Why do beginner knitting projects revolve around squares?
Well, your brain and muscles are already trying to work together to master the techniques of knitting and aren't ready to worry about shaping. Knitting rows, and turning the work is an easy rhythm that doesn't need to be learned, leaving more creative energies for the task at hand. Which is: to learn to knit. Super-duper easy to make-over Word Art that has become so popular the last couple of years. All you need is a bit of yarn or string, small picture hanging nails and a hammer to give it your own personal touch! I dug through my stash and found some bits of my handspun yarn to use! I ended up going with the green, which is mohair spun from our angora goat, and then I hand-dyed it with food coloring! Amazing!! You can use any scraps of yarn or string you have laying around. Bailing twine would give a "rustic farm" look- we have a bunch of that outside, I might have to give that one a try next! Step 1Measure out and mark where you want the nails to go. The above shows this one being marked every inch, including at the very edge. I found, with the second one I made, that marking it every two inches worked as well...then I didn't need to scrounge so many tiny nails from the bottom of the tool box! ** It is important to place a nail at each edge, this will create a smoother transition as you turn the corner** Step 2Hammer in those nails! Be gentle...you only want them deep enough to be secure. This is the second one I made with the 2 inch spacing. I also chose to put the nails closer to the front instead of centered. It helped the weave to stand-out a little more when hung on the wall. You will see both finished at the end and can decide what you like best! Step 3Starting on any nail, make a slip knot and place it on there snug. Begin weaving with the basic "over/under" technique. Below are two examples of turning the corner. The first one shows what it looks like when only one side has an edge nail. The second, shows the corner with a nail placed on all edges. I like the second version best. When you reach the point where you began, weave the opposite of what you were doing. Example: Your last round was OVER THE FIRST NAIL, THEN UNDER THE NEXT. So the second round will be: UNDER THE FIRST NAIL, THEN OVER THE NEXT. Keep repeating the weaving pattern until the nails are filled or you like the look! Secure the end with another slip knot ending on any nail. Weave in any tails you left behind to hide them. All Done!Happy Day!
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