Category Archives: Tips & Techniques

February 28, 2013 · 5:49 pm

Tips & Techniques: Using I-Cords


Photo courtesy of Stitch Diva

I-cords can make a simple hat, sweater or cardigan pop and say “wow”.  They can be sewn onto a garment, used for felted purses, used to make spirals,  flowers or even used to make faux cables.  While they look very complicated, they are very easy and simple to create.

To create a standard I-cord, use two double-pointed needles,  yarn of your choice and cast on three to five stitches.  Knit one row and do not turn.   Slide the knitted stitches down to the other end of the needle and pull the yarn snuggly from the last stitch (around the back) and  knit another row.  Repeat until desired length is met and gently tug the finished cord to close the gap in the back.  Bind off and weave ends into the cord.

To attach an I-cord to a garment,  knit all of the I-cord stitches in the row, except the last stitch. Slip the last stitch and knit a stitch from the garment , then pass the slipped stitch over the garment stitch.  Like a standard I-cord,  slide the knitted stitches to the other end of  needle and repeat  until desired length is met.

For a unique clean edge to a neckline or front edge of a garment, use an I-cord knit bind off.  Before binding off, cast on three more stitches at the start of the bind off row using a cable cast-on.   Knit two stitches then ** knit two stitches together in through the back loop. Slip the three worked stitches back onto the left hand needle and pull the working yarn tightly across the back of those stitches and repeat from ** until the bind off is complete.  Using this method will give a firm, raised I-cord edging for a very finished look.

Tip:  If using this technique over a large piece, to avoid puckering, substitute a knit three together in the back loop in place of the knit two together in the back loop.  This will insure the knitted garment will lay flat.

Here’s a video showing how to create and I-Cord:

For more ideas on how to use I-cords in your knitting, take a look at Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Embellishments. Nicky dedicates a entire chapter, including instructions, on how to use different types I-cords for finished items.

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

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February 12, 2013 · 5:48 am

Tips & Techniques: Yarn Substitution

Yarn GirlKnitters, and even crocheters, often substitute yarns for the pattern they are using, especially if the yarn called for is extremely expensive, out of season or simply no longer available.

As a new knitter you ask yourself,  “Should I substitute yarn?” The answer, by all means yes, but make sure when substituting you keep the following in mind.

  • To ensure proper yarn substitution and make sure that your pattern turns out correctly, knit a swatch for checking gauge.  This is the most crucial part of substituting and cannot be stressed enough, do not skip this process.
  • Try to substitute using similar weight.  DK weight for DK weight, Super Bulky for Super Bulky and so on.  This too will help when swatching for gauge.
  • To determine the quantity of yarn that you will need for your  project, you will need to make sure you know how many balls or skeins and yardage per ball or skein is called for in the pattern.  To find this,  you will multiply the number of yards by the number of balls or skeins needed.  For example, let’s say your pattern calls for  9 balls of yarn with each ball or skein at 200 yards.  To figure out the yardage, multiply 9 by 200 to equal 1,800 yards.  Next, you need to determine the number of yards per ball or skein of the yarn you will be substituting.  Find the total yardage noted on the tag and divide the total yardage required by the yardage of your new yarn.  For example, if the yardage on the substitute yarn equals 350, then you will divide the total yardage determined from what the pattern calls for and divide by 350.  Using the yardage that was determined, you would divide  1800 yards by 350 yards would equal 5.14 balls/skeins.  Since you cannot purchase a half skein, you would need 6 balls or skeins for your project.
  • Don’t worry if the substitute yarn is 100 grams vs. 50 grams or 2 oz. vs 5 oz., it’s the yardage that is most important when substituting, not how many grams or ounces that are in the ball or skein.
  • Be consistent.  Stick with one measurement system. If you multiplied yards times the number of balls or skeins, make sure you divide by yards, not meters, for the replacement ball or skein.

For further information, please review an article written by Knitty contributor Jenna Wilson, Thinking Beyond the Pattern… a field guide to yarn substitutions.   If you own an iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone,  be sure to check out the YarnPro app, which can be purchased through Apple’s App Store at iTunes and is wonderful for assisting you with yarn substitution.  To learn more about this wonderful too, visit the SweatyKnitter.

Photo: Courtesy of Knitty.com

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June 8, 2012 · 4:22 am

Interweave Is Having The Biggest Book and eBook Sale Ever!

 

Interweave Announces Annual Hurt Book Sale Deals

Huge savings for artists and crafters lasts June 8-12, 2012; Shop online for 30–70 percent off your favorite art and craft books

Loveland, Colo., June 8, 2012: Interweave announced today the opening day of sales for its annual Hurt Book Sale, with savings up to 70 percent off during this annual five-day event.
More than 400 art and craft resources will be deeply discounted and sold online on a first-come basis during the Hurt Book Sale, beginning today through 11:59 p.m. MDT on Tuesday, June 12. This is Interweave’s largest online book sale ever, with deep discounts on backlist and recently published books on the topics of drawing, painting, quilting, beading, jewelry making, knitting, crocheting, felting, spinning, weaving, needlework, sewing, mixed-media and other popular arts and crafts.
“Our Hurt Book Sale is one of our most highly-anticipated sales events of the year,” says Interweave Books Marketing and Sales Director Elisabeth Malzahn. “With prices slashed as low as 70-percent off retail for many of our books, we know that many budget-watching artists and crafters will find some good deals.”
Hurt books are still in good condition but may have slight imperfections, like minor dings, a scratch on the cover, or a bent page. In addition to the huge discounts on hurt books, Interweave will be offering exclusive discounts on overstock books, eBooks, and book-related DVDs and video downloads during the sale.

Read some of the excitement on Twitter and Facebook around last year’s Hurt Book Sale on Storify: http://storify.com/hurtbooks/hurt-book-sale-chatter.
“We love hearing our customers brag about the deals they snag each year,” adds Malzahn.
This year’s sale will also feature bundled deals on a variety of products, which will be announced to the company’s e-newsletter subscribers and on the Interweave Books’ Facebook page.

Hurt and overstock books can be combined with normal products at check-out. Interweave’s Hurt Book Sale is for online customers only and no phone orders will be accepted.

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SOURCE: INTERWEAVE

Websites

InterweaveStore.com

Interweave.com

 

Facebook

 http://www.Facebook.com/IWBooks

Twitter

 @InterweaveNews

@IWBooks

About Interweave:  Interweave is the world’s largest online and offline resource for  artists and crafters with businesses in magazine and book publishing – both print and digital,  television programming, instructional videos, directories, eCommerce, events and workshops, and online communities.  Interweave also licenses its magazine, book, and video content to media companies internationally. Interweave was acquired by Aspire Media in 2005.  The company is headquartered in Loveland, Colorado, with offices in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York. For more information about Interweave call (970) 613-4616, 800-272-2193 or www.interweave.com.

Contact for Information

Jaime Guthals

Director of Public Relations

Interweave

(502) 243-6834

JaimeG@interweave.com

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June 1, 2012 · 5:44 am

Tips and Techniques: Where do I start?

“What books would you recommend for a beginner like me?”   I just received this question from a blog reader, which I’ve answered, but thought it would make a great blog post.

Over the years I have come across a wide variety of books, online tutorials, and even online classes.  But as a person coming into the world of knitting, it is often overwhelming and a little perplexing for them to figure out just where they should start.

I strongly urge those who are interested to start with their local yarn store for beginning knitting lessons, as well as the big box stores like Joanns, Michaels and even Hobby Lobby.  Quite often these stores offer beginning knitting lessons for a very low-cost and  it gives you the ability to sit with an instructor face to face.

Another option for learning is to simply pick up a book but that can be a challenge as there are tons of “how-to” books out there.  I personally have a few favorites that I think are perfect for beginners -

  1. Teach Yourself Visually – Knitting
  2. Boye – I Taught Myself Knitting
  3. The National Needlearts Association – How to Knit
  4. Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting
  5. Knit Simple: Knitting Workshops – I reviewed this book a while back and it’s great for beginners!

How about an online class where you can learn at your own pace, ask questions from the instructor and other class members?    Knit Lab with  Stefanie Japel is an excellent online class brought to you by Craftsy.com . This class teaches the basics of knitting, how to increase or decrease, how to make a buttonhole, knit lace, block, seam including and how to read patterns.

Online sources are also a great way to learn and here are a few to check out:

Once you have decided to learn, you will soon find out there is a wonderful world of supporters out there that will cheer you on, give you advice and help you over knitting obstacles.  The fiber community is very “close knit” but very helpful, warm and nurturing.  So, don’t ever be afraid to ask for help, it’s out there!

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

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May 24, 2012 · 4:25 am

Embroidery enhancement to a plain piece.

I love to go thrifting and hunt for certain things I really love.  I have a slight fondness for Liz Claiborne garments and really don’t mind buying second hand pieces in the thrift stores, especially when they still have the price tags hanging on them from the department store.  I was lucky to pick up one such piece a few weeks ago, a nice cotton blend short cardigan for a staggering $2.00 !

The cardigan is a very basic piece with no fuss but looks a bit “plain Jane” in my book and I kept looking at it trying to think of something I could do to dress it up a bit.    At first I thought about adding vintage crochet pieces to it for a “retro look” but didn’t really like how it would end up looking.  After going through my collection of books, I pulled out Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray and realized that I could add just a little embroidery to change the look of the cardigan and give it a bit more “pizzazz”.

Like my yarn, I also have a stash of embroidery floss, cotton and wool, that I keep in my lovely vintage crystal vase next to my desk.   Just like my yarn, I tend to gravitate to very earthy colors in embroidery floss too, and when I see a great sale or colors I must have, I pick up a few to add to my growing collection.

I found a very simple embroidery design on page 65 of Doodle Stitching that only requires two colors.  I have chosen to use DMC Pearl Cotton in a gold for the stem and a lavender for the dots.  I will be lightly drawing this design onto my sweater using  a non-permanent fabric marking pen or pencil. 

Note: Be sure to do a test on your garment in a spot that will not be seen before tracing to insure that the non-permanent fabric marking pen or pencil  is “non-permanent”.

Before starting, made two copies of the design and placed them on opposite sides of the buttons to see how it would look to have mirrored embroidery.  I decided that was a little too much, so with my non-permanent marking pencil, I hand drew the design onto the sweater.

I decided to use to strands of floss for this project and a small darning needle to make it easier to work with the knitted fabric of the sweater.  Using a simple stem stitch, I embroidered the stems using the gold and then using a satin stitch, embroidered the berries in lavender.  I decided to free hand my initials on the opposite and add a couple of lazy daisies.  I’m quite pleased on how my project turned out and look forward to wearing my cardigan this fall.

You can find easy stitch diagrams for embroidery online at Stitch, the magazine for the Embroiderers’ Guild and great How to Videos, patterns and monograms online at Needle’n Thread.

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

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May 18, 2012 · 5:35 am

A bit of shawl pin fun!

This past weekend I read a great tutorial by Mimi, over at Eskimimi Makes, on how to make Polymer Clay Shawl Pins.  Her step by step process seemed easy enough, so  I decided to stop in at Joann’s to pick up what I would need to make a shawl pin.  I purchased four colors of clay, a set of Wilton cookie cutters, acrylic spray and a small clay tool set.  I had a great coupon to use at Joann’s, so my approximate cost for supplies came to $25.00 .

I followed Mimi’s process and for my very first attempt, I have to say that I was happy with the way my clay creations turned out.  I ended up with four shawl pins and since I didn’t want to waste the extra clay that was cut away from each pin, I make a few buttons too!

I wasn’t sure what I was going to use for the pin part and thought a DPN might work, but my hubby came to the rescue with a great suggestion.  He had a small piece of 4.50mm dowel rod out in the garage that he cut into 5″ pieces and created points for each piece by simply using a pencil sharpener.  After sanding them a bit, they were ready for the polymer clay tops that I created to match the shawl pin.  Everything went into the oven for the required baking and once cooled, I used an acrylic spray to seal and finish them off.

I had enough clay left over to making four matching buttons!

Now I have shawl pins that I can use for my scarves, shawls and more, as well as a few great decorative buttons.  This was  a fun project that was very affordable and left me with enough clay that I can make more pins or buttons, or even pendants !

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

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May 12, 2012 · 4:46 am

Knitting with beads, a new adventure!

Recently my friend Bonny told me that she was taking a Craftsy.com class learning to knit with beads and that she just finished making a beaded cuff.  I love beads and I love how they fit into crafts, especially with knitting.

Since one of my goals is to knit a few more shawls this year, I decided to enroll in Laura Nelkins Craftsy class , Knitting with Beads, the same online class as Bonny.   Like all the Craftsy classes, you can start and go at your own pace, which I love!

Courtesy of Craftsy.com

A Note from Laura Nelkin, Instructor of Knitting with Beads

Beads add texture and surface interest to your knitwear, making this class perfect for anyone looking to add some sparkle to their knits. In addition to my exclusive patterns for a dynamic cuff and two multi-sized shawls in both lace-weight and fingering-weight yarn, my online class, Knitting with Beads, shares with you the techniques you will need to incorporate beads into any of your projects. With these new skills, you will become the independent knitter you’ve always wanted to be. Join me in this class, get my patterns, and enjoy a whole new level of knitting!

Last year I attempted beads in a hand-spun shawl and I really love how it turned out but haven’t done anything since.  I knitted Multnomah by Kate Ray and added beads on the right side row with 181 stitches before the increases. So, I did this:  k5, k1 w/bead and repeated up to 2 stitches before marker.  I then repeated this step on the 2nd half and loved it!   To me, beads just make your shawl shine and by adding a special touch, it becomes very unique. 

You can find out more about this project on my Ravelry project page and on my project page with Craftsy!

My Sea Colored Multnomah

I’m very excited about this class and think it will hone my skills not only in using beads, but in knitting shawls. Do you enjoy knitting with beads?  If so, what projects have you made incorporating beads?

If you love learning new crafts and more, be sure to check out Craftsy other classes to!

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

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May 8, 2012 · 5:08 pm

Creating a family recipe corner!

Do you love to cook and have family recipes that have been handed down?  Or do you have a few handwritten recipes that you treasure that are from a Grandparent, Mom or someone dear to your heart?

I have the good fortune to have quite a few of my maternal Grandma’s hand-written recipes, as well as my Moms, which I treasure.   I asked my Mother-n-law if she had any recipes from her Mom or her Mother-n-law that I could have or make copies of.  I was so excited to get three recipes that were her Moms and a couple of hers, which I copied.  She is still looking for my husband’s paternal Grandmothers recipes, which I hope she can find.

With these treasured family recipes,   I decided that it would be neat to use shadow boxes to create a family recipe corner.  So, I purchased four shadow boxes, scrapbook paper and cooking tidbits for scrap-booking.   Since this is  May is National Scrapbooking Month, I was able to hit great sales at Michaels and Joanns for the items I needed and sent approximately $40.00.

I’m so excited about how they turned out and now I have five yummy recipes hanging on my kitchen wall as follows …..

  • Tennessee Jam Cake and Cornflakes Chews from my maternal Grandmother
  • Brown Sugar Pound Cake from my Mom
  • Sour Cream Enchiladas from my Mother-n-Law
  • Beef Stew from my husband’s maternal Grandmother

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting,spinning and crafting!

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April 29, 2012 · 8:27 am

Interweave Releases New Free Copyright for Crafters and Artists eBook

Interweave Releases New Free Copyright for Crafters and Artists eBook

Loveland, Colo., April 27, 2012:  Yesterday was World Intellectual Property Day, and Interweave celebrated the day along with the U.S. Copyright Office, American Chamber of Commerce, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and others around the world to give credit to the talented writers, designers, artists, photographers, and innovators who work with us to share with readers and customers their products and ideas.

To mark the occasion, Interweave released a new eBook for artists and crafters, Know Your Rights: Copyright 101, to raise awareness for the issues surrounding copyright and the problems with copyright infringement that are currently impacting our industry.


The 10-page eBook is available here: http://www.interweave.com/free-ebooks-videos/

It is also available for free download in each of Interweave’s 10 online communities for artists and crafters:

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Artists  

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Knitters

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Crocheters

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Spinners

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Weavers

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Beaders

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Jewelry Artists

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Sewists

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Art Quilters

·         Know Your Rights: Copyright 101 for Mixed Media Artists

“Most people think of pirated movies or music when they hear about copyright violations,” says Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits magazine. “But we answer questions about copyright for crafters, artists, designers, and authors every day—copyright and other intellectual property issues are a big deal in the DIY marketplace, where the “I can do that!” spirit and respect for original, independent design and authorship need to coexist peacefully.”

Questions around copyright can range from simple queries, like ‘Can I make a copy of a pattern?’ (Answer: For your own use, yes; to give to a friend, no) to more complex issues, like ‘How can I be inspired by other artists without infringing on their intellectual property rights?’ (Answer: By executing your vision independently, and asking permission where necessary).

“Ultimately, copyright is about protecting the creative process, ensuring that the creator of a work can benefit from that work,” adds Jang. “Our goal at Interweave is to educate our consumers about what copyright is, and why it matters—and to give authors, artists, and designers everywhere the tools they need to protect their own rights so they can continue to create new works and share them with the public.”

About Interweave:    Interweave is the world’s largest online and offline resource for  artists and crafters with businesses in magazine and book publishing – both print and digital,  television programming, instructional videos, directories, eCommerce, events and workshops, and online communities.  Interweave also licenses its magazine, book, and video content to media companies internationally. Interweave was acquired by Aspire Media in 2005.  The company is headquartered in Loveland, Colorado, with offices in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York. For more information about Interweave call (970) 613-4616, 800-272-2193 or http://www.interweave.com.

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December 20, 2011 · 6:17 am

WIP: Nutkins are in progress

I’m a bit behind in knitting my Nutkins but was excited last night to learn how to knit a short-row heel.  What a piece of cake !  I love how the heel turned out and the fact that is seems to look smoother over the traditional heel with gussets.   Not bad for my first go at this new technique and I have to give credit to Laura Chau, who has posted a great tutorial on this technique.

The Short-Row Heel Tutorial was easy to follow, easy to understand and the step-by-step photos really helped.

I should have my first sock done by the end of the week and I plan to cast on the mate this weekend.  I’m looking forward to wearing a brand new pair of socks, and after learning how to do this type of heel, it might indeed become my new favorite technique!

My goal for 2012 is to learn how to knit socks toe up and two at a time.  I think I can manage these two goals and I love learning new techniques.  Do you have a favorite “how-to” website, tutorial or YouTube video that you refer to for these two techniques?  If you do, let me know!

If you love knitting socks, the Year of Stash Socks Group on Raverly is posting round two for 2012 and a new group, 12 Socks in 2012, was formed the first of November for those who enjoy knitting socks without the rules as to toe up or toe down, specific patterns or prizes.  This group is geared to those who just want to hang out, knit socks and enjoy each other’s sock knitting company.

 

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

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