Spin-A-Yarn | Knitting Resources and Free Pattern!

After posting about my slouchy beanie here, I was so excited to hear that several of you would like to learn to knit and crochet. Well guess what? I can totally deliver! 

I am going to start the Spin-a-Yarn Knitting and Crocheting School, and YOU can be enrolled!All you have to do is check my blog every week on Wednesdays to learn something cool and new about working with yarn. I would love it so much if you were vocal and let me know specific things you're interested in learning. For example, go "Hey, I saw this cool sweater- how do they do this pattern?" or "Holy cow, how do I know if I want to knit a project or crochet it?" Speak your minds, friends! 

As we wrap up the knitting portion of Spin-A-Yarn, I wanted to share some of the best resources I've found in my knitting time.

• Lion Brand has a website where you can get lots of cute free patterns. They even have an e-mail list that will send you updates with patterns and sales. You need to sign up for this website, but it's totally free. (Granted, they will always tell you to use their yarn for projects, but you can really use any yarn you want.)
• Bernat also has quite a free patterns, which makes life nice! Again, you have to sign up for their patterns, but its free so don't worry.
• The Daily Knitter is a website that links to you different free patterns and you can sign up for their regular newsletter. They also have a blog that gives you lots of useful tips for your knitting.

There are tons of other resources out there, and if you just do a Google search for "free knitting patterns" you'll get lots of results.

Now I would like to share a really simple blanket pattern with you. I've been working on this for the last week or so and I love how soft and elegant it's looking so far. I'm going to share the pattern in beginner language and pro language (with acronyms and symbols). If you give this pattern a shot send me some pictures so I can show you off!

• Use a size 9 needle and a medium-weight yarn. I used a baby yarn because it is so smooth and soft! This blanket can be made in a couple comfortable sizes. For small (like a baby blanket), cast on 152 stitches. For large (like a couch throw), cast on 296 stitches. 
• Row 1: Knit across the entire row.
• Row 2: Purl across the entire row.
• Row 3: Knit 4 stitches. *Knit two stitches together. Repeat two more times. (Don't freak out, this is super easy and pictures will be attached below.) Knit one stitch and loop your yarn over the needle to create an extra loop. Repeat five more times. (Again, SO EASY and I will include pictures below. You will be so proud of yourself for doing this.) Knit two stitches together. Repeat two more times.* Now notice how there are two asterisks in these instructions? Repeat everything between these asterisks over and over until you only have 4 stitches remaining on your left needle. Knit the last 4 stitches. 
• Row 4: Knit across the entire row. 
• Repeat rows 1-4 over and over until you have reached the desired length for your blanket. 
• If you want to use multiple colors, when you've finished a set of 4 rows knot your new color to the old color and keep knitting away.
• When you've finished, simply bind off, and you, smarty pants, have yourself a beautiful blanket!

So as to avoid freak-outs, here are images for how to knit stitches together:

1. Instead of inserting right needle under one loop, insert under two loops from your left needle.
2. Continue as a regular knit stitch. (Pull a loop of the tail through both loops on your right needle and slip those stitches off of the left needle.)

And how to knit one stitch and loop your yarn over:

1. After completing a regular knit stitch, grab the tail and loop it over the needle, going from front to back.
2. Continue onto the next stitch as normal. (In the third picture, you may notice a gap under the second stitch. That's what this yarn-over should look like. It will create strategically placed "holes" in your work for the lace effect.)

Here is the pattern in knitting lingo (see if you're a pro enough to read the pattern!).

• CO 152 (296) stitches. 
• Row 1: Knit
• Row 2: Purl
• Row 3: k4 *(K2tog) 3 times, (k1, yo) 6 times, (K2tog) 3 times* repeat between * until 4 stitches left, k4
• Row 4: Knit
• Repeat rows 1-4 until desired length