Notice how knitting yarn seems to accumulate? Recently I decided to reorganize my knitting yarn stash.  It was in several baskets here and there.  And in bags and… Well you get the idea. It’s amazing how fast knitting yarn can grow.  A skein bought on sale for a future project is forgotten, and joined by several others.  There’s the yarn for Christmas gifts never started a couple of years ago added to the sock yarn that’s awaiting inspiration. I started organizing my stash a couple of weeks ago.  When the stash starts taking over more than one room, it’s definitely past time... (Read More ...)

  Play AudioPlay Video Today is Day three of the 3rd Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week from Eskimimi Makes.  And today’s challenge is to blog about someone who is your knitting or crochet hero. My knitting and crochet hero is the most amazing crafter I’ve ever met. She taught herself to crochet, spin, weave, knit, tat, dye yarn and more.  She even builds her own frames for weaving, and her own hand spindles for spinning. Most of her projects are made without a pattern.  Although she does test my knitting patterns. Never one to waste time, she will spin or crochet when walking... (Read More ...)

  Today is Day two of the 3rd Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week from Eskimimi Makes.  And today’s challenge is to be creative with photography.  So, I decided to challenge myself with finding a way to combine knitting and caregiving, and set a scene.  Knitting can help pass the time, and it can also result in making something for the knitter or the one needing care. Sometimes it’s a way to get the one needing care interested in something, to take her thoughts off her illness.  Or maybe she can even “supervise” if she’s knitted in the past.  She might be excited to receive... (Read More ...)

  Play AudioPlay Video Today is the first day of the 3rd Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week.  Today’s topic is Colour Lovers.  And this post has my answers to some questions about colors knitters often get asked.   How do you choose colors for your knitting projects? Mostly I love choosing a color that the recipient will want to wear.  Whether it’s for me or for a gift.  So when possible for a gift, I try to get yarn in colors she or he will love.  When I look at the colors in my stash, they are colors that comfort me. There’s some bright red and green for Christmas, bright... (Read More ...)

  My renewed interest in knitting socks started when my mother was ill.  Her feet were often cold.  She did not care for the local “store bought” socks.  And I kept  a watchful eye on her legs, as the sock legs often seemed too tight.  Even though her legs were quite thin. My sister suggested I knit mother a pair of socks.  And so I did.  I knit her knee-high socks, and carefully measured to have them fit comfortably.  Since then, I’ve gone on to knit other socks.  And found an interesting association with stress and knitting socks. When the leg of a sock takes less than 3... (Read More ...)

  March is National Craft Month.  And Joann Fabrics is celebrating all month long. As I wrote recently, I’m now a knitting and quilting instructor at my local Joann Fabrics and Crafts store.  It’s fun meeting and teaching other crafters.  And of course making the items for the classes is fun.  I wanted to make some of the projects, both to show some of the prospective students and have a better idea of what they need to learn in class to complete the project successfully.  And knitting along to show the next step is also fun, and helpful for the students. The scarf I just finished... (Read More ...)

  Play AudioPlay Video Yesterday I attended an Open House for instructors at my local Joann Fabrics and Crafts Store. I realized late the night before that it would be a good idea to wear a knitted heart, since Valentine’s Day is only a few days away. Don’t you think it’s a good idea for the knitting instructor to be showing Valentine crafts at the February Open House? I could not find the one I made a couple of years ago. No problem! I got out the pattern I created a couple of years ago and tweaked it. With only a few yards of yarn, I knit a heart in about 30 minutes. Rather than... (Read More ...)

Barbara wants to know how does she find the right pattern row after ripping out a lot?  She’s feeling frustrated with following a chart. Great question! And Barbara, congratulations on stretching yourself to try what sounds like a complex knitting chart! Been there, done that!  When starting to knit lace or any pattern with a knitting chart, it’s easy to get lost.  Especially when knitting with interruptions or to relieve stress. Some charts have over 20 rows of knitting in the pattern repeat.  Yikes! Is it any wonder knitters get frustrated? Many lace knitting instructions suggest... (Read More ...)

I have finished my first sock of 2012! And what I have decided is I’m working on my own version of a generic sock.  Right now it’s knit cuff down, because the arch shape seems to work best that way. The arch shape is based on Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen’s “Arch-Shaped Stockings” pattern, available from Schoolhouse Press. My current interest in socks started while caring for my mother. In her later years, it was often hard to keep her warm.  And her feet in particular would get cold.  The socks available in the stores were seldom what she wanted, so I decided to knit... (Read More ...)

  Play AudioPlay Video Recently Kara asked where she can find free Nordic knitting techniques? I’ve found Nordic knitting techniques in books and patterns.  Free knitting techniques can be a challenge.  Nordic knitting is usually for intermediate and advanced knitters.  And finding free knitting patterns for a smaller audience can be challenging.  When you know where to look, it’s easier though…   Here are several places you can look… Sometimes you can find the techniques explained in knitting patterns. Another free source may be a library book on Nordic knitting. The... (Read More ...)