Knitting with Circular Needles

Whoo, scary idea huh?  Actually, it is not as bad as you think it might be!  There are some things you are going to need to learn, and one is the mental hurdle of getting past the straight row.  This is going to be fun, trust me!

When you are knitting a cap or a sock, a neck band on a sweater, use a circular set of needles.  The great thing is you can really whip this thing together, as it is kind of like a crochet in a knit.  When you do not have to turn the darn thing all the time, you feel like you can just keep going.

This presents another problem, as you need to watch how many rows you are going on, and if it is joined to a sweater body, that is fairly easy.  But, if you are working on a sock or a hat, well, you need to either count your rows once and awhile, or stick in a tag at row 10, or 15.  That way you can have some organization to this loose way of knitting.  By the way, if you like it, you will love crochet!

So, here we go!

Lets do a hat, and you need to follow your pattern, and buy a set of circular needles that will create the right size of circle.  The 8 needles will make a 8 sized knot, and a 22 need will create a 22 sized knot.  Your sizing is coming into how many stitches you cast on.  So, you can make socks with a 22 needle, but wouldn't it be nicer with tight little knots?

Be sure to use the size needle that your pattern calls for.  So, cast on your amount of stitches, just like you would on straight needles.  Then, go back to your first cast on, at the end of the left needle.  Make sure the bumps or knit heads are pointed down when you do this.  Then, start your knit process.  When you get to the end of the row, you can then knit away, continuing round and round until you have the circle going in the right direction.  Your pattern will tell you when to increase, and when to decrease.

Play with this, and enjoy your round about! 

Abbreviations for Knitting

Here is a handy list for you to use for your knitting patterns.  The knitters of the world hate to spell anything out, but I promise to never abbreviate speak, first, and explain it to you in every pattern I create for you, before using this list.  It just is not fair to new knitters! 

Source: Yarn Standards

alt	alternate	psso	pass slipped stitch over
beg	begin/beginning	pwise	purlwise
bet	between	rem	remain/remaining
BO	bind off	rep	repeat(s)
CA	color A	rev St st	reverse stockinette stitch
CB	color B	RH	right hand
CC	contrasting color	rnd(s)	round(s)
cm	centimeters	sk	skip
cn	cable needle	skp	slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over
CO	cast on	sk2p	slip one stitch, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over
cont	continue	sl	slip
dec	decrease/decreases/decreasing	sl1k	slip one knitwise
dpn	double-pointed needle(s)	sl1p	slip one purlwise
fl	front loop(s)	sl st	slip stitch(es)
foll	follows/following	ss	slip stitch (in Canadian patterns)
g	gram	ssk	slip, slip, knit those two stitches together
inc	increase	sssk	slip, slip, slip, knit three slipped stitches together
K	knit	st(s)	stitch(es)
k2tog	knit two together	St st	stockinette stitch
kwise	knitwise	tbl	through back loop
LH	left hand	tog	together
lp(s)	loop(s)	WS	wrong side
m	meters	wyib	with yarn in back
M1	make one stitch	wyif	with yarn in front
M1 p-st	make one purl stitch	yds	yards
MC	main color	yfwd	yarn forward (yarn over)
mm	millimeters	yo	yarn over
oz	ounce	yrn	yarn around needle (yarn over)
P (or p)	purl	yon	yarn over needle (yarn over)
pat(s) or patt	pattern(s)	yo	yarn over
pm	place marker	[ ]	work instructions in brackets as many times as directed
pop	popcorn bobble	( )	work instructions in parenthesis as directed (also used to indicate size changes)
p2tog	purl two together	**	repeat instructions after asterisks as directed
prev	previous	*	repeat pattern following asterisk as directed

Crochet is So Much Fun!

Here is a great video showing some fun little animals you can make in a day.  It is a great way to connect with your kids, a neighbor, or just a way to make some fun gifts for any occasion.  The animals are your invention, so keep in mind you are just chaining, and it is so easy, any level of crochet expert can do it!

Making a Buttonhole

If you are knitting, you can easily make a buttonhole, by deciding where in your body of your work it needs to be, and then simply bind off(BO).  The transition back is as simple as the binding off, and then beginning to knit again, when you end the row.

Simply turn the row around, and then continue knitting or purling, whichever your pattern calls for, and then when you get to the bound off section, where your button hole is, become a button hole expert, and try the following trick:

Switch your needles from left to right hand, and vice versa. Then, cast on the same amount of stitches, and be sure to bring your yarn forward, upon your last cast on(CO) stitch, to transfer back your needles right to left, and left to right.  Continue your purl or knit, and you have the best darn buttonhole.

Creating a Knitted Kitty Sweater

Easy peasy!  You can create this great sweater for your dog or cat.  I just won't promise that they will love it.  I made this for our 20 year old cat last year, and it was really long for her, but I just rolled it up, and stitched it shorter, making it even more warm around her belly.  We had to let her go last November, so this was something that got her through a period of 20 below weather.  She would sit in her sweater, on my lap, and just purr.  It moved with her well, and she only wore it when she needed to.  Here are my directions!


Measure your pet, (1)around the neck, (2)from neck measurement-to front legs, (3) around the belly, (4)from neck to belly, and (5)down the back from head to tail. Start with a cotton or wool, and never use acrylic, as some animals can be allergic.   I always use the economical Paton Classic Wool Yarn, so if you are looking for a match to Sheeba's sweater, I believe the color is called Rosewood!  I only used less than one ball of yarn for this project.  You can join together colors, and use up some of your stored yarn, be creative!

Start with a US needle 11, and cast on enough to match your neck measurement.  You are going to create a big rectangle, and then drop some stitches, and add some to fashion your sweater.  It is really easy, so do not worry too much.  Continue with your knitting by turning and knitting one row, and then one row purl. Continue k,p until you have enough knit rows, and enough purl rows to reach the legs.  You can really see how this is going to work now!

Now, you are going to skip some stitches to create a button hole for the legs.  The seam for the sweater is on the underneath or belly of your pet, so the leg openings will be on the  edges of the rectangular piece. 

SEE NOTE BELOW ****When you are ready to knit, and you have reached the measurement where the openings will be, Go in 5 stitches, and then bind off 10 stitches.  Continue to the end of the row, and be sure to watch, that you bind off 10 when you get to 15 from the end, and then knit 5 more.  Turn, and Purl 5, bind off 10, and continue to the last 15 stitches, 10 BO, and then P 5.   SEE NOTE BELOW***

Continue on, completing two rows K and P to even it off!  Now, you are going to increase or decrease towards your belly measurement(3).  You should now refer to measurement (4) and see where you are from your leg openings.  Compare your Belly Measurement(3), and see how much your increase or decrease is.  Some animals have a decrease, like a bull dog or a doberman.  You should add 2 K and 2 P until you get to the belly measurement, and do it so that it is fashioned at the right point.  Do not worry if measurements (3) and (4) do not meet perfectly, as it is a stretchy garment.

Now, measure your fashioned piece, and see how much more you need to stitch.  If you are knitting for a boy dog, you might want to stop shorter, to allow some freedom for bathroom breaks.

BO when you reach the end of your measurement length (5), and if it is still too long, you can roll it over, and stitch to make it work.  You should then stitch it closed at the ends, near the leg openings, and then roll it over your pet's head, and pull out their little legs. 

***NOTE: Before performing the leg opening step, check your pet!  If you find the legs are too close together, using the example of knitting 5, then BO 10, then continuing,  you can rework your work, and move then further into your square.  Meaning, instead of 15 st into the work, try 20, or 26.  It is going to be a custom piece for your pet, so try to imagine how much space you will need for their legs to move and be comfortable.

The best way to keep this clean is to just brush it off, and if you find it is really dirty, a hand washing may be in order!

Kniting during the Holidays

If you are like me, you have knitted your way through the holidays, gifts, and enjoyed yourself very much! Do not get burned out, but take some time to think about your self now.  In January, I find it is the best time to work on your own sweater, cape or skirt.  It is me time now, and what better way, than to find a great wool, and make some short work of it!

Find some great patterns, and buy a new book.  There is nothing like having a new knitting book, and sitting in your lazy knitting chair, with some tea, and working through your next dream.  Find your pattern, and decide.  Wow, isn't that hard?

 So many patterns, so little time!  Make a decision, and then make a second decision, just in case your wool or silk or cotton is not available.  You can find great wool online, but it is fun to really see and feel the wool.  Keep your plan, bring the book, and get help at the store on how much wool to buy.  Be sure to buy two extra balls, as you can not come back and expect the same dye lot, but you can always return the extra.

Now, take your time with the pattern, and learn some new steps if you can.  It is for you after all!

Holiday Gifts are Best when Handmade

Making holiday gifts is always best when you can do it by hand!  You can make something that everyone will love, and here are some great ideas!

If you are crocheting, use cotton yarn and make:

1. Washcloths
2.  Eyeglass cleaning tool
3.  Eyeglass case
4.  A cute fun long crochet tassle to hold curtains back, or a long belt!


If you are knitting, use wool, and make:

1. Mobile Phone Protection Case
2. A Long thin scarf for your niece in a bright color
3.  A pair of mittens lined in polar fleece
4.  A brightly colored square hot plate trivit.

Do not let time stop you, you can always start with one gift and see how quickly you can complete it.  The time you spend thinking of your gift receiver, while you make the gift is a great way to send your love.