~Handy work Knitting Crocheting

 

10 Steps to Learning How to Crochet

The art of crochet has been around for thousands of years.  People in earlier times who had means would purchase hand crocheted and knitted laces and fabrics for their opulent garments and décor.  Having these items showed others that you were a person of means and you led an opulent lifestyle.  

Over the years, through industrialization and mass production of lace and fabrics, items made with crochet and knitting have gained popularity in the lower to middle classes and the upper classes started showing their wealth in other, more material, ways.  

Today, crochet and knitting are the craft art of choice for many people all over the world.  They are both handicrafts which are challenging to learn yet affordable for nearly everyone.  Supplies are easy to find to create some very amazing hand crafted items with the emergence of new yarns and colorful fibers.

As a beginner to the art of crochet, there are some simple things to learn to be successful.  Here are ten steps to get you started on your road to crochet success:

Step #1 – Gather Up Your Supplies – To crochet you will need a crochet hook, yarn, scissors and a large-eye needle.  

Step #2 – Holding Your Crochet Hook – You will want to hold your crochet hook in your dominant hand.  Create a slip-knot and place it over the end of your hook.  

Step #3 – Create a Continuous Stitch – Slide the hooked yarn to the slip-knot on the hook.  This will create a chain of stitches.  Continue to make this chain by brining your yarn to the top of the hook and pulling it through the slip-knot.

Step #4 – Move Up The Chain – Move up the chain allowing the first chain stitch to knot on the hook.  This allows the yarn to stay in place and not loosen.  It is generally a good idea to make this first knot tight rather than loose.  

Step #5 – Creating Two Loops – Next, insert your crochet hook into the hole of the next chain stitch and slide the passing yarn through its center.  

  

Step #6 – Bring Your Yarn Back – Bring your yarn back on the hook from back to front and slide your knot in the center of the loops which you have already created on the crochet hook.  

Step #7 – Making Rows – From your second yarn loop, create another single chain stitch and make a counter-clockwise loop.  Start again and create the same loops as the previous stitches.  

Step #8 – Crochet Until Done – Continue this basic crochet technique until you have a swatch of fabric. 

Step #8 – Cut your Project Off – Once you have completed a swatch of fabric, it is time to remove it from your ball of yarn.  Cut it with about a 6” tail left at the end. 

Step #9 – Fasten Your Project so it won’t Unravel - Bring your tail of yarn back through the last stitch to fasten it.  

Step #10 – Cut the Excess – At this point you are finished and can cut off the excess tail of yarn.  

Using these simple ten steps you can learn to successfully complete a basic crochet fabric.  Like any new skill, crochet takes time.  You will want to practice a lot at first and see what techniques and hand holds are the most comfortable for you.  

A Crochet Blanket – The Perfect Gift for Baby

Finding the perfect gift for new parents can often be a challenge.  Many times new parents have either already shopped for their babies, or they have other children and have many of the things they will need already in their homes.  One perfect gift option in this case is the gift of a handmade crochet baby blanket.  

With the recent popularity resurgence in knitting and crocheting, there are limitless options available for yarns and fibers which you can quickly and easily crochet into an heirloom baby blanket.  And, the best thing is that many of today’s yarns and fibers are dyed colors which lend themselves well to making a baby blanket.  With the soft pinks, light blues and mellow yellow yarns, you can be sure to match any nursery decorations the new parents may have done.  

A handcrafted gift is one which can be passed down through generations and appreciated by everyone.  It shows the receiver that you spent a lot of time and effort to make just the right gift for them.  And, because of the time you have invested in the gift, it will be one of the best received.  

When you are going to make a blanket for a baby, there are a few important things which you need to keep in consideration as you find your pattern and buy your supplies.  A few of them are: 

Pattern Selection – You should choose a pattern which is tightly woven if the blanket will be used by a very young baby.  Often designs with any open-work allow for the baby’s fingers or toes to get caught up in the blanket and cause discomfort.  This is both a health and a safety risk.  

Yarn Selection – When you are making an item for a baby you want to find a yarn or fiber which is both soft and machine washable.  New parents are often too tired and over-extended to spend time hand washing items.  And, because babies can be very messy, it is essential that anything they come into contact with can be successfully washed.  

Blanket Color – If you know the color scheme of the nursery, or even the sex of the baby, you can better match your blanket colors to them.  If not, use your imagination and create a wonderful unisex blanket.  

Blanket Size – When you are crocheting for a baby, your first inclination might be to make a very small blanket.  However, babies grow very quickly into toddlers.  And, babies move around a lot and require decently sized blankets to keep them covered up and warm.  Your blanket will get much more use if you make it a bit larger than your first inclination.

No Beadwork – While beadwork is popular in today’s knitting and crocheting patterns, beads are never appropriate for a baby item.  A baby can loosen them and they can become a choking hazard.  

By keeping these simple considerations in mind, you can be well on your way to creating a keepsake baby blanket which will be cherished for years to come.  As with any baby gift, you want to insure that your blanket is safe and secure for the baby who will be using it.  However, by using your imagination and creativity you can come up with the perfect and safe design for the new bundle of joy.  

A Knit Baby Blanket is One of the Best Baby Gifts

Finding the perfect gift for new parents can often be a challenge.  Many times new parents have either already shopped for their babies, or they have other children and have many of the things they will need already in their homes.  One perfect gift option in this case is the gift of a handmade knit baby blanket.  By presenting the new parents with a handmade blanket you can show that you took the time to make something special with their baby in mind.  The blanket will be appreciated and likely treasured for years to come.  

With the recent popularity resurgence in knitting and crocheting, there are limitless options available for yarns and fibers which you can quickly and easily knit into an heirloom baby blanket.  And, the best thing is that many of today’s yarns and fibers are dyed colors which lend themselves well to making a baby blanket.  With the soft pinks, light blues, and mellow yellow yarns, you can be sure to match any nursery decorations the new parents may have done.  Or you can create a wonderful unisex design appropriate for any baby regardless of their gender.  

A handcrafted gift is one which can be passed down through generations and appreciated by everyone.  It shows the receiver that you spent a lot of time and effort to make just the right gift for them.  And, because of the time you have invested in the gift, it will be one of the best received.  

When you are going to knit a blanket for a baby, there are a few important things which you need to keep in consideration as you find your pattern and buy your supplies.  A few of them are: 

Pattern Selection – You should choose a knit pattern which is tightly woven if the blanket will be used by a very young baby.  Often designs with any open-work allow for the baby’s fingers or toes to get caught up in the blanket and cause discomfort.  This is both a health and a safety risk.  

Yarn Selection – When you are knitting an item for a baby you want to find a yarn or fiber which is both soft and machine washable.  New parents are often too tired and over-extended to spend time hand washing items.  And, because babies can be very messy, it is essential that anything they come into contact with can be successfully washed.  

Blanket Color – If you know the color scheme of the nursery, or even the sex of the baby, you can better match your blanket colors to them.  If not, use your imagination and create a wonderful unisex blanket.  

Blanket Size – When you are knitting for a baby, your first inclination might be to make a very small blanket.  However, babies grow very quickly into toddlers.  And, babies move around a lot and require decently sized blankets to keep them covered up and warm.  Your blanket will get much more use if you make it a bit larger than your first inclination to allow it to be used as baby grows.  

No Beadwork – While beadwork is popular in today’s knitting and crocheting patterns, beads are never appropriate for a baby item.  A baby can loosen them and they can become a choking hazard.  

By keeping these simple considerations in mind, you can be well on your way to knitting a keepsake baby blanket which will be cherished for years to come.  As with any baby gift, you want to insure that your blanket is safe and secure for the baby who will be using it.  However, by using your imagination and creativity you can come up with the perfect and safe design for the new bundle of joy.  

Add Pizzazz with These Advanced Knitting Techniques

There are many ways in which you can add pizzazz to your knitting projects.  Through the use of colors, textures, and structures you can modify even the simplest knitting project and make it really stand out against the crowd.  And, while advanced knitting techniques can take a bit of time to grasp, they really are not hard once you have learned and practiced them.  

Advanced knitting techniques come in four different categories.  They are: color-work, cables/Aran knitting, lace, and structural techniques.  Let’s look at each of these in a bit more detail:

Color-Work

There are three main styles of color-work in knitting.  They are: fair isle, intarsia, and mosaic.  Each of these allows your knitting to have multiple colors knit on the same knitting row.  

Fair isle is originally from Scandinavia and involves only two colors.  Each color is carried through each row with one color “floated” behind the other when it is not in use.  Fair isle is often used when knitting in the round and creating such items as sweaters and jackets.  

Intarsia in contrast to fair isle, is generally not worked in the round, and is used to create geometric shapes and other decorative items.  

Mosaic knitting, otherwise known as slip-stitch knitting, allows you to knit with only one color at a time and is much more time consuming than either fair isle or intarsia.  

Cables/Aran Knitting

Aran knitting is a form of knitting where you use one solid color of yarn and essentially make patterns and cables by using various basic stitches and needle techniques.  The Aran knitting technique is also sometimes called sweater knitting, cable knitting, or fisherman knitting, because Aran knitting techniques were used in the past primarily to knit cable sweaters.   Today, Aran knitting techniques are used on a wide variety of hand knit items from the more traditional sweaters to blankets, scarves and bags.

While Aran knit garments and household items may look very complicated to knit, they really aren’t all that difficult to do once you have mastered a couple new techniques.  Anyone with basic knitting skills can learn to do Aran knitting and create wonderful heirloom items for their friends and family.   

In addition to traditional knitting needles, for Aran knitting you will also need to have a cable needle which you will use to make the special cable designs with.  Cable needles come in various shapes and sizes.  The shape and size you choose to use in your knitting is mostly about personal preference as they all perform the same function.  Personally, I know that I prefer wooden cable needles because they are less likely to slide out of my projects.  

Knit Lace 

One of the most decorative and intricate types of advanced knitting is making lace.  Lace is simply made with a specifically ordered, decorative increases and decreases in stitches.  However, because if the specific order, lace can vary from fairly simple to make to very advanced.  The smaller the lace will be sometimes the harder it is to make.  

Structural Knitting

Structural advanced knitting techniques involve those such as entrelac and mobius.   Both of these structural techniques involve inverting and modifying the rows and structure of a piece.  Entrelac is used to make faux woven fabrics, while mobius makes flipped but connected circles which resemble mobius strips.  

Some knitting projects combine one, tow or even three of these techniques into one finished piece, while others simply show off one individual technique.  Some of the most exciting uses for these advanced knitting techniques are in making unique sweaters and shawls to be worn.  

One of the best things about knitting is that you can try new techniques and keep those which you like the results of.  If you don’t like something, you can simply pull it out and start again using a different pattern or technique until you get one you like.  By experimenting with the more advanced knitting techniques, you can make some amazing and unique knit items for yourself, your home and for gifts.  

Adding Beads to Your Crochet Projects 

With the popularity of beading and jewelry making today, there are literally millions of different beads which you can purchase and add on to your crochet projects.  Beads are very readily available and inexpensive to purchase.  They can be found made of many materials and of all shapes and sizes.  Whether you want to add a single focus bead to your crochet projects, or add many of them, it is simple to do and will produce great results every single time. 

No instruction about beading crochet would be complete without a warning about babies.  If you are crocheting baby items, they are not appropriate for beading.  The baby’s hands can work beads loose and they are a possible choking hazard if swallowed.  The best way to deal with this is to avoid the issue all together by not adding beads to your baby crochet items.  

No matter if your crochet project is simple or complex, adding beads is a simple process which you can learn very quickly.  However, one very important thing is to remember is that your bead holes need to fit over the yarn or fiber which you are crocheting with.  If the bead hole is hard to get on your yarn then you will find the entire process frustrating.  And, the bead, if hard to string, will rub your yarn and cause it to fray.  This fraying will cause your finished product to look less than professional.  

The first step in adding beads to your crochet projects is deciding how many beads you need and where you will place them on your project.  Your options are limitless when you are adding beads to crochet.  You can add one bead, you can add just a few beads or you can add many beads.  You also have the option of forming patterns with your beads or making them appear more random.  Once you have decided some of these things then it is time to hit the craft store to purchase your beads.  

While you are selecting beads, take care to decide on the quality of the beads and the wear they may receive.  If your item will be machine washed then it is a good idea to stick with sturdy beads.  If your item will be hand washed then you can use more delicate beads.  Whatever your choice in beads, make sure you use quality beads so they will last the lifetime of your finished crochet project.  

You will be placing your beads on your project in the reverse, so you will want to line up your beads in reverse order, if they are not all the same.  When you are going to embellish your crochet with beads you have two choices of how to do it.  The first choice is to add your beads as you crochet.  To do this you will want to feed your beads onto your crochet hook when you are at the stitch where you want the bead to be.  Place the bead right where you want it to be, and then make your last yarn over.  This will secure down the bead into place.  If you are working on an open or lacy design, you will need to add your beads as you crochet.

The second choice you have is to sew on your beads after your fabric has been crocheted.  To do this, you will want to use the same crochet yarn or thread to sew on your beads that your fabric is made of.  This will allow the thread to blend in and not stand out on your finished design.  This is a good technique for tightly woven crochet fabrics.  

Adding beads to your crochet projects gives you a way to make a simple item really have some sparkle and visual interest.  Whether you choose to add a single bead or thousands, the process is simple and you can do it well with very little practice.  

Adding Starch to Your Finished Crochet Projects

As you foray into the art of crochet, there will be times where you want to add some stiffness to your finished work.  This is the case when you are crocheting items such as handbags, doilies, and certain kinds of lace.  Stiffening your yarns or fibers can easily be accomplished by starching your projects with a variety of different stiffening mediums.  Starching has been around for a very long time and with the different options available today for starching; you can find just the right one for your project.  

Classic Starching 

The oldest form of starching is simply to dissolve ¼ cup starch in ½ cup of cold water.  Take this mixture and bring it to a boil slowly over a low flame.  As the mixture begins to thicken up, gradually add 1 ¼ cups of cold water.  Boil the mixture while stirring constantly until the mixture becomes clear.  This will leave you with a think pasty type mixture.  

As soon as your starch mixture is cool enough to safely be handled, dip in your crochet work and squeeze the starch into it thoroughly.  Your goal is to soak your project with the starch but not to have it in the holes or any openwork in your project.  At this point you will want to allow your project to dry in the position you want it to be in when the starching process is completed.  

Once your item is completely dry, you can iron it with a steam iron on a medium setting.  

Spray Starch

An easier way to stiffen your crochet items is to use spray starch.  Spray starch is readily available in the laundry detergent area of any of your local grocery or drug stores.  To use spray starch you will want to use one of two methods.  

Method one is to lightly spray your piece and the press it using a warm iron, on the wrong side, covered with another material in-between your item and your iron. 

Method two is to lightly spray your piece and then pin it in place and allow it to dry.  If you choose to pin your pieces, make sure you use rust proof pins so you do not get any staining on your finished crochet work.   

Spray starch is perfect for household items and holds up under normal wear.  However, it is not permanent and if you wash your item then you will need to starch it again.  

Liquid Starch

Using liquid starch allows you to control the stiffness of your piece very easily.  You have the option of using the starch straight from the bottle, or diluting it with water and having a less stiff piece as a result.  The process is identical to the directions above for classic starching.  

Stiff Stuff

There is a great product on the craft market called “Stiff Stuff.”  And, just as the name implies, it is used to starch craft items and handiwork.  The process is exactly the same as using spray starch; however, your resulting item will be very stiff.  And, if you wish to hasten the process you can use a blow dryer to dry the starch faster.  Stiff Stuff is not permanent and will wash out if you wash your piece.  

White Glue and Water

If you are looking for a permanent starching option, you can accomplish it by using white glue and water.  Simply mix together equal parts of white glue and water.  Dip your crochet item into this mixture and squeeze out the excess.  Lay your piece on a hard non-stick surface to dry and you will have a permanently starched end product.  

Shellac

Shellac is used in the case where you want a very firm finished product.  Simply shape your piece and using a small brush add a thin layer of shellac.  Let this layer dry, and then apply 2-3 more coats on top of it.  Once your item is dry the shellac is permanent and your item will be very hard to the touch.  Shellac is perfect for use on things like crocheted Christmas tree ornaments and bookmarks.

By using these techniques, you can ensure that your crochet projects are starched like a professional and will last for many years to come. 

Aran Knitting Is Simple But Sure Doesn’t Look Like It

Aran knitting is a form of knitting where you use one solid color of yarn and essentially make patterns and cables by using various basic stitches and needle techniques.  The Aran knitting technique is also sometimes called sweater knitting, cable knitting, or fisherman knitting, because Aran knitting techniques were used in the past primarily to knit cable sweaters.   Today, Aran knitting techniques are used on a wide variety of hand knit items from the more traditional sweaters to blankets, scarves and bags.

While Aran knit garments and household items may look very complicated to knit, they really aren’t all that difficult to do once you have mastered a couple new techniques.  Anyone with basic knitting skills can learn to do Aran knitting and create wonderful heirloom items for their friends and family.   

In addition to traditional knitting needles, for Aran knitting you will also need to have a cable needle which you will use to make the special cable designs with.  Cable needles come in various shapes and sizes.  The shape and size you choose to use in your knitting is mostly about personal preference as they all perform the same function.  Personally, I know that I prefer wooden cable needles because they are less likely to slide out of my projects.  

Yarn selection is probably the most important step in knitting anything.  I know I started out with a cheap and just “okay” yarn.  I ended up with a just okay looking finished project.  When you are putting a lot of your time into something, you are well advised to use the best materials you can afford to use.  This is so that you can be proud of the way your finished project turns out and to insure that it will stand the test of time.  

The absolute best yarns to use for Aran knitting are wools and cottons.  You also only want to use a yarn which is a single color.  The trick to Aran knitting is that you want the patterns you knit to stand out – not the yarn itself like in many other knitting projects.   You do not want to use a yarn with a lot of fluff or extra bulk to it for Aran knitting.  Stick to the easier yarns for your first couple projects and then branch out from there into the more creative yarns and fibers if you so desire.

While the cables and designs of Aran knitting look terribly daunting, they are created by moving stitches over to the cable needle and then back to the main project surface again.  You will be varying the order in which you knit the stitches and this forms the cable designs.  The process of Aran knitting really is that simple.

If you want to learn Aran knitting I would suggest picking up one of the many books on the subject or even better have someone show you how it is done.  By learning a few basic techniques you can create some intricate looking patterns to add to your garments and blankets.  As with any knitting project you will have the best results however, if you have someone show you how to do the techniques and can be there to assist you if something doesn’t look right.  It will take a few rows of knitting before Aran knitting starts to look right or wrong.  

Crochet as a Home-Based Business

Similarly to knitting, crochet has been seeing a nice resurgence in popularity in the recent years.  Crochet is generally thought of as being quicker and easier than knitting.  While the two are similar they require entirely different skills to master.  But, the good news is that both are fairly easy to do once you learn the basics.  

Items made from knitting and crochet are all the rage today.  And, for those who do not have the skills or time to create them themselves, they are willing to pay you to make handcrafted items for them!  

There are three ways you can make a business out of your crochet work.  The first is to make items to sell, the second is to teach others to crochet, and the third is to sell crocheting items online for other crafters to use.  

You can easily sell your crochet items at local craft fairs or online.  And, the best thing is that all you need to get started is a ball of yarn and a crochet hook!  

Whether you choose to sell your items, teach, or sell retail, there are a few basic business guidelines that you will need to follow to be successful.  Some of them are:

The Business Plan 

No matter what business you decide to start, you 100% have to have a solid business plan.  There is no way possible to have a successful business venture without one.  The best way to develop your business plan is to think about all of the variables which go into your unique business, and what your ultimate short-term and long-term goals are for the business.  With all of this information, you can sit down and formulate a business plan without it taking you a lot of valuable time.  You can easily make a business plan with a pencil and a piece of paper.  

Financial Records

The best thing you can do for yourself is to keep good business records from day one of your business.  Start with the fees to get a business license, and start recording every single business expense that you have.  By doing this as you go you will save both yourself and your tax preparer a ton of headaches come tax time.  

Setting Your Prices 

The number one mistake many home-based crochet businesses make is to charge too little for their services.  You need to make a living, and you need to be pricing your items and services accordingly.  Whatever you do, do not sell yourself short!  Ask a going rate for your items and services and expect that people will pay you what your time and product is worth.  This allows you to work smarter and not harder!  And, it allows you to stay in business because you are seeing some profits from your time investment.  

Marketing 

Marketing is simply getting the word out and letting others know your business exists.  You can market online, through a press release sent to your local newspaper, flyers, brochures, craft fair booths, etc…  Anywhere you come into contact with potential customers you can market your items and services.  You can even do simple things like always carry business cards, available these days very inexpensively online, and hand them out to everyone you meet as you go through your days.  

The absolute best way to market your business is through word-of-mouth.  Once your business gets going, if you treat your customers well, then they will tell their friends and family about you; this will bring you more customers without having to pay a dime to advertise.  

As you can see there are a lot of things for you to consider when you are thinking about starting a home-based crochet business.  However, your business can be very successful and profitable if you take the time to make it so.  Your options are only limited by your imagination and the time you invest in your business venture.