Throughout this season, we’re reposting some of our favorite columns by Barbara Breiter, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Knitting & Crocheting, previously featured in our Weekly Stitch newsletter. Stitch patterns and motifs are sometimes presented in charts instead of written out in words. You sometimes see this in crochet, particularly in filet crochet, but it’s more…

Throughout this season, we’re reposting some of our favorite columns by Barbara Breiter, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Knitting & Crocheting, previously featured in our Weekly Stitch newsletter. You have a throw pattern with a beautiful stitch pattern, but you’d like to make it wider or narrower. Or perhaps you’d like to make it into a…

Both knitters and crocheters may find stitch markers helpful for many reasons. They can help you… keep track of your stitch count (place them between every stitch repeat in a lace or cable pattern!) mark mistakes that need fixing (split ring markers work best for this) indicate the beginnings of the round on in-the-round projects…

Also known as the slingshot cast on, this technique is fast and creates a neater look than your basic cast on. If you’ve ever seen it done by somebody else it looks very complex (I was super intimidated when I first saw it!), but it actually isn’t. Once you get the hang of it, you…

Throughout this season, we’re reposting some of our favorite columns by Barbara Breiter, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Knitting & Crocheting, previously featured in our Weekly Stitch newsletter. When you decrease in knitting, you are not always losing stitches. Decreases are used in lace patterns, for example, and you’ll almost always have the same number of…

Blogger and author Kathryn Vercillo shares tips on meditating through crochet. I remember the first time that I tried formal meditation. I sat amidst a group of compassionate people with closed eyes who were letting go of all thoughts, focusing attention on their breath. I felt no compassion for myself as my monkey mind skittered…

Let’s say that one day, you’re working on that lovely cable project you’ve been looking forward to starting, it’s time for you to start your cable – you dig through your pouch full of notions and somehow, your cable needle is nowhere to be found! Oh no… now what? I’m sure many of you have…

Throughout this season, we’re reposting some of our favorite columns by Barbara Breiter, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Knitting & Crocheting, previously featured in our Weekly Stitch newsletter.  Every knitter and crocheter has heard of it. Most ignore it. The smart ones know better. What is it? Gauge, of course. You’ll see gauge (also sometimes…

Editor’s Note: This post was updated on July 11th. Have you ever come across a yarn that you loved the feel and gauge of but couldn’t find the color that you wanted? Well, being the savvy crafter you are you don’t have to let that stop you! I found myself in a similar predicament shortly…

A flattering outfit can make you feel more confident and at ease. For plus-sized women, structured pieces, prints proportionate to your body, and details that emphasize your strongest assets can help you to look your best. For petite women, pieces that hit your body at the right places will help you look great. Discover some…