Giganto Knitting

Just thought I'd share this fun YouTube video for anyone who's looking for something a little different in the knitting world:

I can't embed the video, but just CLICK HERE to go to YouTube and watch how Laura Birek knits with the biggest needles you've ever seen!

New Spool Knitting Page

Hey...did you notice?!?!   I added a new tab up top!

Yeah, right up there  , next to the Linky Parties tab.

You can find all of my posts and videos on Spool Knitting in one spot now!

I'm not an expert spool knitter, in fact I don't think I even call it the proper term, but I enjoy doing it.  The more you play with your knitter, the more fun you'll have coming up with fun new projects too!

I've even added an ongoing linky party on that page so that you can show off your projects.  I really hope you'll link up so I can see what you've made.

Happy Spool knitting everyone!

Spool Knit a Sweater!

This is for all the non-knitters out there!  Even if you don't knit, you can make your own sweaters .... on your spool knitter!

All you need for this project is your spool knitter (loom), 3-5 skeins of wool, and some scissors.

If you're new here and have never done spool knitting before, go to the tutorials tab up top for loads of posts on how to make your own knitter and what to do with it...it's EASY!

To make today's project, check out the video below:

                          

That's it!  So easy right?!?!  Have fun.  I can't wait to see what all of you cool creative people out there come up with.

Have you ever knit something to wear?  Did it turn out?  Any knitting disasters out there?  Leave a comment and tell us all about your knitting adventures~

This project was featured here:

Let the Spool Knitting Begin!

I don't know about you, but it's been awhile since I've pulled my spool knitter out.  Let's get back into it with a nice easy project:

Yes, more boot socks.  This is for those of you who don't feel like cutting the sleeves off of your favourite sweater or making them from lace.  These are comfy, cozy, and have the real look of something made from scratch with love.

Here's what you need:

Materials:
-Spool knitter
-Wool
-Scissors

Go to Tuesday's post to find all of the links if you need a quick review.

Now watch the video to find out how to make this super easy project.

Tah dah!  So easy, so trendy, and sooooooooo warm~

Add a flower embellishment, pompoms, or roll the down~

I'm hoping to do another spool knitting project soon that's a bit more advance than anything we've done in the past.  Stay tuned~

This project was featured was here:

It's Time to Spool Knit!

Well, the calendar says it's fall but if I look outside my window it is most definitely winter.  I don't think the snow is going anywhere anytime soon, so you know what that means????  It's time to pull out your spool knitter!

If you're new to Etcetorize I'm going to point you to some posts from the past so that you'll know what I'm talking about and you can get ready for Friday's project.

Learn how to make your own spool knitter HERE:

Learn the basics of spool knitting HERE along with a few tips and tricks:

See last year's spool knitting projects HERE:

and HERE:

On Friday we're going to make another fun and very easy project to get you back into the swing of things.

Make sure you're ready!

This post was featured here:

Twist and Twirl Ruffly Scarf

Do I have enough scarves yet?  No!  Nevahhhhhhhhhh!  Well, OK, yeah, maybe I do, but I couldn't resist picking up this super cool yarn while I was at the Creativ Festival a few weeks ago so I had to add another scarf to my collection.  I had absolutely no choice in the matter.

Check it out, I have two kinds that are basically the same idea, just different versions from different companies:

Here's a close up of the Patons version:

And here's the Bernat version:

This is basically knitting for non-knitters.

Each company has how to instructions on their websites but if you're a non-knitter they're not that easy to follow.  So, I'm going to share a couple of videos with you.  This first one is from the fellows at The Crochet Crowd .  They're going to show you how to cast on and knit the Pirouette yarn.

       

And for some crazy reason no one else out there shows you how to cast off, so I did a video to show you how to finish off your scarf:

        


You can also go here to see a similar video on the Twist and Twirl yarn.

So there you go, just one more step to keeping cozy and stylish all winter long.

Don't forget to enter to win the Big Plaid Giveaway , it's a great prize for any one who loves to craft!

Have a great week everyone~

Keep warm with a Cowl

Well, the forecast is calling for snow this weekend so I'm getting ready by making myself something to keep warm.

This is the fourth video in my series of how to make and use what I call a spool knitter.  If you're new to Etcetorize you might want to head over to the tutorials page to get caught up or you can just click here let learn how to make your own knitter.

Go here to learn how to cast on and off and the basic knit stitch.

And here is where you can learn to purl.

And in this new video I'm going to show you how to use everything we've learned so far to create a beautiful cowl.

Hope you enjoy! 

I picked up some super duper neat wool at the Creativ Festival last weekend and am hoping to do another fun video soon showing you how to work with it. It's not like anything I've ever seen before so make sure to stay tuned!

Have a great weekend everyone!  Don't forget to come back on Monday to link up and share your fun creations~

Spool Knitting

All right!  By now everyone should've eaten all of their ice-cream and have their Spool Knitters ready to go.  Let's get started!

All you need for this project is your spool knitter and a ball of soft, fluffy wool.
This week I'll show you all the steps through three videos.  I'll post a summarized version below step by step for those of you who aren't able to watch the videos, but it will probably make more sense in real time:


Setting Up:

Tips:


Casting off:



Summary Steps to make a flat scarf:

1) Choose one section as your starting point (it doesn't matter where).  Weave your wool in and out of each section, stopping when you get to the last section.  Loop around last section and wind back to the beginning, making sure each section now has one line of wool in front and one in back.

 2) Now you should be back at your first section, loop wool around.  It should be sitting in front of the second section.  There are now two lines of wool in front of section two.  Gently pull the piece that's on the bottom over top of the top line of wool, and over the section, placing it behind the section.

 

 3) Now you're spool knitting!  You just keep repeating this step on each alternating section.  When you get to the end wind around and continue, never knitting on top of the same section twice.  (sorry, the rest of the shots are going to look a little funny because they're screen grabs from the video.  I got so into knitting that I forgot to take photos!)

4) Eventually it starts coming out the bottom of your knitter.  Don't worry that it's stretched out at the top, it naturally tightens up.

5) When you get near the end of your wool you'll need to cast off.  First make sure you have enough wool left to run around the knitter once.  Don't cut anything, just wrap it around to make sure you have enough.

6) Now that you know you do (if you don't, just unloop one row of stitching), you will simply loop the wool under each section.  Don't miss any sections this time.  This will secure it so that it won't unravel when you take it off the knitter.  Once you get to the last section you can gently take the scarf off of the knitter.  Pull the tail to tighten up the end and make it the same width as the rest of the scarf.  You can stretch and pull the scarf a little to even it all out.

7) Just weave any tail that's left over into the scarf and secure with a knot.  Voila!  You're done!  And probably in record time!

Some tips:

-Control your tension by gently tugging on the wool in front of the section that you just looped over.

-It doesn't matter how many sections you have, it will always work.

-If you have arthritis or other aches in your hands, try using a crochet hook to do the looping for you.

I really hope that you're able to watch the videos because it's so much easier to follow that way.  In any case, have fun with this, try different types of wool, or different sizes and shapes of spool knitters.  Add a fringe on each end for something extra.  (Just cut pieces of wool approximately 8"long, group into three's, fold in half, and loop into each hole that runs along the ends.)

Leave a comment and let me know how you get on with it (no goofy jokes aboot my Canadian accent, eh~).  These make lovely Christmas gifts that are fast and easy to make but still have a very personal touch.  If you want to learn more stitches or how to make other projects with your spool knitter make sure to let me know and I'll do other video posts throughout the winter.

Happy knitting!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!  Just sign up as a follower and leave a comment on the Desk Set: The Rest of the Story post, link is in the sidebar.
(There are only 14 comments so far so your chances of winning are really good!)

Thanks to Between Naps on the Porch for sending so many visitors my way this week.  Go visit Susan and check out the other fun ideas and projects there.

I'll be posting this project at the linky parties throughout the week so make sure to check out the tab at the top of the page, including TCB .