Knitting

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BASIC KNIT INSTRUCTIONS The instructions here will show you how to cast on and to make a knit stitch, also known as garter stitch. If you follow them exactly, you’ll complete a 7" by 9" block, which will be great practice and help a good cause...

The Blue Swan: a site that includes information on card-weaving, needle-binding and sprang, which include instruction video's on needle-binding and sprang. The site is in Dutch and English, the link is to the English part. [Link updated 4/21/11]

Knitworld's "Learn To Knit Pages: Stitch Gauge | Casting On | Casting Off | Holding the needle & yarn | Basic Stitches | Increasing Stitches | Decreasing Stitches | Cables | Knitting in the Round | Working with More Than One Yarn Colour | Button Holes | Edges | Seams | Finishing Techniques | Abbreviations

Learn To Knit Knitting will give you a lifetime of pleasure and relaxation. You can learn to create handmade knits for yourself and people you love. When you give a lovingly knit gift, part of you goes into it. Your time, talent, the yarn and color you select -- even the thoughts and feelings you have as you work -- all become part of your knitted gift. You can learn to knit by following our simple instructions and by the end of chapter 2, you'll be knitting! You can follow it online or Download Learn-to-Knit Instructions [PDF] See also: FREE PATTERNS and Learn to Crochet and Knit/Crochet FAQ and... oh, heck - just look over the whole darned site!

How to knit with two circulars You don't need double-pointed needles to knit small circumferences like sleeves, gloves, socks, and the top of hats. Instead you can use two circulars, which cuts the number of joins down to only two. A few people have claimed credit for this neat trick; I think it's one of those things that occured to multiple people about the same time. I learned how to do it by reading a magazine article written by Joyce Williams (Summer 2000, Knitter's magazine). This page is an attempt to demystify the process even further, it's amazingly simple once you understand the concept. See also: one long circular

How to knit a Möbius Band Pretty much useless project, but kind of neat. Of course, you could always use this in the classroom...kids love it. See also: The Home of Mathematical Knitting Bizarre, but interestingly, not as bizarre as Knit Bricks

Phiala’s String Page There’s info on weaving & knitting but I would appreciate it if somebody could review the links to other pages on knitting, sewing, weaving and send them in to me. Lots of links that look pretty interesting. "This page was originally created - 10 years ago! - as a way to make my class handouts available to more people. It's grown a bit: this page now contains how-to information, photographs and resources lists for a wide variety of textile techniques. I have specialized in historical textile techniques, especially those like braiding and tablet weaving that can produce very complicated structures with minimal equipment. I'm also interested in popularizing obscure techniques like sprang and naalbinding."

Nalebinding or Naalbinding Article on old world knitting stitch, by Elaine Hutchinson. May be of interest to those who know more about knitting than myself.

Sprang Detailed text article by E. Hutchinson, about the old world method of producing "sprang" - a sort of elastic twine thingy. I didn't read the whole article, (as I'm easily confused) but I'm certain this info could be put to good use somewhere, somehow.

Hints and tips General and specialized suggestions culled from posts to the big knitting listserv, including Sally Melville's thoughts on color. Other areas on Wool Works Craft Site:

Making socks Information about sock yarns, sources for sock patterns, sock heel techniques, and a collection of posts to the knitting list about socks.

Knitting for dolls Caroline McMillan's collection of book and catalog titles and helpful ideas for those who make clothes for dolls. (Contains a bit of sewing information, as well as the knitting info.)

Techniques Links to descriptions of and resources for specialized knitting techniques such as double knitting and entrelac. Includes pointers to entrelac patterns.

Fibers Describes various kinds of fibers that can be made into yarns. Written by Wendy Chatley Green.

Spinning Links to Chris Jordan's spinning wheel FAQ and Kathreen Kruse's list of spinning suppliers.

Dyeing A compilation of knitlist posts about dyeing yarn and fleece with Easter egg dye, Kool Aid, or CIBA dyes.

Designers A few people's descriptions of their classes with various well-known knitwear designers. I hope for it eventually to contain descriptions of the work of many different knitting designers, and possibly even pictures of some of their finished products.

The First Socks Welcome to the sock knitting world! Socks are the very garments to be knitted enjoyable. They are so small projects and so quickly to be finished. You can try a brilliant color blending or a simple ribbing to keep you feet warmer and comfortable. Of course, it is one of the best Xmas present. The cute phrasing is due to a brave attempt at translating from the original Japanese text. [Much improved since originally listed] Other areas on Tata & Tatao Site:

Basic Stitches Basic Stitches with full illustrated description. Some kind of mysterious "knitting code"

Simple Scarves Simple and easy-to-knit scarves with Rib stitch, Waffle stitch, Open work. A minute description of making a hole on scarf.

Simple caps & hats Simple and easy-to-knit caps and hats. A watch cap with rib stitch. A hat with stocking stitich. A Big beret.

Circular knitting with 2 circular needles Do you feel awkward circular knitting with DPNs? Do you pinch a short circular needle with your thumb and forefinger when you knit a sock? Try this trick with 2 circular needles.

How to Knit a Sanquhar Glove We examined a pair of Sanquhar gloves which Chihiro Sato, a knitwear designer, owns. We made the complete pattern of the glove. Would you like to try knitting it?

Actual Size Graph Paper You can get the actual-size-graph-paper PDF file on demand.

Stranding Colors Better Homes & Gardens. Check out these tips on how to change colors in a knitting project. Nice illustrations. Annoying pop-up not blocked by my browser. Other areas on BH & G Site:

Slip-Stitch Decrease Try this technique, a decrease for the right edge of the row in knitting.

Purl Stitch Check out these instructions on how to purl in your knitting projects. Annoying pop-up not blocked by my browser.

Making a Slipknot First things first, learn how to make a slipknot, the first step in knitting or crochet.

Single Cast-On After making a slipknot, this is the next step in your knitting project.

Learn to Knit Intarsia basic instructions, with photo illustrations, and a free easy pattern for you to try. Other areas on Sweaterscapes Site:

Knitting Socks includes free basic sock pattern.
Duplicate Stitch also known as Swiss darning.
Designing Landscape Sweaters using perspective and color.
Invisible Seams One picture & brief instructions
I-Cord a decorative addition
Short-Row Shaping a great method for shaping a neck opening, or other projects that require shaping.
Shoulder Seams binding off fronts and backs together.
Knitters Graph Paper print your own.
Converting Pullovers to Cardigans crewnecks, v-necks, button bands & buttonholes.
Picking Up Stitches We use the same method for picking up stitches whether they are stitches on a neck opening or along a cardigan edge for a button band.
Purse Pattern easy free pattern for children
Washing Wool Sweaters don't want the tiny felted look?
Storing Wool Sweaters Moths and Mildew and Molds!!

Feltmaking - Information on how to measure percentage of shrinkage when felting knitted wool. Before you invest a lot of time and effort into any felt project, it is a good idea to make a sample. The sample will become an invaluable tool telling you information about the hand of the felt, percentage of shrinkage to expect and a starting point to figure out how much wool to gather for the project.

Felting - Instructions for making wool felt. From Gleason's Fine Woolies. What is Felt? Very simply, felt is matted wool. Wool becomes felt when it is subjected to moisture, heat, and pressure. (In fact, if domestic sheep were not shorn, over time their wool would felt or "cot".) Hot soapy water makes the wool slippery, and causes tiny scales on the fiber to "open up". The scales prevent the fibers from backing up again after they slide across each other; with agitation, the fibers get hopelessly tangled together. When cooled and dried, the scales close and lock the wool into the tough, durable material we call felt...

Yarn Lovers Room - Convert knitting patterns to crochet patterns. Convert needle size to the crochet hook. Free patterns, and pattern exchange. Newsletter.

Yes, You Can Learn How To Knit - Photos illustrate the basic steps in learning to knit.

Patterns:

Free knitting patterns. Tons of patterns. If you have an original knitting pattern that you would like to share with others in the Craftown community, please consider contributing.
Sweaters | Socks and slippers | Cold-weather wear (scarves, mittens, etc.) | Knitting for babies and children | Afghans and throws | Facecloths and dishcloths | Dolls and doll clothes | Miscellaneous projects | Patterns from the 1997 knitlist gift exchange

Software & Online Calculators:

The Knitting Companion This program converts a knitting pattern stitch gauge (such as you would find in a knitting magazine) to your knitted swatch gauge. After your swatch gauge information is entered, it can calculate the number of stitches and rows you need to knit for a given number of inches. This permits you to take measurements for a garment, do a swatch, and convert the measurements to stitches and rows. It also includes a second feature that calculates the edge shaping utilizing the so called "Magic Formula". There is an option for either one-side increase/decrease or two-side increase/decrease. This is handy for shaped a shaped bodice or sleeves of a sweater. [Link updated 4/21/11]

Elizabeth Bennett's ONLINE Perl Sock Program: This program generates the instructions for knitting a basic crew sock, based on your gauge in the yarn of your choice and on the ankle circumference of the intended wearer. It is based on several years' of sock-knitting experience.

Russell's Knitted Alphabet displays letters in graph form, for viewing or printing. Works great! Please Note: The authors no longer support this DOS program.

KXStitch prerelease version (previously named X-Stitch v 0.0.2) for Linux, source code avail in tar.gz format, about 400k download, GNU 2 license. Note: KXStitch has been developed for Linux using KDE 2.2 / QT 2.3.1, alternate admin files also avail to compile for KDE3/QT3.

Demo Version of MacStitch 2011 This demo version allows you to design and import pictures, but will not allow you to save or print your work. To see the print quality, you will need to load an existing pattern (some are supplied), and the program will allow you to print one of those. Note that this program requires 32Mb RAM to operate. Will work in OS 7.5 and higher. [Link updated 4/21/11]

Digistitch You've tried software that's hardly worth the low cost asked, and you've seen software that costs a fortune and takes a lifetime to learn! Now try DigiStitch, software with the perfect feature-set at a very reasonable price. Try our product today and see why DigiStitch is Software that's Sweeping the Internet! ™ The only limitations are that the pattern save feature is inactive, and you can print and export only unmodified sample patterns.

Stitch Wiz: We are happy to offer you demos of EasyGrapher Home and EasyGrapher Professional 2004. These demos have the complete program. Every feature can be used with only a few exceptions...

Mom's Classic Knitting Calculator for Windows 95

Sweater Wizard 2001 for Windows 9x to XP. Sweater Wizard generates schematics and text directions for sweaters customized to the knitters specifications. Sweaters may be charted for flat or round knitting, using any gauge. The knitter can generate schematics for several sweaters in the same session and is only limited by the amount of RAM in the PC.

KnitCraft is the American and Canadian importer of DesignAKnit, a Windows program for designing sweaters. You can download a free demo version from their Web site. Beacon Hill Knits publishes a newsletter about the full version.

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