Zen Knitting

If you are looking for the perfect gift for that special newborn baby, why not consider a knit baby blanket? Handcrafted gifts have been looked at as a cheap way out for a long time. But in reality, a handcrafted gift, such as a knit baby blanket, costs a lot more in material and time than the mass produced blankets that you find in the store.

Making a baby blanket yourself or having someone knit one for you is the best way to show your love. When you make your own blanket you can customize it any way you want to make it truly special.

If you don’t know how to knit, don’t despair. There are plenty of classes available that will teach you how to knit. You can also purchase books and videos that will give you the basics of knitting. It is probably a good idea to start out with something small at first like a kitchen towel, a placemat or a hat. Once you get the basics down, you can move on to something bigger.

The great thing about making a knit baby blanket is that it can be made in any color to fit the color scheme of the baby’s room. You can mix and match as many colors as you desire and you can incorporate different designs into your knit baby blanket.

If you choose to have someone else knit one for you, make sure that you ask to see examples of their work. Nothing is more disappointing than to pay for a custom handcrafted product, then receiving something that is not made well. Ask around for recommendations.

There is a large variety of yarn to choose from to make your knit baby blanket. There is all natural handspun yarn made from wool. Then there is the synthetic yarns that are machine made. The handspun yarn will probably be a little more expensive, but it will have a much softer feel and possibly be a little warmer. The synthetic yarn can be found in any craft shop for quite a reasonable price.

However you decide to make your knit baby blanket, you can be sure that it will be a unique gift that should be treasured for years to come. Nothing is better that wrapping your little one up in a knitted blanket and snuggling with him on a cold winter night.

If you are crafty at all, try your hand at knitting a baby blanket. You could find it addicting. Knitting has become very popular in recent years. Why not join the crowd and knit a baby blanket?

Knitting is an ancient craft, this craft has been passed on from our ancestors, but this knitting went out of fashion. This is the best way to create the desired pattern instead of buying it from the shop. To create this fabric, if you are new, means that you have to learn simple steps in order to knit.

If you are really interested in knitting, you need not worry because knitting becomes simple when using the correct knitting tools, which are called knitting looms. For this you don’t require many tools. You just have to start with a ball of yarn and a pair of knitting needles.

To begin with the stitching, your yarn spinners will give you information about stitches, and rows which that particular yarn you can anticipate to knit using specific set of needles. And if you are not getting such information from those yarn spinners, then you should ask a retailer.

Generally the numbers of stitches are found in the area of around 10 cm square or around 4 inches. This will be helpful in case of the small samples in this you can see how many stitches come into view, in 1 inch this will let skip the partial stitches and hence they will not be counted, resulting in a wrong pattern.

For this purpose you need to purchase a type of yarn that will be able to make about 20 to 22 stitches in an area of 10 cm or 4 inches for about 28 to 30 rows about 4 inches in stocking stitch. Beginner often prefer to work with 100% acrylic.

For knitting purpose another requirement is knitting needle. You must have a pair of knitting needles. To start with and for life long buy aluminum and nickel plated brass knitting needles. Other types of needles are also available in the form of bamboo, plastic, rosewood and any metal. The needles which you are purchasing must be smooth as well, not easily bendable.

Once you have all the required things, then you should learn how to make a slip knot. This knot is generally preferred for sweaters, socks and scarves. For this, first of all take a end of yarn and unwind around two to three yards. Next, hold it in between thumb and finger such that the ball end is going away from the thumb across inside of the finger. At this stage wind it around finger.

Now insert the needle point under this circle. Tip the needle over by lifting the crossing over strand back up through the loop. This is the loop now to carefully lift (the yarn) from your finger and draw it up. Making use of this loop, now start with the desired stitch. Make use of the knit stitch or purl stitches.

Traditionally knitting work is done with the help of the needles, but nowadays looms are widely used for knitting purpose. These looms are nothing but the machines which are used for weaving treads or yarn to make textiles.

Looms range from large automatic machines to small handy frames. There are some looms that are automatic and work with wire assembly. They are called wiring looms.

A loom will hold and wrap the threads beneath strain, which will allow interweaving of the weft threads which are horizontal threads in the weaving. Though there are different sizes of looms the basic functionality of these does not change.

Historically looms, also called Amish loom or knitting boards, are used for different weaving patterns. They are generally made of either from plastic or wood. These knitting looms are recently popularized in the area of crafting by Knifty knitter system, descendants of frame loom in grooved pegs spaced along a central frame.

While knitting you have to wrap all these pegs with yarn in different ways. After wrapping these pegs by the yarn you have to use a hook with the angle so as to pull this wrapped yarn from the top of the pegs. This will be woven into fabric which like knitted fabric.

While wrapping these pegs by yarn you will come across different combinations. Using these different combinations you will be able to make several intricate patterns. This process is simple but the variety, shape and size will give you different patterns.

With looms, it’s fairly easy to make a variety of different things such as scarves, sweaters and more. You will be able to create different gift items using these knitting looms as well. In fact you can even create larger fabrics (like for clothing pieces or coats) by using large knitting machines or looms.

If you want fabric on a regularly basis (like for business projects), then you may choose to make use of handy loom frames that are also easy to handle. Choose from manual knitting looms and automatic machines that are electrical, assembled with wire systems to work on their own.

Note that automatic knitting looms give you the same quality as manual ones as well as the same quality that you are getting from the knitting needles or that you get from handy knitting looms.

Many people prefer a knitting loom over knitting. It may seem difficult at first, but it is actually very easy to handle plus you get are maintenance free equipment and enhanced variety of patterns by combinations of the weaving abilities.

Knitting is not just for women! Nowadays it is a fun hobby for everyone. Just grab some basic info on the subject – via library books, online articles or ebooks and voila – -start knitting today.

In a nutshell, what you need to start knitting are knitting needles, yarn and a good set of instructions or a pattern.

Let’s begin with some basic patterns. Note, though, before you start with this pattern as a beginner, it would be helpful to know basic stitches; purl and knit stitches at least.

To purl stitch, you have to bring the yarn in front of the needle, insert your right hand needle in the first stitch on your left hand needle. Next wrap the yarn around the back of your right hand needle from right to left, and then just draw loop backwards, allowing the stitch to slip off your left needle to your right hand needle. The main thing to remember about this stitch is that you have to bring the yarn around to the front of your needle. Continue till all stitches are transferred from left needle to right needle.

To knit stitch, pass your right needle through the first stitch of left hand needle. Now wind yarn over cross of two needles over right hand needle. Just gently pull through the loop. After that just slip over first original stitch from left needle to right hand needle. Repeat the whole procedure till you transfer all stitches from left needle to right needle.

There is a specific way to read the patterns. First the skill level; it can be easy, medium, hard or beginner, intermediate or advance, each pattern has specific skill level, you can start with beginner and then go for complex advanced patterns.

For an easy or beginner level there are usually easy patterns, like different types of scarf or shawls or even some sweaters with easy knitting patterns. You can even make some easy handbags, mats to begin knitting. For medium or intermediate levels you can have patterns like stocking caps, sweaters and knitted scarves; usually patterns with altered stitches and patterns for advanced levels, you can have patterns which are complicated and which require lot of shaping.

If you are a beginner then start with a No pattern, this means just start by knitting with a combination of just two basic stitches, knit and purl. To begin you can knit a nice pashmina style stole, just with three hundred stitches, if garter stitch means only knit stitches no purl stitches. To start you can even make some simple combination of stitches.

If you are knitting with circular needles, you can start making tubular scarf for this cast around 300 stitches, and join them together in a circle. You can try stockinette stitch it produces nice curls at the end which gives the scarf a very different look.

When you are following ready made patterns,then pay attention to the instructions given, like check the gauge of wires or needle. Choose patterns as you like depending on your instructions.

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In these tough economic times, the new buzzword is definitely “save”. Banks and financial institutions want to save your money for you, towns and cities want you to save your garbage in recycling containers, the environmental movement wants you to save the rain forest along with the spotted owl, and store discounts promise to save you money at the checkout line.  

Knitters are well-known as experienced savers, actively stalking yarn and constantly scouting around for new colors and textures. Once the game is bagged, they furtively store it in the nooks and crannies of their homes, much like squirrels hide nuts for a coming winter.  Sometimes, it is forgotten as to where these stashes have been hidden. Coming across a misplaced cache of yarn can be a welcome surprise, only to open the bag or box, look at the contents, wistfully mutter “maybe not yet”, and put it back where it was found.

Serious knitters love to caress skeins of yarn, testing the softness of its hand, poring over sample cards while envisioning how this yarn and no other could knit up into that dreamy raglan-sleeved pullover with the funnel neck. The germinating ideas, though always creative, are likely too ambitious and are reined in by the constraints of available knitting time. Alas, if enough time passes between purchase and cast on, it is often forgotten why that particular yarn was purchased in the first place. Much like a financial portfolio, a yarn stash can always benefit from a scheduled review and be put to good knitting use before it suffers a devaluation in texture or color.    

It seems odd but even something seemingly quite basic as yarn can start to look dated.  Former trendy yarns such as chenille and fur textures, once popular, move over on the needles to make room for yarn types presently on the drawing boards of spinners and manufacturers. Even the most keen-eyed knitter is unaware of what is coming in future trends as new production techniques and methods are always in the wings. It is more than certain that innovative textures and yarn varieties will emerge and take their place on store shelves.    

Of course, color can definitely date a yarn and a particular color combination can look somewhat old-fashioned within a few years, no matter how carefully it was chosen. Yarn manufacturers take great pains in “composing” their sample cards. By placing one color near a compatible hue or within groups of colors displaying the same intensity or brightness, they hope to optimize the overall visual appeal of the yarn. At this moment, color councils, who dictate color trends to the fashion industry, are hard at work choosing what colors will be fashionable two to three years from now. There is more to the popularity of certain colors than simple whim and chance. Knitting stashes can become unwitting fashion victims to these trends.  

Knitted garment styles are constantly changing as well. If a particular yarn was purchased to enhance a garment style, the chosen design may have lost its appeal with the passage of time. Classic styles knit with basic yarns can help to alleviate this particular stash dilemma. It is always hard to believe that a current trend will ever go out of fashion but it is only with hindsight that we see the subtle changes and shifts in our tastes and choices. Certainly some elements may become classics but be warned not to save your yarn for too long in order to make a fashion statement. 

At the rate stashers buy yarn, one might think that they have an inside track or knowledge of a hot tip in regard to an impending yarn shortage. Stashes that are saved for too long and are not turned over may require a re-evaluation of their potential. Investment of the stash for the long term would have to be done with the hope that perhaps the fashion cycles will bring these yarns back into vogue. Don’t forget to protect an investment with moth and pest repellents, review the yarn portfolio often, and increase the turnover rate of the stash. If nothing else, promise yourself that you will save plenty of time for knitting this year.    

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Knitting is a natural when it comes to creating stripes. A stripe is defined as “a line or long narrow section differing in color or texture from parts adjoining”. The needles act as the guardians of the straight line, that crossover point where changes in color or texture can be made. It is up for grabs how to fill in those rows that make up a stripe. The ever-popular  horizontal line and color changes are just a start in choosing how to stripe a sweater.  

It is quite simple to incorporate stripes of color into an uncomplicated knitting pattern. The more difficult choice is what colors to choose. Once yarns that are compatible in gauge and fiber content are assembled, the next step is to see how the chosen colors will relate to one another when placed in a striped pattern. General rules will apply such as dark lines on pure color will have the tendency to deepen the entire look of the garment. Light areas will appear larger than dark areas. Warm colors will pop out to the eye much more than cool colors.   

Woven rugs and fabrics can offer up varied inspiration particularly if they embody a balance of color and stripe thickness to result in an eye-pleasing combination. An hour or two spent flipping through upholstery fabric swatches or wallpaper sample books may result in obtaining a dynamite sequence of striped color.   

Stripes can vary by size from the bold stripes of a rugby shirt, which may have three or four large bands of color, to pinstripes and all sizes between. The stripes need not be uniform in size throughout the garment. Increasing or decreasing the size of the stripe by one or two rows and repeating the same sequence of those smaller and larger stripes will definitely add interest.    

Stripes can also be distinguished by texture. Rows of garter stitch or seed stitch alternating with plain knitting create an understated stripe when only one color of yarn is used. A few rows of bobbles or of simple lace can create a stripe of interesting effect. Paying careful attention so that the gauge is the same for each chosen stitch pattern will avoid creating an unevenness in the finished measurement. Simple stitches to knit for subtle changes can be found in knitting dictionaries and stitch guides.  

The placement of the stripes can also add further appeal. Use vertical or horizontal striping in the ribbing of bands and cuffs. Try a striped collar or pocket to stand alone on a plain-colored background. Begin to work stripes at the start of the garment piece and narrow the stripes to fade into a one-color finish. Stripe one sleeve and leave the other plain. Stripes do not have to remain horizontal. A little trickier to knit, vertical or diagonal stripes add their own flourish. Yarn bobbins will be needed and careful twisting of the yarns at color changeover points will keep your stripes in line.  

  So to earn your knitting stripes, incorporate several rows or more in your next project. Choose a simple pattern that will easily accept a change of stitch pattern and welcome a color change every few rows. It will all make for a very unique sweater, not to mention the release from guilt knowing that those leftover balls of yarn are being put to such good use.   

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I decided to learn to crochet in college. Crazy way for a college student to spend free time? Definitely. I assure you that I was not as big a loser as it might make me sound though. One night, for some strange reason, I found myself on a creative kick. My mom had taught me to cross-stitch as a child but that wouldn’t do anymore. I was ready for something new and exciting.

I ended up at Wal-mart late at night (best time to go for a college student!) browsing through the craft aisles and inevitably drawn to all the cool yarns. Ok, so what to do with them? Knitting or crocheting? At the time, knitting seemed over my head and maybe even a bit “granny-ish”. Crocheting was so much… cooler. Yeah, that’s it.

So for whatever reason, I picked crocheting. I envisioned super trendy afghans and throws adorning my dorm room and great gifts to impress my fiancé’s parents. It was something that I could learn to do that could be useful in the future. I could decorate an apartment or house, clothe the children I’d one day have, and even give great cheap gifts to all my friends.

Good in theory, but I never finished my first project — an afghan. What can I say? I was an easily distracted college student. And my reason for not having finished it since college? Let’s just say I’m an equally distracted adult. But despite my early failure, I did learn to crochet and, later, I even learned to knit.

Overall, there are two big things that I’ve taken away from my experiences in learning to crochet and knit:

First – you CAN be “self-taught” with the help of a good how-to book. There are quite a few out there. Just take a trip to any store that carries craft materials and patterns. Browse through the books to find one that is most user-friendly for you. One note — don’t be alarmed if some of the books with great instructions have patterns and pictures that take you back to the 70s or 80s. (My first how-to book had some real winners — cheesy vests and sweaters with terrible color schemes — but then again, 80s fashions are back aren’t they?)

Also keep an eye out for how-to kits. I started with a kit that included several crochet hooks and tools plus additional patterns — which were much needed! Except for yarn, these kits should provide you with the basics but don’t walk away from the store yet. It’s a good idea to go ahead and buy some additional crochet hooks or knitting needles since not all sizes are included in your kit. Other tools that could come in handy are: counters, markers, stitch holders, point protectors (knitting only).

Second — it’s good to have someone who can help you. This person does not have to be a full-fledged teacher, just a “consultant” — someone you can turn to when you have questions — because, let’s face it, even the best how to knit or how to crochet book can confuse you at one time or another. In my early attempts to learn to crochet I got stuck on a particular type of stitch. No matter how many times I read the explanation I just could not make it work. It just didn’t look right.

Lucky for me, I happened to be home from college on my winter break. I also happened to have what I was working on with me at a friend’s house (not sure why — again, I promise you I wasn’t a loser!). Her mother had been crocheting for years and I took the opportunity to ask for her help. She was able to show me exactly what I needed to do. That set me straight and I’ve been crocheting just fine on my own ever since.

My knitting “consultant” was (and is) my mother. After I got my first knitting how-to book, I knew I’d have some questions. I found out that some friends wanted to learn to knit too. So we set up a “knitting night” and all learned from my mom. A good social hour and quite educational! If you’re able to find some people to do this with, I highly recommend it.

Knitting and crocheting are great pastimes. I’m no expert, but I have learned how to do both. There are some great resources out there for anyone else to do the same. Find yourself a good how-to book, and that “consultant” you can turn to when you get stuck, and you’ll be well on your way. I never did finish that college afghan but since then I have crocheted several dish clothes, a baby blanket, a girl’s sweater, and now I’m knitting another girl’s sweater. If I could pull off these projects, anyone can! So go get started! Learn to crochet, learn to knit today!

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.

Knitting is a traditional art and craft most generally associate with using wool and yarn. These two materials are used for different patterns of tops, scarves, socks, etc that can be crafted via knitting.

Knitting is very traditional, generally used by grandmothers to do all kind of things, but today many women are getting interested in this activity. Though knitting seems to some to be boring, once you get into it, you definitely gain an interest in it.

There are different patterns and designs for knitting. Being by using two needles plus learn some basic instructions.

Usually there are two types of stitches to use throughout your patter or other instructions; the knit stitch and the purl stitch. On the whole, knitting is nothing but the combination of these two stitches.

The details of these instructions about how to knit stitch are as follows:

Knit stitch:

First of all you have to hold the knitting needle with the cast on stitches in your left hand. Now push the tip of the right needle, in middle of the front of first and second stitch now the needle must be pointing to the right which will fed the point in the course of first stitch by keeping it under the left needle. While doing this, the yarn which is in use must be at the back of the work.

Now take the yarn which is in use. You have to loop this around the right knitting needle such that it should come from back to the front by resting the knitting yarn in between the needles. At this point pick up the yarn on the end on the right needle and pull it through first stitch to the front side of the work. The next step is to slip off the old stitch from left needle so that the new stitch would be on right needle.

While working or knitting generally keep the knitting yarn swathe over right forefinger, this arrangement will help you in keeping the yarn on back side. Until you get all the stitches on the right needle, keep knitting and when all the stitches will come on the right needle turn this right needle around, and hold it in left hand. At this situation will be the first row now again follows the same steps for second row.

Knitting instructions for purl stitch:

The first knitting needle must be with the cast on stitches in your left hand. Here the yarn must be hanging in front. Now push the tip of right needle in to front of first stitch in right to left direction. Now enclose the knitting yarn, around right needle point by crossing two needles so that it will hang in front again. At this position slide right needle downward and back by taking new loop the yarn from front to back through old stitch.

By following these steps you will get a purl stitch on right needle and yarn is hanging again in front side. Again follow the steps for all stitches and once you get all the stitches transform them on left needle and again repeat the steps.

Enjoy your new craft. Here’s to your success!

For a light weight, trouble free knitting experience you need to use bamboo knitting needles. These needles are made after extensive research was done, to make your knitting experience as smooth as possible. They are manufactured using a high technological processes. The companies that manufacturer these needles maintain, high quality, smooth finish and a perfect needle points. The high quality and standard of these needles will make your knitting, an experience you will not forget.

By using bamboo knitting needles, you will minimize any possibility of splitting yarns, these needles also maintain a smooth flow of yarn over them, because of the smooth surface they have. This all helps to make your knitting trouble free. As these needles are of such a light weight your hands will not tire even after long hours of knitting.

The smooth wooden finish of the needles makes them glide over each other in perfect unison, hence minimizing the noise created by other needles such as aluminum ones. The amazing thing about these bamboo needles is that they become even smoother, the more you use them. Thus, knitting with these smooth bamboo needles all helps to make a comfortable experience, unlike the plastic and aluminum needles that are often used.

The bamboo knitting needles are made only out of the finest quality natural bamboo, that is grown in parts of Japan. The manufactures make a great effort to prepare bamboo needles of the highest standard. The strict quality control that is applied, assures that the bamboo needles prepared last longer and produce some of the most exquisite knitting patterns you can see.

The bamboos used to produce bamboo knitting needles are harvested during the cold winter months. The bamboo that is from these cold climates is far more resilient, and hard. During the winter the water contained in the bamboo is at a minimum. Thus, this avoids any staining, or mold.

During the winter months the woody fibers of the bamboo become tighter, hence these bamboo shoots are used to produce needles that are of strong density. The use of a fully matured bamboo shoot means, that the needles produced are strong and long lasting.

These bamboo needles are available in a variety of different shapes and sizes. The tapered point of the needle, ensures that every loop is even, which leads to a beautiful stitch. Thus, these needles are perfect for the beginner and the people who like the feel of a smooth warm bamboo passing between their fingers.

These needles are recommended to be used by beginners as they are not as slick as the plastic or metal ones. Thus, the possibility of the loops sliding from your needles becomes much less likely to happen. Professional knitters prefer bamboo knitting needles as they are able to knit quickly without any mistakes.

The flexibility, strength and comfort provided by these needles are second to none. Knitters can get a good quality bamboo needle at an affordable price. Unlike the bamboo needles the wooden needles are much more expensive, and if they are homemade then it will cost you a lot to own a set of them.

Bamboo knitting needles are available in a wide range of varieties, such as double points, single point and circular types. The size of every needle is so accurate that you can use various same sized needles and still get a high quality uniform stitch. You can also purchase bamboo needles with paperweight tops.

The needles come with a bulb of glass containing beautiful flowers, or other patterns. These needles are often collected for their beauty and elegant look. The beautiful glass design adds an exquisite touch to your knitting experience.

Even though bamboo knitting needles are long lasting, if you are using them for long periods of time it would be beneficial to you, to sand their tips, doing so will keep them smooth. This also stops the needles from splitting yarns, and of course them breaking. Apart from this the bamboo needles virtually maintenance free.