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by Jenny K on April 12, 2011
In addition to the great tutorials and videos we have available at Knit Picks, we have also been working hard on expanding our videos to include a behind the scenes look at new kits! If you have ever wondered about the inspiration behind the projects or simply want to hear more about the design process that goes into the kits, you really have to check out the Designer Interview videos! After all of the designing, editing, sample knitting and re-editing is done and the kits are ready to make their debut, I ask our talented designer Kerin to give everyone an inside look into each kit. These designer videos are really great for finding out which specific techniques, construction and design elements are used as well as learning about any tips or tricks Kerin might have to make your project a success. I find it endlessly fascinating to hear about the point of inspiration that started each project alongside the final piece. |
Category Archives: Knit Picks Designers
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by Knit Picks Staff on April 6, 2011
Well, i really couldn't wait for silly hubbster to make up his mind about the trout yarn. So I got him some Hawaiian shirts on sale and cast on something for myself! So there! I was thinking socks at first, but with summer on its way I wanted something I could get a little more use out of. Since summer clothes are generally pretty light, but the AC in this building is, well, temperamental, I decided I'd make a shrug instead! |
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by Knit Picks Staff on April 6, 2011
Hello again! In this installment of Demystifying Lace, I'll tell you why getting gauge isn't really all that important, basics of casting on for different types of lace, and give a quick primer on the holeyest of stitches, the yarn over! Click 'Read More..." to see the answers to some questions I got in last week's class comments. And now, on to this week's lengthy lessons, all four of them! Even though these videos are pretty long, I feel like I really only skimmed over the techniques - so if you have questions, ask away. :) On gauge [youtube:7kAMiuh8GJk] |
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by Knit Picks Staff on April 6, 2011
Ever wondered what those weird symbols mean? Tried to make sense of all the grid lines? Welcome to the world of lace charts, which are a stitch-by-stitch representation of a knitted item! I’ll discuss how to read a chart, why they are set up in certain ways, and what that pesky ‘No Stitch’ designation really means. Unfortunately due to a hand injury, I couldn’t demonstrate any techniques in this lesson – so it’s all about charts! I will demonstrate lots of stitches in the next lesson, including different variations of the YO, nupps and bobbles. I’ll also go more in-depth about cast-ons and double-yarn bind-offs – thanks for all your questions! Enjoy! |
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by Knit Picks Staff on April 6, 2011
I've been knitting for over 20 years, and I've learned to latch hook, embroider, sew, do needlepoint, and a lot more. But I was undeniably terrible at crochet. Really, really bad. I would love to show evidence of some of my epically failed attempts, but I threw them in the trash years ago. The trash never forgave me. When we started getting more crochet books, and several of my coworkers mentioned an interest in learning to crochet, I thought, hey, why not? It's been years now, maybe my old crochet hooks have forgotten what I'd subjected them to. I decided that this time, I am actually going to learn to crochet, and remember it. We were all talking about goals with our crochet - everyone else is going to make things. My goal is just to crochet something that is not utterly horrible. Like, it looks like I meant to do that. So, Nina and I signed up for a learn to crochet class! I could chain when I got there, but that was it. I then learned how to single and double crochet, and then it clicked - I was terrible at crochet because I did it completely wrong. So, with my newfound confidence, I kept going with my little swatch. In the class, the instructor suggested we make a little bag out of it, so I began to crochet in the round (correctly! ...mostly). I realized that it was going to be a very ugly bag. Very, very ugly. So... In my typical fashion, I completely ignored what I was supposed to be doing.And the results... Meet Carl! |
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by Knit Picks Staff on April 6, 2011
Wool socks are really so much more than a fashion statement or funky accessory. They are a wonderful year-round garment that will be worth their weight in gold when you're caught in the snow, a freak summer rainstorm, the middle of the desert, or even the mall. |
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by Knit Picks Staff on April 6, 2011
When the weather heats up around here, it's definitely lace season. It's the perfect time to cast on an intricate shawl to work on during the summer months and have ready for the first few chilly nights in autumn. If you're looking for a new lace project for the summer, try the Baltic Lace kit! This kit has yarn and patterns for both the Karukell Shawl and the Catkin scarf or stole (shown here in stole option). |
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by Knit Picks Staff on April 6, 2011
So, you've knit some lace, and it looks like a big pile of holey cheese. Now what? Where's that gorgeous shawl pictured in the pattern photo? There's only one way to see the true beauty of what you've made. Block it! In this video, I go over all the tools you'll need for the job. I've also included our existing tutorial on blocking with Lace Blocking wires. I had planned on photographing the process as well this week, but time was not on my side! I will post some next week. Do you have any questions about blocking, or have blocking before-and after stories and photos to share? I'd love to hear from you! Now, without further ado, let me introduce you to the most fun and magical part of lace knitting. |
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by Knit Picks Staff on April 6, 2011
Lace is one of those things that can be pretty intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be! Join me as we explore the wonderful world of lace yarn. Fabulously fine, lace yarns are a lot more versatile than you might think. Experiment with color, style and techniques, and learn that in the yarn world, ‘little’ goes a long way! This won’t be a typical “here’s a project we’ll work on together” type class. Instead, I’ll be going over things like how best to wind lace yarn into a ball, how to deal with joining new balls of yarn, what you can do with lace yarn that’s not lace, and lots of other information that should take the “EEK!” factor out of knitting lace. Have a question that’s kept you from experimenting with lace? Ask away! The first video in this class will be posted on July 1 – bring your ... |
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by Knit Picks Staff on April 6, 2011
Welcome to the first lace class! In this introduction, I go over the very basics: what is lace, what is lace yarn, and how to select the right yarn for a project. A new video will be posted each Thursday. Next week: How to handle lace yarn – winding, storing, working with lace yarns, and more. I’m incorporating answers to your questions in each video – so keep asking! |
