Knitting resources
Older knitting news
Please see the up-to-date news on the Hand Knitter home page
Hunting frogs
Yarn 2 Spin is looking for frogs. Not the amphibious kind... but your knit / crochet projects gone wrong! A new website / blog is opening soon to share your lessons in the form of Frogged projects. Published stories will earn you a $5 gift certificate to www.yarn2spin.com and a "Frog It" button.
Do we agree that knitting is a 'dying art'?
The traditional art of Shetland knitting and Fair Isle sweaters is under threat in its original home.
Shetland's name is synonymous with Fair Isle and lace knitting and at the moment every pupil on the islands is taught to knit throughout their primary education, giving them a grounding in basic techniques and Fair Isle patterns.
The decision to save £130,000 on the grounds that hand knitting is "unfortunately a dying art" could "wipe out an entire generation of knitters".
Facebook
delicious
stumbleupon
twitter
Rebellion neckwarmer breaks the rules
Helen has named this made this beautiful ruffle neckwarmer Rebellion, because it breaks all the rules. She has made it from her own handspun art yarn, knit into two-stitch and three-stitch icord using an icord loom home-made from household items.
She describes the response she's had to this post as "overwhelming" and it's no surprise; the finished object is gorgeous and she has gone to so much trouble to give us step-by-step instructions on how you can make one too.
aKNITomy - Knitted bisected head
CraftyHedgehog enjoys taking subjects that some people find squeamish, and working them in safe, comforting materials. She sells patterns, kits and finished objects.
The bisected human head is a needle felted piece incorporating a variety of fibres and a hand knitted brain on a knitted merino background. Other fibers used to create the head were merino, alpaca, silk and tencel.
I've shied away from showing you some of her more grizzly pieces; please follow the link if you have a strong stomach and want to explore those.
Website review: Knits Gone Bad (making your next damn sweater fit)
This new site has made a rapid entry into my top knitting sites, by doing something a bit different and very useful.
Karen starts off by asking "does the world need another knitting blog?" but then she goes on to produce much more.
She does blog about her finished objects, but the real joy of this site is the knitting help. Help with mistakes and help with knitting pattern calculations in pictures and video.
In order to build up a few testimonials, she's offering to give you personal help for free. Even if you'd like to just browse or subscribe to the site, you'll find so much useful help. Browse the Fitting Tips and Knitting Mistakes categories to see what I mean.
Rag doily knitted rug
Does knitting to a gauge of 1 stitch to 1 inch appeal to you? Traditionally, rag knitting recycled old sheets and garments into new items. You could do this or buy cheap textiles to cut up into strips. This site gives instructions on making your rag-yarn and this wonderful pattern to knit with your biggest needles!
15 knitting tips
Knitting Daily have compiled this list of 15 knitting tips from readers. They include how to get sleeves the same length, making a lifeline, improvising a blocking board and a darning mushroom and how to cast on without a slip knot.
In the Loop
The Guardian presents an amazing and thought-provoking slideshow of images from new book In The Loop: Knitting Now by Jessica Hemmings. The book explores knitting used in contemporary art and textile design and features artists such as Freddie Robins, Annie Shaw, Lacey Jane Roberts and Mark Newport.
Sheep to catwalk at Pringle
Scottish firm Pringle's horribly funny 'behind the scenes' video quite rightly insists on calling a sweater a jumper! The narrator takes us on a journey from rain-soaked sheep and goats through to the catwalk, pausing to pick off the wee beasties on the way.
Blogpick: Knooking - knitting with a hook
This technique might appeal to a crocheter who doesn't knit or a knitter who hasn't picked up a hook. June writes about knitting with a hook. Not Afghan or Tunisian crochet, the stitches are real knit stitches and the work looks just as if it were knitted with pointed needles. You need a hook which is uniform thickness down its length a knitpro Afghan / Tunisian interchangeable hook will be ideal with a cable attached but without a stopper or second needle on the other end.
Truckers Pick Up Stitching
Possibly an April Fool joke, but thanks to noricum at Soapbox for this very funny article about truckers who occupy their downtime by knitting and quilting.
Facebook
delicious
stumbleupon
Twist Collective Spring 2010
The latest edition of the eMag Twist Collective is out. A wonderful collection of articles and spring patterns; lots of socks and more. I particularly like this lovely shawl, called Abrazo, a hug of a shawl with points and leaf motifs.
Knitting warmth
The makers of this film wanted to show warmth spreading through a house. How better than to show the house gradually being covered by knitting? The result is an amazing stop-motion video:
Just as fascinating is the 'making of' video.
Pattern choice: April Fool's Day socks
A simple pair of socks emerge in the strangest fashion. The first is knit 'toe up', some scrap yarn is knit into the middle and the second sock is knit down to the toe. Because the pair is knit all at once, there will be no second sock syndrome!
New products - handmade cards
These cards feature a textured sheep and are blank for your own message. Perfect for your friends or for the spinner / knitter in your life.
Respect the 'tache
Who doesn't admire beautifully-sculpted facial hair? Those not husuit enough to sport their own home-grown, here's another fun pattern from knitty which allows you to "respect the 'tache", wear a disguise and keep warm all at the same time.
Vegan Fox
Whether you think the fox is a mischievious cuddly or a pest, wearing one with its face still on now seems grizzly. But the fox stole was a fashion accessory of the 30s.
This amusing non-violent version is an easy knit using novelty yarn.
All about Vegetable Fibers
Do you know your cotton from your linen and your jute from your sisal? In this article appearing on knittingdaily.com, Shirley Paden shares some fascinating information about vegetable fibers.
Knitted Science
Some beautiful, some grizzly, slightly surreal; all items in this collection of knitted items such as the brain cells in this photo are fascinating and inspired by science.
Thanks to Knitting out loud for this one.
It reminded me of the molecule knitting charts - phenylalenine, glucose and THC in knitting :http://www.chemknits.com/2009/01/molecule-knitting-charts.html
Washcloth Puzzle
Here's a fascinating idea. Knit a plain washcloth, dye a pattern, unravel it (leaving the cast-on stitches) and send it to a friend. As they knit the apparently-randomly-dyed yarn, the pattern will re-appear!
Crochet by Numbers
This amazing portrait in crochet was created by knitsandthings. The technique has been developed by Todd Paschall. At crochetbynumbers.com you can learn the technique, pick up a free pattern or buy a pattern. He'll also make you a custom pattern from your own photograph.
There's also a Ravelry group dedicated to the technique.
In miniature
These tiny things are so fascinating. Sometimes functional, they could be used as miniatures in a doll's house for example, but mostly they are just cute. Check out the mochimochi blog and the MUFFA Etsy shop
Free pattern - iPad cosy?!
Yes, it's true, Lion Brand have published a pattern before Apple's lovely new device has even hit the shops. The pattern is rated 'easy' and one-size-fits-all at about 7 x 10 in. (18 x 25.5 cm)
Get the pattern. (You will need to register with the Lion Brand website first, but that is free and gives you access to hundreds more free patterns.)
Free pattern - Swallowtail shawl
Originally published in a magazine in 2006, it was a finalist in the readers' choice awards. it's now available as a free download alongside lots more beautiful free patterns at Evelyn Clark designs. I'm currently knitting this with my own handspun merino/silk. After one false start I'm feeling so keen to get it finished. Read my blog posts.
Introducing Amazing yarn
Lion Brand have introduced a new yarn that has the look of handpainted yarn. 'Amazing' comes in 7 colors, washable 55% wool/ 45% acrylic blend. Medium weight (worsted/afghan/aran)
Knitted Lives
Knitted Lives is a touring exhibtion bringing together knitting, art and women's lives living in Newcastle - all made out of wool. Items from bicycles and standard lamps to lipsticks and powder compacts are made out of wool. It's the brainchild of Alice Thwaite, from the Equal Arts organisation in Newcastle.
Twisted Thread, The Knitting and Stitching Exhibition 2010 25 - 28 November.
Fingerless gloves / wristwarmer round-up
Quick and easy to knit and just in time for winter, Tipnut has collected together some free fingerless glove / wristwarmer patterns.
Knitters turn to graffiti artists with 'yarnbombing'
One of the most ambitious pieces of yarnbombing, or graffiti knitting, saw a woman spend an entire week covering a disused single decker bus in colourful swatches. 'Luckily I had a small team to help me with the bus but it took a week to do' said Mrs Sayeg.
Blogpick: Shark Mittens and Samuel L Jackson from Deep Blue Sea
islandofwords has posted a whole bunch of finished items, including this highly amusing and inventive project....
Lionheart
Three 30-foot high hand-crochet lions are to be created and displayed in a glass taxidermy case as part of the celebrations of culture leading up to the 2012 games.
The Artists Taking the Lead project involves 12 commissions representing the regions of the UK. The East Midlands winner is Shauna Richardson, who will crochet the lions herself. The connection with the region and inspiration for the project is Richard the lionheart, whose coat of arms featured three lions. Shauna hopes to use Peak District wool, historically the regions most important export.
Blogpick: free pattern for a hairband or fascinator
I like this. Quick, easy and fun. More of an idea than a pattern, let your creative juices flow. From Anjie Davison - craft, fashion and photography creative inspiration blog.
Business as usual during the strikes
If you've ordered from me before, you'll know that I dispatch same day if possible, always by the next working day, and always use first class. I'm sending parcels out as normal, and am hoping that you will order as normal. The post office have said that all post will be delivered, but obviously some may be delayed during the period of the strikes.
At best, parcels will be delivered as normal, at worst, I expect that some will be delayed by a day or two.
Trick or Treat - Halloween Knits
Some ghoulish ideas for using up stash are listed over at Rowan.
Free patterns are available for downloading - Pablo the Pumpkin, Ollie the Owl and the perfect Trick or Treat wallet.
Knit a poem
More than a thousand knitters worldwide have been knitting furiously through September to contribute 1200+ squares to a 13 metre by 9 metre hand-knitted version of Dylan Thomass 'In my Craft or Sullen Art'.
The Poetry Society felt that the choice of poem was appropriate for the project, and none of the knitters knew what the poem was while they were knitting.
The poem was rolled out at the British Library, London, on 7 October and will be on show in Swansea, Thomass home town, at the end of October. It will then tour to Manchester and beyond.
Naked Knitting Noras
The Knitting Noras are a group of fundraising knitters from Bolton, who, it says here, get up to all sorts of malarkey.
You can now buy their 2010 calendar, proceeds will go to cancer chairities.
Are we go fight crime, or what? Yep, just let me finish this row...
Teenaged superheroes fighting crime in fabulous handknits!
Bizarre but true. Our handknitting superheroes appear in their own comic strip, which includes a full knitting pattern every issue (beginner to intermediate). Only in america! If you are tempted, there are a couple of retailers here in the UK that stock the comic and merchandise.
Graveyard graffiti knitting
Artists Sundogs were commissioned to produce a piece of work that would turn some heads in Inverness. The gravestone cosy is certainly eye-catching if perhaps a little irreverent? (Though I'd be chuffed to bits if it were me that was lying beneath it.) The pattern's online if you want to knit one yourself.
Making a dress form
Author Wendy Bernard is responsible for this fun, creative and cost-effective way to clone your own body to make a perfect dress form.
Knitting in public
Still all fired up about Worldwide Spin in Public Day, I've started a Flickr group called Spinning and knitting in public - if you have a Flickr account, just click 'join'. If you aren't on Flickr, it's pretty easy to join. Go on - you know you want to!
KnitPro Spectra Needles
Already available in America as Knit Picks Zephyr needles, clear acrylic needle tips are now available here in the UK. The lightweight tips look amazing and are to be called knitPro Spectra here.
Interchangeable points are available on this site in sizes 3.5mm - 7mm.
Knit Pro chart maker
Not the needles in this case, this KnitPro is a free web application that translates digital images into knit, crochet, needlepoint and cross-stitch patterns. Simply upload jpeg, gif or png images and knitPro will generate a graph sizable for any fiber project.
12 Easy Lace Knitting Patterns free eBook
If you've not yet started to explore the holey world of the 'yarn over' stitch, this free book may be for you.
Blogpick - And now for something completely different - wierd pattern round-up
Thanks to Carissa for this round-up of wacky patterns. knitted dog poo, a fish that's eating your head, a very sinister hat and substitute womb with variations.
Twist Collective Fall 2009 (read:Autumn 2009!) issue
The autumn issue of Twist Collective is out. It's a special issue as it's their first anniversary!
Among the wealth of patterns there's a definite focus on 'tops and toes' - sweaters, hats and socks, with the forthcoming colder weather in mind.
Articles include 'Swatch it!' - Clara Parkes knits the same cabled swatch in a range of wools made from different breeds and different processes, 'A Round Yoke by Other Means', Pam Allen writes about her new favourite technique for knitting a rounded yoke, 'The Ram is Half the Sweater', the fourth part of an article about farming sheep.
Free Crochet Patterns eBook is Thrifty and Fun
FaveCrafts introduce this great free crochet patterns eBook, which provides 25 original crochet patterns.
Cancer charity's appeal to knitters
Macmillan Cancer Support is inviting experts and amateurs alike to pick up their knitting needles and create anything from a single patchwork square to a full blanket.
Macmillan is supported by leading knitting magazine, The Knitter, and designer handknits company Rowan, who have lined up some of the biggest stars of the knitting world to design patterns for the campaign, including Debbie Bliss, Alice Starmore, Meg Swansen, Marie Wallin, Jared Flood and Teva Durham
The first pattern is in the August issue of The Knitter and all of the patterns are available as a free download from the Macmillan website www.macmillan.org.uk/theknitter
Sock Knitting Round-Up
Another great weekly round up by Threadbanger - If you've not knitted a pair of socks, or if you have and want to knit more, this is for you:
Lion Brand Patterns Now Free!
Lion Brand has announced that all of its previously paid-for patterns are now available for free. You do have to join their website to access the patterns.
What does a shepherdess wear on her wedding day?
Award-winning sheep breeder Louise Fairburn designed her stunning gown and used wool from her favourite rare Lincoln Longwool. The dress has to be seen to be believed!
Summer 2009 Knitty
Here in Britain we've had some hot days but at times it's been difficult to believe that it's summer! I suppose that means more indoor days for knitting! More reliable than our weather is the Summer issue of Knitty
The latest issue has cool patterns for the summer, and is looking ahead with 'holiday headstart' patterns - warm knits which you can make a start on now and (if you knit as slowly as me) finish in time for the winter weather. Holiday headstarts are marked with a snowflake on the patterns page
Other Summery items include How to create a lace chart and this friendly crustacean
Darwin's animals recreated by knitting team
Charles Darwin's treasured animal collection, including creepy creatures in jars and a stuffed tortoise, have been recreated by a team of knitters.
The show, called Darwin's Leftovers, includes knitted hummingbirds, fossils, a life-size iguana, tribal souvenirs and a tarantula.
http://www.24dash.com/news/Communities/2009-07-31-Darwins-animals-recreated-by-knitting-team
How many yards of yarn do I have to spin to make that?
Your pattern tells you you need so many ounces of a certain type of yarn, or worse still, doesn't tell you how much yarn you need. How much should you spin?
I've made this handy calculator which will work it out for you. Yarn calculator.
Grandmother's favourite dishcloth
Ecologically sound and perfect for using up left over ends (cotton is ideal)- Grandmother's favourite dishcloth.
http://www.yarnpirate.com/?p=303
If you want to try something else, Tipnut has a collection of free dishcloth patterns:
http://tipnut.com/dishcloth-patterns/
and free washcloth patterns:
http://tipnut.com/dirty-girl-washcloths/
Perfect gift for father's day?
This is either bonkers or genius, I can't decide.
http://knitting.about.com/od/patternsformen/p/garter-tie.htm.
Twist Collective - Summer 09 issue
An online magazine featuring articles and patterns. Among the items in this new Summer 09 issue, Clara Parkes swatches a sock pattern in several different yarns. Twist Collective current issue.
UK Ravelry Day
We've read about the forthcoming UK Ravelry day in Coventry. Its aims include supporting British yarn and the International Year of Natural Fibres and will include a market (outside building in the Bull Yard square), demonstrations, workshops, talks. So well worth supporting if you're able.
UK Ravelry day will be held on Saturday 6 June 2009 at the Central Hall, Coventry: http://www.britishyarn.org.uk/PR01160309.html
International Year of Natural Fibres: http://www.naturalfibres2009.org
Blogpick: Silly pattern round-up
Glow in the dark gnome beard/brows, Swine-Flu Masque, Shark Hat, adorable Toilet Paper and knitted DNA all fature in threadbanger's round up of silly knitting patterns.
Have you a favourite silly pattern? Email me: shiela@handknitter.co.uk
Knitting Marathon
You are invited to take part in a 24-hour knitting marathon next week (fri 22 May 2009).
The Mothers' Union will be knitting sailors' hats around the clock at St John's Church, Filey from noon on Friday as part of the Sailors' Society's annual Woolly Hat Campaign.
There will be spare wool, needles and patterns for those people who want to join in the fun.
The group is also putting on produce stalls, information stalls, an art exhibition and afternoon teas on the Friday afternoon.
http://www.fileymercury.co.uk/news/Open-invite-to-join-knitters39.5269844.jp
Make it - sell it!
We've been waiting for a good UK-friendly version of Etsy - could this be it? MISI is an online market place for buying and selling quality craft products. There's some lovely stuff on there, and we've bookmarked the 'bizarre' section.
- You can create your own store or just sell one off items and its free to join
- Stores are free to set up
- 20p per listing you make no matter what the quantity or price of the product is
- You will be charged just 3% of the sale of your items (only if the item sells)
- Items stay on the site for 12 months.
Have you used it to buy or sell? Email me to let me know what you think: shiela@handknitter.co.uk
Stitches on the Bridge
An invitation from Luib na Lban, a new textile art group in Skye and Lochalsh,
to take part in an ambitious guerrilla knitting project to cover the Skye Bridge in knitting!!
The Skye Bridge links the Isle of Skye with the mainland in the West Highlands of Scotland.
Participants are invited to knit or crochet items of particular dimensions: large panels, scarves, or smaller rectangles. These will be joined together and mounted on the ramparts of the bridge, creating a colourful and thought provoking display of knitted links with the world. All the items will eventually be sold to raise money for charity.
Jacquie's Knitting Chart Maker
Are you thinking of designing a pattern chart for your next project? This amazing free software might make that job a breeze and will work on your computer, as long as java is enabled in your browser. Intructions are right there on the page, just scroll down.
Knit one, perl one
For knitters who also love maths / computers, this post is a joy to read.
Mr K started with a satellite map of the earth, and "attacked it with computer programs until it was a knitting pattern"
... not because he really wants a knitted globe for the kids we suspect, but simply because he can.
Does anyone want to run with it? If you do, let us know how you get on - info@handknitter.co.uk http://www.knitternaut.com/?p=38
Use an iPhone / iPod Touch?
Stitch Counters: http://www.ipodapplications.com/interface/index.cfm?descid=21296 http://www.ipodapplications.com/interface/index.cfm?descid=889
Stitch Guage: http://www.ipodapplications.com/interface/index.cfm?descid=14289
Yarn calculator: http://www.ipodapplications.com/interface/index.cfm?descid=21634
Pattern: Elvis Wig
This is a gem. I love Ian Macmillan, the Barnsley Bard, and remember hearing his radio documentary about the Yorkshire Elvis Bus Tour. What a delight to find this on the web - Knitted Elvis wig pattern.
http://www.theshed.co.uk/elviswig.html
Pattern and appeal: knitted boobs
Until now, Mums who needed to express milk had to use expensive prosthetic breasts to learn the necessary skills.
An appeal to knitters resulted in some furious knitting and an 'amazing' response.
The pattern is available for free here. Contact Liverpool Women's Hospital's regional neo-natal unit if you'd like to make and donate one.
