knitting

Knitting – let's take a look at this ever popular yarn craft - although some would call it a hobby!

Either way it’s decidedly addictive…

Thanks to new wool blends, cottons and funky yarns we can all create almost anything we desire …. all year round. Cuddly wool for winter warmth…cottons, acrylics and exotic blends such as bamboo for summer patterns

Create unique items for yourself, your family, your home, your friends…

Here's your answer to why hand-knit in this mass produced world? And why a kit may interest you

You'll learn the basics of casting on, knit, purl, cast off (bind off), rib and some other fancy stitches along the way.

Once you have your beginner instructions take advantage of our beginner patterns and ideas to practice your new skills, then move onto the next skill level - easy patterns.

From there the sky's the limit: :-

It won't be long before you find your own favourite niche... socks, gloves, hats, scarves and bear wear like my sister.

Or purses, bags, totes and hats like me.

Once you find your favourite niche then expand your pleasure by trying a range of styles within that niche. What do I mean by styles?

Cables , circular knitting, neat stripes, fair isle, knit-to-felt etc?

Find your favourite niche and style - practice, move past the basics, become "good" at your craft and you won't be able to keep up with demand - family, friends, work colleagues will all put their hands up....

Once you've completed your project learn the best methods to wash your creation - you don't want to spoil your handiwork by stretching or shrinking it at this stage - unless of course you're felting in which case pop into our felting section - you'll learn the correct way to felt your finished project -

Give a final professional finish to your creations by learning how to block your completed project.

Have you tried purse, bag or tote making yet?

It's fun interesting and reasonably inexpensive.

Take a quick peek at the range of styles you could choose from (opens in new window, close to return here).

But why would you bother to knit a purse, bag or tote?

Because it’s the perfect accessory to show your individual style to the world.
How often have you bought a new outfit only to find you don’t have a bag or purse to compliment it? Those days are gone…. with an abundance of yarns and colours, readily available, you’re bound to find the perfect pattern or project to suit your personal style and skill level.

Once you’ve completed your creation, give it the professional finish it deserves by using our how-to block a purse, bag or tote instructions.

This patterns page is the page to visit if you know what category of pattern you're looking for, from there it's one click to see photographs and more details about the various patterns and projects.

All patterns you'll find on this site include explicit do-able instructions – we don’t expect you to guess or figure these out for yourself....

Each pattern details materials required for successful completion, we include all sizing and measurements in both metric and imperial - to suit users worldwide and useful yarn substitution suggestions.

If you take a good look around this site you're bound to find a pattern or technique you haven't tried yet.

For instance have you mastered the art of invisible seams with kitchener stitch? Or learnt to neaten your knitted edges using attached or applied i-cording ?

we'll take you far beyond the basics - if you wish - pop into our how-to section for these and more. ...

Us our questions section to find some of those tricky answers you've been looking for.

And please remember we include knitting-help links within each of our downloadable patterns and projects - use them to contact us directly if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Are your girls a little too young to handle even child sized needles? Or do you have boys who think it's only for "girly men" (I pinched that phrase from Arnold Schwarzenegger !!) but you'd love them to share your passion for yarn crafts?

Start them off with the tried-and-true method - french-knitting...(cotton-reel-knitting, or spool-knitting depending where you hail from).

If you learnt this craft as a child it will bring back wonderful memories - if not - here's a good opportunity to learn and share quality time with your children now..... The added bonus for you french-knitting is a great alternative to dpn i-cording.

We frequently use Knitting-Nancys to make the cords for our handbag handles when only 4 stitches are required or when our design calls for plaited straps....

Go to HoughtonAvenue yarn crafts home page or return to top of this knitting page