Welcome to The Knitting Yarn
I've been knitting off and on since age 8. When I couldn't knit, I found I missed it. I hope The Knitting Yarn will be a relaxing endeavor, as I share some of the tips and techniques I've learned along the way. Here you'll find patterns, my projects, and maybe even my yarn stash. I welcome you to join me in my knitting adventure …
Knitting pattern symphony
When a knitter gets into the rhythm of knitting, she can make music. Perhaps only she can hear it. Still, it's there. If you listen closely you may just hear the quiet joy in creating … the comfort in the simple repetition of a pattern … the stress relief while concentrating on a new stitch.
Blog
Fiber Lover’s Wordless Wednesday
Check out TheKnittingYarn Shop on Etsy. Welcome back to The Knitting Yarn! Thanks for coming back. If you haven't yet, be sure to stay updated with the latest posts and patterns by subscribing to my RSS feed and bookmarking each post. This way you'll never miss a pattern, even if you're too busy knitting... [Read more of this post]
Adapting lace knitting instructions: How easy is it?
I used to think I was allergic to wool. Every time I used it, my fingers would itch and it felt very scratchy. More recently, though I’ve found it’s not the wool: it’s the processing. Some processed fibers still are too scratchy, but the lesser processed fibers work just fine. Good thing... [Read more of this post]
How can vintage knitting patterns help you?
Yesterday’s mail brought me a treat: Vintage knitting issue I first learned about Piecework Magazine’s annual historical knitting issue while reading this Peacefully Knitting blog post about vintage knitting, which convinced me to subscribe. I called first to be sure they were still offering the historical... [Read more of this post]
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... [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,... [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... [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... [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... [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... [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... [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... [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... [Read more of this post]
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