The Knitting Siren

Last Minute Christmas Gift

Look what I made!

Not technically knitting, but it is made from an upcycled wool sweater!  This is the only handmade Christmas gift I made this year and it was so fast and easy.

First I washed the sweater in hot water to felt it up a bit.  Just enough so it won't unravel at the edges. 

Next, I drew a doll-ish shape, free form.  The feet reached down into the bottom ribbing.  The bottom of the sleeves made the arms.  The "hair" is just more ribbing, snipped up to make a fringe.

Then I did a blanket stitch around the edge.  Leave a space open to fill.  This youtube video will show you how: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJht13Bcw-U

Do the same with the arms and tack it on to the body.  

This was so much fun, I'm looking around the house to find more sweaters I can transform.

He just needs a name now...

Weaving in Ends

It's one of those things that patterns tell you to do but then don't tell you how to do it.  

This is how I weave in ends, particularly the last end.  

Here is what you start with.  After binding off, you cut the end of your yarn and pull it through the last stitch.

Do you see how there is a big step between the beginning of the round and the end?  We'll fix that.

Put the yarn end on a big fat needle (Chibi needles are my favorite).

Insert needle under the first bound off stitch of the round and pull through.

Now, insert needle in the back loop of the last stitch of the round coming from the bottom and pull through.

Go back under the first stitch of the round like so.

Draw needle through the last stitch, coming from the top and out the front.

Back under the first stitch like before...

down under the second stitch after the first and then up under the third stitch (you can go up and down a few more if you like, though 3 is enough for me).

Now drop down to the second row on the inside of your work...

work your needle back and forth through the ridge (for a garter stitch edge or reverse stockinette).  If you have a ribbed edge, I just work my needle back and forth up one of the vertical ribs.  Pull yarn through.  I usually stretch the fabric a bit before cutting the yarn.

Voila!

If you are wondering, these are a pair of Turtle Butt's with legs I'm working on.  I'll post pics of the finish product when I get the ends all woven in.  Super cute!

Tutorial for Enclosed Elastic Waistband, no sewing!

I've been wanting to do this tutorial for a while now.  Instead of just putting it in my Adorabubble Britches Pattern, I thought I'd share it with everyone.  This technique can be applied to most anything that needs and elastic casing.  Best part, no sewing!

  

Start with a provisional cast on, second video from the bottom.  Instead of using a piece of waste yarn, I like to use another circular needle (same size or smaller).  

Work back and forth (do not join in a round yet) until piece measures just slightly longer than the elastic you plan on using.  End having just worked a wrong side row, right side should be facing you.

    

Purl the next row.  This will make a ridge that makes it easier to fold and keeps things neat.

  

When you get to the end of this purl row, you'll join your piece in a round knitting the next round.

   

Knit even in a round until the ends match up when you fold at the purl ridge.

 

Fold at the purl ridge and line up the provisional cast on edge to the working edge.  You will now knit the cast on edge to the working edge. 

  

Insert the right needle into the front stitch (working edge) and into the back stitch (cast on edge), draw loop through and pull both stitches off.  You will now have 1 stitch on the right needle.

    

Just a note, every other stitch on the provisional cast on edge will be twisted.  On those stitches you can just insert the needle through the back loop or if it bothers you, before knitting the edges together, you can rearrange the cast on edge so the stitches are all mounted correctly.  Honestly though, if you just knit them as is, no one will know.  It's on the inside edge anyway.

 

Voila!  How nice does that look?! 

At this point, if you patterns requires it, you can switch to larger needles and do your increase row for the hips.  Once the whole piece is finished, measure out a length of elastic about 1" longer than the waist.  Pull through the hole in the back, secure and sew shut.  Ok, I guess it isn't completely no sew but mostly.

This also works for enclosed drawstrings as well.