Knitting Daily : Tips

The Central Park Hoodie (and Voting for the Next KAL!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

The Central Park Hoodie Knit-a-Long is officially over, although there are many of us still knitting like the wind to get this puppy done so we can wear it already!

I've got a sleeve left and the finishing, which is at least a week's worth of work. I'm knitting steadily, though!

We had an amazing amount of participation in the KAL: almost 800 comments! People really loved the project and shared their tips and tricks so generously. It was, and continues to be, a wonderful KAL, and that's because of the people involved. Thank you all so much for making this a really fun couple of months of knitting the Hoodie; I'm looking forward to knitting with you again in the next KAL (see below for voting!).

Here's a parade of beautiful Central Park Hoodies for you to enjoy, and if you're still working, don't despair—you're in good company. The KAL forum will be available forever, so post away!


Catherine's CPH	Artful Soul's CPH	Peggy's CPH


TMS's CPH	Teresa's CPH	Aporanee's CPH


Mardi's CPH	Candace's CPH	Barbara's CPH

What Should We Knit Next?

Several of you expressed interest in working an easy fair isle project, so all of my choices for the next KAL incorporate that technique. Fair isle is such a fun and rewarding technique—it takes the "just one more row" syndrome to new heights! (Just take a look at the fabulous new book of fair isle and colorwork patterns The New Stranded Colorwork by Mary Scott Huff. She's done an amazing job developing beautiful patterns for this technique.)

The Cactus Blossom Pullover and the Tomato Sweater are great first sweater projects that incorporate a bit of fair isle work. The Fresco Mitts and the Freyja Hat are both beautiful, quick-finish projects—which might be good for this busy time of year. The Lady's Duet and the Snowflake Scarf are easy and very "gift-able," and both scarves would work for the man in your life, too.

I hope one of these strikes your fancy, too!


Cactus Blossom	Fresco Mitts	Freyja Hat


Lady's Duet	Earflap Hat	Snowflake Scarf

Click here to vote for your favorite; I'll announce the winner next Friday.

Cheers,

Kathleen

Perfect Knitted Gloves: Tips for Success

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

I’ve never knitted a pair of gloves, if you can believe that. Mittens, fingerless gloves, and wrist warmers are all in my repertoire, but no gloves! The thought of knitting all of those fingers has always steered me away from glove projects.

I usually get about four pairs of those tiny knit gloves that stretch to fit any size hand. Those last me all winter, interspersed with my down mittens for the really cold days. I’m over those gloves, though, they’re too thin for Spokane. And besides, I’m a knitter and therefore I should knit some gloves!

So here’s my plan:

1. Find a pattern.
2. Choose yarn.
3. Knit a gauge swatch.
4. Cast on.
5. Knit, knit, knit.
6. Finish one glove.
7. MAKE THE OTHER GLOVE!!

It's a nice plan, isn't it? Step 6 is the only step that makes me nervous…

Since I have Ann Budd’s The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, which has a whole section on making simple gloves, the pattern-finding is done. Step 1, check.

I’ve mentioned before that I have a ball of Socks that Rock sock yarn (not to mention all the sock yarn I got at the sock summit), and a couple of other choices, too. I like the idea of using sock yarn on small needles so that the gloves will be dense and warm. So here are the choices:

Leave me a comment below and tell me which yarn you like best!

I think my gauge will be about 7 or 8 stitches to the inch, and my hand circumference is about 7½ so I’ll be casting on 60 to 66 stitches.

How do I know this? That’s the brilliance of The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Ann gives you options. And by options, I mean OPTIONS! There are glove patterns for five gauges of yarn and seven sizes, and an amazing schematic.

A big bonus in the glove section is the page called "Quick Tips for General Success." Ann provides these tips for each type of pattern and they're easily worth the price of the book. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

If you’re using double pointed needles, use this tip to avoid the ladder: When you reach the end of a double-pointed needle, always work two or three stitches from the next needle onto the working needle. Doing so will move the boundary between needles and will help prevent a line of loose stitches between needles.
As you knit, poke the finished fingers into the hand to keep them out of your way.
To help eliminate holes at the base of fingers, pick up and knit one or two more stitches than required when you begin a finger, then decrease the extra stitch or stitches on the first round of knitting.

That tip for avoiding ladders will work for anything you knit on DPNs, not just gloves. Some of us occasionally have issues with ladders when we use the Magic Loop method (ahem. . .), so this is good for us, too!

I'll keep you posted on the gloves—I need to make quick work of them so I'm not forced to buy another pair of those little stretch gloves!

Cheers,

Kathleen

I Need a Hat: The Knitted Slouch

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I am NOT one of those people who looks great in hats, especially the beanie-type hat. I wear those hats in the winter when I have too, but I much prefer the beret style hat or the slouch hat.

It was in the 30s this weekend in Spokane—it's getting hard to remember those 95-degree days when all I wanted for Christmas was a fan. I need a hat now, and I can't wait for the holidays to get one as a gift.

So, I was trolling through the free patterns on Knitting Daily, and I decided to try the Barrymore Slouch Hat by Lisa Shroyer from our recent free eBook, 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns. This hat is really easy and quick-to-knit, and it's also stylish and warm. Some slouchy hats don't cover the ears, which isn't an option for this climate. The Barrymore Hat actually has built-in ear flaps tucked under the band for extra coziness.

This hat has a lot of design features, such as the garter rows every so often and the buttons on the side. I have quite a collection of buttons from my great gramma, my gramma, and my mom (not to mention my own OCD button-shopping tendencies). I keep them in a vintage Crisco jar, which just adds to the charm of the collection.

I usually find just the right button in that jar, and it gets replenished regularly from various sources (tell people you have a button collection, and you never know what you'll get).

Building Skills: No Slouching!

This project uses several basic skills and some more intermediate techniques that add just a bit of a challenge. You'll do your basic knitting in the round plus a slip stitch row and a purl row each time you switch colors. You'll also pick up stitches with a crochet hook

If you're new to knitting in the round, here's a quick tutorial from Knitting Daily TV that shows how to join in the round when using both circular needles and double-pointed needles. You'll learn a couple of tips in this video clip, too, including how to keep a round marker on the needles when you're using double-points.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I have two black coats and one silver down vest, so I think I'll knit this hat out of a dark gray and a silver gray merino wool. Should be beautiful. (Or maybe some red and silver?)

Get the Barrymore Slouch Hat pattern and five more easy knitting pattern when you download your free eBook!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Cabling Without a Needle, the Sequel

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I'm working on my Knit-a-Long, the Central Park Hoodie, and even though I'm behind my own schedule (!), I'm making fast progress now that I can devote more hours to this project.

The Central Park Hoodie is actually a really quick project, for several reasons: the gauge is a generous 4.25 stitches per inch, the pieces have minimal shaping, and the cable pattern makes me want to keep going ("just one more cable repeat. . ."). I've been working on a couple of other projects for Knitting Daily, though, and my CPH got neglected for a couple of weeks.

I do have the back and one-and-a-half fronts done now, and I'm going to do the two sleeves at once. I usually don't like to do that because I make a mess of the two strands of yarn—I fail at the walking and chewing gum test—but I want to get this sweater done so I can wear it!

I've been using Interweave's cabling without a needle directions (click here for the tutorial I posted on Knitting Daily), but I recently discovered another method, one where you knit the stitches on the needles as you twist them. Our original instructions have you twist the stitches on the needle first and then knit them. This second method is faster, I think, and I need all the speed I can get in order to keep up with my knit-a-long pals!

I made a video of the technique and here it is! I demonstrate a left-crossing cable first, and then a right-crossing cable.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

A Free Pattern for You!

Here's a cable pattern for you to try this method with: the Peasant Blouse by Teva Durham. Teva appeared on Knitting Daily TV on season 2 and talked about her theories for designing unique and fashionable knitwear.

There are a couple of different cables in this design, placed off-center to add even more interest and flair. I love peasant blouses in general, but they're usually designed for summer wear; this version of the blouse is appropriate for fall and wintertime, too. I love the cables, of course, but I also admire the neckline, with its eyelets and ribbon tie.

Teva is such an innovative designer; I think you'll really like this project.

And if you need more cabling inspiration, check out our Knitting Daily Workshop Classic to Creative Knit Cables with Kathy Zimmerman. Kathy provides basic instruction, tips, tricks, and excellent patterns in this special tutorial.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers,

Kathleen

The Freyja Sweater: A Custom Knit

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A Note From Kathleen: A few weeks ago, Knitscene editor and Interweave Knits Senior Editor Lisa Shroyer blogged about upsizing the Freyja pullover from the fall issue of Knits. Her post has so much great information that I wanted to put it out to the masses. So, Masses, here's Lisa with some tips on upsizing this lovely Bohus pullover. Enjoy!

Freyja Checks In

For the Fall issue of Interweave Knits, Courtney Kelley designed the Freyja Sweater, a feminine, contemporary take on the traditional Bohus pullover.

In the gallery of the Freyja Sweater, both Gallery Girls wear this sweater well, and as you'll see, it also looks great in larger sizes on larger women. The overall look is understated—knitterly, elegant, casual. This is one of those designs that many women can wear, regardless of size or shape.

At first glance, the Freyja Sweater has some points against it for the Rubenesque woman—it's a seamless yoke, which often creates a lot of visual roundness and crowds the throat with a high crew neckline. And the Freyja has a graphically patterned yoke, which usually draws the eye to the widest part of the upper body—the circumference around the upper arms, upper back, and bust. Patterned yokes often cut right across the bust, which is not attractive on large-busted women.

But Courtney made some excellent tweaks to the traditional here. Her Freyja yoke is not a true seamless; the shaping begins with raglan decreases—not unheard of in the Bohus tradition by any means, but that's a different discussion!

There is a diagonal line of decreases between the sleeves and body at four points. This continues, in just main-color stockinette, for a few inches before the colorwork begins. Raglan shaping creates a more tailored line than seamless yoke shaping, which decreases concentrically around the upper body. The raglan "seams" create definition at each side of the bust, which makes for a flattering fit.

The other decision Courtney made was to begin the colorwork well above the bust line. The patterning here is more neckline decoration than yoke decoration. The pattern draws the eye up, and by not falling over the bust or upper arm, does not highlight those round spots for us. Once the colorwork begins, the shaping occurs in pattern, concentrically like a seamless yoke. The neckline is low and wide, which allows some skin to show along the collarbone.

A Star Sweater Is Born

I made this pullover in my own size, 44" bust. With a plain lower body, it's easy to customize the shaping in this design. I created a long A-line silhouette, since the typical hourglass waist is not flattering on my pear shape. I cast on for the size 46" and then decreased gradually down to the numbers for the 44" at the bust, and the yoke and sleeves follow the directions for the 44". I chose my own colors in the lustrous Road to China Light from The Fibre Company:

MC: amethyst
CC1: grey pearl
CC2: autumn jasper
CC3: citrine
CC4: malachite

With ten sizes in this pattern, the Freyja Sweater can work for you, too.

Let's knit for us,

Lisa

Knitting Daily TV: A New Season (Plus a Free Pattern!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: We're so excited for our fourth season of Knitting Daily TV. Our TV crew taped the season this week and while it's fresh in our minds, we wanted to give you a peek behind the curtain at what went on during the three-day taping. So enjoy this quick look, and if you don't get Knitting Daily TV in your area, please take a minute to write, call, or email your PBS station and ask them to get with the program (pun intended!). And in the meantime, be sure and check out seasons one, two, and three!

Here are producers Annie Hartman Bakken and Jaime Guthals to talk a little more about what season four has to offer you.

Here in Beachwood, Ohio, we just wrapped the taping of the fourth series of the Public Television show, Knitting Daily TV—with some exciting new changes.

We're thrilled to announce that Interweave Knits editor Eunny Jang is now the single host of the show, joined by regular guest expert Shay Pendray and the show's newest talent, crochet guest expert Kristin Omdahl.

Plus you'll see interviews with some of your favorite industry designers and personalities, like Lily Chin, Clara Parkes, Mags Kandis, Linda Cortright, Cecily Glowick MacDonald, Melissa LaBarre, Linda Pratt, and many more!

Although we certainly have a fabulous time when we all gather in Ohio, much work was to be done.

We crammed the tapings into three long days with cameras continuously rolling and we even managed to revamp the current show's 15-second opening with a fresh, new look.

Check it out:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Series 400 will be the best season to date, with lovely guests and new patterns, more back to basic tutorials, and even a new series dedicated to learning to crochet—from the basic chain stitch to elaborate motifs, you'll definitely build your confidence with the crochet hook.

What to Expect

With Series 400 you'll learn how to "release your inner knitting geek," knit building-block style, see how reversible cables add innovation and versatility to your wardrobe, learn how to design knitwear on a knitting machine, and more.

We hope you'll tune in to Knitting Daily TV on your local PBS station—series 400 will begin airing at the end of January 2010. Look for more information in upcoming Knitting Daily blogs.

Cheers,

Annie Hartman Bakken and Jaime Guthals
Producers

P.S. Have an idea for next season? We're back in the studios again in March! Leave us a comment below and tell us what you'd like to learn in 2010.

_______________________________________________________________

We've got a special free pattern for you today, fresh from Knitting Daily TV Series 300, which just finished airing.

Kristen Rengren, author of Vintage Baby Knits: More than 40 Heirloom Patterns from the 1920s to the 1950s (STC Craft), was a guest on episode 302 of KDTV.

She shared her fascinating process of researching and collecting patterns for her book—she looked through hundreds of patterns! Kristen ended up with a wonderful collection of vintage patterns that are updated for today's knitters.

The Cleo Kitty slippers (today's FREE PATTERN!) were discovered in a New Zealand pattern book published in the 1950s. These darling slippers knit up so quickly; perfect for a last-minute shower gift!

Click here for more about Kristen's book and her appearance on KDTV, plus some finishing tips for the Cleo Kitties.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kathleen

The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Sandi's recent blog ("What's on My Needles") got me thinking about what's in my UFO (unfinished object) pile.

My "pile" is less like a pile and more like a parade of different sizes of Ziplock baggies overstuffed with yarn, patterns, and projects on the needles—all shoved on a shelf in my storage room. (No wonder I don't have any 7s available! I must organize my stash and UFO situation, but that's a different day and a different post!)

Among several items in my UFO collection, I found a lace cardigan. It's black, which I think is the main reason it's still in the UFO pile. I love the pattern and the idea of a black lace cardigan, but my old, tired eyes have a hard time seeing the stitches. Lacework just compounds that problem for me.

I've worked on just a few big lace projects, and the majority of those have been written out line by line. For some reason, most of the projects I've worked on that could be charted (cable and lace projects) have row-by-row instructions instead. And if a chart is offered as well, I opt for the written directions instead.

I can use colorwork charts with no problems, but pattern charts are harder for me because I'm not that great of a "memorizer." I have to really make an effort to memorize charts, pattern repeats, phone numbers, you get the picture. (Maybe that's why I can't play a single song from memory on the piano after years of piano lessons. . .) I find myself constantly going between the symbol key and the chart, losing my place visually. Simple colored squares are so much easier to follow!

I've taken to coloring in pattern charts and coloring the keys to match, somehow that color cue makes it easier for me to memorize. It might be the years of cross-stitch I did before taking up knitting. Whatever, though—it works! Here’s my colored-in chart from Cookie A’s Monkey Socks pattern—see the pretty colors?

I was looking through my back issues of Interweave Knits recently, and I came across this article on reading charts: "Making Sense of Symbols: A Guide to Reading Charts." Ann Budd wrote it, and as with all of her information, it was very helpful for me. In her article, Ann says, "Charts have several advantages over row-by-row knitting instructions written out in words: They let you see at a glance what's to be done and what the pattern will look like knitted; they help you recognize how the stitches relate to one another; and they take up less space than written instructions."

Armed with this information, I picked up my black cardigan, situated myself under a light, and used the chart instead of the written instructions. The symbols were easy to recognize since I already had a couple complete repeats done. As I worked the row, I could see the pattern emerging and I found I was anticipating the upcoming stitches. The visual aid of the chart was helping me memorize the pattern. Bonus!

So check out Ann's article, I think you'll get some good tips, too.

And here's a tip from me: Use a Post-It note to keep track of your rows—if you place it above the row you're currently working on you can see the rows already completed on the chart. These will correspond to your knitting, so you can see the pattern on both the chart and the knitted piece.

And take some time every once in a while to look through your old magazines—I usually find a few gems I didn't notice the first time!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Toe-Up Socks: The Middle Eastern Cast-On

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I haven't had much experience writing patterns, but I had a ball of Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball Crazy Sock Yarn that I was itching to knit into a pair of socks, and I couldn't settle on a pattern. So I decided to write one myself!

The yarn lent itself better to a plain or cable pattern than to a lace pattern, so I decided on cables. I looked through the amazing Harmony Guide, 101 Stitches to Knit, a card deck edited by Erika Knight, and I found an easy and attractive cable: the Simple Cable.

With the stitch pattern decided upon, I plotted out my stitch count and started swatching. My gauge worked, so I cast on.

I also wanted a toe-up experience, so I tried the Middle Eastern Cast-On for the first time, and I really like it. I've seen this method referred to as the Turkish Cast-On, too, but whatever the name, I found it quick and easy.

At left you can see my progress—I like it a lot. (When it's finished, maybe I'll debut the design on KnittingDaily.com!)

How to Work the Middle Eastern Cast-On

You can use this method with two circular needles or with the Magic Loop method. I don't recommend using it on double pointed needles (DPNs), but you can cast on with two circulars or the Magic Loop, work a couple of rounds, and then transfer your stitches to DPNs.

Step 1. Snugly wrap the working yarn around two needles, starting with the tail and ending with the working yarn hanging off the tips of the needles (Figure 1). Wrap the yarn half as many times as the total amount of stitches the pattern requires you to cast on. (Need sixteen stitches? Wrap the yarn eight times around the needles). Bring the yarn forward between needles, back to front .

Step 2. Knit across stitches on upper needle (Figure 2). (Or, if you're holding your needles parallel to each other, knit across the stitches on the front needle.)

Step 3. Rotate the work and knit across the same number of stitches on the other needle (Figure 3).

After you've knit one round all of your stitches will be secure. Knit one or two more rounds, and then begin your increases as directed in the pattern.

It's as simple as that.

If you'd like to get started with this cast-on technique right away, check out Ann Budd's toe-up pattern, On-Your-Toes-Socks. I'm sure you'll enjoy this easy, classic look.

Cheers,

Kathleen

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

So what kind of sock patterns are in this eBook? Let's see. There's a knitted lace sock pattern, a cabled sock pattern, a colorwork sock pattern, a men's sock pattern, and an easy beginner sock pattern. Something for everyone!!

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Knitting Tips and Tricks: An A-Ha Moment

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Today I ended up at the intersection of "need a tip for this" and "here's a tip for this," and boy was it a beautiful view! I was in the process of binding off the shoulders of the back of my Central Park Hoodie, and I was left with that irritating loose loop at the end of the bind off. I usually just bury that loose stitch when I seam the shoulders, but it always bugs me.

Anyway, I happened to be using my trusty copy of The Knitter's Companion by Vicki Square, as I was editing another post, and I saw a sidebar titled "Loose Loop Alert." It was a terrific tip for taking care of that loose last stitch! Kismet. I had to share it with all of you so we could have a group a-ha moment!

Loose Loop Alert

When all of the stitches on the needle are bound off, the last stitch can be quite loose. To tighten and neaten this stitch, work it with the stitch in the row below it: insert the right needle from the back into the stitch below the last stitch, lift this stitch and place it onto the left needle (Figure 1).

Then knit the stitch below and the last stitch together. Bind off the last stitch on the right needle, cut the yarn, and pull the cut end through the last stitch to secure it (Figure 2).

I love it when I find a new tip like this; something that helps me fix a problem that's been bugging me for years. Vicki Square always has such great tips and tricks—check out her column, "The Thinking Knitter," in every issue of Interweave Knits. Her Fall 2009 column has some wonderful information about choosing colors. And I can't recommend The Knitter's Companion highly enough. It's truly been my knitting companion for years. Check it out at your local yarn shop or here at the Interweave Store, you won't be sorry. Even experienced knitters can benefit from the information contained in this little gem.

Another Bind-Off Tip

I always bind off using a needle two sizes larger than I've used on the knitted piece. I've had so many oops experiences when binding off, and I finally figured out that it was because I was pulling too tight as I was knitting that bind-off row and my bind off edge was curving in on itself instead of laying flat like it should. The worst problem I had was with a scarf that I knit lengthwise. I bound off all 300 stitches too tightly and the scarf ended up curving on the bind-off side, making the whole thing look like a half-circle. That's a lot of bound-off stitches to frog, believe me!

The nature of the bind-off stitch is that it's non-elastic, so you need to really make an effort to knit that row loosely, or just use the bigger needle. You might need to use a needle just one size larger, but I usually need to use one that's two sizes larger.

Good luck with these tips—I hope they improve your binding-off experience!

Cheers,

Kathleen

The Magical Magic Loop

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I started knitting circular objects—socks, gloves, mittens, hats, and so on—on double-pointed needles (DPNs). While I enjoyed knitting the pattern, I didn't particularly like the finished object because I always ended up with ladders where I switched from one needle to the next. I guess I wasn't knitting those stitches tight enough, but as much as I tried to tighten them, the ladders remained. And who likes to think about tightening stitches all the time, anyway?

Because of this problem, I simply didn't do as many "tube projects" as I wanted to.

Enter the Magic Loop! I was at my LYS one Saturday afternoon and I saw a gal knitting a sock on the oddest looking contraption with loops sticking out of each end of the knitted sock. I asked her about it and she said she was using the Magic Loop method—which uses just one, long circular needle. I quickly found a class on this technique, thinking that I might enjoy it more than DPNs. I was right—the Magic Loop brought me back to sock knitting!

Now I use this method for almost all of my small, circular knitting projects. I also teach it when I teach sock classes. The students get two classes, really: sock knitting and the Magic Loop technique!

And Now, a Lesson for You

Most people really take to the Magic Loop method, so I thought I'd share a lesson with you, too. It just takes a few rounds to become familiar with the process and by the time you're halfway through the leg of a sock, you'll be a pro.

I recommend at least a 32-inch circular needle for socks and a 40-inch needle for hats, baby sweaters, and other larger-circumference projects. (The neat thing about using the Magic Loop for hats is that you don't need to change to DPNs to finish the crown.)

A Note About Circular Needles: Your knitting life will be so much easier if you relax the cable of your circular needle before you begin knitting. I do this by microwaving a large mug of water for a couple minutes, dipping the cable into the hot water for about 30 seconds, and then straightening it out and running it under cold water for a few seconds until it's cool. You can also steam the cable, or if you're using a metal needle, you can boil a little water in a skillet and put the whole thing in. It's amazing to watch it loosen up! Be sure and use hot pads or tongs, though, because that metal gets hot!

Here we go, step by step!

Step 1
On a circular needle at least 32 inches long, cast on the required number of stitches (I've cast on 40 stitches). Slide the stitches onto the cable part of the needle.

Step 2
Hold the needle so that your working yarn (and tail) is to your right. Bend the left part of the needle toward you slightly (but don't put a crimp in it!), making sure the bend is halfway through the total number of stitches—so, if you've cast on 40, bend the cable between the 20th and 21st stitches (photo 2a). Grasp the cable and pull it out of the stitches until your stitches are on the needle portions of the circlular needle; you'll have half your stitches on one needle and half on the other needle (photo 2b).

IMPORTANT TIP: Make sure that your working yarn is hanging off of the back needle. What's the back needle? If you hold your needles parallel to each other, the "front" needle is the one nearest you and the "back" needle is the one farthest from you. If your yarn is hanging off your front needle, slide your stitches back onto the cable and divide them again, this time making sure the working yarn ends up at the back. If you start with your working yarn and tail to your right and bend the left end of the cable needle towards you, your working yarn should end up on the correct needle.

Step 3
Make sure your stitches aren't twisted: all of the stitches should be "hanging" downward; the cast-on edge sits at the top of the needle. (Some people like to place a marker to mark the beginning of the round, but I just use the yarn tail as my marker.) Slide the stitches on the back needle to the cable part of the needle, thereby freeing up the back needle. This back needle is now your right-hand needle—you'll be knitting onto it just as if you were using straight needles (photo 3).

Step 4
Knit the stitches on your first needle (photo 4a). When you've knit to the end of the needle, you've knitted half a round (photo 4b, and in this photo the back needle is the needle showing on the bottom). Turn the needles so both tips are pointed to the right and slide the now-front needle into the stitches that are on the cable (photo 4c).

Step 5
Slide the now-back needle out of the stitches that you just knit so that those stitches end up on the cable. You're now ready to knit the second half of the round.

And that's it! You keep switching sides, pushing the stitches on the cable onto the front needle, and pulling the back needle out of the previously knit stitches. Remember that you need to knit both sides of the work to complete one round.

Some Pattern Ideas

I'm recommending three sock patterns here and one sock and mitt pattern. These are lovely patterns in general, but also good patterns for practicing your Magic Loop technique. Once you're two to four inches into one of these projects, you'll be Magic Looping without even thinking about it.

His and Hers Socks by Ann Budd. This is a good advanced-beginner project, with options for men's and women's socks. Ann Budd is a sock pro, so you'll be happy with any pattern by her, but because of the two versions this one is particularly valuable.

Knotty or Knice Socks by Chrissy Gardiner. This is an intermediate, toe-up sock pattern. I love the twisted stitch pattern on these socks—it's a Bavarian pattern but it almost looks Celtic to me. The Magic Loop works equally well with top-down socks and toe-up socks.

Rustic Ruffled Socks and Mitts by Ann Budd. This is also a toe-up pattern, with the added challenge of short-row heels (these heels are easy, really, and fun to work). You'll get a nice, simple sock pattern with a touch of romance in the ruffle, as well as a simple but useful mitt pattern. Who wouldn't like a set of these?

Comfy Socks by the Knitscene Design Team. This is an easy, free pattern knit from bulky-weight yarn (it's also one of 5 free patterns in our free downloadable eBook, 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns). These socks are perfect for fall lounge-around-the-house-days. And they knit up really quickly, too!

Have fun practicing your Magic Loop technique!

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Special thanks to Sarah Hauschka, who invented the Magic Loop method, and to Bev Galeskas and Fiber Trends, who published the first book on the subject.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Fair Isle Fever: The Ivy League Vest

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Sailing the Fair Isles

In my knitting, I tend to get inspired by something and just jump right in, whether or not I know how to do certain techniques. I figure that hands-on is the best way to learn, so I go for it. Fair Isle intimidated me more than usual, though, so I found a beginning class and signed up.

The pink and purple hat (left) is the result of that class. (It's a class pattern, so it's unpublished.) The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, and it's really cozy and warm, though I wish it were a tad longer to totally cover my ears.

I fell in love with the skull cap pattern (right) and knit it up for a Christmas present two years ago for my brother. (The pattern is We Call Them Pirates.) He loved it so much that he wore it out and I had to knit him a new one last Christmas.

This year I have a new hat in the works for my brother, one of the "faux isle" patterns where you use one solid color and one variegated color to achieve a multi-colored Fair Isle look.

I've mentioned before that I've only done a couple of Fair Isle projects (see the hat photos below), but now I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more Fair Isle!

Fair Isle Made Easy

I've just had the opportunity to watch the new Knitting Daily Workshop DVD, Introduction to Fair Isle: The Ivy League Vest with Eunny Jang.

For almost an hour I was mesmerized by Eunny's Fair Isle design, the Ivy League Vest (click on the link for a free pattern download!). Eunny talks of the various principles of Fair Isle knitting, such as picking the right yarns, various ways to hold that yarn, keeping your tension even (tricky in Fair Isle!), and how to change colors easily.

Plus, Eunny has some great finishing tips that I will certainly be putting into use. I really do feel like I could be successful and have a great time with a Fair Isle sweater project!

This pattern is designed so well, even the ribbing makes use of the colorwork throughout the piece.

Eunny provides a demo in steeking, which is the process of cutting the armholes and neckline after you knit your sweater completely in the round. She cuts with confidence, making it look easy. The edges really don't unravel!

Here's a clip from the steeking section of the DVD, where Eunny cuts an actual steek and shows us how to pick up stitches on the resulting edge.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

See how easy that cutting part is?

I've got a yoked Fair Isle cardigan on the needles, which I put it down to do the Central Park Hoodie, but I think I'm going to pick it up after the hoodie is complete. I'm knitting it out of Cascade 220; the body is brown and the yoke is pink, blue, and cream. It has steeks, so I'll definitely be reviewing Introduction to Fair Isle before I tackle that step!

Maybe the next project in Kathleen's Knit-a-Long should be a Fair Isle project! What do you think?

Cheers,

Kathleen

Cabling without a Needle (Plus a free pattern!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

LOSE THAT CABLE NEEDLE!

My current project in Kathleen's Knit-a-Long—the Central Park Hoodie—is a cable pattern, and I'm saving tons of time doing the cables without a needle. In the fall 2009 issue of Interweave Knits there's a Beyond the Basics lesson on this technique, and I thought I'd present it here, too. I don't recommend this method for use with slippery yarn or with big cable crossings (crossing more than four or five stitches over each other), but for most of your cabling needs, it's magic!

Step 1
On a cable crossing row, work to just before the full cable group. With the yarn in back, slip all the stitches from the group purlwise to the right-hand needle to loosen them.

Step 2
For a cable crossing left (standard instructions: hold the cable needle to the front of the work), bring the left-hand needle to the front of the work and insert it into the fronts of all stitches that need to be held (Figure 1).

For a cable crossing right (standard instructions: hold the cable needle to the back of the work), bring the left-hand needle to the back of the work and insert it into the backs of all stitches that need to be held (Figure 2).

Step 3
Between the left thumb and forefinger, pinch the base of the slipped stitches firmly. Pull the right-hand needle completely free of all the slipped stitches (Figure 3; half will be on the left-hand needle; half will be free for a moment) and maintaining front/back position as established, quickly reinsert it into the free stitches. Make sure all the stitches are seated correctly on the needle; if they’re held firmly, the stitches won’t have twisted or moved at all during the time that they were dropped.

Step 4
Slip stitches on the right-hand needle back to the left-hand needle. The stitches are now out of order and will be crossed when they’re worked (Figure 4). Work as directed.

AND FOR EVEN MORE CABLING TIPS. . .

Check out our new DVD workshop, Classic to Creative Knit Cables with Kathy Zimmerman (whose friends call her the Cable Queen). I wish I would have previewed Knit Cables last week. I was watching TV while knitting on the Central Park Hoodie, and I did two complete cable chart repeats with the cable crossings going the wrong way. In the last segment of the workshop, Kathy demonstrates fixing miss-crossed cables without ripping back rows! I ripped back about twenty rows, but next time (and I'm sure there will be a next time!) I'll be able to avoid the frog.

KATHARINE HEPBURN CARDIGAN

Today's free pattern is Kathy Zimmerman's Katharine Hepburn Cardigan (photo at left), which first appeared in Lace Style. Made up of tiny rope cables and lace, this pattern harkens back to the 1950s and one of the icons of that era, Katharine Hepburn. This sweater begs to be worn with a skirt and a scarf around the neck, but it's equally at home over a fitted tee-shirt and some nice jeans. It's a true classic. Plus, the pattern gives directions for a bolero version for even more variety. This pattern is available in our recent free eBook, Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily:7 FREE Knitting Patterns. So click on the link and get the free pattern, plus six more cardigans to keep you busy this fall!

Kathy Zimmerman says cabling can be hazadous to your stash, and I couldn't agree more.

Cable on!

—Kathleen

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

Every knitter has dreamed of the perfect cardigan pattern that he or she might knit some day. From a cozy cable knit to luminous lace, this free ebook will be your dream come true. This is a wonderful and varied collection of cardigans-which is one of the most important pieces in your wardrobe. You'll want to make every one of these knit cardigan patterns, so download your free eBook now and get started (and don’t forget to tell a friend so they can enjoy their own copy!).

Download Your Free eBook Today

Another Technique for Finishing: Crochet Edging

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:30:00 GMT

A Note from Kathleen: My main craft is knitting, but several years ago I took a crochet class because I expected that I might like that craft, too. And I do enjoy crocheting, especially for items like baby blankets--it's simply so much faster than knitting. What I didn't expect was that knowing how to crochet could bring so much to my knitting. I use crochet skills all the time; the crab stitch (sometimes called the "shrimp stitch" or "backwards single crochet") is a lovely finishing stitch for necklines and the front edges of cardigan sweaters. The edging options are endless, really--just check out the array of crocheted edging resources out there!

Here's Marcy Smith, editor of Interweave Crochet, to share a perfect crochet-ending to a knitting story.

Rescuing a UFO with Crochet

Maybe you're not like me. Maybe your gauge is always spot on and the vision you have for your garment works perfectly.

Maybe you don't have a box of false starts and “Good golly, what was I thinking?” portions of garments. Maybe you don't have things that are too big / too small / just plain unwearable.

Well, I've got them. And when I finally admit that the thing just isn't working, sometimes I rip it back to a ball right away. And sometimes I stuff it in the Denial Drawer. Deep inside. And the balance is again tipped between unfinished objects (UFOs) and finished objects (FOs).

A recent Feng Shui unearthed a vast expanse of knitted purple fabric that I recalled, after a moment, wanted to be a guernsey back in the day. It was HUGE. But the texture is intriguing and I can see why I didn't rip it back to its essence. It would make a good kid-size blanket, if it were jazzed up a bit. It was time to remedy the balance: this UFO could become an FO, with a little help.

Now, I like knitting as much as the next fiber gal, but I Do. Not. Like. To. Pick. Up. Stitches. Especially a gazillion stitches around the edge of a thing that I don't like all that much anymore. Given that option, I'd just as soon stuff it back in the Denial Drawer. But there's a better solution, one that is accessible to anyone who loves all things yarny: crochet.

That's right. Crochet. With crochet, you work with just one stitch at a time, creating the edge as you work around. And it doesn't really matter how many stitches you make, so long as they look pretty even when you're done. And when you're done, you're done. You don't have to bind off a gazillion stitches. Just one.

To finish my blanket, I used the Simple Shell Edging from The Harmony Guides: Crochet Edgings and Trims, hot off the press. This book will guide even the most novice crocheter through the process. The Simple Shell Edging is a two-row edging, with the first being a base row of single crochet.

Because the edges of my knitted swath are pretty even and stable, I was able to make it even simpler: I eliminated the base row. So I just commenced crocheting green shells around the purple swath until my UFO became an FO—just a different FO. (To see the specifics of where I decided to put my hook when making the edge, check out the blog on CrochetMe.)

And now all is harmonious: I have one less item in my stash of “good gollies” and Project Linus has one more item in its stash of blankets.

While many of you already subscribe to Interweave Knits, now is a great time to add Interweave Crochet to your tool box. Get a free trial issue of Interweave Crochet and discover more fabulous edging ideas, amazing sweater patterns, expert tips, and more. We're on the front lines of the crochet revolution and we'd love to have you join in!

Best,

Marcy
Editor, Interweave Crochet

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

Download Your Free eBook Today

The Knit-a-Long Post (Plus the Kitchener Stitch and a Free Pattern!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Monkey Socks: Wrap-Up

Our first knit-a-long was a great success! When I started this knit-a-long back on July 1, I wasn't sure how it would go. I'm thrilled that Monkey Socks by Cookie A. were knit by about 20 people and to date there are 241 thoughts shared on the forum.

I'm so happy that so many of you knit the sock with me and took the time to share your tips and tricks along the way. We really created a nice community, didn't we? I'm especially glad this knit-a-long filled a knitting group need many of you have--sometimes it's hard to find knitting groups for a variety of reasons, and I'm glad you all found us! We learned about Judy and her RVing lifestyle, and we admired Terry's beautiful Jitterbug blue colorway, and we shared tips about knitting different heels and some lace tricks, too. I had a fabulous time with you all, and since I've only knit one sock so far, the fun will continue.

Here are a few photos of finished socks:

Free Slipper Pattern and a How-to Video about the Kitchener Stitch

For those of you still working on your socks, I thought you'd like a video tutorial on the Kitchener Stitch (also known as grafting). This is one of those things that I have to look up every time I do it, so here's a reference for you, too! (If you're more of a picture person than a video person, get yourself a copy of The Knitter's Companion by Vicki Square. This little book has lots of technique help, including the Kitchener stitch.)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

This segment is from Knitting Daily TV episode #208. If you missed any of season 2, order the DVD here!

And Now . . . the New Knit-a-Long!

Yep, it's a landslide victory for the Central Park Hoodie (1838 votes, 49.2% of total votes). YAHOO!!

I hope I didn't unduly influence you, but if I did, THANKS FOR VOTING FOR THE HOODIE! My beautiful pink Tahki Donegal Tweed thanks you, too. The Every Way Wrap came in second, followed by the Falling Leaves Scarf, the Diagonal Rib Socks, and the Feminine Mittens.

The original Hoodie is in the fall 2006 issue with sizing up to 48" bust. For those who need the plus-size version, purchase the pattern with the complete size range exclusively at the Interweave Store. Here's a quick summary of the project:

Finished Size: Sizes 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)" bust.
Yarn: Tahki Donegal Tweed (100% wool; 183 yd (167 m)/110 g): #803 yellow-green OR #869 dark-taupe (brown): 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 18, 20) skeins.
Yarn weight: #4 - Medium
Gauge: 17 sts and 24 rows = 4" in St st on larger needles.
Needles: Sizes 6 (4 mm) and 8 (5 mm) needles, or size to achieve gauge, Size 6 (4 mm): 32-40" circular needle
Notions: Cable needle (cn), Stitch markers, Stitch holders, Yarn needle, Buttons (optional), Crochet hook (optional)
Originally Published: Knitscene, Fall 2006

Since this is a big sweater, the KAL will last until the end of October, so check in to the new Knit-a-Long forum and let's start swatching together (yes, swatching, not knitting the actual pieces until we all get gauge!).

Get Your Free Ribby Slipper Pattern!

To celebrate the end (for some of us) of the Monkey Sock KAL, here's a free sock pattern: Ribby Slipper Socks by Cathy Carron. These are on my list for Christmas for my nephew, and I might add a doggie face or something like that because nephew Henry loves animal slippers! (You'll also find five other patterns when you download the Ribby Slipper Socks because it's part of our free ebook Easy Knits: 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns from Knitting Daily.) Download your free eBook today and don't forget to forward this email on to friends who could also use some free easy knitting patterns!

Cheers!

Kathleen

By the way, I had the honor of meeting Cookie A. at the Sock Summit. See how thrilled I am to see her? She was gracious and so glad to hear about our KAL with the Monkey Sock. Hers was one of the longest lines in the book signing area, and I was happy to stand and knit my way to the end of it.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Knitted Edging: The Perfect Match (and voting for a new KAL!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:16:00 GMT

A Happy Edging

A friend of mine just finished a garter stitch baby blanket and when my knitting group saw the finished product we decided it needed a border of some sort.

My friend didn't want a plain garter border, so I pulled out the new Harmony Guide, Knit Edgings and Trims: 150 Stitches, and we looked through it and found the perfect border: Garter Stitch Points. (When the blanket is finished, I'll post a photo.)

Here's the pattern in case you have a garter stitch blanket that's lonley for its perfect border.

Worked from bottom edge upwards.
Ends with multiple of 13 sts.
Note: Each point is worked separately and then joined on one row.

Cast on 2 sts.
1st row: K2.
2nd row: Yo, k2. (3sts)
3rd row: Yo, k3. (4sts)
4th row: Yo, k4. (5sts)
5th row: Yo, k5. (6sts)
6th row: Yo, k6. (7sts)
7th row: Yo, k7. (8sts)
8th row: Yo, k8. (9sts)
9th row: Yo, k9. (10sts)
10th row: Yo, k10. (11 sts)
11th row: Yo, k11. (12 sts)
12th row: Yo, k12. (13 sts)

1st to 12th rows form one point. Cut yarn and leave finished point on needle. On the same needle, cast on 2 sts and work 2nd point.
Cont this way until there are as many points as required.
Do not cut yarn after completing the last point, but turn and knit across all points on needle.
Work 9 rows in garter stitch.
These 21 rows form the edging.
Bind off or cont as required.
Weave in loose ends.

I really like this border because it's simple but interesting, and since it's in garter stitch it'll go perfectly with the blanket. A lot of edgings are so ornate (and beautiful!) that they don't go with simple stitch patterns, but with this book you'll find an edging or trim that'll work for anything from simple garter stitch to fancy lace.

In fact, as my friend and I were looking through Knit Edgings and Trims, we found so many lovely borders it got me thinking about other projects to add borders to. I think mittens would be a great project to add a border to--just make a pair of plain stockinette mittens with a very short cuff, and add one of the fabulous borders to the cuffs instead of knitting the cuffs from the mitten pattern. How easy is that? Or add one of the borders to the waist of a cardigan instead of doing the ribbing or whatever waist treatment is called for in your pattern. There's lots of ways to use these borders--just looking through the book will inspire you.

All of the Harmony Guides are fantastic, and this one is no exception. You should also check out Crochet Edgings and Trims. Sometimes a crocheted border is just the ticket to finish a knitted project.

The first knit-a-long in the Kathleen's Knit-a-long forum has been a smashing success. Working through the Monkey Sock pattern together has been a blast: and we've all gotten great tips and inspiration, and we've made some new friends, too! Our next KAL will start on Monday, August 17. If you haven't finished your Monkey Socks, don't panic--the forum will stay alive as long as you need it to.

Here are some options for the next project in Kathleen's Knit-a-long. Please take the survey and tell me which project you want to knit.

Central Park Hoodie (please, please. . .)

Diagonal Rib Socks

Every Way Wrap

Feminine Mittens

Leaves on the Path Scarf

I'm off to the Sock Summit in Portland, Oregon--so tune in next week for some photos and stories from the Summit!

Have a great weekend,

Kathleen