This week it's Tutorial Thursday . . .

Leo's shots + cooking dinner for friends + me spending last night literally cleaning the kitchen on my hands and knees means that I didn't take the pictures for Tutorial Tuesday. Check back Thursday for a complete how-to pick up stitches from the side of your knitting.

Plus, I can't resist sharing my terrific news! Two of my designs have been chosen to appear in a knitting book that will be published by Wiley, Inc. next Spring. I was so excited when I found out that I did a little happy dance.

Back to cooking and cleaning. (Actually, right now it's time to feed Leo!)

First podcast guest announced - Kate Jacobs!

I am really excited about the launch of the Shizknit podcast. Like I mentioned before, I've been thinking about doing a podcast for over a year now - what a better time than the present to get it rolling?



I am pleased to announce that the first guest is going to be Kate Jacobs. Kate is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Friday Night Knitting Club. I can't wait to share my conversation with Kate.

So readers - have any of you read the Friday Night Knitting Club? Any questions you're dying to ask Kate? Email me or leave a comment and I'll be sure to get the scoop for you!

Biddle Errata

In the materials section of Biddle, the needle listed is a US 7 circular needle. You will need a US 10.5 circular needle.

The PDF will be updated as soon as possible!

Please let me know if there are any other errors.

Tonight - Liberation Prophecy!

Okay, so you may have heard me mention that my husband is a musician.





Tonight he will be playing with the band Liberation Prophecy at the 930 Listening Room. The show starts at 8 and is an all-ages event, so you can bring the whole family (I'm taking Leo - he never gets to hear his daddy anywhere except our living room.)


The show is part of the annual Cultivate Beauty festival, which is a pretty rad concept - "The idea is to put energy into cultivating something beautiful, something that lasts, something more satisfying than the shallow instant-gratification that fills most of our days." As part of the festival, there's an art exhibit and film festival.

By the way, as much as I love Liberation Prophecy (you really can't describe the music. I challenge you to try!), the opening act is a group I'm really excited about. Casey Driessen (Grammy nominee!) and his band the Colorfools are going to bring some fiddlin' madness to the 930, and I can't wait.

So, basically, if you live in the Louisville area, you have a little over three hours to arrange your plans so you can go to this show. I promise, you'll have a good time.

Free Pattern: Biddle Ribbed Hat

SEE BIDDLE ERRATA BEFORE KNITTING THIS PATTERN!

This quick and easy hat is an adult version of the Little Boy Blue baby hat. This is a one skein project that can be completed in no time!

SIZE
One size fits most children and adults.

MATERIALS
Brown Sheep Company Lamb's Pride Bulky in Orange You Glad [85% wool, 15% mohair; 125 yd per 100g skein]; 1 skein
1 set US #10.5/5.5mm double-point needles
1 16-inch US #10.5/6.5mm circular needle
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle


GAUGE
4 stitches and 6 rows = 1 inch in 2 X 2 rib


Click here to download your free PDF, hosted by Ravelry.


If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me: tonyawagner AT theshizknit DOT com.

Cutie-patooties.

My sister took this picture of Craig and Leo on Sunday, and I just had to share it.

Tutorial Tuesday: How to pick up and knit stiches from the top or bottom of you knitting.

Picking up stitches allows knitters to seamlessly add additional length or a border to a knit piece. This month, we'll look at different aspects of picking up stitches.

Today, we're going to look at how to pick up and knit stitches from the cast-on or bound-off edge of your work. This tutorial applies to Stockinette stitch, one of the most commonly used stitches in knitting. I have used a contrasting color of yarn to pick up the stitches so that it's easier to see.

Step One: Examine the knitting!

Note that on the right side of your knitting, each stitch is a little "V".


Step Two: Place the point of the needle in the center of the "V".



Make sure there are two loops on the needle; otherwise you may have holes. This is what the needle should look like:



Step Three: Using a new length of yarn, create a stitch.

Hold the needle in your left hand, and grasp the new length of yarn with the ring and pinky finger of your left hand.


Put the new yarn over the needle like so:


As usual with knitting, you need to put some tension on the yarn.


At last, you pull the new stitch through, just like you would any other knit stitch.



Voila! Simply continue picking up stitches across the row. You'll knit these stitches as you would any cast-on row.

Next week: Picking up and knitting stitches from the sides of your knitting.


The Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works license applies to this tutorial.