Okay, okay, you may already know how to knit. These videoes, however, are for the brand-new knitter. Lion Brand's short videoes clearly illustrate what the heck you're supposed to be doing when you cast-on, do a knit stitch, do a purl stitch, and cast-off. I'm going to put this page, along with Lion Brand's more extensive Learn to Knit page in Links.
It's a sunglasses case that is knit with two strands of worsted weight yarn on good old size 8 needles (pattern link here). [via Knitting Under the Desk]
Posted by Catherine Skrzypek. Posted In : Patterns
If release of The Half-Blood Prince is rejuvenating your enthusiasm for all things Harry, pull out your knitting needles and show the world! There's the Hogwarts Scarf Bookmark I posted about yesterday, or you can whip up this Golden Snitch Plush Toy, originally from the Knitted Toybox. You'll also find dozens more Harry Potter-themed patterns hereat HP-Mega-Fan-Site, the Leaky Cauldron. [via Knitting Under the Desk]
Posted by Catherine Skrzypek. Posted In : Patterns
I haven't posted many patterns lately. It's mostly because what I have come across is either very complicated to knit, or just not inspiring enough for the 'tween and teen knitting set. Well, as they say, when it rains it pours. These links have flown by my radar over the past few days. Try them out.
1) Monster Chunks by Rebecca Danger. Download free PDF pattern here.
2) Harry Potter Bookmark Scarf. Link to pattern is here. This one requires size 0 needles, which are tiny. I would be inclined to knit this one in green and silver, Slytherin colors!
Historical Tidbit #1 I haven't seen a verifiable source to this story, but apparently, in the late 16th Century, King Christian IV of Denmark outlawed knitting! He thought it made women too "dreamy". Pshaw, your highness!
His mother, Sophie of Mecklenburg-Gustrow, did not think much of this edict either. She would gather some of her ladies in waiting, and they would row out to an island and knit the day away! If anyone wishes to do a little research and find out if this really happened, I'd love to know about it. [via knitgrrl]
Historical Tidbit #2 Take a listen to this brief audio clip from A History of Handknitting: The Compelling History of this Ancient Craft by Richard Rutt, read by Melissa Hughes. It's about when the term "hand knitting" began to make its way into English-language books and dictionaries in the early 17th century. The book itself explores the history of knitting from ancient times to the present. There's a 1987 edition of the book available up on the 3rd floor in Art & Music under the call number q746.432 R(The 'q' doesn't mean anything, only that the book is slightly oversized. You'll be able to find it with all the other 746.432's) [catalog link]. BPL also carries the 2007 edition as a downloadable audio book [catalog link]
The Mochimochi blog has dedicated the month of July to knitting tiny. Besides the tiny fish and tiny volcano above, she's also created a tiny brain, a tiny computer, a tiny bully, a tiny lion and a tiny fried egg. No patterns or how-to's, but I'm really enjoying the quirky little backstories Mochimochi has created for each of her tinies. Here's the fish's:
"This fish dreams of being on So You Think You Can Dance. I don’t have the heart to tell him that it will never ever happen."
Our first World Wide Knit and Public Day at the Brooklyn Public Library was a big hit! The weather out on the Plaza was perfect-sunny, but with lots of shade. Dozens of knitters, beginners and veterans, joined in on the festivities. My guess is that at least 150 people attended. I hope the library offers more knitting events in the future. If we do, you can read about them right here. BPL's WWKIP was unexpectedly blogged about in the Nerdabout blog, which is part of the Science Channel. You can read the entire post and watch four videos that chronicle the day right here. The video spotlight on this website belongs to Grace Shanahan. She works for the Brooklyn Public Library, and she is the one who was the driving force behind putting this wonderful event together. The video below is of Grace being interviewed on Nerdabout about WWKIP.
We've been talking about it since February, and now the big day is nearly upon us. I am talking, of course, about World Wide Knit in Public Day! The Brooklyn Public Library is hosting an event out on the front plaza of the Central Library on Saturday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be giveaways, demonstrations, raffle prizes, and music. Newcomers and experienced knitters are all welcome!
The video shows a basket-type sculpture that was knitted out of surgical tubing and has colored fluid running through it. It is strangely beautiful and hypnotic to watch. The creators of the video also knitted up a dress using the same surgical tubing. Imagine showing up for a party wearing something like this! (found via CRAFT).
The website where this pattern is found suggests knitting it for a bridal party, but you might want to try it simply because it's pretty. It's a lace pattern, but unlike the lace bag I posted a few weeks ago, the lace is worked every row. Therefore, you should count your stitches after you complete every row. Also, the pattern uses the abbreviation yf (yarn forward) instead of yo (yarn over). Yf is the same as yo: bring your yarn to the front of the needle and knit the next stitch as if to create a lacy hole. Here's the pattern (via craftstylish).
Posted by Catherine Skrzypek. Posted In : Patterns
