If you are machine knitting, a great yarn combination is lurex and 2/24 acrylic yarn. This is a fun and easy sweater shape for you to try out.
A Perfect Time Of Year To Knit Holiday Sweaters
Creating a Schedule For Your Knitting
Whether you’ve been knitting for a long time now or you’re completely new to knitting, one thing that can really help focus your efforts and make things less stressful is to create a basic schedule. This way, you know what you’ll be knitting ahead of time, or at least have a basic idea.
Many knitters create their schedule by days of the week, Monday Mindbenders, Tuesday Teasers, etcetera. You get the idea. We’re going to create a sample schedule for knitting. Let’s start our week on Monday and go from there.
Monday Machine Knitting: On this day, you could write about the differences between machine knitting versus hand knitting, pros, cons, patterns, and so forth. Some great tutorial topics would be how to convert a hand-knitting pattern into a machine-knitting pattern and how to work in rounds on a knitting machine. There are also a lot of one-day projects out there for machine knitting, like making a sweater in one day. You could review different machine knitting patterns, projects, and accessories.
Tuesday Twos: Get it? Knit one, purl two? Okay, so maybe I’m not as witty as I think I am, but you get the idea. You’re looking for a daily project that you can easily knit. This could be patterns, whatever comes up when you’re knitting.
Wednesday WIPs: If you’re wondering WIP stands for work(s) in progress. So, sticking with our knitting example this would be whatever projects you are currently working on. Share pictures, talk about mistakes you might have made while going through the pattern, share a tip about the project.
Thursday Threads: Product reviews could go on this day. Talk about that awesome luxurious new wool you just bought, or the shiny new needles.
Friday Free Patterns: Here is another opportunity to talk about products that you’re using and the free patterns that you’ve found on the internet. The nice thing about free patterns is that they free us up to splurge a little more on the supplies.
Even better if you create your own patterns and share them with your readers. You’ll find yourself with a following of fans in no time at all.
Saturday Scarves and Socks: Everyone always seems to be knitting one or the other at any given moment.
Sunday Wild Cards: I like to leave Sunday as a wild card day where I might or might not knit.
Choosing Appropriate Knitwear
There are many styles of cardigans to chose from such as those made with a V-neck, the sleeveless vest and the zip up styles among others. This knitwear comes in different forms of fabric and colors. The type of knit used also differs for you can find some made from polyester, others from cotton or polyester. These types of knitwear appear clean and the cardigans made from this type of knit are thin. It is also possible to find knitwear made from wool and cotton and this type of knitwear is heavy, warm and comfortable.
When looking for a cardigan to buy, the first thing you should consider is how well it will match with your body type. If you are plump, then you should go for those that will not make you look so much overweight. Try to get those that will keep your body looking in shape. So seek to buy those that are thinner as opposed to the heavy ones. You may also think of getting the sleeveless vest. If you are a short person, the zip up style of cardigan is a good choice for it will make you look taller. However, if you are looking for a knitwear cardigan to keep you warm without considering other factors, the heavy ones will be a good choice. Comfort is also another issue to look out for when buying cardigans. Those cardigans that have an inner lining are the best to look out for, for comfort.
Other forms of knitwear include scarves and jumpers that are essential when the cold season starts. Choosing the scarves to wear will depend on the clothes you are wearing that day. The color of the scarves should not crush with that of your clothes. Leggings are also another type of knitwear and should be comfortable to wear while not color crashing with the clothes one is wearing. This type of knitwear is best when it is lightweight and able to guard the wearer from wind. There are also hats made of knitwear to keep your head warm during cold weather. You should follow the characteristics mentioned above when selecting knitwear hats. The other form of knitwear to select is gloves, which will keep your hands warm during the cold season.
When getting these, make sure that they are well fitting and that they have extra insulation for the very cold seasons such as winter. You may also consider carrying an extra pair of gloves in case the one you have gets wet from moisture. Designer knitwear is also available which means that it is a fashion statement. One of these designs is in jumpers, which are now very fashionable to wear and come in different styles and colors and offer an alternative to the common hooded jumpers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathaniel_Willhelm_Jacobson
What You Need to Start Knitting
Knitting
Of all the different types of needlework, knitting is one of the most popular. Knitting is a specific type of needlework that is identified by the process of looped stitches pulled through one another. Knitting is commonly used to make clothing and accessories such as hats, scarves, sweaters and gloves, as well as blankets and afghans. Most commercially produced knitted items are made with knitting machines; their high speed is indispensable for meeting the demands of the world economy. Knitting machines have not done away with human knitting, however; far from it, knitting has gone through a recent resurgence in popularity as a craft and hobby.
One of the great things about knitting is that you can make a wide variety of items with the same relatively simple steps. Just select a different type of yarn and a different variation in your stitch, and you can come up with a very different end product.
The origins of knitting
Archaeologists have found evidence of knitting as far back as the first millennium. Obviously, knitting has been around for a long time. Indeed, even the ancient Egyptians are known to have knitted colorful socks and other accessories. It is generally thought that the first peoples to use knitting to make blankets and clothing were the ancient Arabians.
The history of knitting was pretty straightforward until the invention of the knitting machine. The knitting machine completely changed the purpose of knitting. Before the industrialization of knitting, it was an essential task for many families, a means to keep warm and clothed. After the knitting machine, blankets and clothing were mass-produced far more cheaply than any one person making it. For this reason, knitting today is primarily a recreational pursuit. Knitters enjoy gathering together to socialize. People love to knit because it can be an extremely relaxing way to pass the time and ease one’s nerves. The products of their pastimes are often presented as gifts, which can save you some money as well.
The demographics of knitting are changing as well. Knitting used to be the sole preserve of primarily older women. More and more, however, knitting is becoming popular with younger generations. Indeed, some studies show that knitting has risen in popularity among the 25 to 35 age group by as much as 150%.
Different types of knitting
The two main types of straight-needle knitting are weft knitting and warp knitting. Weft knitting requires only one string of yarn at time, but can be more susceptible to snags and runs. Warp knitting, on the other hand, is usually done by machine, so when most people think of knitting, they are usually thinking of weft knitting. Another important type of knitting that is commonly done by hand is circular knitting. This method uses a circular needle, and creates a “tube” of yarn when completed – great for socks and other tubular garments.
What materials do you need to start knitting?
Knitting is an ancient and rudimentary craft. As such, the materials that you need to knit are fairly basic; when it comes down to it, all you need to knit is some needles and some yarn. You should pay close attention to the type of yarn you use, however, as it will have a significant impact on how your final product looks and feels. For instance, certain yarns are appropriate for stretchy materials, while other yarns will produce less stretchy, more solid final results. The width and thickness of the yarn should be taken into account when selecting knitting needles to use. Picking out the yarn can be one of the more pleasant steps in making an item, as knitting yarn comes in a variety of colors and styles and it is always fun to play around with your imagination. Some are solid colors, others have multiple colors for striping, and others include sparkles and other embellishments.
Knitting resources
The best thing for those serious about knitting is to join a knitting circle. In a knitting circle, members will meet with their yarn and needles at the home of different members or local coffee shop and just knit, share tips, and socialize.
If you are on your own, you can always turn to the Internet for a wealth of knitting resources. Groups, forums, and message boards provide a means of communication and getting together for knitters. Through these avenues, many knitting enthusiasts share tips, techniques, patterns, and tales of successful projects. The Internet is also a great place to order knitting materials and patterns, and can help novice knitters get past some of the challenges that face those new to the craft.
Craft and hobby stores will also carry a robust selection of knitting needles, yarns and patterns. Do not be afraid to ask employees in these stores for help – more often than not, you will be able to find experienced knitters who can offer you some sound advice and tips.
Mary Amos loves arts and crafts and has been knitting for years. See her favorite knit patterns at Knits and Knitting Patterns, and be sure to visit Knitting for more knitting fun!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Amos
Long Cardigan Sweaters – Simplistic Fashion For Both Men and Women
The cardigan sweater has been a long time favorite for both men and women. You can find them in a variety of lengths and styles. The long cardigan is one of the single favored styles. The long cardigan is perfect to keep you warm in the cooler months of the year.
These are perfect for both men and women. They are made in a variety of materials with wool being amongst the favorite. They come in all different types of styles as well.
A cardigan is a type of sweater that usually buttons up or in some cases can zipper up. They are traditionally long sleeved although they can also have short or three quarter sleeves. They are often also made from cotton, acrylic blends and wool. many new fibers and fiber blends are being created every year.
A cardigan sweater has a long history in fashion. There are plenty of options because they have been such a fashion staple. They have never gone out of style. They have been around for quite some time but what has changed is how they are worn.
You can wear a long cardigan with skirts, slacks and jeans. Many times a long cardigan will be the main piece of clothing in an outfit. It can be worn belted with a matching belt or it can be worn with a belt made of yarn or leather.
Most of the time a long cardigan, is a part of a layered outfit. Typically it is worn with either a long sleeve shirt or a turtle neck. Sometimes it is a bit sophisticated in its style and in that case it is typically worn with dress clothes.
The type of yarn used to knit the long cardigan will dictate the cost of the sweater. The more luxurious the yarn, the more expensive it will be to buy the yarn and knit it yourself or buy it already knit. For example, an angora sweater will be much more expensive than an acrylic sweater. Expect to spend anywhere from forty dollars to several hundred dollars. Regardless what you spend it is a great investment, this is a timeless classic that will never go out of style.
Long or short  cardigans are a fashionable addition to any wardrobe.
Yeah! Sweater Weather Is Here
Sweaters have always been an important part of my wardrobe, so I really enjoy weather which allows me to wear my favorite item of clothing. However, I do find during the summer where air conditioning is so cold inside buildings that sweaters continue to be an important staple in my wardrobe almost year round.
Because there are so many different types of sweaters, make a list of those that are favorites for your personal wardrobe. See if you can find additional new ways to wear that same style of sweater. Review fashion magazines, watch for sweaters on your favorite TV shows, go shopping and just observe the people that are around you and how they are wearing their sweaters.
It will give you great ideas when you begin to knit with variations that can allow you to enjoy your favorite sweater style just knit in a slightly different way.