The Knit Stitch
To learn knitting is to love knitting
Alice's Articles
New To Knitting? 7 Surefire Strategies To Get You Going!
Quickly Discover...What Is This Thing Called Yarn?
5 Steps To Becoming A Knitter!
My Top 6 Favorite Knitting Gadgets
Learn Knitting's 6 Yarn Secrets!
Learn Knitting – The Chunky Way
Knitting's Top Ten Abbreviations
5 Best Reasons To Knit!
Knit – Finity
Knitting Is All In Your Head!
5 Most Popular Knitting Stitch Types
Be Happy...Be Knitting!
"New to Knitting? - 7 Surefire Strategies to Get You Started!"
Congratulations! Here you sit, maybe with needles and yarn in hand, excited
to begin learning a wonderful, new hobby, knitting. You bought the needles, and the yarn, and even an introductory magazine to keep you company. Now what?
Fortunately, you have found a little treasure in this article! In the following
paragraphs I will set your mind at rest with the very best beginner knitting tips
and techniques! So let me let you in on some of the best little knitting secrets
around!
Overcome Your Fear! Yes, fear. Ah, you say, what does fear have to do with knitting?
Maybe nothing. On the other hand, maybe everything. If you are the type of personality who just likes to get in there every time and get your hands dirty, then fear is probably not that big a deal for you.
If you're like me, whenever you start a new project, your tendency will be to want everything about it to be perfect. Guess what? Nothing is ever perfect.
That isn't to say, whenever you do something it looks a mess. Quite the contrary. You take time to see to it that whatever you do, you do your best. That usually doesn't have anything to do with being perfect. After all, if we were all perfect, why would we need to strive better to do anything at all? There would just be no need!
You should recognize within yourself, that “perfect” has no place in your life. Anything worth doing will present mistakes and errors all along the way. How else do we ever learn anything?
Calling All Procrastinators! We all put things off, it's just human nature. If we are new to a project, a job, or even a relationship, we think going slow, or hardly moving, is the best route to take.
Well, here's news. It never is. You need to TAKE ACTION and take it now!
Open that knitting magazine to the instruction page, and start reading. It's that simple. Follow the instructions and you will begin to learn how to knit! But, you have to do it, now, (!) and just go forward.
Know Your Tools Beginning knitting is simple, indeed. All you need are a pair of knitting needles. I recommend the metal or bamboo type as they are the easiest to work with. Make sure your needles are the straight version, NOT the circular needles.
Your knitting needles should be size 8, 8-1/2, or 9, preferably. Not too small, and not too big will help you learn faster.
Yarn comes in infinitesimal varieties. Why, you might walk into a yarn shop and never come out, there is such an array of yarn to choose from.
Again, be simple. Choose a worsted-weight yarn. Look on the label which is on each skein of yarn for the words “worsted weight”. Not sport-weight, not fun fur, not chunky or bulky, not cotton, or chenille. Just stick with the worsted weight. And, here's good news, you can choose whichever color you like! There are too many to list here.
Learn The Basic Basics Start learning to knit the easy way. Learn how to cast on, learn the knit stitch, learn the purl stitch, and learn how to bind off. That's it!
Do not over complicate your life when learning anything new. Stick to the basics and you will never go wrong!
Be Consistent I've been married more than 30 years. That is a long time. It hasn't always been a bed of roses, nor has it ever been awful. But there are always the slow times, the rough times, the nothing-seems-to-be-going-right times. With practice, I and my husband have learned what it takes to be happily married. And we have let all the rest go by.
The same goes for learning to knit. Keep it simple, be consistent, practice, practice, practice!! And no, practice doesn't make perfect; but you will come close.
Knitting Is Good For You! I'll bet you didn't know that! But did you know this?!
There is scientific evidence that shows the benefits that come from picking up a pair of knitting needles and creating a knitted sensation. Knitting brings about serenity; it helps to synchronize the left and right sides of the brain; knitting brings one closer to a meditative state. The gentle clicking and clacking of the needles brings about a soothing rhythm.
This soothing rhythm leads to more harmonious blood flow and lowered blood pressure. Our minds and bodies are connected; but your grandmother could have told you that!
Do What Works When you are learning to knit, learn one step at a time. When you have learned the knit stitch well, practice it over and over. Use it in various patterns, and designs before moving on to something new. Don't feel that you have to be too fancy or intricate if you don't feel comfortable doing that.
There is always a tendency in this loopy world we live in to try and be more that we are. Do what works, in knitting and in every other way, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the results!
Follow these 7 simple steps to get you knitting today!! You'll be a winner every time!
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Quickly Discover...What Is This Thing Called Yarn?
“This funny thing called yarn? Just who can solve its mystery? Why should it make a fool of me?”
Oh, I could go on and on singing Cole Porter’s hit song, but you get the picture! You can substitute the word “yarn” for “love” and feel just as confused. Knitting can do that to you; “yarn flew in through my window, I was so happy then”.
Been in a yarn shop lately? Leafed through a knitting magazine? Got your heart set on the perfect pattern for you, only just why is it telling me to use a sport-weight yarn and, what is that anyway?
Just like material,– cotton, wool, knits, blends, silk, taffeta, linen, – yarn comes in a variety of different styles and types. Some yarns are great for certain projects, other yarns will be disastrous. With all of the yarns available today, either in yarn shops or online, it’s a good idea to arm yourself with a little knowledge. After all, a little knowledge goes a long way!
The following is a list of the most popular yarns that you will encounter with patterns today. Whenever you choose a knitting project, there will always be a suggested yarn to use. This information will be at the top of the instruction page, under “materials” along with needle size, length or size, gauge, and sometimes a manufacturer’s specific yarn brand.
Please keep in mind that yarn doesn’t grow on trees looking like that. Yarn comes from fibers; anyone who uses a spinning wheel can tell you all about how yarn is spun from rough fibers. One strand of spun yarn is called a single. When singles are formed together they create a ply or plied yarn. Two-ply yarn is formed of two singles, and so on. Most yarn used for knitting comes in 4-ply.
Just look at the label around any skein or ball of yarn, and you will find the ply number there. When you knit, you use the yarn as is; in other words, you don’t separate plied yarn, as you would in needlepoint or crewel work. (In fact, some patterns call for using more than one strand of yarn at a time.)
So without further ado, here is the list:
Worsted weight yarn - this yarn is the most popular you will see! It can be used for just about anything you have in mind. Sweaters, scarves, afghans, shrugs, vests, all do well with worsted weight yarn.
Sport weight yarn or DK (double knitting) - this yarn is a tad bit thinner than worsted weight, but again it is used for many projects; usually you will see the DK abbreviation in British publications. You can knit afghans, baby projects, or a whole host of other items with this very popular yarn.
Sock, Fingering or baby yarn - this sounds just like it is. Very soft, pliable, this is also great for any baby or toddler pattern. Great for delicate items, too.
Cotton yarn (also mercerized) - cotton yarn is easy to knit with. I use it for placemats or other kitchen or bath items; you can knit vests, or a more sturdy outer garment with it. If cotton yarn says “mercerized” this just means it has extra strength & shine.
Fisherman or Aran yarn- this yarn is thicker than worsted weight, and is used in heavier sweaters or even afghans. The word “Aran” is from the Aran Islands, which are just to the west of Galway Bay in Ireland. Aran patterns abound, and they are most beautiful.
Chunky or bulky yarns - these yarns are, you guessed it, chunky and bulky! They are often a challenge to knit with and require strong fingers. They make for wonderful outer garments, such as shrugs, vests, even sweaters, and will keep you warm.
These are just the most popular yarns you will run across in knitting projects. There are many, many more. In fact, many untraditional materials are now being utilized; you can knit with string-like yarn, eyelash yarn, ribbon yarn, as well as delicate, thread-like yarn for more intricate, or openwork patterns.
Yarns can often be combined with each other, for unusual effects; a strong yarn can be paired with something wispy and the results are fantastic! The absolute explosion of yarn texture, color, and variety are unlike anything from the past.
No matter what you’re knitting, there is a yarn for you! So, just like ol’ Blue Eyes, you can say “you gave me days of sunshine, you gave me nights of cheer, you made my life an enchanted dream”.......
And you know what, – you will have discovered this thing called yarn!!
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5 Steps To Becoming A Knitter!
So, you’re sitting on the bus home from work, or maybe the ferry, or the train, just fascinated with the young woman across from you working on her knitting. The
color purple, needles flying away, it looks so complicated, but so beautiful! You’re intrigued, and you’re thinking....I wish I knew how to do that!
Well, you can learn knitting if you wish. Let me be your fairy godmother! I can grant your knitting wish, without so much as waving a magic wand! But, if you
insist, just imagine that silvery scepter and a bit of abracadabra twirling over your head, infusing you with all kinds of knitting secrets!
The 5 Easy Steps To Becoming A Knitter are as follows:
1) You need to get motivated! Think back to the first time you learned to ride a bicycle. Maybe you used training wheels for a while, or your mom or dad just hung on the side until you were ready to go it alone. But, there came a time when you knew...this is it! And away you went, solo, for the first time! You were scared, sure, but you were also absolutely determined to see it through without landing on the ground! You were motivated!
That same feeling is present in everything we do. The degree of intensity is the only difference. If you really want to learn to knit, or do anything else for that matter, something inside will be nagging at you to find out more. Pick up a knitting magazine and find the simplest pattern there, or go online to a few of the better pattern sites. Choose a simple scarf, block afghan, purse, or vest to start with.
2) Put time aside. You do for everything else, don’t you? You always have that extra hour for “American Idol” or “CSI”, so you need to put time aside for knitting, too. Of course, once it becomes second nature to you, knitting goes just great with TV or picnics, or train
rides, or whatever. If you can find time to shop at the mall three times this week, and you really want to learn knitting, you will find the time!
3) Are you willing to learn new skills? Now that’s a silly question, because we all learn new skills all the time, only we don’t pay it much attention. If you work for a living or take classes, or mind babies, or run your own company, then you have your own special set of skills. The best part here is that you can fill up on as many new skills as you like and never have to worry about calories! Unlike school, there is no homework either!
4) Are you willing to make mistakes? If you’re not, don’t try knitting! Don’t try anything new, as a matter of fact! If you think about it, everything you have ever done in your life you made mistakes at. Learning to walk, talk, use a cellphone, drive a car, take a test, speak a foreign language, drive out-of-state, be a parent, or be a child, mistakes are all around us! That’s how we learn. So, take a chance on you! You will be pleasantly
surprised!
5) Pick up a simple knitting guide to help you learn best! I can’t think of one better than my own, of course, “Ready Or Knit...Here I Come!” which can be found
at my website, www.TheKnitStitch.com. This guide will walk you through all you need to know about learning to knit, complete with patterns, information on yarns, accessories,
and lots of helpful tips to get you going!
So, remember, if you really, really, really, want to learn knitting, follow these 5 simple steps and the next time you are on your way home on that bus, ferry or train, it will be your purple (or red or yellow) yarn, and your needles flying, and I can just bet you this: there will be someone watching saying, “I wish I knew how to do that!”
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My Top *6* Favorite Knitting Gadgets
One of the best things about having a hobby is buying everything you need and even some things that you don't! If you are into cars or motorcycles, chances are you spend a lot of extra money on accessories, don't you? Cooking, exercising, camping, gardening, hiking, - you name it, there are accessories for every amusement under the sun!
Knitting is no different. Gadgets abound, and you can get lost in a sea of extras. They all look good, but what is necessary, and what can you leave for another time? Let me tell you about some of the knitting gadgets that are available to knitters, and then I will tell you my top *6* favorite knitting gadgets.
Needles and yarn aside, if you look around there are numerous knitting gadgets. There are stitch markers, used for marking a particular place in your knitting where decreases or increases take place; row counters which keep track of each row as you are knitting; point protectors which are placed on the needle points to protect your work as well as yourself; bobbins, pom-pom makers, stitch gauges, graph paper, yarn swifts and ball winders, which can be useful for certain advanced knitting projects, but will probably spend more time collecting dust for most knitters.
So that is why now we come to my top *6* favorite knitting gadgets,
and why I like them so:
#1 Tape measure - for knitting, as for sewing, your tape measure will prove to be indispensable. Whatever the project, you always have need to know the length and width of your knitting. Make sure if your tape measure wears out or becomes distorted in any way, that you replace it. This item helps to make you look good!
#2 Scissors - I like the small variety, especially the ones that fold up. They are handy to take anywhere (well, almost anywhere), and you can expect to use them frequently. But, if you have larger scissors, they work, too. I would not recommend pinking shears, though; they are for sewing projects only.
#3 Cable needles - as you become more adept at knitting, one of the easiest new stitches to add on is the cable stitch. Cable stitches can be knitted in many variations, but they always need the cable needle in order to utilize the stitch. Cable needles come in various sizes, and are always pointed at both ends. Some have a "bend" in them, and some are "U" shaped, while most are simply straight. They are also shorter than a traditional, straight, knitting needle. So if a pattern calls for cable stitches, better have some cable needles around!
#4 Stitch holders - these look like giant safety pins. They are especially handy when knitting sweaters and you need to place the neck stitches someplace until you need them again, so on to the stitch holder they go! Stitch holders can be very small (2" or so) up to about 10" in length. There are many varieties, but stay with the simple versions, for best results.
#5 Yarn needle - aka a tapestry needle. These needles are longer than regular sewing needles, and have blunter points and larger eyes. They are used to join your patterns together when finished. For any knitter, they are a must-have.
#6 Pins - last but not least, pins! Anyone who sews or knits, needs pins; straight pins, safety pins, T-pins. When you buy straight pins, make sure they have colored tops; these are easiest to see in your knitting. T-pins are great for blocking your patterns, and also good for pinning heavier knits together. Safety pins always make a great substitute for stitch holders, or to mark a spot in your knitting that you need to refer to later on.
So, there you have it! Six gadgets I can't live without when I knit. If you are very serious about knitting, and like to see your project look its best when finished, then these *6* wonderful knitting gadgets will always be close by.
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Learn Knitting's 6 Yarn Secrets!
There is nothing like a good yarn, so the story goes! All jokes aside, learning any skill or craft takes time, time you should be devoting to finding out all about it.
To learn knitting is no different. Just getting the hang of holding both needles at once, or working with a cable needle, or just perfecting your knit stitch and purl stitch, can take a long time. And that’s ok; nobody said you have to know it all immediately.
Along the way, however, it is fun to delve into all the secondary ideas and information. Knowing just a little bit about yarn can go a long way!
This article will walk you through *6* yarn secrets; intrigues for even the “craftiest” of knitters.
Secret #1: Always know what you are knitting with! This may sound too simple to be true, but you would be surprised.
Most projects will be knit with “classic” yarns. These are worsted or sport weight, wool, and cotton. All the rest are merely variations on a theme.
If you have a hankering for something fun fur or ribbon-y, eyelash, or wispy lace; save that thought until you know knitting well!!
Secret #2: When buying yarn, always buy by yardage, and not by weight. This is one I didn’t even know when first starting out!
Yarns, like people, are of different weights; they can vary all over the place. But, it is the length that is important with each skein; it should be clearly marked and if it is not, then ask for that information.
Secret #3: Always, always, buy enough yarn at one time, for your knitting project! Do not expect to go back to the store two months from now and find the exact color yarn you bought initially.
Yarns are dyed in lots, and when a yarn store runs out of a particular color, they will order it again; but, the dye lot will be different and the subtlety in the color will be very apparent; take my word for it!
So, if you want that pink sweater to look uniformly pink, just buy the yarn, all the yarn!
And check to see that all the “lot #’s” are the same. And, I will always buy that extra skein, and have never been disappointed.
Secret #4: Don’t know what to do with all those odd-balls? (And I’m not talking about your relatives, now.)
Well, let’s see, you could knit a few placemats, baby washcloths, mittens, coasters, bookmarks, Christmas ornaments, sachets, doll clothes, knitted pins or fancy little handbags, buttons, flowers, tea cozies, table runners, fluffy wristbands (little girls love these!), a cat collar or dog sweater, a scarf or afghan jumble, and if you can think up anything else, knit away!
Secret #5: Get organized! This is one of my best-kept secrets. Only, not anymore.
Record all of your knitting projects. A simple spreadsheet, or word processor, will do the trick.
Save your labels! This way, when you are finished with your knitting, you can input all the necessary information in order to knit it again, or pass it along to a fellow knitter!
There are even software programs available now, like Needle Trax, to help you keep all your knitting projects organized with simple point and click technology.
Secret #6: A true knitter, like any good craftster, always has too much of everything, and not enough space to hold it all!
Thank goodness for plastic, I always knew there was a purpose for it. Storage bins come in many varieties, so visit your local shops or even eBay for the best prices around.
Once you have enough storage bins available, then you can sort to your hearts’ content! And you will love feeling so harmonious!
Harmony begets creativity every time; so with these *6* yarn secrets, there is no excuse anymore for not being your knitting best.
May your knitting basket always be full!
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Learn Knitting – The Chunky Way
When I was a kid, there was a candy bar by the name of "Chunky".
It was nothing more than a solid square of chocolate, with some raisins and nuts thrown in. But, boy was it good! I can't remember how many nickels I plunked down for one of
those on a hot, summer afternoon!
Chocolate bars aside, if you want to learn knitting, learn it the "chunky" way. What do I mean by that?
I mean, learn knitting in little bits and pieces. Learn anything in little bits and pieces, and before you know it, you have learned a LOT!
So when you read a knitting pattern, whether it be a child or a baby pattern, or something for your mother or best friend, and the pattern tells you to work in garter stitch for the first 6 rows, you will know to "knit" all 6 rows.
Garter stitch = knit every row.
If you knit one row, then purl the next row, then knit, then purl, and keep doing that for the entire pattern, you are working in "stockinette" stitch.
The word "stockinette" probably comes from an alteration of "stocking-net", because it means "a loosely knitted stretch fabric".
As you knit and purl, your knitting begins to take on a loosely knitted look. The knit side has a "V" design in it, and the purl side has a "brickwork" look.
And here's a newsflash for you: never, never, never knit a scarf in stockinette stitch.
Why?
Because, it will curl up like yesterday's french fries.
Your scarf will look more like tubing than a neck protector; unless you like tubing as a neck protector.
Garter stitch and stockinette stitch are the two basic knitting stitches. Learn these and all the rest are mere variations on that theme.
When you knit, oftentimes you will come across the words "wrong side" and "right side".
The knit side is not always the right side, any more than the purl side is always the wrong side.
Sometimes, the knit side is the wrong side, and before I start sounding too much like Edith Bunker, just take my word for it.
In fact, when you purl on the "right" side and knit on the "wrong" side, you are using the reverse stockinette stitch.
Usually when you are knitting cable stitches, you will use the purl side as the "right" side of your knitting; because cables show up much better on the purl side of your work.
The right and wrong sides to your knitting only refer to which side will be on the outside and which side will be on the inside when your garment is worn.
You see, it's little bits and pieces like these, that make you a good knitter; not always knowing what the newest yarn is all about, or should you buy those lighted knitting
needles?
Another chunky bit is the word "knitwise", and no it doesn't refer to anyone's brain power.
Knitwise means to slip the stitch from the left needle to the right needle as if you were knitting it; but you are slipping it. Purlwise means to slip the stitch as if you were purling it.
If you are not slipping the stitch, only inserting the needle in preparation to something else, then insert the needle knitwise. Or purlwise, if that's what the pattern calls for.
So, you see, if you learn terms, a little at a time, then you will never be wondering what something means, when you come across it, in your knitting.
You will know what it means.
And, as you go, you add to your expertise!
As time goes by, I will add additional articles on glossary terms, and lots and lots of other stitches and knitting terms.
You know what they say, a little knowledge goes a long way; well, with us knitters, the more we know the better!
And if we learn knitting the chunky way, why, that's about as good as eating that chocolate bar!
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Knitting's Top **10** Abbreviations
Doesn't it seem that everywhere you look, there is another Top Ten list?
Just turn on your TV, and there goes Jennifer Aniston, or Brad Pitt, and, even people like Marilyn Monroe, still seen posing on the red carpet, always being talked about as in the Top Ten!
Food shows, home shows, boat shows, MTV, Letterman, you name it, everyone has a Top Ten list!
So, for the record, let there be a Top Ten for knitting, too!
Knitting has scads of abbreviations, so many in fact, you can lose yourself in the art of initialism.
Some abbreviations are used so seldom as to be almost unknown, "won", for instance, means "wool over needle", which I have never seen before!
Any time you are working with a knitting pattern, these abbreviations are sure to be there. Now, you will know what they mean!
So, take heart! The most important ones are as follows:
(and for good reason, as you will shortly find out --)
#10 -- sl - means "slip". As in slip the next stitch from the left needle to the right. You do not see this abbreviation too much, but, if you are working in a lacy pattern, it will be
there. Also, any time a pattern calls for variations, "sl" can be one of the abbreviations used.
#9 -- beg - means "beginning". Usually when determining length, you will see this used. Most patterns have you measuring length from the beginning, but, some patterns measure from other areas such as ribbing, or shoulder, or neck.
#8 -- RS - and no those aren't my husband's initials, (well, not in this guise, anyway). RS = right side. It is extremely vital to always be aware of what side you are knitting on; especially when cable stitches or other specialty stitches are being used.
#7 -- St st - now, doesn't that look redundant! Actually, it stands for Stockinette stitch, which is the signature stitch of knitting! When you knit one row, then purl the next, and do those two rows over and over, you are knitting the Stockinette stitch.
#6 -- K2tog - means "knit 2 together." You may be decreasing stitches on a row, or making "holes", so to speak; whatever it is, k2tog will help get the job done. Holes, in knitting, make your work take on an openwork look, or a lace design.
#5 -- YO - means to "yarn over." Again, when knitting lacy patterns which call for an openwork design, the YO is front- page stuff! In fact, YO is the very essence of openwork design.
#4 -- BO - means to "bind off." Once in a while you will see it as "cast off"; they both mean the same thing. When you are finished with your knitting, you will BO all the
stitches on the needle and begin your finishing techniques.
#3 -- CO - means to "cast on." This is your foundation row, where you begin your knitting. Any time you begin a new segment to your knitting project, you will always start with CO.
#2 -- P - is for purl. The purl stitch is, of course, "knitted" into the front of your needle, and the yarn is also held to the front. Some beginners find the purl stitch a little harder
to work than the knit stitch. With practice, the purl stitch is a breeze!
#1 -- K - is for knit. The knit stitch is what it's all about! A simple stitch into the back of the needle, combined with other stitch variations will make the most divine creations under the sun! Knitting every row gives you what is called the garter stitch, not be mistaken with that harmless, backyard snake!
So, there you have it!
These Top Ten knitting abbreviations only make up the most common, and popular abbreviations. Knitting has lots more where they come from!
So, until next time, ready, set, knit!!
5 Best Reason to Knit!
It's early August, and I can almost hear sleigh bells. Can't you? Don't look now, but summer is on the wane!
Without even knowing it, the days are growing shorter, already! Cool breezes are blowing and some foliage is actually going away.
But wait! There is a solution....instead of getting depressed, you need to do something. Like take up a hobby.
I can't think of anything better than learning to knit!
I don't care about all those other crafts and DIY projects; learn knitting and you can kiss those paintballs goodbye!
If you don't believe me, then let me give you *5* good reasons why:
#1 You can feel just like a knitting apprentice! After all, in centuries past an apprentice was someone learning a craft, and if you are new to knitting, then you're an apprentice!
Even the Donald couldn't argue with that!
With knitting, there is a TON of information, and no matter how often you knit, or how much you think you know, there is always something new.
And that's good, because you never want to run out of ideas.
#2 Years ago there was a TV commercial for "Shake N Bake", which featured a little girl in the kitchen with Mom, and all she said was "Shake n Bake...and I helped".
Now, I know that has nothing to do with knitting. However, the best part of that, is when a friend asks you where you bought your pretty little purse, or new scarf, you can say,
"I knitted it myself."
Old commercial, same premise. Take it from me, when you knit-it-yourself, it feels good!
#3 The Four Seasons. Knitting is strictly non-committal. It doesn't care what month it is or what holiday is approaching, there is always something fun to knit.
Halloween, autumn, Independence Day, Valentine's Day, graduations, weddings, take-your-dog-to-work-day, christenings, Christmas, you name the day, and there is a knitting pattern out there for it!
Your knitting creations are always one-of-a-kind, not to be seen in any store or mall. So, when you're knitting that Christmas stocking on the train home from work, you never know who you will be inspiring next.
#4 Unless you have been living under a rock or way out past left field, you know how expensive gasoline is getting! Daily, the price goes higher.
So, instead of getting in your gas-guzzling vehicle, and cruising around town, to no avail, take up knitting. Get a neighborhood group together, or start a club in your dorm
or condo.
Buy some cheapy yarn, and needles, and download my ebook, "Ready Or Knit, Here I Come!" from The Knit Stitch and you will be amazed at the fun to be had!
#5 Knitting is good for you! We all live very stressful lives.
If it's not one thing, it's the other; and every-day life can be tough. Sometimes a bubble bath, or mood music just doesn't cut it.
Knitting can help. The mere click of the needles is soothing music.
Knitting one row, then another, creating stitches, patterns, projects, and seeing it all come together makes for satisfaction indeed.
It doesn't all happen at once. Many projects take weeks, and months to complete, if you want to do them right.
But, that's the essence of knitting.
Working with your hands, you are creating something right from the first stitch. You watch it come to life as you go, and little by little, your knitting becomes reality.
Exercise is great, yet, doing something for your soul, is just as important.
So, if you want to slow down, and find meaning in your life again, try knitting.
So, there you have it, 5 best reason to knit!
But, don't take my word for it, try it for yourself!
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Knit-finity
As summer wanes, I love to muse on all things knitting. We live in such an uproarious world; days come and go with little of anything harmonious fitting into the hours.
We all need, we all crave our own special space, our own little nook, somewhere just for us. And that's ok. Often we need to re-charge ourselves, plug into life's energizing chords, to get ourselves going again.
Think how time has changed. Where once it took weeks to traverse from one city to another, now we do it in just hours. The "calm" in our lives is always waiting in the wings; only rarely do we bring it out to sit center-stage.
There is a reason baseball is such a long game; back in its heyday there was nothing more sublime than to bask in the aura of a well- played game with friends and family. If it took all afternoon, that was a good thing.
Look at the old homes in your town, and most of them are favored with front porches. Lovely to look at, and the place to gather with others to recoup the days' graces and to recount all its pleasures.
Letter writing was once the art of the day. Being as important, long ago, as email is to us now, we think of writing letters as time-consuming. But, in the days before television, radio, and cars, time needed to be filled up with worthy endeavors.
Life may not have been as modern as today, but it had other resources many of which we are re-discovering in a new century.
Even the Bible tells us that we should "aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands".
Myriad gifts pass through our lives; knitting is mine. It puts me in mind of great cathedrals; they all began with the laying of one stone. So my precious creations begin with one stitch. Foundations are what we make them.
Once learned, knitting is a cherished talent; one used to create for yourself, for your loved ones, your dear friends, even those you don't know and will never meet.
Never again will you look at store-bought apparel in the same way! When special occasions drift through your life, you will be ready with your own memorable masterpieces.
Knitting brings inspiration; in the inimitable words of Andy Griffith it's "just pure gala!"
If you need space and time in your life to gather in your very self, then learn knitting. As the yarn passes through your fingers, you will recognize it as your own very special gift to the world.
Knitting is its own distinctive prayer and meditation; crafted by you. As you go, there is so much to knit! So many people to help, and all your handiwork given with your unique mark upon it.
I once read in a magazine that "to live with history is a rare thing. It's thrilling to know how things are put together and why they survive."
All knitters instinctively know the way to peace. It is more than turning off the TV or turning down the music; it's in picking up your knitting needles.
Solace awaits; blessings abound. Go knit, so it will go on forever.
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Knitting Is All In Your Head!
What, you say? In my head?! I am up to my elbows in eyelash yarn, I can't find my place in the row, and my knitting needles are about to duel with each other!
How then, can knitting be all in my head?
Onguard! Listen up!
If you are new to knitting, or have been away from this wondrous craft for a while, there is a TON of information out there to learn!
Now, before you say "arghhhhh!!", let me explain.
If you're like me, you love visiting craft stores. I am truly in seventh heaven whilst meandering from aisle to aisle in my local yarn shop or craft store.
Of course, once I come to the knitting aisles, I'm really bedazzled! Once, a long time ago, there wasn't much to see, knitwise, in stores.
Nowadays, your head spins. Row upon row of yarn: wool, arylic, fun fur, cotton, eyelash, ribbon, chenille, linen, boucle, silk, polyester, mohair, and a whole host of others, can look positively beguiling, yet leave you perfectly befuddled.
Usually, not far off are how-to books, knitting magazines, even video's that all promise you will be knitting effortlessly in no time at all!
Wrong!
Like piano playing or violin lessons, knitting is a skill. If you practice your skill, no matter what it is, you will become better at it; it's just a fact of life!
You, yes you, have to do the work. If you have a sister,or a mother who loves to knit, and you marvel at the beautiful afghans, or sweaters that seem to fall off their knitting needles,just remember:
It took a lot of practice to get there!
If you exercise every day, run 5 miles, jog around town, love going to the gym, you know what I'm talking about!
There's commitment there! Perserverance, stamina when you feel like quitting, going anyway when you're not in the mood. And why?
Because you love it! Because it makes you feel better, look good, stay healthy. You can come up with a hundred reasons why you do the things you love.
You probably didn't always love them, either. Over time, they became important to you; "grew" on you, if you will, but were actions that produced results. And those results made you feel good.
Over the years, I've worn many hats, daughter, wife, mother, aunt, real estate professional, student, graduate student, patient, administrative assistant, customer service rep, receptionist, co-worker, innkeeper, ebiz developer, friend, and many others.
And I've learned to do most things well. But, there are a few things I do very well. Exceptionally so. When I was 15, even 25, these were things not even on my radar screen.
One of these "things" is knitting.
It started for me like it does for most everyone else. As a hobby; something different to learn, something unique.
Then, it turned into something else. It evolved into a fascination with stitches, and color, and creating. In time, fascination gave way to passion.
Passion is where something lives in your very being. Where, little by little, you realize that you really do know more, so much more, than most about a particular subject. And all you want to do is to make it come alive for others, the way it has come alive for
yourself.
That's usually where we all run into the veritable brick wall. Nothing stops us like inaction. Halted in place, we really don't know what to do next, or how to proceed.
It's not unusual. It's the same for you and for me. We all live with the same challenges, the same fears, the same facts of life.
It is what each of us does with that information, that makes all the difference.
If you're really passionate about knitting, then visit my website,
The Knit Stitch, sign up for my newsletter or buy my ebook. You can learn so much!
And before I go, let me introduce you to an acquaintance of mine. His name is Jim Edwards, and if you've never heard of him, let me be the first one to send you his way.
He has something terrific to say about life's challenges! It's about getting rid of your mental blocks, and if you'd like to read more about it, then hop on over to
http://www.IGottaTellYou.com/what-holds-you-back.pdf
So, if you want to learn to knit, or to do anything else well, just remember,
it's all in your head!
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*5* Most Popular Knitting Stitch Types
Welcome to the wonderful world of knitting! Even if you've been here for a while, there is always something new about this most fascinating craft!
Let me start by introducing you to the five stitch types that I believe are at the very heart of knitting!
Learning to knit, you know, is nothing more than learning different knitting stitch types.
Wherever I roam on the Web, many of the same questions arise. Over and over again, I come across forums and discussions with the same types of concerns.
In this article, I will attempt to explain some of the basic knitting stitches and everything they encompass.
I will talk about 'the knit stitch', 'the purl stitch', 'knit 2 together', 'yarn-over', and 'stockinette stitch'.
These five stitches, I believe, form the very foundation of knitting. Learn, and perfect, each one of these, and you will be well on your way to becoming an expert in knitting!
All other patterns emerge from these few stitches. So, let's begin!
'The Knit Stitch'. Have you ever looked at something knitted? I mean, really looked? If you have, you will see one side of the knitting looks different from the other.
Knitting follows structures. The knit stitch is formed by making loops which interweave with one another; one after another.
The knit stitch will resemble little "v" patterns when viewed from the knit side of a pattern.
To form a "knit stitch" you use one needle to pull a loop of yarn through the existing stitch on the other needle. (You can knit with more than two needles, but that's for another day.)
Holding both needles in your hands, insert the right needle, from "front to back" into the first stitch on the left needle. Keeping the yarn at the back, bring it "over" the tip of the
needle, counterclockwise. Pull the yarn down, and catch it with the right needle.
Slip the "old" stitch off the left needle and you have a new stitch on the right needle! A knit stitch!
'The Purl Stitch'. The purl stitch will resemble what looks like "brick-face" when viewed from the purl side of a pattern.
Unlike the knit stitch, with the purl stitch, you hold the yarn to the "front" of your knitting.
Insert the right needle from "back to front" into the first stitch on the left needle. With your right index finger, wrap yarn counterclockwise around and down the right needle.
Draw the right needle and yarn backwards through the "old" stitch. Slip off the old stitch. A new stitch forms. A purl stitch!
'Knit 2 Together.' Now, this is easy! Just knit two together! Insert the right needle into the second stitch from the tip of the left needle, making sure to "catch" the first stitch with it.
Bring your yarn over and up, then down, catch your yarn, slip the old stitches off, and you have a new stitch in their place.
You will have only one new stitch from two. Knitting two together is often used to decrease stitches or to create an open-work pattern.
'Yarn-over'. Adding a yarn-over, or YO, is also used when creating open-work designs. To do a yarn-over after a knit stitch, just bring your yarn across your work from the back to the front. Then, knit the next stitch.
You will see an extra "stitch" on the row. When you come to that stitch in your next row of knitting, it will not look anchored like the others. That's because you put it there, all of
itself.
Knit it like you would knit any stitch. As you go, you will see that yarn-overs create "holes" or openwork designs in your knitting.
'Stockinette Stitch'. This stitch is knitting's most common. All it consists of is knitting one row, then purling the next, and so on, and so on.
The stockinette stitch is exactly where every knitter should begin. And stick with until you know your stitches well!
So there you have it! *5* most popular knitting stitch types!
Now, get knitting!
Be Happy...Be Knitting!
Life is good. We need to always remember that. Do
something worthwhile. Learn to knit.
Of course, when learning to knit, one of the first things
you need to figure out is how to hold the needles.
Knitters, no matter where they live, all knit in the same
fashion. The only difference is how you hold the yarn, and in what
hand.
There are two basic ways in which to knit. One is the
English (or American) way, and the other is the Continental way.
To begin knitting in the English method, hold the right
needle as you would a pencil. The left needle gets held between
your left thumb and index finger so as to control the stitches.
Some knitters like to knit close to the tip of the needle,
while others prefer the safety of keeping the stitches further
back on the needles. Either way is fine.
In fact, some projects are easier to work close to the tip
than others. You will find this out with the more patterns you knit.
Your preference, your control, is what works for you!
That's the beauty of knitting; finding your own way. A little bit
like life.
Keep in mind the word "loose" at all times, when casting
on. It really does help. And you do want that foundation row to be
pliable enough to work with.
When you start to knit, hold the needles lightly, and
don't let the stitches become too cramped or tight. If you are new
to knitting, this will probably happen. Just unravel, and start again.
Knitting should flow easily. Oh yes, there are those
chunky, bulky yarns that are difficult to work with, so they will
require greater strength from you as you progress, but that is normal to
that particular yarn.
Nothing should be so tight as to be impossible to work off
the needle. If that happens, just go back and try again. And
again. And, maybe, even again.
As you progress, remember to control your yarn and
stitches with your right index finger. Or you may use several fingers for
control. This is relevant to keeping all stitches on the needle.
Especially as you learn to include stitches beyond "knit and purl", such
as "yo" or "k2tog" or increasing. You don't want to start
dropping stitches or losing them from row to row.
You know the deal; you cast on 43 stitches and by the
sixth row you have maybe 39, so where did the other four stitches go?
Remember, there is no one method that is 100% correct; if
something works for you, then stick with that.
Be mindful when making stitches; keep a steady hand on
your needles, but don't grip them so tightly that you can't knit a stitch.
Relax! It's only yarn.
Knitting should become confortable to you, and in the
beginning, it won't feel that way. That's normal, too. Only with lots
of practice will you begin to form your own unique approach
to knitting!
When you attain that, knitting will be so easy to do, and
ideas will pop into your head all the time, ideas that you can
transfer to your knitting needles for creations like no other!
For you will have found a gift, a gift which you can bring
to the world! You see, in the yarn we knit is the invisible
thread which weaves us all... one to another.
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