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Learn to Knit - Knitting for Beginners - Learn How to Knit

Learn to Knit - Knitting for Beginners - Learn How to Knit
Learning to knit is a lot of fun, and it's not actually as difficult as you might think. This guide to the basics and beyond has everything you need to get started whether you've never picked up needles before or just need a refresher. Knitting Skills: There are several basic skills involved in knitting, such as: making a slip knot and casting on forming the knit stitch forming the purl stitch binding off, sometimes also referred to as casting off You'll also need a few basic knitting tools to get started. Picking a Pattern: Once you've got the basics down, it's time to pick your first project. Many patterns, even those for beginners, seem to be written in code. Finishing Projects: Once you've reached the end of your knitting, all is not quite finished. Learning New Skills: Once you're comfortable with the basics and have successfully finished a project or two, there are many more skills to try. Troubleshooting:

the LIFE LESSONS blog {things crafty, thrifty, family, yummy & rambly): Lesson# 144 The Best Gifts are Homemade {Natural Chapstick} After searching FAR AND WIDE for an awesome Christmas gift for my girlfriends this year... I finally landed on the best gift project I'm made thus far. I mean, this is way better than painted frames, decorated mugs and puff painted totes. Introducing the gift that's inexpensive, fun to make, and is actually useful in real life! WOAH! What a concept, right? Homemade Natural Chapstick (because who needs another crocheted tissue box cover?) 1.5 oz beeswax (1 and a half tablets) 6 vitamin E capsules 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil (2=more rigid, 3=softer) 2-3 teaspoons of coconut oil 2-3 teaspoons of cocoa butter 25-30 empty chap stick tubes OR 15 lip balm containers DIRECTIONS 1. Where I found my ingredients: Organic olive oil (local health food store) Organic coconut oil (local health food store) Vitamin E tablets (local health food store) Empty chap stick tubes (ebay and a few pill boxes) clear printer labels (walmart) Aren't they adorable? Be Brave and EXPERIMENT! Dress 'em Up!

Cast On For Your First Knitting Project To start any knitting project you have to make the loops on the needle that you will then knit to form the fabric. This is known as casting on. There are many different methods for casting on, but two of the easiest for new knitters are the wrap cast on and the knit cast on. Performing a knit cast on is handy because you basically learn how to make the knit stitch at the same time, but the wrap cast on is also quick and easy, if not quite as firm. You might want to practice a bit before you make the final cast on for your knitting, making sure that all your loops are relatively even in tension. When you're ready to begin the project fully, cast on 20 stitches in the method of your choice.

Yarn Ends - Yarn Ends in Knitting A Q&A on hiding yarn ends in lace knitting by Jackie E-S Knitters ask – This is such a basic question, but I'm having problems weaving in the ends on my lace projects. I've been posed with this question before, and have come to realize that the question of "what to do with ends" is one thing that stops knitters from attempting lace! Many of the following tips and techniques discussed are applicable to knitting in general, so I hope that some of this may be valuable to you even if you are not (yet) a lace knitter. A continuous yarn My preferred scenario is not to have ends except at beginning and end of the knitting. If there is not a continuous length of yarn for the project, then a first strategy is to make the yarn a continuous length. The "stitching together" join Another method for joining yarn, especially useful when the yarn is not plied, or for slippery or non-feltable yarns, is what I will refer to as "stitching together". Planning ahead Weaving in Yes, avoid whenever possible.

Free Candle Making Instructions Directory - StumbleUpon Vital Instructions Candle Making Safety Instructions Do not make candles without reading and understanding these rules. Introduction To Candle Making This interactive on-line course teaches the basics of paraffin candle making. The course is 100% free, however you must register to use it. Candle Makers Troubleshooting Guide Just answer the questions for diagnosis and solutions to most candle making problems. Candle Measures A guide to measurements for candle making formulas. Wick Selection Guide Instructions on how to choose the correct wick for your Candles Candle Making Recipe Book Series This series is still under production, however most of the articles are now available. Container Candle Recipes A guide to container candle wax formulations and other information about container candles. Floating Candle Recipes A guide to floating candle wax formulations and other information about floating candles. Full Instruction List (in alphabetical order) Whipped Wax The basics of making whipped wax.

Knitting 101: Lesson One {Slipknot} One of my loves in this world is knitting. I love the soft yarns, the stretchiness, and the many different designs I can create with a few simple stitches. This week, I am going to post several tutorials to teach you to knit, so you can share my love of this skill. I apologize to anyone who is left-handed; I am right-handed, and all of my pictures/videos show knitting right-handed. There are a couple items to pick up to get you started: I suggest beginning with a set of large needles (size 10 or 11). Leaving the yarn around your left hand, reach down and grab the working yarn between your thumb and pointer finger on your left hand. Pull the yarn you just pinched through the loop on your hand (you will slide the loop off your hand). Pull both sides of the yarn to create the slipknot. Practice, practice, practice, and come back tomorrow for casting on.

5 Tips For Seaming Or Sewing Up Knit & Crochet Pieces May 9th, 2011 by Zontee There comes a time in most knitters’ and crocheters’ lives when you want to tackle a project that has seams to be sewn up, whether it’s a top, a hat, an afghan, or a cardigan. While many knitters & crocheters are wary of sewing, seams can be an important part of your project’s construction, providing structure and helping it to keep its shape, so it’s an important skill to learn. Some knitters & crocheters also worry that the seam will show, but as you can see from the picture of my partly seamed sweater, you can’t even tell where I’m joining the front and back of the sweater together! Besides, seaming doesn’t have to be difficult. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. With a little practice and a little patience, you’ll soon be a seaming queen (or king)!

Making Hot Process Soap in a Crock Pot Thank you for visiting Little House in the Suburbs. Please subscribe and you'll get great simple living tips and how-to articles delivered to your inbox, for free! I made famous soap today. It is a Hot Process Crock Pot, Oatmeal & Honey Castile soap recipe, known interchangeably as Kaleb’s Oatmeal & Honey Castile or Bunny’s Castile. Soapers (people who make homemade soap) will understand what I just wrote, but for those normal folks out there who still haven’t nodded off, allow me to translate into English: In (extreme) brief, there are two basic ways to make soap at home–cold process and hot process: Cold Process: Combine oil(s) with a solution of water and sodium hydroxide (lye). Hot Process: Combine oil(s) with a solution of water and sodium hydroxide (lye) and cook. One method of hot process is the Crock Pot Method. Why one method over another? Finally, Castile soap is olive oil soap. Okay, back to the famous soap recipe. Here follows my first experience with this recipe: One more thing.

TLC "Finishing: Seams & Weaving Yarn Tails" While it may be tempting to hurry through the finishing so you can finally see the completed project, it's important not to rush through sewing the seams and weaving yarn tails if you want the end result to look polished and professional. Block each piece before assembling, and allow the pieces to dry. This helps the edges remain flat as you work. Shoulder Seams (bound-off edges) Step 1: Lay both pieces flat, with right sides facing up. Step 2: Insert the needle from right to left under the two vertical legs of the first stitch on the piece farther from you (fig. 25a), then insert the needle from right to left under the next two vertical legs on the near piece, beginning in the same hole as the first stitch was made. Shoulder Seams: Figure 25a Step 3: Continue to alternate sides, inserting the needle from right to left under two strands and beginning in the same hole as the last stitch was made. Mattress Stitch Mattress Stitch: Figure 25b Backstitch Backstitch: Figure 26a

Washing and Blocking Knitting" Always save at least one label from your yarn when you make an item that needs to be washed often. Keep it where you can easily find it when it's time to wash the piece. Some yarns can be safely washed in the washing machine and dried in the dryer, but others would be destroyed by such treatment. Fill a sink with lukewarm water (never hot!) Have a blocking board (a thick, padded board on which to pin damp garments so they can dry to the correct size) ready, or spread a layer of thick towels on a flat surface such as a table or a bed. Some yarns, including wool, can be blocked by using steam, but always check the yarn label first. Sometimes you wash a knitted piece in order to felt it.

Just take your time and let me know if I can help. by karenbrown Dec 17

Thanks Karen. I'll probably need lots of help. I have some friends that knit and they're always telling me how relaxing it is. I'll have to wait and see though. by nordicgirl_2 Dec 17

I'm sure you will like it. Knittinghelp.com will show you how to do anything. After all, knitting is just variations of knit and purl. Let me know if you have any questions. by karenbrown Dec 16

I've never tried it before. Thought I'd give it a go over Christmas and see if I think I'd like it. by nordicgirl_2 Dec 16

If you have interest in knitting, go to ravelry.com. by karenbrown Dec 8

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