Knitting Daily Series 500 is Here!

Knitting Daily Series 500 is here! This is 5 hours and 48 minutes of Knitting Inspiration, pure and simple! Here’s a short run down, but you can see a preview, over at Interweave, by clicking on this link!

Episode 501: Ground Rules Eunny Jang demonstrates how to avoid common knitting mistakes to get your knitting started on the right foot, Vicki Square teaches the South American join technique, and the knit-along for the Fallen Leaves Scarf begins.

Episode 502: Finishing Touches Learn how to knit basic buttonholes, take a look at button choices on the market to decorate your knitting, learn how to felt a boutique-style flower tote, and continue the knit-along of the Fallen Leaves Scarf with simple slip stitch knitting.

Episode 503: Play with Color Eunny demonstrates the basics of entrelac colorwork knitting, designer Lorna Miser talks about her playful methods of choosing yarn colors, and the Fallen Leaves Scarf project wraps up with seed stitch and basket weave knitting.

Episode 504: Hat Basics Learn three ways to knit a cap, join designer Jared Flood as he demonstrates a basic way to decrease stitches in the knitting of his Turn A Square Hat pattern, and begin the second knit-along: the Little Lamb Sock Critter.

Episode 505: Make It Unique Eunny begins with a primer on joining yarns, spinner extraordinaire Amy King shows us her special techniques to spinning fuzzy yarns, Shay demonstrates simple embroidery techniques to spice up your knitwear, and the Little Lamb Sock Critter knit-along continues with the cabling section of the cute critter.

Next Pattern:

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

Next Pattern:

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