Baby Knit
Knitting Tools of the Trade
Knitting in its simplest form is often described as the looping of a string around two sticks. When faced with multi-color patterning, intricate stitches or detailed graphs, this seemingly easy craft becomes a more complex activity that can benefit from an innovative tool or two. Right from the start when the ideas for a new knitting project abound, there are aids to guide you in choices of yarn and color. Color wheels and color selectors, using proven principles of color theory, can steer you through establishing a pleasing color combination of two or many colors. Even though you may pick the perfect geranium pink to match that perfect leaf green, you still must find commercially available yarns of compatible weights in those very colors. Many yarn retailers offer, at a reasonable cost, sample cards of available yarns in their full color range. Much like selecting paint chips at the hardware store, you are able to see at a glance what colors are available in a particular yarn and how they interact with other colors of that yarn type.
The screwdrivers and wrenches of knitting, the needles, though basic in shape, appear in a variety of materials. Wood and plastic offer comfort to tired hands, while metal needles promise speed. A luxury class of needles fashioned from ebony or rosewood are advertised as hewn from the remains of prized woods used in the manufacture of musical instruments. These needles should make your stitches sing. There is also the “heritage“ needle collection of which mine is labelled, due to many being borrowed from my mother’s knitting basket and never returned. A “classic” collection will likely contain a hodgepodge of needles gathered over the years as in mine, which range from a chipped orange metal No. 4′s to green plastic No. 8′s. It’s an odd grouping of materials and colors but favorites are easily recognizable when a certain knitting job comes to mind.
Now any good craft project whether made from wood or wool is only worth its weight when measurements are accurate and consistent. To knitters, the correct gauge must be achieved or every measurement throughout the project will become skewed. With numerous devices available to help accurately measure those all-important numbers of stitches and rows, there is absolutely no excuse for having the wrong gauge. A square gauge frame will force you to line up your knitting with the stitches at right angles to the rows, leaving you to count the numbers between the borders of the frame. Transparent stitch templates will tell you nothing but the truth as you try to match the drawing of the desired stitch gauge to the stitches of your knitted sample. A good tape measure, plastic or cloth, retractable or not, is essential to measure those lengths and widths once you start knitting.
To see those stitches clearly, use a magnifier lamp clamped to your favorite chair or stood behind the sofa. Try a pair of magnifying flip-up lenses to increase your staying power when working with intricate stitches and dark colors. Don’t forget to prop up that book or pattern on a bookstand to keep your charts and graphs front and center. A line magnifier placed over the chart on a magnetic board will eliminate a lot of twisting and turning in your seat as you lean to squint at those lines. Once you have found your place there are gadgets to keep it. Stitch markers and row counters mark the spot and giant safety pins put stitches on hold.
A collection of tools needs a toolbox. Needles should be organized in needle cases, one for the straights and another for circulars, small boxes or bags for the bits and pieces such as stitch markers and measuring devices, and a great big bag or basket to keep it all handy and neat.
About the Author
Maddy Cranley is a professional knitwear designer, who has created exclusive designs for knitting and craft magazines, authored and published three books on the subject of creating felt garments and projects from handknitting, and produces an ever-expanding line of maddy laine handknitting patterns. For additional information, see http://www.maddycraft.com
Knit Baby Booties – With Straight Single Point Needles Pt 1
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Tovolo Groovy Ice Pop Molds, Set of 6 … |
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Pororo Edison Training Chopsticks for Children $2.50 Try chopsticks now! Amazing ease!What is Edison Chopsticks?Designed for all people, especially for beginners who want to take food using chopsticks with no difficulty. Amazing Fun, Simple & Easy! It will be a good trainer for your kids’ IQ & EQ development.For better dining experience, try this kid’s chopsticks to help children to keep your chopsticks in line and add an element. Instruction is on … |
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Fred & Friends WINEM Wine Monkey Wine Caddy $2.90 The Wine Monkey is the perfect finishing touch for your next dinner party. Slip your Bordeaux or Merlot into the sock monkey for the ultimate in nostalgic entertaining. While sipping their libations, your friends will gladly think back to their sock puppet shows of yesteryear… and that might cause the wine to disappear more quickly than usual! Quit monkeyin’ around and serve your wine in style w… |
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9 Light-Weight Closely Knit 1 Cotton Unhemmed Reversible Inspection Glove [Set of 12] $11.88 RAD64057213 Features: -Price Is For One Pair -Minimum Order Of 12.-PREM LIGHTWEIGHT 9IN UNHEMMED.-UNSPC CODE: 46181504.-Glove Size: Large.-Inspection Gloves Inspection Gloves glove.-GLOVE MENS 100pct COTTON LISLE. Assembly Instructions: -Reversible Cotton Inspector’s Glove The cotton inspector’s glove is used in assembly line inspections and may also be worn as a glove liner for added warmth. Als… |
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Natural Nursery Knits In this beautiful book Erika Knight has combined the purest yarns with irresistible designs to create a collection of 20 handknits for the newborn baby. Ranging from practical first garments, cozy blankets, and delightful toys to heirloom pieces, all the designs are made from organic or sustainable fibers. Make your own keepsake handknits to be treasured in baby’s rooms for years to come…. |
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White 18 Ounce Terry Cloth Unlined Heat Resistant Gloves With Knit Wrist $4.24 RAD64057158 Features: -Price Is For One Pair -Minimum Order Of 1.-POLY/COTTON 18OZ SEAMLESS REV.-Loop out design for longer wear.-UNSPC CODE: 46181504.-Glove Size: Ladies.-Heat Resistant Gloves Heat Resistant Gloves glove.-GLOVE TERRY CLOTH LOOP OUT SZ 7. Color/Finish: -Color : White. Assembly Instructions: -Radnor seamless terry cloth gloves have a seamless design that offers comfort while durab… |
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The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Knitting $16.95 This step-by-step, hand-holding guide to knitting is EASY to watch and makes learning fast and simple. Although this DVD is packed with everything a beginner needs to know, the chapters are bite-sized. Beautiful and clear demonstrations can get you started knitting scarf in only 30 MINUTES._____ There is a companion WEBSITE for the DVD where you can download lots of FREE beginner patterns! Scarv… |
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Knitting: The Baby Surprise Jacket $17.10 One of the most unique and ingenius of all of master knitter Elizabeth Zimmermann’s designs, the Baby Surprise Jacket was introduced in 1968, and has grown in popularity ever since. Meg Swansen takes you step by step through the jacket construction, including:long tail cast on, double decreasing / increasing, adding colors, baby buttonholes, casting off in purl, sewing a seam / darning in ends. … |
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Baby Booties $0.99 … |
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Neat Solutions 3 Pack Printed Hooded Towel Set, Colors May Vary $17.99 Neat Solutions 3 pack assorted print hooded towel set is perfect for newborns- toddlers. These knit terry towels are soft and gentle on babies skin. All three towels are different girl prints and measure 26″x30″. 1- stripe, 1- swirl, 1- flower. Also available: matching 2 pack hooded towel set, 6 or 8 pack washcloth set…. |
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60 More Quick Baby Knits (Paperback) $11.96 State-of-the-art yarn! Innovative styles! Irresistible projects! This follow-up to 60 Quick Baby Knits gives budget-minded knitters 60 more inexpensive, time-saving ways to create fabulous baby fashions. Fans of the wildly popular “60… |
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Baby Knits for Beginners (Hardcover) $15.45 A leading designer offers a beginner`s guide to knitting for babies, including step-by step instructions for such items as a v-neck cardigan sweater, a dress with eyelets, a shawl-collared jacket, and seed stitch shoes. |
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Easy Baby Knits (Paperback) $11.3 Description not available. |
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Heirloom Baby Knits (Paperback) $16.31 Description not available. |
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Oh-so-sweet Baby Knits (Paperback) $9.22 Description not available. |
Tags: baby, baby knit hat pattern, baby knit hats, baby knits, baby knitting patterns, baby knitting patterns free, crafts, knitting, pattern, patterns
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