You have a lot of yarn in your stash! Maybe you don’t have the label. A simple burn test will tell you what type of fiber you have. While this is not an actual scientific experiment, you can learn quite a bit about the fiber with this test.
Watch the video to get an idea of the burning properties of man made fibers, animal fibers and plant fibers.
The only true way of telling whether a 100% wool yarn is superwash or not is to knit up a small sample and wash it in hot water to see if it felts. The burn test is the same for both of them.
So! There it IS! My unscientific experiment to help you find out what kind of yarn you have!! Now… KnitYourselfHappy!!
I have installed a new subscribe button and hope to get a big list going so I can give you updates by email. There won’t be any spam from my site because of this. I invite you to fill out the new subscribe button.
Next time you need to knit a small circumference in the round, try the Addi FlexiFlip needles. (This is not a paid endorsement.) For those of you who have Fear Of Knitting With Double Point Needles,
You may remember my two previous articles about designing a sweater for my brother Bob using wool from his two Babydoll Sheep, “Wooley” and “Lambchop”.
Part one of the series is found here. Part deux can be found here.
Other knitting projects skipped ahead of this one: baby blankets, a full sized blanket, felted oven mitts as gifts, and class projects.
I am happy to get back to this item. I finished the body of the sweater and joined the shoulders using a three needle bind off.
I started the first sleeve, worked for about 6″ and decided the increases were too fast. I frogged (rip it, rip it) back to the second cable row and slowed the increase rate.
I usually don’t “Hand wash, lay flat to dry” until after the garment is put together, but I just HAD to see how the cables would open up. I like it!
Stay tuned. I started it October 2017. It will be finished by the end of THIS October!
I love stitch combinations that look difficult but are very easy to work. My favorite stitch right now is the “Tiny Bowknot” stitch.
There is a lot of visual action going on with the Tiny Bowknot Stitch without too much difficulty, which makes it perfect for any level knitter. I worked this as an all over stitch on a cotton sweater many years ago and I still get compliments on it!
This pattern is readily available in many stitch dictionaries.
Written pattern for Tiny Bowknot:
This stitch is worked with a multiple of 6 stitches. That means that the number of stitches on your needle must be divisible by 6.
Row 1 (WS): P
Row 2: K
Row 3: (P3, k3) repeat between () to end.
Row 4 Bowknot Row: (P1, k1b, p1, k3), repeat between () to end.
K1b= knit into the next stitch in the row below the stitch on the left hand needle.
Row 5: P
Row 6: K
Row 7: (K3, p3), repeat between () to end.
Row 8 Bowknot Row: (K3, p1, k1b, p1), repeat between () to end.
Repeat these 8 rows as desired.
If you want a more subtle pattern, you can add more rows of stockinette stitch between the bowknot rows.
This pattern is perfect for a garment, shawl or blanket. Make a border of garter or seed to prevent this stockinette stitch-based pattern from rolling on a flat fabric.
Have fun with this pattern! It’s my favorite stitch right now!
Knitters can be intimidated by sewing seams. Have no fear, knitters! This article and videos are just for you!
Please sing along to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”:
Sewing knits is easy, FUN! I will show you how it’s done.
Mattress stitch is your best friend, stay in line until the end.
You will learn a figure 8, matching seams look oh so great!
This little tune is designed to make you feel wonderful even before you begin!
Whether you are sewing plain stockinette stitch or a stitch pattern, a vertical seam is the same in both cases.
Verbal Explanation of “figure 8” at the start of an edge: Thread a blunt tapestry needle with the tail from the knitting or a new piece of yarn. Take the needle under the lower cast on edge between the first and second stitch. Repeat on the other piece. If necessary, repeat this on each side again to make the sewn edge look the same as the cast on.
Verbal Explanation of mattress stitch vertical seaming: Begin seaming by taking the yarn under one or two bars between the first and second stitch from bottom to top; going back and forth from one piece to the other. Always start the next stitch on each side by going into the same place where the yarn from the previous stitch on that side is coming out. Sew about 3-4 bars on each side and then pull the seaming yarn taut until the pieces come together and look like an uninterrupted piece of fabric. Continue for the entire seam. If the top of the seam will show as a finished edge, repeat the figure 8 to end.
And now to wrap up with another verse:
Seaming knits will make you smile, it takes just a little while.
Now you’ve seen it, try it out, practice and you’ll have no doubt.
This is part of knitting fun, learn it well and you are done!
