I was recently writing about a project I was working on over on the AllFreeKnitting Facebook page, and I used a couple of shorthand terms. I quickly realized that some of our newer knitters might not know these knitting terms that I had used as they are more of a popular “knitter’s slang,” so I […]
You Knit It: Now Learn How to Wear A Shawl
Now that you have spent countless hours finishing that beautiful knit shawl pattern, you are going to want to wear it. Once you’ve made a cute shawl, you might wonder how you’ll keep it on all day. After all, nothing is worse than putting something on in the morning and not being able to keep […]
Stashbuster: Embellish a Chandelier with Tassels & Pom Poms
Sometimes we have a little bit of extra yarn left over from a project, but we can’t bring ourselves to throw it away. Enter the stashbuster projects! One of my favorite ways to use up yarn is to make pom poms and tassels. Pom poms and tassels are so easy to make and can really […]
You Knit It: Now Learn How to Wear A Shawl
Now that you have spent countless hours finishing that beautiful knit shawl pattern, you are going to want to wear it. Once you’ve made a cute shawl, you might wonder how you’ll keep it on all day. After all, nothing is worse than putting something on in the morning and not being able to keep […]
Choices in Stitch Repair: Tinking, Going Fishing, or Ripping
Special thanks to Mark Rougeux for this knitting tutorial. Fixing a stitch, whether it be twisted, dropped, knitted instead of purled, or just plain old sloppy tension, doesn’t always work out as nicely as you might hope, especially if you discover it several rows later. Sometimes when knitting becomes rather mechanical, my mind tends […]
Tutorial: Using Circular Needles and DPN for Decreases in the Round
Special thanks to Mark Rougeux for this knitting tutorial. An article I wrote in July, 2014 prompted a reader to ask about decreasing using circular needles. Nicole Vieu wrote, “I would love a tutorial on using double pointed needles or magic loop for making a hat! I can knit in the round but I […]
Using Bamboo Double-Pointed Needles for Cabling
Special thanks to Mark Rougeux Cabling needles come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They can make working with cables a joy or a curse, depending on how adept you are at handling them. The needles are remarkably simple in their design. They are designed to temporarily hold a few stitches […]
Hipster Hack: How to Make a Tassel
In the age of the modern hippie, bohemian chic is in! In typical hipster fashion, everything about this 1970’s reboot is a little mismatched. Geometric patterns, southwest styles, earthy hues, and antique charms all combine for whatever fits your fancy. However, one thing stands out in all of this upscale urbanity–yarn tassels! They’re on everything […]
Chainless Foundation: 10 No Beginning Chain Crochet Patterns
Take the stress out of starting your next crochet project with these 10 No Beginning Chain Crochet Patterns. These particular crochet afghan patterns are a bit different than your typical crochet blankets because the stitches in the first row are made inside of the chain spaces. A chainless foundation is useful for crochet projects that require […]
Knitting Tutorial: Joining Stitches In the Round
Recently, I decided to make a hat for a friend of mine. I always try to learn new little tricks when working with new patterns, but in this case, an old trick that I learned a long time ago is what I fall back on. I always had a difficult time joining stitches in the […]
