Fellow knitter, Cynthia was knitting the Freesia Pullover pattern and recently asked: “How can I start the decreases immediately after casting on?”

The like many of the Basics, the Freesia Blueprint instructions start AFTER your choice of hem, ribbing or cast on method.

The Knit it Now Dynamic “Basic Blueprints” give you all the  math you need to create sweaters in ANY yarn, ANY Gauge, with ANY machine and ANY Stitch Pattern!

Unlike traditional patterns the Blueprints don’t tell you what cast on or bind off methods to use.

Want add hand manipulation?   It’s your “Adventure”!

Want ribbing … go for it!  Maybe a pretty picot hem is what’s needed.

Your sweaters, knit the way you want them!

After yet another recent move, I’m determined to set up my knitting room and get ORGANIZED!

Here’s an idea for keeping weights handy.   Continue reading

The back and front of our sweaters don’t have to match!

1. Yes, the side seam lengths should match
2. Yes, the armholes and shoulders must match

BUT

If we are knitting to cover a body shape that isn’t perfect … we may need to add BOTH LENGTH AND WIDTH to the front only.

Continue reading

New knitter Maryanne was frustrated with “scrap off and rehang”. It’s important for new knitters to understand this concept, it’s used quite often in machine knitting. Working each side of a neckline separately Holding shoulder stitches for joining later Knit bands to re-hang and join

We suggested:

• Use a highly contrasting color scrap yarn
• Learn to identify the knit an purl sides
• Focus on picking up the garment yarn (grey) NOT the scrap yarn (yelow)

Here’s another use for “scrap off and rehang”:

LIFELINES!

Scrapping off your work before starting a new section or just to preserve a section of your knitting is worth the extra effort.
If (when) mistakes happen give yourself the gift of being able to rip back to your lifeline and not have to start again.

The gauge of a hand knitting pattern will indicate what machine you should use with the recommended yarn.

This stitch gauge is a very popular gauge for hand knitting with “worsted weight” yarn.

Continue reading

What’s a Charting Device? Many machine knitters prefer this visual method of shaping their knitting. Draw your design and follow the outline. Cast on, bind off, increase and decrease according to the visual stitch and row indicators.

My first test with my new machine:

Seraina from Lang yarns

The unusual construction of this yarn appealed to me, plus it’s a closeout $5 off per ball!

Seraina: Unusual construction – great colors!

Seraina: Swatched with both the mid-gauge and standard

I plan to knit a machine knitting version of this summer top.  What will  you knit with this interesting yarn?

Stay tuned! (Mine will be pink and purple .. .can’t wait!)