Knitting Daily – Knitting

Interweave Knits Magazine announces a new website and newsletter called Knitting Daily.

To join you need to go to the [tag]Interweave Knits Magazine[/tag] site and click on the link on the right. It will take you to a page to enter your email addy. You will receive a welcome email like this one explaining all the details –

We have a lot of exciting things planned for Knitting Daily. I thought you might like to hear about some of what’s coming up in Spring 2007:

* [tag]Free Pattern Library[/tag]: We’re working on a searchable free pattern archive for you, where Knitting Daily subscribers can browse a large collection of the best knitting (and crochet!) patterns anywhere. (Did I mention they’re all free to Knitting Daily subscribers? Yep.)

* Knitting Daily Blog: We really do “knit daily” here at Interweave Press, and it’s my job to make sure you are all invited to share the fun! I’ll be starting the conversation with a daily blog full of photos, interviews, guest bloggers, links, and information about all things knitting…and then it’s your turn! Leave comments, send emails, post photos of your own work, and share ideas and tips with knitters around the world.

* Techniques & Tips: A searchable online glossary of techniques is just the beginning. The [tag]Knitting Daily[/tag] blog will have how-to informationâ€”and insider tipsâ€”from some of the best in the businessâ€”including you! If you have a trick or a technique to share, you can post it on the Knitting Daily website where thousands of knitters will see it.

And of course, we’ll be adding new free patterns to the pattern library continually, with updates sent right to your inbox.

Free patterns that are not available in the magazine, but through the newsletter! What more could you ask for?

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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