How To Knit

Ready For My Adventure in Teaching My First Knitting Class at JoAnn Fabrics?

February 3, 2012 By Ina Gilmore 4 Comments

At the beginning of January, I went to JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts Store, where there was a sale.

The store in Florence, SC is less than a year old.

As I was checking out, the clerk asked if I wanted to take any classes. Well, one thing led to another and they needed a knitting and quilting teacher. Two of my favorite crafts!

This past weekend I taught my first knitting class. More importantly there are now three new knitters!

Jackie, Marcy and Pamela did GREAT! The time flew. They made my job of instructor easy – and fun!

We had a nice discussion about how much easier it is to learn to knit from a live instructor. Rather than a book. Videos are nice, yet when you’re stuck it’s nice to have the hands on of an experienced knitter.

They learned to cast on, knit, purl, bind off and even started to read their knitting stitches! They are pretty amazing, and I’m looking forward to seeing their projects.

All of them consider themselves crocheters, so they were comfortable holding the yarn. Sometimes juggling the yarn and needles is the most difficult place to start. As crocheters, they are used to a single hook and yarn although I think all will do well as knitters too.

Are you looking for a knitting instructor or for knitting help?

I’m starting a Gold Membership on The Knitting Yarn with webinars to answer your questions. To get all the announcements about the new membership, you’ll want to become a Bronze member if you’re not already. Just click here now for your free Bronze membership!

To your healthy and happy knitting & caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Filed Under: knitting instructions Tagged With: ambassador of elder care, caregiving, dr ina, ina gilmore, joann fabrics, knitting, knitting stitches, technorati, the knitting dr, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com

How To Knit Video: How Can I Use a Lace Lifeline Outside Lace Knitting?

February 1, 2012 By Ina Gilmore 2 Comments

Barbara wants to know how does she find the right pattern row after ripping out a lot?

She’s feeling frustrated with following a chart.

Great question!

And Barbara, congratulations on stretching yourself to try what sounds like a complex knitting chart!

Been there, done that! When starting to knit lace or any pattern with a knitting chart, it’s easy to get lost. Especially when knitting with interruptions or to relieve stress.

Some charts have over 20 rows of knitting in the pattern repeat. Yikes!

Is it any wonder knitters get frustrated?

Many lace knitting instructions suggest marking off the chart as you go. That makes sense, although it can still be hard to find your way. And if you drop a stitch or are just having ~~problems~~ challenges with the pattern, it can be frustrating.

Especially when ripping and knitting, ripping and knitting.

Wondering if there’s an easy solution?

Well, there is. It’s called a lace lifeline or just a lifeline.

Basically, you thread a finer yarn or thread through the stitches on your needle, and then knit around the thread. I often like to use crochet cotton or crochet thread. It’s often a good thickness, and will slip in and out easily without catching on the yarn.

Putting your lifeline in a row that’s all knit or all purl stitches is often easier than trying to thread it through the fancier yarn overs or baubles or knots in lace knitting. And if you make a note of which row you’re working on, you can find your place easily.

And you can put in as many lifelines as you feel you need. You could insert one the same row of each repeat if you like. They can be left in until you’re finished, or pulled out when you’re satisfied you don’t need it any more. Just be sure you really are satisfied before pulling it out.

Yes, that is the voice of experience.

If you’re a member of the Knitting Yarn, you can click on the link below to view a How To Knit Video on Lace Lifelines I made…

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Lace lifelines can be an important safety net for all lace knitting, and for knitters starting a new level of knitting. They can also be helpful when you’re learning how to read your knitting.

Reading your knitting is a skill all knitters should develop. One of the best books on the subject is Knitting for Anarchists. It explains the different ways the yarn loops around the needles, and should be part of every knitter’s library.

Click here right now to get your own copy.

To your healthy and happy knitting & caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Filed Under: How To Knit Tagged With: ambassador of elder care, caregiving, how to knit video, ina gilmore, knitting instructions, lace knitting, the knitting dr, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com

How To Knit Socks: Ready To Change the Pattern To Suit the Knitter and Sock Wearer?

January 27, 2012 By Ina Gilmore Leave a Comment

I have finished my first sock of 2012!

And what I have decided is I’m working on my own version of a generic sock. Right now it’s knit cuff down, because the arch shape seems to work best that way.

The arch shape is based on Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen’s “Arch-Shaped Stockings” pattern, available from Schoolhouse Press.

My current interest in socks started while caring for my mother.

In her later years, it was often hard to keep her warm. And her feet in particular would get cold. The socks available in the stores were seldom what she wanted, so I decided to knit her a pair of socks.

I knit the first pair cuff down. Some knitters say to fit precisely you need to start at the toe and work up. I wanted to be sure these fit as well as I could. So, I slipped them carefully over her foot to frequently check the fit. I wanted to be sure there was no problem with too tight socks cutting off her circulation or too loose socks causing wrinkles and maybe sores.

Could they easily be slipped on and off?

Yes! While I knit the socks with double pointed needles, initially I slipped the stitches onto circular needles to check the fit. After the practice of a few fittings, leaving the stitches on four double pointed needles worked fine.

Ribbing tends to fit more snugly than other patterns, and seems more forgiving for three dimensional projects like socks.

I ended up using a spiral ribbing pattern on the leg and top of her foot, which worked out very well. They socks fit, and she enjoyed wearing them. Even if they were turquoise blue!

My current socks are for myself, and they are also knit from the cuff down.

And, yes, once again I altered the pattern. I like the arch shape. The other options, not so much.

Wondering how many ways I deviated from the how to knit socks instructions? Here are three ways…

The cast on. Might as well start altering the pattern immediately! Actually, I discovered this when knitting socks for my mother. Using a provisional cast on and then when the sock is off the needles, going back and binding off with an elastic bind off makes a great cuff edge for someone with concerns about leg swelling. Or just a different shaped calf (larger or smaller than usual). The bind off expands nicely yet snugly fits.
1 x 1 ribbing in the leg and foot instead of the pattern. I still like ribbing, and feel the socks stay up better with it than with stockinette stitch. For beginners, stockinette stitch is often easier because in the round the stitches are all knit.
The heel is a mitered heel instead of a saddle heel.

Do you see how important knitting was to my caregiving?

Not only did it help relieve the stress of caregiving giving me a much-needed few minutes respite, it also provided some great projects!

Without knitting, I probably would not have come out of caregiving whole and happy. Even with my family’s help and my professional caregiving experiences.

Of course it’s not just knitting that helped me survive. It was much more. It seemed at times like traveling along roads without a map.

Easy to get lost and off track if you don’t know the route.

You know what I mean?

It takes a road map to successfully navigate caregiving, to more than survive – to thrive – emerging happy and whole.

Now you can download your own road map. Just click here right now to download!

To your healthy and happy knitting & caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Filed Under: How To Knit Tagged With: ambassador of elder care, caregiving, elizabeth zimmermann, how to knit socks, knitting, meg swansen, technorati, the knitting dr, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com

What Are the Rules For How To Knit Socks?

January 2, 2012 By Ina Gilmore Leave a Comment

Recently I finished a pair of socks.

They are based on a pattern designed by Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen. The pattern is called Arch-Shaped Stockings. And they are.

The socks have an arch shape, and snugly fit the sole of your foot.

I have a high arch. And despite what the so-called experts say about knitting socks, just adding extra length to the arch is not nearly as comfortable as the curved arch in these socks. So the socks I knit from this pattern are among my favorites.

I like a ribbed sock, because it hugs my leg and foot better. And yes, you can alter patterns for socks too.

Personally I’m not fond of the saddle heel turn to wear. A Christmas stocking is a different matter. I did put saddle heels in my Christmas Stocking Patterns, which are not worn. It makes a nice heel if you want a different color for the heel. And knit Christmas stockings are not meant to be worn!

For the saddle heel, basically you knit a square, and then turn the heel near the bottom of the foot. You end up picking up 12 or more stitches along two sides of the square. I found a heel from a book in the 1940s that only requires picking up 3 or 4. The turn begins higher, and makes more of a mitered heel.

I like the way it fits my foot. You may like a different heel. And that’s perfectly fine…

So, what are my “Rules For How To Knit Socks”?

The right way to knit is your way. This goes for anything you knit!
Choosing 2 circular needles or double-pointed ones is a personal preference. I have some bamboo double-pointed needles I like to use for knitting socks. The wooden needles seem to hold the yarn better. And I find 2 circular needles require more concentration to remember which needle to use when.
If you’re just starting to knit socks, very dark colors like navy blue, dark chocolate brown, black and dark forest green are very hard to knit. My most recent socks were enough for me. I started with 2 skeins of sock yarn, so probably will use the rest for a shawl or scarf. Something I can knit on larger needles!
Enjoy yourself. Knitting should be FUN!
Rules 2 and 3 are optional and can be broken.

Ever wonder how knitting rules started?

Mostly they were passed down by mouth from teacher to student. And probably worked well for most, but not necessarily all knitters.

It’s fine to have knitting “rules” when they help you knit easier, faster or with more fun. When they become burdensome and take the pleasure out of knitting, it’s time to break the rules or make new ones!

Have you lost the joy in your knitting?

Maybe you need to rediscover the power of FUN! “The Laugh Doctor” is ready to show you how. Click here right now to download this book now to put FUN back into your life – quickly, easily and almost effortlessly.

To your healthy and happy knitting & caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Filed Under: How To Knit Tagged With: ambassador of elder care, elizabeth zimmermann, how to knit socks, ina gilmore, meg swansen, technorati, the knitting dr, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com

How To Knit Videos Episode 10: How Do I Knit Left Slanted Decreases?

October 26, 2011 By Ina Gilmore 5 Comments

This week I’m knitting a Christmas stocking and pattern.

Christmas stockings are interesting. Basically they follow sock patterns and are often knit with larger needles and thicker yarn. It can be plain or fancy.

This stocking is a top down pattern, so the toe has symmetrical decreases. Every other row is a decrease row. And each decrease row has four decreases. Two are left slanted and two right slanted.

And because the yarn is heavier than sock yarn, I decided to add the decreases to my How To Knit Videos series.

To see the left slanted decrease video, just leave a comment on this post. If you are reading this post on a site other than The Knitting Yarn, click right here now to leave your comment and see the video.

To your healthy and happy knitting & caregiving,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Filed Under: How To Knit Tagged With: ambassador of elder care, caregiving, christmas stocking, christmas stockings, how to knit videos, ina gilmore, knitting, technorati, the knitting dr, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com

Knitting Tips and Techniques: How Can I Improve a Scrubbie Pattern?

October 18, 2011 By Ina Gilmore 7 Comments

Do you like knitting scrubbies?

They’re often a quick knit and practical. Because they’re usually small projects, they make a great project for on-the-go. Such as when you’re caregiving. And a simple pattern like garter stitch is easy to work on, leave and then come back when needed.

One of my favorite patterns is a knitted scrubby called Tribble or maybe it’s Tribble2. Click here for a link to the original pattern.

The knitted dishcloth pattern calls for knitting with worsted weight crochet yarn. As I learned about eco Tawashi, I decided to try knitting one with acrylic yarn. And found acrylic Tribbles are great for scrubbing, and easy to knit. When needed, I’ve even thrown them in the dishwasher for cleaning (no heat on the dry cycle).

Why eco Tawashi?

Because they can be used with less soap or even no soap on dishes. Acrylic scrubbies including Tawashi are too rough for skin, though. They do make great scrubbers for dishes and cleaning.

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So how can you improve a scrubbie knitted dishcloth pattern?

Change cotton yarn to acrylic which often lasts longer…
Consider changing the edging to suit yourself. Such as adding a slipped stitch garter stitch edging, which looks like a row of single crochet when finished…
Change the size and colors to suit you!

Acrylic yarn lasts longer and I notice the colors stay brighter longer. Not as much fading as cotton dishcloths or scrubbies.

For the tribble pattern, using a slipped stitch garter edging makes it easier to gather the long ends into a circle, forming the three-dimensional scrubbie.

The gathered circle is also more symmetric.

Often the size of needles are a suggestion. You can of course change them to suit your gauge. Or you can experiment with different sizes to see what works best. And of course, changing colors is part of the fun of making small projects like knitted dishcloth scrubbies!

While using knitting tips and techniques may sound complicated, as you can see it can also be super easy!

For a free list of scrubbie patterns online, just leave a comment on this post. If you’re reading this post on a site other than The Knitting Yarn, be sure to click here right now to leave your comment.

Keep knitting to your heart’s desire – or someone else’s,

Dr. Ina
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.TheKnittingYarn.com and www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com

Ambassador of Elder Care, www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

P.S. If you haven’t yet signed up for your free membership be sure to click here right now!

Filed Under: knitting instructions Tagged With: ambassador of elder care, knitted dishcloth pattern, knitting, knitting tips and techniques, technorati, the knitting dr, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com

How To Knit Videos: How Do I Change the Knitting Instructions To an Easy Edging For Afghan Squares?

September 29, 2011 By Ina Gilmore 6 Comments

The latest video in my How To Knit Videos is on using single crochet with knitted squares.

And there’s an interesting story behind it. You see, I made an afghan from a kit a few years ago.

It is made of individual squares that are joined together into the whole afghan. I knit it while caregiving. The squares are a great way of knitting a large project without hauling the whole thing around.

I think it’s now my favorite way to knit an afghan or blanket. Although I can see making strips another option.

Yes, I customized the knitting instructions.

The original knitting instructions called for sewing the squares together. The squares are different colors, and I thought it needed a unifying color scheme. So the yarn joining the squares together would be less noticeable. Originally, I knit garter stitch around each square and sewed them together. The acrylic yarn ended up being scratchy, making the whole afghan feel itchy.

When I decided to change the edging, I also decided to crochet around the edges. It’s much faster, and easier on the hands and wrists when working with the large piece. I used a single crochet edging around each square, joining the squares with a crocheted slip stitch. Now I’m crocheting a row of single crochet around the edges.

I love the effect. The yarn I’m using is Caron One Pound in Nutmeg. The entire afghan kit is acrylic, which is why I’m using acrylic yarn.

This afghan took longer than I expected to knit originally. It’s a big project! The stockinette squares are embroidered with duplicate stitch to create the flowers. I think an afghan in just blocks of color would be lovely too.

Single crochet makes a nice edging. And it’s simple for even a beginning crocheter.

As I was joining the blocks, I noticed some blocks had more stitches than others. In the future, I might count my crochet stitches to get them more equal. Then again, I might not! Easing the seams together while crocheting was painless.

To see my latest video, just leave a comment on this blog post. If you’re reading this post on a site other than The Knitting Yarn, to leave your comment and see the free video click right here now.

Keep knitting to your heart’s desire – or someone else’s,

Dr. Ina

Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care, HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

The information on this website is for educational purposes only. It does not replace information or recommendations from your own physician or other health care provider. Full Disclaimer and Disclosure at www.TheKnittingYarn.com/Policies

Filed Under: How To Knit Tagged With: ambassador of elder care, dr ina, how to knit videos, howtoliveonpurpose.com, ina gilmore, knitting instructions, the knitting dr, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com

How to Knit Videos: How Do I Knit the Cable Cast On?

September 16, 2011 By Ina Gilmore 3 Comments

This week I was wondering what to include in the next episode of my how to knit videos.

While finishing knitting my shawl, inspiration struck – in the form of a bind off especially nice for some lace knitting. While doing the picot edge bind off, I realized it’s actually two techniques in one.

It is a combination of the cable cast on and a traditional bind off.

You start with the cable cast on. The cable cast on can be used as an initial cast on. Usually though it’s used when you need to add stitches to an existing row.

I explain the cable cast on in two tutorials. One for right handed knitting and one for left-handed knitting or mirror knitting.

Leave a comment at the bottom of this post on The Knitting Yarn, and you’ll get instant access to the free tutorials of how to knit the cable cast on. You can choose either one, or both.

If you’re not reading this on The Knitting Yarn website, you’ll need to go to the original post to leave a comment and get your free download. Click here right now for the original post on The Knitting Yarn.

And if you’re a free member of The Knitting Yarn site, you can see the right-handed knitting version in one of my free how to knit videos below. Click here right now to join.

Once you’re a member you can log in by clicking here right now.

Remember: Leave a comment at the bottom of the post to get your free tutorial. If you’re not reading this on The Knitting Yarn site, just click here right now to get to the original post.

Keep knitting to your heart’s delight – or someone else’s,

Dr. Ina

Ina Gilmore M.D. (ret.)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Ambassador of Elder Care, www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com
Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com

The information on this website is for educational purposes only. It does not replace information or recommendations from your own physician or other health care provider. Full Disclaimer and Disclosure.

Filed Under: How To Knit Tagged With: ambassador of elder care, dr ina, how to knit videos, ina gilmore, knitting, lace knitting, left-handed knitting, technorati, the knitting dr, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com

How To Knit Videos Episode 7 and What Do Weather Worries Have To Do With Knitting?

August 25, 2011 By Ina Gilmore 2 Comments

Thunderstorms and earthquakes and Hurricane Irene… Oh my!

This week certainly has been interesting weather-wise. It started with a SEVERE thunderstorm here. At 3 AM! Although I was tired, I realized sleep would not be an option for awhile. So of course, I started a new project…

How to Knit Videos: New project

Then there were earthquakes in Colorado and in Virginia!

The one from Virginia was felt here. No rattling shaking in the house. It just felt for a few seconds as though the floor was on a boat with gentle waves, not on solid ground.

Hurricane Irene was predicted for a time to cause major damage here. At least one store in town was having plywood put up across its windows yesterday. This morning I awoke to the news that we’re now in the “low risk” area.

The news is full of worries about the earthquake being worse or a terrorist act. And of course there are the worries a hurricane will impact unprepared areas.

Which started me to thinking about knitting and worries…

One of the questions that occurs for a knitter’s first project is, “How do I end?” Meaning, how to bind off or cast off your knitting.

It’s a reasonable concern. Makes me smile just thinking about how serious I took that. A non-problem actually. And there’s a simple bind off most knitters learn.

How do you bind off simply and easily?

Work the first two stitches of your row, either knit or purl. A good rule of thumb is to follow the pattern from the last row unless the directions suggest otherwise.
Slip the first stitch over the second, and you now have one stitch.
Continue, work another stitch then slip the next to last one worked over the last one worked.
Keep going across the row.
At the end, cut your yarn and bring the yarn through the last loop. Leave a long enough end to weave in the end or sew a seam depending upon your project.

And you can watch the technique in this video, which is Episode 7 in The Knitting Yarn How To Knit Videos -

The video is also at www.TheKnittingYarn.com/EasyBindOff

My new project is part of a pattern series I’m developing for knitters who need portable easy projects that can be dropped and started at a moment’s notice. For knitters whose knitting time may not be on a schedule. Like when caregiving. More information on that in a future post.

In the meantime…

When you’re busy with well the busy-ness of life, sometimes it’s hard to recognize your successes.

Now there’s a tool to help you recognize your success and stay inspired. For more information about this tool go to www.AskDrIna.com/Inspirational

And…

Keep knitting to your heart’s delight – or someone else’s,

Dr. Ina

Ina Gilmore M.D. (ret.)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Ambassador of Elder Care, www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com
Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com

Filed Under: How To Knit Tagged With: ambassador of elder care, caregiving, how to knit videos, ina gilmore, technorati, the, the knitting dr, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com

How To Knit Video: How Can I Cast On With a Crochet Hook?

August 8, 2011 By Ina Gilmore Leave a Comment

Have you tried a crochet cast on?

The other day I was looking for a different cast on. One that would look nice and be even. And fairly easy to do.

Sometimes I just like to try knitting different techniques, you know?

I came across the chain cast on, which I call a simple crochet cast on. This cast on works with either knit or purl stitches, and makes a nice finished edge. It makes a nice edge for ribbing too.

How do you cast on with this stitch?

1. Start with crocheting a chain stitch. You chain the number of stitches you want in your cast on row. And be sure to count the first slip stitch and the stitch on your crochet hook.

Your chain should be crocheted fairly loosely. When crocheted too tightly, it’s hard to knit or purl the first row. There can be variations with yarn and crochet hooks, so it may take some experimenting – and practice.

: Showing bumps on back of chain

2. Slip the loop on the crochet hook onto your knitting needle for the first stitch. Turn the chain to the back and pick up the “bumps” in the center of the chain. You want to either knit or purl through each bump to get your first row of stitches.

How To Knit Video: How Can I Cast On With a Crochet Hook?

Loop from hook forms first stitch, needle in position to knit second stitch

3. To knit stitches, put your needle in from front to back. To purl, your needle goes from back to front.

You may find that using the crochet hook to get the yarn through the bump, or opening the bump enough to get the needle through helps.

Finished cast on showing bottom chain

Like many new techniques, you may find this requires some practice. Watch this how to knit video for the technique.

Can’t see the video?

Watch it at

www.AskDrIna.com/ChainCastOn

There are lots of books out there with knitting instructions and patterns.

And even online sources. Personally I like one with lots of color illustrations or photos, and written instructions plus diagrams. Sometimes one is easier than another to read.

You can find one of my favorites at

www.AskDrIna.com/KnittingBook

Until next time

Keep knitting to your heart’s delight – or someone else’s,

Dr. Ina

Ina Gilmore M.D. (ret.)

“The Knitting Dr.”

Ambassador of Elder Care, www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com

Disclosure

Disclaimer:

The information on this website is for educational purposes only. It does not replace information or recommendations from your own physician or other health care provider. This site does not advocate medical or other health-related self-care, and encourages you to obtain advice from your own personal physician or other health care provider.

This web site is not intended to replace medical, financial, legal, or any other professional advice. Please use your own good judgment and consult with your own professionals before applying any ideas found within this website.