Slip Stitch Knitting

By Sue Norrad

Slip stitch knitting is a method of using slipped stitches for making two color designs. It is very easy as you do not have to carry the yarn behind your work. Therefore, slip stitch knitting doesn't come out thick and heavy like the normal method of working with two colors. It also retains it's stretchiness.

A slip stitch knitted design can appear to look complicated, but it is actually very easy.

It's as easy as simply knitting a row. You slip a few stitches on the row where you would normally knit with the other color. This brings the color up to the next row and creates a very pretty design. Another advantage of Slip Stitch Knitting is that you do not use as much yarn in the project.

Two different color strands are used one at a time. They are changed at the beginning of each right side row. You work two rows with Color A, then drop it and pick up Color B.

A typical pattern would be to knit two stitches with Color B, slip two stitches with the yarn in back. Repeat that to the end of the row. The next row on the wrong side, you will knit 2 and slip two stitches with the yarn in front. Then drop Color B and pick up Color A to knit two rows again and so on. You do not do slip stitching on Color A rows, it's straight knitting.

Every slip stitch is slipped with yarn in back on all right side rows and with yarn in front on all wrong side rows. This is so the yarn is always held to the wrong side.

Slip Stitch Knitting is also called Mosaic Knitting. This term for Slip Stitch Knitting was coined by Barbara G. Walker in her book "Mosaic Knitting" first published in 1976. The revised edition includes 116 new charted mosaic designs to complement the 157 charted designs featured in the original edition.

There are not many Slip Stitch Knitted patterns for free online, however if you visit my site in the link at the end of this article, I have designed a Knitted Slip Stitch Slippers pattern that you can get for free.

I have found Slip Stitch Knitting to be very enjoyable. It works up fast and you can use so many different color combinations to create some very beautiful projects.

Larksfoot Crochet Stitch

I came upon a photo of a blanket done in the Larksfoot crochet stitch. I must admit that I hadn't heard of it before. I love it. And it looks so easy to do and would be an excellent pattern for a beginner. 

Have a look at some photos of Larksfoot crochet on Google Images. 

The colour combinations you could use make this a fun stitch to work with for an afghan.  It would also be a great pattern for a dishcloth.

Here is a link to a Larksfoot crochet blanket on One Crafty Mumma's blog. It is very pretty!

Here is a video on how to do the stitch. 

Paintbrush Afghan

A lady posted on my Pattern Search Forum that she was looking for a crochet
pattern called the Paintbrush Afghan.

I hadn't heard of it before but I did a search and found it here.  It is absolutely gorgeous!
Be sure to have a look! The designer did an excellent job on it. She has links to where you 
can buy her pattern online.
I also found one that is similar, but not quite as nice as the other one. It's called
The Clamshell Crochet Afghan and you can download it for free.

Hook and Needle Size Charts and Abbreviations

Crochet Hooks USA English Metric -- 000 10.0mm N 00 9.00mm -- 0 8.00mm K-10 1/2 2 7.00mm 10 1/4 3 6.50mm J-10 4 6.00mm I-9 5 5.50mm H-8 6 5.00mm 7 7 4.50mm G-6 8 4.00mm F-5 9 3.75mm E-4 9 3.50mm D-3 10 3.25mm C-2 12 2.75mm B-1 13 2.25mm B-1 14 2.00mm 5 steel - 1.75mm 7 steel - 1.50mm 8 steel - 1.25mm 10 steel - 1.00mm Knitting Needles USA English Metric 15 000 10 13 00 9 11 0 8 -- 1 7 1/2 -- 2 7 10 1/2 3 6 1/2 10 4 6 9 5 5 1/2 8 6 5 7 7 4 1/2 6 8 4 5 9 3 3/4 4 - 3 1/2 3 10 3 1/4 -- 11 3 2 12 2 3/4 1 13 2 1/4 0 14 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - Abbreviations Crochet Knitting beg = beginning bpdc = backpost double crochet CC = Contrasting Color ch = chain cl = cluster dc = double crochet dec = decrease dtr = double treble crochet fpdc = front post double crochet hdc = half double crochet inc = increase lp(s) = loop(s) MC = Main Color p = picot rep = repeat rnd = round RS = Right Side facing you sk = skip st = stitch ss or sl st = slip stitch sc = single crochet sp = space tog = together tr = treble tr tr = triple treble woh = wool over hook WS = Wrong Side facing you yoh = yarn over hook beg = beginning bet = between CC = Contrast Color CO = cast on dec = decrease dpn = double pointed needles eor = every other row inc = increase K2tog = knit 2 together K = knit MC = Main Color KB = knit through back of st (loop) P = purl PB = purl through back of st (loop) psso = pass slipped st over PW = purl wise (or as if to purl) rem = remaining sk = skip sl = slip sp = space st = stitch tbl = through back of loop (st) tog = together wl. fwd = wool forward won = wool on needle wrn = wool round needle Y fwd = yarn forward yo = yarn over yon = yarn over needle yrn = yarn round needle

Granny Square Cap and Bill Crochet Hat

FREE Pattern from my daughter.

Granny Square Cap and Bill Crochet Hat This is my daughter's design. Designed By: Farrah for 365 Crochet. Skill Level: Easy. Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky Size 5, approx. 100yds. Hook: G/4.0mm. Gauge: 14 sts x 12 rows = 4”. Size: Adult head, approx 21 inch circumference. (stretchy). You can get the pattern for FREE on her site! 

 

Here is another one of her own designs Crocheted Berry Band Reversible Hat.

She wore this hat when she and my sweet little 20 month old granddaughter came to visit. I loved it! I didn't ask for the pattern because she would of given it to me if I did. I wanted to buy it from her so I waited until after they had left and then I went to Etsy and bought it, it's only $1.75. I'm excited to start making one for myself now! (Update: I've made quite a few of them since the time I got the pattern. They were so fun to make!)

Understanding Some Basic Yarn Properties.

By Becky Lindstone

Yarn can be described as a combination of fibers which are used to produce different textiles or in sewing, rope making, knitting and embroidery. Yarns will have different properties depending on how they were produced. Yarn can be manufactured using synthetic fibers like polyester or natural fibers like wool. Wool is an animal fiber that has been used extensively in the manufacturing of yarns. Other than the fibers used, the manufacturing process will also determine the kind of properties yarns have. Below are some of the characteristics of different yarns that will help you to understand them better.

First and foremost, there are two main fibers that can be used to manufacture yarns. These are filament fibers and staple fibers. Great examples of filament fibers are rayon and polyester. These two are extremely long and can be used to make yarns on their own. Yarns can also be manufactured using staple fibers. These ones are rather short and they must be twisted together in order to form the final product. This process of twisting and pulling the fibers together is very popular and the resulting product is known as spun yarn.

The perfect example of a staple fiber that is used to make yarns is wool. It is a unique fiber that is found in sheep. This fiber is elastic and durable and it is known to bend over 30,000 times without breaking. The unique thing about this animal fiber is the fact that it can absorb moisture vapor but repel liquid. There are many reasons why this fiber has been used in making garments.

First of all, it is warm and cool. The absorbent fiber can be used for making a number of warm clothes. Additionally, wool is naturally flame resistant. It is the only fiber that doesn't burst into flames when exposed to fire. If the fiber is exposed to a flame source, it will smolder or char. This is not the case with most artificial fibers in the market. Acrylics are known to melt or stick to the skin when exposed to flames. This fiber has been appreciated worldwide because it is resistant to breaking, piling or snagging. Woolen clothes are usually considered a great investment because they do not wrinkle or sag unlike other fabrics. The fiber is naturally elastic so it will last longer than other fabrics you know of.

Regardless of the fiber that has been used to create the yarn, twisting must be done to hold these fibers together. Twisting gives the yarns adequate strength. Twisting is done in different directions, that is clockwise and anti clockwise. The yarns can also be textured to increase strength and give them better insulation. Texturizing of yarns also helps in increasing the softness of the fabric. When choosing the ideal yarn, it is important to understand the kind of fibers it has as well as the method used to manufacture it. Look for respectable brand names like Sirdar if you want premium yarns that will last long.

Becky Lindstone is the author of this article on wool. Find more information about yarn here.