Star Guidance

Make-A-Square Workshop at $5 per person

2010-12-01T17:58:00.002+08:00

Sign up to learn and make a difference in a child's life. Every child has a right to dream, let us help make that dream come true.

Every registration, every purchase bring a child closer to his/her dream. It makes all the difference within.

Blk 608 Clementi West St 2
(next to West Coast Plaza)
Free shuttle bus from Clementi MRT Station to West Coast Plaza every half and hour.

You'll learn the basics of crochet and how to join the squares. Patterns for projects will be given to you.
Option 1: bring your own materials keep the squares
Option 2: we provide the materials, donate the squares
Note: donated squares will be put together for a good cause

Send me an e-mail to register - star_query@yahoo.com.sg
Please indicate Name, Contact Number and if you are bringing your own materials.

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=334533&id=679337523

Dream A Dream: http://www.dreamadream.org/

Buy1Give1: http://www.b1g1.com/

thursday craft sessions

2009-12-25T01:14:00.005+08:00

Thursday craft sessions in SingPost will be off till 2010. Saturday sessions are still on at Clementi West St 1. :)

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S

and

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R

update on sessions for the week

2009-10-08T21:33:00.002+08:00

No sessions this week for both Thursday and Saturday. Will be back next week...so see you guys on Thursday 15 Oct 09 or Saturday 17 Oct 09.

Thursdays - 6.30pm to 8.00pm @ Food Court in SingPost Paya Lebar
Saturdays - 2.30pm to 4.30pm @ void deck of Blk 608 Clementi West St 1

Have fun :)

Getting Organised

2009-08-06T12:04:00.008+08:00

Read this article by Kathleen from Knitting Daily and realised that I too am guilty of being disorganised. I could relate to the stuff in her notions bag before organising it...the nailclipper, the paperclip, the receipt, the lost knitting needle, etc...all forgotten stuff that's left in a bag.

"Making Time for Knitting: Organization and Inspiration

Carving out time for knitting has never been a problem for me, until now. I used to knit every evening for two or three hours while watching TV or listening to books on tape (and in between changing loads of laundry).

With my new position here at Knitting Daily and the classes I teach at my LYS, I think about knitting all the time, but I find I'm having trouble finding the time to actually knit! I guess it all comes down to time-management, right? And priorities...

Organization and Inspiration

I decided that the keys to getting my knitting time back are organization and inspiration.

First the organization part. I spent a couple of hours organizing my projects last week, and I ended up with two projects that floated to the top in "I-must-finish-this-before-I-start-something- new" land. I put each of those projects, with all of their accoutrements, in their own zip-up project bag and put them in my fab Kate Walker knitting tote. I carry my tote with me everywhere, and now I can pull one of those projects out whenever I have a moment of downtime.

I also organized and restocked my notions bag, which was a sad state of affairs. Here's what was in there:
-various ends of yarn all tangled together with stitch markers and a paperclip
-nail clippers that I've been using as scissors (they've never been used for their true purpose, only for clipping yarn)
-a dried-up pen
-a receipt with a list of patterns for "the next project"
-a size 13 double pointed needle (no idea why...)
-a paper tape measure from Ikea
-a packet of stitch markers (all types in one packet)

Here's what's in my notions bag now:
-stitch markers, each type in their own little plastic envelope
-scissors
-a real tape measure
-a set of cable needles
-two crochet hooks (a size D for fixing mistakes on small gauge projects and a size G for bigger gauge projects)
-a pen that works
-a little tablet of paper
-two types of row counters (the clicker kind and the kind that fit on circular needles)"

There is it. Looks like it is time for me to get organised as well. I have got bags and bags of yarn and incomplete projects and other crafty stuff all in a pile. Plus loads of books in every corner of the room. Oh boy...it is going to take me more than the couple of hours it took Kathleen to get herself organised. Mine's probably going to take a couple of months??

Shall just look forward to the result of being more productive and reducing the pile of incomplete projects and putting all the balls of loose yarn to a good cause. :)

2009-07-16T23:01:00.002+08:00

Join us on FaceBook...posted some free patterns - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26900603056

There is knitting, beading, quilting, jewelry making and peyote. There has to be something for everyone.

Happy crafting...

new craft session in the east

2009-07-11T23:29:00.002+08:00

Yes...finally got started on a craft session in the East. It is on Thursday night from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the food court of SingPost building at Paya Lebar. Do drop by and have some fun sharing and learning. Do let me know if you any projects in mind and need anything to get started. Most willing to assist in any way. :)

significant update....

2009-05-12T21:02:00.002+08:00

30 May 2009 - YES !! craft session is on at Blk 608 Clementi West St 1 from 2.30pm to 5pm.

My test ends at 11.30am so still can meet up with all of you. After that it's the suspense of waiting for results.

See you on 30 May !

wendyL

2009-04-17T23:13:00.002+08:00

Some updates for April and May 09:

18 April - no session : I will be going for a programme to up my intelligence level - an investment programme
25 April - YES...I will be at Blk 608 Clementi West St 1 plus doing a beginner class for bead-weaving before that. HOORAY!!
02 May - no session : attending an art and craft class
09 May - YES...I will be at Blk 608 Clementi West St 1
16 May - no session : attending an art and craft class
23 May - no session : attending an art and craft class
30 May - no session : taking assessment test after all the art and craft classes...

If I pass the assessment, I will be getting my certification as a trainer!!

Still can call, sms or e-mail me. I will be in touch when i get the opportunity to do so. if need to meet, let me know and we can arrange a convenient time during the week.

I will definitely miss the Saturday sessions. Whatever it is, continue crafting. :)

If you have a FaceBook account, do join us at
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=26900603056

lace knitting

2009-04-04T20:01:00.002+08:00

For all knitting addicts...follow this link and get 7 free patterns for lace knitting. All very pretty. I was surprised after downloading. It's like a whole book!

http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/patterns/archive/2009/03/31/knitting-lace-knitting-daily-presents-7-free-knitted-lace-patterns.aspx?download=true

Have fun lacing. :)

a Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year

2009-01-24T05:04:00.002+08:00

Season's Greetings to everyone.

There wll no get-togethers this week and the next week. We will start again the first Saturday of February. See ya.

WendyL

Do-What-U-Feel-Like-Doing Craft Sessions

2008-12-15T21:51:00.027+08:00

A "do-what-you-feel-like-doing" craft session...no fixed project. Choose from what we have or bring your own project. All materials purchased during sessions will be at a 10% discount.

Location: PA Pasir Ris 2-room Holiday Flat, 101 Elias Road, #01-05, Singapore 519886 (Near Car Park E)

Website: http://www.livelife.ecitizen.gov.sg/recreation/pa/hcr_PA.asp

Map: http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=41657143731&h=Tj52k&u=qyW8M

How to Get There: Bus 403 from Pasir Ris Interchange - http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=45538001077&h=yYPFj&u=XNBOC

Sessions / Timing
Charges (exclude materials) : $5 for a 2-hour session or $10 for a full 6-hour session.

Saturday - 2pm to 8pm
Sunday - 2pm to 8pm
Monday - 10am to 4pm

Projects (prices after discount):

Bracelets @ $4.95 (estimate - varies with selection of materials)
Handphone Pouch @ $4.05
Auspicious Goldfish @ $6.20

Golden Cow @ $11.60

Lucky Candy Basket @ $11.60

Prosperity Lantern @ 14.40

Own Project - bring whatever you have

Steps to registration:

click on "send me a message" at bottom right of this message

send in following details

Name
Contact Number
Session / Time
Project

confirmation e-mail will be sent out from us to you... :)

Following are pictures of some projects you can do. Couldn't find any nice pictures for knitting and crochet. Anyway, come join me and do something you have always wanted to do. See you soon. :)

how to cable knit

2008-11-18T01:55:00.003+08:00

Cables make a knitted piece look real class. Video attached shows rather clearly how it is done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJQS-XB20SQ

What is done in the video is usually indicated as C6F or Cable 6 Front i.e. take 3 stitches purlwise with cable needle, place at front of work, knit next 3 stitches on left hand needle and go back to knit the 3 stitches on the cable needle. You may do this by working the stitches directly from the cable needle or put them back on the left hand needle and work on them as you would any other stitches.

Try doing a cable by placing the cable needle stitches at the back of work and you will get a cable going in the opposite direction. This will be indicated as C6B or Cable 6 Back.

Do one cable placed in front and another placed in the back and you will get one that looks like a snake. Do two front and two back , one front and two back or in any combination you like and see what comes out of it. :)

Size of cable is determined by number of stitches used. Cable 2 or 4 for smaller cables. You may also mix different size cables in a piece of work.

Go on. Have fun creating different designs.

Feel free to give me a call or sms or e-mail should you need any clarification. ok?

NOTE: there will be no craft session this Saturday as I will be in Expo from Wednesday to Sunday.

next week's schedule...

2008-07-19T20:58:00.002+08:00

I will be away in Malaysia from Wednesday 23 July, to following Monday 28 July.

Therefore next Thursday and Saturday sessions will not be happening. As my phone will be switched off most of the time, feel free to message me if need to and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Have a week ahead.

some really lovely pieces

2008-06-22T00:30:00.000+08:00

These are done by a member of our FaceBook group. Just had to share with all of you as some are not on FaceBook.... :)

this is so pretty right?

and this? another lovely piece she saw at a shop and managed to do on her own.

a whole library of free patterns!

2008-05-26T12:57:00.006+08:00

Hi guys, I was searching for some yarn supplies on the internet and found this wonderful website. Sign up for free membership and get access to a whole library of patterns!

www.bernat.com

This Saturday - 24 May 2008

2008-05-22T14:41:00.001+08:00

Hi all, there will be no session this Saturday at Blk 608 Clementi West St 1. However, if you do need to check on anything with regards to the projects you are doing, feel free to drop by Blk 75 Ngee Ann Poly to visit. I will be selling t-shirts there. :)

Of course, can also drop by to shop for nice comfortable t-shirts. Most welcome.

FaceBook

2008-05-17T00:09:00.003+08:00

Have started a group on FaceBook for love of knitting and crochet. Find us there.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26900603056

updates

2008-04-29T03:30:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone, have been real busy lately. I've been trying out some new designs and been working on some projects. Following is the latest completed order, a baby's pink vest and another one's a baby's coverall thing with a hood. It's not completed yet but what I want to share is the rib. This is done with crochet and it looks really really nice and it feels just like a knitted rib. I just love it so much.

Free Knitting Patterns and Tips

2008-03-28T19:18:00.002+08:00

have a look ... it's one of the most informative sites.

http://www.knittingdaily.com/freepatterns/

Joining Yarn and Picking Dropped Stitches

2008-03-03T23:27:00.016+08:00

1. Have included a calendar in the ANNOUNCEMENT section. Regular and ad-hoc sessions will be indicated there.

2. How to pick up dropped stitches

This is the method for dropped knit or purl stitches. By now, you should have noticed that doing a knit stitch shows a purl stitch on the other side of your work and doing a purl stitch shows a knit stitch on the other side of your work. Therefore, the method of picking up a dropped knit or purl stitch is the same. When a stitch is dropped, place a pin on it to stop it from dropping further. Then get ready a crochet needle and pick up the stitch with the "knit" side facing you.

Found these pictures in a How-To website, shows clearly how to pick up the stitches.

Step 1 :

Step 2:

The link to this website is http://home.howstuffworks.com/knitting-instructions9.htm

3. How to join yarns

Besides tieing the end of the existing yarn and the start of the new yarn, there is this one way called SLICING. I have read about it but not tried this method as I find it rather troublesome. I have therefore just did the tieing method and the knitting-in method. However, I was amazed at the results of the slicing method when a friend showed me her scarf. It is totally invisible! I didn't even know where the joining was. This method, however, cannot be used for all yarns.

Click on the following link, it shows clearly how to do it.

http://morcatknits.typepad.com/spitsplicing/2005/03/or_how_to_join_.html

Shortcuts to Knitting How-Tos

2008-02-11T19:48:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone, thank you for your feedback, both verbally and via e-mail, on difficulty in finding the HOW-TOs among the many posts. I have added a "Shortcuts" section in the right column. It comes after "Announcements". Hope this makes learning more fun.

Do keep the feedback coming and let me know how else I can make this site more interesting and friendly, ok? Thanks once again for the feedback and for visiting and for coming back and for referring the site.

Looking forward to the next get-together.

:)

A Beret to Knit

2008-01-04T17:27:00.000+08:00

Knit this beautiful beret. It is done with 5mm knitting needles. Get the right yarn and the right sized needles and start knitting away. Should be able to get this done real quick.

thinner yarns and smaller needles = smaller beret

thicker yarns and bigger needles = bigger beret

http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/taos-beret.html

cute little minis

2007-12-17T18:06:00.000+08:00

Thought this is really cute as presents. Someone shared this with me and so will like to share with all...

http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/minutia/minutia.html

Joining Seams, Joining Colours and ....

2007-12-15T23:32:00.000+08:00

many other techniques... www.knittinghelp.com ....is just fantastic. Attached link is to videos on how to join colours and join seams. Having learnt how to cast on, how to do the knit and purl stitches and how to cast off. Now is the time to learn how to join 2 pieces of knitting together. I personally like the Mattress Stitch for side seams and the 3-needle Bind Off for shoulder seams. They give a very neat finish. Here goes...

http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques

Once you get this, try making 2 rectangle or square pieces - length to be the length of your blouse, width to be how wide you will like your blouse to be. When done, join side seams with Mattress Stitch from bottom up to about 10" from the top. Then join shouders, also with Mattress Stitch from outside inwards leaving enough gap in the middle for your head to go through...you will have a simple capped sleeve top. You can easily make this into a wider boat-necked or off shoulder top by adjusting the sewing for the shoulders. Give it a try with cotton yarn of your favourite colour. Make use of what you have learnt so far and create some interesting patterns to make this your own. The one and only that nobody has. :)

Easy to Crochet - Fingerless Gloves

2007-12-08T23:00:00.001+08:00

hi all, make a fashion statement with this pair of fingerless gloves. it really looks lovely. make it plain or colourful or glittery by sewing some blings on it.

got this from http://www.myknittingbasket.blogspot.com/ and the owner has kindly agreed to let me share her design with my friends.

This is worked top down.
1. Make enough chains to wrap around your fingers semi-loosely - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtmOEzm_OXQ

2. Slip stitch to first chain to form a circle - this is used for every round. Always go through the first stitch and pull through all loops on the crochet needle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JPGpBxsRto

3. Make one chain and work single crochets on every chain - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqhaQQajt0U, close with slip stich (as in step 1) after one round. Continue until you have enough to fill the section between the top part and your thumb. Remember to close with slip stitch after every round.

3. After closing of the last row in step 2, continue making enough chains to go around your thumb. Join to 2nd or 3rd stitch of the beginning of the last row. Continue working with single crochets on every stitch including chains round the thumb. Once again, remember to close with slip stitch after every row. Do enough rows to cover your palms.

Give it a go. Probably need only one ball of yarn. This will be a good project to do to use up balance yarns from finished projects.

Ever wondered how they do those "complicated" designs on a knitted piece? Will work on "how to do cable" soon. In the meantime, happy hooking....

Simply Knitted Scarf

2007-11-21T19:12:00.000+08:00

anyone tried the shawl in the earlier post? if yes, do share with us your experiences so that we can all learn from it. i am attempting a bead crochet necklace....tough on the eyes. will post a pic once i can get past the first 2 rounds with satisfaction.

for those who have started on the crochet tutorial videos and are itching to start on a simple project, it will be soon as i will be posting something simple in the next post. be patient ok while i figure out how best to present it.

following is a scarf i saw in one of the free patterns site. thought it looked really difficult but is really easy to do. they have indicated requirements for 2 different yarn thickness. i have done some simple explanation next to the instructions for the first 3 rows....try and figure out the rest, ok? feel free to give me a call or send me an e-mail if you need any clarification. :))

Unisex Scarf

Baby Camel 8-Ply Version: Finished Measurements: 6” wide x 53” long
Requirements: 2 hanks of Makalu Yarns 100% Baby Camel 8-Ply yarn Size 10 U.S. (6mm) Straight Knitting Needles

Directions for 8-Ply Version:

1. Cast on 25 sts.
2. K1, P1 to end of row. - Knit one, bring yarn forward to do a purl, continue doing one knit and one purl till end of row - remembering to bring yarn forward in between needles for a purl stitch and backwards in between needles for a knit stitch.
3. P1, K1 to end of row. - Purl one, bring yarn backward to do a knit, continue doing one purl and one knit to end of row.
4. Repeat Steps 2 & 3 (Steps 2-4 are the Seed Stitch). - do row 2 again, followed by row 3
5. Complete Box Pattern, Set 1 as folows:
K1, P1 *K3, P3 to last 2 sts *P1, K1.
P1, K1 *P3, K3 to last 2 sts *K1, P1.
Continue working these two rows for 10 rows.6. Complete Box Pattern, Set 2 as follows:
K1, P1 *P3, K3 to last 2 sts *P1, K1.
P1, K1 *K3, P3 to last 2 sts *K1, P1.
Continue working these 2 rows for 10 rows.
7. Continue working Box Pattern Set 1 and then Set 2 until the scarf measures approx 52” long.
8. Work 4 rows in Seed Stitch and bind off in Seed Stitch.

Baby Camel 4-Ply Version: Finished Measurements: 6” wide x 60” Long
Requirements: 2 hanks of Makalu Yarns 100% Baby Camel 4-Ply yarn Size 6 U.S. (4mm) Straight Knitting Needles

Directions for 4-Ply Version:

1. Cast on 31 sts and work in Seed Stitch for 4 rows the same as the 8-Ply version.
2. Continue working Box Pattern Set 1 and 2 as given for the 8-Ply version until the scarf measures approx 59"
3. Work 4 rows of Seed Stitch and bind off in Seed Stitch.

Pattern provided courtesy of Makalu Yarns.

Pretty Loosely Knitted Shawl

2007-10-30T22:46:00.000+08:00

Saw the above sometime back in one of the websites I was browsing through. Copied it wanting to do it for myself but didn't get down to doing it yet. Thought I'll share it here with all of you. Can't remember which website it is now.

Size 10 mm (U.S. 15) Knitting Needles - using a bigger sized needle than is suitable for the yarn gives the loosely knit effect. you may choose to use a smaller sized needle if you prefer one that's more tightly knitted but do know that the look and feel of the finished shawl may look different from what is shown.

Cast on 55 sts. - number of stitches can vary according to the size you will like to make. tip: increase or decrease accordingly to the number of stitches required to complete a design (refer 2nd Row in this pattern)

1st and alt Rows: (WS). Knit. - i.e. 1st row, 3rd row, 5th row, etc...knit the whole row.

2nd Row: K1. *yfwd. K2tog. Rep from * to end of row. - knit 1 stitch, yarn forward (bring the yarn to the front of work in between the 2 needle tips), knit 2 together and then repeat doing the yarn forward and knit 2 together till the end.

to modify, count the number of stitches in between the * and this will give you the number of stitches required to complete a design for this pattern. in this case it is 2 stitches. therefore to make a wider or narrower shawl, you will need to add or subtract number of stitches in multiples of 2.

remember the 3rd row is a knit row...and it will be the same for all odd rows.

4th Row: *K2tog. yfwd. Rep from * to last st. K1. - knit 2 together, yarn forward and keep repeating till there is only 1 stitch left, do a knit stitch. if you do not have 1 stitch left, then something is wrong...do not continue until it's rectified. look at the row again from the start and check if any stitches were missed out.

Rep last 4 rows until work from beg measures 50-inches [127 cm], ending with WS facing for next row. - start from 1st Row again and work through the 4 rows to form a set. keep repeating Rows 1 to 4 till work measures required length ending with an odd row which is the WS row as indicated in 1st Row.

Next Row: Knit. - knit all stitches

Fringe: Next row: **Cast off first st. *Turn and cast on 10 sts. Turn back and cast off 13 sts. Rep from * to end of row. All sts have been cast off.** - Cast off the first stitch by doing 2 knit stitches and dropping the 1st one over the 2nd one. Cast on 10 stitches onto the right-hand needle. change hands (needle on right to left and left t right) and cast off the next 13 stitches. keep repeating this casting on and casting off of stitches untill there is only one loop left on yuor right hand needle. cut the yarn off at about 4 inches away from last stitch, put it through the loop and pull tight. this finishes one end of your shawl.

With RS of work facing, pick up and knit 55 sts across opposite short end of shawl, rep from ** to ** as given above. - with right side (RS) of work facing you, pick up same number of stitches casted on at start of project along the opposite edge and do the same as above.

Tip:
Size: 25-inches [63.5 cm] wide x 50-inches [127 cm] long (excluding fringe). - this is only indicative as much depends on yarn and needles used - can be modified to your own needs.

Gauge: 11 sts and 15 rows = 4-inches [10 cm] in stocking st. - this is based on yarn and needle used for shawl as shown in the picture. this is especially important when using a different needle size and type of yarn as what is indicated in the pattern. we all this a sample swatch. will elaborate more on this in another post i.e. how to measure and calculate.

Abbreviations:Alt = AlternateBeg = beginningK = KnitK2tog = Knit 2 stitches togetherPat = patternRep = RepeatRS = right sideSl st = Slip stitchSt(s) = Stitch(es)WS= wrong sideYfwd= yarn forward - abbreviations are usually shown in any written patterns. it is a good habit to look through this before starting a project.

Give this a try if you can and do post your progress to share...or if you have any queries of any experience you have when doing this project that you will like to share, feel free to give me a call or drop me an e-mail.

That's all for now folks...will be back.

Basic Crochet Stitches

2007-09-30T09:59:00.000+08:00

Have not been updating for awhile...many apologies.

I have been looking at some how-to videos for crochet and found this website to be one of the easiest to compehend....www.knitwitch.com

I have attached links to the videos here.

chain stitch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtmOEzm_OXQ - the basis of a crochet project
single crochet stitch (sc) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqhaQQajt0U - also known as double chain (dc)
half double crochet stitch (hdc) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxA2osb5Qfk - also known as half treble (htr)
double crochet stitch (dc) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1txJLRPfuE - also known as treble (tr)

Above are the most commonly used stitches for most patterns. Do give it a try and get in touch with me if you need help. I can guide you over the phone, e-mail or if you prefer face-to-face, drop by any one of our meetup sessions on Thursdays at HarbourFront or Saturdays at Clementi West.

Next, I will be posting knitting projects with written English instructions and going through them step by step. Let me know if there is something you will like to do.

Meanwhile, work on those crochet stitches and have fun.

Reading Written Knitting Instructions

2007-08-31T17:34:00.000+08:00

I started with reading written instructions and what I have learnt is do not skip any sections unless it's an add on as part of the design. Otherwise, follow the sequence and the pieces will come together when everything is done.

Found this link in knittinghelp.com that explains the abbreviations found in written instructions. Comes with videos for some as well...interesting.

http://knittinghelp.com/knitting/abbreviations_explained/

Crochet - Chain and Single Crochet Stitch

2007-08-29T22:35:00.000+08:00

You've learnt the basics of knitting, now to learn the basics of CROCHET. Crochet works on a single needle with hooks either on one end or on both ends.

Like knitting needles, crochet hooks come in different sizes. Which one to use depends on the thickness of the yarn you will be using for a given project.

Crochet Hook

Following video demonstrates how to start a slip knot, continue with chain stitches and to move up with a row of single crochet stitch. Keep repeating the single crochet stitch and you can make a dishcloth, a handphone pouch, a bag and if it's big enough, sewing up 2 square or rectangle pieces may just become your favourite blouse. Make the piece longer and you have got yourself a dress!! So what are you waiting for, get what you need and start to crochet....

http://www.youtube.com/jp.swf?video_id=w45qDIM5S9Y&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/w45qDIM5S9Y/default.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskIB52IpX3D99LFwKHwVNJ1t

Need help on getting the materials, give me an e-mail, a call or just drop by one of the venues for our meetups -

every Thursday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm @ HarbourFront Food Junction (level 3)

every Saturday from 2.30pm to 5.30pm @ Blk 608 Clementi West St 1 (study corner - void deck)

Some projects you can make with the basics of crochet.....a handtowel and a handbag

Dropped a Stitch?

2007-08-25T12:31:00.000+08:00

Have you been working on any of the projects? Or are you stuck because you have dropped a stitch. Following are videos showing how to pick up a dropped stitch and what to do if ALL of the stitches were to slip out of the knitting needle.

How to pick up a DROPPED STITCH

http://www.knittinghelp.com/dynamic/php/video/index.php?file=/bas-tech-more/fixing-dropped-stitch-rds.mpg

How to PUT BACK STITCHES that have slipped out of your needle

http://www.knittinghelp.com/dynamic/php/video/index.php?file=/bas-tech-more/needle-into-work-rds.mpg

Drop me a line if need to and I'll be most glad to guide you through.

HAVE FUN!!

FREE Craft Projects to download

2007-08-20T18:50:00.000+08:00

free downloads plus free membership....

http://www.mycraftybooks.com/?ref=2232

Crochenit

2007-08-16T13:30:00.000+08:00

Read about this in a group that I was in and check this out. It's a combination of crochet and knitting. Really interesting. Click on the link and View Video which is second on the list. This cute auntie really demonstrates well. She is also very interesting to watch....I'm going to give it a try some day.

http://www.crochenit.net/free_patterns.htm#Instructions

patterns for beginners

2007-07-26T22:41:00.000+08:00

Found some really simple to do patterns and will like to share them with all of you. These are written instructions and it will be good to try and understand them.

Feel free to send me a message or give me a call if you need assistance or any clarification.

for starters......

hat

scarf

hairband

for the more adventurous starters...

bolero

ribbed lace bolero

Above patterns are available at http://www.bhkc.co.uk/data/knitpatt.htm

The laced bolero is from here - http://kellymaher.wordpress.com/2007/07/04/ribbed-lace-bolero/

It is important to know that the needle size and number of stitches required varies with the yarn you intend to use.

Want to start but not sure how, what to get or where to get them? SEND ME A MESSAGE or CALL ME @9633 6156. I'll be most glad to help in any way I can.

have fun!!

Casting Off

2007-07-15T10:21:00.000+08:00

The standard casting off of a piece of work:

Cast Off - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0plhuwVF4j0

Some other interesting ways of doing things that I discovered and will like to share with all...

this is the Double Wrap Cast Off - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvj0hccnGl0

another unique way of casting off -

an interesting and simple way to do the cast on -

Ways of Decreasing Stitches

2007-07-15T09:50:00.000+08:00

Have you been practising what you have learnt? What we have so far...

casting on
knit stitch
purl stitch
garter stitch
stocking/stockinette stitch
rib stitch
increasing stitches

to complete the basics of shaping a piece of work, following are the different ways of decreasing.

Purl 2 Together (P2tog) - http://www.knittinghelp.com/dynamic/php/video/index.php?file=/increase/bar-purlside-eng.mpg

Knit 2 Together (K2tog) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBpbLmgwHFA

Slip 1 Knit 1 Pass Slip Stitch Over (S1K1PSSO) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIlNNYt-Q94

K2tog and S1K1PSSO usualy goes hand in hand when decreasing on both sides of a piece of work. K2tog is done on the right side and S1K1PSSO is done on the left.

Practice Piece:

cast on 20 stitches
do single rib for 4 rows (K1P1 throughout the row for 4 rows)
increase one stitch at each side on last row of single rib (knit increase on 1st stitch and purl increase on last stitch) - you shd now have 22 stitches to work on
continue in stocking stitch for 4 rows (1 row knit and 1 row purl)
K1 K2tog K16 S1K1PSSO K1 (knit 1 stitch, knit 2 together, knit 16 stitches, slip 1 knit 1 pass slip stitch over, knit 1)
Purl whole row
repeat step 5 and 6 for 5 times (10 rows) - you should have balance of 12 stitches
cast off - see next post

The above would bring you through what you have learnt other than the garter stitch which is kniting on every row.

will post some simple projects for all to work on and feel free to send me a message if you need help.

have fun.... :)

Other Forms of Increasing Stitches

2007-07-05T22:28:00.000+08:00

the Purl Increase... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPJCawekDfY

Make One....shown as M1 in instructions. this increases a stitch in between 2 stitches whereas the knit and purl increase adds a stitch to an existing stitch.

Make 1 Left - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmUSinUjZbE

Make 1 Right - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCV0VC0Yim4

Knit Increase

2007-06-28T00:57:00.000+08:00

hi....promised to put this up before i leave for bangkok this friday. so here it is - Knit Increase.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILcTB5hc0XM

will introduce more ways of increasing stitches when i get back on Tuesday. :)

Don't like the Purl Stitch? Try this...

2007-06-22T19:14:00.000+08:00

Following are some interesting links.

the backwards knit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT-u3MBGFtI

the continental way - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jhCV4ZTLrA

The Stocking / Stockinette Stitch and Rib Stitch

2007-06-12T22:59:00.000+08:00

Now that you have learnt the knit and the purl stitch, it's time to discover the different effects you can achieve with just these 2 stitches.

- The Knit stitch or Purl stitch on every row gives you the Garter Stitch. This is shown in an earlier post.

- One row of Knit and one row of Purl gives you the Stocking Stitch - also known as the Stockinette Stitch. This gives the piece of work a flat even look on the front and bumpy on the back. The steps are:

Cast on desired number of stitches

Knit to end of row

Purl to end of row

Repeat rows 2 and 3

Note: always remember to start a new row holding the needle with the stitches on your left hand.

- One Knit stitch and one Purl stitch worked through the row on an even number of stitches for every row gives you the Rib Stitch. The steps are:

Cast on an even number of stitches

Knit one stitch, bring yarn to the front of work in between your knitting needles, Purl one stitch, bring yarn to the back of work in between your knitting needles - repeat to end of row

Repeat row 2

Note: always remember to bring the yarn to the front of work and to the back of work in between the knitting needles after every stitch otherwise additional stitches will be added on and your work will not only grow in length but will also grow in width!

Following is a video on how to do the Rib Stitch. It is in Cantonese but I find this to be the easiest to follow. It even shows how a stitch is added if the yarn is not brought to and fro in between the needles after every stitch. A big hole will be showing where the extra stitch is.

Always count the number of stitches you have on your needle after every few rows. If not so confident, then best to count after every row. :))

The Purl Stitch

2007-06-11T00:02:00.000+08:00

the one other must-learn stitch in knitting is the PURL stitch. following are some videos of how it's done.

the american and continental way

the left-hand purl

NOTE: when doing the knit stitch, the yarn is at the back of your work. when doing the purl stitch, the yarn is at the front of your work. getting this wrong may result in extra stitches being made.

Projects you can do with Garter Stitch

2007-06-10T17:44:00.000+08:00

some things you can do with what you have just learnt - the garter stitch.

a dish cloth

a backpack

a loosely knitted shawl - get this effect with a really big needle and do the garter stitch. beautiful piece.

one of our saturday sessions.

coming up next - the PURL stitch and something really interesting. how to do both without turning your piece of work.....

The Knit Stitch

2007-06-06T01:45:00.000+08:00

There are basically 2 stitches to learn in knitting - the knit stitch and the purl stitch. For starters, we will learn the knit stitch first. Just as there are many ways to cast on, there are also many ways to do the knit stitch. The most commonly used ones are the American and the Continental methods. Following video shows how to do both methods. Once again, this is a personal preference. For me? I am used to the American method.

Left handed? No problem. Check this out ...

Have you started on casting on yet? Don't wait anymore. Get started because many things can be done with just the knit stitch.

How to get started?

first: select the yarn and get your knitting needles ready.

second: measure one arm's length of the yarn and that is where you start your casting on. To get a hang of it, start off with about 30 stitches or as many as you can do with that one arm's length of yarn. One loop on the knitting needle is one stitch.

third: done with casting on? Now you can start to knit. Hold knitting needle A with the cast-on stitches on with your left hand and the working needle B with your right. Ready? Go!!

When done, all the stitches would have been transferred to needle B on your right. This will be Row 1. Now do a swop. Hold needle B with your left hand and needle A with your right. Start to knit again. This will then be Row 2. Continue doing this and you should see this design forming....

We call this the Garter Stitch.

Congrats and give yourself a pat on the back because continue doing this and you are on your way to working on your first project. On it's own, this can be a scarf. Sew up the sides and it becomes a pouch or sew up both ends to form a circle and it can be a hairband. The options are unlimited.

Will be posting some other stuff you can do with Garter Stitch. For now, keep practising. Need clarification? Send me a message. Ok? Will be back soon....

How To Cast On

2007-06-02T01:07:00.000+08:00

Got your knitting needles and yarn? Can't wait to start? Check out some of these easy-to-follow videos.

Single Cast On - www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzT8ayY6wxc - the simplest of all cast-on methods...though not recommended for start of project. This method is usually used for making of buttonholes or shaping for projects.

Knit Cast On - www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TDgDOzBqj8 - this is new to me. I'm going to give this a go. Looks really interesting and secure....and fun too. Probably need to leave a long tail of about 3 arms length before start of first cast-on stitch.

"Usual" Cast On - www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOXbfb_pFDA - I don't have a name for this but this is what most knitters start with as it gives a firm base to a project. It is my favourite. Just remember to leave a long tail of about 3 to 4 arms length before starting the first cast-on stitch.

Note: Length of long tail depends on number of stitches you need to start with. 3 to 4 arms length is an approximate for knitting a sweater.

There are many other methods of casting on. These can be explored at a later stage. Pick up on one of the above, start on a small project and there will be more interesting things to discover along the way...no rush. Take your time and enjoy the journey.

Coming up next...the knit stitch and what you can do with it.

Have fun and welcome to the club.

Knitting Needles Conversion Chart

2007-06-02T00:44:00.000+08:00

Confused by the numbers on your knitting needles? Fret no more. Attached is conversion chart for your reference... (click on chart to see enlarged view)

Which Yarn to Use?

2007-05-31T12:46:00.000+08:00

What you use depends on what you want to make. Most craft shops will be able to tell you which yarn will be most suitable for your project. The most commonly used will be the 100% cotton yarn for our weather. The thicker ones are good for making bags and pouches as they do not become as "furry" as the woolen yarn. For keeping warm, it's best to get 100% wool material. However, baby yarn and acrylic works just as well in an air-con environment.

As for knitting needles, the most commonly used sizes are the 3.5mm, 4mm, 4.5mm and the 5mm. Which size to use depends on the thickness of the yarn.

Have a query to clarify or need someone to help with getting what you need? Feel free to send me a message.

Knitting Needles

2007-05-28T07:23:00.000+08:00

Different types of knitting needles:

Straight Knitting Needles - good for beginners as they provide good support for stitches. Needle size is indicated on the needles itself.

Circular Knitting Needles - works the same as Straight Knitting Needles. It is basically 2 needles joined by a flexible cord. It can be confusing for a beginner to use this for their first project but it is also not difficult to understand how they are used. Most knitters prefer this for their portability....it fits into a handbag!

Double Point Knitting Needles - these are useful for projects that require circular knitting with small number of stitches. Examples are gloves, baby beanies, socks, etc...the next picture will give you an idea of how it works.

the Double Point Knitting Needles doing the work....and YES - you work with all 4 needles at the same time. :) Tricky but fun.

Knitting needles come in various materials. There are the metal ones, the wooden ones and the plastic ones. Each has got their own good points so choosing which ones to use is a personal preference. My preference? A pair of wooden circular needles - light weight and convenient to carry around. Furthermore, the feel of wood gives a warm, cosy feel to the project. All in the mind? Probably but it sure makes me a happy knitter.

Welcome to Star Guidance

2007-05-27T16:36:00.000+08:00

hi everyone, this is for all who will like to learn knitting, crochet or jewellery making at their own time and pace. feel free to ask any questions you may have and i will answer them to the best of my ability. let's all learn together.

love this blogskin? me too...my elder girl helped me with this :)