Caley Walsh asked:




Not knowing how to knit or crochet does not mean you cannot use yarn. Even inexperienced crafters can use yarn to create stylish home accents or engage in fun activities with friends and family members. You can create a yarn wreath or make unique hollow yarn eggs. Kids will love these easy yarn crafts too. Here are top five easy yarn crafts for you to try today:

Hollow Yarn Eggs/Yarn Balls- Making yarn eggs is a really fun activity for kids and makes surprisingly cool decoration. Use spring colors to make yarn eggs at Easter. Hang some of these from a sturdy indoor plant or arranged branches in a vase. You can also arrange in a large bowl for a centerpiece.

To make yarn eggs, you need yarn (or embroidery floss), balloons, newspaper, glue and a paintbrush. Mix the glue with equal parts water for a thinner adhesive. Blow up the balloon to around 6-8 inches and tie off (you can experiment with bigger and smaller size balloons for different yarn egg sizes). Secure a bit of yarn or thread around the balloon end to hang. Working over the newspaper, brush the glue all over the outside of the balloon. Wrap the yarn randomly around the balloon. Paint more glue on top of the yarn. Switch colors of yarn if you like and continue to brush glue over new wrapped yarn. You can wrap loosely but do not leave large gaps with balloon showing. Hang to dry overnight. Once dry, pop the balloon with a pin and gently pull it out through a gap in the yarn. Your yarn eggs are done!

Yarn Vase- Are you bored with a plain glass vase? Did you pick up a vase at the thrift store but don’t like the colors or design? Wrap leftover yarn around the vase to get a new look. If you don’t have a vase to wrap, use an oatmeal, Pringles or appropriate-sized container. Wrapped in yarn, no one will know!

Double-stick tape might be the easiest adhesive for this craft, but you can alternatively paint a thin layer of glue all over the vase or use a spray adhesive. Start at the bottom and make sure to stack the rounds of yarn. Tuck in the end of the yarn under the first few rounds. For a modern look, add stripes of color or one thick strip at the top or bottom of the vase. Solid colors seem to work best for smaller vases. Tuck under the tail end of the yarn when finished wrapping the vase. You can then add embellishments such as a yarn bow, ribbon or use glue dots to add pretty buttons.

Yarn Pencil Holder- Wrap yarn around a clean tin can or glass jar with label removed in the same method as the yarn-wrapped vase idea above. Make sure that the layers of yarn are close together so that no gaps show through. This is a great idea to decorate your office space. Use masculine yarn for a Father’s Day gift.

Yarn Wreath- For an easy decoration, create a yarn wreath.

The easiest way to make a yarn wreath is to purchase an inexpensive foam wreath, apply glue or other adhesive and wrap in colorful yarn. Self-striping yarn is especially well suited to this craft. Check out this Spring Wreath or this Yarn Wreath with Berries. For a flatter wreath, you can also use a cardboard circle, salvaged from a large box perhaps.  With a 14-inch diameter circle wreath, you would want to cut a 12-inch diameter circle out of the middle. Then glue and wrap the yarn as you wish. You can also use a wire hanger bent into the shape of a circle for your wreath base. Make yarn pom-poms or bundles and secure to the wire base. Or for something even easier, just slip scrap balls of yarn in different sizes onto the wire hanger all the way around. Separate large balls of yarn into smaller balls and stagger around the wire base.

God’s Eye- A traditional craft from the Huichol Indians of Mexico, God’s Eyes are fun crafts for kids to make. You will only need two craft or popsicle sticks, glue, scissors and yarn in several colors. Glue the craft sticks together at the center to make a cross or plus sign. Take your first color of yarn and wrap it over and around one stick, then over and around the next stick and so on. Keep going around in a circle, adding layers of your yarn color. When you are satisfied with the size of your woven “eye,” switch colors. Simply cut the yarn off from the skein and tie a new color onto the old yarn with a tight knot. Keep wrapping. Change colors once or twice more and tie a knot to finish.

Luke Wildman asked:




Rowan knitting wool is a world-class brand name noted for top-of-the-line wool fibre trademark.  The quality of the brand gives hand-knitters a sustainable hand-knitting experience for the pleasure of completing a design project. It makes knitting enjoyable and the end product apparel fun to wear.  Rowan knitting wool kit comes in a variety of colour, texture, substance, and weight to match the consumer’s knitting skills competence, personal taste and desired fabric pattern for the occasion and season.

Market-friendly

Amongst other things, Rowan brand guarantees consumers an efficient end-to-end knitting experience with Rowan knitting wool creative visual tools. These visual design aids are inked on the imposing leaves of Rowan’s homegrown fashion magasines and brochures. The publication features two season clusters: spring and summer, autumn and winter with detailed pattern instructions for knitwear designs including colourful photographs of the end products.  The magasine is thoughtfully designed with featured storyline per issue to inspire hand-knitters and end-users to pursue the goal of completing the design projects.

Market-driven

Each Rowan wool knitwear creation is especially designed by renowned British knit designers with the market in mind.  The quality of Rowan knitting wool takes center stage in the Rowan product line. A single Rowan knitting wool creation is a sure statement of the hand-knitter’s creativity for exquisite beauty, function and quality. Its knit’s inherent characteristic showcases a variety of knitwear selection that is classic and chic, comfortable and creative, calm and charming.

Classic and Chic.  Rowan wool-knit apparel is best known for classic and elegant style patterns. Rowan‘s timeless styles offer long-lasting appeal that make the old selection fit to wear even today. Its knitting wool kits are also up-to-the-minute to parade trendy, chic shapes.  The graceful fusion of classic and chic flair in knitwear set fits the trendy fabric cut of the time.

Comfortable and Creative.  Rowan knitting wool fabric is seamlessly elastic and resilient to cope with tension. The fabric is stretchy but it springs back to its original state hassle-free. This inherent versatility of Rowan wool fabric makes it a perfect choice for creative patterns that conforms to the body shape like that of sweaters, hats, mittens and fingerless gloves.

Classic and chic, comfortable and creative, calm and charming, Rowan knitting wool is no less than the prime pick of the discerning consumers, whether hand-knitters, end-users and even designers.  Its simplicity and versatility makes it a unique brand in the knitting enterprise. Amongst the available trade brands world-wide, Rowan knitting wool remains bullish in the market frontline producing market-inspired creations and innovations to define the individual taste and preference of the discerning markets for exquisite beauty, function and quality knitwear products.

Emily Watson asked:




Once you are clear about what to do about your knitting hobby and how to convert it in to a successful business, you will need to understand what lies before you. Any person who enters the world of business should become aware of the little nitty-gritty secrets of the industry, if they are to succeed. So here’s a little taste of whats involved along with some inside “secrets” to whats involved in starting a successful knitting business.

Secret No: 01 - Face the truth! A knitting business caters to a niche market. So if you are planning to make millions within months after starting a knitting business, you are on the wrong track!

Secret No: 02 – give your customers something they have never ever seen before! Creating amazing knitting patterns will become a habit once you allow your imagination and creativity to flow.

Secret No: 03 – in order to add something different to what you usually knit, you will need to use different knitting supplies. Look for special material such as shiny beads and tussles that can compliment your extraordinary pieces of knitting art.

Secret No: 04 – don’t we all love free stuff? So if you know what works for you, then try it on your potential customers as well. One of the ways in which you can head towards the road of success in a knitting business is by offering free stuff. So come up with offers that look attractive to your customers but don’t go out of your way and forget that you are knitting for profit.

When it comes to a knitting business, it is the small things that matter the most. So be considerate and make good offers to knitting lovers and you will find yourself blooming as a business tycoon in the knitting arena.

Maddy Cranley asked:




  Although it may not appear to be so, judging by current weather conditions, the summer months have arrived. This often means summer holiday plans are being made or at least discussed among potential travel companions. Perhaps even travel brochures have been picked up and perused or some online surfing has gathered information on suitable destinations. Maps, paper or digital, often play a part to assist in defining the path from point A to point B, unless it is a road well-traveled and in no need of clarification of directions. If venturing out into new territory, you will need some kind of guide to aide and enhance your journey. Map legends inform us as to the size and type of roads, designate the locations of rest stops and campgrounds, and mark tourist attractions and historical monuments. With internationally-recognized symbols and even a mileage count placed along the colored lines, a map can be a snapshot preview of what the trip will entail.

  At the beginning of a craft project, the planning stage is much the same. First, we start with an idea of what we would like to make. Perhaps not a picture in a magazine but a spectacular sunset or a pretty color combination in a bank teller’s sweater will start us on a knitting journey. We almost always have a pattern or instruction sheet in hand unless we have become well-traveled in the craft and instinctively know our way. These instructions will become our “maps” as we embark upon our creative journey. We have our destination picked out. We have envisioned and dreamed. Now it is time to get into our chosen mode of transportation and with map in hand, start our journey. 

   As we likely do before getting into the car and heading onto the highway, we look at maps and study our bearings. Perhaps we envision ourselves where we are located on the huge paper map and see ourselves crawling along that blue or red line to our destination. In preparation for a knitting journey, we might envision how we will look in that sweater that is displayed on the front of the pattern leaflet. By taking a good long look at the photo, one sizes up the shape of the neck, the depth of the ribbing, the pattern stitch sequences, and how the color balance plays out. Beginning to read through the pattern, notes are made as to what finished size is best to offer an optimum comfortable fit.

   Read the road signs of the pattern stitch sequences carefully, noting the multiples of the stitches and the number of rows in each repeat. Read each section before you start in order to get an idea of where you might end up that night. Read a section over again, if it does not seem clear. Better to take longer to get it right than to take a wrong turn and spend hours retracing your journey or ripping out rows. Double check the signposts and the highlighted pattern headings to see where turns and shapings should occur. Speedometers and row counters will keep you numerically informed.

  Even with expert planning, you may run into difficult pattern stitches or unexpected construction. The journey may take longer than you had anticipated. So remember to take frequent rest breaks, always carry emergency gas, and buy that extra ball of yarn.

 

Daniel Marcus Manson asked:




The moment a woman thinks about wearing boots, she mentally envisions all sorts of styles she wants to be seen in, but in the end, she has to be practical in finding the correct boot for her legs and ankles. There are short boots, long boots, fur-lined boots, high-heeled boots, moccasin boots, and some very comfortable boots that are more for just lounging around the house.

A woman visualizes her type of boot, and the boot not only has to be reasonable to wear and be seen in, but will be the boot she wants to be associated with when wearing her jeans. Many boots are worn with jeans for a dress up affair, and depending upon whether you are a cowgirl or not, the boot will fit your unique style.

In modern times, a boot normally worn in Italy can be imported to the United States, while still being made from materials that spell luxury. Leather is luxury and endurance for many women across the globe. The boots made from leather will cling to the leg, and after repeated use, will be the most comfortable shoe available. You will simply want to wear your boots with every outfit you own. Suede boots act similar to leather boots, eventually conforming to you as though you were born wearing them.

As many stores trade with other countries, it is now very easy to purchase women’s boots from a country of your choice. Dress boots are amazingly sleek and are capable of being worn with jeans, though it is better to have one boot style for jeans and another for a dress. A cocktail dress with stiletto boots is very **** and appealing, and can actually be worn with jeans.

However, the boot you find for your jeans may not always be worn with a dress. You will want to wear a short cuff boot or ankle boot that does not go to the knees with slacks, even though they can be worn with some dresses. Women boots with a warm lining allow you to feel like you are snuggling up to your loved one while walking through snow or on a chilly day. There are no wrong styles of boots for women; only the ones that best match the outfit and comfort level you enjoy most.

Emily Watson asked:




For obsessive knitters, knitting is an essential part of their daily routine. Keeping these knitters away from knitting is damaging. Sometimes they may run into depression as well if they dont get their knitting fix!. If this description suits you, why don’t you consider starting knitting for profit and develop your own knitting business?

The time in which knitting was considered as just a hobby is now over. Right now, knitting is one of the most potential successful work from home ideas that can help the depressed global economy on its way to recovery. Knitting businesses have already become popular amongst the work from home individuals and there are thousands of knitting success stories out there. By transforming your obsession to a profitable knitting business, you can become one of the successful self-employed individuals like many other women knitters who have made it in their own business.

When it comes to selling knitted items, there are two methods you should consider; selling to individuals and selling to wholesalers.

If you are not so good at marketing or you do not like it, then selling your knitting to wholesalers is the wise way to go with. Regardless of who you are you selling to - knitting wholesalers or an individual - it is your creativity which will increase your knitting sales. If you try to break out from the orthodox methods and standard knitting patterns, then there is a vast potential open to you out in the business world.

Initially on the face of it, you may not see a knitting business as one of the front line businesses in the world. But when you start out with your knitting business, you will get to know more and more of the business aspects to it. After all, knitting for profit is a great sustainable and non-capital intensive work from home idea that can be started by anyone obsessed with knitting!

business 1st asked:




Needlework is another term for the handicraft of decorative sewing and textile arts.

Needlework includes

Patchwork

Patchwork or “pieced work” is a form of needlework that involves sewing together pieces of fabric into a larger design. The larger design is usually based on repeat patterns built up with different colored shapes. Patchwork embroidery has been in vogue for decades and gained immense popularity during Great Depression, as it was the only method to recycle worn clothing into warm quilts. This embroidery has traditionally been sewn together by hand, but with the change in technology and to cash on the benefits of mass production. Patchwork is most often used to make quilts, but it can also be used to make bags, wall-hangings, warm jackets, skirts and other items of clothing. Some textile artists work with patchwork, often combining it with embroidery and other forms of stitchery.

Knitting

Knitting is a craft by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth. may be done by hand or by machine. Flat knitting, which is done on two straight needles, produces a length of cloth, while circular knitting, which is done on circular or double-pointed needles, produces a tube of cloth. Knitted cloth is made out of yarn, a length of continuous fibres. Yarn for knitting can be made from any number of natural or synthetic fibres. Most knitting needles (also called knitting pins) are long, slender sticks with either one or two tapered ends used to hold and bring the working yarn through active stitches.

Embroidery

Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn using a needle. Embroidery stitches are the smallest units in embroidery, embroidery patterns are formed by doing many embroidery stitches, either all the same or different ones, either following a counting chart on paper, following a design painted on the fabric or even working freehand. Blackwork Embroidery is a simple form of embroidery, stitched in black thread on white or off-white fabric.

Cross Stitch

Cross-stitch is a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches are used to form a picture. Cross-stitch is the most popular form of hobby embroidery in the western world. It lends itself well to recreational use, as it is easy to learn and very versatile. Traditionally, cross-stitch was used to embellish items like dishcloths, household linens, and doilies. Modern cross-stitch designs often make extensive use of colours in many shades. When using fine fabric and thread this can create very realistic effects, almost like paintings, if that is desired.

Tapestry

Tapestry is woven by hand on a weaving-loom. Most weavers use a naturally based warp thread such as linen or cotton. The weft threads are usually wool or cotton, but may include silk, gold, silver, or other alternatives. is commonly (though incorrectly) applied to embroidered items made in canvas work such as needlepoint. Canvas work can look very much like tapestry.

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:




Knitting is becoming popular; loom knitting is an obvious solution for the next “time-conscious” generation of knitters. Loom knitting is very old craft, but it is in style again. Loom knitting is available in a variety of shapes such as round, oval, and rectangular. One type of them have one row of pegs, they are known as single rakes; the size of loom is a decided on fact how much you want to expand the piece of cloth. Size of pegs and their distance from each other, these factors affect the knit stitching and also thickness of yarn that works best on it.

Typically Loom is used to make knit fabric. These pegs look like a piece of knitting needle. There are various methods of wrapping the yarns on the pegs, to create knit work in variety of stitches and patterns, same as needle do. On rake loom creates a fabric that has number of distinctive right and wrong faces, while double rake loom creates a double knit fabric, both having right sides.

Loom knitting is quite an easy task; you can easily learn it, especially people who scare of knitting with needles, will surely find loom knitting easier. There is plenty of information regarding how to do loom knitting, and hoe to get the wonderful patterns, out of loom knitting, there are many websites available on internet you can easily get an idea.

Children as young as 5 years old can easily knit, there own hat using the loom. So kids will be busy during long winter vacations. Traditional needles can also make loom knit. In many countries knitting looms are usually made to give away. Instead of large floor looms or mechanically driven weaving looms these looms are lightweight and portable.

Looms can be used for knitting while watching television, though it sounds quite difficult but it’s true once you have a practice no need to look at it at all. In a waiting room, or while you are in your car and getting bore of traveling, this could be a great way of using your time, same way you will be doing something creative and productive.

There are different kinds of looms:

1. Hat looms:

Hat looms are obtainable in 4 different knitting gauges:

- Large gauge allows the use of two strands.

- Regular gauge allows the use of one strand, single stitch, and beautiful tight stitch.

- These gauges are preferred for baby items.

2. sock and bootie looms:

Sock and knitting looms are available in three different gauges:

There are three varieties regular gauge, small gauge, and fine gauge:

- Regular loom allow you to knit with different yarn thickness for different season.

3. Afghan looms: there are infinity rakes in these type. They are oval and infinity rake.

4. Mitten looms:

They are available in two different gauges, regular and fine gauge.

Looms are also classified according to the gauge size:

1. Large gauge looms

2. Regular /medium gauge looms

3. Small gauge looms

4. Fine gauge looms

5. extra small gauge loom

6. extrafine looms

E. Sullivan asked:




Do you like to knit but **** it being so slow? A friend of mine told me about how much faster she was knitting. I just had to know her secret. It turns out she uses a knitting needle called Addi Turbo. I went to the local craft store to find me an Addi Turbo knitting set. Fortunately, the store had plenty of them. What did I learn about this type of knitting tool?

These needles are so light weight. I looked on the package and they’re made from Germany. I’ve used other knitting needles that slowed me down because of the weight. You’ll notice immediately how well this set works because it is light weight.

Another advantage that I liked about the knitting needle set is how circular they are. You simply thread the needle with your yard. The snag free cord really cut my time of knitting projects down tremendously. Now, I was beginning to see why my friend can knit so quickly with the Addi Turbo needles.

You’ll want to be careful in the size of needle you select. The company offers many different sizes for various types of knitting projects. Determine the size of needles you’ll need by looking at your knitting pattern instructions. It can be difficult to do all your stitches right, if you’re using the wrong size knitting needle.

One problem I have with knitting and getting slowed down is the tips of my needles end up getting damaged from hitting them together. You’ll find that you decrease time wasted because of the design. You’ll spend less time hitting the needles together. If you do, by accident, the tips are wonderful because they’re made with nickel plated brass. You won’t damage the needles, the way you can with other types of knitting needles.

Take the time to go through the package instructions. The Addi Turbo knitting needles come with great instructions and illustrations. Reviewing the instructions, when you get the Addi Turbo needles home, will help you knit so much faster.

Addi knitting needles are made in Germany and are popular throughout the United States and Europe with knitters for the speed and ease of knitting made possible by these needles. They are distributed exclusively in North America by Skacel and are available in fine knitting stores across the country.

These needles are available in many different styles and materials. One of their most popular products is their circular needle. This was the initial product in this popular line. The needles have rust-resistant nickel-plated brass tips, and the cord is snag-free nylon. The needles are lightweight and make significantly less noise than most needles, so you can feel comfortable knitting at the movies or in any other situation where the noise could be distracting. These needles come in a number of lengths and sizes; they are available in 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 40, 47, and 60 inch lengths, and in sizes 0 to 36 US.

I am really glad my friend shared her knitting secret with me. The Addi Turbo knitting needles speed up your knitting since they are light weight, are circular, have different needle sizes, top-quality tip material and excellent user-friendly directions. The company boasts that these circular knitting needles will have you knit faster. I found this to be very true when I used these knitting needles. In fact, I use them all the time now for all of my knitting projects.

Maddy Cranley asked:




Memories of the ’60’s - love beads, hippie beads, beads on a string around necks and wrists, homemade, handmade, swinging with long hair and flowered skirts. Beads were such a strong fashion element of that decade. The subject of beads is a vast one and the hippie incarnation was just a small part of beading history. It is thought that our early ancestors were stringing sea shells as early as 30,000 years ago and the first beads, that developed as a significant trading item, were likely made from seeds. The many materials and methods used in making beads have resulted in an infinite variety. When raw materials of stone, metal, glass, plastic or resin combine with assorted artistic and cultural influences, the bead is in very little danger of becoming boring.

Even with the vast choice of beads available there are a few cautions that should be noted when it come to using beads in your knitting. Along with beads, anything that can have a hole drilled in it or have a shank attached can be successfully worked into your garment. This would include items such as buttons, small charms, mirrors, or even coins. The first consideration is weight. Adding bead ornamentation to your knitted garment will add extra weight whether attached with an embroidery method or knitting in the bead. The trick is to find the beads in the right weight and quantity without causing your garment to sag. So decisions must be made as to what size of bead to use, how many, and is it suitable to the yarn weight. The size of the bead hole must also be considered. A larger bead hole may cause the bead to hang loosely with a dangling effect, unless that is the intent. A bead hole that is too small will not allow for passage of the yarn thickness that you have chosen. Before you begin, it is always best to test your bead choice through whatever cleaning process the finished garment will have to undergo. Join a few of the chosen beads to a knitted swatch and wash or dry clean. Check the sample carefully for dye leakage or staining on your ground fabric.

Beads or decorative objects should be threaded onto the yarn before you begin knitting. If you are working from a chart which will require specific placement and a certain color order, remember that first is last. The first bead to be strung onto the yarn is the last bead to be placed in the knitting. Joining a marker on the yarn to indicate row changes is also helpful. It is advisable to practice the threading and knitting in of the bead to know how the bead will “sit” on the knitting. The proper placement can vary with size, shape, the way the bead is threaded, and direction of the bead hole. Beads can be knit on a variety of stitches but to start, practice on knit stitches, working as follows: Knit to where you wish to place the bead, bring yarn and the bead to front of work, slip the next stitch purlwise, take yarn to back of work, leaving the bead at front, knit the next stitch.

If this experiment gets you hooked on beads, there a number of books which outline the fascinating history of beads as well as tempting projects. A classic standby, both encyclopedic and inspirational, that will give you wonderful lessons in the history and classification of beads is “The Book Of Beads” by Janet Cole and Robert Budwig (Simon and Schuster). A more recent offering from Lily Chin, “Knit and Crochet With Beads” (Interweave Press) will walk you through specific beading and knitting projects.

Placing beads on your knitting can add additional layers of color and texture to your knit and purls, not to mention triggering all those flower child memories.