How to Attach a Small Fringe Tassels to Your Knits. Kuidas lisada väikest narmastutti kudumile.

I've designed a set of coasters. The patterns will be available soon, I'll release them over the next couple of weeks. They are mosaic knitted coasters with fun patterns, the Bugs! I know a lot of people doesn't like bugs in real life but they look quite fun on a coaster. Knitted coasters are functional to protect your table, quick to make and a great way to use up leftover yarns. Add a splash of colour and fun to your everyday life or when socialising with friends. Knit up a set of six coasters all in the same two contrasting colours or choose different colours for each coaster. The Putukad (Bugs in Estonian) set of coaster patterns contains patterns for mosaic knitted Honeybee, Dragonfly, Fly, Butterfly, Ladybird and Spider. Which one you would choose for your best friend?

One thing bugged me about the coasters, the corners tend to turn up a bit. I attached little fringe tassels to the corners which help to deal with the issue and add charm.

Usually, the fringe is added with a big crochet hook. My coasters are made in tight gauge and I didn't manage to pull a fringe through with a crochet hook. I used a piece of contrasting colour scrap yarn and a smaller hook instead. Here is a short photo tutorial on how to attach a fringe tassels.                                                                               

1. Cut six pieces of yarn about 6 - 7 times longer than a finished tassel.

2.  Fold the cut yarns in half and put the scrap yarn through the loop.

3. Insert the crochet hook through the corner of a coaster, wrong side facing up. Pull the loose ends of the scarp yarn through the coaster.

                                                                                

4. Pull the tassel half way through the coaster.

5. Pull loose ends of the tassel through the loop created.

6. Tighten the knot and cut the tassel to desired length.

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Kudusin mosaiikkoes tassialused. Kuna nurgad kippusid veidi turritama, otsustasin lisada väikesed narmastutid nurkadesse. Tutid on vahvad ja lisavad omapära.
Tavaliselt lisatakse sellised narmad heegelnõelaga, aga mul oli raskusi suure heegelnõela läbi kudumi surumisega, rääkimata veel narmastest. Seega otsustasin kasutada abilõnga ja väiksemat heegelnõela. Fotode järgi peaks olema üsna selge, kuidas ma neid narmastutte lisasin. Üks asi, mida silmas pidada, on lõngajuppide pikkus. Üks narmalõnga jupp peaks olema 6-7 korda pikem, kui valmis narmas, eriti just selliste lühikeste narmaste puhul.
Tassialuste komplekti kuulub kuus mustrit ja komplekt kannab eestikeelset nimetust Putukad. Komplekti kuuluvad mesilane, kiil, kärbes, liblikas, lepatriinu ja ämblik. Mustrid avaldan pisitasa paari järgneva nädala jooksul. Mis putukaga tassialuse asetaksid Sina oma parima sõbra tassi alla?

How to straighten the yarn. Kuidas harutatud lõnga sirgendada.

 I've been working on a shawl design for several months, frogging and knitting again and again. I didn't like how decreases looked sloppy. I thought maybe (maybe! hopefully!) it will block out, so I blocked the shawl halfway. Still didn't like the look. Had to frog again and use different decreases.

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Juba mitu kuud töötan välja üht sallidisaini. Koon ja harutan! Mulle ei meeldinud, kuidas kahandused välja nägid. Lootsin, et ehk peale pesu ja pingutamist on kenam. Pesin-pingutasin pooliku salli, kuid ikka ei meeldinud. Seega tuli jälle harutada ja uuesti kududa, kasutades teist kahandusvõtet.

After washing, blocking and frogging, the yarn was all curly. I knew it will not knit up nicely, still had to try. Why? You can see in the photo below how right and left side looks different. It's quite impossible to get tension right.

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Pestud esemest harutatud lõng on krussis, ja ilusat kudumit sellest ei saa. Alumisel fotol on näha, kuidas harutatud lõngast kootud vasak pool on palju koledam.

So I frogged again! Then made hanks and tied them with scrap yarn in several places. 

Make sure the scrap yarn wouldn't bleed!

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Harutasin jälle. Lõngakera tuleb vihiks kerida ja mitmest kohast kinni siduda. 

Sidumiseks kasutatud lõng ei tohi värvi anda!

Soak hanks about half an hour. You can see how the yarn relaxes already.

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Leota lõngavihte umbes pool tundi. Juba on näha, kuidas lõng sirgeneb.

Squeeze out the water. Hang hanks up to dry, with some weight attached, to help to straighten the yarn. 

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Pigista liigne vesi välja. Riputa vihid kuivama. Lisaraskus (nt riidepuu) aitab sirgestamisele kaasa.

And it's done! Looks like new!

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Valmis! Nagu uus!

Continental knitting. k2, p2.

 

I have been asked about my purl stitch. Here it is!

Cabling Without A Cable Needle. Kuidas keerata palmikut ilma abivardata.

Cabling without a cable needle, left cross, 2/2 LC.

Slip 2 stitches from the left needle to the right needle, purl wise, with yarn in back. Knit 2 stitches. Insert the left needle into the second pair of stitches on the right needle knit wise. Slide the first pair of stitches off the needle. Bring the right needle to the back and pick up the stitches. Knit 2 stitches.

 

 

Cabling without a cable needle, right cross, 2/2 RC.

With yarn in front, slip two stitches from the left needle to the right needle. Knit 2 stitches. Insert the left needle into the second pair of stitches on the right needle from behind. Slide the first pair of stitches off the needle. Bring the right needle to the front and pick up the stitches. Slip the yarn to the back and knit 2 stitches.