Admin
Knitting Basics ? Understanding the Equipment
Before you begin knitting it is important to get prepared. This includes knowing what equipment you need and getting it all prepared before you begin. We are going to look at the basic accessories as well as some other essentials that you may need.
Knitting Needles
Obviously the most essential piece of equipment you will need are knitting needles. The needles you choose will depend not only on the type of knitting you are doing but also your budget and preference. Knitting needles come in a variety of different materials, types and sizes. The common materials you will see needles in are plastic, metal, bamboo and a variety of wood. Usually you will find that plastic needles are the cheapest but also can be harder to knit with due to the lack of quality. The Bamboo and wooden needles can vary significantly in cost depending on the quality but are usually fantastic to knit with. There are also different types of needles that you need to be aware of and they are detailed below:
1. Straight Knitting Needles – these are standard knitting needles that can only be used for doing flat knitting. They are the most common type of needles and what most people think of when they think of knitting. They come in a pair where each needle has a point at one end and a fixing at the other end. They are straight and come in different lengths, so make sure you get a pair that are long enough for the work you are doing.
]]>
2. Circular Needles – these can be used for both flat knitting and also if you want to make a circular object. They are used for a variety of things including, as an example, the edging of a cardigan where you need to go up one side, round the neck and back down the other side. They can also be used for flat knitting where you have a large number of stitches and straight needles would be too cumbersome.
3. Double Pointed Needles – these are the same in appearance as straight needles but have points at both ends. They usually come in sets of 4 or 5 and are used for circular knitting. However you can also put a stop on the ends and use them for flat knitting.
Knitting Accessories
There are a large number of knitting accessories that you may or may not need for a pattern but here are some details for you:
1. Cable Needles – these are small, double pointed needles that are needed of you are going to a garment that includes any cable at all. The stitches can easily be slipped on to the small needle and held at the front of back of your work, depending on the pattern, while you knit other stitches.
2. Row Counters – these are an invaluable tool and should always be used in my opinion. They slip on to the end of your needles and can be turned round to indicate the number of rows you have completed. They will ensure you don’t lose your place, just make sure you remember to update them.
3. Crochet Hooks – these can be used in a number of techniques including adding edging to a garment. They are also invaluable as a tool for picking up dropped stitches.
4. Stitch Holders – these are like giant safety pins and are used to hold stitches while you work on another area of a garment.
5. Markers – these come in a variety of forms but can be slipped on to the needle to show where a change in pattern occurs.
6. Pins – if you are making a garment that has more than one part you will need pins to join them together before you sew them.
7. Wool Needles – these are sewing needles with a very large eye so that you can thread wool through them when joining a garment together.
8. Tape Measure – this is vital for any knitter to ensure your work is the right size.
9. Scissors – every knitter will need a pair of scissors to cut off any lengths of yarn that are remaining once all the finishing had been done.
10. Knitting Bag – it is always a good idea to have a dedicated knitting bag where you can keep your work and all of your accessories together when you are not knitting.
There are a wide range of other accessories that you may come across in your knitting life but these are the ones that we would consider essential before you begin.
6 Common Categories of Lathes
Common categories of lathes include: woodworking lathes, metalworking lathes, glassworking lathes, metal spinning lathes, ornamental turning lathes, and reducing lathes.
Lathes are essential machines for woodturning, metal working, glassworking, and metal spinning. Many items made from metal can be transformed into useful objects by the use of a lathe. Operations like cutting, sanding, drilling, and knurling are made easier through the use of lathes. Here is more about the major categories of lathes.
Woodworking lathes
The oldest type of lathe is the woodworking lathe. Derived from it are the other types of lathes that we use today. The shaping of the tools is achieved by using an adjustable metal rail, a tool rest, and the operator. Sandpaper may be pressed against the spinning object to achieve a smooth surface. Other models are used for making bowls and plates which have no horizontal metal rail.
Metalworking lathes
]]>
Using a hardened cutting tool, metal is shaved from the workpiece in a metalworking lathe. The cutting tool is fastened securely to a solid movable mounting which in turn is maneuvered using handwheels or computer controls. The metalworking lathes are perhaps the most widely-known. However, material properties may be altered. Mechanical effects such as microcracks, work hardening, and residual stress may be noted.
Glassworking lathes
This type of lathe is quite similar to the other lathes in terms of design with a main difference only on how the work piece is transformed. The glassworking lathes uses a varied temperature flame in which a hollow glass vessel is rotated over. The flame is used to mold the softened glass which in turn is formed by glassblowing or by deformation. The lathes have two headstocks with chucks that are arranged to spin in synchronicity.
Metal spinning lathes
Operating a metal spinning lathes is as simple as the woodturning counterparts. This type of lathe would need a user-supplied rotationally symmetric mandrel, which is most often made from wood, to be used as a template. Metal spinning is not as common as it was before, but can still be handy for producing small batches.
Ornamental turning lathes
Ornamental turning lathes were developed to make decorative objects. These lathes may use horizontal and vertical cutting frames, elliptical chicks, and eccentric chucks. The cutting is usually done by a rotating cutter rather than having the object rotated.
Reducing lathes
This specialized lathe has features which integrate a mechanism similar to a pantograph. These lathes are used in coin-making wherein the plaster original is duplicated and then reduced.
More or less, the different categories are related with one another. The major differences are on the accessories.
More Metalwork Articles
Furniture & Cabinetmaking
Furniture & Cabinetmaking
The only woodworking magazine focused exclusively on fine furniture making. It reports the latest styles, reflects the best of contemporary design, and also respects the traditions of the past. It features projects and technical articles for design makers regardless of skill level.
List Price: $ 112.09
Price:
David Charlesworth's Furniture-Making Techniques NEW
 | US $17.32 End Date: Saturday May-19-2012 18:17:38 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $17.32 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $28.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Saturday May-19-2012 18:32:12 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
Five Simple Hand Quilting Styles for Beginners
Article by Deanne Blackhurst
Quilting is a hobby that is gaining popularity all across the country. Over the past ten or twenty years, this ancient art has experienced a revival as new sewers from every walk of life have taken up the needle with a desire to create beautiful handicrafts.
If you are a new quilter anxious to learn the skill, the following five quilting projects are a great place to start. Just remember, quilting takes time and patience. Don’t let yourself get discouraged, and if you have any problems, just stop by your local quilt or fabric shop, and they will be happy to help you out.
1. Tied Quilts
A tied quilt is made by sandwiching a layer of batting in between two pieces of fabric and securing them with a single stitch. These stitches, located every four to six inches across the quilt, pass through all three layers and are tied in a square knot at the top. This leaves about an inch and a half of floss loose at the top.
Though they don’t last as long as a hand stitched quilt, tied quilts are much quicker to make and cute when finished. Cotton, flannel or fleece are great fabrics for tied quilts, and they come in a variety of patterns appropriate for any age or gender.
2. Solid Fabric Quilts
A solid fabric quilt is similar to a tied quilt, except that instead of tying, designs on the fabric are outlined with tiny hand stitches. Choose a fabric with large patterns or buy specialty stencils. Stencils are plastic patterns that can be used to transfer a shape repeatedly to the fabric. Once they’re in place, the quilter can stitch around them.
3. Pre-printed Fabric Quilts
Manufactures make quilt toppers, often for babies or children that are pre-printed with large mural type pictures. Others utilize prints that look like pieced quilt tops. Like a solid fabric quilt, the shapes are outlined in tiny quilting stitches.
4. Pieced Quilts
Pieced or patchwork quilts are created by cutting similar shapes out of different fabrics and then sewing them together into squares or strips, to create the top of a quilt. Pieced quilt patterns can be as simple as a grid work of eight inch squares using two or three coordinating fabrics or complicated patterns that use multiple fabrics in various shapes. For new quilters, the simpler the better.
5. Paper Pieced Quilts
Paper pieced quilts utilize a paper pattern as a guide for sewing various pieces of fabric together. When completed, the excess fabric is removed and the paper is torn off the back. Like pieced quilts, this method can be simple or complicated depending on the pattern used.
The secret to remember, when trying out any of these quilting styles for the first time, is to choose simple patterns, and take the time to do it right. When in doubt feel free to contact your local quilt shop.
Paper pieced quilts utilize a paper pattern as a guide for sewing various pieces of fabric together. When completed, the excess fabric is removed and the paper is torn off the back. Like pieced quilts, this method can be simple or complicated depending on the pattern used.The secret to remember, when trying out any of these quilting styles for the first time, is to choose simple patterns, and take the time to do it right. When in doubt feel free to contact your local quilt shop.
missouriquiltco.com – Jenny from Missouri Star Quilt Company demonstrates the magic of tube sewing. It’s fun, fast, easy, and makes various lovely quilting blocks. For more information visit blog.missouriquiltco.com to learn about our free giveaway’s and more! If you’d like to get started on quilting and need supplies, come on over and check us out at www.MissouriQuiltCo.com or take a look at www.QuiltersDailyDeal.com
Related Quilting Articles
Professional Wood Carving Chisels with Cloth Pouch – 18 Piece
Professional Wood Carving Chisels with Cloth Pouch – 18 Piece
- Complete premium-grade chisel set with canvas carry and storage case – an outstanding tool value
- Seven 8-1/2″ chisels, hardened high-carbon steel blades with rubberized soft-grip handles
- Blade styles include wide & narrow flat, rounded, concave, corner, straight and offset
- Dual-grit aluminum oxide whetstone plus round, flat & triangular silicon carbide sharpening stones
- Rugged poly-canvas case with elastic pockets to keep all organized & protected; 12″ hardwood striker
One of our most popular hand tool sets; makes a great gift for your favorite woodworker.
List Price: $ 41.85
Price:
Related Wood Engraving Products
Posted in Wood Engraving | 
Carving, Chisels, Cloth, Piece, Pouch, Professional, Wood | 
Leave a commentOffice furniture makes a unique working environment
Today, most of the people spend a most of their time in the offices to finish their important works. It is the place where you not only work, but also spend more and more time as well as meet with different people. As you spend more time, you need comfortable, stylish and well-designed pieces of office furniture. Latest pieces of office furniture really bring comfort, functionality and style to your workplace. Interior decoration of the office also plays a major role in keeping your existing customers as well as potential clients enticed.
If your client wants to visit your office and when he/she found your office well decorated with well arranged office furniture, your client thinks that his/her project in going in the right hands. Right from a very small office of any small business to large corporate offices, decoration and the arrangement of furniture pieces also help in creating a working environment.
In other words, by selecting the right furniture as well as office accessories, you can create a positive environment where your employees can feel comfortable and happy.
No doubt, right selection of office furniture is the first priority of entrepreneurs whether they have their old office or want to set up a new one. Right from chairs to book cases, filing cabinets, mirrors writing tables, desks, study desk, tables, furniture of reception area to many other pieces of office furniture, you can select all or selected items as per your choice and requirement. Moreover, you have also an option of using quality and real leather in the chairs as well as desks used in the office.
Depending on your choice and budget, today, market places are flourished with different types of furniture pieces made of using different types of wood right from Mahogany to teak rosewood, Salinga to Rhosesian.
Moreover, today, furniture pieces made of different metals are also available in the market. When it comes to buy office furniture and you also want attractive discount, you can place your order online. Today, numerous manufacturers as well as suppliers are selling different pieces of furniture online at cost-effective prices with attractive discounts.
Posted in Furniture Making | Environment, Furniture, Makes, Office, Unique, Working | Leave a commentHow To Choose The Right Celtic Wedding Ring
So the happy time has come for you to choose your wedding ring!
Celtic metalwork has a long and distinguished tradition. By choosing a Celtic wedding ring you are benefiting from centuries of skill and craftsmanship. This article aims to give you some insight into the process of selecting the perfect ring – a ring that you will wear with pride for life!
The first thing to be aware of is wide variety of styles available, each respecting and celebrating the proud traditions of Celtic art, metalwork and jewelry design.
Claddagh rings feature the centuries-old claddagh design – two hands, holding a heart, topped by a royal crown. These elements are said to represent friendship, love and loyalty. The traditional claddagh ring was originally exchanged in Galway as a token of marriage, which makes it a natural choice for your wedding day.
]]>
Trinity knot and Celtic knot wedding rings feature Celtic knot, Celtic weave and interlace patterns – from simple, elegant weaves to beautiful, intricate designs. Celtic knots are a key feature of Celtic art and design, from pre-Christian times right through to the modern era.
Celtic warrior wedding rings feature designs based on the fabulous Ardagh Chalice, the finest example of Celtic metalwork yet discovered in Ireland.
You will also find rings inspired by Ireland’s rich cultural heritage, including the Book of Kells, the standing stone Celtic Crosses and the ancient burial site, Newgrange.
Meanwhile, a range of rings has been designed featuring inscriptions in Gaelic, the modern Celtic language of Ireland.
The styles described above are available in a wide range of metals. If you (or your fiancé) has a yellow gold engagement ring you will most likely be looking for a yellow gold ring to match. However, if the engagement ring is of a white metal – white gold or platinum for example – you may choose from a range of white rings including white gold, platinum and palladium. Finally, if you are looking for a real ‘standout’ ring you will find that designs are available in a two-tone combination of ‘traditional’ yellow and ‘classic’ white gold.
As you can see, jewelers in Ireland and abroad have worked tirelessly and creatively to preserve and renew the traditions of Celtic metalwork. Now it’s your turn to find the celtic wedding ring that inspires you!
Everything is everything. Time to move on to something else until more stuff arrives for the Corsair 800D project. Stay tuned for some MDPC-X style sleeving, CyberDruid style lighting tricks and who knows…
Video Rating: 5 / 5
Find More Metalwork Articles
Quilting Tools: A Stimulating Piece Of Quilting History
The European and American quilting tradition was started as a way to add warmth and weight to the undergarments for armor. From that beginning the tradition diverged slightly.
Some European, Victorian age, quilters used every scrap of cloth they had left over from other projects in piecing together what was know as a crazy quilt. Many of these were often used as decorative showpieces for their homes.
American quilters on the other hand, of necessity, created quilts that were more utilitarian in design. They used what material that they had on hand, such as feed sacks, for their fabric blocks to save money. Their aim was to keep their families warm on cold nights and, at times, to make a living selling quilts to single men.
No single design is known to dominate the tradition of quilting. The eventual purpose of the finished quilt, region, or religion often influences the design chosen. Sometimes because of the scarcity of paper and ink quilts were used to record national, local and family history.
]]>
Quilts were also used to express caring and friendship to close friends. The friendship quilt was one used for such a purpose. Contributions of blocks or pieces of fabric would be made by a group of quilters to make a quilt for someone special to them. Once there was enough material gathered then the group would come together in what was known as a quilting bee, or circle to finish the quilt.
Another version of a friendship quilt is called an autograph or signature quilt. The community, family, or friends would asked to sign their names on quilt blocks, or pieces in recognition of an individual. Then the quilt is put together by an individual, or a group, as a remembrance of an event of some importance in the life of the recipient.
Not every signature quilt is, or was, created for showing friendship. The raising of funds was the goal. Autographs of notable people are collected on quilt blocks. The blocks would then be sewn together to make a quilt that would be auctioned off, or raffled. Another way the signature quilt would be used in raising money was to charge a fee to those in the community who wished to sign a quilt block themselves.
The crazy quilt design was another way that quilters could raise money for a good cause. They would write to famous people asking for clothing scraps to sew into their quilt. When they finished their quilt it would be auctioned off.
Practicers of the art of quilting are able to use their skills for more than just the providing of warmth or weight to undergarments. Preserving memories and the raising of funds for charity is also a significant part of the tradition of quilting.
The Benefits of Knitting
Knitting requires a little bit of skill and a lot of determination, however once you learn the art of knitting and pearling, it becomes a wonderful pastime. Once you master the art of knitting there are a number of things that you could put your hand to. You could use you talent to make some extra dollars that are sure to come in handy. Knitting sweaters and trendy teenage clothing is also a good pastime and then you could also buy second hand wool at a charity shop; most of the time they still have their labels on and are sold at throw away prices. Knit some dolls clothing and some household articles like a tea cozy, pretty doilies, blankets, socks, scarves, shawls etc and have a car boot sale. Everything depends on the extent of your creativity.
There are a number of knitting magazines out there that abound with fresh ideas. Add a personal touch to your birthday and Christmas presents and present your near and dear ones with various pieces of knitted garments, they are sure to appreciate your lovely gift.
If you feel that you would like to perform an act of charity and put your knitting to some use you could go a step further and try to teach differently-abled women and children the art of knitting. This is something that would bring you immense joy that no amount of money could buy.
Today there are a huge number of people who either have high blood pressure or who are simply stressed out. Knitting could help you relax. Even if you have a full time job, when you want to relax, just pick up your knitting needles and try knitting something for your children or for your home. It does not matter if you take an age to complete it; what matters is that it calms your nerves and helps you unwind.
If you are grandparent you could probably pass on this knitting talent to your grand children, they would be eager to learn from you and with a lot of patience and encouragement you could teach them this wonderful art and leave behind a legacy. Knitting is a wonderful exercise for the old; as it helps them move the intrinsic muscles of their hand and will most certainly go a long way in preventing them from contacting arthritis. It will also help old people keep their minds sharp and they would be able to remain focused, if they try out different patterns. As they will also be using their eyes more than they normally do, their eye sight is bound to benefit as well.
Make a Chair From a Tree – Greenwood (Green Wood) Working (Furniture Making) Reviews
Make a Chair From a Tree – Greenwood (Green Wood) Working (Furniture Making)
“Takes the viewer through all of the steps required to create a light and beautiful, yet rugged chair….Using simple hand tools, shows how to split and shape the greenwood into posts, rungs and slats.”
Price:
Find More Furniture Making Products