Back in November, I knit a pair of socks for Munchkin with a pattern from Red Heart Yarns. The pattern was great, but it didn’t end up being quite what I wanted. For one thing, they were a little small–if it’s cold enough that I want Munchkin to wear warm, hand-knit socks, then it’s […]
Decreasing: Left-Slanting Decrease Stitches
For my final post on decrease stitches, I have a couple of left-slanting decreases as alternatives to ssk. The first one, which you may see in patterns instead of ssk, is sl1, k1, psso, or slip one, knit one, pass slipped stitch over. This stitch is exactly what it sounds like: Slip the first […]
Decreasing: How to Slip Slip Knit (ssk)
Following in my series of tutorials on decrease stitches, we have slip slip knit (ssk). Slip slip knit is another common decrease and is knit two together‘s opposite–where k2tog slants right, ssk slants left. This is important for certain clothing items that should look symmetrical, like sweaters, socks, and mittens, or even Christmas stockings. It […]
Knit Snowflake Christmas Stockings
*This post may contain affiliate links.* Christmas is my favorite time of year, hands down. So when I found out I was pregnant with Little Bear, the first thing I decided to knit was a set of Christmas stockings for our first Christmas as a new little family. (Enough of my family […]
Decreasing: How to Purl Two Together (p2tog)
Because purl two together (p2tog) is less common in patterns than knit two together (k2tog), it can seem intimidating at first, but it’s another really easy decrease. It has the same effect as k2tog only it’s worked on the wrong side. (You k2tog when you’re knitting, and you p2tog when you’re purling, and they […]
How to Check Your Gauge (and Why You Should Bother)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a knitter, given their preference, will never check their gauge. (Sorry–P&P nerd moment.) It’s true, though. Nothing makes a knitter roll his or her eyes faster than suggesting that they knit a gauge swatch. I have yet to meet someone who actually likes doing it. […]
Baby Socks
*This post may contain affiliate links.* Winter is here. It’s time for hats, scarves, and in Munchkin’s case, booties. The booties I made for Little Bear for his first winter are too big for Munchkin, so I was looking around for a quick, easy, and simple sock or bootie pattern that would stay on […]
Decreasing: How to Knit Two Together (k2tog)
So you’re ready to try something beyond a scarf or a blanket. Maybe something like a hat, that requires a little bit of shaping. There are a number of decrease stitches that allow you to shape the top of a hat, but the most common one you’ll see, and the simplest, is k2tog, or […]
Stockinette Stitch Scarf
*This post contains affiliate links.* A stockinette stitch scarf is very simple to make once you know how to knit and purl. You will need: Yarn (any size or type) Needles (whatever size is recommended for your yarn or that gives you the gauge you want) I used Bernat Blanket yarn in Country Blue and size 15 needles for […]
Basic Stitch Patterns
Once you’ve mastered the knit and purl stitches, you can knit just about anything. Here are a few basic stitch patterns–they’re great for scarves or blankets if you want to stick to items that don’t require any shaping, or you may see them as part of more complex patterns. Give them a try! Note: If you’re new […]
