We’ve talked a lot about decorative cast ons. Worked with either a single color or with multiple strands in different shades. But are there other ways to spice up your cast on edge? There are a couple of things you can do to decorate your knitting further. All of these methods will not only work on your cast on edge… Read more »
Now you know a lot about needle types but what about their materials? Again there is a lot to choose from, and the material also affects your knitting and knitting experience. Nothing is right for everyone or even every project. Wood Wooden needles are light and flexible, and they feel warm in your hands (especially compared to metal needles). This… Read more »
There are tons of knitting needles out there. All kinds of sizes and shapes, materials, and lengths. As it is with many things, the “right” knitting needle is (in part) a matter of preference. How would a beginner know which needles to choose then? You can ask someone who can give you advise. The wonderful people at your nearest LYS… Read more »
Now you already know some decorative cast ons. But what if you are knitting mosaic stitch pattern? Or a beautiful fair isle sweater? Or any other kind of colorful project? One of those decorative edges may seem a bit too much and a plain cast on too dull. Instead, you can use a cast on that is quite simple in… Read more »
If you’ve been following this blog, you know quite a few different cast-ons already. Most of them are kind of simple and plain, supposed to blend in and not distract from the rest of the design. But what if you want the cast on itself to be decorative? There are plenty of those to choose from as well. Some worked… Read more »
It’s getting cold, and we all want something warm to bundle up in. Other people might go to the store and buy a cute new sweater. But for us knitters, the first impulse is always to knit one ourselves. You’ve never knit a sweater before and are a beginner? Doesn’t matter, you can knit a sweater! It’s not all that… Read more »
The stash, our treasure. Almost all crafters have one, not just fiber enthusiasts. But what is a stash? What can it do for us? And how could we get more out of it? As I am organizing mine, I started thinking about this and tried to figure out what others have said about this subject before. There is a lot on… Read more »
So you’ve picked out a pretty cowl or something else and have the yarn, knit a swatch and prepared the pattern. But now you have a new problem: It’s a sideways construction, you start at the center and you knit outwards toward the edges, or you’ll knit on a nice edging later. It requires a provisional cast on. Don’t worry, I’ve… Read more »
As a knitter, you will likely be using knitting patterns a lot. There are those that don’t, but most beginners stick to them. They are a great way of learning how to knit a particular item or garment. But what if you still don’t get a satisfactory finished project? What if the sweater doesn’t fit or has a weird shape?… Read more »
Some cast ons are pretty. Others are merely functional but not especially decorative. But what do you do if you want the cast on of (for example) a cuff to be invisible? There are two options. Option 1: A folded hem. That may work, but it is usually lacking a bit in elasticity and therefore better suited for the bottom of… Read more »