitch repertoire, so the reversible Chicken-and-Egg knitted puppet (also from CRAFT Volume 06) seemed like a logical next step.

By the time it came down to finishing the project, though (to show it off at the CRAFT booth at the Craftaluma fair in Petaluma, Calif.), I was running around 24/7 helping my sister get ready for her wedding, so time got a little tight! I actually stayed up all night knitting the chicken-and-egg the night before the fair, desperately trying to finish it up (a memory my poor hands will not forget soon!).

But on the bright side, I will also never forget these basic stitches and tips that I learned, courtesy of a few benevolent YouTube mavens:

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Knitting for the Skye Bridge

My mom, Bette Stern, recently went on a trip to Scotland. She and my dad had plans to stop at the Isle of Skye, where some crafters had plans to cover the bridge in knitted panels. We posted it here on Craftzine, so my mom made a panel. She writes:

It started with this post on the Craftzine back in April.

My husband and I had already decided to travel to Scotland from our home in Connecticut this summer. We hadn’t decided which part of Scotland to visit until I saw this post. I wanted to knit a panel for the bridge and deliver it in person to the organizers on the Isle of Skye.

I went to my stash and found two cones of yarn that had actually been produced in Scotland that would work well for the project, and started charting the letters for the panel.

Rag ‘n Tag Textiles, the store where Alison, one of the organizers, works is only open on Tuesdays and I had every intention of timing our visit so I’d be in Kyle of Lochalsh on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Then due to unforeseen scheduling issues, we went through Kyle on Monday, Aug. 24. I sent a note to Alison telling her that I’d have to mail my panel afterall because we wouldn’t be back through Kyle until Thursday.

She wrote back that it would be “mad to post it after coming all this way.” She gave me her phone number and told me to call when we got to Kyle on that Thursday…..and then invited us to her home where she graciously received the panel. We then went to visit a gallery where some of the other panels are being displayed.

Before I delivered the panel, we stopped on the Skye Bridge and held my lonely panel there for a photo imagining what it will be like when hundreds of panels are put there later this fall.

The Highland Homecoming is taking place between Oct. 19 and 31. The panels are scheduled to go up on Friday Oct. 23 and come down on Mon. Oct. 26. They will then be sold to raise money for charity. Stitches on the Bridge is also looking for people to help put the panels on the bridge, so if you’re planning a trip to Scotland, like we were, why not go to Skye and participate in the celebration?

For more information about Stitches on the Bridge, there's also a Yahoo group and info email address.

Photos by Paul and Bette Stern.

< Previous | Knitting Home | Next >

Craft:

Lion Brand Yarn Studio Hat and Scarf Collection for Charity

How-To: Make Lace Knitting Charts

Compost Critters: Fingerless Mitten Pattern

Best of the CRAFT Pattern Podcast: Short-Rows Wavy Hat

Three-Season Mitts E-Book and Sarah Mitts Pattern

How-To: Knit Caution Tape

Materials

Directions

How-To: Felted Christmas Trees

CRAFT Video: Inside the NYC Lion Brand Yarn Studio

Slip Stitch Strategy: Using Up Yarn Bits

Easy House Slippers

Basket Weave Baby Blanket

How-To: Knit Owl Bicycle Handle Bag

How-To: Knit and Felt a Skinny Ruffle Scarf

Best of the CRAFT Video: Skeleton Cardigan

Yoga for Crafters: The Knit and Crochet Edition

Social Knitworking

Coquette Cocktail Hat

How-To: Loom-Knit Sock Monster

Intern's Corner: Crash Course in Chicken Knitting!

Knitting for the Skye Bridge

Social CRAFT

November's Theme & Contests

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