Sock Tips, Pt. 2: Knit Charming Two-Tone Socks June 10th, 2013 by Zontee Pin It Why are socks so popular to make right now? Socks are a great easy-to-carry project and they’re compact and satisfying to make. Over the next few months, we will be showing you different ways to embellish your sock patterns. In our first installment, we featured a basic, solid kids’ sock.
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Tranquil Tank Top Knit-Along – Additional Sizes (Or How to Resize a Pattern) May 6th, 2013 by Zontee Pin It We’ve heard from several of you (thanks for asking, Karen, Kate, and Chelli!) who are looking to make the Tranquil Tank Top larger or smaller than the bust sizes in the pattern. Because of this, I wanted to write up a quick blog post about how you can resize a pattern WITHOUT rewriting the directions.How? Most of you know that getting the correct gauge is how we make sure that the item we make ends up the size we expect based on the pattern. It’s the reference point that makes sure that you’re on the “same page” as the designer.We’ve all had that experience at least once in our knitting/crochet lives, where we’ve skipped the gauge swatch and ended up with a project that’s just too small or big. Well, by harnessing our gauge, we can purposely make a project larger or smaller.Calculating Our New GaugeFirst, I read through the pattern for the Tranquil Tank Top, and I see that the cast-on amount is the same as the bust stitch count (this makes things easier, as you’ll want to base all the calculations on the bust size, which is the main sizing reference point for sweater patterns).The sweater is made as a front and a back piece, so we know each piece is half of our bust measurement (which is the measurement around our bust/chest).If you’re looking for a bust size of 34 inches, using the Small directions (with a 66 stitch cast-on), let’s do the math:34 inches ÷ 2 pieces = 17 inches per piece (that’s the front and back pieces of our sweater)66 stitches ÷ 17 inches = 3.88 stitches per inch (or approx 15.5 stitches per 4 inches)That would be the gauge we’re looking for.What Gauge Will YOU Need?I’ve gone ahead and done the math so that you can simply get the gauge below for your project.
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Tranquil Tank Top Knit-Along – Additional Sizes (Or How to Resize a Pattern)
Crochet Pattern: S-Curve Barrette By Candace – Be the first to commentThe pattern for this abstract barrette is simple yet complicated. The pattern takes basic stitches and uses them to create an interesting shape. Experienced crocheters may enjoy playing around with this neat, little accessory.
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Reader Question: Cowl Patterns for Petite Women February 8th, 2013 by Zontee Pin It A few weeks ago, we shared a guest blog post from Jessica in our sales department. Jessica is a big fan of crocheted infinity cowls and told us a little bit about her recent project. In response, we got this email from Esther C.:“My daughter is short like me, and I am trying to tell her these cowls that you can use different ways would make us look top heavy. Do you agree?
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Crochet Pattern: Heart Pendant By Candace – 3 CommentsYou could wear your heart on your sleeve–or you could dangle it from you neck, which is slightly more anatomically correct. If you’d rather not loop a chain through the bail, you can make the final chain long enough to fit around your neck instead. The pendant can also be stiffened with starch. Skill Level: Finished Size: 1″ (2.5 cm) wide, 1 1/4″ (3 cm) tall (including bail) Materials:Size 5 thread (Approximately 5 yards)Crochet Hook B (2.25 mm) Gauge: Rounds 1 – 3 in patterns measure 1″ (2.5 cm) wide and 1 1/4″ (3 cm) tallNeed help understanding the abbreviations and symbols? Check out the crochet abbreviation chart.
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Crochet Pattern: Cupcake Drawstring Bag By Rachel Choi – Be the first to commentThere’s a new pattern in the Crochet Spot Store! This pattern is for a cute cupcake shaped drawstring bag. Crochet a bunch of these little baggies to use as party favors, to give to a child or to keep for yourself! Feel free to crochet an entire set of bags in varies colors.
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Doing the Twist: Basics of Cable Knitting January 18th, 2013 by Heather Lodinsky Pin It Author, knitting teacher, and erstwhile crochet-along/knit-along host Heather Lodinsky joins us for an article on cables.This season, style sections of newspapers and magazines are once again telling us that cables are a hot trend in fashion, showing up in all sorts of knitwear for women, men and children. In knitting, there are those trends that appear again and again, such as lace, fair-isle knitting and cables. It is safe to say that if you have never tried to knit a cable before…now is a great time to learn!Cables in knitting look much more difficult than they really are. I remember as a girl, looking at a cardigan my mother had knit with cables. I was positive that she must have cut her knitting, and then twisted it to form the “ropes” in her knitting. Well, I had half of the technique right, as cables are made by twisting or moving your stitches as you knit, but no cutting of those stitches is necessary.Choosing the Right Tools for Cable KnittingIn addition to the knitting needles you need to knit your project, you will also want to find the right cable needle for your project. Cable needles come in various shapes and sizes, but the one thing that they all have in common is that they have two points like a double-pointed needle. Some knitters do use a double-point needles as a cable needle, but there is a very good reason why cable needles are shaped the way they are. Some cable needles are shaped as hooks, or simply have a bend in the middle of the needle. But both work the same with the stitches being “moved” held on the bent part of the needle.Frequently cable needles come in a package with 2 or 3 sizes. It is best to use a cable needle close to the size of the needle you are using to knit your project. If a needle is too thin, the stitches may slide off as you are working your cable. Alternately, if the cable needle is too thick, then your stitches will be stretched as you try to slip them on. Choosing the right size cable needle will make your cable knitting a fun and rewarding experience.Choosing Your First Cable ProjectFor your first cable project, choose a pattern that has one or two cables that are repeated throughout the project. This will introduce you to cable knitting and give you the practice of working a cable without worrying about which cable to work. The “Classic Cables Scarf” (right) is a perfect introduction to cable knitting.This pattern is a classic – and a super scarf anyone would love to wear! There is only one cable in this pattern that is repeated throughout the entire scarf. When working a cable pattern, there will be abbreviations for each cable and in this pattern, the cable is called a 3/3 LC. Looking at the “Stitch Explanation” section of a pattern explains how to work any cables in for your project. In this pattern, the 3/3 stands for how the 6 stitches in each cable will be split. The first three will be slipped onto the left side of cable needle : In this cable, LC is an abbreviation for a “Left Cross”. In other words, the resulting cable will be slanting to the “left” each time it is worked. In order to achieve a “Left Cross”, the 3 stitches need to be held to the front of your work, as you knit the next three stitches on your left needle to your right needle. (See how the “bend” in the cable needle helps hold those stitches?If you were to hold those stitches to the back of your knitting, the cable would slant or twist to the right. For this pattern, all the stitches are held to the front and will the cable will slant to the left. To complete the cable, simply slide the 3 stitches on the cable needle to the right tip of the cable needle, and knit them with your right needle:A cable is born! At first a cable looks very tight, but as you work the rows in between each cable row, you will see the lovely twist of the cables form. In this scarf pattern, the cables are worked only every 8th row, with just knitting and purling in those 7 rows in between.Don’t be surprised if you find knitting cables addictive! Having an assortment of cable needles will allow you to tackle any cable project on your knitting list.Related links:How to Incorporate a Stitch Pattern into a Project Knit Some Cozy Cables This Season How to Cable Without a Cable Needle How to Use a Cable Needle « 5 Useful Articles to Help Finish Your Knit/Crochet Project Effectively
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5 Useful Articles to Help Finish Your Knit/Crochet Project Effectively January 17th, 2013 by Brandyce Pin It So you’ve spent the last few days, weeks, or even months working on that sweater, or crocheting a bunch of granny squares; you’re almost there, but you know that you’re still not done. Whether it’s seaming, blocking or weaving in ends, those final steps sometimes cause crafters to prolong completing their piece.Finishing doesn’t have to seem like such a task, there are many tips and tricks to help you with the process. I’ve actually included a round up of some articles that should be helpful in finishing your work more effectively; check them out below!More Than Just the End: Binding Off 5 Tips for Seaming or Sewing Up Knit & Crochet Pieces How to Invisibly Seam Granny Squares How to Crochet Over Your Ends (Save time as you work!) How to Block (Wet, Steam and Spray blocking) What are some methods you use for finishing your work? Share with us in the comments! « How to Style a Rectangle WrapDoing the Twist: Basics of Cable Knitting »
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5 Useful Articles to Help Finish Your Knit/Crochet Project Effectively
5 Irresistible Holiday Knit & Crochet Projects from Craft Bloggers December 14th, 2012 by Brandyce Pin It
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5 Irresistible Holiday Knit & Crochet Projects from Craft Bloggers
Slip Stitch Knitting: Easy, No-Fuss Colorwork! December 12th, 2012 by Zontee Pin It I have been a big fan of slip stitch colorwork for a long-time. It allows you to create wonderful, geometric designs that look so much more complex than they really are!
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