Posted in Knitty Gritty and Crochet

knitty gritty

the hip knitting show

Knitty Gritty, a new how-to series on DIY, Do It Yourself Network, presents fresh, fierce and fabulous ideas for creative knitters, from beginners to advanced.       This series is hosted by Vickie Howell - a young, hip crafter and designer with a passion for knitting.

Be sure to check out their website for tips and how to videos.  I learned to knit watching this show, Vickie is a great teacher!!!

Amy Beth

Posted in Knitty Gritty and Crochet

FreePatterns.com is the world's most popular source of FREE craft patterns and designs.  Patterns for crochet, cross stitching, knitting, paper crafts, plastic canvas, quilting,  sewing, tatting & woodworking.

Amy Beth

Posted in Knitty Gritty and Crochet

Crochet Pattern Central is an online directory featuring thousands of links to free crochet patterns, with over ninety categories from which to choose, including afghans, hats, doilies, ponchos, kitchen, clothing, holiday and baby crochet.

Amy Beth

Posted in Knitty Gritty and Crochet

Knitting Pattern Central is an online directory featuring thousands of links to free knitting patterns, currently with over fifty categories from which to choose, including hats, sweaters, afghans, ponchos, mittens and gloves, kitchen items, toys, and much more.

Amy Beth

Posted in Knitty Gritty and Crochet

Tons of patterns to knit dishcloths.  She also has a list of common knitting terms and a knitting needle conversion chart.  Be sure to check it out.

Posted in Knitty Gritty and Crochet

Learn To Knit
Knitting will give you a lifetime of pleasure and relaxation.  You can learn to create handmade knits for yourself and people you love.  When you give a lovingly knit gift, part of you goes into it.  Your time, talent, the yarn and color you select -- even the thoughts and feelings you have as you work -- all become part of your knitted gift.  You can learn to knit by following our simple instructions and by the end of chapter 2, you'll be knitting!
Download Learn-to-Knit Instructions
Table of Contents
Before you start to learn to knit ...
1. Casting On
2. Learning the Knit Stitch
3. Learning the Purl Stitch
4. Ribbing
5. Stockinette Stitch
6. Binding Off
7. Making a Gauge Swatch
8. Joining New Yarn
9. Recovering a dropped stitch
10. Unraveling Stitch by Stitch
11. Avoiding Extra Stitches
12. Increasing
13. Increasing - Making a Simple Increase (Knit into front and back of a stitch)
14. Increasing Between a Stitch (Make One)
15. Increasing - the Yarn Over Increase
16. Decreasing
17. Decreasing - Slip, Slip, Knit (SSK / SSP)
18. Decreasing - Knit/Purl Two Together
19. Slipping Stitches Purlwise and Knitwise
20. Making a cable
21. Knitting into the Back Loop / Front Loop
22. Purling into the Back Loop / Front Loop
23. Finishing / Joining / Sewing Pieces Together
24. Weaving in Ends
25. 3-Needle Bind Off
26. Picking Up Stitches
27. Knitting with Two Strands
28. Duplicate Stitch
29. Grafting (Kitchener Stitch)

Visit the Lion Brand website for tons of free knitting patterns.

Posted in Knitty Gritty and Crochet

Learn To Crochet
Crocheting will give you a lifetime of pleasure and relaxation.  You can learn to create handmade items for yourself and people you love.  When you give a lovingly crocheted  gift, part of you goes into it.  Your time, talent, the yarn and color you select -- even the thoughts and feelings you have as you work -- are part of your gift.  You can learn to crochet by following our simple instructions and by the end of chapter 4, you'll be on your way!
Download all Instructions
1. Before you start to learn to crochet...
2. Getting a Grip
3. Let's Start at the Beginning
4. Making a Chain Stitch (ch)
5. All about Stitches
6. Turning Chains
7. Turning Your Work
8. Making a Single Crochet (abbreviated 'sc')
9. Making a half double crochet (abbreviated 'hdc')
10. Making a double crochet (abbreviated 'dc')
11. Making a triple crochet (abbreviated 'trc')
12. Making a slip stitch (abbreviated 'sl st')
13. Fastening Off
14. Seaming Techniques
15. Invisible Sewn Seam
16. Slip Stitch Seam
17. Single Crochet Seam
18. Gauge
19. Joining a New Ball of Yarn

Visit the Lion Brand website for free crochet patterns.