|
by Jenny K on December 14, 2011
You might have seen my post last week where I admitted that I have a horrible time starting the final finishing touches on almost any project I do. Yes, I know it isn't hard and it really doesn't take too long. I can't explain it but once I bind off, my mind just classifies the project as done. Which is why I was thrilled when Kerin showed me a clever way of finishing yarn ends for fair isle projects! This method is so simple, it makes me wonder why I hadn't stumbled upon it before. Instead of painstakingly weaving in each yarn end from all of the color changes, simply make sure to leave a good length yarn for your ends and you will be able to braid them together! After you get to the end of your yarn strands, all you have to do is finish it off by tying all the strands together in a knot and trim the ends. Brilliant! Kerin also mentioned that by braiding all of the longer yarn ends together, you can use those ends to easily mend any small holes or loose stitches that might occur throughout the life of your sweater. So, for any knitters out there working on any fair isle gift knitting - check out our video on how to braid yarn ends to save yourself a bit of time (and sanity, in my case!). |
Category Archives: video
|
by Jenny K on December 7, 2011
It's officially one week into December, and like many people, I have a few projects that are just about ready for finishing - things like seaming, weaving in ends, blocking, etc. This year, I will be trying to work on the finishing touches as I go along, which means I will hopefully be able to avoid the mad dash of sewing and seaming. For one reason or another, as soon as I bind off my last stitch my mind instantly categorizes my project as done. But! There is still so much to do after binding off, I know this yet, I try to avoid it. Once I get into a good workflow, I can spend the weekend finishing up projects and blocking out shawls with no problem. Like everything, starting is the hardest part - even if it is the finishing that you are starting on. |
|
by Jenny K on November 29, 2011
Over the past month, we have posted all kinds of cabling technique tutorials - everything from a beginner's guide to cabling to unique and unusual cable textures for more advanced knitters. Not only do cables keep your knitting interesting, but it adds so much classic texture to the finished piece. Cables are also a wonderful way to dress up simple patterns that you might have laying around. By choosing a cable panel that works with your stitch count, you can easily transform your favorite basic hat or scarf pattern into your very own cabled creation. So to finish off our Advanced Cabling Techniques video series, we saved a very unique cable for last - the closed cable! This is a cable that creates a completely closed ring without pulling in your knitted fabric, unlike many other cables. Check out the video to see how you can create closed cables! |
|
by Jenny K on November 23, 2011
So far in our Advanced Cabling Techniques video series, we have covered how to add a splash of color to your cables with intarsia cabling and how to create interlocking cable textures with multiple crossing cables. And just what else can you do with cables? How about adding in a bit of shaping! For our third video in this series, we show you how to create both increasing and decreasing cables. This technique allows you to shape your cables to grow larger or smaller, letting you create unique and interesting cable patterns. I think increasing and decreasing cables have a lot of potential as interesting design elements on a hat or sweater. In addition to their distinctive look, there are also many clever ways you can incorporate increasing and decreasing cables into your knitting! If that cabled cardigan or Aran sweater is a bit too boxy, simply add in a few increasing and decreasing cables for a bit of clever waist shaping, and voila! A nice, flattering cabled sweater! Check out the third video installment of our Advanced Cabling Techniques to start creating cables with shaping! |
|
by Jenny K on November 16, 2011
Buttons can be one of the last finishing details that you put on a sweater or cardigan, and it is just as important to choose the right buttons for your project as it is to find the right yarn. And if you have recently checked out our selection of buttons, you know just how many options, styles, materials, and shapes of buttons there are to choose from. So in the spirit of all the holiday knitting I'm sure everyone is busy with, we put together a handy tutorial on how to go about choosing a button style that works best for your project and yarn so you can put the finishing touches on all of those WIPs with confidence. |
|
by Jenny K on November 9, 2011
In the second installment of our Advanced Cabling Techniques video series, we add color to our cables! In last week's video, we highlighted how to create multiple crossing cables, which are cables with a three dimensional appearance that makes it look as though you are creating interlocking rings. This week, we shine the spotlight on intarsia cables! These eye-catching cables are combined with the colorwork technique known as intarsia, allowing one section of the cable to be in a different color than the rest of your knitting. The best part is, with only the help of a highlighter or marker, you can easily transform any cable chart into your very own cabled, colorwork creation. Check out the second Advanced Cabling Techniques video to start adding intarsia cables to your projects! |
|
by Jenny K on November 2, 2011
In keeping with the theme of last week's Race to Wrapped, this week's video tutorial continues our exploration of cables! Since we focused on introducing simple cables and twists to new knitters last week, we thought it might be fun to do an entire series that shows off unique and interesting cables for more advanced knitters. Check out part 1 of our Advanced Cabling Techniques video series, which shows you how to create multiple crossing cables! These unique cables have a three dimensional appearance that makes it look as though you are creating interlocking rings. |
|
by Knit Picks Staff on October 27, 2011
A couple of summers ago, I did a whole tutorial series on knitting Lace. Now that we have better video equipment, I've made a video to expand on some of the information I covered - specifically, how to read a chart. If you're new to lace or mystified by charts in general, this (twenty minute!) video takes you through everything you need to know to get going. It's not just lace specific, either - though lace comes with its own set of interesting features. Since the video is HD quality, you can watch it in fullscreen mode to get a high-quality closer look - and even pause and knit along if you'd like. Read more to see the video! |
|
by Jenny K on October 26, 2011
Fall is officially here in the northwest - there is a chill in the air, the days are getting shorter, and everyone I know is either planning out or already starting on their holiday knitting! In the spirit of getting things done on time and adorning our loving friends and family with cozy knits, I will be posting weekly video techniques that you can use to spruce up gifts and finishing tips that will make your projects extra special. We will also be posting about pattern ideas, quick knits, and our own works in progress as we strive to reach the finish line (on time) in our very own Race to Wrapped! To kick off our Race to Wrapped, I loved the idea of using cables to add texture and interest to projects. And although many beginning knitters shy away from cables because they look too complicated, they are actually quite simple! Cable patterns are almost infinite in their design possibilities, and yes - there are cables that are harder to master then others. But it doesn't take a lot to let a few cables transform a simple hat or scarf into a project with a classic and sophisticated twist. If you have always loved the way cables look, but weren't sure where to start, I think you will find our "How to Cable for Beginners" video very helpful, and hopefully inspire you to give cables a try! |
|
by Jenny K on October 11, 2011
It is becoming that time of the year when a lot of seasonal knitters are starting to pick up needles once again and new knitters are tempted to drive right into projects. Which is exactly why we have three new video tutorials to make sure that your projects get started without any problems! This video series is all about different ways of casting on. Casting on stitches is the very first step in any project - and nothing takes away the excitement for a new project faster than running into somethign new or unfamiliar at the first step of your pattern. Generally, I use the long tail cast on for most of my projects. This is a quick and easy cast on that I find works for a lot of things. However, there are many different cast ons and one of these just might suit your project better than others. Sometimes you need a stretchy cast on, while other times you might need something firmer. Either way, knowing the many different ways of casting on gives you the option of choosing a cast on that best fits your project and its needs. |
