The Art and Joy of Knitting
Knitting and crochet are enjoying a vibrant resurgence of late. The yarn arts haven’t always been as popular as they are today, but young and old alike are discovering the joy of crafting. To get started, all you need are a few simple supplies. First, buy a set of straight knitting needles. Also, for a first project, a thick, light-colored yarn is ideal.
With just a few dollars, you can get started learning to knit. Free knitting patterns are widely available. Online is the easiest place to find free patterns. All major yarn manufacturers offer free patterns on their official websites. If you look on the opposite side of the paper wrapping your store-bought yarn, usually you’ll find a free pattern there. Numerous personal hobby blogs have patterns devised by knitting enthusiasts the world over. The large social networking sites offer yarn fan communities, that offer free patterns, tips and tricks.
After getting the hang of knitting, you may want to try you hand at felting. Felting supplies are easy to come by, and the technique is not at all difficult. It is important to keep in mind that felting shrinks the size of your project, so prior to felting the piece should always be larger than the intended final size. Felting is ideal for projects that benefit from rigid texturing. Knitted toys and handbags are popular felted projects.
Felting is achieved through the use of heat and agitation. For this reason, most people felt their projects in their washing machine. The hottest water setting and the highest agitation should give you great felted results.
The perfect first project, whether felted or not, is the traditional scarf. Scarves are a great starter project for several reasons. First, you need not worry too much about gauge, or “stitches per inch,” that has a significant affect on the sizing of knitted garments. Scarves don’t envelop the body or fit around many bodily curves, so if you knit the project slightly bigger or smaller than the pattern writes, it’s no big deal. It still keeps the neck warm! They’re also fairly quick projects that provide a quick sense of accomplishment.
Knitting and other yarn arts are a great activity that can relieve stress. You can do it anywhere, and easily carry it with you on any kind of outing. If you’re seeking out a new hobby, try out knitting!
Crochet Mary Jane Booties – Crochet Free Patterns
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Way to Crochet!: 20 Cool, Easy Projects for Kids of All Ages $7.17 Way to Crochet! makes crocheting way too fun, and way too easy!Kids! They watch TV, they play video games, they listen to music. So unproductive. Way to Crochet! offers a great way to harness that boundless kid energy—crocheting. Easier to learn than knitting, it’s perfect for young people who want to try something new. A basic introduction to materials, tools, and stitches shows how to get st… |
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Reversible Knitting: 50 Brand-New, Groundbreaking Stitch Patterns $10.79 abrams publishing stewart tabori chang books reversible knitting. every one of these fifty stitch patterns are completely new and each is reversible a total of 100 different looks reversible stitch patterns can be used to create projects where either side can be worn facing outward or where two sides of the piece are visible simultaneously. also includes twenty projects and in depth instructions f… |
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Knit Wit: 30 Easy and Hip Projects (Hands-Free Step-By-Step Guides) $3.75 a hand free step-by-step knitting guide – has 30 easy and hip projects… |
