One of my best friends from high school is from Iceland. She used to go home to visit and come back with photos that looked as if they came from a stunning fashion magazine. The sweaters on her friends and family members were gorgeous! Many were made by hand, gifts from someone special. I'll never… Continue reading Emily Explains: Stranded Knitting in the Round
Category: emily explains
Emily Explains: Assembly for Gazost
Last Thanksgiving, long before my time at Berroco, I was sitting on the couch with my dad watching an old movie, when all of a sudden, he paused it and had an idea. My businessman, sports-loving, grill-aficionado father had a design idea for me. Usually, these idea are silly and revolve around golf or sailing,… Continue reading Emily Explains: Assembly for Gazost
Emily Explains: Duplicate Stitch
We all love Fair Isle and intarsia, but sometimes those techniques can be a little intimidating. And what if you only want to add color in a small section of your knitted piece? Try duplicate stitch! It's a sophisticated style of embroidery and it's really easy to learn! You simply use a contrasting yarn to follow the… Continue reading Emily Explains: Duplicate Stitch
Emily Explains: Knitting Swatches for Inspiration
I have to be honest...sometimes I get so overhwelmed by choosing a project that it keeps me from starting anything. I end up knitting many swatches instead. Swatches are a way for me to "sketch" with my knitting, play with texture and color, and have fun without the pressure of making something perfect. Swatches are… Continue reading Emily Explains: Knitting Swatches for Inspiration
Emily Explains: Creative Embroidery
Fall is creeping on in, which means it's time for me to start pulling out my beloved woolens. I love basic hats to keep me warm throughout the fall and winter, but I've been thinking it might be fun to embellishing them with a bit of embroidery. I adore these vintage bathing caps from the… Continue reading Emily Explains: Creative Embroidery
Emily Explains: Some Fun Knitting Facts
I adore the fall...the cool air settling in...freshly sharpened pencils...mornings with tea and a good book... and, most importantly, the big fat fall fashion issues that are delivered to me! They're full of beautiful photography, clothes and works of art that inspire us throughout the season. Sometimes it takes an effort to read and not knit,… Continue reading Emily Explains: Some Fun Knitting Facts
Emily Explains: How to Make a Color Blocked Pom Pom
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of playful embellishments. I'm tempted to add fringe to everything! Needless to say, I loved the colorful pom pom that's sewn to the top of last week’s free pattern, Rist. I have been curious about making a color blocked pom pom and this design gave me the… Continue reading Emily Explains: How to Make a Color Blocked Pom Pom
Emily Explains: How to Read a Lace Chart
I don't know about you, but I was a totally intimidated the first time I looked at charted patterns. All of those little boxes, foreign symbols and lines going every which way -- it’s enough to give a girl knitting nightmares! But once I faced my fears, I realized that it wasn’t so bad. Now… Continue reading Emily Explains: How to Read a Lace Chart
Emily Explains: Knitting a Flat Pattern in the Round
On my last trip to Maine, I was sitting on the porch with my mom and flipping through Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. She'd given me this book as a gift, at a time when I believed I would never become a good knitter. It has been an endless source of inspiration and… Continue reading Emily Explains: Knitting a Flat Pattern in the Round
Emily Explains: Sewing on Buttons
Between work and knitting for others, it’s hard to find the time to knit for myself. I managed to squeeze some in during my visit to the Mermaid's Purl in Wickford, RI, knitting with Lizzie and her customers, and also on a trip to Maine. I was finally able to finish this cute wool sweater that… Continue reading Emily Explains: Sewing on Buttons
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