Master Grafting with this Great Blog Series

Joni Coniglio has a great series of posts over on Knitting Daily all about grafting that you’re going to want to read if you’ve ever been mystified by this knitting technique or wondered if there are different ways to do it and use it in your projects.

I don’t really know why this ended up on my radar, because some of the posts are as old as 2011, but this information is all really valuable and will make you a better knitter (or at least a better finisher, which is a big part of knitting).

That link up there is to a page with links to all the posts, but in particular you’ll want to check out the grafting myths, which are, in summary:

Myth #1: Only knit stitches can be grafted. (Or this variation: It’s much easier to graft knit stitches than purl stitches.)
Myth #2: Grafted ribbing will always have a half-stitch jog.
Myth #3: A grafted row is the equivalent of one pattern row.
Myth #4: There is a universal formula that can be applied to grafting any pattern.
Myth #5: The grafting yarn must come from the back needle.

These posts are super detailed and may make your head spin a little (for example: grafting in pattern), but even if you don’t read it all at once it’s good to know this information is out there. As someone who pretty much only grafts the toes of socks, it’s good to know there’s more I can do with it, and where to go when I need to know how to do just that.

How do you feel about grafting? Most knitters seem to have a love-hate relationship with it; I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[Photo via Knitting Daily.]

Next Pattern:

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

Next Pattern:

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