Casting - binding off

When you want to finish your piece you will have to use the cast or bind off stitch. This stitch is used at various levels while knitting - such as shaping of the armhole, horizontal buttonhole, button hole and while shaping a neckline.There are several methos, this is the the basic method that is mostly followed by knitters.it is to be noted that when you are casting or binding off , please use one size larger needles so that the casting/binding off stitches are not too tight as it can create an edge that will be shorter than the width of the fabric

Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

Slipping a stitch purlwise

As of now we have learnt to slip a knit wise. Now we can learn how to slip a stitch purl wise



Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

Slipping a stitch knitwise

Sometimes in a pattern a stitch does not require to be stitched and hence it is simply slipped. This how you slip in a knit stitch

Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

Purling through the back of the loop

We can pick up a stitch pul wise also.

Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

Knitting through the back of the loop

This is one of the variation of making a stitch

Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

The Purl stitch

The purl stitch is another of the basic stitch. It has a softer and smooth to touch as it does not have any ridges that are found in the knit stitch

Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

The knit stitch

Knitting is based on two stitches: the knit stitch and the purl stitch. The combinations of these two basic stitches makes many different stitch patterns.

Practise this knit stitch

Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

Holding the yarn -left hand method

Another way of holding the yarn is the left hand method.

This is commonly used in continental Europe.

Both methods produce the same effect. Practise both methods and you can follow which ever you are comfortable working with

Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

Holding the yarn - right hand method

There are many ways of holding the yarns and the needles.

The right hand method of holding the yarn is used mainly by English speaking countries

It is important that the yarn must be wound loosely around the fingers to keep it slightly tensioned, so that the stitches will be smooth and even.

At first you might need to wrap the yarn twice around the little finger.



Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

Variety of textures in yarns

The pleasure that is associated with knitting is the yarns. Hand knitting is a very tactile activity. The yarn that is pleasing to touch will provide you enormous satisfaction when you have finished the project.

There are vast varities of yarns that are available in the market. There are still classic smooth yarns along with unusual textures and fibres from glossy silk, velvety chenille, chunky boucle.

When you start to knit you will become familiar with the different yarns that are available. It is left to you to choose the yarn and pattern.

This is an endless creativity that one cannot stop with one project

The above is just some of the variety, each reason will have their own yarn manufacturer. It is best to follow the pattern guide.

Source: The Knitter’s Handbook - Hamlyn

Cob Nut Stitch [CN1 or make a cob nut ]

knit 1 without slipping stitch off left hand needle,
yf then k1 once more into same stitch
so you have created a cob nut stitch

Source: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Make a star

p3tog leaving stitches on needle,
yrn then purl the same 3 stitches together again
so you have created a star in your pattern

Source: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Make a cluster

k1, insert needle through center of stitches, 3 rows below next stitch on left hand needle,
yo and pull up a loop,
knit stitch above in the usual way,
pull up another loop as before through same hole,
knit next stitch from left hand needle,
pull up another loop through same hole.
now you have make a cluster

Source: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Draw Loop

Insert needle between 3 rd and 4 th stitch on left hand needle,
yrn, draw through loop and place on left hand needle
k2tog through back loop[tbl] - the loop and the next stitch on the left hand needle.

Source: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

D2 [draw 2]

With yb,insert needle into stitch 2 rows below the next stitch,
yrn and draw through loop,
yf, knit into same stitch dropping stitch above off needle [ 2 stitches increase
This is another method of increasing stitches-especially when you are working in the middle stitches

Source: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

C4 back or front [cable 4 back or front]

Slip next 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold back or front of work[as required in the pattern]
knit next 2 sts from left hand needle using B when using two colors or contine with same yarn.
Then knit stitches from cable needle using A

Source: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

How to make a knot - method 1

[knit 1, purl 1,knit 1,purl 1 ,knit 1] into next stitch
then pass 2nd, 3 rd, 4 th and 5 th stitches over 1 st
knot completed.

Courtesy: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

How to make a Bobble - method 1

Increase by knitting into front,back,front,back of the stitch = 4 stitches
Turn to WS, purl4
turn ,knit 4
turn, p2tog twice
turn, k2tog = 1 st
your bobble is ready

Courtesy: The Harmony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft

Agal Villaku [Diya or Lamp] Cozie

Hello please see my new creations Lamp Cozie that I have knitted for agal villaku. I think this is some what unique. These lamps are earthern lamps and lit during festivals. It starts from Malaya paksha -Navrathri and will go on till Thai  masam[month], During Dewali many decorative lamps are lit. In the month of Karthick these lamps are lit by south Indian families. Kartikeya deepam is the biggest lamp festival. Alomost the entire house is lit with these lamps. During the month of margazi [ dec-jan] evey house will have these lamps in the threshold .

1. Lamp cozie

2. One light earthern lamp

3. Single light in cozie

4. Five light lamp

5.Five light in cozie

Weight Lifting

While you are practising lifting of weights, it is important that you should be able to manage your breathing techniques.This is important because your blood pressure can increase to any levels. It can increase to dangerous levels while you are holding your breathe during the weight lifting training.Hence to prevent the fluctuations of the blood pressure, you must try to exhale while you are lifting the weight and inhale while you are lowering the weights. It is important that you must be able to breathe freely.

Wrist Band

Hi friends - sharing my new creations with you. I used the 12 peg daisy wheel to create this wrist band. You can see the stitches are loose and apart. This is due to the distance between the pegs.Please do provide your  humble suggestions

1. The Band

2.With blue motif

3. With brown motif

4. With green motif

5. With red motif

Ganesh pendant necklace

Hello Freinds - presenting my new necklace which has a Ganesha pendant. I created with just an i-cord, centre piece and ganesha idol.Please feel free to pour your suggestions.

1. Ganesha pendant necklace

2. I-cord and center piece

3. Ganesha idol

4. Ganesha as a pendant

4.

Magna Carta Day

An important treaty in those days was the Magna Carta . It was on  15 th of June King John of England signed the Magna Carta in 1215 at Runnymede, England.This was the first step that is considered as the first charter of English liberties and laid basis for the American democratic thought. Hence on thid day people celebrate it as Magna Carta Day

Onli in America

Only in America... can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.

Only in America... are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink.

Only in America... do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

Only in America... do people order double cheese burgers, large fries, and a diet Coke.

Only in America... do banks leave both doors to the vault open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in America... do they leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

Only in America... do they use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so they won't miss a call from someone they didn't want to talk to in the first place.

Only in America... do they buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

Only in America... do they use the word "politics" to describe the process so well; "Poli" in Latin meaning "many" and "tics" meaning "bloodsucking creatures".

Only in America... do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering

By Chelsy from Ohio USA.

La Annaconda

Hello friends - presending my new creations. Annaconda that has come from the Amazon forests. I made this using the 6 peg daisy wheel. Please do drop by .It will not hurt anybody.

1. Annaconda

2. Relaxing

3. Coiled and having a dream

4. It has multi colored crowns

Strut [walk] your stuff

Taking a 30 minute brisk walk three times a week will lower your blood pressure significantly. In a recent study of a group of caregivers walking the allotted amount produced a beneficial effect on their blood pressure. The participants who walked 30 to 40 minutes at least three times a week experienced a reduction in their blood pressure that was stress-induced.

By Megan Cornellis from Chatham USA.

Jacques Cousteau - undersea explorer

Wish you Happy Birthday Mr Jacques Cousteau.
It is to be noted that Jacques Cousteau, French undersea explorer  was born on 6 th June (1910)
Jacques-Yves Cousteau is better acknowledged for his expertise on modern scuba diver and undersea explorer. He along with Emile Gagnan invented the aqualung in 1942. The main purpose was to encourage people to understand the world of undersea diving. He ensured that even  ordinary people within their capabilities could go and explore the wonderful nature of the sea.

Pink Garland

Hi friends- I have created a garland without any embelishments. I felt that gods must have garland which will not wither. Hence this new concept. Please do drop your suggestions.

1. garland adoring the three devis

2.Garland on Ganesha

3. The garland .The picture will clearly give you the design that I have created

Hong Kong lease end day

Did you know that Hong Kong was leased by China to British for 99 years. Hence on 9 th June 1997 Britian did not have any other option but to end the lease as China was in no mood to extend the lease period. So this day is celebrated as Hong Kong's independence day as Hong Kong's sovereignty was reverted to China.

Road to success

The Road to Success


The road to success is not straight
There is a curve called failure
A loop called confusion
Speed bumps called friends
Red lights called enemies
Caution lights called family
you'll have flats called jobs
But if you have determination
An engine called perseverance
Insurance called faith
A driver called GOD
You'll make it to a place called SUCCESS!

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

By R.RAMACHANDRA RAO from HYDERABAD India

One Two buckle my shoe

Hi friends - today only I realised that most of the nursery rhymes we studied in schools ,have their own history. These rhymes were created in those days to provide information on the historical or social  conditions prevalant .
It is to be noted that we used to think that the lyrics of the nursery rhymes did not have any connection to the events associated with history. Our presumptions are wrong and these rhymes can be traced.
We always felt that these rhymes were written to teach children to have fun and pleasure.

Hence will be writing details for some rhymes. Please do visit daily
One two buckle my shoe
Three, four, knock at the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, a big fat hen
Eleven, twelve, dig and delve
Thirteen, fourteen, maids a-courting
Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen
Seventeen, eighteen, maids in waiting
Nineteen, twenty, my plate's empty


This was written to teach children how to count.This would encourage children to think and create their own imagination. One should thank Adrian Lloyd for providing  some informations.David wrote, "I have have always understood it to be partly about lacemaking and partly about other ‘working’ class roles from the 16th, 17th or 18th century. It basically described how people were organised and created their own time table for the chores that one hat to do for the day.

One, two, buckle my shoe: refers to the lacemaker, or anyone else, getting ready in the morning for work.

Three, four, shut the door: the lacemaker (or other) closed the door to the shop (or their own front door behind them) to begin work for the day

Five, six, pick up sticks: the sticks are wooden pins used on a lacemaking ‘machine’

Seven, eight, lay them straight: the pins are placed on the machine to go straight across the fabric from side to side

Nine, ten, a big fat hen: which is a type of ‘pillow’ that supports and holds the lacework

From 11 and 12 refers to the gardeners

 13 and 14 maids in waiting to a large house or estate and so on up to 19 and 20 being served dinner by the kitchen staff with plates empty!

Source: rhymes.org.uk

Necklace with a center chocker

Hi friends I have created another variety of a necklace. It is for your review. Please do post your suggestions and approvals.

1.Created an i-cord with yellow yarn

2. Another view

3. Just added an ordinary knot to give a central hold

4.Added an embelishment to give a chocker effect 

5. Finally the necklace

It was a sweet pleasure in creating this necklace.

How to create a blog button with a scrolling text box below

How to create a blog button with a scrolling text box below

Hi friends , this is my version of the tutorial on how to create your own blog buttons with the text box underneath. This text box is basically consists of the details of the codes that are required for the picture and web link.I learnt this from www.e-how.com tutorial.

There are basically 2 steps involved

1. Code that needs to be created for your blog picture

2. Code that needs to be created for your html details or web links

First step: How to create your blog picture

1. Select a picture of your choice. You can choose one from the net or you can create one.

2. Save the selected picture in your computor [ my documents-pictures]

3. Please ensure that the size of the picture is 215 x 215 pixels, as the larger picture will not fit into the side bar of your blog.

4. Create an account with photo bucket.

5. Click on add a photo.

6. As soon you add the picture you will get the following details below your selected picture.

a.Email & IM: This will have the code number of the piicture and the name you have selected for the picture
http://........photobucket.com/albums/....../yourname/?action=view¤t=yournamepic.jpg

b. Direct link : This is the code number of your picture
http://i......photobucket.com/albums/your assigned number/yourname/your pictures name pic.jpg

c. HTML code: this is the code number for your  text box with reference to your blog.
as it appears in the text box it will be
....... [/center] ..........
.......[center][textarea id="code-source" rows="3" name="code-source"][center][a href="http://YOUR WEB ADDRESS/"][img border="0" src="http://IMAGE WEB ADDRESS"/][/a][/center][/textarea][/center]......


This is the exclusive details related to your picture

d. img code

[IMG]http://......photobucket.com/albums/ your number/your name/ypur picture name blog.jpg[/IMG]

Please use the photo bucket as it is very easy and does not involve too many detailing
So now we have created a code for your picture that you want to appear in your blog.Please save all these details in a word file as we will require them later.

Second Step: How to paste the details on to your blog
1. Open your blog page and go to design page

2. Click on to Add a new gadget.

3. Scroll down to Click on HTML/Javascript.

4. You will get a text box. This is an important step please follow carefully

a. In the title box – please type whatever you like ,something like “Get My Button” . This is the normal words that are used by other bloggers

Here 2 codes needs to be pasted

1st step . This is for your image

[center][a href="http://YOUR WEB ADDRESS/" target="_blank" title="BLOG TITLE"][img alt="BLOG TITLE" src="http://IMAGE WEB ADDRESS"/][/a][center]

In the above details please follow instructions as give, give the correct details like your web address and blog title.

2 nd step : This is related to your picture as well as your blog

[/center]
[center][textarea id="code-source" rows="3" name="code source"][center][a href="http://your web address/"][img border="0" src="http:// image web address"//][/a][center][textarea][/center]

In the above please give correct details. This is the html code of your picture.

After providing all the details please ensure that you remove all the brackets

Left side of bracket ‘[‘ needs to be replaced by <  left arrow key

Right side of the bracket ‘]’ needs to be replaced by > right arrow keys

This is an important function as computer language does not understand any brackets

Code for Adding a Blog Button with text Box Underneath for Code
When you have created and formatted the code properly (with left arrow key ; and right arrow key;),
ensure that you have replaced all the generic information with your information

Ensure that you have plugged your blog's title whereever indicated and go back and copy the image web address and paste it in the correct location.

After all your details have been provided delete or remove all of the generic information. Now your code should match to the code of the picture and the alignment must all be the same.

Now you have created a button for your blog.

Save this gadget and drag to the position where you would like it to be.
Now save all the changes
Click on View Blog.

hope this tutorial was useful. I have immense pleasure in doing so, as I feel that it costs about $15/- to create this button.

Take it Easy Day

It was on 3 rd June in 1972  , Eagles sang the famous song Take It Easy Day. and released this album and it became one of the greatest hits, of those days. Celebrate today by just taking it easy and not stressing out!

 

Eating Right

A number of foods are loaded with vitamin B-complex, folic acid, vitamins A and E, zinc, magnesium, iron, chromium, selenium, and essential fatty acids that add to your brainpower. To incorporate these elements into your diet is easy; all you have to do is eat. The best choices in food that include these elements are: sardines, herrings, shellfish, dried and sprouted beans, nuts, seeds, apples, apricots, black currents, carrots, bananas, liver, beets, celery, barley, brown rice, oats, kidney, lean beef, Brewer’s yeast, black strap molasses, wheat germ, basil, rosemary, ginger, and licorice. It is best to avoid foods high in sugar like baked goods and sodas, because they result in great fluctuations in blood-sugar levels, which causes breaks in your concentration and energy levels.
By Mike Lubowisk from Cedar Falls USA.

Masque in knitting

Hi buddies - presenting my new creation. A masque done in knitting. Please do provide your appreciation,suggestions . I would appreciate if you can provide me if any alterations are required. Hope it is not scary

1. Blank octagon shaped knitted piece

2. Assorted i-cords

3. Masque in full view

4. Another view

Old Masters Value Day

31 st May is condidered as Old Masters Value Day. In 1989 auction at Christie's in New York City, "Portrait of Duke Cosimo I de Medici" by Jacopo da Carucci (Pontormo) sold for $32 million to the J. Paul Getty Museum. It is the most ever paid for an Old Master painter.

Presidential Marriage Day

It is to be onted that that every year 2 nd of June ia celebrated  as Presidential Marriage Day.
In an 1886 White House ceremony, President Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsom. He was the first and only U.S. president to marry at the White House while in office.