Consider a Larger Needle

If you are looking for a fun project, choose a big needle, like a size 35, and some really soft wool, like a mohair or a soft worsted wool.  You can make a beautiful scarf, the kind that is sold in fancy boutiques, in virtually no time!

Cast on 12 stitches, and work in a knit only stitch, where you knit each row.  No need to purl, so that you get two great sides to this wonderful scarf.  This is a called a garter stitch, and it is a great project to start if you are stressed, have just started to knit, or are looking for a way to just create a great gift in no time.

Keep going, until you hit 60 inches.  Your mind will be so relaxed when you get to 60.  It is like a spa day!  Then, when you get there, bind off loosely. Your work will be airy, loose and beautiful.  You can make fringe if you want to, by just cutting some same length yarn, and tying to the ends.  Use your creativity, and keep knitting!

How to Double Crochet

Here is a great video that offers the visual help to learning a double crochet stitch.  It is abbreviated by dc and is almost the same as single crochet, just doubled.  You will love it, as it gives some height to your project.  Happy times ahead!

Finding Great Yarn Can Be Hard!

If you have a great pattern, and you want to make a really nice sweater or blanket for your next project, it can be really hard to find the same dye lot, and the right yarn for your project.  Here is a way to do it, with the available yarn that is at the shop!

Hit the sale racks first!  Your first stop should be the sale area, as you can often find a clearance on the entire line of yarn in a certain style.  It is a great way to find a good start to a project, and get a bunch of colors that are all the same contrasting value of color.  For instance, if you are knitting a baby blanket, you want a nice soft wool, and the colors should all be bright and warm, or cool and neutral.  Never neutral and bright or cool and warm.  The coloration should be mixed to the decor of the home it is going to, so if your project is going to sit in a red room, you do not want to knit cool and neutral.  You will go bright and warm!

This is an easy way to think, and if you are finding a great value on natural wool, cotton or silk, buy the entire lot!   Do not hesitate, or you will really detest yourself later on.  You can always return the yarn if you need to, but often, I find that one lime green ball of yarn, can be worked into my neutral brown pattern, as an accent, and makes a very nice contrast around the neck, wrists, and bottoms of any front or back.  Again, this is bright and warm!

Here are some analogies to give you some inspiration on color:

Blue, mint green, lavender and tan, ecru and cremes

Moss green, olives, red, orange, and burgundy

Silver gray, white, brown, tan, and heather pinks

Yellow, blues and reds with a variety of bluish purples and greens

Do not be afraid to mix colors, and you can find enough yarn to complete any project, and it will be your own!

Crochet a Flat Circle

If you are going to hook a nice series of glass coasters, pot protectors, or round place mats, you can do them in the round!  It makes sense when you want to have a place to set your tea pot.

Here's how to start! 

Get some great natural cotton fiber yarn, as you can easily wash it, and it will be absorbent for drips and water.  You can get some amazing colors, and the price is usually very kind on your wallet.  The hook you use, is bigger for a loose, but fast project, like a US K10.5/6.50MM, or a smaller, tighter, but slower and dedicated project, like a US F 5/3.75MM.  It is your decision, and often I would start out with the bigger hook, and then try a smaller hook later, after I have worked out the kinks.

Then, make a chain.  I would make a chain of 4.  Then, take your chain, join the two ends with a sniped piece of yarn, and tie the two ends together, keeping the ball end of the yarn out of the chain.  You have made a ring!

Next, look for your stitched ring end, and grab your yarn with your hook, and work into the beginning of the chain, not that nice little bump you made with your chain, but into the center of the ring.  You can roll it around, and if you made a chain of 4, you will not have too big a center, but just enough to double your stitches around.  Keep working in a single crochet, and add the number of stitches as you go around.  It sometimes is helpful to add a twist tie to your "start" as you will do 6 stitches in row 2, (not including your first single crochet to get you started), 12 in row 3, and 18 in row 4, etc...  You are adding 6 on each turn.  Always, when you reach the end of the row, join the row you created with the start.

Here is some great yarn to get you going!

Can you slipknot?

I love a good slipknot, and if you are not used to doing it, here are some great starter tips!  You need to have some patience-deep sigh!-and some yarn, and two needles.  Two needles will be needed to get you knitting, but we are only going to use one for your slip knot. 

So, you have the ball of yarn, the end, and your hands.  Yes, I know this is very simply stated, but I want to keep this as simple as I can.  Take the ball of yarn, and pull it on your right side.  Then, pull out maybe two feet of yarn, more if you are making a blanket.  You will see why later...

Take the end, and closer to the yarn ball, wrap around your left index finger and your middle finger.  Do this from back to front, looking at it.  Then, do it again.  Take your ball yarn, and then bring it through the hole.  Drop your left hand fingers, and pull on your loop.  Yippee!  A fine slipknot you have made!

The best part is now to come! Take your knot, and push your needle through it, and do it from the front to the back, with the point further from you.  This way, you have the ball of yarn behind your right hand, and the end to your left. The knot sits under your needle, and the knot is your first stitch in your work. 

Here is a nice video to show you how it looks in action.  Let me know if you have any questions! Cheers!

How do you count rows?

Here are some ways to count rows when you are knitting or crocheting your next pattern!  Be sure to not lose your mind-or your eyesight with crazy row counting during your fun.

1.  Use a row counter at the end of each row.  These little counters can be used on one or both needles in knitting, and near you specifically in a crochet pattern.  If you use a counter in knitting or crochet, be sure to count two, and then turn the counter. This is because the odd numbers are on one needle, and the other is the even rows. Example:  1,3,5 on odd;  2,4,6 on even.

2. Make a copy of your pattern, my favorite method!  Then when you complete your steps, just cross them off. If you want to refer back to your pattern use a highlighter and you will know where you are.

3.  Use stitch counter rings, paper clips or other metal twisty ties!  Then, when you get to the end of the body area, you can know where the start and stop is.  This can be really helpful when you are creating some complex patterns that have to join together.

Binding off Your Knitting

If you are knitting a row, and it is the last row, Yippee!  Great job, wow, look at you go, what a great knitter you are!  Then, you want to bind off in a knit row. 

The fact that all good things have to end, can be very happy!  I am always happiest when my work is turning out to be a masterpiece, and I am really ready to bind off.  At the same time, it kind of is a tricky emotion too, as you are now done, and well, it was so much fun when you are in it.  Eat your cake and have it too kind of thing...

So, what if your last row is a purl row?  What do you do? Purl and bind off sugar!  Do not knit that last row in a bind off, unless the pattern calls for it.  It will look funny.  Great video for you!  Have fun at your knitting.