Thrummed Slippers: The Toe Cap
This video shows how to work the toe cap for the Cadeautje Slippers pattern by Ysolda Teague.
Thrummed Slippers: Picking up Stitches for the Upper
I’m working on the Cadeautje Slippers, by Ysolda Teague . I just finished the thrummed sole for these slippers, and this video shows how I picked up the stitches from the sole to begin working on the upper part of the slipper.
Future videos will show how to complete the toe cap and the instep before proceeding on to the cuff.
Enjoy!
Thrums: Preparing and Knitting
I’m teaching an online class of the CADEAUTJE slippers by Ysolda Teague. These are thrummed slippers that involve preparing and knitting wisps of fiber into the fabric of the slippers to provide insulation.
This video shows how to prepare the fiber for thrummed knitting and how to knit the thrums into the fabric.
Orime Sweater Finishing: Collar Extension to Outside Back Seam (top-to-side seam)
The Orime Sweater, by Veronik Avery, is a pattern published by Brooklyn Tweed. This post shows how to seam the collar extensions to back neck. The back neck is at the top of the piece. The collar extension is sewn at the side to the back. This post and video show how to work a top-to-side seam.
Here are instructions on how to work a figure-8 knot at the beginning (and the end) of a seam:
This is where the seams are located on the pattern schematic.
These are the steps to complete the seam:
And here’s the video demonstrating how to sew this top-to-side seam (collar extensions to back):
Orime Sweater Finishing: Collar extension seam (top-to-top seam)
The Orime Sweater, by Veronik Avery, is a pattern published by Brooklyn Tweed. This post shows how to seam the left and right collar extensions. The tops of each of these pieces are sewn together. This post and video show how to work a top-to-top seam.
Here are instructions on how to work a figure-8 knot at the beginning (and the end) of a seam:
This is where the seams are located on the pattern schematic.
These are the steps to complete the seam:
And here’s the video demonstrating how to sew this top-to-side seam.
Orime Sweater Finishing: Shoulder Seaming (top-to-side seam)
The Orime Sweater, by Veronik Avery, is a pattern published by Brooklyn Tweed. This post shows how to seam the front shoulder to back shoulder seam. The front shoulder is at the top of the piece. The back shoulder is at the side of the piece. This post and video show how to work a top-to-side seam.
Here are instructions on how to work a figure-8 knot at the beginning (and the end) of a seam:
This is where the seams are located on the pattern schematic.
These are the steps to complete the seam:
And here’s the video demonstrating how to sew this top-to-side seam.
Working Cables without a Cable Needle
Here’s a short video about working cables without a cable needle, my preferred method. I love working cables, but don’t like fiddling with the cable needle. I’m able to work most cable crosses as long as they are a 4 stitch by 4 stitch cross or smaller. For some of the more complicated cable crossings I need to bring out the needle, but for most projects no needle works just fine. Here’s the video followed by some written instructions. Hope you enjoy!
If instruction says “slip to cable needle and hold in BACK”
• Guide your right needle in FRONT of the stitches on your left needle
• Skip over the number of stitches for the cable needle and pick up the next number of stitches to be knit
• Let the two “cable” stitches drop off the right needle to the back and quickly pick them up with your left needle
• Put the stitches you moved to right needle back on the left needle
• Work all the stitches
If instruction says “slip to cable needle and hold in FRONT”
• Guide your right needle BEHIND the stitches on your left needle
• Skip over the number of stitches for the cable needle and pick up the next number of stitches to be knit
• Let the two “cable” stitches drop off the right needle to the front and quickly pick them up with your left needle
• Put the stitches you moved to right needle back on the left needle
• Work all the stitches
•
Short Rows: Japanese
Japanese Short Rows
Here is a two-part video covering the Japanese Short Row method. This is part of a series of videos about short rows that includes the Wrap and Turn https://www.chaiknucklesknitting.com/blog/2020/9/24/short-rows-wrap-and-turn method and the German https://www.chaiknucklesknitting.com/blog/2020/9/24/short-rows-german method.
Japanese Short Rows
Pros: • Easier to do than W&T • Pin makes it easy to locate pivot stitch • Processed stitches are less noticeable than W&T • Less distortion
Cons: • Not as many patterns are written with Japanese short rows as are W&T • It can be a pain fiddling with pins
Converting Japanese to W&T: • Japanese = “ Work X stitches, turn, Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin” • W&T = “Work X-1 stitches, W&T”
Converting Japanese to German: • Japanese = “ Work X stitches, turn, Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin” • German = “Work X stitches, turn, DS” Japanese Short Rows (Knit Side*)
Japanese Short Rows: Turning, knit side:
1. Work up to and including the pivot stitch
2. Turn (you're now on the purl side)*
3. Slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right. The working yarn is coming from the stitch on your right needle.
4. Hang a pin on the working yarn.
5. Continue, ignoring the pin, it won't be used until the pivot stitch is processed.
Processing the pivot stitch on the knit side:
1. Work until you reach the stitch with the pin.
2. Pull on the pin and lift the yarn it holds on to the left needle. Be sure that the loop is correctly mounted with its right leg in front.
3. Work that loop together with the pivot stitch on the left needle.
4. Remove the pin.
Japanese Short Rows (Purl Side*)
* “Side” is based on stockinette stitch.
Turning, purl side:
1. Work up to and including pivot stitch.
2. Turn (you're now on the knit side)*
3. Slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right. The working yarn is coming from the stitch on your right needle.
4. Hang a pin on the working yarn.
5. Continue, ignoring the pin, it won't be used until the pivot stitch is processed.
Processing the pivot stitch on the purl side:
1. Work until you reach the stitch with the pin.
2. Pull on the pin and lift the yarn it holds on to the left needle. Be sure that the loop is correctly mounted with its right leg in front.
3. Work that loop together with the pivot stitch on the left needle.
4. Remove the pin.
Japanese Short Rows Pattern
Cast on 15
1. P to end
2. K10, turn
3. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, P4, turn
4. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, K5 processing pin on the way, turn
5. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, P6 processing pin on the way, turn
6. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, K7 processing pin on the way, turn
7. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, P8 processing pin on the way, turn
8. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, K9 processing pin on the way, turn
9. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, P10 processing pin on the way, turn
10. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, K9, turn
11. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, P8, turn
12. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, K7, turn
13. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, P6, turn
14. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, K5, turn
15. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, P4, turn
16. Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin, K to end processing pins on the way, turn
17. P to end processing pins on the way, turn
18. K to end
19. Bind off in pattern
Short Rows: German
German Short Rows
Here is a video about the German Short Row Method. This is part of a series that also includes W&T (https://www.chaiknucklesknitting.com/blog/2020/9/24/short-rows-wrap-and-turn) Short Rows and Japanese (https://www.chaiknucklesknitting.com/blog/2020/9/24/short-rows-japanese) Short Rows.
Converting German to W&T: • German = “Work X stitches, turn, DS” • W&T = “Work X-1 stitches, W&T” Converting German to Japanese: • German = “Work X stitches, turn, DS” • Japanese = “ Work X stitches, turn, Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin”
German Short Rows on Knit side: • Work up to and including pivot stitch • Turn work (yarn is in front)* • Slip 1 stitch from left needle to right needle as if to purl • Yank up on the yarn to make a double stitch
To process a double stitch, either knit or purl both legs together.
German Short Rows on Purl side: • Work up to and including pivot stitch • Turn work (yarn is in back)* • Bring yarn to the front • Slip 1 stitch from left needle to right needle as if to purl • Yank up on the yarn to make a double stitch
* Location of yarn (yarn is in back, yarn is in front) is based on stockinette stitch. If you’re using another stitch pattern, you might need to move the yarn to the correct location.
German Short Rows Pattern Cast on 15
1. P to end
2. K10, turn
3. DS, P4, turn
4. DS, K5 processing DS on the way, turn
5. DS, P6 processing DS on the way, turn
6. DS, K7 processing DS on the way, turn
7. DS, P8 processing DS on the way, turn
8. DS, K9 processing DS on the way, turn
9. DS, P10 processing DS on the way, turn
10. DS, K9, turn
11. DS, P8, turn
12. DS, K7, turn
13. DS, P6, turn
14. DS, K5, turn
15. DS, P4, turn
16. DS, K to end processing DS on the way, turn
17. P to end processing DS on the way, turn
18. K to end
19. Bind off in pattern
Short Rows: Wrap and Turn
Greetings! Here is a video about the Wrap and Turn (W&T) Short Row Method. This is part of a series covering W&T, German (https://www.chaiknucklesknitting.com/blog/2020/9/24/short-rows-german) and Japanese (https://www.chaiknucklesknitting.com/blog/2020/9/24/short-rows-japanese) Short Rows.
Wrap-and-Turn Short Rows
Pros: • Traditional • Many patterns written using this method
Cons: • A little difficult to learn and remember • Visible • Distorts stitches • Back side not as pretty as front
Converting W&T to German: • W&T = “Work X stitches, W&T” • German = “Work X+1 stitches, turn, DS” Converting W&T to Japanese • W&T = “Work X stitches, W&T” • Japanese = “ Work X+1 stitches, turn, Sl 1 purlwise, attach pin”
W&T Knit side:
• Work up to, but not including, the pivot stitch. • Bring the yarn forward. • Slip 1 stitch from left needle to right needle as if to purl. • Take the yarn back • Slip stitch back from right needle to left needle. • Turn.
Picking up wraps knit side • Work to wrapped stitch • Pick up wrap from front and underneath, then insert needle in pivot stitch as if to knit • K2tog
W&T Purl side: • Work up to, but not including, the pivot stitch. • Take the yarn back. • Slip 1 stitch from left needle to right needle as if to purl. • Bring the yarn forward. • Slip stitch back from right needle to left needle. • Turn.
Picking up wraps purl side • Work to wrapped stitch • Pick up wrap from other side and underneath • Lift on to left needle • P2tog
Wrap-and-Turn Short Rows Pattern Cast on 15
1. Purl to end
2. K9, W&T
3. P3, W&T
4. K3, pick up and work wrap, W&T
5. P4, pick up and work wrap, W&T
6. K5, pick up and work wrap, W&T
7. P6, pick up and work wrap, W&T
8. K7, pick up and work wrap, W&T
9. P8, pick up and work wrap, W&T
10. K8 (to one stitch before last wrapped stitch), W&T
11. P7 (to one stitch before last wrapped stitch), W&T
12. K6 (to one stitch before last wrapped stitch), W&T
13. P5 (to one stitch before last wrapped stitch), W&T
14. K4 (to one stitch before last wrapped stitch), W&T
15. P3 (to one stitch before last wrapped stitch), W&T
16. K to end, picking up and working wraps as you go. Turn.
17. P to end, picking up and working wraps as you go.
18. K to end
Baby Surprise Jacket: Adding Stripes
I’m teaching a Zoom class on the Baby Surprise Jacket. This video covers how to change colors for stripes and how to work in the ends to avoid having to weave in at the end of the project.
Remember to add a new color when you’re working the front of the garment. And also remember to make each stripe a multiple of 2 rows. This will help you avoid having colored purl bumps show on the front of the work.
Baby Surprise Jacket: Increases
I’m currently teaching a Zoom class on Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket. The jacket requires increases, and this video shows, specifically, how to perform m1 increases.
Here are the written instructions followed by a video demonstration.
Increases
m1, k1, m1
Work to 1 stitch before marker
* Insert left needle from back to front under the strand running between the stitch on the right needle and the one on the left needle. Knit into the front of this loop to twist it. (This is an M1R – tilts right.)
Knit 1
* Insert left needle from front to back under the strand running between the stitch on the right needle and the one on the left needle. Knit into the back of this loop to twist it. (This is an M1L – tilts left.)
Remove marker and replace it to the right of the first stitch on the right needle (to the left of the center increase stitch).
Next row will be all knits (no decreases)
To have a prominent knit stitch show on the right side, purl the center stitch between the increases when you work on the wrong side. The stitch to be purled on the wrong side is the one right after the marker.
* The angle of the M1 really doesn’t matter. Because the piece is done in garter stitch, the leaning of the stitch is hardly noticeable. If you want to just use one kind (I think step #4 is the easiest), just pick one and be consistent.
Baby Surprise Jacket: Decreases
I’m currently teaching a Zoom class on Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket. The jacket requires decreases, and this video shows, specifically, how to perform a sl2tog k1 psso decrease.
Here are the written instructions followed by a video demonstration.
Note: In the video I mistakenly referred to the marked stitch as 136 when it is in fact 36. Please disregard the blunder. Thanks!
Decreases
Slip 2 tog knitwise, k1, p2sso.
Work to 2 stitches before marker
Insert right needle into the two stitches on the left needle as if to knit and slip them to the right needle.
Remove marker
Knit 1
On the right needle, lift the two slipped stitches over the knit stitch
Replace marker
Next row will be all knits (no decreases).
To have a prominent knit stitch show on the right side, purl the decreased stitch on the wrong side. The stitch to be purled is the one right after the marker.
Gauge in the Round
Today’s video shows how to work up a couple of different kinds of gauge swatches for garments knit in the round.
The first swatch I present is a Speed Swatch. For a video on how to create a speed swatch, see: https://www.chaiknucklesknitting.com/blog/2018/4/26/galloway-cardigan-knitting-a-speed-swatch-video
For the speed swatch:
Cast on 40 stitches.
Work 4 rows of seed stitch (or garter stitch)
Work chart (this one has a four-stitch repeat over 14 rows)
Work 4 rows of seed stitch (or garter stitch)
Bind off
The second swatch is knit completely in the round.
For the swatch in the round:
Cast on 100 stitches.
K 1 round
P 1 round
Work chart
k 1 round
P 1 round
K 1 round
Bind off
Two videos follow. The first one covers the majority of the topic. The second very short video covers how to measure row gauge.
Enjoy!
Join to work in the round
This video shows how to join cast-on stitches to knit on a circular needle in the round. It offers a trick for avoiding twisting stitches.
I apologize for some background noise in the video. Since my hubby and I have been shut in for three months now, it’s hard for me to find time to record video when it’s quiet. Hubby was actually cooking me dinner, so I didn’t want to complain. Thanks for understanding!
Casting on for 2x2 ribbing: Long Tail and German Twisted
The Bousta Beanie and Beret pattern by Gudrun Johnston calls for a special cast on combining a long-tail cast on with a German Twisted cast on to set up for k2,p2 ribbing.
Casting on for 2x2 ribbing: Long Tail and Reverse Long Tail
The Bousta Beanie and Beret pattern by Gudrun Johnston calls for a special cast on combining a long-tail cast on with a German Twist cast on to set up for k2,p2 ribbing. This is a variation of that cast on, which combines a long-tail cast on with a reverse long tail cast on.
Colorwork: Two-color Stranded Knitting
Greetings!
Since we’re still in lock-down for the pandemic, I’m not able to teach classes at my local yarn store (Hillsborough Yarn Shop in Hillsborough, NC). So, I’ve started a knit-along on the Bousta Beanie and Beret by Gudrun Johnston on Zoom. This video is for my students to get a good close-up look at how to work stranded knitting holding two colors of yarn, one in each hand. I also offer some other options for knitting with two colors.
I seem to be a little directionally challenged and noticed one place where I called my left hand my right. I have full confidence that viewers are much better at telling left from right than I am, and that you’ll forgive occasional errors on my part. Thank you, and enjoy the video.
Brioche Workshop: Brioche Twisted Headband - Step-by-step two-color brioche
Here is a series of three videos for the Brioche Workshop at Hillsborough Yarn Shop. The workshop uses the pattern “Brioche Twisted Headband,” by Susanne Sommer. The three videos show how to work the first three rows of the pattern:
Set-up rows A and B
Row 1A and 1B
Row 2A and 2B
Also, check out this video that covers how to fix mistakes in Brioche knitting: https://www.chaiknucklesknitting.com/blog/2019/3/1/harlow-hat-troubleshooting-brioche
Set-up rows A and B
Row 1A and 1B
Row 2A and 2B
Umaro Blanket: Step-by-Step Lace and Cables
This post offers a series of 5 videos for the students in the Umaro class at Hillsborough Yarn Shop in Hillsborough, NC. The Umaro Blanket pattern by Jared Flood contains lace and cables. The following videos show:
Row 1 of the chart, working increases and decreases
Row 2 of the chart, working a wrong-side row
Row 3 of the chart, working increases and decreases and moving markers
Row 7 of the chart, working the cable
Running a lifeline.