The trick to sewing pocket linings is to line up the base of both pockets to each other (if you have two pockets), and to use a simple whipstitch.

You will need: a blunt yarn needle and spare dpn's or circular needle.

Start with the sides of the pocket lining. On the wrong side of the body, thread your spare dpn vertically through the back of every second stitch, creating a guide for the sides of the pocket lining.

If you've ever mistakenly felted a sweater or a pair of socks (or had a well-intentioned spouse do it for you) you may have wondered, why does wool felt? (If you don't really want to know the why, just the how, skip to half way down.)

Wool, and most other mammal fibers, tends to mat together when it gets wet or agitated. This tendency can be frustrating (see accidental sweater felting, above) or fantastic. Here in Canada, when I was a child, a lot of our history lessons had to do with the Hudson's Bay Company and the fur trade. Kids my age could rattle off by rote that the fur trade was key to economic expansion of the HBC because felted hats were fashionable at the time. But for many years I couldn't picture how beavers got turned into hats. The answer, of course, is in the felting.

Knitting needle sizes vary from country to country. Our knitting needle conversion chart will help you decide which needle sizes to use for any pattern regardless of its origin.

Here are some handy free printable knitting tools. (You'll need Acrobat Reader or Mac Preview to open and print).

Here is a list of knitting abbreviations and instructions in common usage. Everyone seems to have a slight variation on the standard shorthand but this should cover most knitting abbreviations.

A selvedge or selvage is the very edge of knitted or woven fabric. In textiles, it is usually woven differently than the rest of the fabric to create a firm edge. In knitting, a selvedge is made by working the edge stitch(es) a little differently to create a visual or functional element.

Short rows... One of those knitting techniques that knitters either embrace or fear. The first time I used short rows, I didn't know that's what they were. I was shaping the shoulders of a sweater, and didn't want to bind off and sew the shoulder seams (lazy knitter) so I fudged my way through, figuring out that I needed to close the gap and then do some cosmetic fiddling. The thing was, it worked. But, when I figured out later what short rows were called, and how to do them, the magic was gone. If you over-think something, it can stop working.

In theory, short rows aren't hard to get right, even if you're new to them. And half the time, they're placed somewhere inconspicuous, like the heel of a sock. But, how do they look in unforgiving yarn in a field of stockinette at a crucial part of a sweater? In designing a top down raglan pullover in Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy, a yarn which I love, I wanted to shape the front neck drop with short rows. And very quickly found that my short row wrap-and-turns left something to be desired. The hard Hempathy doesn't let any distorted stitch blend into the background, and it's threadiness means you can see through the fabric. My short rows were gappy and distorted.

Here's a photo of my re-learning swatch this morning. The short row turning points are down the middle. See if you can spot them. And see below for an image of the same swatch backlit. That's another thing to check if you're choosing a short row technique for a shawl or something open: what does it look like when looking through it?

When you're picking a shawl pattern, or designing your own, there are a few basic construction recipes to start from. You can start with the recipe and alter it by adding texture, lace, color. You can also add a knitted-on border after the basic shape is made.

The shapes here are of the triangular, crescent or semi-circle variety. Rectangular shawls will be in another article.

For most shaped shawls, thorough blocking is required to get them into their final geometry.

There are a few provisional cast on methods, and you might see them named differently, but here are 3 that you might run into: Crochet, Invisible and Chained.

Cashmere. Camel down. Tussah silk. Blue faced Leicester. Glass beads. Just a few of the tools in the yarn artist's palette. And then there's the colour. Since 1986, Vancouver Island based Sweatermaker Yarns has been producing custom yarns, weaving and knitting designs. Judy Maclean, artisan and founder of Sweatermaker Yarns, pushes the potential of artisan yarn with dynamic color-play and exotic fibers.

A couple of years ago, I made a quick cowl and posted a recipe for it on my blog, and called it Bittersweet Cowl. It was a quick last minute pattern, easy to adapt. Recently, I decided to update and improve and re-photograph a new sample. You can find the new improved version here: New Bittersweet.

Kitchener Stitch, or grafting, is used to join two sets of live stitches together. You'll see it used in socks, scarves that have a symmetrical lace pattern, the underarms of seamless sweaters, and some cowls.

I'm sure there are knitters who can graft without having to check their knitting books or google "kitchener stitch" but I am not one of them. 

So I made myself a little cheat sheet, printed off a few, and put one in every knitting basket. And I thought, hey, other knitters might like this too! Here's a free pdf for a Kitchener Stitch cheat sheet; just print it on letter size paper or card stock, and cut it along the crop lines.

We have a spooky sweater in our house that is haunted; it is actually 1 sweater plus the 2 sweaters that I unravelled. It was a sweater for Charles. The first one was a top down seamless raglan with stranded colour work around the yoke. I got 75% done, and realized the whole thing was boring and the yarn was kind of wrong for a guy's sweater. Frogged it. Next one, added a strand of sock yarn to the yarn for more oomph, redesigned it, now a seamless bottom up raglan hoodie with a kangaroo pocket, with seed stitch panels and cables. Got ALL THE WAY TO THE NECK, and realized (because it became really obvious when I got to the neck) that the back panel of seed stitch, which was supposed to be centered, was OFF CENTER. Not enough to make it look intentional.

The third time, I did successfully finish the sweater, but the magic was really gone. It looks fine, but honestly, the yarn isn't right for a large men's hoodie, it stretches.

I don't know if other knitters have this problem, but I make a lot of dumb mistakes. Dumb because they're PREVENTABLE. I did it again recently; again on a seamless garment, so the rows are really long. Got to the underarm shaping, and realized that I had missed the side shaping, but only on one side. How do these things happen?

Once you get into the (terrible, wonderful, costly) habit of buying yarn, you forget that there was a time when you didn't buy yarn. There was a time when the language of yarn was confusing and you didn't know how to get around a yarn store. Here is a guide for the new knitter on how to choose yarn.

Not that long ago, knitters were mostly limited to wool and acrylic. The yarn industry now provides a wide range of fibers, from the highly exotic to the highly synthetic. While the variety is wonderful, it can also be frustrating to separate meaningful information from hype. Here are most of the yarn fibers that you'll find, on their own or blended. Except for Wool, the list is sorted alphabetically.

Yarn is categorized into weights (how thick the strand is). The yarn weight gives you an idea of what size knitting needle to use; how big the stitches will be, how thick the knitted fabric will be, and what types of garment would be appropriate for the yarn. "Yarn weight" (thickness) is not the same as the total weight (grams or ounces) of the skein or ball.

Yarn weight terminology can be confusing; not all yarn manufacturers use the same language. Some of the language doesn't tell you much about the weight (for example, while "fine" tells you the yarn is thin, "sport" doesn't tell you much unless you are familiar with the category standards). Some of the words mean more than one thing. For example, "baby" weight doesn't mean you can only use it for baby clothes, and "worsted" can refer both to the weight of the yarn and how it's plied. 

 Yarn pom poms are a charming little addition to knitted hats and scarves. They're fun on their own too, just stick some googly eyes or felt ears on them, and you have a new creature. They are a great use of scarp yarn, and kids can make them with almost no adult assistance.

I've knit more in the last 12 months than I have in my entire life. I did a quick inventory just now... In the last year, I've finished 46 projects. Is that right? Yup, just counted them again. Mostly sweaters, mostly for adults. That doesn't include little things like swatches, washcloths, bookmarks, hats. And it doesn't include the things I've 3/4 finished and frogged. I don't know how many miles of yarn that accounts for, but it does explain why my hands and wrists are a little gnarled, and a little sore.

So let's talk about some hard truths: knitting is repetitive and may lead to strain on the wrists and hands. Here's a little info on prevention, treatment, and knitting technique.

Among the knitting pattern and how-to books on the knitting shelf at your bookstore or library you'll see books called 300 Knitting Stitches or Stitch Dictionary or Stitchionary or Cables! or simply (and confusingly) Knitting Patterns. These collections of conventional or traditional knitted textures and how to make them usually contain simple square photos of knitted fabric, with charts or written instructions. Instructions are given for one repeat of the fabric, leaving it to the knitter to multiply the repeat across their knitting for the desired width and height. These books are great not only for intermediate knitters and designers, but also for beginner knitters. 

Color Relationships

In Color Theory Basics: Part I we introduced some basic color terminology and the color wheel. Now the fun part, color relationships. This article introduces some basic concepts in how to combine colors for knitters (and non-knitters too!).

Non-knitters, kids especially, like to ask: "What are you knitting?" And it's often a gauge swatch. Which leads to the inevitable: "What's a swatch?" Knitting gauge is key to all knitting. Even the most humble square gets its size from its gauge. Knitting patterns will often include the phrase "to save time, check gauge" or they will tell you to change your needle size "to achieve gauge". And yet, is there a knitter alive who is not guilty of ignoring this advice at least once? It really is true: checking your gauge will save time. However, it is only true if you check your gauge thoroughly and acurately. Even a small difference in gauge can make a garment inches smaller or larger. This article includes tips on how to make an accurate gauge swatch.

The art and science of color is a complicated field, but here's an introduction to color theory.

This article introduces some basic terminology and concepts, including the color wheel; primary, secondary and tertiary colors; hue, value, saturation; tints and shade; warmth and coolness.

Although I love my muted greens and violets, I do sometimes miss the Fassett-frenzied color work of the 80s. This is a project I did that combined stranded and intarsia color techniques. By the time I finished the pieces, I was losing interest in the overall look of them. Luckily, my mom saved it from a terrible fate, finished it, and still wears it. My goal for this winter is to design a coat that combines intense color and pattern with areas of simple texture and tone.

These are some common stitches you'll need for lace knitting. Includes basic instructions, abbreviations, variations on Single and Double Increases, yarn-over Increases.

The availability of knitting instructions and visual guides online has added to the popularity of knitting techniques that were once tricky to learn. Lace knitting in the form of fine vintage lace or heirloom blankets makes it looks complex and difficult. But all lace knitting, from the simplest to the most advanced, is constructed by combining increases and decreases. The arrangement of these increases and decreases and the way they interact is the magic of lace.

If you've looked at any top-down shawl patterns, you have probably seen the "garter stitch tab". I didn't include one in the Oaklet Shawl pattern, because I wanted the shawl to be doable by a beginner knitter. But it's a handy technique, and once you get past its trickiness, it adds a lovely seamless border to the top of your shawl. In this article, I've included a photo of the tab in a shawl, and instructions on how to make a tab, with a diagram.

Joining new yarn is such an important question to answer, and is closely related to Weaving in the Ends. Another method that didn't get included in Joining New Yarn is one of the simpler methods.

So you've knit the washcloth, the scarf, the blanket, and you're wondering, what else can be done with the humble knitted rectangle? Why not a bookmark?

Knitting bookmarks is super quick and easy. The take very little yarn, about 20 yards will do it. And a knitted bookmark is a lovely gift for that book lover in your life.  

Here are some simple and adorable knitting patterns for babies.

A selvedge, or edge stitch, is a nice way to make a neat edge on your knitted pieces. There are different kinds of knitted selvedges, and which one you use depends on what will happen to that edge. The word comes from "self-edge" and means an edge that prevents unravelling in cloth. (Selvedge is also the name of an exciting magazine about textile design, check out their site).

Here are a few variations, but try them out before you commit. Some work better for seaming and picking up than others, and some are more attractive than others.

How to join new yarn? This is one of those odd little questions that can shut down a knitter's work. You come to the end of a ball. Now what? Like a rock climber hanging at the end of a rope in a crevasse, you need to know what to do next.

For all methods, try to start a new ball at the edge of your work, or in a discreet area. If you're coming up on a high-focus area (a neckline, a buttonhole, for example), you might join in new yarn a little early, even if your current ball of yarn isn't used up. Here's an overview of the basic methods.

Welcome to the Tricksy Knitter library of knitting stitches.

If you have one of our patterns here are some of the stitch charts to help you knit them.

Here are a few lace knitting charts we've made using the chart maker.

Here are a few charts for different knitting stitches

Okay, everyone thinks easy means something different...

Here are a few of the basic knitting stitches.

Here is a way to make a fluttery ruffle.

If you're looking for knitting patterns and tips, a knitting book is a great tool. But don't forget about knitting magazines. Chock full of yarn and book reviews, tips and tricks, and patterns, they are excellent value for your money. And most magazines include the designer's name with each pattern, so you can follow the designers that you like in Ravelry. These magazines are also a key publishing outlet for new independent designers (like me!), so you get to support a few dreams too. If you have a knitter in you life, a knitting magazine, or magazine subscription, makes a great gift. Here's a list of knitting magazines. If there are any more magazines that you think should be added, drop me a comment at the bottom of the page.

Pleats are less ruffly, and more, well, pleaty.

There are many versions of knitted bells.

Using a row of eyelets is a great way to make a ruffle.

The advantage of vertical ruffles is that you don't have to cast on very many stitches.

Here are some basic ruffles.

But what on earth is this vaguely rude looking device?

Knitted ruffles and frills are a feminine addition to sweaters, skirts, jackets, scarves, baby clothes and blankets.

Double stranding is also a great way to use those very fine yarns.

I've been experimenting with adding ribbon to my knitting, and I think it might strike a happy balance between girly and tomboy.

A couple fancy ways to bind off...

Here are some specialized methods for casting on in knitting.

My seven year old son —the same age as me when I learned to knit— is learning to knit.

Here's how to knit seams.

This is important to get right, because picked up stitches are usually at very visible parts of you knitting, like the button band and neck.

Another sometimes-mysterious finishing technique. All those little tails of yarn, what to do with them?

If you google blocking, you'll find a lot of advice and debates. Here you'll find some very useful links.

The last step in knitting. You've finished your first scarf, now how do you get the %$#@! thing off your needles an around your neck?

Stocking stitch, also called stockinette stitch, is probably the most common stitch in knitting.

The garter stitch is as simple a pattern as you can get.

Casting on means adding your first row of stitches to your needle. It looks tricky but it's really not hard.

Kitchener Stitch is a knitting technique for joining two sets of live stitches invisibly. It's also called grafting. It's used where you don't want to see or feel a seam in your knitting. You'll see it in sock toes, on the underarm stitches of seamless raglan sweaters (like the Cordova Cardigan), and on scarves that are knit in two halves. It's also very useful in lengthening or shortening knitted garments. It's not difficult, but needs to be done carefully and correctly. A successful Kitchener Stitch gives you bragging rights. Yes, you can walk up to strangers and dare them to find your invisible grafted seam. 

I used to think that a blanket was a lot of knitting. But it's not necessarily that much more knitting than a scarf, and the finishing is easy, unlike a sweater. A blanket is not a bad knitting project for any level of knitter. You can choose to knit an elaborate king size blanket, or a simple garter stitch rectangle for a doll. It's also a good project for kids learning to knit who want to make something, but who don't want to make a washcloth or a scarf. I think a knitted blanket was my very first project, even if I didn't plan it that way; I was six years old, and my knitting tension went from very very loose on the first few rows, to very very tight on the last. It was a garter stitch triangle of many colours that became a doll's blanket. 

The full article includes 2 recipes to knit your own blanket pattern, and a few sample links to get you started.

A yarn and design company in the UK, Rowan has played a significant role since the 80s in setting the bar for the aesthetics of knitting design and luxury yarns. Nowadays, with the internet, knitters and crocheters have a world of options in knitting patterns and luxury yarns. But a couple of decades ago, well, let's be honest, the menu was a little thin. A lot of acrylic, some wools, a handful of brand names. But extra fine merino and silk blends? Nope. Organic cotton and milk protein? Nuh-uh. And, a couple of decades ago, well, it was post 80s, so maybe not the pinnacle of humankind's fashion sense, so the knitting pattern books weren't always stylish. But Rowan had visual style, with gorgeous landscapes, natural, dewy-skinned lasses and lads with wild hair, and sweaters that you actually wanted to wear. (And maybe some lads that you might actually want to take home with you, but I digress). Beautiful colours and heathers, classic lines, comfortable fit, teamed with beautifully photographed, beautifully printed high-end magazines.

The Patons Yarn label is the one with that familiar little beehive symbol. Patons is widely available at big-box stores like WalMart, Michaels, and Zellers, and also at many yarn stores, which is nice for shoppers who don't have easy access to the smaller stores. It's also nice for new knitters who might be overwhelmed by high-end yarn choices. Patons Yarns are a good low to mid priced yarn, and are a good choice for beginner knitters and projects for children because most of Patons' yarns are machine washable.

You can see the Patons Shetland Chunky Tweed in the Meep Meep. Robot Hoodie.. This hoodie is machine washed frequently (and I think it's been through the dryer by mistake, but that is NOT recommended) and gets a lot of abuse; it has held up well with minimal pilling. The Tweed effect makes the yarn look a lot woolier than it is, but it's 72% Acrylic, 3% Viscose and 25% Wool. Soft to the skin too. The chunky weight makes it a fast knit.

Whether you are a new knitter, or an experienced knitter looking for a break, easy knitting patterns are a nice addition to your knitting library. Look for patterns with the skill levels Beginner or Easy, and the steps should be simple, and the knitting skills required should only include the basics: casting on, knit stitch, purl stitch, binding off, and possible some basic steps, like knit 2 together (k2tog) and yarn over (yo). 

How many knitters end up with a stash full of beautiful single skeins? That lonely skein that was too pretty, or too soft, or just too good of a bargain to leave behind. Here are some great one skein knitting patterns, including washcloths, bags, cowls, mitts, toys and accessories.

Although a cowl in ye olde times would be a slouchy hooded cape, in the knitting world it has come to mean something more like a circular scarf or neck warmer. Usually a knitted tube that sits around your neck, or a rectangle that buttons at the neck. A taller cowl can be worn as a hood, and a longer cowl can be wrapped more than once around the neck. Sometimes called a snood, if it can be worn as a hood. Also called an infinity scarf if it's long enough to wrap. 

A cowl is a great knitting project; it is small, so doesn't take long or use much yarn. It is one size fits all, making it a good one to knit for other people. It can be unisex, so once you've added cowls to your knitting repertoire, you've got something for him and for her. And another great thing about knitting cowls is the selection of cowl knitting patterns available, many of them free.

A cowl is also a great project for the beginner knitter who wants to learn how to knit in the round. 

The beginner knitter will often start with garter stitch, where every row is knit. Then we move on to stocking (stockinette) stitch, where the right side is knit and the wrong side is purled. And the next big breakthrough is combining knits and purls. If you've mastered knit and purl, all you need to learn to access an infinite number of knitted textures, is how to combine knit and purl.

When you are knitting, your yarn is in the back of the work. When you purl, it's in the front. So if you want to, for example, knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, knit 1 stitch, etc, all you need to do before you work a stitch is move the yarn from back to front or front to back.

Once you have that, you can add texture, motifs, and borders to your knitting. Here are just a few useful knitting patterns that combine knit and purl stitches, with written instructions and charts.

A great source of affordable yarn, tools and patterns, Elann ships out of Delta BC. Which is good news for us Canadian knitters. It means the shipping is low, and super speedy. My orders from Elann have never taken longer than 2 business days.

Elann brings in designer yarn, like Rowan, Sublime, Tahki, Louisa Harding, Berroco, to name a few. And they source their own lines of yarn, like Elann Sierra Aran, Peruvian Baby Silk, Bamboo Classic, Baby Cashmere, and Peruvian Highland Chunky. These yarns are great on their own merit, but they also make affordable alternatives for more expensive yarns. And if you get on the Elann e-mail list, you'll receive notifications about full bag sales. Elann's full bag sales mean you need to buy a whole bag, about 10 balls per bag, but the discount is usually significant.

And Elann carries more than yarn. They have a good selection of tools too. For example, they have Namaste bags, ball winders, and swifts.

You can often find me, knitting in a corner, still in my pajamas, jabbering on about the internet and what it has done for knitting. And here I go again...

For knitters who have been knitting for a long time, you'll know that the variety of yarn choices that we have now is incredible. Not just in the yarn stores, but online. Online sellers sometimes cut out the middle seller, allowing you buy more directly, which means better prices and more options. I used mailorder sacks of yarn from Briggs & Little, and there was a certain charm to that system. Filling out forms, sending them in the mail, waiting for a couple of weeks for that sack of skeins.

Knit Picks is one of the best examples of the evolution of mail order yarn. Knit Picks sources their own yarn, and ships directly to the customer. You can see browse the selection online at their site, www.knitpicks.com, and you can also order color cards before you commit to full balls.

Would it be stereotyping to say that knitters love to buy yarn? Put a couple of knitters together in a room, and within minutes they're reaching into baskets, sacks, and purses, pulling out skeins and balls and swatches, and jabbering about where they bought which yarn and how much it cost.

Knitters, especially tricksy hobbit-like knitters, love luxury, but are also hyper-aware of how much money they spend on yarn. Stash-guilt. So we love a bargain.

Ravelry has become such a household word for knitters-like other web words Google, Facebook, Tweet-that I sometimes forget that not all knitters use the internet. Heck, a lot of people avoid all online social networking sites because of their addictive qualities. I still have to spell it out, no, not revelry, or raverly, r-a-v-e-l-ry.

If you've spent any time on Ravelry, you might have noticed the yarn "Cascade 220" is usually at the top of the popularity list on the yarns page. (Why "220"? I'm guessing it's because each skein has 220 yards! )

Cascade 220 is a real workhorse. Nice fat 100g skeins of worsted weight yarn, with great yardage, 100% Peruvian highland wool, and over 150 colours to choose from in the solids and heathers, and almost the same selection again in the Cascade 220 Superwash. And there are specialty Cascade 220 yarns as well: Tweed, Paint and Quatro.

Versatile and affordable, Cascade 220 is a good option for the beginner knitter too. It's easy to work with, has good stitch definition, and is forgiving.e 220 is a real workhorse. Nice fat 100g skeins of worsted weight yarn, with great yardage, 100% Peruvian highland wool, and over 150 colours to choose from in the solids and heathers, and almost the same selection again in the Cascade 220 Superwash. And there are specialty Cascade 220 yarns as well: Tweed, Paint and Quatro.

Versatile and affordable, Cascade 220 is a good option for the beginner knitter too. It's easy to work with, has good stitch definition, and is forgiving.

Wondering how to knit a buttonhole? There are several options, from the simplest eyelet buttonhole, to the "Tulip" buttonhole seen in Interweave Knits.

First of all, what is a beanie? The internet seems to agree that a knitted beanie is a close fitting, stretchy hat. My son, who's ten, informs me that a beanie should also include a small visor. Well in ye olde times, when I was a girl, a beanie was a round rainbow coloured hat with a propeller, and a close fitting stretchy hat was a toque. But I'm revealing my age and my nationality...

A scarf is an ideal knitting project in many ways. One size fits all. A scarf is much easier than a sweater, and makes a great gift. A scarf is a chance to try out new techniques like lace knitting. And for the beginner knitter, a knitted scarf is a good step in between the washcloth and something trickier.

There are a lot of answers to, How to Cast on? The Cable Cast On is the casting on method I like best. It makes an attractive firm edge, and it's not too difficult to do. But it's not always appropriate. And if you're a Continental knitter (you hold the yarn in your left hand), the Long Tail Method might be more comfortable. The Long Tail method is also a faster way to cast on. But these two methods are just the tip of the needle (oooh, bad pun).

Knitting for babies is one of the best kinds of knitting. Babies are small, cute, and undiscerning. Knitting for them is fast, inexpensive, and joyful. And the web is chock-full of free knitting patterns for babies. Check out the blog for free knitting patterns, or check out this list of gems that I made a while ago. Check out the full article for places to start looking, including Ravelry, Lion Brand, Spud & Chloe, Berroco and Rowan.

I know I've said it before, but I love what the internet has done for knitting. As web developers, Charles and I have had a bit of a front seat - well, we've had a seat - to watching how the internet has changed so many things: commerce, communication, education, art. For example, the artisan no longer has to rely on the craft fair to sell his or her creations; sites like Etsy create a portal to a huge international audience. Students no longer have to photocopy pages out of academic journals. And the same kind of thing is happening for knitting instructions.