Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Webrings and Knitting

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What are web rings or netrings you ask? A web ring is a social network. The ring is a way of linking web sites that have a similar theme, like [tag]knitting[/tag], [tag]crafts[/tag], [tag]textiles[/tag], – any topic that you can imagine probably has a webring. Links on each page permit you to go from site to site, to travel the entire webring, eventually returning to the page from which you started. Links also permit you to access the list of member sites and to join the [tag]webring[/tag].

Each member of the [tag]netring[/tag] displays a netring link on their page which allows visitors to link directly to other pages with the same topic. This guarantees that the next site they visit will be of interest to them and will have valuable content. It also eliminates the more annoying aspects of many search engines, that is, slow response times and the many unrelated sites that they come up with.

Netrings also generate more traffic for the page owners and cut down on the time they might spend updating their links pages as new members can join the ring at any time and their site is automatically reachable from any page that is already in the ring.

There are several ring sites that host thousands of websites with just as many topics. Two in particular are [tag]WebRing[/tag] and [tag]Ring Surf[/tag].

At the search box at either site you can search for knitting rings, free pattern rings, yarn rings, swap rings – anything you might need to find. Once you have found the ring topic of your choice, just click on the “next” button to look at all the sites in the ring. Or you may click on “list” and it will take you to the ring site home and list all sites in that ring.

Ring surfing is a good way to find many websites that pertain to your interest, however, they also take up a lot of your knitting time, LOL!

 

Have you read?

Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.