knit

For centuries, craftspeople have knit fabrics that range from the pragmatically purposeful to the magnificently elegant. They use a variety of yarns, made from a vast selection of fibers, plus an endless variety of stitches to achieve the texture and drape they desire.

Very rough fibers, such as hemp, can be knit into practical items, like washcloths that are not only easy-to-make but very useful.

Luxurious fibers like silk and qiviut (a soft, warm fiber from the underbelly of the Arctic Muskox) can be crafted into delicate confections that are purely decorative.

All that is required to knit is a length of yarn and two needles. Surprisingly, the first to knit were men who used the technique to create stockings. When the craft first began, only the garter stitch was used. Later the purl stitch was added.

Today there are hundreds of stitches — from intricate lace stitches that are knit on very tiny needles to enormous cable stitches that are created on gigantic needles using super bulky yarns.

You can find information about knitting in several blogs including Yarn Harlot and Shear Bagatelle.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “knit”

• Icelandic chocolate fleece and more

  
  yarn spinner — Authority: 115
  I know what youve been thinking. Where is she? She just doesnt blog as much anymore. Its not you. Its me. ( really!) Ive been having a busy work week. When I wasnt busy, I wasnt breathing all that well, because I have asthma and am allergic to fall. Well, Im allergic to leaf mold, I think. So, with the h elp of ...
  9 hours ago

• More dyed yarn

  
  Knittingdragonflies — Authority: 113
  In the attempt to get a different look to my dyed yarn, I tried to dip the yarn into separate dye pots. Wow, I love the look, clean colors, more definition.  I used this article from Knitty to guide me. Of course it is more work. My hats off to all of you who hand paint yarn! I started with some ...
  11 hours ago

• Katamari Scarves

  
  Sprite Stitch — Authority: 133
  I’ve had Katamari on the brain lately, and these scarves just add fuel to the fire: They were made by Keita Takahashi, the creator of Katamari Damacy, and offered as the first and second prizes for a contest on Penny Arcade .  Unfortunately the contest is closed, but I can still drool, can’t I? via [ ...
  17 hours ago

• Handspun Lacey Moebius

  
  Live and Let Knit...and Craft — Authority: 113
  You know addiction is a such a hard thing to live with...constant cravings...sudden urges...impulses...restrictions...diets, and binges. You know what I mean, sometime or another , you have had an addiction. My latest addiction isnt an illegal one, nor drinking or eating , but spinning, hand painting, and ...
  1 day ago

• What is the Right Side of a Crochet Piece?

  
  Learn to Crochet - Free Instructions and Patterns — Authority: 118
  From time to time you may come across crochet instructions telling you to have the " right side of the work facing you ." Right side means, the side facing out after your project is finished. If you like the look of the back of the stitches, that can be your right side. When you work the afghan stitch, you ...
  1 day ago

• brought to you by the letter b

  
  she shoots sheep shots — Authority: 117
  My Annette is blocked & dry. Thanks to yesterdays long roundtrip in my new car mobile blocking unit. Funny view back there- some photo equipment, my yoga mat and knitting. Throw in a cup of coffee, maybe a little dark chocolate, and there you have me. Thing wise, I mean. I found ...
  1 day ago

• Trying To Keep It Together

  
  Yarn Pixie — Authority: 110
  Now Playing: Destination Truth on SyFy Rewind Chullachaqui/Bermuda Triangle ---------- Heres my progress on my scarf for the Red Scarf Project this year... Id say Im maybe a quarter of the way done. Looks good, may need some blocking. The seed stitch is a bit fatter than the other sections. Just one ...
  1 day ago

• Dont Fear The Reaper or A Funny Thing happened on the silk road

  
  Knittingdragonflies — Authority: 113
  As you know I have been raising silkworms, or trying to. It started with the idea of raising them for their cocoons, and eggs and then dyeing them to spin. Along the way I became charmed by these little hairy babies. Lifting their heads up,every time I opened the container to feed or check on them. Little piggy ...
  1 day ago

• Felting Slippers For Christmas

  
  Knitsnthings's Weblog — Authority: 106
  I was totally inspired by a really popular pattern on ravelry’s pattern list. Built like a shoe, looking like a slipper. So. I looked very carefully at all of my daughters ballet flat type shoes. I tried to wing it. It came out not-so-good, lol. I used version one to see what needed to change in version two ...
  1 day ago

• Dark Lavender / Light Purple Thigh High Long Leg Warmer by KD dance – 36 Inch – Knit Rib Stretch – Made in America By Dancers for Dancers & Fashionable Warm Leg Lovers

  
  Guide to dating online with tips and ideas — Authority: 149
  Rib Knit – Soft & Comfortable Super Warm – Designed For Professional Dancers Durable Long Lasting Quality – Made In The Bronx, NYC, USA Fashionable and Versitile for Day or Night, Great for Over Boots, Jeans or Tights Perfect For Ballet, Dance Class or over boots or jeans Product Description Created ...
  1 day ago

• The Sock Continues

  
  Amanda's Musings — Authority: 122
  Almost two months ago I mentioned that I was making my first attempt at knitting a sock . I took my sock with me to Cairns and attempted to follow the instructions on the yarn label. All was fine until I got to the part that says ‘heel flap’. I actually managed to create a ‘flap’ but then had no idea what I ...
  1 day ago

• Test Knit: Vent oest Vent oouest Smoke Ring

  
  Live and Let Knit...and Craft — Authority: 113
  This is one of the last exercises at Joan Sheridans SOAR Retreat 3-hour Make Wheel Do the Work Class on Saturday, October 31, 2009, spun on Pipy Wendy and Saxony, average tensioned, small whorl. The corriedale singles is even prettier plied with four varieties of silver-lined, green glass beads (Size 11) on ...
  1 day ago

• But not the purple buffalo

  
  SpinDyeKnit — Authority: 127
  Last night at Purlescence, I got to the end of a long row on the shawl I was working on and didn’t want to start another before quitting time; a good excuse to browse the shop a bit. There was some Blue Moon Peru I’d seen before that I’d never really paid much attention to.  I was going to buy laceweight, and ...
  2 days ago

• Moving Right Along

  
  Yarn And A Barn — Authority: 108
  The house construction is moving along so quickly that I cant even get current photos posted before theyre obsolete! I posted on Facebook on Oct. 30th that Dixie mentioned that she couldnt believe how calm I was about the house project. I realized it was because Wausau Homes/Dick Hieb Homes have the process down . ...
  2 days ago

• 356: honeybees, and other good things

  
  field | work — Authority: 121
  Tomorrow I turn the big three-oh, which I think is supposed to leave me panicked or flummoxed, or both, but instead, I feel fairly indifferent. To the number, anyway. Im definitely looking forward to the day. Some good things: - Ill be eating my birthday dinner at Cafe Brenda , which is a gourmet vegetarian ...
  2 days ago

• A Friday Off

  
  hand eye crafts — Authority: 119
  While watching “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean” Wednesday night (God, Ava Gardner was beautiful), took pictures of almost all the hats I’ve made.  Must now resize them to post on etsy .  Hope to use free time over the weekend to photograph and upload some more ...
  2 days ago

• Quiet

  
  Katelynjane's Notebook — Authority: 122
    I’ve been Christmas shopping on Etsy! I’m so proud of myself for starting shopping already! I have some fun DVD’s for the younger siblings, a necklace, this super cute hat, and the odd toy for the nieces. I’m so ahead of the game…and that’s very unusual for me. I love buying gifts that actually mean ...
  2 days ago

• Handmade Holiday

  
  Girls Guide to the Galaxy — Authority: 423
  The holidays are rapidly approaching and if you’re planning to have a handmade holiday you better get crackin’. I don’t know about you, but when I receive a handmade gift it makes me a little extra warm and fuzzy inside to know that someone dedicated the time and energy to whipping something up for little ‘ol ...
  2 days ago

• HKF

  
  Knit Flix — Authority: 110
  Its Hand Knit Friday! What hand knits do you have on today? I need something warm and comforting so Im wearing Fair Isle socks
  2 days ago

• Video: Ford Hood community in mourning

  
  Relevant News — Authority: 514
  Nov. 6: NBC’s Janet Shamlian reports from Fort Hood, Texas, where a close-knit community is mourning following a shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 30 others. (Today Show) Excerpt from:  Video: Ford Hood community in mourning
  2 days ago

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