New Yarn section
I have just added a new Yarn section the website where you can buy some of the Marta’s Yarns collection of knitting yarns.
There are some truly glorious colours to choose from.
There is a flat rate shipping fee for Australia of $7.50 on the total order and $29 for international orders. Please note that I will refund any difference between the actual cost and the flat fee for international orders.
Keep checking back as I add more colors and yarns in the next week.
Happy making
Pat
Marta’s Arm Knitting Video Tutorial
I have been promising to make this video for some years now. It has almost been 8 years since mum passed away and I was thinking recently that it was time to make this video.
The arm knitting technique mum developed gave so much joy to so many people. People who had never knitted before came out of her little shop in East Malvern with a finished scarf and a smile on their faces. It is a great example of her passion, creativity and generosity.
The first minute of this video tells the story of Marta’s arm knitting. The rest of the video steps you through the technique.
Pat xo
Cable knitting – video tutorials
Many people find cable knitting daunting at first. The idea of having three needles on the go at the same time and dropped stitches probably explains this initial apprehension.
Yet the cable knitting technique produces such beautiful and bold textures that it is hard to avoid as you progress with your knitting skills.
I have just finished production of two tutorials demonstrating the cable 4 back and cable 4 front techniques to help you get started with your cabling. Enjoy!
Bias knitting pattern still popular
Over the last week I have revisited a number of my previous designs to update the video links in them and to review the instructions. I had some fun rewriting my Giant Retro Cowl pattern – not just to change the color to the one of the colors I do have in stock – but also looking at how the placement of buttons can completely change a simple knitted rectangle.
The idea for the cowl pattern came about whilst considering how to make a bias knitted piece. Bias cut fabrics are always so flattering so I thought that the same theory should apply to a bias-look knitting pattern. I searched through my stitch pattern libraries and finally came across the diagonal rib stitch. Rather than having to increase and decrease, this stitch allows you to knit a diagonal rib along a fixed number of cast on stitches. After a number of swatches in numerous different yarn combinations, the Giant Retro Cowl pattern was born.
It was so popular when we had our store front open in Melbourne that one customer knitted 14 different versions – including a handspun angora version for a Winter bride. It was stunning as was the bride! It remains one of my most popular patterns.
I have just added the new and improved version of this pattern to the website (available for purchase through the Ravelry shopping cart buy now link). I will add some yarn kits in the new Retro colors later this week as well. Pat x
Decreasing left then right – video tutorials
After a beginner knits their first few scarves their attention will often turn to how to knit different shaped garments. A beanie, vest or even a jumper will all require knowledge of how to make decreases to achieve shaping in a garment.
I have produced two video tutorials showing the most common knitting decrease techniques. The first is the skp or slip one, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over technique for left slanting decreases. The second is the knit two together – k2tog – technique for right slanting decreases.
These two techniques are used in my Tangram Blanket design to shape the two large triangles. Enjoy Pat.
Changing colors and sewing in ends – Video tutorials
One of the first stumbling blocks faced by beginner knitters is changing colors.
Should you knot the new color onto the old? How do you get the color change to start at the very beginning of a row? And then, what to do with the ends of the yarn?
To answer these very common knitting questions I have produced two new videos explaining how to change a color at the beginning of a row and how to sew the ends in. I have demonstrated on garter stitch as this is the stitch most commonly used to knit your first scarf. Garter stitch also allows for the easy sewing in of ends along the edge of a project rather than the more complicated duplicate stitch technique.
Your feedback is most welcome as well as suggestions for other techniques you would like to see demonstrated. Have a good weekend. Pat
The purl stitch – video tutorial
I gave you the knit stitch tutorial yesterday. But, without the purl stitch you won’t be stocking stitching. So here it is. I have made parts of this video slow motion so that you can clearly see how to make the purl stitch. Most commonly used on the wrong side of stocking stitch, the purl stitch is also used in the ever popular moss stitch. Enjoy and don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel knitwithpat and the newsletter below to receive updates on new tutorials and patterns. Pat