Friday, July 28, 2006

Cabling Without A Cable Needle

This is an incredibly useful little trick which makes cable patterns infinitely quicker and easier to execute, and which I would not have learned without the knitblog network.

First (and my personal favorite) are Grumperina's very clear and detailed tutorials:

http://www.grumperina.com/rightcable.htm

http://www.grumperina.com/leftcable.htm

Left Slanting Decreases

This is Nona's incredibly useful side-by-side illustration of seven different left slanting decreases, along with complete directions and comments.

http://nonaknits.typepad.com/nonaknits/2006/07/comparing_left_.html#more

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

How to Estimate Yardage

Ever find a fantastic yarn, have only a very general notion of what you want to make with it, and have to buy enough of it now, because it'll be gone by the time you get back?

http://www.woolfestival.com/articles/WPI.htm

http://www.fiber2yarn.com/info/how_much_yarn.htm

http://www.elann.com/faq.asp#estimates

http://www.io.com/~cjwyche/handspun/20031107Handspun.html

Even better, once you do figure out the safe yardages for your size and style preferences (eg. extra long sleeves or body, different necklines, cables, colour work) - write them down and keep copies anywhere you are likely to be buying yarn (say - pinned to the bulletin board by the computer, tucked in your wallet, etc.).