Monday, May 5, 2008

directions on how to knit

If you are looking for the perfect gift for that special newborn baby, why not consider a knit baby blanket? Now it's a fun, creative hobby for anyone.

Often books give step by step instructions as well as a general knitting overview. Dyeing may be done industrially, by hand or even hand-painted onto the yarn. Of course, the challenge of a complicated pattern, or a technique previously untried requires a bit more focus and can result in "tinking" (also known as un-knitting) or even some serious "frogging" (ripping out more than a few stitches, so called because "rip-it, rip-it" is reminiscent of the frog's "ribbit").

You should always use the same tape measure when making a garment. More complicated techniques permit large fields of colour (intarsia, for example), busy small-scale patterns of color (such as Fair Isle), or both (double knitting and slip-stitch colour, for example). The fact that knitting is such an easily portable activity also allows for us to mitigate stressful situations.

Patterns and motifs are coarser with thicker yarns; thicker yarns produce bold visual effects, whereas thinner yarns are best for refined patterns. Skeins and balls are generally sold with a yarn-band, a label that describes the yarn's weight, length, dye lot, fiber content, washing instructions, suggested needle size, likely gauge, etc.

So, if you want to slow down, and find meaning in your life again, try knitting. Even a beginner can make a simple scarf with novelty yarn in just a few hours, and have it look just fantastic.

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