After the success of my first brioche project I decided to try another one. This time slightly larger in scale. The only rule I gave myself was that I had to use stash yarn to make it. I have a fair amount of cascade heritage fingering weight yarn, so I decided to look for some […]
My First Brioche Cowl is finished, just in time!
I posted a couple of weeks ago that I was learning Brioche Knitting, using this fantastic I found this beautiful bandana cowl by Lavanya Patricella. It turned out to be a super-quick knit, I managed to get it finished in just 5 days…! I’m also pleased to report that Brioche knitting isn’t really as hard as […]
I’m so NOT a “completer-finisher”…or am I…?
I was looking through the list of posts that I have part-written over the past year and I’ve realised I need to get better at finishing posts. I currently have 15 un-finished posts (16 if I don’t post this one too!! 🙂 ); There are the things I’ve had ideas for and not completed and […]
How to make the Slip Slip Knit (SSK) and why!
Slip Slip Knit (SSK) is the “sister stitch” to K2tog. Both decrease the number of stitches you have. Like most knitting stitches, “Slip Slip Knit (SSK”), describes what you do…to reduce a stitch this way, you will carry out the following steps: Slipping “knitwise” simply means putting your needle under the stitch as if you […]
How to Knit two together (K2tog) and Purl two together (P2tog)
In this post I’m going to show you how to Knit two together (K2tog) and Purl two together (P2tog) These are both “decrease” knitting stitches. These techniques will help you reduce the number of stitches that you have. Your pattern will usually tell you which to use. How to Knit two together (K2tog) This is […]
Brioche isn’t just a type of bread you know…
I love Brioche, especially the chocolate kind….but this post isn’t about the bread brioche, its about the knitting brioche! Brioche knitting is a kind of one or two (or more?) colour knitting technique which uses yarn-overs to create a thick textured, multi-coloured fabric. Like this fabulously intricate shawl (“Sizzle Pop“) by Lesley Anne Robinson Or […]
How to M1L and M1R and remember which is which!!
How to Make 1 Left (M1L) and Make 1 Right (M1R) I’m going to show you how to M1L and M1R. These are increases made on the knitted side of your work. Not sure what I mean by “knitted side”? check out this post here To make a M1L or a M1R, you will use […]
How to Knit front and Back (KfB) and Purl Front and Back (PfB)
Knit Front and Back (KfB) and Purl Front and Back (PfB) Knit front and Back (KfB) and Purl front and back (PfB) are the easiest ways (in my opinion) to increase the number of stitches you have when knitting. To make this increase stitch, you simply have to knit or purl the same stitch twice. […]
My Crochet Between the Lines (CBTL) Shawl – WIP
Hey Folks! Recently I’ve been getting my cro-jo back on and I’ve been working on this new shawl design from the super talented Tammy Canavan-Soldaat. She has created a knitted one called Read Between the Lines and a crochet one called Crochet Between the Lines. I’ve done a lot of knitting projects recently so I […]
30 Day Sketchbook Challenge – Week 4
Hello and welcome to the last week of my 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge. I’ve enjoyed having a new prompt every morning again this week and I will miss that for the rest of the year! However I have knitting and crochet to get on with and all this drawing does eat into the time I […]
How to count Rows and stitches in Stockinette Stitch
In pretty much everything you knit, you will at some point need to learn how to count rows and stitches. This is especially important if you’re making something that needs to be a certain size, as you will need to make sure you knit in the same “gauge” as the designer. If you’re not sure […]
How to knit and measure your “gauge”
In this post, I’m going to talk about “gauge” and specifically, how to use a gauge swatch to measure your gauge. Why is “gauge” important? The pattern will describe the “gauge” the designer used. This simply means the number of stitches and rows in a specified measurement. Gauge is normally measured over either 4″ or […]
30 Day Sketchbook Challenge – Week 3
Welcome to the third of my weekly round-ups for my 30 day sketchbook challenge 2018. Just in case you’ve missed Week 1 and Week 2, I’m taking part in a sketchbook challenge. Each morning a new “prompt” is released and we have to sketch something that relates to that prompt! Some are easier than others!!! […]
Everything Nice Hoodie is finished!
I was going to share an update with you on Wednesday but..I was sooo close to finishing this, I really just wanted to get it done. I put the last stitch in on Thursday night….although I was playing some SERIOUS yarn-chicken for the last few rows! This was how much I had left as I […]
30 Day Sketchbook Challenge – Week 2
Hello Folks! I’m persevering with this sketchbook challenge. I have to say, on balance the pictures haven’t gone as well as Week 1. As promised, I’m going to share the good and the bad though, so here goes! Day 8 – “Flowers” I decided to get my watercolours out for day 8. Unfortunately, after some […]
You’ll be proud of me…I am knitting sleeves!
Hello, for those that have read some of my other posts, you’ll know I don’t like knitting sleeves. I am however focussed on my January 2018 Goals, one of which is to complete this Everything Nice Hoodie. I finished the body last week and so I had no option BUT to knit the sleeves… When […]
30 Day Sketchbook Challenge – Week 1
Hello! As you may have read in my January 2018 Goals post, I’m taking part in a 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge! Each morning, I get an email from the organisers Magenta Sky Printing with a new prompt. After some initial panic thinking “I can’t draw that!!!”, my little cogs start whirring. There is a Facebook […]
Which Yarn to use for knitting or crochet?
There are so many types of yarn to choose from. If you’re just starting to learn to knit or crochet, you might find this a bit confusing…I know I did!! I’m hoping this post will help you with which yarn to use for your next project! Whether you crochet or knit, yarn is yarn and […]
January 2018 Goals
Hello! Can you believe its 2018 already? This decade is going so fast! This year, I decided, rather than setting goals for a whole year I’d set myself some smaller goals for each month. So that they can be achievable, I’ll set them at the start of each month. Now, I know the clever ones […]
Random Stripe Cardigan is finished!
Let me start by saying (quietly, just in case anyone has a hangover) Happy New Year to everyone of my lovely readers and your families! I hope you had a lovely evening last night and brought in 2018 doing something you wanted to do! Mr Jo-Creates and I had a fun night with some very […]
My favourite tutorials of 2017
Earlier this week I shared some of the projects I’ve been working on in 2017. In this post I thought I’d look back at some of the tutorials I’ve shared, just in case you missed them! It started in February, when I shared this Magic Loop technique for crocheting in the round. In May, […]
Saturday WIP Update
So, you lovely lot! I hope that you have had a good “between Christmas and New Year”. Some of you will have had to work I know, I hope its not been too tough! Others (like me!) will hopefully have had a break from the day-to-day. I’ve not had an awful lot of time for […]
How to knit the Purl Stitch – a photo and video tutorial
In this post I’m going to show you how to knit the purl stitch. I’ve taken this from my “Learn to Knit for Beginners Course”. Because I thought you might want to have a handy reference guide for different technique, I’ve split my course into a series of specific posts like this one too.
How to knit the Knit Stitch – a photo and video tutorial
In this post I’m going to show you how to knit the knit stitch. I’ve taken this from my “Learn to Knit for Beginners Course” which you can find here. Because I thought that you may want to look at specific techniques, I’ve broken it up into a set of posts like this.
My 2017 in Wool…a round-up of 2017’s knitting and crochet
We are fast-approaching the anniversary of my Jo-Creates blog, coming up mid-January. Thanks to all of you who read and follow my ramblings. All of your comments and support are greatly appreciated and spur me on to create more!! Without you there would be no point to what I’m doing!! 🙂 🙂 To celebrate my […]
Happy Christmas everyone!
I hope you all have a lovely Christmas! Jo x
WIP Monday – New Cardigan and Jumper!!
I know “WIP Wednesday” is traditional but I’m not always one to follow the rules, so here is “WIP Monday”! I thought I’d share my progress on my current WIP’s with you. I’ve been a bit absent from blogging recently, but thats because (along with many Christmas nights-out!) I’ve been concentrating on knitting. WIP 1 […]
Sunday Snowday. Getting in touch with my inner child!
Like a lot of the UK, we woke up yesterday morning to a blanket of snow. As my cousin (Who lives in a ski-resort in France) pointed out, snow isn’t all that exciting to a lot of people. For us in the wet and a bit too warm midlands though, the last time I remember […]
WIP Update – New Cardigan design
Last night was our work’s Christmas party. Its always a good laugh, filled with dancing, a late night and possibly slightly more then the strictly recommended intake of alcohol….I decided to take today off to recover!! I went “steam punk” so please forgive me for the black fingernail polish…it was all part of the costume!! […]
Chicken Cassoulet Soup – 2 ways
You may have spotted that I like soup…..especially, thick “meal-soup” types. Here is my latest recipe. This one is for Chicken Cassoulet Soup. Made 2 ways, a “normal way” and a “healthy” way. You can make either but if, like me, you are TRYING to squeeze into your Christmas party frock, the “healthy” way will […]
The great tea-debate 2017 – the power of a “good cuppa”
This may (or may not be?) a very British post. Along with many people around the world, I LOVE a nice “cuppa”! I’m a firm believer in the power of a cup of tea…. Feeling sad? Cup of tea will sort that! Friends round? Get the kettle on!! Feeling cold? ohh a nice cuppa will […]
Stripes Gone Crazy is finished!
I’ve finally finished my stripes gone crazy cardigan!! 🙂 yay!!! The yarn is lovely ans squishy and drapes beautifully. I used Cascade Heritage Sock, really love this yarn and will use it again in a cardigan soon. (I’m already working on my design!!!!) So here it is…..crazy stripe…love it! I’ve been a fairly monogamous knitter […]
Autumn walks, podcasts, knitting sleeves and minions!
Yesterday, the weather was cold and wet. Today, Remembrance Sunday, is much nicer. It is a typically cold November morning but the sun has come out. I love sunny winter days, I get to put on my hand-knits and go out for a lovely walk. So lets get started with walking and podcasts Sometimes I […]
Weekly Update – Not really about knitting but I think you’ll like it!
Hello crafty friends! I’ve been VERY busy recently knitting away at my one project so I’ve not had much to share in the way of progress. Sorry! On Saturday I had a big family gathering in my (not so big!) house. I’m very lucky and all my lovely family bought wine and chocolates to help […]
How to Increase or Decrease Knitting Stitches – Learn to Knit for Beginners – Lesson 6
Welcome back to my Learn to Knit for Beginners course. You’ve made it to Lesson 6, well done! In this lesson we’re going to learn about how to increase knitting stitches and how to decrease knitting stitches. That basically means we’re going to look at how to add or reduce the number of stitches using […]