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Every year, my husband and I set goals for our family—budget, health, travel, business, and so on. This year, I decided to make knitting and crochet goals, too. Check out my goals and join me in making the best of our knitting and crochet time in 2019!
You can knit a kids sweater on straight needles without learning hard stitch patterns or circular-needle shaping first. The main idea is simple: knit flat pieces, seam them together, and keep the stitch work to garter, stockinette, and ribbing. If...
You can check dyed alpaca at home in under 30 minutes for wash bleed, a few minutes for rub-off, and a few weeks for sun fade. If the water stays clear, a white cloth stays clean, and the sun-exposed sample...
Garter tabs are used to knit shawls when you want your garter stitch edge to be continuous. You start at the center of the shawl and you knit the garter stitch edge in both directions.
Using the method in this video, I used the Judy's Magic Cast On then flipped my work over so that my purl bumps were showing, then began to knit flat on one side back and forth to create the garter stitch edge.
You can knit this baby hat with just 80 to 120 yards of DK or light worsted alpaca yarn, a gauge of 28 stitches over 4 inches, and one of three cast-on counts: 54, 58, or 62 stitches. I’d use...
Alpaca Direct is excited to participate in the upcoming Malabrigo Dos Tierras Knit-Along, beginning on April 1, 2020. We have a fresh supply of Dos Tierras yarn to help you plan your project!
Alpaca yarn is a top choice for winter crafting due to its warmth, softness, and durability. Its hollow-core fibers trap heat effectively, making it warmer yet lighter than traditional wool. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic, making it ideal for sensitive skin. Whether...
Reversible cable knitting solves the problem of unattractive wrong sides by using ribbing instead of stockinette, making both sides of your project visually appealing. Perfect for scarves, blankets, and cowls, these cables can look identical on both sides or offer...
If I had to sum this up in one line: pick the gift by use, time, and yarn first. That makes the list much easier to sort. I see 21 crochet gift ideas here, and they fall into 3 simple...
If you want crochet slippers that stay on without a tight cuff, this X-strap build is the simple answer. I’d focus on 4 things first: make the sole about 0.25–0.75 in shorter than the foot, use a dense hook/yarn combo,...
Cascade 220 yarn is a popular choice for spring knitting projects, thanks to its lightweight feel, vibrant color options, and excellent stitch definition. Made from 100% Peruvian Highland wool, this worsted-weight yarn balances softness and durability, making it ideal for...
I used this super-easy pattern while delving into Cat Bordhi's Moebius Cast On. It's so inventive and addictive! Check out my Facebook Live broadcast for more about this interesting, versatile cast-on technique.
Alpaca yarn is ideal for creating soft, warm, and stylish crochet hats. Its luxurious texture and insulating properties make it perfect for winter accessories. Below are seven crochet hat patterns that showcase alpaca yarn’s versatility, from textured beanies to slouchy...
If your cast-off edge is too tight, the fix is usually simple: undo only the bind-off, catch each live stitch at once, and bind off again with more stretch. In most cases, the fabric below is fine. The problem is...
Alpaca fiber offers a winning combination for knitters: softness, warmth, durability, and eco-friendliness. Unlike sheep's wool, it’s lanolin-free, hypoallergenic, and gentle on sensitive skin. Its hollow-core structure provides superior insulation, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the...
Gorgeous colorwork knitting is all over Ravelry these days. From intricate Fair Isle projects to simple stripes, it's easy to fall in love with color.
I thought I'd take a walk though the patterns we offer and find my top five. I also have a great stranded-knitting tip for you: how to get even floats!
Understanding knitting needle sizes is crucial for creating well-fitted, beautiful projects. Here's what you need to know: Needle Basics: Larger needles create loose, open stitches, while smaller ones make tighter, denser fabric. The right size ensures your project matches...
One twist at the join can ruin the whole project. If I want a clean start, I need to do 3 things before round 1: lay the cast-on flat, keep the working yarn on the right needle, and check the...
I use circular needles pretty much exclusively, and all my knitting friends do, too. There are a few reasons for this, not the least of which is that circular needles are more readily available these days than straight needles. They're also easier to knit with than straight needles because they don't hit the table or your lap while you're knitting (does this happen to anyone else?) and you won't lose one of them!
There are many things to consider when choosing circular needles, and I'm going to compare materials and brands like Addi, Chiaogoo, Knitter's Pride and more, as well as talk a little about the interchangeable sets we offer. Whether you prefer metal, wood, or bamboo, we've got circular needles for you.
If you want a double-knit edge to stay neat on both sides, keep both yarns active, work the front and back stitches in order, and watch tension from the first few stitches. I’d sum it up like this: this bind-off...
Most round-join gaps come from just 3 things: a twisted cast-on, a loose first stitch, or a weak join. In this guide, I’d focus on the fix right away: check the cast-on edge, use a join that locks the first...
If you want ribbing, basketweave, waffle stitch, or cables, post stitches are the skill that makes those textures happen. I’d sum it up like this: post stitches are just regular crochet stitches worked around the vertical post instead of into...
Our shop owner Kelley recently finished Ambah O'Brien's Adventurer Cowl, and during our weekly Technique Tuesday broadcasts on Facebook Live, she demonstrated a few techniques used in the project.
This project is really gorgeous, no matter if you choose a bunch of mini-skeins to work with, or just two colors like Kelley did.
And with so many techniques to practice, it's a great pattern for stretching your skills. Ambah wrote the Adventurer Cowl for advanced beginners and beyond, and if you're a beginning chart reader, the pattern includes both written and charted instructions for the lace.
If I want a shoulder seam that looks flat on the outside and stays firm in wear, I use mattress stitch. It works best when I sew under the stitch bars just below the bind-off edge, line up both pieces...
A yarn label can save you from buying the wrong yarn, running short, or shrinking a finished project in the wash. I check 6 things every time: fiber content, yarn weight, yardage, needle or hook size, gauge, and dye lot/care...
If you read one chart square as one stitch, your double knitting will go off track. In double knitting, 1 chart square = 2 stitches worked as a pair: one for the front and one for the back. Here’s the...
Intarsia is the right pick when you want big color shapes without floats on the back. If I were starting today, I’d keep it simple: use a 4 x 4-inch swatch, stick to 3–4 colors per row, wind each section...
Knitting socks that fit wide or narrow feet requires accurate measurements and pattern adjustments. Standard sock patterns often don’t suit all foot shapes, leading to issues like tightness, slipping, or fabric bunching. By customizing stitch counts, heel construction, and gusset...
If you want a cast-on that looks neat, has some stretch, and sets up your first row at the same time, this is the one to learn. I’d sum it up like this: use smooth worsted-weight yarn, US 8 (5.0...
We've been seeing faux-fur pom poms everywhere lately—they're so cute! They add a touch of chic to any knit hat pattern.
Shop owner Kelley figured out how to make faux-fur pom poms at home, easily and inexpensively, with faux fur from the fabric store and items she had around the house. She's so clever.
Here's a video of the process.
