Knit Confidently with Heather
I recently cast on a new color work/stranded sweater. The directions said to start with the sleeves (which I did) and this got me thinking about the value of the experience I am having “practicing” the design on the sleeve before I get to the grander, more involved work on the body of the sweater.
And thus, a helpful hint is born…
Try out and build your expertise in a new pattern by starting your next sweater with the sleeves!
Dress up your holiday look with a beautiful and unique piece of jewelry using specialty beads. Create a gorgeous gift to give or keep. If time allows, make 2! I will provide step-by-step, easy to follow instructions and all supplies. $40 Call, text, or email to reserve your spot. Space is limited. December 9, 1-4pm
Come knit a unique piece of jewelry using beautiful seed and specialty beads. Create a sumptuous gift to give or keep! I will provide step-by-step, easy to follow instructions and all supplies. $40 Call, text, or email to reserve your spot. Space is limited. December 9, 9-12pm
If you want a sharp looking buttonhole then baste it closed during blocking and remove basting when completely dry. Voila! Fabulous buttonhole.
Many a knitter struggles with the Kitchener stitch at times. We know that it is a combination of knit/purl and purl/knit, but remembering the order gets even the best knitters frustrated.
The Kitchener stitch is performed as follows:
The initial Kitchener set up is – Front needle: knit and leave on; Back needle: purl and leave on
Then for the remaining stitches:
Front needle: “Knit and take off, Purl and leave on”
Back needle: “Purl and take off, Knit and leave on”
Here is my best hint for Kitchener:
The stitches on the front needle look like knit stitches, so work them knit-wise first.
The stitches on the back needle look like purl stitches, so work them purl-wise first.
Here’s another hint from an In The Loop knitter – Thanks, Mary. Very clever!
“In addition to Heather’s great tips, there is another way, which I like best, for a seamless join when knitting in the round but works only with long tail cast-on. When ready to join, insert right needle into back of first stitch on left needle and pull the tail all the way through, leaving the first stitch on the left needle. Give it a little tug to bring your circle together then knit in the front of the first stitch with the working yarn as usual. When you’ve knit around to this spot again, flip the tail to the back of the work and forget about it ‘till it is time to weave it in. Try it, you’ll like it.”
Mary K
How do I avoid messy looking joins when knitting in the round?
When joining stitches in the round it can be difficult to create a seamless join on circular needles and DPNs.
Here are two tricks to solve the problem:
Cast on one extra stitch. When you start the first row, slide the last cast on stitch onto the left hand needle. Then knit two stitches together, avoiding the loop that is caused by the join.
*OR*
Before placing your stitch marker and knitting the first stitch, swap the first stitches on the left and right needles as follows:
It’s Sweater Weather! The time of year many knitters anxiously wait for. Knitting returns to the forefront of our thoughts. Casting on with new yarn and all its promises epitomizes the knitter’s high. Making sure the sweater fits is of utmost importance, which means it’s time to collect the current measurements.
Attached is the perfect tool for keeping an accurate guide in your knitting bag. So grab a partner, a measuring tape, and fill out the Actual Body Measurement Chart created by Laura Bryant and Barry Klein. Available for free at Actual Body Measurement Chart.
Knit a sweater that fits! Happy Sweater Weather (Fall)!