by Alice Seidel

Without us even realizing it, November is quickly passing us by! If you are truly stumped as to what to give everyone this Christmas, fear not! I am here with some knitting suggestions.

In my three previous articles, I have given you some ideas for scarves, ribbon bracelets, and placemats. Just these simple patterns, can be transformed into dozens of one-of-a-kind knitting creations! In fact, you could outfit the entire family and close friends, with some of the nicest gifts they will ever receive!

And to add to our collection, this article will be about knitting baby washcloths. Usually, whenever we think about baby gifts, it's off to the mall we go, to find the latest in infant accessories. But, did you know, you can knit your own baby creations? They will be as soft and cuddly as anything you can find in a store, and, best of all, will be made with love!

Knitting baby items are just so easy to do, and so unexpected! Traditionally, when putting together gifts for baby, the first things you think about are layettes, blankets, and booties. So, now it's time to expand on this theme.

Whenever I knit anything for babies, I love the yarn to be soft and pliable. For washcloths, use a cotton yarn. They are totally washable, and will hold up nicely.

In a few stores, I have also seen terrycloth yarn, which is another great idea for baby items. But, for the baby washcloths that I knit up, the cotton yarn is the best yarn to use. Sugar 'n Cream, Peaches 'n Cream or Cotton Tots are my recommendations for the best cotton yarn to knit with.

Use a size 6 straight needle, and, really, no gauge is necessary. Here is the pattern:

Baby Washcloth Cast on 37 stitches. Knit four rows.

Rows 1 and 5 (RS): K5, *p3, k5; repeat from * to end. Rows 2 and 4 : P5, *k3, p5; repeat from * to end. Row 3: K5, *p1, yo, p2tog, k5; repeat from * to end. Row 6: Purl. Rows 7 and 11: K1, *p3, k5; repeat from * , end last repeat k1. Rows 8 and 10: P1, *k3, p5; repeat from * end last repeat p1. Row 9: K1, *p1, yo, p2tog, k5; repeat from * , end last repeat k1. Row 12:Purl.

Repeat these 12 rows 4 or 5 times more, until desired length. Knit four rows. Bind off all stitches.

There you have it, simple, yet very unique, and sure to please! And, with all the colors and color combinations, you will have a blast knitting washcloths for little nieces and nephews, your friends, and babies-in-waiting! Gifts such as these, are always appreciated, and combine them with baby bottles, rattles, toys, or receiving blankets, and you'll have a winner every time!

Remember, we have one more "easy-as-pie knitting gift" to go, and you will love it! 'Til next week, get knitting!

About the Author

Keep YOUR knitting on the "Cutting Edge" with FREE patterns. The place where smart knitters gather resources and share stories. FREE Details ==> http://www.theknitstitch.com

by Gray Rollins

Knitting is a way to use needles to weave yarn together to make an object. Knitting is a great practical skill to have to make clothing or household items. It is also a very relaxing pastime. Knitting your own pieces can be very rewarding. It's fun to see your efforts come to fruition with a completed piece.

If you are interested in starting to knit, you first need to get some basic supplies and then need to learn to create basic stitches. You will need two knitting needles and some yarn in a color of your choosing. Knitting needles should be of medium size to start as it may be awkward to learn using small or oversized needles. Size 8 needles are good size to start with. Use a basic yarn for your first project. Although it's likely you will be tempted by all the very pretty and fancy yarns available, you need to start with a basic yarn so you can easily see your stitches. It will make learning much easier.

You will also need a pattern to create whatever you'd like. It is advisable to start off with an easy project to learn the basics before moving on to something more complicated like knitting a sweater. My first knitting project was a dishcloth. To learn, you may want to read on the Internet or get some books with illustrations. Many community centers also offer classes for an inexpensive way to get introduced to knitting. I took a class at my local crafts store. The class was reasonable and I received a discount on supplies.

To start, make sure you have ample lighting. Stitching can be small so you do not want to strain your eyes. Remember that this is a relaxing art form. Hold the needles in a manner which is most comfortable to you. This may be awkward at first but you'll soon get the hang of it. You will then need to learn to cast on, which is the stitch to start knitting. Then, you will learn the knit stitch and purl stitch, the two basic stitches in knitting. Finally you will learn to bind off which is the way to complete your work.

When working with yarn, try starting from the inside out. This will help keep the yarn from rolling away from you. Stay organized while knitting. Using containers will help organize all your tools. As you accumulate different yarns, keep track of cleaning instructions. A good way to do that is to maintain a journal of the yarns with care instructions. As you complete a project, write it down next to the yarns used so you can easily refer to it. Knitting needles should be organized by size so they are easily accessible for each project. To organize yarns, use empty butter tubs with a hole in the middle. String the end piece through the hole and knit. This will keep the yarn separated and untangled.

Knitting is a highly relaxing form of art. As you continue to learn, you'll be able to accomplish many different types of work from clothing to blankets. Seeing the completed project that you worked so hard on can be a rewarding accomplishment. Start with easy patterns and increase in skill level as you become more comfortable. The most important part, though, is to have fun.

About the Author

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for YourKnitting.com. To learn more about how to knit and for knitting instructions, please visit us.
http://www.yourknitting.com/knittinginstructions/

by Joshu Crossman

Knitting is a creative work of art. It is a method of interlocking a series of loops of yarn or thread to construct a fabric. Beautiful patterns can be used for knitting fashionable and beautiful clothings, in various colors and styles.

Knitting is certainly fun, if you try your hand at it.

The origin of knitting activity can be traced back to the 4th or 5th century BC. From the court of King Henry VII to Charles I, knitted patterns were quite popular. Royal knitters spinned the rare knitting patterns for the kings, and the Queens to be worn on the special occasions. From the courts of king, knitted clothes reached the common people soon. In fact knitting has largely been the occupation of the shepherds in the past.

Traditionally, knitting has been done by hand, but it can also be done with the help of modern machines now. In fact hand knitting is a popular pass time activity in many parts of the world. Especially girls in Asian and African countries cherish this art from their childhood to create beautiful clothes such as sweaters, socks, hats and scarves. They also put their hand to creating pretty household items as well.

You can learn the art with the help of free knitting patterns available online as well as in many knitting stores. Materials like plastic strips, ribbon, rope and wire can also be knitted, to create jewelry, bags, art works, bowls and other household items. The range of knitted patterns is never ending. After all, it is all about the knitter's creativity.

If you are looking for really interesting free knitting patterns, the internet is the right place. There are numerous free knitting patterns available in the market as well. For making a search on global patterns you must go online. There are several web-sites offering free knitting patterns. Various artistic designs and quality tips on free knitting patterns are also available there. A few easy knitting patterns and instructions from the net would prove to be beneficial for you.

You can find free knitting patterns for adults, children as well as toddlers. A wide range of clothing, accessories and household items can be made out of knitting art.

There are hundreds of free knitting patterns for adult clothing patterns such as adult sweaters and socks available on the net. Free knitting patterns for interesting motifs are also quite popular among the young girls for beautifying their most basic clothings such as Tees and skirts.

Knitting for babies is done on a wide scale, world wide. Free baby knitting patterns provide ideas and instructions to create really cute patterns. Free patterns can be viewed on baby pullovers, socks, and slippers on the net.

Various free knitting patterns are available for making pretty ponchos. Ponchos have made a comeback this season and knitted ponchos are widely preferred by modern women now. A few popular patterns include mesh-work pattern and open work patterns.

Double rib child's hat, paneled pigtail hat, skater boy hat and ear flap hat are among the popular categories of knitted hats.

Knitted purses and bags are also in vogue. Club bags, pouch bags, cell phone cases and evening bags are on offer as knitted purses and bags. If one wants to knit a beautiful bag with clear knitting instructions, free knitting websites are the right place to find inspiration.

Scarves are a great place to start if you are new to knitting as a hobby. Free knitting patterns on scarves are available as ribbed scarf, checks and eyelets scarf, hooded scarf, reversible scarf and much more. Knitting a scarf is generally easier than knitting sweaters, socks or ponchos and a good place to start for a beginner knitter.

Free knitting patterns can also be used for making hot pads, dishcloths, kitchen towels and face cloths.

The range is never-ending. You just need to carry out an extensive search for interesting free knitting patterns that take your fancy. Knitted clothes and materials definitely add a classy style statement to your wardrobe.

About the Author

Joshu writes articles on a number of different topics. For more information on Knitting please visit http://www.online-knitting-guide.com/knitting/ and for additional Knitting related articles please visit the following article page http://www.online-knitting-guide.com/knitting-articles/

by Maddy Cranley

There was a front-page headline in the daily newspaper recently that definitely caught my attention. It read, "Needlepoint pirates pillage on Net". To see the subject of needlepoint displayed among world news and political commentary was quite unusual in a big city newspaper. Although, the timing was certainly appropriate. It was in that same week that the Napsters web site was being sued in court for alleged illegal distribution of pop music on the Internet. The newspaper wire service had decided to investigate other flagrant examples of "swapping" commodities and discovered that needlework, particularly cross-stitch had become a target of widespread "sharing" of original and copyrighted designs. This "sharing" for the most part was without benefit to or accompanied by permission of the author. According to this article, one woman is alleged to have 3,000 cross-stitch patterns scanned into her database, is willing to share these patterns with her personal list of several hundred people and is said to operate only one of a number of sites boasting possession of an equally large cache of patterns.

The International Needlework Retailers Guild wants to inform consumers that "sharing" may on the surface appear as a kind or friendly gesture but when it reaches these proportions of volume, it becomes a very ungenerous act to the designer who will receive no compensation from the majority of people who may download their original design. The Guild has recently formed a new committee to deal with copyright issues and as well has started a legal fund in case it becomes necessary to pursue an action through the courts to curb this systemized bootlegging. Jennifer Aikman-Smith, who designs cross-stitch patterns and markets them through her company Dragon Dreams Inc. and is a member of this newly created committee, wants "to educate the public so that they don’t think that this is what is normal or this is what they're entitled to, because there won't be a cross-stitch industry."

Now, we have all likely passed on a recipe or perhaps lent out a knitting pattern book but the issue in the cyber world is that the original physical leaflets are not being shared. Aikman-Smith says, "If you buy a paperback book, you can sell it at a yard sale, you can give it to a friend, you can give it to your church for their rummage sale, but you can't scan it into the Internet and start distributing it for free." This would be an obvious infringement of the copyright. In the case of cross-stitch, these people who have thousands of patterns scanned from original pattern leaflets into their databases, defend their actions by stating their accumulated scans are merely used as a backup source and that they would have to purchase the original pattern as the scanned and printed quality on the home computer is so poor. This reasoning is disputed by Jim Hedgepath, president of Pegasus Originals, Inc., a cross-stitch designing company in Lexington, South Carolina, who says the quality of the new scanners is good enough to print out instructions that can look exactly like the store-bought originals. As well he says of the swappers, "They spend a lot of time teaching each other better scanning techniques." In reply to the excuse that swappers complain of the lack of retail outlets that stock a sufficient variety of patterns, Hedgepath says, "Well, they're killing off the (designers) that are left." With business in his 22-year old company down 40 per cent over the last three years, he will admit that not all of the downturn is due to the Internet swapping. Since needlework projects are hard work and time consuming, people with less available leisure time are looking for more quick and easy projects but he does conclude that the cyber swapping is a big factor in his decreasing sales.

On the one hand, it is wonderful to see such enthusiastic interest in the needlework crafts. On the other hand, if this kind of "swapping" becomes too widespread, creative designers will find other things to do if they are unable to be compensated for their talent. If that happens, all needleworkers will lose as we will miss out on the creativity generated by these designers. Authors of designs and patterns may sometimes offer a free pattern as a promotion to introduce crafters to their pattern line or may allow retailers to do the same but always with the goal to earning an income from their work. As individual customers we can do our part by verifying the sources of the pattern to ensure that copyright is protected and to deal with reputable retailers. At the end of the day, it will benefit us all.

About The Author

Maddy Cranley is a professional knitwear designer, who has created exclusive designs for knitting and craft magazines, authored and published three books on the subject of creating felt garments and projects from handknitting, and produces an ever-growing line of maddy laine handknitting patterns. For additional information, see http://www.maddycraft.com

© 2003

mcranley@maddycraft.com

by Scarf Company

The history of the scarf dates back at least as far as ancient Rome. A linen kerchief known as a sudarium (Latin term for "sweat cloth") was used by the Romans to wipe their necks and faces. The ancient Romans developed the scarf into a diverse men's fashion accessory, whether knotted to a belt or worn around the neck. Of course this style was quickly adopted by women also, and the scarf has since become synonymous with women's fashion.

Experts say that the scarf was historically made of cloth rather than wool and a mark of rank for the warriors of the Chinese Emperor Cheng (Shih Huang Ti). Around the 17th Century however scarves were worn on a wider scale by Croatian Mercenaries - again these were not wool scarves, but ordinary cotton if you were a soldier and the officers wore silk.

It was the French who were so enamoured with these unusual and colourful scarves, that they began to wear them too, calling them cravats, from the Croatian word kravata. It became popular to demonstrate political inclination by the colour of a man's scarf.

In the 19th Century the scarf once again became a fashion accessory for men and the cravat became a staple of every man's wardrobe. From the cravat we have progressed to today's wooley scarves, available in a multitude of colours and designs to compliment the outfits of men, women and children around the world. Scarves made of wool are by far the warmest and most comfortable choice as wool is a natural fibre and allows the skin to breathe at the same time as keeping the cold out.

Recently the scarf has experienced something of a revival, once again becoming a must-have item by women around the world. Head scarves and wraps grow ever popular with society's celebrities and convey elegance and sophistication. Scarves have the advantage of flexibility in how they're worn - around the neck, tied at the wrist, or around the strap of a handbag for example.

The future of scarves looks secure and these fashion items now represent a huge opportunity for exciting use of colours and patterns. Knitting and weaving techniques are developing all the time to cope with the increasing demands of the world's fashion designers.

About the Author

Written on behalf of The Scarf Company - wholesale scarves suppliers to trade, and retailer of women's scarves, and wool scarves for men and children.

by Alice Seidel

With Halloween just a memory, Christmas is almost upon us! Nothing seems to be a more appropriate gift than one which is "homemade."

You know, once upon a time that word, "homemade" used to mean something cheap or tacky, or maybe, you didn't have the extra money to buy gifts at the mall. But, that's not the case anymore.

If there can be numerous TV stations dedicated to nothing but crafts, all day long, you know "homemade" is here to stay! Of course, "hand-made" is more the trendy word, but, either way you say it, it comes down to the same thing. Made by you!

I enjoy crafting, for Christmas, especially, but also for very unique home touches, that have turned my home into, well, "my home." What I really know about though, is knitting.

Knitting gifts are the best gifts to give, and also to receive! Once you have knitted up some of your own "hand-made" goodies, you will wonder why you waited so long! And they don't need to be items that would take half a year to complete! Sometimes, the best and most enjoyable knittables are those you can finish in an evening or a weekend. Who said small isn't good? Diamonds, anyone?

So far,in this series, we have patterns for scarves and placemats. (They are in former articles, "Easy-as-pie knitting Gifts #1 & #2.)

Today, is Gift Idea #3 -- ribbon bracelets. Even if you wouldn't wear one yourself, I just bet you have daughters or nieces or neighborhood pre-teens who would appreciate all the accessories they can get their hands on! After all, we are talking girls here!

To knit up ribbon bracelets, any ribbon yarn will do. Or you can vary the texture and use a "fancy fur". Either way knitted bracelets are easy to knit, and you can make quite a few for next to nothing.

Now, I'm not advocating stinginess or being cheap, but, most yarn is inexpensive, and when knitted up into sweaters, booties, baby items, afghans, bedspreads, hats, socks, or holiday items, they look like a million bucks! Well, at least, much more than they cost!

Ribbon yarn is wonderfully easy to knit with; and using a small needle, say size 4 or 5, cast on 8 stitches minimum. Then, just knit every row. When you have your desired length, bind off and sew up the seam, and you're done. Probably no more than one hour's worth of time; but you now have a knitted bracelet. Colors abound, so have fun deciding. And, of course, you can make your bracelets as wide across as you want, as well as small or large as desired. They make great craft show items.

Any large store, such as Wal-Mart, or JoAnn's, will carry ribbon yarn. If you don't see it, ask for it or ask for them to order it for you, or buy it online.

Get busy knitting, and next time out will be Knitting Gift Idea #4!

About the Author

Keep YOUR knitting on the "Cutting Edge" with FREE patterns. The place where smart knitters gather resources and share stories. FREE Details ==> http://www.theknitstitch.com

by B Hopkins

Copyright 2006 B Hopkins

Did you ever enjoy texture of yarns in your hand or wondering how that interesting color pattern was created in your favorite sweater? Then you will surely have fun learning the art of knitting. Knitting is one of several ways to turn thread or yarn into cloth-weaving and crochet. It's all about creativity.

The Introductory Steps of Knitting

Unlike woven fabric, knitted fabric consists entirely of horizontal parallel courses of yarn. The courses are joined to each other by interlocking loops in which a short loop of one course of yarn is wrapped over the bight of another course. Knitting can be done either by hand, described below, or by machine. What makes knitting even more exciting is the fact that this art can be easily learned.

In practice, hand knitting is usually begun by forming a base series of twisted loops of yarn on a needle. This is called Cast On. A second knitting needle is then used to reach through each loop in succession in order to snag a bight of yarn and pull a length back through the loop. This forms a new stitch. Work can proceed in the round (circular knitting) or by going back and forth in rows. Knitting can also be done by machines, which use a different mechanical system to produce nearly identical results.

Knitting Styles: There are two basic styles of knitting; English and Continental. The difference between the two is in how you hold the yarn. In the English method the yarn is held in the right hand. In continental knitting, the yarn is held in the left hand. Whatever your natural hand-preference, you should be able to master either method because the nature of knitting is basically ambidextrous.

The two basic stitches are knit or plain and purl or wrong. These two nominal stitches are actually identical, however, being the obverse and reverse of the same stitch. It is the variations and combinations of these two stitches that create all the different stitch patterns which are possible in knitting. Typically, a knit stitch is formed by inserting the needle in the front of the loop from a left-to-right perspective and pulling a loop of yarn through to form a new loop, while a purl stitch is formed by inserting the needle in the front of the loop from a right-to-left perspective.

A piece of knitting begins with the process of casting on, which involves the initial creation of the stitches on the needle. Casting on is the first step in knitting These stitches become the first row of stitches and one selvage of your work, usually the bottom or hem.

Different methods of cast on are used for different effects; one may be stretchy enough for lace, while another provides a decorative edging. Provisional cast on is used when the knitting will continue in both directions from the cast on.

The body of a knitted piece may include plain stitches or a number of colors and textured patterns. The number of active stitches remains the same as when cast on unless stitches are added -an increase or removed- a decrease to shape the item.

Patterns to Knit (Way to Online Income): There are lots of people who sit at home and publish great knitting patters from home. Since over the years they have collected and modified many knitting patterns. They make a great income by selling/publishing the patterns on the net. Once you have enough practice, even you could make some online income.

Many patterns can be made by using knit and purl stitches in various combinations. If only knits or only purls are used when working back and forth in rows, the result is called garter stitch.

Alternating rows of knits and purls result in stockinette stitch, also known as stocking or jersey stitch, the stitch most often used in commercial garments such as T-shirts. Different combinations of stitches can be used to form ribbing, cables, or other textures.

Once the knitted piece is finished, the remaining live stitches are cast off. Casting or binding off loops the stitches across each other so they can be removed from the needle without unraveling the item. Although the mechanics are different from casting on, there are a similar variety of methods and choices to be made. Of the various methods the most versatile are the Plain Bind-off and the Suspended Bind-off.

Knitted garments are most commonly made in pieces, where individual sections of the garment are knit separately and then sewn together once all the pieces have been completed. Seamless knitting, where a whole garment is knit as a single piece is also possible. Smaller items, such as socks and hats are usually knit in one piece on double pointed needles.

Knitting can be easily learned these days as there are many websites on knitting and also various books for beginners available on the market, where you can find step by step instructions. These instructions are so easy to follow that even kids would not find them difficult at all. Show your creativity, grab your knitting tools and learn to knit today!

About the Author

Do you want to learn how to knit? For more articles on knitting and crochet, go to the knittinginfosite.com. Find knitting and crochet articles, knitting resources and other items usefull for knitters. http://knittinginfosite.com (This article is a http://Drivetraffictomywebsite.com creation)