After picking a knitting pattern, read through it once to find out the materials required. Learn knitting pattern basics with tips from a professional knitting instructor in this free video about understanding knitting patterns.
Duration : 0:1:56
Knitting patterns are created by alternating different types of stitches. Learn how to alternate stitches for a knitting pattern with tips from a professional knitting instructor in this free video about understanding knitting patterns.
Duration : 0:1:46
Knitter’s cramp can certainly put a pinch into how much knitting you can accomplish. And with the holidays fast approaching now is not the time to get slowed down. Most knitters’ have a huge list of projects to complete in time for holiday gift giving. If you treat your hands correctly, they may be able to help you get more done this year.
An article on OregonLive.com suggests just the right exercises and stretches to accomplish just that. Probably the most important one is proper stretching.
“Before, after, during. I found these exercises from Berroco, and they’ve helped during my marathon knitting sessions. I can’t vouch for the glove they’re selling, but you don’t need it to do the exercises.”
She also suggests changing which type of yarn you are using and the type of project. If you have been spending a large amount of time working on a sweater in worsted weight cotton, it may be a good idea to change to a fingering weight sock project knit with wool yarn.
“Take a break. Or lots of them. I have this bad habit of doing marathon knitting sessions. Bad idea. Really, really painful idea, too. I’ve found that stretching out my hands every 20 or 30 minutes means I won’t be forced to take weeks- or months-long breaks later on. (Let’s just say that when I’m forced to quit knitting for weeks or months, it creates health problems for the people around me. Who knew that knitting was a form of anger management? My loved ones know it now.)”
All of these ideas should help you get more knitting down and have the chance to knit more of the beautiful yarn in your stash. You know that you have at least a basket of it somewhere just waiting to get on the needles. Now pull out an easy knitting pattern and get started.
Easy Knitting Patterns
23 Oct 2008
When I first started knitting, I started out with a simple scarf. In fact I didn’t even use a pattern, just did a straight stockinette stitch, 30 stitches across. I moved on to a hat next, which I found to be a bit more complicated because it was knit in the round. Still the pattern that I used was very descriptive and I learned some new techniques while doing it. It was a definitely an easy knitting pattern.
Next I decided to move on to knitting a pair of socks. I had won a sock knitters basket in a charity auction with some really beautiful yarn and a pattern. I figured if I could knit socks, then I could knit anything. It seemed a scary prospect though because everything is so little. The needles were tiny and I was using double pointed ones. The yarn was tiny too, I was used to a worsted weight wool. Still I cast on and off I went.
The problem soon turned out to be the pattern and my inexperience. It was part of the basket and I thought that one pattern was just as good as another. And in truth the pattern is a great one. It I just not an easy knitting pattern. I did manage to knit a few inches of the cuff, but then I realized it was much too small. Another tip: always knit a gauge swatch. And frankly it didn’t look very good. So I put it down and left it for a long time.
I was still determined to knit a pair of socks though. I went in search for an easy knitting sock pattern and finally found one in The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. It has instructions for knitting with any size yarn and with any gauge. It was just what I needed. Soon I had my first pair of socks completed and I felt great. It was such a hurdle to overcome and I passed it.
Now I knit socks all the time. Once I got down the basic constructs of sock knitting, it was so much easier to take on more complicated patterns. I still find the easy knitting patterns in my library very useful though. I highly recommend them for your library too.
Knitting Keeps Man Young and Active
21 Oct 2008
Knitting and other handcrafts are not just hobbies that are limited to women. According to a recent article in the Express & Star, men are also big fans.
David Wareham was a member of the Royal Navy for a few years and he remembers sailors working on hand crafts during their downtime.
“In the Navy everyone did something when they got back to their bunks after a shift. We made rugs, knitted warm socks and jumpers, embroidered items and used knots to make decorative pieces.”
Now he is an accomplished spinner and has learned the fine art of Tatting. It is something that he enjoys doing, along with his wife Patricia. They both work on knitting, crocheting and weaving tapestries as well.
“David, of Hassop Road in Great Barr, is now a keen tatter, which involves making small knots in a piece of thread and using a shuttle to create doilies, bookmarks and necklaces.”
He has been a tatter now for 10 years. Many of his pieces take months to create. He does sell items in order to travel to shows. He also enjoys passing on his skills to others that are willing to learn. He loves his chosen hobbies.
“However, it is a relaxing hobby which keeps my hands warm and my brain active – and it also takes me back to my years on the ocean waves.”
