Category: Tutorials
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Adding Thumbs!
Whenever I design a new boot topper pattern, I release the pattern in several sizes from Child to Adult Large. And I usually get at least one message from a test knitter that mentions how great the smaller sizes would fit as fingerless mitts….except the boot toppers are not written with directions for a thumb…
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Rogue Knitting! Or How to Decide Which Size Knitting Needle to Use
First, let me say that the suggested knitting needle sizes in a pattern are ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS a suggestion. The size of needles that a knitter might need changes drastically for a lot of different reasons. The type of yarn, the type of needle, your mood, the weather, and the stitches you are knitting can…
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Tutorial: Attached I-Cord Neckline
The applied I-cord neckline that I use on many of my patterns differs slightly from a more traditional one. I want to share a bit here about how I do it on my patterns. Most of my tutorials include both photos and a video of the process. For this one, I made a longer 3-minute…
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Increases on both the RS and WS rows
Pattern grading from the smallest sizes to the largest sizes of a knitwear pattern can need different rates of increases for a variety of reasons. The main reasons are to be able to start with a reasonable back neck measurement, to complete all necessary increases before the upper body grows too long, and to maintain…
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Gauge Swatches? Yes! Please!
The answer to this question changes depending on who you ask. Some knitters feel like a test swatch is a tiny soul-sucking piece of knitting. And other knitters feel like the same small piece of knitting is the most important first step to any knitting project (especially large ones like a sweater). I fall very…
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A Closer Look at Knitting with Linen and Linen Blend Yarns
Linen is one of my new favorite choices for summer knitting. Linen is a smooth and crisp yarn harvested from the long fibers of the flax plant. Linen is an excellent choice for warm-weather knits because it is airy, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying. Many knitters have traditionally shied away from linen because of the initial crisp…
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How to Find All the Information on My Knitting Patterns
I use the same basic layout for all of my patterns. Over the years, I’ve tweaked the layout to include all the elements I find necessary for a successful knitting project. As I learn more, I incorporate new things into my knitting patterns and I update patterns periodically to be sure they are up to…
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Tutorial: Lifted-Over Knot Stitch
The Turquoise Trail Pullover, Turquoise Trail Cowl, and Turquoise Trail Shawl feature textured cable panels. These designs are named Turquoise Trail because the southwest-inspired textured cable panels evoke both cabochons of turquoise and trails. The “cabochons” are formed with Lifted-Over Knot Stitches and the “trails” are simple 2/2 cables. The Lifted-Over Knot Stitches are new…
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Tutorial: Measuring the Upper Body of a Top-Down Sweater
How do I measure the upper body of my sweater? I get asked this question by knitters all the time. So I’m offering a quick look at how exactly I measure the upper body of a top-down sweater. In most top-down sweater or tee patterns, there is a spot where the designer will tell you…
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Tutorial: Knitted Flower Buds (worked in the round)
The Frida Tee is a hybrid top-down tee with flower bud cable panels that frame the top and bottom. The knitted flower buds are worked in the round over two rounds. You make the flower bud on first round and then close the flower bud on the second round. Here I’m sharing a quick photo…