Learn to Knit -- Right Twist Cable and Left Twist Cable

Time for another Learn To Knit video to add to the video library. This time I'll be showing you how to knit a simple cable twisting to the right and also twisting to the left. Cables look complicated, but really they are quite simple and they add such a nice touch to a knitted sweater or hat or mittens.

Take a look at the video and see how easy a cable is to knit.



In the sample, after knitting the row with the twists in it, I purled the next row, then (knitted the next and purled the next) twice. Then I worked another row with the twists in it exactly as I did in the video. So between each row with twists there are five rows in this order: purl, knit, purl, knit, purl. If you wanted your twists to be farther apart, you would just add more knit and purl rows in between the twist row.


This is the front of the sample after three cable twists and five more rows of alternating knit and purl. It is ready for the next knit row of twists. I love how it looks like the knitting is weaving in and out and around which, of course, is characteristic of cable knit.


Here is what the back of the piece looks like. You can see the little bumps where the twists have been worked.

So now you have seen just how easy a cable is to knit. I hope you give it a try, starting with a simple scarf or hat pattern. Lion Brand Yarn has a wonderful website with lots of free patterns. If you haven't signed up to access them yet, I would highly recommend it. Here is one for a simple cable scarf that has a neat detail where the cable gets smaller in the middle of the scarf. It would be pretty in any color! Let me know how your first cable project comes out.

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Hold It! -- A Bag Lover's Dream

Ever since I received the name of my Secret Stitcher for the Stitcher's Angel Swap, I've been trying to come up with some ideas for what I would like to make for her. I checked out the first two free projects that the designers have posted for the swap, and I really like both of them, but I really want to make my gifts unique.

I had a thought today for one of the gifts. A book I have had for many years has provided me with inspiration many times when I needed or wanted to make any type of bag, and that is one of the things I want to make for my Secret Stitcher -- a generously sized tote bag. She is a quilter after all, and we all know how big quilts can get even while in progress!

The book is called "Hold It! How to Sew Bags, Totes, Duffels, Pouches, & More" and one of the tote patterns in it has become My Absolute Favorite Bag of All Time.


This is a picture of the tote bag holding six 7-ounce skeins of yarn and my Basketweave Afghan which is about two-thirds finished now. It isn't really a Huge tote bag, 20" x 14" x 6", but it sure holds a lot! It is Project 10 in Hold It! and is called Expandable Zippered Tote. The top part of the bag, striped in the picture above, has a zipper down the middle and is shown in its expanded state. If the bag were not so full, that top part could be tucked down inside the bag, hiding the zipper.

I made this bag using discontinued upholstery samples from my local furniture store where a friend of mine worked. The bag is completely lined and has a large pocket sewn into the inside on one side. The handles are made of 1" webbing.

For my Secret Stitcher, I think I would choose two or three nice fabrics in her preferred color scheme and some denim. I love working with denim. I am planning to embroider a decorative panel for the outside on one side, and perhaps make it into an outside pocket. I hope this is something she will like and be able to use.

Now back to the book...ooooh, The Book! I love little books like this. 132 pages, paperback, 22 different projects of all shapes and sizes and for all skill levels from beginner to expert with many variations on each, clear directions and diagrams. There are chapters for Flat Bags, Totes, Duffels, Cases, and Rolls & Pouches. Lots of colored pictures of finished projects in various forms. Very inspirational if you're into bags! Check it out if you'd like and see for yourself.



Once I get my Secret Stitcher's tote bag underway, I will certainly share the details so come back and check it out.

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Oh No! What Have I Done? A Crochet Mistake

I've been diligently working on the Mitered Square Baby Blanket lately so I can get it done and move on to something else. Just the other day I started working on the last row of blocks. How exciting! Closer and closer to doing the border and finishing it up. A good feeling to be sure.

I have also been enjoying a little Olympics viewing in the evenings while working on this project ... Michael Phelps, USA Volleyball gold medals, all that exciting stuff. When I worked the first block of this last row, something wasn't quite right about it. I looked and looked at it trying to figure out just what was wrong, but couldn't, so I continued crocheting and enjoying the Olympics. The second block was finished and I started the third. After that only four more blocks and on to the border.

Well, last night I was about halfway finished with the third block and it was time to put my work down and go pick up my daughter from work. All this time I was still bothered by the feeling that something just wasn't right about this last row. I put my crochet hook down, spread out the blanket to see how it looked, and It Hit Me! Right that very moment, I realized what I had done wrong. I was working this row onto the side of the blanket instead of the top! So instead of working a seventh row of seven blocks, I was working an eighth row of six blocks. No wonder it didn't look right. Why hadn't I noticed that before?


So this is what it looked like at the Moment of Realization. Notice the row along the bottom now has eight blocks in it. The pattern calls for this blanket to be seven blocks square. I was pleased to see at least that the shading that makes the triangle shapes was still intact along the new row, but I was not happy with how the right edge of the new row was slightly different from the joining edges of the other rows.


The partial block on the left is the new eighth row so you can see the joining edge of that block with the block in the center. Compare that edge to the right edge of the center block and perhaps you can tell the difference too. The new block begins with a valley and the center block begins on the right side with a peak. These valleys and peaks, or ridges, are formed as a result of crocheting only into the back loop of the stitch instead of into both loops of the stitch.

Hmmm...what a quandary. Now I am wondering a few things about this mistake I have made.

• Would anyone else besides me, and everyone who reads this post, even notice this mistake?
• If I rip out this eighth row, should I reuse the yarn to begin the proper seventh row and if not, will I have enough yarn to finish the project?
• Do I like the blanket as it is turning out, that is rectangular? Or would I prefer it to be square as the pattern calls for?
• Will it make a difference in the overall look of the finished blanket if I finish it as it is now?
• Will it bother me in the end that I noticed a mistake and didn't fix it?

These are all good questions to ask after discovering a mistake in a piece of work. In most projects, I would say definitely do what you can to repair your mistake so your work will be finished properly and will look just right. There is no sense in doing all that work and spending all that time to end up with a piece that isn't just right. However, in some kinds of projects, a little mistake can add to its charm or actually make it work out better in the end.

So to answer my questions, I would have to say:

• I doubt that anyone else would even notice the mistake.
• Since this project is crocheting and not something like needlepoint or embroidery, ripping out lots of stitches shouldn't do any damage to the yarn and it should be fine to reuse it, so I don't have to worry about running short on yarn to finish the project. Also since each row is worked with one continuous yarn instead of the yarn being cut after each block, I will not end up with several short pieces of yarn after ripping it out.
• I do actually prefer rectangular baby blankets, but this blanket is not for me and will most likely end up being a gift for the next niece or nephew who has a first baby.
  
• No, I don't think it will make a difference in the overall look of the piece, except to someone who is a very perceptive and detail oriented expert crocheter.
• Yes, it would bother me to know that I finished a piece without fixing a mistake. Unless I decided I liked what the mistake brought to the finished piece.

I think that last answer is the key to what I should do next. Do I like what the mistake has brought to the piece? I haven't decided. I'll have to think about it some more and see how I feel about this. When next I show you the blanket, I will be working on the border so that's when you can find out what I decide to do about this dilemma.

What do you think?

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Daisy Cottage Textured Needlepoint Companions

Yesterday I showed you Daisy Cottage which is a Needlepoint picture worked in a variety of stitches using tapestry wool and Perle cotton. When I made that purchase, I also bought another kit that was its obvious partner. It is called Rose Cottage. I thought the two of them would look so nice in our master bedroom, framed alike, if I could only get them done. You saw that Daisy Cottage is complete. Here's what Rose Cottage looks like...


...still in the package, just like it did the day I bought it! It is definitely on my list of things to do though, because I am itching to put down the knitting needles and crochet hooks for just a little while!

These kits are part of The Coleshill Collection from England, makers of beautiful Cross Stitch, Tapestry, Crewel Embroidery and Stumpwork kits for all levels of stitching experience. Their Country Cottages series of Textured Stitch Pictures is what I stumbled upon during that wonderful shopping trip to Keepsake NeedleArts that day, but only two of the kits were available. There are two other kits in this series which I would love to acquire so as to complete the set and make a beautiful display on my bedroom wall.

Wisteria Cottage is lovely with its hanging clusters of purple and its pretty heart shaped tulips in the foreground.

Gable Cottage is just as pretty with more purple in French Knot clusters and a very inviting peaked roof entryway. Such curb appeal!

When I finally get my hands on them, I will certainly let you know! For now though, I must finish up my Filet Crochet dresser scarf for my daughter and the Mitered Square Baby Blanket before starting anything new! Oh yes, and I can't forget the treats I will be making for my Stitcher's Angel Swap secret stitcher!

So much stitching, so little time!

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Daisy Cottage Textured Needlepoint

I love all kinds of needlework and have tried just about every kind there is. Needlepoint was never really my favorite and consequently I don't have many needlepoint projects under my belt. However during my annual Vacation Shopping Trip a few years ago at Keepsake NeedleArts, I stumbled upon this kit for a Textured Stitch Needlepoint picture called Daisy Cottage. It intrigued me. The colors and the abundance of leaves in the picture would go very nicely in our master bedroom. But would I ever actually make it? If so, would it turn out good enough to spend the money to have it professionally framed? And even if I did make it, would I enjoy it? Needlepoint kits are not generally low-budget items, so these were all very good questions. I took the plunge and purchased it. The fact that it had been marked down from $59.99 to $17.99 helped quite a bit!


And here it is, in all its finished-but-not-yet-framed glory. I must say I am pleased with the outcome and I really did enjoy making it. The stitched part of this piece is only 7 inches square but as you can see it has lots of different stitches in it which give it a sort of 3-dimensional appearance.


This corner of the piece is done in a greyish green wool background of Diagonal Mosaic stitch with little yellow Perle Cotton French Knots on top. You can imagine the yellow to be any kind of flower you like.


The light and dark green reeds in the foreground are worked in Straight Satin stitch. The tan walkway and light green bush backgrounds are worked in Tent Stitch with Cross Stitch cobblestones in cream colored wool and pink Perle Cotton flowers. The greyish green background on the right side of the picture is Diagonal Mosaic stitch again with white French Knots. The dark green background above that is worked in the Upright Greek Cross stitch which gives a nice texture to that area.



Doesn't this doorway look inviting with its Lazy Daisy stitch vine and Double Cross yellow flowers surrounding it? The door itself is worked in columns of Straight Satin stitch with Tent stitch in between to look like panels of wood.



I love the look of the thatched roof with the scalloped edge on top and the Cross stitch peak.



This patch of daisies has a background of dark green Tent stitch, white Perle Cotton Tent stitch "petals" and yellow Perle Cotton French Knot centers. Very cheerful!



Here is a close-up of the finished piece. The Straight Satin stitch edge around the whole piece goes over 2 threads of canvas and is worked in wool that matches the design. This will be covered by the mat when professionally framed.

I enjoyed doing this piece because it is not very big so it wasn't a long-term commitment, and each section was small enough to work up quickly, but large enough to get the feel for all the different stitches. I also love the look of the shiny Perle Cotton used in amongst the wool.

Tomorrow I'll show you what else I purchased at the same time as this kit and what I hope to get to go along with it.

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Learn to Knit -- Eyelet Row Video Tutorial

A row of Eyelets, or little holes, on a knitted piece can add a nice touch of Fancy to the edge of a blanket or around the top of a baby sweater or bootie. It's very easy to do too. You just need to know how to Knit Two Stitches Together and Yarn Over. Take a look at this video to see just how easy it is.



I'm still getting used to knitting with a camera and tripod between me and my hands, so I hope you find my videos helpful in spite of their imperfections!

Here are two pictures of the sample piece with an Eyelet Row:

In this picture you can see the evenly spaced holes made by Knitting Two Stitches Together and then working a Yarn Over. By themselves they can be decorative in a sweater or other piece of knitting. They can also be spaced out further from each other just by knitting in the usual manner the stitches in between where you want the eyelets. On the back side, all stitches are purled all the way across.



This picture shows one of the ways an Eyelet Row can be used -- to weave ribbon in and out. This looks nice at the top of baby booties to keep them from being kicked off, or around the neckline of a sweater, or around the outside edge of a knitted blanket.

There are so many decorative stitches in knitting. Keep checking back for more videos showing how to do them, or sign up to receive an email whenever a new post shows up on this site. Check out the sidebar to subscribe!

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Stitcher's Angel Swap Underway

Earlier this week I received an email from Helen with all the vital statistics of my Secret Stitcher. The first free project was posted on Helen's website this week too. What a nice project it is! Very creative, very pretty and very useful!

I have a few things in mind already that I want to make for my Secret Stitcher and one of them is a little bit along the lines of Helen's project, but not exactly. It's still in the planning phase so I don't have anything to show you, but when it comes together, I'll be sure to post it here. I'm also thinking of sending something similar to an item I made just this week and wrote about just the other day, only I'll make it in a different color. Can you guess what it is?

I checked out the website of my Secret Stitcher to find out what she likes, what she does and a little bit about her family and such. I don't want to reveal too much since this is supposed to remain secret until the end of the swap, but I will say that she lives in Australia and is quite an accomplished quilter. I think that is safe to say because it really doesn't narrow down the field of possibilities all that much. After checking out quite a few of the websites of the swap participants which Helen has listed, I came to realize that a good many of them are from Australia and most of those are very much into quilting!

I am anxious to create some pretty and practical things for my Secret Stitcher and send them off to her. Ooooh, I haven't sent an international package in a really long time. How exciting! I just hope she enjoys receiving them as much as I enjoy making them.

In case my Stitcher's Angel is cruising around my website looking for clues about what to make for me, here's a little hint...I love containers, bags, totes, boxes, anything to Put Stuff In. Now I know where my little pack rat Gracie gets her obsession for bags!


As you can see from the picture, I am also in desperate need of some way to organize my knitting needles and crochet hooks. Of course anything handmade and useful would be a treat to receive. I know I'll love whatever arrives in the mail from my Stitcher's Angel!

Keep an eye out for further clues about what I'm planning for my Secret Stitcher and feel free to offer suggestions on what you think would be a nice gift to make for a secret swap partner.

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