SIO Tips no. 72 - Binding off

When you are ready to cast off; loosely knit the first two stitches of the row, then pass the first over the second leaving one stitch on your right needle. Loosely knit the next stitch and pass the previous one over it, again leaving just one stitch on your needle. Do this all the way across. When you get to the end cut the yarn, leaving about 8 inches of tail, and pull the end through the remaining stitch. Weave the tail in across the back of your knitting using a blunt yarn needle, doubling back to secure it.

SIO Tips no. 56: Using up wool oddments

Wool oddments can make your craft box look a real mess; there are some great ways to use up the funny assortment of colours out there. 
A big favourite is to knit a whole lot of squares for a knitted patchwork quilt; great for a baby blanket and family heirloom. 
This also makes a great project to teach a new knitter as the squares can be whatever size you like, great practice to get the hands used to knitting and quick to put together with amazing results.
 

Knitting is good for you...

Well, so a recent newspaper article said.  For two main reasons; firstly as a stress buster and secondly as away of keeping the brain active for older knitters. Relaxing some of the time I agree but not when struggling to learn or following a tricky pattern.

Our own research told us that newbee's often find knitting stressful; they told us that they want simple but not making endless doll's neck ties or small squares for charity blankets. In response the Nesta kit came to be. Simple to do and room for tension variations with easy to follow pattern but the result must be good enough to use, Nesta is just that. The pretty cushion would grace any decor and the process build confidence, as promised crafting without tears.

Nesta is named after a very talented lady, wife of a Snowdonia sheep farmer who transformed an ancient ruin of a large slate farmhouse into one of the most sympathetic and stunning restorations I have ever seen. The cushion would have fitted in a treat with its natural tones, so reminiscent of the sheep they farmed high on their Welsh mountain.

Rosie 

Creative Director SIO

SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time

© Gail Johnson - Fotolia.com

SIO Tips no 33

If you put your knitting down mid row the wool should always be on the right hand side of the work when you set off again.

SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

New to craft, so where to start?

Christmas crackers pulled, turkey is long gone, and that strange period between Christmas and New Year takes hold.  Bit at a loss on what to do?  This is the perfect time to try out a new hobby or bring an old back to life.  Sometimes put off by past experiences or the belief that things are harder than they really are.

Crafting is becoming very popular but where do you start, that is the hard bit unless you have a Grannie to hand to show you.  For children it is easy but finding starter kits for adults can prove a challenge.  They do exist and they make life easy by bringing together all you need or much of it.

There are so many old wives tales around putting people off.  Crochet it not difficult unless you take up fine lace work, it is less stress than knitting, as your pretty much only responsible for one stitch at a time, not a whole row!  French knitting, cotton reel with four pins on top is not just for kids, you can make quite sophisticated designs from mug hugs to coasters.

So dive in, see what kits you can find, get help from the vast number of video's on You Tube, books or find a local craft club or centre where you can try out your hobby with others, picking up hints and tips as you go.

Craft Tips No. 17

Old jumpers make fab cushion covers, remember to overlock or hem the edges well to stop fraying



SEEK IT OUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time

Craft Tips for Newbies No 6

Knitting needles come in bamboo, plastic, metal, even milk based. Bamboo is flexi so good for newbies. Metal last a long time and milk is good for those with stiff hands but not recommended for newbies as need special handling. http://ow.ly/c5zR0

Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time

Craft Tips for Newbies No 4

Crochet in a round, working the work in one piece to form a tube like structure often used for bags. Use a safety pin to mark row starting points as hard to find start sometimes, move up each row and then you will always know the start point to ensure you do not end up with 1/2 row extra! Our crochet and felt starter kit bag is worked in the round, check it out.

Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time

CraftTips‬ for newbies No3

Knitting needles come in many lengths, use shorter ones when starting out easier to control.

Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time

CraftTips‬ for newbies No2

Helpful Craft Tips. Use the wool end from centre of the ball not outside, easier to control ball when knitting, wool jumps around less. 

Seek It Out: Changing the world a stitch at a time

CraftTips‬ for newbies No1

Knitting pins and knitting needles are one and the same.Confusing we know!


Seek It Out Changing the world a stitch at a time

Leaning to the Left!

Do not be locked out just because you favour the left.

Turns out our Plump Flump maker is a lefty!  Who says left handed folks cannot knit or crochet, we can, this is living proof.  In the Seek It Out team there are several lefties and we can assure you that it has not stopped us crafting.  Instructions are not always helpful but it is just mirror image stuff not rocket science.  So if some mean soul is telling you that being a lefty means you are out in the cold then you tell them they are wrong and the righties do not rule the world!

Seek It Out: changing the world, a stitch at a time!

Picture credit © Solomin Andrey - Fotolia.com / © Grin2k - Fotolia.com

One step for mankind one giant leap for....

The team here at  Seek It Out just love it when we hear that a first attempt at a new hobby went fantastically.  Being so aware of the fact that people are scared off by complicated instructions or lack of instructions it is great to hear of a success story.  Seek It Out tries to stock or create craft kits, mainly for adults, which can actually be enjoyed and completed.  We need say little in this blog, the words from the lady concerned says it all and the picture brings the little plump flump to life.  Knitting it seems is a new found passion for this lady in her 20's.  We have asked her if she can send some more pictures which we will host on our gallery.  So if you have a craft you want to try tell us and maybe one day your creation will take centre stage on our blog or gallery.

Our customer said......

"Just taken a quick snap of my finished Flump…I have to say I'm very proud of it being my very first exploration into knitting and will definitely be doing more. (counting the rows was an interesting experience!) - the wool is magic the way the stripes appear, a very rewarding kit - My friends cat loved the ends of the needles as I knitted and was keen to adopt the Flump itself so I made a little mouse out of the extra wool for him to play with :)"

Seek It Out: changing the world, a stitch at a time!