Knitting Skills - Intermediate and Advanced
For advanced beginners, intermediate and advanced knitters, tips on how to take your knitting to the next level while learning about different techniques, tools, and special projects you'll want to try.
Knitting Etiquette
Just like anything else in life, there are knitting etiquette rules. Here's a quick list of the most commonly accepted forms of knitting etiquette so you can stay on the good side of all your fiber friends.
Just like anything else in life, there are knitting etiquette rules. Here's a quick list of the most commonly accepted forms of knitting etiquette so you can stay on the good side of all your fiber friends.
Learn to Knit Stripes
Knitting with different colors is easier than you might think. This quick tutorial will show you how to knit with color and make stripes.
Knitting with different colors is easier than you might think. This quick tutorial will show you how to knit with color and make stripes.
Making an I-Cord
I-cord seems difficult until you know how to do it, and once you learn how to make an I-cord, you'll come up with tons of reasons to use them.
I-cord seems difficult until you know how to do it, and once you learn how to make an I-cord, you'll come up with tons of reasons to use them.
Knitting with Circular Needles
Knitting with circular needles is a little mysterious for the beginning knitter. Patterns assume that you know how to knit with circular needles, but if you don't, this guide will help.
Knitting with circular needles is a little mysterious for the beginning knitter. Patterns assume that you know how to knit with circular needles, but if you don't, this guide will help.
Knitting in the Round with Two Circular Needles
Most knitters learn to knit small projects in the round using double-pointed needles, but many prefer to knit in the round using two circular needles instead. This tutorial will show you how to knit in the round with two circular needles.
Most knitters learn to knit small projects in the round using double-pointed needles, but many prefer to knit in the round using two circular needles instead. This tutorial will show you how to knit in the round with two circular needles.
Knitting with Double-Pointed Needles
Double-pointed needles are the tool of choice when knitting a small circular object such as a sock. But they can be a little tricky to deal with. Here are some tips to help you use double-pointed needles.
Double-pointed needles are the tool of choice when knitting a small circular object such as a sock. But they can be a little tricky to deal with. Here are some tips to help you use double-pointed needles.
Knitting a Circular Gauge Swatch
Knitting a gauge swatch in the round is vital if you really want to know how your yarn is going to behave when knit in the round. Fortunately, there's an easy way around knitting a gauge swatch in the round.
Knitting a gauge swatch in the round is vital if you really want to know how your yarn is going to behave when knit in the round. Fortunately, there's an easy way around knitting a gauge swatch in the round.
Picking up Stitches
Picking up stitches is required for many different reasons in knitting, from adding embellishments or a button band to a finished item to making a project seamless. Here's how to pick up stitches like a pro.
Picking up stitches is required for many different reasons in knitting, from adding embellishments or a button band to a finished item to making a project seamless. Here's how to pick up stitches like a pro.
How to Drop Stitches
Usually dropping stitches in knitting is not a good thing, but sometimes a drop stitch can be used to make a very cool look. Here's how you drop stitches and why you would want to.
Usually dropping stitches in knitting is not a good thing, but sometimes a drop stitch can be used to make a very cool look. Here's how you drop stitches and why you would want to.
Right-Slanting Cable
The right-slanting cable (or cable back) is probably the easiest form of cable to make. It's very easy to do and looks great in all sorts of applications.
The right-slanting cable (or cable back) is probably the easiest form of cable to make. It's very easy to do and looks great in all sorts of applications.
Left-Slanting Cable
A left-slanting cable, also known as a cable front, is one of the easiest cables to make, but it is a little more awkward for some knitters than the right-slanting variety.
A left-slanting cable, also known as a cable front, is one of the easiest cables to make, but it is a little more awkward for some knitters than the right-slanting variety.
Making Bobbles
Bobbles are a relatively common way to add dimensional texture to a piece of knitting. They involve increasing several times in the same stitch, turning the work, purling back and decreasing those stitches immediately.
Bobbles are a relatively common way to add dimensional texture to a piece of knitting. They involve increasing several times in the same stitch, turning the work, purling back and decreasing those stitches immediately.
How to Knit with Wire
Knitting with wire can be a lot of fun, but it's a little different from knitting with yarn. Here are some things you should know before you get started.
Knitting with wire can be a lot of fun, but it's a little different from knitting with yarn. Here are some things you should know before you get started.
Heel Turning
Turning a heel is probably the part that most keeps people from knitting socks. Don't be scared! It's actually pretty easy to turn a sock heel once you understand what the instructions are asking you to do.
Turning a heel is probably the part that most keeps people from knitting socks. Don't be scared! It's actually pretty easy to turn a sock heel once you understand what the instructions are asking you to do.
Grafting with the Kitchener Stitch
Grafting, also known as Kitchener Stitch, is a popular way to close up sock toes and other pieces of knitting that are live on two needles. It can be a little intimidating, but with practice and a mantra in your head, it gets easier.
Grafting, also known as Kitchener Stitch, is a popular way to close up sock toes and other pieces of knitting that are live on two needles. It can be a little intimidating, but with practice and a mantra in your head, it gets easier.
Organizing Your Knitting Records
Every knitter takes notes about patterns, collects gauge swatches or designs his or her own patterns from time to time. If you're not careful, you can have a big mess on your hands. Here are some ideas for containing your knitting records.
Every knitter takes notes about patterns, collects gauge swatches or designs his or her own patterns from time to time. If you're not careful, you can have a big mess on your hands. Here are some ideas for containing your knitting records.
How to Duplicate Stitch
Duplicate stitch is an easy way to add color to a basic stockinette stitch fabric. It's somewhat similar to cross stitch, but makes Vs instead of Xs.
Duplicate stitch is an easy way to add color to a basic stockinette stitch fabric. It's somewhat similar to cross stitch, but makes Vs instead of Xs.
Knit a Duplicate Stitch Sample
Making duplicate stitch is an easy way to jazz up plain stockinette stitch, but it can be a little intimidating to just read about it. This sample duplicate stitch project can be worked on a swatch of stockinette, and by the end of it you'll be a confident duplicate stitcher.
Making duplicate stitch is an easy way to jazz up plain stockinette stitch, but it can be a little intimidating to just read about it. This sample duplicate stitch project can be worked on a swatch of stockinette, and by the end of it you'll be a confident duplicate stitcher.
Dealing with Stash Guilt
Some days you just feel like you've got too much yarn. What are you saving it all for? Here are some strategies for alleviating stash guilt
Some days you just feel like you've got too much yarn. What are you saving it all for? Here are some strategies for alleviating stash guilt
Standard Bed and Blanket Sizes
Did you know bed sizes are different in different countries? If you want to design your own knitted blankets, here are some guidelines for blanket sizes to help you know how big to make your blankets.
Did you know bed sizes are different in different countries? If you want to design your own knitted blankets, here are some guidelines for blanket sizes to help you know how big to make your blankets.
Sock Basics
Many knitters are afraid of knitting socks, but there's nothing to be worried about. Just trust the pattern and read this pep talk to get started.
Many knitters are afraid of knitting socks, but there's nothing to be worried about. Just trust the pattern and read this pep talk to get started.
How to Read a Knitting Chart
Reading a knitting chart is a basic of multi-colored knitting, but it can be a little intimidating for new knitters. Here are some basics on how to read a knitting chart.
Reading a knitting chart is a basic of multi-colored knitting, but it can be a little intimidating for new knitters. Here are some basics on how to read a knitting chart.
Learn to Resize a Simple Garment
If the bodywarmer pattern doesn't fit you, here are the calculations behind the pattern so you can resize it exactly to fit your needs. This is good practice for altering patterns.
If the bodywarmer pattern doesn't fit you, here are the calculations behind the pattern so you can resize it exactly to fit your needs. This is good practice for altering patterns.
Resolutions for Knitters
Most people make resolutions realted to their health, breaking bad habits and the like. But do you make any knitting related resolutions? Here are five great ones to get you started.
Most people make resolutions realted to their health, breaking bad habits and the like. But do you make any knitting related resolutions? Here are five great ones to get you started.
Entrelac Resources
If you're crazy about entrelac, this site will guide you to many different published patterns for the fun interlaced knitting style. This page does not offer web links to patterns, it is more like a bibliography so you can find patterns in books at your local library, book store or crafts store.
If you're crazy about entrelac, this site will guide you to many different published patterns for the fun interlaced knitting style. This page does not offer web links to patterns, it is more like a bibliography so you can find patterns in books at your local library, book store or crafts store.
Knitting Buttonholes
This simple page offers basic instruction on how to make horizontal or vertical buttonholes. Most patterns that require buttonholes will tell you how to shape the buttonhole, but if you're working on an original design or adding buttons to a project that didn't call for them, this page can be a huge help.
This simple page offers basic instruction on how to make horizontal or vertical buttonholes. Most patterns that require buttonholes will tell you how to shape the buttonhole, but if you're working on an original design or adding buttons to a project that didn't call for them, this page can be a huge help.
Introduction to Aran Knitting
Aran knitting, also known as fisherman knitting, originated in the English Aran Islands. This beautiful technique is rather advanced, but this page runs down the basics of making a couple of Aran afghan squares, which are good projects for those new to Aran knitting.
Aran knitting, also known as fisherman knitting, originated in the English Aran Islands. This beautiful technique is rather advanced, but this page runs down the basics of making a couple of Aran afghan squares, which are good projects for those new to Aran knitting.
Advanced Knitting Stitches
If you're ready to take your knitting to the next level, check out these advanced vintage knitting stitches. Make a peacock tail fan stitch, spiral stitch, knotted stitch and more. This site is not for the meek, or the beginner!
If you're ready to take your knitting to the next level, check out these advanced vintage knitting stitches. Make a peacock tail fan stitch, spiral stitch, knotted stitch and more. This site is not for the meek, or the beginner!