Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
Lion Brand Notebook
News, Ideas and Information for Crafting with Yarn
| Socks are a great, compact project that can be made on the go. In each installment, we will show you different ways to add color and pattern to a basic child’s sock. Click here for part 1 and click here for part 2. This month’s article is all about stripes.
Striped socks are a fun and friendly way to experiment with color. The patterns below feature stripes of varying colors and widths to make a basic concept more fun. Apply stripes to other projects too! From afghans to sweaters, knitted and crocheted items look great in stripes. |
 Child’s Striped Socks |
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Techniques for binding off are as numerous as techniques for casting on. There are bind-offs that produce firm edges, looser edges, stretchy edges, edges that look like the pattern stitch used, gathered edges, decorative edges, and bind-offs that join two edges together. It is wise to begin by learning a basic bind-off technique to use with your first few projects. After you have completed some projects, you may be in the mood to learn some new bind-off methods.
It can be a bit nerve-wracking to try a new bind-off for the first time on a valuable piece of knitting. Instead, knit a swatch or two and practice the bind-off technique on the swatch(es). Using a swatch to practice provides several advantages; you don’t risk messing up an important piece of knitting, you can unravel and practice again and again until you are sure you have mastered the technique, and you can see and handle the bind-off edge, checking that it has the desired properties, before committing to using the technique.
Before making a swatch, study the variety of bind-off techniques available. Select a technique that is designed to produce the type of edge desired (e.g. firm, loose, “in pattern”, stretchy), and matches your personal style (e.g. Do you prefer two-needle bind-offs? Are you comfortable attempting a sewn bind-off?). Then knit a small swatch in the appropriate pattern stitch and bind off following the steps for the technique selected.
The swatch can be a simple rectangle, or if you would like to practice and compare multiple different bind-off techniques, try our octagonal or square bind-off samplers. The samplers are a great way to practice and to study the differences between bind-offs. Some of the differences are very subtle, others are quite noticeable. Detailed instructions for each bind-off technique appear following the sampler photos. See the previous blog post for details on the different bind-off methods mentioned below.
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Techniques for binding off are as numerous as techniques for casting on. There are bind-offs that produce firm edges, looser edges, stretchy edges, edges that look like the pattern stitch used, gathered edges, decorative edges, and bind-offs that join two edges together. It is wise to begin by learning a basic bind-off technique to use with your first few projects. After you have completed some projects, you may be in the mood to learn some new bind-off methods.
Here are a few different bind-off techniques to try.
Note: In the following detailed instructions, the first stitch on a needle is the stitch closest to the tip of the needle, the 2nd stitch is the next stitch further away from the tip, and so on.
The most basic bind-off method is also known as a chained bind off because the bind-off edge looks like a chain of stitches. For a video, illustrations, and instructions for working a basic bind-off, click here.
Posted in Knitting, Tips & How To, Tutorials | 8 Comments » Comments
Why are socks so popular to make right now? Socks are a great easy-to-carry project and they’re compact and satisfying to make. Over the next few months, we will be showing you different ways to embellish your sock patterns. In our first installment, we featured a basic, solid kids’ sock. In this article, we feature a two-color sock.
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| Child’s Two-Color Sock #1 | Child’s Two-Color Sock #2 | Child’s Two-Color Sock #3 |
Color adds so much to your wardrobe. It also says so much about your personality. Adding color to the heel, toe, and cuff of this sock pattern is a simple way to make your basic sock more exciting. This simple concept of adding color to a few details of a project can be applied to any item. Make your color and cuffs a different color the next time you make a jacket or make the strap of your next bag or purse a contrasting color. Let your imagination run wild.
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Why are socks so popular? Socks are a great easy-to-carry project and they’re compact and satisfying to make. Over the next month, we will be showing you different ways to embellish your sock patterns. The first project in our sock series is the solid colored sock — the pattern on which all the rest of our socks will be based.
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| Knit Child’s Solid Sock in Zinnia | Knit Child’s Solid Sock in Lemongrass |
Here are a few helpful hints about our pattern and sock-making in general:
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Well, I have finished the Tranquil Tank Top and it is still Spring! It has been great to see pictures of the finished tops that many of you have created during our Spring Knit Along. If you have not finished, don’t worry – we will keep the posts of this KAL available long after this final post. (Click here to view previous posts.)
Finishing this top was a fairly quick job, with only 4 seams and sewing the bottom of the left front to the inside of the right front. No sleeves to set in or stitches to pick up!
After I finished my front, I turned it over and used some detachable stitch markers to make sure those cast-on stitches for the left front would lay flat and even (I could also have used safety pins for this.) Just as basting is necessary in machine-sewing a final seam, having your pieces in the correct spot with pins or markers assures that the finishing will progress evenly.
(Click images to enlarge.)
Posted in Knit-Along, Knitting, Tips & How To | 9 Comments » Comments
Looking for beginner projects that look spectacular? I ask Jackie Smyth, Lion Brand’s technical editor, about her recommendations on three easy-to-make, high impact afghans that are perfect gift projects.
What are gift ideas for beginner knitters and crocheters?
A classic handknit or hand-crocheted gift is definitely the afghan or throw. You many not realize it, but some of our favorite afghan patterns here in the design department are actually beginner patterns. “Beginner” just refers to the different skills required to make an item, not how it ends up looking. I’ve picked out three really beautiful beginner afghans — that all look more advanced than they really are — to share with you today.
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| Knit Sunshine Day Baby Throw | Knit “My Blankie” | Crochet Candy Shop Afghan |
Can you tell us a little about them?
The first pattern is our Sunshine Day Baby Throw for kids. It’s made in pieces and each piece is simply made with two different strands of yarn, worked in stockinette stitch. The two contrasting colors work up together to look like tweed, which gives it more depth and interest. The second pattern is called “My Blankie” and it’s also a great gift item. The stripes are also each done in two strands of contrasting yarn, which gives it a tweedy look. Both items are simple, knit blankets perfect for kids because they’re made with washable yarns — the first with Cotton-Ease and the second with Vanna’s Choice.
They’re both really beautiful patterns. What about a beginner afghan as a gift for an adult?
I’d like to recommend our crocheted Candy Shop Afghan in Hometown USA, because it has such vibrant colors and coordinates with any decor. This project is made in pieces that are later sewn together, which makes it portable and easy to make when you’re on the go.
So what are the key take-aways for our readers?
Beginner patterns can be beautiful. Look for patterns that use multiple strands of yarn for visual interest, and look for patterns that are made in pieces for portability.
For more afghan patterns, visit our Pattern Finder.
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A version of this article first ran in The Weekly Stitch newsletter in October 2007. Click here to sign up for the newsletter and get articles, free patterns, and exclusive offers in your inbox each week.
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Technical editor and yarncrafting expert returns to share tips on finishing your crochet projects. Join her next month for tips on finishing your knitting project. Click here to yesterday’s blog post; click here to see Sunday’s blog post.
The final touch for many projects is an edging. Below are photos of three samplers showing a variety of edgings. Instructions for each of the edgings follow the photos. Most of the edgings are quick and easy, some require a little more patience and skill. The edgings are grouped by type.
MATERIALS
Make an adjustable ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in ring, hdc in ring, (ch 1, 2 dc in ring) 5 times, ch 1; do not join, work in continuous rnds (spiral) – 12 sts and 6 ch-1 sps at the end of this rnd. Place marker for beg of rnd. Move marker up as each rnd is completed.
Rnd 2: (2 dc in each of next 2 dc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp) 6 times – 24 dc and 6 ch-1 sps (4 dc each between ch-1 sps) at the end of this rnd.
Rnds 3-8: (2 dc in first dc, dc in each dc to 1 st before next ch-1 sp, 2 dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp) 6 times – 60 dc and 6 ch-1 sps (10 sts each between ch-1 sps) at the end of Rnd 8.
Rnd 9: Hdc in next st, (sc in each st to next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp) 6 times.
Edging Rnd:
Slip St: Sl st in next 10 sts, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp.
Overlapping Sc2tog: Sc2tog, (beg in same st as 2nd leg of last sc2tog made, sc2tog) 9 times, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp.
Slip St in Back Loop Only: Working in back loops only, sl st in next 10 sts, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp.
Reverse Single Crochet on WS: Turn piece so that WS is facing you, ch 1, rev sc in next 10 sts, turn piece so that RS is facing you, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp. Note: Reverse single crochet (rev sc) is worked like single crochet (sc) except that you work in the opposite direction (from left to right if you are right-handed, and from right to left if you are left-handed).
Crossed Single Crochet: (Sk next st, sc in next st, sc in skipped st) 5 times, ch 1, sk next ch-1 sp.
Reverse Single Crochet on RS: Cut yarn, draw up a loop in last ch-1 sp, ch 1, rev sc in next 10 sts.
Fasten off.
Posted in Crocheting, Tips & How To, Tutorials | 6 Comments » Comments
Technical editor and yarncrafting expert returns to share tips on finishing your crochet projects. Join her next month for tips on finishing your knitting project. Click here to see her previous blog post.
Weaving in well is so very important. If your ends are not woven in well, your ends could come loose and stick out making your piece look messy. Or worse, your work could come unraveled when the piece is used or laundered. There are two very important things to remember for successful weaving in; 1) Leave a long tail, 2) Always weave the tail in more than one direction.
Always leave a long tail, at least 6″. When cutting the yarn, it is no time to be stingy. Cutting your tails short will not save you much money and is likely to cause you a great deal of frustration.
Posted in Crocheting, Tips & How To, Tutorials | 14 Comments » Comments
Lion Brand’s Design Department shares tips on one of their favorite tips for creating a unique (and quick-to-make) project.
Yarn blending is the technique of stranding together several yarns to create a knit or crochet fabric. It takes all of the beautiful qualities of its component yarns and blends them into something that is greater than the sum of its parts.
HOW TO DO IT:
Yarn blending is so simple, yet it can yield infinite varieties and unexpected results. You can never predict what a yarn blend will look like until it is worked up. Therefore, an integral part of this process is creating swatches. After a few rows, you will get an idea of how the fabric will look and can evaluate the combination. Then you can adjust your work, adding in new yarns that you like. Since blends tend to be bulky, a swatch can be made in no time.
[Pictured: Knit Simple Cowl.]
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