Things Every Knitter Should Know

Things Every Knitter Should Know!

Found this blog Tenten Knits on Pinterest.  Knitting techniques you need to check out.  They post "Friday Links" every week!

Teach yourself!

Learn how to:

1. Magic Loop
2. Cabling Without a Cable Needle
3. Tubular Cast On
4. Weaving in Ends
5. Fair Isle - Yarn Dominance
6. Judy's Magic Cast On
7. Crochet Provisional Cast On
8. Kitchner Stitch

Bottle Cozy - great gift idea!

I was browsing my email inbox for patterns again...and stumbled across yet another goodie simple idea. Great for ridding the yarn bin of scraps and yarn you can't use on anything else! A bottle cozy is perfect! And most friends would enjoy a handmade gift by you!  Click here for pattern by Sarah White at About.com.

Materials:

• About 24 yards of a medium weight wool blend or cotton blend yarn (I used SWTC Karaoke)
• set of 4 size 6 US double pointed knitting needles
• scissors and yarn needle

Gauge:

20 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches (5 stitches and 7 rows per inch) in Stockinette Stitch in the round. Gauge is not critical but should be pretty close in order to snugly fit bottle or can.

Size:

Finished cozy is 4 inches tall and about 7 inches around unstretched. To fit a standard can or bottle.

Instructions:

1. Cast on 34 stitches. Divide onto 3 double pointed needles and join in round. Place a stitch marker if desired to mark end of round.
2. Knit for 4 inches, or 3.5 inches for a can cozy.
3. Bind off loosely. Cut yarn and weave in ends.

Happy knitting!

Wine Bottle Gift Bag

Made this gift last year for a friend! This year I've made another 5 and saved myself a lot of time and stress on 5 gifts! This is a super easy pattern you can do with double pointed needles or circular needles with markers.  I used all one color just to try out the pattern. I did all 5 with different color base and bow-tie!

Pattern by Kathy North:  www.designsbykn.com

Ravelry ID: dbkn5

WINE BOTTLE GIFT BAG

(from the lower edge to top)

needle rows are separated by ";"

Click on the above link for the pdf file - and for abbreviations if you can't find them on my blog. 

1. LOWER EDGE - (in color 1)

cast on 35 sts and divide onto 3 dpn or circular needle

12 sts needle 1

11 sts needle 2

12 sts needle 3

[purl 1 rnd, k1 rnd ] break color 1 and join color 2

knit 2 rounds

setup round:  k4, (p2, k2) twice; k11; (k2,p2) twice, k4.

2. LACE ARCH PATTERN - (in color 2)

Round 1: k12; k1, yo, k2tog, k5 ssk yo, k1; k12.

Round 2 and all even number rounds:  k4, (p2, k2) twice; k11; (k2, p2) twice, k4.

Round 3:  repeat round 1.

Round 5: repeat round 1.

Round 7: k12 ; k1, yo, k3, sk2p, k3, yo, k1; k12.

Round 9: k12; k2, yo, k2, sk2p, k2, yo; k12.

Round 11: k12; k3, yo, k1, sk2p, k1, yo, k3; k12.

Round 13: k12; k4, yo, sk2p, yo, k4; k12.

Round 14: k4, (p2, k2) twice; k11; (k2, p2) twice, k4.

Repeat rounds 1-14 twice more

3. SHAPE TOP

k6 rounds even and inc 1 st on last rnd - 36 sts total

Eyelet round:  *k4, yo, k2tog; rep from *

k5 rounds - break color 2 and join color 1

4. BASE OF BAG - in color 1 and RS facing

Pick up and k36 sts along CO edge (12 sts each dpn)

k1 round even

Dec rnd 1: *k4, k2tog; rep. from * - 30 sts. 

k1 round even

Dec rnd 2: *k3, kt2tog; rep. from * - 24 sts.

k1 round even

Dec rnd 3: *2, k2tog; rep. from * - 18 sts.

Dec rnd 3: *k1, k2tog; rep. from * - 1 sts.

Dec rnd 4: k2tog 6 times - 6 sts.

break yarn and thread tail through all sts.

fasten off

5. TIE - with color 1

co 3 sts and work I-cord for 16"

bo and wave in ends.

weave I-cord through eyelets #3

Switch up the colors and add felt Christmas trees, stars, bows etc to make it fancy!

YO: Yarn Over

Came across a knitting technique that is new to me. I started to read a pattern for a new project and had to look up YO or Yarn Over! I haven't come across it very often and thought it was only for advanced knitters. Wrong!
I learned it usually comes before a decrease in stitches for the appearance of eyelets in lace or "holes" in a pattern. You are actually moving the working yarn in the right hand from the back to front and basically increasing one stitch when you go to the next stitch.
So YouTube videos helped me understand visually what's happening during a row. But it's just a simple movement of yarn and not so difficult after all!

My Next Project - Fashionista Beret

I've been looking for a new project. I found this free pattern online today. Tired of making beanies this winter like me? I am definitely trying this Intermediate level pattern next!! A cool Christmas present for myself :)

http://www.stitchnationyarn.com/Patterns/free-pattern-all-day-beret.html#

Wine Cork Kitchen Pads

These are fun to make and look adorable in any kitchen. Takes 18 wine bottle corks, a hot glue gun, and some patience. You'll end up with a cool vintage pot or dish display for your kitchen counter or table!

Lost Stitches - How to Pick Up or Fix

It happens!
I drop stitches frequently and find myself going back and fixing my project often.
No worries, just keep a crochet hook or a needle nearby. And remember to count!
This article is great at showing you how to pick up lost stitches that accidentally fall off.
And also this great how-to from the same website:
http://knitting.about.com/b/2012/01/23/the-fix-every-knitter-needs-how-to-pick-up-a-dropped-stitch.htm

Most of the time you can see where you lost a stitch. And most of the time you can just pick it up and weave it back through to your current row and keep going!