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What are easy fingerless mitten knitting instructions?

I’m typing while wearing one fingerless mitten. Why? Well, my fingers were cold and I decided to experiment. I was curious to know how fast I’d notice a difference between the two hands, I decided to try just one. Striped fingerless mitten In less than 10 seconds I noticed an improvement in the hand wearing the mitten. Wow! What a surprise! I always... [Read more of this post]

What’s with the Long-Tail Cast-on knitting instructions?

As a child, I learned to knit. My knitting was a mixture of: what my mother taught me, what I learned from a knitting pamphlet, and my own invention. Amazingly enough, it worked. Actually, it worked quite well. That is, until I attempted circular knitting and lace. They were much less forgiving than knitting, purling, and even cables. Over the past... [Read more of this post]

Beyond basic knitting instructions: Helped Haiti yet?

Have you recently had unusual challenges? Maybe it’s been the economy. Your family. Or the weather. So far this winter has been unusually cold here. It’s been 20 to 30 points below normal. Water frozen outside in the morning — and even the afternoon some days. This is the longest stretch of cold weather in this area in about a century.... [Read more of this post]

How do you adapt knitting instructions while knitting?

Do you closely follow knitting instructions? Okay, I confess: my tendency is to knit the “perfect” item. The first time. Up tight knitter? Who me? Sometimes I follow the instructions exactly. And sometimes I adapt them as I knit. Following the knitting instructions exactly is not as important to me as the finished project. Ideally, I can... [Read more of this post]

Knitting instructions: How do you customize them for Christmas easily and quickly?

One of my earliest Christmas memories is my sister and I receiving identical knit hats from my Aunt Gerry.  They were red, with a face on the back, lovingly hand embroidered for children. Even to the google eyes. Hey, we were toddlers and thought them very cool! Christmas is a great time to relive happy memories—and to create some new ones. Yes,... [Read more of this post]

Knitting Instructions: What’s an elastic loose bind off (cast off)?

When ready to bind off my first toe-up knee sock, I nearly didn’t. The knitting instructions for my socks said to “bind off loosely.”  With other projects, I’d been able to bind off loosely using one or two tried-and-true methods. A sock was different. No matter which method I tried, it just didn’t stretch enough to get it on around my heel,... [Read more of this post]

Veterans: Thank you

Honoring all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families who also served. Thank you.  Read More →

Projects Update

Sprucey Lucy Knee High Socks free pattern available from Wendy Knits. "Baby" enjoying his new sweater Follow-up to this post. Participating in Wordless Wednesday.  Well, it’s almost wordless!  Read More →

Knitting instructions: my first Norwegian mitten

This week I did something I’ve always wanted to try, but never did. You know, sometimes it’s nice to stretch yourself. While I’ve knit multiple colors of stripes, it’s only lately I’ve attempted more complicated color knitting. After I learned to knit holding one strand of yarn in my left and one in my right. I first learned... [Read more of this post]

You’ve completed the knitting instructions: now what to do with the leftover yarn?

Well, after 6 months — 4 of which they sat on a shelf waiting for me to be inspired to knit them again — I finally finished my knee socks! They are my first very own hand knit knee socks, custom-made using several sock knitting instructions which I combined. I do like the toe-up knitting instructions, because the sock can be tried on as you’re... [Read more of this post]

How easy is it to customize knitting instructions for a dog sweater?

Recently I bought a book on knitting dog sweaters, glanced at it, and set it aside. When you live in the South — and it’s the middle of summer — it’s hard to get excited about knitting sweaters, even for dogs! Then I learned a dear friend recently became suddenly critically ill. It was quite a shock to learn of her crisis, even after... [Read more of this post]

How many different knitting instructions to knit a sock?

Awhile ago, I started a pair of socks. Knee socks in progress Actually, they’re the first pair I’ve ever made for myself. And I wanted them to both fit, and to be knee socks. I like knee socks. When wearing pants,they often hike up when I sit down, and like to still have my leg covered. Recently I’m finding it harder to get knee socks... [Read more of this post]

Combining knitting instructions for a knitting project

A couple of days ago, my cotton worsted yarn was calling. Instead of the usual dishcloths, I decided to knit  washcloths. You know, the kind that are often referred to as spa washcloths. Many patterns for spa washcloths use garter stitch, which makes a good scrubbing surface. However, it’s not as fancy as I wanted. I like the two colors of a... [Read more of this post]

Beyond knitting instructions: you did WHAT with your knitting needle?

Awhile ago, the center weight of my grandfather’s clock slipped off the chain, and the chain slipped off its sprocket wheel. The “how” isn’t important. I’m grateful no one was hurt — and there’s no permanent damage to the clock. If you’ve ever wound a grandfather’s clock, you know there are three chains... [Read more of this post]

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