http://local.knitsimplemag.com/ Knit Simple publishes newsletters providing knitting resources and methods to knitting enthusiasts 120 en-us Articles@DirectoryM.com Articles@DirectoryM.com http://local.knitsimplemag.com/ Knit Simple publishes newsletters providing knitting resources and methods to knitting enthusiasts http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Images/Image.aspx?Site=customDarkBlueWAdSense_en-US The selvage (or selvedge) of knit fabric is an edge formed by changing the stitch pattern at the beginning and end of every row. This stabilizes the fabric and prepares it for seaming or creates a finished edge on pieces that will have no further finishing. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Selvages_Ramsey_NJ-r1259833-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Selvages_Ramsey_NJ-r1259833-Ramsey_NJ.html Crocheted edges are important to finishing your crocheted projects. You can use them to create a specific style or just to give your garment a polished finish. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Edges_Ramsey_NJ-r1259832-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Edges_Ramsey_NJ-r1259832-Ramsey_NJ.html Learning how to increase and decrease gives you the key that unlocks the door to all sorts of wonderful pattern stitches and shaping of garment pieces. Although your first projects should be straight and narrow scarves—so you can practice chaining and turning, and making stitches uniform in size—you’ll soon have the itch to advance to something a little more challenging. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Increasing_Ramsey_NJ-r1259831-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Increasing_Ramsey_NJ-r1259831-Ramsey_NJ.html Crochet edges are a great option for finishing knit garments as they add stability and flatten curling pieces. Easy to make, they can easily be redone until you achieve the desired effect, so feel free to experiment. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Crochet_Edges_Ramsey_NJ-r1259830-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Crochet_Edges_Ramsey_NJ-r1259830-Ramsey_NJ.html Beyond the Basics http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Bands_Ramsey_NJ-r1259829-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Bands_Ramsey_NJ-r1259829-Ramsey_NJ.html Do you want to learn how to do a basic decrease when knitting? This article will help you through the process step-by-step with illustrations to help you see what everything should look like as you're doing it. So read on and get started! http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Decreases_K2TOG_Ramsey_NJ-r1259828-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Decreases_K2TOG_Ramsey_NJ-r1259828-Ramsey_NJ.html This article will show you how to do a basic single left-slanting decrease. Just follow the step-by-step instructions and accompanying illustrations below, and you'll be able to do deacreases on your own in no time at all. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Decreases_K2TOG_TBL_Ramsey_NJ-r1259827-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Decreases_K2TOG_TBL_Ramsey_NJ-r1259827-Ramsey_NJ.html Traditionally, Fair Isle knitting was defined as knitting with many colors, but never using more than two in any one row. Most patterns were made up of small motifs that repeated across the piece. Knitters today use myriad colors in their Fair Isle patterns, and the term now refers to any color knitting where color changes are frequent, requiring the yarns to be carried across the wrong side of the work. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Fair_Isle_Knitting_Ramsey_NJ-r1259826-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Fair_Isle_Knitting_Ramsey_NJ-r1259826-Ramsey_NJ.html Even expert knitters make mistakes every now and then. And as long as you know how to fix your errors, it’s no big deal. Here we’ve outlined and explained how to fix some of the most common errors that plague beginners (as well as veterans) in the knitting world. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Correcting_Common_Mistakes_Ramsey_NJ-r1259825-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Correcting_Common_Mistakes_Ramsey_NJ-r1259825-Ramsey_NJ.html Like making a gauge swatch, blocking is one of those essential steps that knitters tend to roll their eyes at. It may not be as much fun as choosing colors and textures, and it certainly does not have the meditative rhythm of stitching, but without blocking, your perfectly knit garment will look sloppy. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Blocking_Ramsey_NJ-r1259824-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Blocking_Ramsey_NJ-r1259824-Ramsey_NJ.html Do you need some help making one increase in your knitting project? The step-by-step article below will guide you through the process using detailed descriptions and helpful illustrations so you can do it right the first time. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Increases_Make_One_Increase_Ramsey_NJ-r1259823-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Increases_Make_One_Increase_Ramsey_NJ-r1259823-Ramsey_NJ.html Symbolcraft is a universal form of knitting instructions. Instead of writing out a stitch pattern with words and abbreviations, symbols are used. Learn more about how to read these charts by reading the article below. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Reading_Charts_Ramsey_NJ-r1259822-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Reading_Charts_Ramsey_NJ-r1259822-Ramsey_NJ.html Ready to crochet? Get informed and equipped with this useful prep section, focusing on yarn and hook know-how. The following article will help you through the beginning stages of learning how to crochet. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Before_You_Get_Started_Ramsey_NJ-r1259821-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Before_You_Get_Started_Ramsey_NJ-r1259821-Ramsey_NJ.html It may not be as much fun as choosing colors and textures, and it certainly does not have the meditative rhythm of stitching, but without blocking, your perfectly knit garment will look sloppy. So, please, pull out that blocking equipment and follow along as we teach you the ins and outs (and ups and downs) of molding your knitted pieces into shape. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Blocking_Ramsey_NJ-r1259820-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Blocking_Ramsey_NJ-r1259820-Ramsey_NJ.html So you've decided you want to learn to knit. What now? This section will help you brush up on yarn, needles and the ways they work together, so you'll feel prepared and confident when you take on your first stitches. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Before_You_Get_Started_Ramsey_NJ-r1259819-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Before_You_Get_Started_Ramsey_NJ-r1259819-Ramsey_NJ.html Learning about crochet is like immersing yourself in a foreign culture where another language is spoken and written, and where there are unfamiliar rules and customs. It can be a little intimidating and a tad frustrating at times, but the payoff is big and totally worthwhile. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Understanding_Instructions_Ramsey_NJ-r1259818-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Understanding_Instructions_Ramsey_NJ-r1259818-Ramsey_NJ.html When you first start working with knitting patterns, you’ll notice that they seem to be written in a completely different language. What, after all, does “∗K1, p1; rep from ∗” mean? All of these seemingly cryptic strings of letters, numbers and symbols are part of a system of knitting terminology that help save space in patterns and make instructions less tedious to read. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Terms_Abbreviations_Ramsey_NJ-r1259817-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Terms_Abbreviations_Ramsey_NJ-r1259817-Ramsey_NJ.html Buttons can add a striking contrast to your garment, or they can blend in subtly with the knit fabric. You can also make perfectly matching crochet buttons, which are shown here. Read on to find out more about adding buttons to any project you're working on. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Buttons_Ramsey_NJ-r1259816-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Buttons_Ramsey_NJ-r1259816-Ramsey_NJ.html There are a few ways to join crochet pieces together and each version serves a different purpose. Some use a yarn needle and are woven or sewn together and some use a crochet hook and are crocheted together. In all instances you will use the same yarn that was used for your project. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Seaming_Ramsey_NJ-r1259510-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Seaming_Ramsey_NJ-r1259510-Ramsey_NJ.html If you want the stripes to start at the beginning of the piece, cast on with only one color, then start the stripes on the first row. Or you can cast on using the colors in the stripes, as shown below. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Vertical_Stripes_Ramsey_NJ-r1257741-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Vertical_Stripes_Ramsey_NJ-r1257741-Ramsey_NJ.html There are many ways to sew together knitted fabric, and each version serves a different purpose. For example, you use one kind of seaming to join adjacent lengths of stockinette stitch and another to connect vertical and horizontal pieces of the same fabric. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Seaming_Ramsey_NJ-r1257740-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Seaming_Ramsey_NJ-r1257740-Ramsey_NJ.html The bar increase is a visible increase. A horizontal bar will follow the increased stitch on the knit side of the work, whether you work the increase on the knit or the purl side. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Increasing_Ramsey_NJ-r1257739-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Increasing_Ramsey_NJ-r1257739-Ramsey_NJ.html Binding off is generally a very easy process, with only one thing to watch out for: tension. Knitters often bind off too tightly, creating a pucker at the top of all that hard work. To avoid this, try binding off with a needle two sizes larger than you were using for the project. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Binding_Off_Ramsey_NJ-r1257738-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Binding_Off_Ramsey_NJ-r1257738-Ramsey_NJ.html Although it's good to know why and where you begin to crochet a stitch, you don't need to rely on your memory because directions for a pattern stitch will always state where to begin. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Time_to_Crochet_Ramsey_NJ-r1257737-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Time_to_Crochet_Ramsey_NJ-r1257737-Ramsey_NJ.html Adding sequins is a glamorous way to embellish simple sweaters. Sequins come with holes at the top or in the center. The hole placement determines how the sequin will lie, which will affect the finished look of your sweater. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Knitting_With_Sequins_Ramsey_NJ-r1257736-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Knitting_With_Sequins_Ramsey_NJ-r1257736-Ramsey_NJ.html Your knitted project can be a base for adding a wide variety of creative extras, such as fringe. Perfect on scarves, afghans, sweaters and more, fringe can be made in several styles and from different materials to add an element of fun to your knitting. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Fringe_Ramsey_NJ-r1257735-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Fringe_Ramsey_NJ-r1257735-Ramsey_NJ.html A stitch slipped purlwise remains untwisted, but slipped knitwise, it will twist. If instructions do not specify which way to slip the stitch, slip it purlwise except when decreasing; in this case, slip knit stitches knitwise and purl stitches purlwise. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Slipping_a_Stitch_Ramsey_NJ-r1257734-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Slipping_a_Stitch_Ramsey_NJ-r1257734-Ramsey_NJ.html Grafting, also called weaving or kitchener stitch, joins two open edges stitch by stitch using a yarn needle. When grafting garter stitch, it is important that the purl stitches of the front piece face the knit stitches of the back piece. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Grafting_Ramsey_NJ-r1257733-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Grafting_Ramsey_NJ-r1257733-Ramsey_NJ.html Most beads are made from glass, wood, plastic, clay and papier-mâché, but they can also be made from pearls, gems, buttons and some stones. Match your beads to the yarn by using luxurious beads on silks and other shiny yarns for evening wear and rougher beads on tweeds and wools for day wear. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Knitting_With_Beads_Ramsey_NJ-r1257732-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Knitting_With_Beads_Ramsey_NJ-r1257732-Ramsey_NJ.html Several types of zippers can be added to knit garments. Zippers should be sewn in by hand rather than by machine. The opening should be the same length as the zipper so that the seam doesn't stretch or pucker. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Zippers_Ramsey_NJ-r1257731-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Zippers_Ramsey_NJ-r1257731-Ramsey_NJ.html Like we said before, there are two different ways to make a knit stitch (English or Continental method), and the one you choose depends largely on which you're most comfortable with. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_The_Knit_Stitch_Ramsey_NJ-r1257730-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_The_Knit_Stitch_Ramsey_NJ-r1257730-Ramsey_NJ.html In fact, the only way to ensure any yarn substitution is accurate is to knit a swatch and compare its gauge with the gauge given for the original yarn, so whatever you do, do not skip this vital step! http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Substituting_Yarn_Ramsey_NJ-r1257729-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Pattern_Reading_Substituting_Yarn_Ramsey_NJ-r1257729-Ramsey_NJ.html A hem or facing is an edge that folds under to keep the knitting from curling or stretching. A hem can be used to form a casing for elastic, such as at the top of a skirt. It can be worked at the same time as the piece or picked up after it is complete. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Hems_Ramsey_NJ-r1257728-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Hems_Ramsey_NJ-r1257728-Ramsey_NJ.html At some point you'll be knitting along, feeling confident and picking up speed, when all of a sudden, you've run out of yarn. Don't panic—there's a very easy way to remedy that situation, and it's called "joining yarn." http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Joining_Yarn_Ramsey_NJ-r1257727-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Joining_Yarn_Ramsey_NJ-r1257727-Ramsey_NJ.html Button loops are worked on the right side of the crocheted fabric edge and are usually completed in one row. Typically, the row is worked in single crochet, but the loops are always made of chain stitches. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Button_Up_Ramsey_NJ-r1257726-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Button_Up_Ramsey_NJ-r1257726-Ramsey_NJ.html In essence, blocking is a method of shaping and molding your crocheted pieces to match the measurements and shapes on the schematics. Blocking will also remove wrinkles and creases that might occur if the pieces have been folded. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Blocking_Ramsey_NJ-r1257725-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Blocking_Ramsey_NJ-r1257725-Ramsey_NJ.html Decreasing is a method of reducing the number of stitches (usually one or two at a time) to narrow a piece of crochet. This technique is useful for all kinds of shaping such as tapering an edge to create an armhole. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Decreasing_Ramsey_NJ-r1257724-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Decreasing_Ramsey_NJ-r1257724-Ramsey_NJ.html Getting started is the hardest part, but once the basic stitch is mastered, the rest will be smooth crocheting. You'll be ready to move onto more complicated stitches before you know it. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Basic_Stitches_Ramsey_NJ-r1257723-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Basic_Stitches_Ramsey_NJ-r1257723-Ramsey_NJ.html A cable (also called a cross) is formed by using an extra needle, usually a cable needle or double-pointed needle, to hold stitches to be crossed either to the front (which crosses them to the left), or to the back (which crosses them to the right). http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Cables_Ramsey_NJ-r1257722-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Cables_Ramsey_NJ-r1257722-Ramsey_NJ.html Shaping with short rows eliminates the jagged edges that occur when you bind off a series of stitches such as at shoulders or on collars. After working short rows at a shoulder, bind off all the stitches at one time or join them to another piece directly from the needles. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Short_Row_Shaping_Ramsey_NJ-r1257721-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Short_Row_Shaping_Ramsey_NJ-r1257721-Ramsey_NJ.html A bobble is a three-dimensional stitch made by working multiple increases in one stitch, sometimes working a few rows, and then decreasing back to one stitch. It is abbreviated MB (make bobble). http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Bobbles_Ramsey_NJ-r1257720-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Bobbles_Ramsey_NJ-r1257720-Ramsey_NJ.html How increases are distributed around depends on three main factors: what stitch is being used, the weight of the yarn, and what shape is to be achieved. There are no hard and fast rules, but generally the taller the stitch the more stitches will be worked in the first round and all rounds thereafter, as opposed to a shorter stitch. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Circles_Ramsey_NJ-r1257719-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Crochet_Circles_Ramsey_NJ-r1257719-Ramsey_NJ.html The neatest way to pick up stitches is to do it from the right side of the work. It is also important to actually make knit stitches on a knitting needle with a separate strand of yarn rather than picking up a strand from the edge of the piece itself, which will stretch and distort the edge. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Picking_Up_Stitches_Ramsey_NJ-r1257718-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Picking_Up_Stitches_Ramsey_NJ-r1257718-Ramsey_NJ.html Unlike circular needles, double-pointed needles are used only for tubular pieces. Actually, the very first circular knitting was done on double-pointed needles. Since the invention of circular needles, double-pointed needles are used less often, usually to knit small items such as mittens, gloves, socks hats and sleeve cuffs. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Double_Pointed_Needles_DPNs_Ramsey_NJ-r1257717-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Double_Pointed_Needles_DPNs_Ramsey_NJ-r1257717-Ramsey_NJ.html Cords make great creative extras for your knitted pieces. You can weave or lace them into eyelets, lace stitches, loosely knit areas or dropped-stitch spaces. For a unique embellishment, shape a cord into any design you like and sew it onto the surface of your project. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Cords_Ramsey_NJ-r1257716-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Cords_Ramsey_NJ-r1257716-Ramsey_NJ.html If you want to add pockets to a garment, you will need to decide what type of pocket and edging, where to place the pocket, and whether it should contrast or match your sweater's yarn and pattern. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Pockets_Ramsey_NJ-r1257715-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Pockets_Ramsey_NJ-r1257715-Ramsey_NJ.html While most socks these days are knit from patterns that may feature any number of design elements and variations in techniques, certain aspects of their construction remain consistent. The following information describes the basic components of socks and offers some notes on how they are made. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Sock_Basics_Ramsey_NJ-r1257714-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Beyond_the_Basics_Sock_Basics_Ramsey_NJ-r1257714-Ramsey_NJ.html Purling is basically just a backwards version of knitting, and when you put the two together, you can come up with literally hundreds of stitch patterns. Read on to learn to make the purl stitch. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_The_Purl_Stitch_Ramsey_NJ-r1257713-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_The_Purl_Stitch_Ramsey_NJ-r1257713-Ramsey_NJ.html When knitting a stitch, the yarn is always held at the back of the work. When purling a stitch, the yarn is always at the front. In ribbing, when you change from a knit to a purl stitch, you must be sure the yarn is in the correct position to work the next stitch. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Basic_Stitch_Patterns_Ramsey_NJ-r1257712-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Basic_Stitch_Patterns_Ramsey_NJ-r1257712-Ramsey_NJ.html Picking up stitches means that, with a knitting needle or crochet hook and a new strand of yarn, you dip into and out of the edge of the knitted fabric at hand, creating new loops. These new loops will serve as the foundation for a collar, button band, sleeve or baby bootie instep. http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Picking_Up_Stitches_Ramsey_NJ-r1257711-Ramsey_NJ.html http://local.knitsimplemag.com/Learn_to_Knit_Picking_Up_Stitches_Ramsey_NJ-r1257711-Ramsey_NJ.html