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... (Read More ...)
Yes, I’m serious. Sure knitting with incomplete knitting instructions can be frustrating. You know what? They can also be a blessing. Okay, maybe one in disguise or just hiding very well. When I first started knitting lace I didn’t realize how challenging it can be. Sometimes fearless knitting is the only way to start — and finish — a project. I knit a purse that I thought would be easy. I decided to use a yarn I hadn’t used before. It’s actually no longer available, which is no surprise. To say it was challenging may be one of those historical understatements. ... (Read More ...)
Sometimes it’s nice to have small easy knitting projects. When your time is not scheduled for knitting, it’s nice to be able to drop your work and pick it up easily. Without having to spend more time puzzling over following the knitting instructions than actually knitting! I first learned that as a family caregiver, when I might get an hour without being called, or maybe only a few seconds! This week has been one of those weeks for small projects. The weather turned cooler, so I decided it’s time to try a head wrap. It’s not quite cold enough for a knitted cap,... (Read More ...)
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... (Read More ...)
Some purists don’t like to combine knitting and crocheting. Why some, won’t even talk to people who do the other one! Good grief is all I can say. While knitting comes easier for me, I enjoy them both. And part of the fun is combining them into the same project. Recently I decided to redo part of an afghan I made a few years ago. It’s made of individual blocks of different colors. The original knitting instructions in the afghan kit said to sew the blocks together. Well, that’s fine. I wanted to use the same color yarn, thinking it would be less noticeable. ... (Read More ...)
