The Top 7 Knitting Yarn Questions Answered

One of the most important decisions you must make when you knit is what yarn to use for your project. The yarn you choose has everything to do with how your finished project looks and stands up to time and wear. The last thing you want to do is spend hours making something only to have it fall apart in the wash, or look worn out after the second wearing. Taking the time to choose just the right yarn will help make your knitting projects a success.

Here are the answers to your top seven knitting yarn questions:

1. How do I learn about all of the different yarns? The easiest place to learn about yarn is by simply reading and comparing labels. Yarn labels include such information as the brand name, the fiber content of the yarn, the color name and number, the dye lot number, the number of piles or strands, the weight classification of the yarn, the knitting and crochet gauge, cleaning instructions, and the length of the yarn itself. By reading the labels and comparing them to each other, you can easily learn all you need to know about yarn.

2. Why do I care about yarn weight classification? The term ?yarn weight classification? does not refer to the actual physical weight of the yarn, as you might have guessed it would. Rather, the yarn weight classification refers to the diameter of the yarn strand. The smaller the strand, the smaller the weight, and vice versa?

3. Can I use a different yarn brand than my pattern calls for? Generally the answer is yes. You will want to knit a test swatch and make sure your gauge is correct before knitting your entire project though.

4. What is yarn gauge? Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in every inch of knitting. Gauge is specified on patterns to assure that the end project is true to size. Because everyone knits differently, it is very important to make a test swatch with your project needles and yarn to check to make sure your gauge matches that of the pattern you are working with. Gauge is especially important when working with clothing.

5. Can I substitute one yarn weight for another one? Generally the answer is no. Because your yarn weight has a lot to do with the finished size and look of a project, by using a yarn of a different weight you risk your project coming out the wrong size. Generally you cannot substitute yarn weights unless you are making something like a blanket or scarf where it will not matter as much and you can easily adjust your project for the change in size.

6. What is a dye lot and why do some yarns have one and others do not? Dye lot numbers refer to the batch a skein of yarn was in when it was dyed at the factory. Because dying is not an exact science, the same color yarn, from different dye lots, can appear to be two different colors. This is why you should always purchase enough yarn to complete your project all from the same dye lot if at all possible.
Some yarns and fibers do not list a dye lot number because the fibers are colored first and then the yarns are made. This means there are no dye lots available for the yarn.

7. How do I care for my knitted fabrics? The easiest way to know how to care for a knitted fabric is to check on the laundering instructions on the yarn label. Generally you will want to hand wash all of your hand knitted items in a mild detergent and then dry them flat. If you do not have a yarn label, you can sometimes find similar yarn at your local craft store and read that yarn?s label for care directions.

PPPPP

Word Count 654

Popularity: 22% [?]

Share This

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Learning to Knit is as Easy as 1-2-3

Knitting is one of the most relaxing crafts you can do with your hands. Once you learn to knit you can easily sit back and knit and listen to the radio or watch your favorite television program while you happily knit away and make a great item, for yourself or someone else, at the same time.

Knitting is great for those of us who like to keep our hands busy but also like to multitask as well. I used to sit and watch my aunt knit at family gathering and was always amazed that by the end of the day she would have participated in all of the conversation and still she had a ton of knitting done.

When you first start knitting, it seems hard to do and it feels awkward in your hands. However, that awkwardness soon leaves and is replaced with the satisfied feeling of knowing you created something with your own two hands. It really is a very satisfying feeling.

While knitting is not difficult to do, it does require a few special supplies and some patience. With these three simple steps you can learn to knit today:

Step #1 ? Your Supply List

To begin knitting you will simply need to have a pair of knitting needles and some yarn. If you are going to attempt to make an item from a pattern, you will also need that as well.

Knitting Needles

Knitting needles are not all created equal. By far, the easiest needles to knit on are made from wood. Wooden knitting needles allow you to knit much easier because your yarn will stay in place on them. When you use plastic or metal knitting needles you will soon find that your yarns want to slide off the needles if you are not careful in handling them. When you are new to knitting it really is best to stick to wooden needles.

When you are a beginner at knitting you should create your first project with large needles for a couple different reasons. The first reason is that the large needles are easier to work with and allow you to see your mistakes much easier. If you drop a stitch you will immediately know it and can rip out and start again fairly easily. The second reason is that large knitting needles make your projects much quicker to do. You can very easily finish a scarf on large knitting needles in only a couple days. This sense of accomplishment is great for newbies.

Yarns and Fibers

When you are new to knitting you will want to start out with natural fibers such as cotton or wool. The reason you want to stick to the natural fibers is because they will not slide off of your knitting needles quite as easily as synthetic fibers will. While all those fancy yarns look inviting, they can be a challenge to work with if you are new to knitting. It is best to start off simple and move you way up.

Step #2 ? Learn Some Basic Knitting Lingo

Learning to knit means you have to learn the language which goes along with knitting. At first it looks a bit daunting, but here are the basic abbreviations. You can find more in a knitting dictionary in the front or back of most knitting books.

K stands for Knit
KB stands for Knit-in-Back
BO stands for Bind-Off
P stands for Purl
EOR stands for knit every other row

Step #3 ? Just Do It

Just like the Nike ads say ? Just do it! The only way you will ever learn a new skill, such as knitting, is to try it out and practice.

Learning to knit allows you to make new friends and to create beautiful works of art while relaxing at the same time. By taking care to use the right supplies for beginners, and for looking for groups where you can learn new techniques, you will be on your way to knitting complex sweaters in no time.

PPPPP

Word count 675

Popularity: 22% [?]

Share This

The Top 7 Crocheting Yarn Questions Answered

One of the most important decisions you must make when you crochet is what yarn to use for your project. The yarn you choose has everything to do with how your finished project looks and stands up to time and wear. The last thing you want to do is spend hours making something only to have it fall apart in the wash, or look worn out after the second wearing. Taking the time to choose just the right yarn will help make your crocheting projects a success.

Here are the answers to your top seven crocheting yarn questions:

1. How do I learn about all of the different yarns? The easiest place to learn about yarn is by simply reading and comparing labels. Yarn labels include such information as the brand name, the fiber content of the yarn, the color name and number, the dye lot number, the number of piles or strands, the weight classification of the yarn, the crocheting and crochet gauge, cleaning instructions, and the length of the yarn itself. By reading the labels and comparing them to each other, you can easily learn all you need to know about yarn.

2. Why do I care about yarn weight classification? The term ?yarn weight classification? does not refer to the actual physical weight of the yarn, as you might have guessed it would. Rather, the yarn weight classification refers to the diameter of the yarn strand. The smaller the strand, the smaller the weight, and vice versa?

3. Can I use a different yarn brand than my pattern calls for? Generally the answer is yes. You will want to crochet a test swatch and make sure your gauge is correct before crocheting your entire project though.

4. What is yarn gauge? Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in every inch of crocheting. Gauge is specified on patterns to assure that the end project is true to size. Because everyone crochets differently, it is very important to make a test swatch with your project needles and yarn to check to make sure your gauge matches that of the pattern you are working with. Gauge is especially important when working with clothing.

5. Can I substitute one yarn weight for another one? Generally the answer is no. Because your yarn weight has a lot to do with the finished size and look of a project, by using a yarn of a different weight you risk your project coming out the wrong size. Generally you cannot substitute yarn weights unless you are making something like a blanket or scarf where it will not matter as much and you can easily adjust your project for the change in size.

6. What is a dye lot and why do some yarns have one and others do not? Dye lot numbers refer to the batch a skein of yarn was in when it was dyed at the factory. Because dying is not an exact science, the same color yarn, from different dye lots, can appear to be two different colors. This is why you should always purchase enough yarn to complete your project all from the same dye lot if at all possible.
Some yarns and fibers do not list a dye lot number because the fibers are colored first and then the yarns are made. This means there are no dye lots available for the yarn.

7. How do I care for my crochet fabrics? The easiest way to know how to care for a crochet fabric is to check on the laundering instructions on the yarn label. Generally you will want to hand wash all of your hand crochet items in a mild detergent and then dry them flat. If you do not have a yarn label, you can sometimes find similar yarn at your local craft store and read that yarn?s label for care directions.

PPPPP

Word Count 654

Popularity: 16% [?]

Share This

Tips for Joining A Knitting Group

If you are new to knitting, or a seasoned pro, a knitting group might be just what you have been looking for. Joining a knitting group can offer you help with a new pattern, help completing a lingering project, new knitting project ideas, and the ability to make new friends with a very similar interest to yours.

You may have investigated the idea of getting some classes to help with your knitting and found that the cost is too high for your budget, or there are no class times which work for your busy schedule. A great alternative to the structure and cost of knitting lessons are knitting groups.

Knitting groups are simply a collective of people who get together to knit and teach each other things about knitting. Whether you have never knit anything or if you have a bunch of successful projects under your belt, you can benefit from a knitting group.

Here are four of the top benefits of a knitting group:

Benefit #1 ? Learn New Patterns from People Not Books ? Have you ever read a knitting pattern and went ?huh?? Most everyone who knits does that at some point. The abbreviations get the best of us and we have no idea what a pattern is talking about, let alone try to knit it.

When you are a member of a knitting group, you can bring your patterns and knitting projects along with you to the meetings, and get help and advice from others who understand the techniques better than you do. Learning something like knitting is always better when you learn from another person rather than to try and learn it yourself from a book.

Benefit #2 ? Help and Motivation to Finish Your Lingering Projects ? Nearly every knitter, at some point, finds that they have an unfinished project which they are either stuck on, or that they have become bored with and abandoned. Knitting groups are great for finding help to finish up the project yourself, or for getting a volunteer who will happily finish it for you. Sometimes, even the act of showing your half-finished projects to other people can prod you along and get you finishing them up.

Benefit #3 ? Make Friends Who Knit ? One of the best advantages to a knitting group is that you will make new friends who also love to knit. While knitting is generally thought of as being a pretty solitary art, getting together allows you to learn from each other and also to simply make friends. At group meetings you can swap ideas and you can even make-up fun contests or community service projects. Your knitting group is truly what you make it. So, get involved in a group and help to improve it!

Benefit #4 ? Get Ideas for Your Next Projects ? It happens to even the best knitters, they run out of ideas for their next project. Sometimes you can look through a ton of knitting resources and nothing screams ?make me? to you. When you are an active participant in a knitting group, you can see what everyone else around you is making and that can spark something in you. You might love the new yarn that someone is using and think of something you could make with it, or you might love a new technique and have just the right yarn at home to try it out.

No matter what your motivation is, there is a great knitting group in your area just waiting for you to join. There really isn?t any reason for you to struggle with your projects or making new friends when you can attend knitting groups and accomplish both goals at once. If you happen to live in an area where there is not an existing knitting group, maybe you should start one for yourself. Advertise with free flyers and get some other knitters to join you. Before long you will have a room full of happy knitters in your group.

PPPPP

Word Count 666

Popularity: 23% [?]

Share This

Tips for Those Beginning to Crochet

Congratulations on your decision to learn to crochet! Crocheting is a pastime which has been enjoyed for many years by our mothers and grandmothers alike. And, it has been popular for good reasons. Crocheting not only allows you to make some wonderful garments and household decorative items, but it also allows you to create while you relax and watch television or listen to music as well.

Crocheting gives you an amazing sense of accomplishment when you are finished with a project. Whether you are making a blanket, sweater or even a simple scarf, you will be proud to show off your handiwork work when you have finished it.

Being new to crocheting, there are a few things you need to keep in mind so that you will have the most success possible. They are:

Crochet Yarns and Fibers for Newbies

When you are first learning how to crochet you should stick to using natural fibers and yarns. These natural fibers tend to be less slippery and easier to work with.

Just as important as the fibers you use is the way that you hold them in your hand. By learning the ?correct? way to hold your yarn and crochet hook from day one, it will be much easier for you to advance your crocheting projects without having to relearn how to hold things. Here is the best way to hold your yarn and crochet hook:

1. Place the yarn over your little finger, below your ring finger, and above your fore and middle fingers.
2. Hold your crochet hook as you would a pencil or fork. This allows you the best hold to heave the yarn from your fingers down to the loop in the hook.

As you begin to crochet more and more you will come up with just the right positions for you. But, it is always best to learn in a more classical style from the start and adopt your own style from there.

When you purchase yarn or fibers for your projects make sure you take the time to get all of it from one dye lot. The packages of yarn will be marked with a number and you want to make sure they all match. This ensures that all of your yarn is an exact match to each other.

Crochet Hook Sizes

One of the most important considerations for any crochet project is the size of the hook and the yarn you choose to use. Crochet hooks are labeled with numbers and letters. These numbers and letters correspond to different sizes. The higher the number or letter then the larger and thicker the size of the hook, and when you are new to crochet this means the quicker your project will be completed.
Crochet With Others

Being new to crocheting offers some challenges. One of these is trying to learn to crochet well from a book or off of the Internet or television. Crocheting is one of those things which appears much harder than it really is. If you have a friend or relative who crochets, ask them to show you how. If you do not know anyone who crochets, then you might want to take a class at your local community college, or join a local crocheting group. While you can learn to crochet on your own, and many people have, it is a lot easier to learn when there are people around you who can show you what to do.

Learning to crochet allows you to make new friends and to create beautiful works of art while relaxing at the same time. By taking care to use the right supplies for beginners, and for looking for groups where you can learn new techniques, you will be on your way to crocheting complex sweaters and blanket projects in no time. You will soon find that you have a long list of potential projects you want to complete.

PPPPP

Word Count 659

Popularity: 17% [?]

Share This

Don?t Waste Your Extra Yarn ? Use It!

Traditionally, handicrafts were born out of invention and necessity. People needed warm blankets for their bed so they learned to weave threads and eventually how to make quilts; they needed clothing so they learned to make fabrics and sew them together. Today?s handicrafts are similar for many of the people who believe that sustainability of our plant is a big issue for those living in our current times. The idea of recycling is often practiced in craft work through the reuse of yarns, fibers and fabrics.

While it is fun to browse around your local craft or yarn store looking at all the variations of yarn skeins you can buy, it is also important to take the time to look around you own house, and your ever growing yarn stash, and use up those left-over yarns from previous projects. Each of those skeins of yarn at your local store has had to be grown, processed, created, shipped, etc? and each task has taken its own small toll on the earth we all live on.

While buying yarn is a necessity for those of us who choose to knit or crochet, it is important also to use the yarns we already have, and those others have cast off at the local thrift and charity shops as well, when we can. It is just as important to also use knitting needles and other supplies to their fullest usefulness as well.

Wasting your scraps of yarn is simply throwing money out the proverbial window. A much better option is to find a project where you can best utilize your scraps and make them into something beautiful and useful. What this is depends on what scraps you happen to have lying around the house.

Start by sorting your yarns by color. This can help you to make new project such as scarves and blankets where you can mix and match colors in new and unique ways. Look at each color combination and think about the projects you could make with them.

Dealing with yarns of different weights can be an issue if you attempt to knit them using techniques like stripes. However, you can knit them in other patterns where they will flow nicely together and the variation in weight is an added bonus. One of the best stitches you can use for combining variations in weight is the granite stitch.

Take your scrap yarns and make some quick swatches. Combine colors and techniques to get ideas about what you could make with all of the scraps you have of one color or another.

Another fun way to deal with yarns of different weights, colors, and textures is to knit granny squares and then combine them all into a blanket or shawl. With this application your variations will enhance your project and not take away from it.

As you become more and more skilled at knitting and crochet you learn that free-form projects allow you to craft and create new and exciting items which are 100% unique and one-of-a-kind. Use a free-form technique and see what you come up with.

Whether your ultimate goal is frugal living or saving the plant, you can make great strides by shopping in your own yarn stash before you hit the craft store or yarn shop. Challenge yourself to use up your odds and ends and see what you can come up with!

PPPPP

Word Count 572

Popularity: 20% [?]

Share This

10 Steps to Learning How to Crochet

The art of crochet has been around for thousands of years. People in earlier times who had means would purchase hand crocheted and knitted laces and fabrics for their opulent garments and d?cor. Having these items showed others that you were a person of means and you led an opulent lifestyle.

Over the years, through industrialization and mass production of lace and fabrics, items made with crochet and knitting have gained popularity in the lower to middle classes and the upper classes started showing their wealth in other, more material, ways.

Today, crochet and knitting are the craft art of choice for many people all over the world. They are both handicrafts which are challenging to learn yet affordable for nearly everyone. Supplies are easy to find to create some very amazing hand crafted items with the emergence of new yarns and colorful fibers.

As a beginner to the art of crochet, there are some simple things to learn to be successful. Here are ten steps to get you started on your road to crochet success:

Step #1 ? Gather Up Your Supplies ? To crochet you will need a crochet hook, yarn, scissors and a large-eye needle.

Step #2 ? Holding Your Crochet Hook ? You will want to hold your crochet hook in your dominant hand. Create a slip-knot and place it over the end of your hook.

Step #3 ? Create a Continuous Stitch ? Slide the hooked yarn to the slip-knot on the hook. This will create a chain of stitches. Continue to make this chain by brining your yarn to the top of the hook and pulling it through the slip-knot.

Step #4 ? Move Up The Chain ? Move up the chain allowing the first chain stitch to knot on the hook. This allows the yarn to stay in place and not loosen. It is generally a good idea to make this first knot tight rather than loose.

Step #5 ? Creating Two Loops ? Next, insert your crochet hook into the hole of the next chain stitch and slide the passing yarn through its center.

Step #6 ? Bring Your Yarn Back ? Bring your yarn back on the hook from back to front and slide your knot in the center of the loops which you have already created on the crochet hook.

Step #7 ? Making Rows ? From your second yarn loop, create another single chain stitch and make a counter-clockwise loop. Start again and create the same loops as the previous stitches.

Step #8 ? Crochet Until Done ? Continue this basic crochet technique until you have a swatch of fabric.

Step #8 ? Cut your Project Off ? Once you have completed a swatch of fabric, it is time to remove it from your ball of yarn. Cut it with about a 6? tail left at the end.

Step #9 ? Fasten Your Project so it won?t Unravel - Bring your tail of yarn back through the last stitch to fasten it.

Step #10 ? Cut the Excess ? At this point you are finished and can cut off the excess tail of yarn.

Using these simple ten steps you can learn to successfully complete a basic crochet fabric. Like any new skill, crochet takes time. You will want to practice a lot at first and see what techniques and hand holds are the most comfortable for you.

PPPPP

Word Count 555

Popularity: 22% [?]

Share This

Tips for Knitting Your Own Socks

As a knitter, at some point you might decide that you want to try your hand at knitting a pair of socks. Because hand knit socks are like no others in their comfort and warmth, it is no wonder that today?s knitters are attempting to make socks in record numbers. However, you will find knitters who love making socks, and you will find knitters that simply hate making them. Basically, it all boils down to personal preference and your own knitting skills.

Let?s take a look at each part of the sock knitting process, and things you can do to make your socks easier and more enjoyable to knit.

The Sock Cuff

The top of the sock is referred to as the cuff. The job of your sock?s cuff is to keep your sock up on your leg and keep it from sliding down into your shoe. The best way to cast- on to make your cuff is to use a plain backward loop cast-on. This cast-on method works the best because it will automatically adjust itself to the stretch of the stitch you choose to use.

Your sock cuff will need to be stretchy to hold up your sock. The best choice here is to do a knit 1, purl 1, rib knit, which requires you to cast-on an even number of stitches. You can also do a knit 2, purl 2, rib knit, which requires you to cast-on in multiples of four.

The Sock Cuff to Leg Transition

As you move from your sock cuff down to the leg, you will need to increase or decrease your number of stitches to match your sock pattern. The best way to do this is at the last row of the cuff, or the first row of the leg portion.

The Leg

If you want to make highly decorative socks, the leg is the portion you want to spice-up because it is easily the most seen portion of the socks. The leg is the perfect place to be creative and use those specialty yarns.

The Heel Flap

To knit the heel flap, you will work on only half of the stitches you have on your needles. And, you will work back and forth rather than in the round. You can leave the stiches you are not working with on their needles or you may want to move them to a stitch holder.

The best stitch choice for the heel flap is to do a slip 1, knit 1 on the right side and to purl all of the stitches on the wrong side. The result will be a tight and sturdy rib-like stitch.

Turning the Heel

Turing the heel is the bane of most knitters. It is easily the biggest challenge in making socks, but it is also the most appreciated when done correctly. In reality, turning the heel is all about creating short rows of stitches on either side of a center row of stitches. This causes your knitting to come together at a right angle and for your heel to be successfully turned.

The Instep Gusset

Once you have turned the heel you will want to start working on all of the stitches again. To accomplish this start picking up stitches from the side of the heel flap and adding one new stitch per row. Work on all of those stitches and then pick up the stitches on the other side of the heel flap. From this point start decreasing stitches where the side stitches meet up with the held stitches from earlier.

The Foot and Toe

When you knit the foot itself you should use a straight knitting technique. Stockinette stitch works wonderfully here. Stop knitting the foot about two inches below the toe. Knit the toe according to your pattern and you are finished with your sock!

While the idea of knitting your own socks can seem daunting, it really is not that hard with a bit of patience and practice. And, nothing matches your sense of accomplishment when you can wear socks that you made yourself!

PPPPP

Word Count 686

Popularity: 20% [?]

Share This

The 4 Reasons to Join a Crochet Group

If you are new to crochet, or even a seasoned pro, a crochet group might be just what you have been looking for. Joining a crochet group can offer you help with a new pattern, help completing a lingering project, new crochet project ideas, and the ability to make new friends with a very similar interest to yours.

You may have investigated the idea of getting some classes to help with your crochet and found that the cost is too high for your budget, or there are no class times which work for your busy schedule. A great alternative to the structure and cost of crochet lessons are crochet groups.

Crochet groups are simply a collective of people who get together to crochet and teach each other things about crochet. Whether you have never crocheted anything or if you have a bunch of successful projects under your belt, you can benefit from a crochet group.

Here are four of the top benefits of a crochet group:

Benefit #1 ? Learn New Patterns from People Not Books ? Have you ever read a crochet pattern and went ?huh?? Most everyone who crochets does that at some point. The abbreviations get the best of us and we have no idea what a pattern is talking about, let alone try to crochet it.

When you are a member of a crochet group, you can bring your patterns and crochet projects along with you to the meetings, and get help and advice from others who understand the techniques better than you do. Learning something like crochet is always better when you learn from another person rather than to try and learn it yourself from a book.

Benefit #2 ? Help and Motivation to Finish Your Lingering Projects ? Nearly everyone, at some point, finds that they have an unfinished project which they are either stuck on, or that they have become bored with and abandoned. Crochet groups are great for finding help to finish up the project yourself, or for getting a volunteer who will happily finish it for you. Sometimes, even the act of showing your half-finished projects to other people can prod you along and get you finishing them up.

Benefit #3 ? Make Friends Who Crochet ? One of the best advantages to a crochet group is that you will make new friends who also love to crochet. While crochet is generally thought of as being a pretty solitary art, getting together allows you to learn from each other and also to simply make friends. At group meetings you can swap ideas and you can even make-up fun contests or community service projects. Your crochet group is truly what you make it. So, get involved in a group and help to improve it!

Benefit #4 ? Get Ideas for Your Next Projects ? It happens to even the best crafters, they run out of ideas for their next project. Sometimes you can look through a ton of crochet resources and nothing screams ?make me? to you. When you are an active participant in a crochet group, you can see what everyone else around you is making and that can spark something in you. You might love the new yarn that someone is using and think of something you could make with it, or you might love a new technique and have just the right yarn at home to try it out.

No matter what your motivation is, there is a great crochet group in your area just waiting for you to join. There really isn?t any reason for you to struggle with your projects or making new friends when you can attend crochet groups and accomplish both goals at once. If you happen to live in an area where there is not an existing crochet group, maybe you should start one for yourself. Advertise with free flyers and get some others who love crochet to join you. Before long you will have a room full of happy crochet lovers in your group.

PPPPP

Word Count 671

Popularity: 20% [?]

Share This

A Knit Baby Blanket is One of the Best Baby Gifts

Finding the perfect gift for new parents can often be a challenge. Many times new parents have either already shopped for their babies, or they have other children and have many of the things they will need already in their homes. One perfect gift option in this case is the gift of a handmade knit baby blanket. By presenting the new parents with a handmade blanket you can show that you took the time to make something special with their baby in mind. The blanket will be appreciated and likely treasured for years to come.

With the recent popularity resurgence in knitting and crocheting, there are limitless options available for yarns and fibers which you can quickly and easily knit into an heirloom baby blanket. And, the best thing is that many of today?s yarns and fibers are dyed colors which lend themselves well to making a baby blanket. With the soft pinks, light blues, and mellow yellow yarns, you can be sure to match any nursery decorations the new parents may have done. Or you can create a wonderful unisex design appropriate for any baby regardless of their gender.

A handcrafted gift is one which can be passed down through generations and appreciated by everyone. It shows the receiver that you spent a lot of time and effort to make just the right gift for them. And, because of the time you have invested in the gift, it will be one of the best received.

When you are going to knit a blanket for a baby, there are a few important things which you need to keep in consideration as you find your pattern and buy your supplies. A few of them are:

Pattern Selection ? You should choose a knit pattern which is tightly woven if the blanket will be used by a very young baby. Often designs with any open-work allow for the baby?s fingers or toes to get caught up in the blanket and cause discomfort. This is both a health and a safety risk.

Yarn Selection ? When you are knitting an item for a baby you want to find a yarn or fiber which is both soft and machine washable. New parents are often too tired and over-extended to spend time hand washing items. And, because babies can be very messy, it is essential that anything they come into contact with can be successfully washed.

Blanket Color ? If you know the color scheme of the nursery, or even the sex of the baby, you can better match your blanket colors to them. If not, use your imagination and create a wonderful unisex blanket.

Blanket Size ? When you are knitting for a baby, your first inclination might be to make a very small blanket. However, babies grow very quickly into toddlers. And, babies move around a lot and require decently sized blankets to keep them covered up and warm. Your blanket will get much more use if you make it a bit larger than your first inclination to allow it to be used as baby grows.

No Beadwork ? While beadwork is popular in today?s knitting and crocheting patterns, beads are never appropriate for a baby item. A baby can loosen them and they can become a choking hazard.

By keeping these simple considerations in mind, you can be well on your way to knitting a keepsake baby blanket which will be cherished for years to come. As with any baby gift, you want to insure that your blanket is safe and secure for the baby who will be using it. However, by using your imagination and creativity you can come up with the perfect and safe design for the new bundle of joy.

PPPPP

Word Count 629

Top of Form

Popularity: 24% [?]

Share This