Knitting

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Check out Knitting on Dr. Oz

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dr oz knittingI heard a rumor (via the Vogue Knitting Facebook page) thatThe Dr. Oz Show is going to feature knitting this Wednesday.

The show, apparently, will have segments on the health benefits of knitting as well as a look at men who knit. Here’s hoping he keeps it civil and doesn’t try to make fun. Male knitters are awesome! (I’m not seeing the segment on the episode guide, but I’ll tune in just in case and get you a full report.)

Of course we all know a bit about the health benefits of knitting from our own experience. Knitting is great for stress relief, good for the brain, can help calm you down, and I’ll bet it lowers your blood pressure, too. Well, maybe not always…

Check your local listings or viist the Dr. Oz websiteto see when the show is on where you live.Enhanced by Zemanta

Comments

  1. The show was taped a few weeks back and based on information from the Assistant Producer who contacted a few guys who knit, the segment is supposed to air this Wednesday, 03-Oct-2012.

    Hopefully I’ll get to see a replay since I have to work during the show.

  3. just wanted to let you know that one of my first emails i check each day is craft gossip. Your emails are really awesome and you do it day after day after day…. you must also be really awesome too. anyway, thanx again muchly. i love craft gossip

Have you read?

Easy Projects to Knit with a Square (or Two)

I often get asked, or see the question online, as to what is a good project to start with when you are learning to knit. 

I usually start adult knitters on a garter stitch scarf worked with bulky yarn (like the gold one shown in this post) because it gives you a lot of practice but is still relatively quick to knit. 

For kids, or anyone with a shorter attention span, a smaller project is in order. I also like to start kids on worsted weight yarn because smaller needles (compared to working bulky yarn) are easier for little hands. 

One great option is just to knit a little square. Cast on 12 or 15 or whatever number of stitches you like (I use knit cast on when teaching people of any age) and keep knitting until your piece is roughly square. You can test this by folding one corner up to the needle; if it makes a perfect triangle you’ve got a sqaure. 

But what can you do with a square? I wrote a roundup of kids toys you can make with a square a couple of years ago, and these are all good choices. The bunny shown there is such a classic I also found that idea in a post I came across recently on How Wee Learn about knitting projects made with squares. 

That post is a roundup, too, so go check it out for more ideas, but I did want to point out one of my favorites, this sweet little wall pocket. The pattern is from Wunderweib and is in German, but it’s easy enough to figure out what’s going on (it calls for a ball of Rowan Big Wool, which is a super bulky yarn, and if I can read correctly you cast on 25. This is probably technically a rectangle, as it is folded and seamed along the sides to make a pocket. You could also knit two squares, or a square and a slightly longer rectangle, to make this sweet pouch. 

Either way it’s cute and easy and a great project for a beginner. If you have a favorite project for beginner knitters, I’d love to hear about it!