How To Knit: Knitting Fork or Lucet Tutorial

Breaking out my knitting fork (also known as a lucet) again and trying out some new things for my shop. Keep an eye out for these new items to be added later today!

Here is my knitting fork video tutorial for all of you....

Samples of the two different types of cord

you can make with a knitting fork.

Knit jewelry now available in my shop!

Click here to check it out!

Happy Crafting!

Swatching For A Purpose

I hate swatches! It's something I normally avoid at all costs. To me it's pointless and a waste of time. It's VERY rare that I knit a swatch.

What is the point of a swatch you ask? Well it is normally done to test the gauge of yarn. You can find the guidelines for the swatch on the wrapper of the yarn. It is usually a square with knitting needles in it (there will also be one for crochet). This will tell you what size needles to use, how many rows to use, and what size square you should end up with. For example, on the yarn I'm currently using, it suggests to use size US 8 (5 mm) needles. Cast on 18 stitches, knitting 24 rows, should end up with a 4x4 inch square. If it doesn't end up the size you'll need to change your needle size. (Too small - go up in needle size, Too big - go down).

Also, keep in mind that if you use a different weight of yarn then is recommended for a project, it won't end up the same dimensions.

However, my favorite reason to swatch is to test out a pattern. It gives you a great idea of what the pattern will look like. This swatch I knit (pictured below) was a test for a baby blanket pattern. It similar to the pattern I used on the oceans blanket. It's the same basic pattern (the oceans blanket was knit in garter stitch and the swatch was knit in stockinette stitch). I wanted to see because of the border would stop the stockinette blanket from rolling up.

The sad news is that it did still roll up a bit. The good news is that I made this for a friend to use in her Christmas nativity scene, to line the manger for baby Jesus.

I like the way it looks. I think for future baby blankets the outer border will need to be done in garter stitch.

Happy Crafting!

Knit Baby Hats

There are not many knitting patterns that scare me but anything that has to fit sure does! I have yet to knit sweaters, hats, mittens, or socks because of it. Especially since family members that I would be more likely to knit these types of things for live out of state and I have no way to measure or have them try it on to make sure it fits.

These hats were my perfect first hat project because they didn't have to fit! But the fact that they don't have to fit is horrible! These hats were knit for a woman who after years of infertility, had finally conceived twins, but miscarried. These hats are to help her grieve.... to give her something tangible to hold onto while she cannot hold her babies. I know from personal experience that it's not enough but it can help a little.

The patterns used were based on the Super Stretchy Angel Cap pattern found here. I wanted the hats to be similar but different because each baby is unique. 

Hat A:

Rows 1-6

Rows 7-10 (repeated twice)

Decreased 1 round

Hat B:

Rows 1-6

Rows 7-10 (repeated twice)

9 rounds of rib stitch

Maybe someday I'll knit three more to remember my little ones.

Happy Crafting!

Star Light, Star Bright

 This knitted star or snowflake (depending on your interpretation) is part of a larger project I'm working on for a dear friend. You can find the pattern for this star/snowflake here. I also think in the right colors this would make a cute sea star. I love the color variegated yarn with most of my projects. If you've visited my blog before I'm sure you're aware! I especially love it for this star because no two stars in the sky are the same and with variegated yarn the knitted stars won't be either!

I have to say that I'm quite proud of this star. Mainly because it is the first time I have successfully used double pointed knitting needles. Thank you to my mother-in-law for her help with that! On a side note, I LOVE having common interests with my mother-in-law and am eternally grateful for our wonderful relationship!

Here is the start of the body of the star.
I apologize for not taking any further pictures of the body portion!

The points of the star were what I found confusing and thought how helpful it would be to have pictures to go along with it. So I made sure to take pictures of each row as I went along. I hope you find them helpful in knitting your own star!

Here are four completed points out of six
(the stitches on each double pointed needle makes two points).

Pre-row 1 - This row is done before row 1  to prepare the start of the point.

The preparation of the pre-row divided the stitches onto two double pointed needles.

Row 1 - The first point will be worked with the right needle (worked back and forth).

Row 2 - My S2, K1, PSSO and SSK tutorials will come later down the line.

Row 3 - To be honest I couldn't figure out how to P2 Tog TBL
(normally I would google a knitting technique I'm unfamiliar with but I wasn't home)
so I just P2 Tog. Personally I don't see a difference in the pattern.

Row 4 - K3Tog and SSSK are done in the same fashion as K2Tog and SSK,
except with 3 stitches instead of  2.

Row 5 - Simply purl

Row 6

Row 7

Row 8

All that's left is to weave in the ends and steam iron it flat!

Moving on to new stars...

Happy Crafting!

Just Keep Knitting

I'm currently knitting multiple things for Christmas. If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you've caught a glimpse of one of my projects (if you don't, you can find me @craftyrdh).

Knitting something for someone always makes me a little nervous. I always like my gifts to be a surprise, so I do the same for gifts I give. I'm never quite sure if they will like it. Is it their style or color? Will they actually wear it or use it? All I can hope is that they will love it as much as I loved making it for them. To me a handmade/knitted gift should be meaningful because of the thought, effort, and time put into it.

I'm also working on a new knitting pattern. I have an idea of what I want to knit and have searched high and low but cannot find a pattern for it. So now I'm working on creating my own knitting pattern for it. This is a bit time consuming since my current trial for it requires me to learn some new knitting techniques. But I'm a stubborn Italian girl and I will find a way to make my idea a reality!

Stayed tuned for the new knitting pattern and my Christmas crafts!

Happy Crafting!

How To Knit: Selvedge Stitch

Having completed my most recent knitting projects, I was looking through Pinterest to find inspiration for my needles. I found a cute little project that wouldn't take long to knit up. I decided to give it a go. However, there was something in the instructions that I had never done (I'm always up for a challenge!), a selvedge stitch. The selvedge stitch is done with the first stitch of each row to create a neat edge on your work. From my google search of selvedge stitch there are a few different styles and ways you can do it. This is the way I learned...

Step 1: With the working yarn facing you, slip the first stitch knit wise.

Step 2: Take the working yarn and place it behind your work
(between the first and the second stitch).
Knit the rest of the row as normal.

Continue these two steps for for all rows to create a neat edge.

Happy Crafting!

Ocean Blue Blanket

The long awaited blanket is finally done! I have been knitting on this blanket off and on since March. This pattern is great for many reasons... it's simple and easy to make, you can make it as small or as large as you want, and you can add an accent color through the yarn over trim.

This oceany blanket was knit much larger then the usual baby blankets I knit but C was born before I started knitting. Since he didn't get a Nadia original baby blanket, he now has a Nadia original kids blanket! I'm happy to say he loves it and his oceans blanket goes great with his boat bed!

His wonderful momma took these beautiful pictures. You can find more of the pictures of the blanket along with all of other work on her blog.

How To Knit: Unknitting - To Correct Knitting Mistakes

I have been knitting now for about three years. However, I am not perfect and I make mistakes (more then I care to admit!). In your own knitting journey, you too will make mistakes. Below is a video tutorial on the easiest way I've found to fix my knitting mistakes (especially for having to take out an entire row or multiple rows).

When I first started knitting I would take all of the knitting off the needle and pull on the working yarn, until I got to the point past my mistakes, and reinsert the needle into the stitches. However, that technique did not always work very well and would often cause more problems. I would end up taking more stitches out then intended and have to re-knit those stitches. Or somehow I would lose extra stitches in the middle of a row and be forced to undo even more rows. Or once I got the stitches were back on my needles they were twisted and very hard to work with. I was very thankful once I figured out how to unknit (I'm not sure if anyone else uses this technique or has a name for it but I call it unknitting). It's so much simpler than taking everything off the needle and trying to pull just the right amount of stitches out. 

Here is my Unknitting video!

Happy Crafting!

How to Knit: Get Rid of Your Knitting Tail

Picture this... you go to start knitting a large item, such as a blanket, you aren't sure how much yarn to use to cast on, so you pull out lots of yarn. After casting on you start to knit, only to realize that you started knitting with the tail instead of the working yarn. So you have to take everything out and start again. Sure, you can cut the tail so it isn't as long but wouldn't it be even better if you could get rid of the tail and not have to worry about it??? Hopefully you said yes! Here is a great way to get the tail out of the way and not have to worry about it!

Happy Crafting!

Tori's Blanket

It seems like every time I turn around someone is having a baby. They keep me busy knitting baby blankets. The latest blanket is for my cousin and her sweet baby girl that is due to arrive next month. This is a pattern I've been wanting to try for a long time and I loved the yarn because all of the colors will go with almost anything and any color decor. You can find the pattern here.

Happy Crafting!

How to Knit: The Russian Join

It's wonderful if one skein (ball) of yarn is enough for your project but what happens when you want that scarf a little longer or that blanket just isn't big enough? How do you add more yarn? You could go the obvious way and just knot the two ends of yarn together. However, that isn't pretty and doesn't always stay in place. If you know me I'm a big fan of pretty! If I don't like the way it looks I'm redoing it! (Yes, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. At least when it comes to cleaning teeth and knitting!) So what is a girl seeking pretty and (close to) perfect to do? The Russian join!

I first found the Russian join on Pinterest. When I saw it I thought it looked horribly complicated and like I would never be able to do it. But it is surprisingly simple to do and I'll teach you how!

Six simple steps to the Russian join:

So I'm working on this beautiful blue blanket for a beautiful little boy.
It's the biggest blanket I've made to date.
What am I to do when I reach the end of a cone of yarn but I'm not done knitting?
The Russian join, of course, to add in a new cone of yarn!

Step 1: Thread one end of yarn
(for me this one come off the blanket)
into a blunt tapestry-type needle.

Step 2: Insert needle into the plies of yarn for an inch or two.

After working the needle through the yarn,
it will look scrunched up like this.
Pull the needle all the way through leaving a loop at the top.

Remove the yarn from the needle and place it in the loop.

Step 3: Pull the main yarn down,
leaving the needle in the loop to attach the new yarn.

Step 4: Thread the new yarn through the needle.

Step 5: Pull the new yarn through the loop of the joined yarn.
Now take the needle and work it through the plies of the new yarn
(Like we did in step 2 with the original yarn).

Step 6: Tug on both of the joined yarns to smooth out any bunching

And trim any excess yarn off.
Now time to finish this blanket now that I've added the yarn :)

Happy Crafting!

Chalice Lace Baby Blanket

So most people around me seem to be pregnant, which keeps my hands and needles busy. Of course I can't wait to be knitting a blanket for a little one of my own but I'm happy to make my creations for my friends and family. I love to find new patterns and challenge myself.

This blanket is for a friend whose baby has long been prayed for and is a wonderful surprise! The pattern was one of the most complex I've ever done, with a pattern repeat of twenty rows. While knitting I wasn't quite sure while if it was looking like the pattern and once I was done and gave it a good look, I'm happy to say it does! 

Happy Crafting!

How to Knit: Rib Stitch

The rib stitch is one of my favorite stitches. It creates a soft and thick knit and is AWESOME for scarves! I've used the rib stitch for two previous scarves I've made Fringe Scarf and Thyroid Cancer Scarf. The best part about the rib stitch is that it is simple to do! Just knit one, purl one, knit one, purl one (until the end of the row), turn and continue. The key is to making sure you cast on an even number of stitches.

Start with a knit stitch.

After completing the knit stitch you will need to move the yarn 
to the front of your needles for your purl stitch.
I use the middle finger of my left hand to do so.

Now that your yarn is in front of your needles, purl the next stitch.

Purl and move the yarn to the back of the needles.

With the yarn behind your needles knit your next stitch.

With yarn in front purl the next stitch.

After doing this a few times you will start to see the pattern emerge.
Become familiar with the pattern.
Soon you will be able to tell from looking which stitches are knit and which are purled.

Recognizing knit and purl stitches are important.
So if you set your knitting down in the middle of a row,
you know what stitch to continue with ;)

Here is what the rib stitch looks like after a few rows.
The knit stitches are what you primarily see unless you spread it out as pictured.
The purl stitches hide in between the knit stitches.

And that's the rib stitch. Great for a blanket or scarf. Now that you've learned a new stitch... go knit!

If you're new to my How To Knit series you can find my previous tutorials here:

Cast On

Knit Stitch

Purl Stitch

Stockinette Stitch

Happy Crafting!