Amie87 AKA Mrs. L asked:


My cousin is having a Winnie the Pooh theme for her nursery/baby shower and I really wanted to knit her a baby blanket but I can’t find a good pattern. It has to be remotely easy since I haven’t been knitting that long, but I’ll try anything. Thanks in advance!

CARTER

Valerie S asked:


I have been knitting a queen sized blanket for the past year and finally it is ready to be finished but smart me forgot how the heck to finish it off. If anyone could give me some help that would be great.

FELIX

barbie asked:


I am very new to knitting and would like some advise on the best wool for knitting baby toys. Most importantly is a wool which wont shred fibres if the baby puts it in her mouth.

ROCCO

JustWondering. asked:


I’ve read that when knitting tops that it is better to use 24″ long needles. However, 24″ needles are circular needles.
Is it better to knit tops using circular needles? (Even if the pattern doesn’t call for circular needles)?

What would be a good length to use for knitting tops on regular single point needles?

RAPHAEL

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


During the 17th and 18th century, the Scottish Isles main occupation was knitting. Colorful patterns were made by using Fair Isle technique. The Industrial Revolution brought a major development in the knitting. The British government published a booklet by the name “Make do and mend” that supplied knitting patterns for people to knit sweaters, gloves for the Army and Navy.

Knitting has undergone a vast change. There are lot of magazines and online publications for knitting. Adirafil is an online publication that has free patterns, yarn information etc. This site is accessible in four languages (English, Spanish, Italian and French). It is published four times in a year, and it gives information about guild news, free patterns etc. Creative Design school publication gives knitting lessons and instructions. Family circle Easy knitting & Crochet is published four times a year which can be subscribed online. Heels and Toes Gazette is published quarterly and gives information about sock knitting, sock patterns and knitting tips.

InKnitters is a quarterly magazine published under Machine Knitters source. This magazine is mainly featured on patterns and articles about knitting. Interweave magazine is published by Interweave Press. It is a quarterly magazine. Knit N Style can be subscribed online and it is published six times a year. It deals with free patterns and bulletin boards.

Knit Net is an online knitting magazine, which gives more about retailer information, great patterns and articles. It is published five times in a year and its issues are available on CD ROM. KnitScape Magazine is published two times in a year and under the publishers of Interweave Press. Knitters Review is updated every week because it gives the latest information about yarns, shops and techniques of knitting. Knitting digest features about the latest patterns and designs in the knitting. It is published six times in a year.

Knitting Now, has three issues in a year which gives information about patterns and technical support of knitting. Knitting Universe is a famous magazine that is published four times a year. It also gives information about nice patterns and techniques of knitting. The European Yarn Company publishes Lana Grossa and it is issued seven times in a year. This is an online magazine. Machine Knitters Source is a magazine published 6 times in a year which mainly features on articles about machines.

Machine knitting monthly, is a website, which is updated every month and features about news and reviews, articles, hints and tips. MagKnits, is published with free patterns. Piecework Magazine is also published by Interweave Press, which is published two times in a month. There are projects on knitting, embroidery and crochet, stitch, basket, lace and other craftwork. Rebecca is German knitting magazine that gives information about free patterns and technical support.

Rowan is published twice in a year that gives information about patterns of Rowan yarns. Sandar is a knitting magazine that is published monthly. Spinoff magazine is a quarterly magazine that deals with articles of spinning and knitting.



STEPHEN

Sawyer Theron asked:


So have you caught the knitting bug? Have you learned the basic stitches and are now wondering what to do? With a little practice and tips from experienced knitters, you can be creating awesome creations in no time.

Once you learn three basic techniques you will find that there are numerous projects you can learn to knit. The three basic foundations of knitting are casting on, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. Once you master these three techniques you can begin to add more advanced knitting skills.

You can learn the basic stitches from other knitters, online or from a book. You can truly only become a functional knitter from practicing as much as possible.

Starting out you will want to use medium gauge wool yarn which is the easiest yarn to start out with. It may not be the prettiest, flashiest novelty yarn, but it’s the easiest yarn to learn how to knit with. You do not want to use cotton since it has no give in it. Wool has just a bit of stretch so it is much easier to learn with.

Your local yarn shop is a great place for both beginners and veteran knitters. It is an excellent place to have your questions answered when you begin to choose your yarns and patterns.

Knitting has always been a social hobby. Similar to scrap booking where women meet to work on their scrap booking in gatherings called “crops”, knitters have sessions called “stitch and bitch”. Women bring their projects, knit together and chat.

These knitting groups are a great place to learn to knit from experienced knitters. They can give you advice and show you hands on skills. Advanced knitters are also able to improve their skills by watching the talents of others who can share various techniques.

Lessons are a great way to learn basic knitting skills. It is usually worth the money to have someone teach the knit and purl stitches. The local shop usually offers individual or group beginning knitter classes. It will take you just one or two classes before you feel confident enough to attempt an easy project. Of course, outside of class you will want to practice as much as possible.

When you start to knit you will not really begin with a project. Most likely you will learn by knitting a swatch about 2 feet long just for practice. Once you can complete that you will rip it all out, roll it up and start all over again. It is not necessarily fun but you will begin to feel comfortable with the knit and purl stitches. You should not start a real project until you can successfully knit the swatch with no dropped stitches or gaping holes.

The easiest first project is a scarf. It is simple and you really do not have to worry too much about gauge. It is the best project to begin with to practice your skill. If it is summer and a scarf does not sound too appealing, try a decorative scarf in a lightweight cotton yarn that can be used in place of a necklace, or used as a belt.

Knitting is a really fun hobby. You will find it relaxing and enjoyable. You will love all the colors and textures of fibers available. You will love to make things and give them as gifts. Knitting is a great hobby for all seasons and all ages.



MITCHELL

Sherry Frewerd asked:


Knitting, it’s said, is a very relaxing and satisfying craft. Knitting is a hobby that you can learn and then do while enjoying other past-times like watching television and at the same time create wonderful knitted items for yourself and others.

Multi-taskers will find that knitting works well for them. Throughout time, groups of women have been known to sit and knit while chatting with friends and family. You can watch your kids and knit at the same time as well, making knitting a great hobby for busy moms and dads.

Many people find the idea of learning to knit to be daunting. When you’re just starting out the needles feel foreign in your hands, making the process awkward and frustrating at times. Keep in mind though, that the initial awkwardness goes away and you’re left with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Creating something with your own hands is one of the best feelings to have. Knitting can leave you with this feeling. Having the patience and correct supplies will help you achieve your goal of learning to knit.

If you’re ready to learn the simple basics of knitting, the following easy steps can help you get going.

Getting the Right Knitting Supplies

Although it may seem complicated, all that you need to start knitting are a pair of knitting needles and some yarn. Some folks start out with a pattern, so if that’s your plan you’ll need an easy knitting pattern to follow too.

Your Knitting Needles

There are many different types of knitting needles to choose from, and not all are created equal. Most knitters will agree that the easiest needles to start out with are wooden needles. The yarn seems to stay on wooden needles better, allowing you to knit easier. Plastic or metal knitting needles cause the yarn to slip off easily if you’re not advanced and know how to handle them properly. So, newbie knitters should stick with wooden knitting needles.

Start out with large wooden needles so that you can easily see your mistakes and complete your project quicker. If you drop a stitch you want to be able to see it quickly and fix the mistake easily.

Getting Your Yarn

Beginner knitters should start their first project using natural yarn such as cotton or wool. Natural fiber yarn will stay on the knitting needles better than a synthetic yarn will. Do not be lured by the fancy yarn you see in the stores. You will find working with them to be far too challenging and cause frustration at first. Start out with simple natural yarns and then go from there.

Learning Knitting Jargon

Just like almost any craft, knitting too has its own language or jargon. When you’re starting out, you’ll need to learn the jargon that goes along with knitting. Yes, at first it can seem overwhelming, but you’ll get the hang of the lingo quickly. Crafting books, knitting dictionaries and online sources will help you learn what you need to know to get started. Here are a few basics to help you out.

K = Knit, KB = Knit-in-Back, BO = Bind-Off, P = Purl, EOR = knit every other row

Knitting - Get Going!

With anything that’s worth doing, the first step is to just do it. Get your supplies, patterns, instruction books and start learning to knit. Don’t go overboard with buying supplies, because you may find that once you’ve given it a go, knitting may not be your cup of tea after all.

You’ll find once you’ve learned to knit that you may start seeking out others who share your passion and enthusiasm for the craft. You’ll be able to make new friends as well as wonderful pieces of art and family heirlooms from your knitting skills. As a beginning knitter, you’ll soon become advanced if you take care to buy the right supplies for your skill level and look for proper knitting instruction. These basic tips will help you reach your goal of learning to knit with ease. Have fun and happy knittin’!



MARQUIS

Maddy Cranley asked:


  Knitting in its simplest form is often described as the looping of a string around two sticks.  When faced with multi-color patterning, intricate stitches or detailed graphs, this seemingly easy craft becomes a more complex activity that can benefit from an innovative tool or two.  Right from the start when the ideas for a new knitting project abound, there are aids to guide you in choices of yarn and color. Color wheels and color selectors, using proven principles of color theory, can steer you through establishing a pleasing color combination of two or many colors. Even though you may pick the perfect geranium pink to match that perfect leaf green, you still must find commercially available yarns of compatible weights in those very colors.  Many yarn retailers offer, at a reasonable cost, sample cards of available yarns in their full color range. Much like selecting paint chips at the hardware store, you are able to see at a glance what colors are available in a particular yarn and how they interact with other colors of that yarn type.

The screwdrivers and wrenches of knitting, the needles, though basic in shape, appear in a variety of materials. Wood and plastic offer comfort to tired hands, while metal needles promise speed.  A luxury class of needles fashioned from ebony or rosewood are advertised as hewn from the remains of prized woods used in the manufacture of musical instruments.  These needles should make your stitches sing. There is also the “heritage“ needle collection of which mine is labelled, due to many being borrowed from my mother’s knitting basket and never returned. A “classic” collection will likely contain a hodgepodge of needles gathered over the years as in mine, which range from a chipped orange metal No. 4’s to green plastic No. 8’s. It’s an odd grouping of materials and colors but favorites are easily recognizable when a certain knitting job comes to mind.

Now any good craft project whether made from wood or wool is only worth its weight when measurements are accurate and consistent. To knitters, the correct gauge must be achieved or every measurement throughout the project will become skewed. With numerous devices available to help accurately measure those all-important numbers of stitches and rows, there is absolutely no excuse for having the wrong gauge. A square gauge frame will force you to line up your knitting with the stitches at right angles to the rows, leaving you to count the numbers between the borders of the frame. Transparent stitch templates will tell you nothing but the truth as you try to match the drawing of the desired stitch gauge to the stitches of your knitted sample. A good tape measure, plastic or cloth, retractable or not, is essential to measure those lengths and widths once you start knitting. 

To see those stitches clearly, use a magnifier lamp clamped to your favorite chair or stood behind the sofa. Try a pair of magnifying flip-up lenses to increase your staying power when working with intricate stitches and dark colors. Don’t forget to prop up that book or pattern on a bookstand to keep your charts and graphs front and center. A line magnifier placed over the chart on a magnetic board will eliminate a lot of twisting and turning in your seat as you lean to squint at those lines. Once you have found your place there are gadgets to keep it.  Stitch markers and row counters mark the spot and giant safety pins put stitches on hold.  

A collection of tools needs a toolbox. Needles should be organized in needle cases, one for the straights and another for circulars, small boxes or bags for the bits and pieces such as stitch markers and measuring devices, and a great big bag or basket to keep it all handy and neat.



SHAUN

Holly the Kitty asked:


I want to make a cat plushie. I knit, so it needs to be a knitting pattern.
So far so good Love that pattern. Anyone know where to find the “stackable cats” pattern for free? I’m not paying $5 for a downloadable pattern.

EFRAIN

tinsel1981 asked:


My knitting always curls at the edges, even when knitting garter stitch, and no matter what yarn I am using (whether wool, acrylic or another). I have tried casting on more loosely, but with no difference. I always block woollen pieces, which helps, but not with acrylic. Apart from crocheting the edges, which is good but not suitable for everything I make, is there another way to get my knitting to lie flat by changing the way I knit?

MICHEL