In what was a bleak year, December 2021 was a month full of good things. The events in my life helped me to take a tiny trip down memory lane, and I was also able to work on my structured yet fluid vision for 2022. A new website The first good thing of course was setting up my very own brand-new website. Though this may sound cliched, I don’t think I ever thought I would have one in my life. I believe this stems from the same train of thought that runs along the lines of ‘I never thought I would have a hand knit business!’ or ‘I never thought I would give up on architecture!’ or ‘I never thought […]
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How To Knit Cable Cast On
Sine Qua Non means an essential condition – a thing that is absolutely necessary. For knitting, the absolute beginning is to use cable cast on stitches to start any project. Cast-on, essentially is a technique where we attach yarn to the knitting needle in the form of stitches, so that we can build upon this foundation row and create what we want to create. There are about 40 ways this can be done, and all knitters have their favoured methods. However, it is good to remember, that each cast-on technique depends on what kind of project is being made. Today I will talk about the Cable Cast-On Method. It is simple, and gives a very neat edge. However, it is […]
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Bubble Stitch
A recent test knit that I worked on introduced me to knitting bubbles. Not bobbles, not popcorns, not puffs…but bubbles. The name and the stitch both intrigued me, and I really would like to show it to you today. The bubble stitch is essentially a stockinette stitch – knit one row, purl one row. The drama begins when the ‘knit 4 below’ technique pops in every 6th row. Do check out the video in part 2/3 to see how to work this technique. I have to admit, the bubble stitch looks like a bubble wrap as well. I did spend some time poking the stitch in and out; it sure is a stress buster 😛 Bubble stitch is a brilliant […]
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Bamboo Yarn
This Saturday, lets talk about yarn that is sourced from the renewable Bamboo tree native to the Asian continent. This is the second plant-based fibre I am talking about, after cotton. This super strong but super cozy yarn is made with bamboo grass that is harvested and distilled into cellulose, and then spun into yarn. In a way, it’s a bit like how paper is made. Swipe to see a detailed infographic on how bamboo yarn can be made from scratch. If you have school going kids interested in STEM, do check it out. For more information, you can also visit https://bamboodetective.com/how-is-bamboo-fabric-made/ https://ukhandknitting.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/know-your-yarn-bamboo/ https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/knitting-with-bamboo-yarn-2117304 Bamboo sourced yarn is environmentally friendly, because bamboo by nature is a renewable resource. One does […]
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Knitting for Beginners: Start Small, But Start
There is no denying that handmade products, when well-made, look so scrumptious, that you just want to make them yourself. So, here is the story for Knitting for Beginners. When I was a newbie knitter, I would see SO MANY jumpers and shawls and blankets that looked gorgeous, and would tempt me into making them. I would excitedly go to the local yarn store to spend HOURS hunting for the right yarn, consider and reconsider the materials and cost, visualize how my project would look like. Then I would think if the needles I had would work or I had to buy more. Finally, I would walk out of the store thinking what a great time was to be had […]
Continue readingFinger Knitting
One of the fun parts of knitting is trying to use different ways to knit. Of course, needles are the true-blue way, but one could also use chopsticks, pencils, fingers, arms… just about any two same, strong, slender and smooth objects would do. Bring in finger knitting. For today’s Saturday stitch, I would like to show you finger knitting with a very loopy yarn, aptly called Loops Pastel by @loopsandthread. The loops are just about right to knit with adult fingers, but its perfect to teach a child as well on the structure of a knit. As you swipe through the self-explanatory photos, you will see how to begin. Stretch the first loop, and you will find a white thread […]
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Cotton
Cotton yarn is one of my favourite yarns to work with. It dyes well and knits up into easy-to-wear fabric that most people find comfortable against their skin. Maintenance is easy, and it gets softer with use. Knitting with cotton however has a major pitfall – though it shows the stitch pattern very well, errors are also clearly visible. Some people also find it stiff to work with, I mean, certainly it can’t beat the softness of Angora or Merino, but adding a soft fibre with it can solve that problem. The extremely detailed infographic on how cotton is transformed from something grown on a farm to something worn by us is from Cotton Australia. If you have school going […]
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1×1 Knitted Ribbing
A Rib Stitch is something everyone must have certainly seen on a knitted garment. Really? Where? At the cuffs, collars and waist of a sweater. Or in the borders of hats, socks and gloves. What does this stitch do? It contracts laterally, forming small pleats in which the purl stitches recede and the knit stitches come forward. How does this help? It adds elasticity to the any form fitting portion of the garment. Imagine having an extremely stiff cuff or collar – how uncomfortable that would be. This is where a little bit of stretch would be appreciated, and this is where ribbing helps. What is this Rib Stitch exactly? It is a knitting pattern, where vertical stripes of stockinette stitch alternate with […]
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Knitting Lace
Knitting stockinette after a long time does get boring. It is great if the pattern requires it, or if you want the final product to look that way, or if you want some uncomplicated rhythm while clearing your head. Which is what I do, many times, when I need to sort out my thoughts. But then yes, it does get monotonous. Which is why then knitters start playing around, making all kinds of textures by purposely dropping stitches and creating gaps in their work. As a newbie this might sound exactly the stuff nightmares are made up of…but yes this dropping and adding stitches is how lace is created. Is it tough? Yes, if you are new to it. Is […]
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Needle Gauge
After last week’s intense #fridayfunda on silk, I pick on a rather simpler topic this Friday – Knitting Needle Gauges. Knitting essentially requires needles and yarn. Now, the size of the needles and thickness of the yarn will determine the dimensions of the final product. But have you ever seen a knitting needle? Rarely, very very rarely, is the size of the needle stamped on it. I really wonder why. Now with experience I can correctly guesstimate the size without using a measuring device, but that’s not really wise. I may be able to tell the difference between a 3mm and a 5mm needle, but I would probably not be able to correctly guess the exact dimension of a 2.25mm […]
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