Posts Tagged ‘knitting ideas’

How to Come Up With Fun New Knitting Ideas

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Coming up with new knitting ideas can be challenging when you have been at it for a long time. The main problem is that many people tend to over think things and feel that new ideas must mean big changes. The truth is that coming up with new knitting ideas can be as easy as changing the types of materials you use for certain designs or altering a few stiches here and there. You would be surprised at how much a piece can change with only a few minor details. Combining new patterns to an old look can make your old style look brand new.

One way to come up with new ideas for your knitting work is to do some checking online. Finding an online knitting community can change your style altogether. These sites are filled with knitters just like you that are also looking for new knitting ideas, as well as sharing their own with everyone else. You could also check with your local community college to see if they offer any knitting classes. These types of classes are not only for newbies to learn how to knit. They also help add new life to your old patterns.

1. Where to Find New Ideas

In addition to checking into knitting classes, see if there is any local knitting clubs. Many moms who enjoy knitting decide to form clubs where they can get together with other knitting mommies and share stories and discuss tips, patterns and many other topics related to knitting. By spending time fellowshipping with other knitters you are likely to come across a spark of new creativity and learn new tips and tricks to make your same old knitting routine new and fresh again. If there are no knitting classes in your area, speak with the dean of the community college and suggest adding one to the curriculum. If there is not yet a knitting club in your area, be a trend setter and form one yourself. You may just find that there are a lot of other people in your area that enjoy knitting as much as you do!

2. Get Inspired by Knitting Books and Magazines

If you are more of a loner and prefer to learn about new knitting ideas on your own, there are many knitting books and magazines that are completely dedicated to tips and suggestions dealing with knitting. A great place to start is your local library. There you should be able to find some great books on knitting in the arts and crafts section. Also check at book stores. Arts and crafts is a popular topic and you will likely find books for beginners and experts on how to spice up their designs. There are also magazines that are dedicated to the art of knitting. The best way to find these is to do an online search. Once you find the magazine that interests you the most, get a subscription and each month you will get new knitting ideas delivered directly to your mailbox!

3. A New Way of Thinking

During your search for new knitting ideas, try thinking along the lines of unique designs and methods of knitting that are unconventional in nature. Instead of focusing on projects that you think others may like, keep your mind in the “me” zone. Focus on what you would like to see come of your work. This outlook of personal freedom will really allow your creative juices to start flowing! Think of making something wild to hang on your wall, or maybe a fun outfit for your pet. When it comes to new knitting ideas, there is nothing that is too out there for you to try!

4. Changing Your Tools

Another great way to get inspiration for knitting ideas is to change up your tools and accessories. Try a yarn that you have never before used. If you are used to mute colors in “safe” designs, try bold and vivid colors with a touch of wacky to them! Changing the type of needles you typically work with can also make a big difference in the uniqueness of your work. A perfect example of this is someone who is used to knitting with metal needles should try out some circular ones instead. Mix things up a bit!

5. Think of All That You Could Do!

Think of all the amazing new knitting ideas you could come up with simply by looking in the right places for inspiration. To  help you move things along, make a list of all the things you want to try but never have. All of these knitting ideas put on paper will help you to realize your aspirations of becoming a versatile knitter!

Tags: knitting business, knitting for profit, knitting ideas
Posted in General Knitting | No Comments »

Knitting Pattern Abbreviations – A Handy Summary

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

To follow on from my last post, the other knitting ideas I find really handy is to have a summary of knitting pattern abbreviations and conversions close to hand. So here's a list of all the ones I know or could find – feel free to add more if you know some!

ALT – Alternate or alternately

APPROX – Approximately

BC – Back Cross (Also RC or Right Cross)

BEG – Beginning

BET – Between

BO – Bind Off

CC – Complementary Color – Contrasting Color – The secondary color yarn

CM – Centimetres (2.54 centimetres is the same as one Inch)

CN – Cable Needle

CO – Cast On

CONT – Continue

DEC – Decrease

DPN – Double Pointed Needles

FC – Front Cross (Also LC or Left Cross)

FL – Front Loop

FOLL – Following

G st – Garter Stitch

G – Gram (There are approximately 28.35 grams in one ounce)

INC – Increase

INCL – Including

K – Knitted Stitch – K will often be followed by a number such as K5 meaning you need to make five knitted stitches.

K1B – Knit One Below – Knit the stitch into the row below the one you are stitching

K2TOG – Knit two stitches together

KB – Knit Below – Knit the stitch into the row below the one you are stitching

KFB – Knit into the front and back of a stitch

KWISE – Knitwise – This indicates a slip stitch done “knitwise” or like a knit stitch.

LC – LC Cross (Also FC or Front Cross)

LH – Left Hand

LP – Loop

LT – Left Twist

M – Meter – One meter is roughly 39 inches

M1 – Make One Stitch

M1PST – Make one purl stitch

MB – Make Bobble – A bobble is a raised area that may be included to add a touch of dimension.

MC – Main Color – The Main color yarn for your project

MM – Millimetre – Generally used to gauge or measure needles and occasionally yarn length

Oz – Ounce – Knitting yarn will often be purchased by measures of weight

P – Purl Stitch – P will often be followed by a number like P3 meaning make three Purl Stitches.

P1B – Purl One Below – Purl the stitch into the row below the one you are stitching

P2TOG – Purl two stitches together

PAT – Pattern

PB – Purl Below – Purl the stitch into the row below the one you are stitching

PFB – Purl the front and back of a stitch

PM – Place Marker

PNSO – Pass Next Stitch Over

PREV – Previous

PSSO – Pass Slip Stitch Over

PWISE – Purlwise – This indicates a slip stitch done “purlwise” or like a purl stitch.

RC – Right Cross (Also BC or Back Cross)

RH – Right Hand

REM – Remaining

REP – Repeat

Rev St st – Reverse Stockinette Stitch

RND – Round

RS – Right Side – The side of the “fabric” that will be the outside of a garment or the upside or visible side of a decoration, trim or other element that is visible in the finished product.

RT – Right Twist

SK – Skip

SKP – Slip Knit Pass – This is where you will slip two knit stitches together as one and pass them over the last stitch knitted.

SK2P – Slip, knit two stitches together and pass over the two stitches to decrease by two stitches

SL – Slip

SL1K – Slip one stitch knitwise

SL1P – Slip one stitch purlwise

SL ST – Slip Stitch – SL ST will often be followed by a number to indicate the number of slip stitches that need to be made. (May also be referred to as SS in some patterns)

SS – Slip Stitch – SS will often be followed by a number to indicate the number of slip stitches that need to be made. (May also be referred to as SL ST in some patterns)

SSK – Slip Slip Knit – This is where you will make two slip stitches together as one and then knit them together through the back loop. (The actual number of slips may change, thus you may see SSSK or something similar as well)

St st – Stockinette Stitch

TBL – Through Back Loop – The stitch should be knitted through the back loop

TOG – Together – Indicates that the stitches should be stitched together as opposed to stitching them separately so that K2TOG would indicate you need to stitch two stitches together as one single stitch.

WS – Wrong Side – The side of the fabric or garment that will be against the skin and not visible to the outside world or the underside of a decoration, trim, ribbing element or other knitted products.

WYIB – With Yarn in Back

WYIF – With Yarn in Front

YD – Yard – 36 inches

YFWD – Yarn Forward

YO – Yarn Over – Where The stitch will be made with the yarn going over as opposed to under.

YRN – Yarn around the needle

YON – Yarn over the needle

Tags: beginner knitting, crochet pattern, easy knitting pattern, knitting ideas, knitting instructions, knitting pattern, knitting pattern abbreviations, learn to knit
Posted in Knitting Patterns, Knitting Resources | No Comments »

Quick and Easy Knitting Pattern Ideas

Monday, May 4th, 2009

There is some great knitting ideas in this quick post to show you some knitting pattern books that have small, fast or easy-to-knit projects.

Great for using up yarn, and music for the profitable knitters ears with many projects able to be completed in a day or less.

They may fit your niche already, or you could alter them slightly to make them suit using different yarns or colours, or adding decorative elements. All are great for knitting ideas and inspiration.

This is by no means a definitive list of fast-to-knit knitting pattern books but it hopefully gives you some knitting ideas and inspiration. I have contacted the authors and publishers to see if they are happy for the finished projects to be sold, but have not received responses yet, so please wait for an update here, or contact them yourself before going ahead and using these patterns for your knitting business!

I have used Amazon links for the pictures so you can get an idea of their price too.

Judith Durant has created a range of these great pattern books with knitting patterns that use only one skein of yarn.

This is very useful if you are Knitting For Profit because you don't have to worry about dye lots or running out of yarn, and they are relatively small projects so they are fast to complete.

 

 "Speed Knitting" by Kris Percival has fast and easy to complete projects, easy for beginners and fast for experienced knitters. Part of the trick is using chunky yarns and big needles which makes the whole project come along a lot faster.

"Last Minute Knitted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson has a good range of easy projects all able to be completed in under 10 hours. She uses a wide range of colours and textures which will give you great ideas for making your products stand out. [UPDATE] – Joelle has let me know that you can't sell pieces you knit from patterns in this book, but it might still be a good one to have a look at for knitting ideas.

 "Weekend Knitting" by Melanie Falick is a popular book that includes projects designed to be knitted in a weekend or less. There are lots of unique designs such as a flower-shaped washcloth and little egg-cozies, plus projects covering a range of knitting difficulties too. [UPDATE] – The publishers replied and said that you can't sell items you knit from Melanie's book, but you could contact the designer of each item individually and ask for permission.

"One Skein" by Leigh Radford is another book of fast-to-knit projects that use only one skein of yarn, mostly patterns for fashion accessories and decorative pieces for homes. There are also projects designed to use up all those leftover bits from other projects.

 

I will hunt around for some free fast-knit patterns too, and include them in a future post!

Tags: easy knitting pattern, easy knitting patterns, fast knitting pattern, knitting ideas, knitting niche, knitting niche ideas, knitting pattern, speed knitting
Posted in Knitting Patterns | 16 Comments »