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A beret can add a distinctive flair to any outfit as well as keep your head warm in cold weather. Berets can be purchased in most stores where women's fashions are sold but they can also be sewn from a wide variety of fabric, the most common being felt. You will also enjoy applying your knitting or crocheting skills to create a stylish beret fashioned from yarn.
The key to crocheting knit-look booties is to create a tight fabric. Depending on the yarn and crochet hook used, the fabric can be loose or very stiff; knitted fabric tends to be compact but soft. Fortunately, there are crochet techniques that can help you create that soft but dense fabric knitted booties have.
A knitted or crocheted headband is a multipurpose garment that can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The thin hippie style headband, which is worn around the top of the head like a crown, is mostly used as a fashion accessory. A thick wool headband covers and protects the wearer's ears in cool weather. A sports headband keeps the player's hair under control and is designed to stop perspiration from running into the eyes.
If you are a frequent knitter and have collected numerous knitted squares or if you found an abundance of squares in Grandma's closet, use a crochet stitch to create fashion and home decor items with little time and effort. Join knitted squares to produce scarves, placemats, table runners or afghans by using an uncomplicated crochet stitch called the slip stitch. The slip stitch is the least visible stitch to use and allows your knitted squares to lie flat. Fortunately, crochet skills are not a prerequisite.
Covering your arms and shoulders with a knitted or crocheted bed jacket can make you feel warm and cozy when reclining while reading in bed, doing needlework or watching TV. Bed jackets should be light and comfortable. Make a loosely draped knitted bed jacket with a leaf pattern to avoid sewing long side seams or crochet a quick jacket using only one crochet stitch throughout. These jackets are pretty enough that you don't have to leave them in the bedroom.
Joining knitted or crocheted square panels to create large projects such as scarves, shawls, afghans or blankets is a simple project requiring only yarn and a yarn needle. This type of whip-stitch joinery works well in a variety of projects because the seam, sewn from the backside, is nearly invisible. The squares are joined into rows. The rows are then stitched together to complete the project. Yarn used to join the squares should not form a strong visual contrast with the yarns used on the edges of the individual panels.
Anyone who can knit or crochet can make a make a simple, reusable sleeve to slip over a hot coffee cup. The sleeve is inexpensive, environmentally friendly and can be used daily to add a burst of color and style to a plain travel mug.
Using a crocheted edge as a finishing touch around a knitted piece gives a personal note to clothing or to items such as throws and blankets. A wide variety of patterns exist for crocheted edgings and borders. You can add them to a knit piece that already has a special knitted edging or has none. Use this technique to crochet a row of stitches directly onto the knit stitches.
There are many ways to finish knitted projects, and crocheted edgings can be decorative as well as serve a structural purpose. Crocheted edgings add stability and strength to the edges of knitted items. Since they are not elastic, you should be cautious when using them on the cuffs and neckbands of clothing items, but for projects where added stability and durability are needed, a crocheted edge is ideal. The edge can stabilize flat projects -- such as scarves, dish cloths or decorative hangings -- so that they retain their shape when used or displayed.
Crocheted edges add both structure and style to a knitted project. Edging your finished knitted project with a row of single crochet helps the piece lay flat, rather than curling in, and gives it more stability. Adding more detailed crocheted edges, like lace or scalloped patterns, works well for blankets and shawls, creating an appealing border. Try edging your next knitting project with a crochet stitch in a contrasting or complimentary color for added textural depth.
A knitted potholder is a great project for the beginning knitter, especially when knitted with a garter stitch. This stitch requires only that you know the knit stitch and uses no purl stitches. Because of its insulation properties, wool yarn, either 100 percent pure or the washable variety, is a good choice for knit potholders. Cotton yarn, which has a high ignition point, is an adequate substitute for wool but is more flammable. Acrylic yarn melts under high temperatures and is recommended only for decorative potholders.
Adding a decorative edging to finished knitting projects adds a nice touch to your work. It can also add a firm and stable border to loosely knitted edges. The crab single crochet is worked from left to right, rather than the right-to-left pattern that most knitting and crocheting projects follow. This reversal creates a solid edging that features diagonally looped yarn. Use a larger size crochet hook for projects using bulky yarn or a smaller size hook for finer yarn.
Knitting and crocheting are more than just a hobby for some people: they're a full-blown obsession. Once the preferred activity of demure old ladies, knitting and crocheting are now a part of the DIY subculture. There are now patterns for creating punk-inspired designs that are a world away from the booties and afghans of the past. Promote your knitting and crochet club to get the word out and recruit new members.
Whether it's a cardigan or a blanket, add a decorative touch to your completed knitting project with a crocheted edge. An ideal way to flatten any curling pieces, a crocheted edge also creates a neat border around your work that will strengthen your knitted stitches. This single-crochet edging is worked from the right to left edge and requires no prior knowledge of crochet.
The star of Sony's LittleBigPlanet video game is a knit creature called Sackboy. Looking at the cute star, many crafters want to make one either for themselves or to give to the video game fans in their lives. To achieve the best Sackboy look, use a chunky yarn knit at a tight gauge. Unless noted, all right side rows are knit and all wrong side rows are purl.
Most knitted shawls are based on either a rectangle or triangle shape. Some shawl patterns call for seaming down the edges, while some can be worn loose or fastened at the neck with a button or brooch. To finish off your shawl with a neat edge, work a row of double crochet stitches all the way around. You can crochet into any knit stitch with the same size yarn and a crochet hook that corresponds to the knitting needle size you used.
While knitting is effective for creating single panels, those panels must be sewn together to make crafts such as sweaters, socks, slippers and dresses. While you could hand sew the pieces together, the hold will not be very elastic. To achieve the best hold with a stretch that matches the rest of the piece, you'll need a crochet hook to make a slip stitch.
You can wear a beautifully knitted shawl without the worry of keeping it in place. Adding a closer will make your shawl a hands-free dream to wear. You can crochet a button loop onto your knitted shawl, making it more wearable and adding a touch of style at the same time. Plus, you just might be amazed at how fast you can add a button loop to a shawl.
Crocheters who don't knit might wish to translate knitting patterns to crochet. However, because knit and crochet stitches are not the same size, no simple formula exist for making the conversion. Knitting projects worked in the round on circular or double-pointed needles are constructed differently from crochet projects, which require a single hook. Even though the translation from knitting to crochet is not direct, you can often modify simple, modular patterns constructed from solid rectangles and squares.
Crocheting is a favorite pastime for many crafters. You can make myriad projects with a crochet hook and a few skeins of yarn. Whether you are looking to make a scarf, hat, afghan or more advanced project, you will need only a simple set of tools and supplies to create a distinctive crocheted item.
Crocheters who like the look of knitting but have yet to learn the skill can mimic the look of stockinette stitch by crocheting through the back loop. An essential technique in crocheting stretchy ribbing, knitting through the back loop creates a column of stitches shaped like Vs. This is similar to the appearance of the stitches generated by knitting the front row and purling the back. All that is required is a small alteration to the single crochet stitch.
Crocheted single squares are also known as granny squares. Learning to make a simple crocheted square is a great project for a beginner. You can crochet together several plain granny squares to create a larger item, such as blanket. Use a slip knot to begin a crocheted square or any crochet project. With the crocheting method, you pull the yarn through your slip knot to create stitches. Making simple plain squares is something an adult or child can learn.
The process of converting a crochet pattern to a knitting pattern begins with understanding gauge. The gauge is the number of stitches and rows needed to attain the proper dimensions. A sample of knitting that is approximately three inches wide and two inches long is used to determine the gauge of the knitting needles. The crochet pattern will indicate the proper gauge for the crochet hook. The remaining conversion is relatively simple. Convert any crochet pattern to a knitting pattern once the correct gauge is achieved.
You can crochet or knit many of the same items. Both crafts use yarn to make everything from garments to home decor items. Some crafts are more suitable to crochet, others are better for knitting, and some projects work equally well for both types of fiber art. In general, crochet uses more yarn and has a thicker, bulkier appearance, while knitting is lighter in weight and texture and uses about a third less yarn for the same amount of finished project. Knitting is slightly more difficult for beginners to learn, but kids and adults can master both crafts. If you…
Sometimes you've got to make do with what you have. Ideally, knitting is accomplished with two matching knitting needles. But what if you don't have them? Luckily, in a pinch, you can knit with just about anything -- pens, chopsticks, pencils -- and crochet hooks will work too. If you've got the basics of knitting down, it's not difficult to learn how to knit with just one knitting needle and one crochet hook.
Knit and crochet squares serve as the basis for numerous knit and crochet projects. Squares sewn together form afghans, shawls, pillow covers, rugs, bedspreads and many more projects. The most basic knit stitch is a garter stitch, which is made by knitting every row. The easiest crochet stitch is the single crochet stitch. Learning these two techniques will serve as the foundation for all other knitting and crochet stitches. Once you master these basic squares, you can get creative and branch out into other stitch types and patterns.
Finishing a knitted project can involve the use of several different techniques. Take the time to carefully finish the knitted project because sloppy finishing can take away from all of the hard work of knitting the item, giving it a messy final look. Finishing techniques aren't just for the look of the item. Finishing can involve creating structural elements, such as sewing seams on a garment.
Knitting and crochet have the same objective, to make clothing and decorative items. However, the two types of needlecraft are not interchangeable. For instance, each has different patterns or instructions to follow when making items such as sweaters, baby clothes or wash cloths. Crochet, however, has disadvantages. For instance, crochet items are bulkier than knitted items. Thus, whether you're considering needlecraft as a hobby or making a garment, there are benefits to knitting versus crochet.
When you find a knitting pattern you really love, but you want to work it in crochet, you are faced with a challenge. Knit and crochet stitches are not exactly interchangeable and technically cannot be converted. Nevertheless, you can replace stitches to give the crochet pattern a similar look as the knit pattern if the pattern is not too complex. There may be some experimentation involved to get the desired look, but a few general guidelines will assist you in crocheting a simple end product that, although not identical, may strongly resemble the original pattern.
Knitters are well-served by learning basic crochet stitches. Crochet allows you to make a decorative border by working into knit stitches along the edge of a garment. You can also add length or width to knitted items by working crochet stitches into a bound-off edge. The difference between the look of knit and crochet stitches is subtle, but striking enough to provide interesting contrast even when using the same yarn for both sections of the project.
Whether you want to learn to knit or crochet, you are in good company. Knitting and crocheting produce beautiful clothing and accessories. The difference between the two yarn crafts is simple. Knitting uses two needles and yarn to create stitches and crochet uses a single hook and yarn to create stitches. Though many learners do well gaining information by listening, some do better watching, or learning visually.
Some people make the mistake of thinking that crochet and knitting are interchangeable, and they are not. Knitting uses its own stitches and combinations of stitches to create items--the patterns from those items does not translate to the stitches used in crochet. Each crafting discipline has its own strengths and weaknesses.
A triple-crochet stitch involves taking off two loops at a time, three times in a row. Practice the triple crochet with a demonstration from an experienced knitting instructor in this free video on yarn crafts.
Crocheting is a form of knitting that uses a hook instead of needles. Practice the foundations of crochet with a demonstration from an experienced knitting instructor in this free video on yarn crafts.
Although crochet and knitting patterns use yarn to create items, they do so using different equipment and different stitches, and the end products ultimately have a different look. For the crafter more familiar with knitting than crochet, converting a crochet pattern to knit might make it quicker to complete.
