Radiant Raffia Giveaway

Radiant Raffia Giveaway

Thank you, Bloomsbury!

I was so excited the other day to open my email and find a lovely inquiry from Emily at Bloomsbury Publishers (@Bloomsburybooksus) asking if I would like an advanced copy of Radiant Raffia by Olga Panagopoulou. Of course, I jumped at the chance, but not before getting a special treat for YOU as well! But more on that in a second.

This beautifully photographed book includes 20 Inspiring crochet projects made with natural yarn. Wait, crochet? Not knitting? Yep! Crochet! My original fiber art. When I was about 5 years old, my grandmother taught me crochet. She was an avid crocheter. Though she never wrote her own patterns, she could take any doily she found and recreate it without a pattern. She taught my mom, who made all the blankets we had in our house and many I now have in mine. Then, my grandmother taught me. As my grandmother was one of my all time favorite people, her favorite hobby, crocheting, is very dear to my heart and reminds me of her. I can still feel the Louisiana summer heat as I am sitting in the back of her metallic olive green Mercury with crochet cotton and a tiny metal hook, my small fingers trying to create my own version of the numerous doilies that lay on each table in her home. Crocheting being our go to traveling activity while my Pop drove. You can read more about how my grandmother influenced my love of crochet here, and about my current favorite crochet project I have ever done that still sits on my table by my chair.

But enough about me - you are here to find out about this book. What is in it and should you buy it?

As the subtitle indicates, this book contains 20 crochet projects for you and your home, all made with natural fibers. The two pictured on the front cover are a cute hat and drawstring bag, each I would love to begin immediately! The book is broken up into three sections, accessories such as the hat and belts, housewares such baskets and a tablecloth, and then a section on special stitches to help you with the included patterns. The author lives "on the dreamy Cycladic island of Syros," (p.6) a Greek island in the Aegean Sea south-east of Athens. This region and the dreamy seaside setting are reflected in the beachy vibes of the patterns and the photography. Flipping through the book makes you want to pack one of these beach bags from the book with a towel, sunscreen and raffia yarn and find a chair under an umbrella to crochet the day away. Which was exacting the author's dream life, and why she wrote the book! I would say mission accomplished! Buy this fabulous book as soon as it comes out on May 21st, 2024.

Can't wait until May 21? I got you! The lovely Emily at Bloomsbury has offered my readers a copy as well! All you have to do to enter the giveaway is one (or all!) of the following:

• If you comment on this blog post with why you would love to crochet one of these projects, your will be given one entry.
• If you share this blog post to your social media, you can win TWO entries.
• If you sign up for my newsletter at https://girlfriendsknitting.com/newsletter, you will be given FIVE entries.

That's it! I will put all the entries in a hat and randomly select one on April 25, 2024. I will notify the winner and Bloomsbury will send you an advanced copy! You will love it!

Your crocheting girlfriend,
Carolyn

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7 Books for Learning How to Knit

There has been a resurgence of crafts and learning how to make things ever since the pandemic locked us in our houses for over a year in 2020. One of those crafts is my personal favorite - knitting. I have spent over a decade teaching people to knit and spreading the love of all things fiber arts and now, it seems everyone knits, or wants to! I have searched the interwebs and have found seven books that I believe will help you learn my favorite craft.

But let's get our crafts straight first. Every time I am knitting in public, I inevitably run across someone who says, "Oh, my grandma crochets." I usually respond with, "Mine did, too, and taught me how as well. But this is knitting." At that point I usually get a confused look and a quick end to the conversation. Your average non-fiber artists do not know the difference between knitting and crocheting. There are many examples in movies and television, as well as advertising, where one craft is mistakenly used for the other. And if you are just learning to knit, you might not understand the difference either. So, let's clear it up.

Knitting uses two straight needles.

Crocheting uses one hook.

And though I love all fiber arts, and can knit and crochet, I typically focus on knitting on this blog. And that is why we are here - to learn to knit. What are the best books to learn to knit? Any one that you can understand the directions, has pictures, and has patterns that you can follow to get your started. With those criteria in mind, here are seven books on learning how to knit. I hope you find one that will help you on your knitting journey.

1. Vogue® Knitting The Learn-to-Knit Book

The staple of any knitters pattern collection are Vogue patterns. Vogue is a trusted name in knitting how-to as well. Thus, this book promises to be solid guide to learning to knit.

2. Knitting for the Absolute Beginner

Absolute beginner? Then you might want to check out this one by Alison Dupernex. The patterns include sweaters, which might be intimidating for a newbie, but it also might be just the thing to push you out of the box of rectangular knitting. 

3. Knitting For Beginners: The A-Z Guide to Have You Knitting in 3 Days

This book makes a bold promise - to be able to knit in 3 days, but I believe it is totally possible! In fact, I have a video that I think can teach you to knit in 15 seconds! (See below). Therefore, this claim might just be what you need.

4. First Time Knitting: The Absolute Beginner's Guide

If it is your first-time knitting, take a look at this book. This books takes a learn-by-doing approach, teaching you as you work sample projects.

5. Knitting for Beginners: A Step by Step Guide for Knitting Beginners

6. How to Knit: A Beginner’s Guide to Learning How to Knit Step-by-Step

I love the photography in this book. Though all of the books will give you step-by-step guidance, being able to see what you need to do is essential. The photography may just help you.

7. Susan B. Anderson's Kids' Knitting Workshop: The Easiest and Most Effective Way to Learn to Knit!

If you are looking for a book to help kids learn to knit (or kids at heart), you can never go wrong with Susan B. Anderson. She is one of my all-time knitting heroes, and I will always recommend everything she writes. My autographed copy of her Itty-Bitty Toys book is one of my treasures. She also has a yarn company, Barret Wool Co., that sells beautiful American sourced wool. Check it out!

Learn to knit in 15 seconds?

Think it isn't possible? Take a watch and then tell me if this doesn't explain it well!

@girlfriendsknitting #girlfriendsknitting #learntoknit #knittersoftiktok #knittingtutorial #knittok ♬ original sound - Finnished Knits

Now, whichever book or course you choose to learn to knit, the main thing is DON'T GIVE UP! It takes practice. You will feel awkward at first, and like you need two more hands to get everything doing the right thing. That is a normal part of the learning process and does not mean you can't learn or aren't any good at knitting. It just means you are learning. Keep learning!

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How do you decrease in knitting? K2tog and SSK explained

How do you decrease in knitting? 

K2tog and SSK explained 

When you first learn to knit, you start off with simple straight lines, back and forth. You learn to knit and then to purl. You learn that combining knit and purl stitches can create ribbing. But eventually most of us get bored with various sized rectangular items. There are only so many scarfs, dishcloths, and blankets one can make. If you want to learn how to create sweaters or hats or socks, you will have to learn how to shape garments by increasing and decreasing the number of stitches.

A decrease is when you combine two or more stitches, thus reducing the total number of stitches you have. When shaping items, such as the top of a hat, you have to combine decreases to have the desired effect. In fact, there are many different types of decreases to further customize the look a pattern designer wants to achieve.

In this article, we will look at two basic decreases. If you are a seasoned knitter, there will be very familiar to you. If you are newer to this craft, or have not ventured far out of the world of rectangular objects, this is for you! These are the first steps you need to create more complex and wearable pieces.

K2tog - Knit 2 together

This decrease is as simple as it sounds - you are knitting two stitches on the left needle as if they were just one. Insert the right needle through two stitches on the left needle, instead of just one, and then knit them as if they are one normal stitch. This is a "right-leaning" decrease, meaning that it leans to the right. Thus, it is often put on the left side of a garment so that the decrease leans in towards the center of the garment. You can remember the direction by the way the line points in the "2." See the picture below for reference.

If you are purling, it is called P2tog, or Purl 2 together, but it essentially the same concept. You would insert the right needle into two stitches on the left needle as if to purl, and then purl them together as if they are one stitch.

SSK - Slip, Slip, Knit

This is another way to knit 2 stitches together so as to decrease the overall stitch count. You slip two stitches from the left needle to the right needle as if you are going to knit them (called "knitwise"). Then you insert your left needle into the front of the two stitches you just slipped, and knit them together. This is a "left-leaning" decrease, meaning that it leans to the left. Thus, it is often put on the right side of a garment so that the decrease leans in towards the center of the garment. You can remember the direction by the way the line points in the "S." See the picture above for reference.

Another way to do the SSK is to slip the first stitch as if you were going to knit that stitch (knitwise) and the second stitch as if you were going to purl it (called purlwise). This will create a less noticeable SSK.

If you would like to learn more, consider this book all about increases and decreases. That should tell you how many ways there are to do this.

Increase, Decrease: 99 Step-by-Step Methods; Find the Perfect Technique for Shaping Every Knitting Project

For even more information, check out my blog post on the best books to learn to knit.

My current favorite needles (that I love so much I bought TWO sets, in different colors of wood) is Knit Picks interchangeable needles. The fact that they are wood makes them a little "grippier" (yes, I made that word up, but you know exactly what it means!) than metal needles, which will make them easier to use when learning to knit or learning new stitches. They also are pointy enough to get into multiple stitches when decreasing, making learning these techniques easier.

I demonstrate all of these decrease techniques in the video below. Let me know if this makes you run to try a pattern with shaping!

@girlfriendsknitting Learn hiw to decrease yoir knitting stitches! Both K2tog and SSK. Join my newsletter at girlfriensknitting website to get weekly patterns and tutorials. See the link in the bio!#howtoknit #howtoknitforbeginners #knittersoftiktok #knittingtiktok #knittok #girlfriendsknitting #foryoupage #fyp #decreasestitch ♬ original sound - Girlfriends Knitting

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