Technique Tuesday...

Today's post I dedicate to my friend Jodi.  Recently Jodi and I got together for two days so I could teach her how to knit and she could teach me how to spin yarn on a drop spindle.  I love teaching as much as I love learning new things, so it was the perfect experience.  Now I am hooked on spinning, but more on that later.

When I teach people how to knit, the first project I usually give them is a dishcloth, it is quick, easy and functional.  Also, you can make a dishcloth out of just about any knit and purl stitch combination so it is good practice for learning new stitches.  Today's technique is an easy stitch that works very well when making a dishcloth, it is the Double Basket Weave Stitch.  The video instruction is again brought to you by New Stitch a Day.

Double Basket Weave Stitch- Click Here!

Skill: Easy
Cast On: Multiples of 4 + 3
TECHNIQUES USED IN THIS STITCH:
K- knit
P- purl

Pattern Instructions:

Row 1 (RS): Knit
Row 2: *K3, p1; rep from * to last sts, k3
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: (row 2) *K3, p1, rep from * to last sts, k3
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: K1, *p1, k3; rep from * to last 2 sts, p1, k1
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: (row 6) K1, *p1, k3; rep from * to last 2 sts, p1, k1
Repeat these 8 rows until you have reached your desired length.

Technique Tuesday...

The Large Horn Cable Stitch

Today's technique is a beautiful intermediate cable stitch that would be great for sweaters or blankets or even a big chunky cowl.  Before I learned how to knit cables I was very intimidated by them, they seemed quite scary to me.  I forced myself to learn the basic cable forward and cable back techniques and instantly was hooked, it was so easy and the work was beautiful.  If you haven't yet tried knitting cables, I urge you to try to today.

I have included a video for the Large Horn Cable Stitch by New Stitch a Day.  All of the videos on his site are very thorough and easy to follow along with.  If you go to New Stitch a Day, the written instructions are also included beneath the video for those of you that need to read them as well as watch.  I will include them here too.

TECHNIQUES USED IN THIS STITCH:

Knit Stitch- K
Purl Stitch- P
Cable Four Front (C4F) – Slip next 2 sts on needle onto a cable needle and hold in front of work, k2, k2 from cable needle.
Cable Four Back (C4B) – Slip next 2 sts on needle onto a cable needle and hold in back of work, k2, k2 from cable needle.
  
Cast on: worked over multiples of 16sts on a background of reverse stockinette stitch

Pattern Instructions

1. Row 1:  (right side) k4, C4B, C4F, k4.
2. Row 2:  P16.
3. Row 3:  k2, C4B, k4, C4F, k2.
4. Row 4:  P16.
5. Row 5:  C4B, k8, C4F.
6. Row 6:  P16.

Repeat rows 1-6 until you have reached your desired length.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day, you either love it or hate it, it seems.  Me, I can take it or leave it really, but I do always end up celebrating it in someway, at least for my daughter.  I am always sure to get my daughter at least a little candy and card, or this year I wrote her a letter telling her all of the reasons why I love her.  As for my husband, I've just decided that I'm going to give him something no matter what from now on.  In the past we never made a big deal about this holiday, until last year that is.  Last year, the day before Valentine's day a box of Sheri's Berries showed up on my doorstep, much to my surprise.  The next day it was a bouquet of tulips!  I was in shock and completely unprepared, we had never given gifts for Valentine's Day before.  It was so last minute and my brain didn't know what to do, I ended up getting him the cheesy heart shaped box of chocolates right before he got home.  Not very original, I know, but there was no time to think of anything else.  This year, although I expect nothing in return, I was slightly more prepared.  This morning I put one gift on the seat of his truck before he left for work and I delivered another to his truck before lunch time.  It was actually kind of fun to be sneaky like that and made me enjoy the holiday just a little bit more.

I hope that whether you have a sweetie or not that you enjoy your "Heart Day".  Even if you treat yourself to flowers or chocolates, why not, you deserve to indulge a little today or any day.  If you are going to indulge yourself in a little knitting, I've included a link to an easy heart happy pattern from Lily Sugar'n Cream for you to enjoy.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heart-dishcloth-knit-version