DIY Network

Hooked on Knitting Lily Chin shows how to use your knitting needles to create crochet stitches. From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-705

Lily Chin shows how to knit a chain stitch and treble stitch and how to change colors. All these techniques will be combined to make cute and very useful knitting needle cases.

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Lily Chin's Straight Needle Case

Materials:

Lily Chin Signature Collection Harlem, 1 skein each of the following colors: teal (#7000) [T], coral (#7551) [C] and lavender (#7556) [L]
Lily Chin Signature Collection Nolita, 1 skein each of the following colors: purples (#7333) [P], greens (#7312) [G] and reds (#7314) [R]
knitting needles, 1 pair US #8/5mm, or size needed to obtain gauge
dental floss for seaming
darning or tapestry needle

Note: Each ball of yarn will make at least six double-pointed holders.

Finished sizes:
Straight needles holder = 11" wide x 12" tall total
Double-pointed needles holder = variable diameters/circumferences x 4" tall.

Gauge:
6 trc rows = 5", 32 sts in patt (2 trc, ch-1) = 9"
18 sc = 5", 4 sc rows = 1"

Alternative colorways:
Harlem in denim (#7550), peach (#3202) and taupe (#7548)
Harlem in black (#7554), white (#7547) and coral (#7551)
Harlem in coral (#7551), peach (#3202) and taupe (#7548)
Harlem in teal (#7000), lavender (#7556) and denim (#7550)

Stitch(es) used:
YO or yarn-over wrap yarn around right needle in the *opposite* direction as for knit stitch.
Chain or ch [there is already a loop on the needle] yo, pass loop already on needle over the yo.
Treble-crochet or trc [there is already a loop on the needle] yo needle 2 times, pick up loop as if to pick up a knit st [there are 4 loops on needle now], yo, (pass 2 loops over the last loop on needle) 3 times.
Single-crochet or sc [there is already a loop on the needle] pick up loop as if to pick up a knit st [there are 2 loops on needle now], yo, pass both picked up loop and loop already on needle over the yo.

Straight Needles Holder

Notes:

	Beginning the project
	Yarn over

• The top portion is worked from side to side in one-row stripes or trc and ch-1.

• The bottom portion is picked up from the side edge from the top portion and worked downward all in sc.

• When changing colors, end off the last 2 loops of the old color with the new color.

• Carry the color not in use loosely along the side edge of the work.

1. With size 8 needles and yarn T, place slipknot onto right needle and loosely ch 35 stitches.

2. Working into the back bumps of ch, trc in 5th ch from hook, * ch 1, trc in each of next 2 ch; rep from * across and change to C at last st.

3. With C, ch 4, skip first trc, trc in next trc, * ch 1, trc in each of next 2 trc; rep from * across with last trc at top of ch-4 turning ch, change to L at last st.

4. With L, rep last row or #3 but change to T at last st.

5. With T, rep last row or #3 but change to C at last st.

6. Rep #3 to 5 until 13 rows total have been completed, ending with T row, end off C and L. Piece measures 9" high.

7. Still working with T, rotate piece so that side edge faces, ch 1 and work 3 sc per every trc row across for 39 sc total, change to C at last st.

8. With C, ch 1 and turn, work sc in each sc across and change to L at last st.

9. With L, rep #8 and change to T at last st.

10. With T, rep #8 and change to C at last st.

11. Rep #8 to 10 until 24 sc rows total have been completed, ending with an L row, end off C and T.

12. To add the edging (figure A), still working with L, ch 1, rotate piece and sc evenly along this edge (work sc in each of 3 sc rows, then skip the 4th, then work 3 sc into each trc and ch-1), ch 1, rotate piece and sc evenly along top edge (work 3 sc into each trc rows), ch 1, rotate piece and sc evenly along last edge, join to beg sc, fasten and end off.

13. Block piece if desired.

14. With dental floss and tapestry needle, fold sc portion upward halfway so that there is only 3" of sc rows and there is a double layer. Sew grooves along the trc rows using backstitch to separate each set of needles (figure B). Weave in all ends.

Figure A

Figure B

Double-Pointed Needle Cozy

Lily Chin starts the double-pointed needle cozy by single crocheting around a slipknot. She then single crochets in the round working until the case is as long as she needs it for her needles. She finishes off the project with a French knot.

1. With size 8 needles and any color Nolita yarn, make slipknot with a 4"-6" tail (the tail should close up the slipknot and not the ball portion).

2. Open up the slipknot; you will be working into it as if it were a chained-circle ring.

3. Insert the needle into the slipknot ring and bring up a loop onto the needle, drawing it to the front.

4. Ch 1, work as many sc into the slipknot ring as desired according to the size of double-pointed needles and the number of needles in set (either 4 or 5), about 6 sc for a set of five size 3 needles, maybe 8 sc for a set of four size 5 needles, 12 sc for a set of four size 8 needles, 15 sc for a set of four size 10 needles, etc. Leave the tail to the back of the work.

5. Pull on the tail to tighten the slipknot ring.

6. Do not join rounds; work in a spiral and sc in each sc around for all rows. Note that the wrong side or inside of the tube faces you at all times.

7. Work until the tube measures about 4" high, end off with 4"-6" of tail and draw through last loop on the needle.

8. With a tapestry needle, thread the beginning bottom tail and work a French knot to prevent the slipknot from opening up again at the bottom. Weave in the end.

9. With the tapestry needle, thread the top tail and weave in the end; even out the top edge.

RESOURCES :

Crocheter's Companion
By Nancy Brown
Website: www.interweave.com

Couture Crochet Workshop
By Lily Chin
Website: www.interweave.com

Lily Chin Signature Collection yarn
Lily Chin books - Knit and Crochet with Beads (Interweave Press, 2004); The Urban Knitter (Berkley Books, 2002); Mosaic Magic, Afghans Made Easy (Oxmoor House, 1999)

Lily Chin Signature Collection
Website: www.lilychinsignaturecollection.com