Fiber Arts Resources

**This page is being kept as an archive in the hopes folks find it useful!  If you're looking for a more concise and updated resource page, please check out the Resources and FAQ page on my website!**

So here's a page of various Fiber Arts Resources, collated from around the internet.


Note on Videos: Not all videos posted have closed-captioning available.  I will note such in the description.  If you wish a transcript of videos that do not have closed-captioning, please contact me and I will get that to you.

Symbols, Abbreviations and Definitions:
Colour Theory:
Other Databases and Resources:
  • Knotions Technique Database:  This is a database of techniques and tutorials published by Knotions Magazine.  If you're looking for a tutorial on a specific stitch, cast on or other technique, there's a good chance you'll find it here.  
Knitting and Health:
Knitting Skills:


Knitting Styles:
Fabric Construction: 
Garment Construction:
  • How to improvise a top down sweater, from Fringe Association: This discusses how a top-down raglan sweater is created, and why specific techniques and shaping are used.
  • Top Down Raglan Sweater Generator, from knittingfool.com:  This uses a percentage system to calculate the construction of a top-down Raglan Sweater Generator.  It will do most of the math for you, but I would still suggest you have a sweater under your belt before really delving into this tool.
  • Contiguous Set In Sweater Sleeves, from Suzie Myers.  Contiguous sweater sleeves are a method of creating sleeves in top down sweaters that don't have to be sewn in.  Please note, that this tutorial does require a pretty solid grasp of sweater construction, and the instructions suggest that it would be helpful if you've knit a top-down raglan sweater before. 
  • How to Knit Seamless Set-In Sleeves, from By Gum, By Golly.  This tutorial walks you through how to pick up stitches and use short rows to create seamless set-in sleeves.  Please note that this tutorial does expect you to have a good grasp of sweater construction.
  • How to knit a circle or polygon, from Kit Dunsmore's Blog:   This pattern tutorial discusses exactly what it sounds like -- how to knit a circle or a polygon, from the centre out, and have it lay flat.
Introduction to the Fiber Arts:
Needle/Hook Size Guides:
Online Calculators:

  • The Knitulator, by Eskimimi Makes.  This is a very useful tool where you can tell it how many stitches you have, and how many you want, and it will give you two different ways of increasing, using either M1 or KFB.
  • Knitting Conversions and Calculators, from KnittingFiend:  This set of calculators has increases/decreases, bust darts, yardage calculators, and more, and has been intensely useful to me over the years! 
Organization Tools and Tricks:
Photography:
Row Counting:
Sizing Resources:
Teaching Resources:
  • Patterns that are available as use for teaching knitting classes:  There are two links, one is to a Ravelry Bundle that I'm curating, and the other is to the same set of patterns linked on my Pinterest Board.   While these patterns (including my own) do allow for their use as teaching aides, please note that this -does not- mean that you can simply copy the pattern and give them out to your students.  Each student should purchase their own copy.
Tension/Gauge Resources:
  • Needle Material and Tension, from Knit Darling:  Yes, needle material has an effect on the tension of your garments. Here's what was found out. 
  • When Row Gauge Matters and how to Address It, from Knotions Magazine. Row gauge is usually sacrificed to make stitch gauge work (which is arguably more important), but we can’t forget about row gauge, and this blog post shows why! 
  • The Startling Differences in Gauge Between Knitters from Yarnsub. This is about just how much various knitters gauge can vary, and why it’s so important to swatch! (I’d assume the same applies true to crochet, as well, but that is an assumption!)
  • Why you should Wet-Block your Swatch; from Yarnsub.  This is about how knitted garments usually grow when washed, and that growth needs to be taken into account in your initial gauge swatch (or your object will be too big after washing!)
  • Good Tension between Knit and Purl Stitches, from verypink Knits.  This captioned Youtube video shows a wonderful trick to keep your tension even between knit and purl stitches. 

Tools:
Yarn Information:

Tutorials:

Alternating Skeins:

Blocking:
Brioche:
Buttonholes:
  • From Cocoknits comes a wonderful tutorial on buttonholes, focusing on how to keep 2 stitch buttonholes from gaping when not buttoned up!  Tutorial has written instructions and an embedded Youtube Video with captions.
Cables:
 Cast Ons:
Cast Offs:
Colour Pooling:
  • From Red Heart Yarns, comes a compilation of a whole bunch of resources on planned pooling. The tutorials and videos are for crochet, but the premise can be adapted to knitting, as well. The videos are embedded Youtube Videos and should all have automatic CC. 
Darning:  
  • A blog tutorial on Darning from Colette Sewing patterns, using images from the 'Make Do and Mend' material published by the UK government during World War II.  
  • Darn It All Darning Tutorial, by Kate Gilbert for Twist Collective.  This is a photo and text darning tutorial for 4 different methods of darning socks (though the techniques could easily be adapted to darning sweaters and such!)
Double Knitting:

Edgings and Borders:
Entrelac: 

Estonian Stitches:
Fair Isle/Stranded Knitting:
  • Fair Isle Tutorial from TinCanKnits: This is a photo and text blog post showing a detailed Fair-Isle tutorial.  It's based on one of TinCanKnits free patterns, the Clayoquot Hat.  You will need the hat pattern to complete the full tutorial, but it is a free download linked from the blog post.  Note that the Clayoquot hat pattern is charted only, there are no written instructions for the Fair Isle sections.
    Colour Dominance: From Ysolda Teague: This blog post talks about the dominance of one colour over another in Fair Isle, and why it happens.   It also gives images of sample swatches to see the difference that colour dominance can make.
  • Colour Dominance Tutorial from Knotions Magazine:  This tutorial is short, but it's a solid discussion on what colour dominance is and how it works. 
  • How to hold Yarn when Stranded Knitting, from the CraftGossip Knitting Site.  This is a brief text tutorial and embedded Youtube video with automatic closed captions, that talks about how to hold two colours of yarn for stranded knitting (both English and Continental!)
  • Taming Long Floats with the STUART method, from Techknitter.  Here's a fascinating method of trapping long floats on the wrong side of stranded colourwork, shown in a photo and text tutorial.
  • Fair Isle in the Round, from KnitFreedom: This Youtube Video with automatic captions talks about how to avoid some of the tension issues that come up when working Fair Isle in the round.  
  • Carrying Yarn up the Side of your Work. This Youtube Video from Knit Purl Hunter shows how to carry unused yarn up the side of your work.  It will work for both flat and circular knitting.  Video has automatic captions.
Finishing:


Fringe: 
  • How to Make Fringe, from Knitting Tips By Judy's Youtube Channel. I particularly like her idea of keeping different sizes of cardboard templates to make different lengths of fringe.  Video has automatic captions. 
 I-Chord:
Increases and Decreases:

In the Round:
  • Magic Loop Video Tutorial, from Knit Picks.  This Youtube Video with automatic CC shows how to do the Magic Loop method of knitting in the round.  
  • Traveling Loop Video Tutorial from KnitFreedom.  This Youtube Video with automatic CC shows the traveling loop method (a close relative of the Magic Loop method) of knitting in the round. 
  • 6 Ways of Joining in the Round, from FairyTaleKnits:  This picture and text blog post is exactly what it sounds like, 6 different ways to join your knitting in the round.  I have to admit, I just usually knit it, so it's nice to see other options.  
  • 3-in-1 Cast on by TechKnitter:  A photo and text tutorial for an alternate method to joining your stitches in the round.
Joining In Yarn: 
  • From CreateKnit, here's a great photo and text tutorial on how to join in a new ball of yarn.  The two strands can make it a bit thicker for a moment, but usually it doesn't show in the finished fabric.
  • Three Methods of Joining yarn in the Middle of A Row; from TechKnitter.  This photo and text blog post is all about how to join in yarn. And I've been doing #2 for ages (it's what I usually do), and I can say that even using silk lace, that join is nearly invisible if done properly.  I try and do it on a return row in lace knitting (a purl row, if there is one); and it almost never shows. 
  • Compendium of Yarn Joins, from YarnSub:  It's a searchable database of a number of different methods of joining in yarn, as well as what each method is good for!
  • 6 Ways to  Join in a New Ball of Yarn, from Loveknitting: A text list of 6 ways to join new balls of yarn. I've been doing option #1 for ages, and don't usually notice too much extra bulk.  
  • Weaver's Knot Image Tutorial, from Jim Escalante's Blog Archives.  This is an image of how to do a weaver's knot. It’s not something I would do with my ends, personally, but I know some fiber artists swear by weaver’s knots, so I’m hoping it will be a useful resource!


Latvian Braids and Other Braids:
Loom Knitting:


Kitchener Stitch (Grafting)
Knooking: 
  • Basic Knooking Video Tutorial, from Sapphire-n-Purls Youtube Channel.   While she herself is not completely comfortable with the knook, the video, however, does demonstrate the basics of knooking, and is a great example of this alternate method of knitting. Video has automatic CC.
Lace Knitting:
Mattress Stitch:

  • Mattress Stitch Tutorial from Knit Picks.   A photo and text tutorial that describes mattress stitch quite well.   There's also an embedded Youtube video (with automatic captions).
  • Mattress Stitch Tutorial from MillaMia:  A photo and text tutorial that shows specifics of mattress stitch, including how to do it in garter stitch! 
  • Mattress Stitch Video Tutorial, from Knitty (Facebook Video). This isn't really mattress stitch as knitters know it -- but this is a wonderful method of joining two crochet motifs together, and it's sometimes called mattress stitch in Crochet.  According to the comments, Vogue Knitting has called it Edge-to-Edge, and others call it Vertical Grafting.  I placed it under mattress stitch in this guide, but if any one has a better suggestion on where to place this link, let me know!  Video is on Facebook and does not have closed captioning.
Nostepinne:
 Pick up and Knit/Pick up and Purl:
Pockets:
  •  How to Knit a Pocket on the Inside, from DROPS Design's Youtube Channel.  This Youtube Video without audio shows how to knit an inside pocket using a stitch holder or scrap yarn. 
Ribbing:
Seaming:
  • Seaming Tutorial, from Vogue Knitting:  here’s a detailed photo and text tutorial on seaming knits! It has many different types of seaming, when to use them and what they’re suited for. It also has a whole bunch of general seaming advice.
  • How a Bath Towel can Improve your Seaming, from NobleKnits Blog. More of a seaming 'hack' then a true tutorial, this blog post is about how to use a rolled up bath towel to create a surface so you can seam your knitting on your lap! 
  • How to Invisibly Seam Granny Squares, from Lion Brand Yarn.  This Youtube video with Automatic captions will show you how to sew together crochet granny squares with an invisible seam. Though the video shows granny squares, this could easily be adapted to other crocheted items!
 Short Row Shaping:


Slip Knot:
Socks:
  • Socks Two-At-A-Time on double pointed Needles, from Interweave:  The details of the online tutorial are in an image captured from a 1918 newspaper; and there's a more detailed tutorial available in the Jan/Feb 2009 edition of Piecework Magazine.
  • Short Rows for Sock Heels and Toes from Eskimimi Makes.  This text-and-photo tutorial talks about how to use short-rows to create sock heels and toes, for both toe up and cuff down socks.
  • On Picking Up Gusset Stitches and Avoiding a Hole: It’s an old post from 2010, but still just as valid as ever! From Kate Atherley's blog comes a genius way to avoid that annoying hole between gusset and instep when you’re picking up stitches for the heel of a sock!
  • 4 Ways to Knit a Sock Heel, from LoveKnitting.com.  So here's 4 different sock heels, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.  While it doesn't have tutorials for each method, it's a great little discussion about the construction of sock heels!
Steeking:

  • How to Steek Tutorial, from The Twisted Yarn.  If you're not sure about steeking, then this photo and text tutorial is actually incredibly helpful for de-mystifying steeking. 


Stitch Patterns and Tutorials
Stripes in the Round:
  • How to Knit Jogless Stripes in the Round, from Alina at The Gift of Knitting:  This tutorial discusses how to knit jogless textured stripes in the round, by knitting into the stitch below at the beginning of each round.
Swatches:
Thrumming:
  • Thrums?  What do you need to Know?  From the Yarn Harlot's archives comes a wonderful post on Thrummed Mittens (and theoretically anything else).   Since this is an archived post, the pattern links are no longer valid, but you can find the Wool Tyme Thrummed Mittens Pattern via Ravelry.  And the post itself is a wonderful resource on how, exactly, to thrum, and what you'll need. 
  • Thrummed Mittens Video Tutorial, from Very Pink Knits.  This Youtube Video with captions is a basic introduction to swatching.  It's useful for her Thrummed Mittens tutorial (next entry); and isn't linked to a specific pattern.
  • Thrummed Mittens Pattern Tutorial, from VeryPink Knits.  This Youtube Video with captions walks you through VeryPink Knits  Thrummed Mitten pattern. (The pattern is $6 from her website), but even without the pattern, the video is still valuable.
Twisted Cord:
Twisted Stitches:
Weaving in Yarn Ends:
Whip Stitch:
Yarn Overs:
 Zippers: