18 April 2010
Safety lines. And you thought those were what mountain climbers used.
Safety lines are commonly used by lace knitters. It is a piece of thread that is run through all of the stitches on your needle every so many rows. If a mistake is discovered you only need to ravel to the safety line and place all of those stitches back on the needle - mistake free.
You don't need to be working on lace to use safety lines. Any knitting that has a complicated pattern can use a safety line. Just run a contrasting thread (using a tapestry needle) through the stitches on your needle. How often? Well, how much do you want to ravel if you make a mistake?
Every five or ten rows or one pattern repeat will do. Whatever you feel comfortable with.
Now, no raveling back in tears for many rows until you can figure where you are in your pattern.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
16 April 2010
I have helped customers with yarn overs (YO) for many years. For the most part yarn overs self-explanatory and easy to show. A yarn over is an increase and the purpose is to create a hole (eyelet) in your knitting.
The problem arises when your pattern asks you to start a row of knitting with a yarn over. You sit there wondering how this can be accomplished.
Simple. The yarn over is the first stitch on the right-hand needle. Don't try to put the yarn over on the left-hand needle and attempt to move it across to the right. Depending on whether the next stitch to be worked is a purl or a knit will cause you to have to wrap the yarn so that it either ends up on the front of the work or back of the work ready to work a knit or a purl.
See, simple.
I have helped customers with yarn overs (YO) for many years. For the most part yarn overs self-explanatory and easy to show. A yarn over is an increase and the purpose is to create a hole (eyelet) in your knitting.
The problem arises when your pattern asks you to start a row of knitting with a yarn over. You sit there wondering how this can be accomplished.
Simple. The yarn over is the first stitch on the right-hand needle. Don't try to put the yarn over on the left-hand needle and attempt to move it across to the right. Depending on whether the next stitch to be worked is a purl or a knit will cause you to have to wrap the yarn so that it either ends up on the front of the work or back of the work ready to work a knit or a purl.
See, simple.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
8 April 2010
You really need to consider yarn amounts when changing from stockinette stitch to garter stitch (or from knit to crochet).
It takes three rows of garter stitch to equal two rows of stockinette. Put in other words, it takes one-third more yarn to knit in garter than it does to knit stockinette.
This one-third more can be applied to afghans/throws too. If you have a pattern for a knitted throw and you want to make the same size but you are going to crochet it, it will use one-third more yarn than is called for in the knitted version.
You really need to consider yarn amounts when changing from stockinette stitch to garter stitch (or from knit to crochet).
It takes three rows of garter stitch to equal two rows of stockinette. Put in other words, it takes one-third more yarn to knit in garter than it does to knit stockinette.
This one-third more can be applied to afghans/throws too. If you have a pattern for a knitted throw and you want to make the same size but you are going to crochet it, it will use one-third more yarn than is called for in the knitted version.
Friday, March 26, 2010
26 March 2010
Don't forget about selvages. They're very important when it comes to finishing your garments. Sewing your garment up will be made much easier with a selvage.
Some patterns account for selvages some don't. If they don't it is up to you. There are many different types of selvages but one of the most common is a slip-stitch selvage.
If you have the book The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman you're all set. If not, we have the book here at the shop. It is a valuable resource if you're having trouble finishing (or avoiding finishing) your projects.
Don't forget about selvages. They're very important when it comes to finishing your garments. Sewing your garment up will be made much easier with a selvage.
Some patterns account for selvages some don't. If they don't it is up to you. There are many different types of selvages but one of the most common is a slip-stitch selvage.
If you have the book The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman you're all set. If not, we have the book here at the shop. It is a valuable resource if you're having trouble finishing (or avoiding finishing) your projects.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
26 March 2010
Oh boy! We just got a new shipment of antique buttons. So if all button collectors want a good selection you should get down to the shop pronto.
Remember we enable...... proudly.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for April 10. We will be having our Spring Porch Party and first ever Shop Model Sale!
In answer to your questions, no you can't reserve a sweater because I don't know what I am going to sell. You'll just have to show up.
Oh boy! We just got a new shipment of antique buttons. So if all button collectors want a good selection you should get down to the shop pronto.
Remember we enable...... proudly.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for April 10. We will be having our Spring Porch Party and first ever Shop Model Sale!
In answer to your questions, no you can't reserve a sweater because I don't know what I am going to sell. You'll just have to show up.
Friday, March 19, 2010
19 March 2010
Hooray! I've been waiting for the color book from Wagtail Yarns of Australia. It has finally arrived. If you want to see beautiful colors of smooth spun mohair this yarn is for you. Not fuzzy and not itchy.
The yarn comes in several combinations: 100% mohair, 80% mohair and 20% wool, and 60% mohair and 40% wool.
In the 100% there are three weights: lace, sock (fingering) and double knitting (DK). In the 80%/20% there are two weights: sock, and DK. In the 60%/40% there are three weights: sport, worsted and heavy worsted. Of course Australia uses plys instead of weight of yarn so these are approximate but close. You do have a bit of leeway to knit up or down a stitch or two.
Stop by and have a look. This weekend will be beautiful for a day out and a trip to the yarn shop.
Hooray! I've been waiting for the color book from Wagtail Yarns of Australia. It has finally arrived. If you want to see beautiful colors of smooth spun mohair this yarn is for you. Not fuzzy and not itchy.
The yarn comes in several combinations: 100% mohair, 80% mohair and 20% wool, and 60% mohair and 40% wool.
In the 100% there are three weights: lace, sock (fingering) and double knitting (DK). In the 80%/20% there are two weights: sock, and DK. In the 60%/40% there are three weights: sport, worsted and heavy worsted. Of course Australia uses plys instead of weight of yarn so these are approximate but close. You do have a bit of leeway to knit up or down a stitch or two.
Stop by and have a look. This weekend will be beautiful for a day out and a trip to the yarn shop.
Friday, March 12, 2010
12 March 2010
The rainy day blahs. Well, it doesn't have to be like that. Come down to the shop and sit and knit. It's pleasant here and there is great conversation – as always.
The water-based fabric glue has arrived. I have been waiting awhile for the distributor to get it in. Took long enough!
Now the problem of woven ends isn't a problem anymore. Just a small drop of the glue and the end is permanently locked. This glue does not create a hard spot and is clear. Mistakes can be removed with water before it dries. And, once dry it is machine washable.
This is the answer knitters have been looking for, especially with slippery yarn. No more woven ends coming out or loose! Hooray!
The rainy day blahs. Well, it doesn't have to be like that. Come down to the shop and sit and knit. It's pleasant here and there is great conversation – as always.
The water-based fabric glue has arrived. I have been waiting awhile for the distributor to get it in. Took long enough!
Now the problem of woven ends isn't a problem anymore. Just a small drop of the glue and the end is permanently locked. This glue does not create a hard spot and is clear. Mistakes can be removed with water before it dries. And, once dry it is machine washable.
This is the answer knitters have been looking for, especially with slippery yarn. No more woven ends coming out or loose! Hooray!
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