Happy Thanksgiving every one!  I only have one link to share with you this week, as actual patterns for knitting and crochet Thanksgiving projects are kind of scarce it appears.

                       

1. Thanksgiving Crochet

 

If you find something, let me know. Enjoy your Holiday!

 

A new writer is needed for Knit Bits.  You can contact the Senior Editor at Tia-at-TheHomeschoolMagazine-dot-com if you are interested in writing this weekly column.

 

 

Related Tags: Thanksgiving, hobbies, crochet

The holidays are arriving, and there still might be somebody you don’t have gifts for.  Maybe there is a certain decoration that you lack.  Perhaps your Christmas tree is a little bare.  Here is a list of links that will take you to websites with cute gifts, ornaments, and decorations.

 

1. Crazy Christmas Crochet
2. Crochet Pattern Central
3. Christmas Patterns

There are a lot of neat and interesting patterns out there to help spice up your holidays, and show off you crocheting skills at the same time.  I hope you enjoy them.

 

 

Related Tags: Christmas, crafts, crochet

Quizzes are definitely fun, and there are tons of them out there, so I just dug up a few to share with you.  If it’s a quiz about something we like to do, how can we resist?

 

1. The Knitting Addiction Quiz
2. A Crocheting Quiz
3. Another Knitting Quiz
4. Knitting Lingo Quiz

 

I hope you enjoy these quizzes.  Let me know if there is something you would like to see me cover on Knit Bits.

 

Knitting has been around for centuries, and even antique patterns hold usefulness and charm for today’s knitters.  There are many websites where you can find vintage patterns, but I will just share a few with you.

 

1. Historic Knitting patterns
2. Antique Knitting patterns
3. Antique Knit and Crochet patterns On this website it lists e-books to download with vintage patterns.
4. Once upon a Pattern There are several old patterns for sale on this site.

 

I hope you enjoy working up these patterns, or even just looking at them.  With today’s fashion, sometimes old-fashioned is best.

 

 

Related Tags: knitting, crocheting, needle crafts, hobby, historic, vintage, patterns, fashion, old-fashioned

Calling all sock lovers! 

 

I am now announcing a contest hosted by the Giving Flower.  (Hat Tip: Competizione) All you have to do is take a picture of socks that you have made, or if you haven’t made socks just leave a comment talking about making socks.  It doesn’t matter what kind of sock it is toe-socks, knee socks, ankle socks, dog socks, just as long as you knit or crocheted the socks. If your name is drawn, you will then win either a sock pattern, or stitch markers. The deadline is the 31 of October.

 

Here are some links to some sock patterns, you might not have time to make socks before the deadline, but here they are anyway.

 

1. Lombard Street Socks
2. Anastasia Socks
3. Michelle’s Basic Socks

 

Have fun knitting!

 

 

Related Tags: knitting, crocheting, needles, crafts, socks, patterns, contest

 

My knitting 4-H project won a champion at county and a champion at state fair!  It seems like it took me forever to finish it!    I made this bear for my foster cousin.  I love to make gifts and enter them in the fair and then give them to the person I made them for along with the ribbons that it won.      It is suposed to have bloomers, but I didn't feel like I had the time to do them.  The blue dress is part of the body, so you can't undress her, but I didn't sew the hat onto the head.  The apron's neckstrap is too tight to pull off of the head, so that is kind of stuck on there too.   I got the pattern from Knitting Pattern Central, but you can go straight to the pattern by clicking here.

 

 Related Tags: knitting, crocheting, crafts, country, bear, fair, county, state, champion, gift

I’m sure that many of you have found several friends who share interests with you.  To help you discover more knitters like yourself, here are some who blog right here on HSB.

 

Ø      Beloved Lamb, the previous writer of this knitting column.

Ø      7mommy

Ø      Sweetie

Ø      knitteralaska

Ø      Stayseeliz

Ø      dawilli

Ø      icart61

 

I enjoyed seeing and reading what these bloggers had to share about knitting.  Be sure to leave them a comment that will encourage their endeavors!

 

 

 Related Tags: knitting, crocheting, needlework, blogs, bloggers, crafts

What kind of Knitting Needles are you? This phrase popped out at me as I was searching Google. Of course my curiosity was piqued and I had to take a look. I wound up being bamboo needles. Go to Quizilla to find out what kind of knitting needles you are! Taneil Linschied has been homeschooled since kindergarten. She enjoys crocheting, knitting, tatting, and writing. Check out her blog, Defective Compositions at www.homeschoolblogger.com/Eyebright Related Tags: knitting, quiz, quizilla, bamboo, needles

There are many organizations that are devoted to helping to clothe and feed those in need.  Those of us who knit and crochet can help in the category of clothing.  For some people it is a ministry.  If you feel that you need to be helping people less fortunate than yourself, then here are a few links to help get you started.

 

• Warm Up America
• Binky Patrol
• Afghans for Afghans
• Teddies for Tragedies

 

Each of these programs asks you to make either a whole blanket, patches for blankets, or hats, sweaters, and socks for people around the U.S. and some them, the world.  This is a great way to be productive if you want to be crocheting or knitting, and aren’t sure what you want to be working on.

Related Tags: knitting, crocheting, crafts, ministry, clothing, Warm Up America, Binky Patrol, Afghans for Afghans, Teddies for Tragedies

Magazines and catalogs are great ways of getting news and ideas spread around.  For us needle-crafters, this means patterns and tips.  There are many great magazines that provide fun and interesting patterns.  The one that I receive is Annie’s Favorite Crochet.  Here are a few others that are similar that you may be interested in:

 

• Interweave Crochet
• Crochet!
• Crochet Fantasy

 

Catalogs provide kits, pattern books, and tools that give plenty of choices.  Catalogs supply many crafters with their yarn and tools.  Here are a few publications to take a look at:

 

• Mary Maxim
• Annie’s Attic
• Herrschners Online

 

All of the above links take you to the websites of each catalog.  The catalogs feature many other projects than knitting and crocheting, and you have to buy the patterns.  Now you can enjoy a whole new world of possibilities!

 

 

Related Tags: knitting, crocheting, needlework, crafts, catalogs, magazines

There are some needle crafters out there that are quite comfortable with both knitting and crocheting.  Fortunately for us, there are some patterns that incorporate both.  Some patterns, for example, are just a knit poncho with crochet trim, and others are strips of crochet and knit alternating to create an afghan.

 

Combining knitting and crocheting not only shows off your abilities, but also gives a different look that can probably not be found in just knitting, or just crocheting.

 

Unfortunately I could only find one website that had combo patterns.  Crochet Pattern Central has a few patterns with mixed crochet and knit.  (Note:  I found a few of these patterns to be untasteful.)

 

Listed below are three patterns that I would like to make.

 

This lace baby blanket is a straightforward knit pattern with a very pretty crocheted edging.

 

The Steffie Shrug is a sort of half sweater, with a crocheted edge that compliments the rest of the garment, which is knitted.

 

The Itty Bitty Kitty Purrrse is a cute purse that some little girl would like to have.  Knitted pieces assembled with crochet is what makes up this handbag.

 

If you are able to locate, or know of any websites that have combo patterns, please let me know.

 

 

Related Tags: knitting, crocheting, patterns

Tunisian Crochet, sometimes known as Afghan crochet, is an intriguing variation of normal crochet.  A long hook that looks like a knitting needle is used to crochet a fabric with a very interesting texture. 

 

Sadly, I couldn’t find anything on the history of Tunisian Crochet itself, but I do know that crocheting has been around for hundreds of years, and there are many different variations.

 

Tunisian Crochet is also a good base cloth for counted cross-stitch.  The fabric forms a repeated pattern of squares.

 

There are different stitches you can learn in Tunisian Crochet that will give you more to explore in the interesting corner of crocheting known as Afghan Crochet.

 

Here are several links to various websites that will give directions and patterns.

 

• Tunisian Crochet Links has tons of great patterns and instructions for afghan crochet. 
• Crochet Pattern Central also has several how-to links, and patterns for creating things in Tunisian crochet.
• Chez Crochet.com provides wonderful tips on how to prevent your piece from curling.
• Crochet Me has a great article on getting started with Tunisian crochet.

Attention all laptop bloggers who also indulge in knitting! 

 

As you know on those cold days when your poor laptop is left to its own devices, it probably gets slightly chilly.  So to combat this seasonal disease there has been created, just for YOUR laptop, a knitted sweater.  Just follow this link to /c.wei/knit to discover how to knit one of these must have creations.

 

Just think how happy your laptop will be to receive one of these protective coverings at Christmas.  I am sure it will make his/her day!

 

There are many people out there who do not know how to knit or crochet.  For some it may be a matter of just not having time or resources, for others they have no one to teach them.  You may just not have the patience needed to sit down and do it.  I recommend finding some way to learn how to create projects that someday may become cherished heirlooms.

 

Here are several links to websites that show you step by step how to do anything from a single crochet to the stockinette stitch.  Some just provide links to other how to websites.

 

 

·        Bev’s Country Cottage  has plenty of links for instructions that show you how to knit and crochet..

·        The Craft Yarn Council of America  can tell you the why, and some simple patterns to get started with for knitting and crocheting.

·        Googobits has an article that will give you some simple tips to help get started with crocheting.

 

I want to encourage you to work on learning this art; it can be calming, satisfactory, and fun.  When you get better you can also listen to a story, or music while working on your project.  Whatever you do, don’t Get Discouraged!  It won’t help very much.

 

Many people enjoy lmaking dolls and their clothes.  It is an art that has been enjoyed for centuries.  One of the ways to make clothes for these popular toys is to crochet them!

 

My Grandma has been crocheting for many years.  One of the traditions she has is to make each of us granddaughters a dress for a Barbie doll.  She also enters dolls in the county fair and often wins a large ribbon for her work. 

 

She gets the patterns from Paradise Publications.  There are some really pretty outfits!  Each of us girls, six in all, has a wish list for the doll outfits we like best.

 

Here is a picture of one of the dolls that my grandma made for me:

 

 

When you decide to begin crocheting doll clothes, Crochet Pattern Central has more than enough patterns to choose from. 

 

Knitting is another way to make doll clothes.  My Grandma uses a knitting machine to do that.  Generally though, all of the knitted outfits look like winter apparel.

 

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