500!

Today is Knitting Project of the Day's 500th post! Today I want to honor my follows, readers and fellow knitters who have enjoyed my free knitting patterns. I spend some time on Ravelry (username ChemKnitsBlog), where I love seeing finished ChemKnits projects. I don't think I'll ever stop feeling excited when I see a newly uploaded photo. Thank you everyone for making my blogging activities a success.

I have started a new group on Ravelry called ChemKnits Designs. If you would like to chat with me about my designs, or anything else fiber related I would love to hear from you!

I started KPOTD because friends and family kept sending me amazing knitting projects, and I wanted an outlet to share them with the world. I felt (and still feel) that every kind of fiber artist a place of honor, not just designers. Through these 500 KPOTD posts, I have begun to notice some changes to how I find projects. Last March I created a ChemKnits Facebook page, and since then I've found myself sharing amazing knitting feats as I find them immediately. It seems silly for me to share something on KPOTD that I've already shared on Facebook.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I will no longer be publishing amazing knitting projects daily here on KPOTD. (Don't worry, ChemKnits isn't going anywhere! ) I will continue to share amazing knitting projects on Facebook and/or Google+ as I find them, but not daily since they can no longer be scheduled in advance. Thank you for your faithful readership!

Stitch N' Pitch

I first learned about Stitch N' Pitch from the KnitPicks Blog. An event that combines baseball and knitting? Count me in! I was so bummed when I learned that there was a Stitch N' Pitch event at the White Sox earlier this summer. I missed it! You can bet that I'll be checking the 2013 calendar to see when they're hosting another Chicago event.

PomPoms

Sometimes you need to create a pompom to complete your knit project. Once you start making pompoms, you'll find it hard to stop! As a young girl I had a kit to help me make them, but you really only need two pieces of cardboard to get yourself going.

This Pompom making tutorial is fantastic for two reasons. 1) Stunning, colorful and clear step by step photographs and 2) concise written instructions. (The written instructions come after the pictures, so don't run away if you don't see the words you need right away!)

Darling Photo

I am in love with the below photo. The frilly little pink knit dress is enough to make me swoon, but pair it with a dashing lad in a faux tuxedo vest and I've completely melted.

From Sassy Skeins

Handpainting Yarn

I tend to prefer space dyeing to handpainting yarn because of the ease of the technique. But nothing can replace the precision you can acheive when you handpaint a skein of yarn.

Yarn Bombed Chair

I have to say, this picture is eery because it really does look like she is wearing a swaeter. When you see the picture on the next page without her head, it still looks like there should be a body in it. So is this a picture of a person acting like a chair, or of a yarn bombed chair? I cannot tell!

Photo credit judy_and_ed via a Creative Commons License

Photo credit Rose Momsen via a Creative Commons License

E. coli

Now this doesn't quite look like the bacteria I used in my disserataion, but isn't it cute?

Photo credit audreym via a Creative Commons License

The youngest yarn bomber?

How cute!

Photo credit Ped Xing via a Creative Commons License

Bombshells

"BOMBSHELLS MANIFESTO: We anonymously promote fiber craft as adventure. We aim to soften the edges of an otherwise cruel, harsh environment. We juxtapose vandalism with the non-threatening nature of fibers. We aim to readdress the nature of graffiti with a nonpermanent, nondestructive, cozy medium. If you don't like it, just unpick it. We are a non-discriminating collective. Cincinnati today, the world tomorrow! We are actively contributing to a more positive type of global warming. BombShell Rules: The first rule about BombShells is don't talk about BombShells. The second rule about Bombshells is don't talk about Bombshells."

Photo credit TheEnglandboys via a Creative Commons License

What you can't dye with food coloring

If I got a dime for each time someone asked me about dyeing acrylic or cotton with food coloring/Kool Aid I would be a rich woman. I decided to answer these questions once and for all by creating a video showing people what you cannot dye with food coloring.

Surprisingly, the 100% organic (unbleached) cotton that I used in this tutorial did pick up some color. I am not sure how colorfast it is, but there are certainly more efficient ways to dye cotton vibrant colors. (Compare the cotton color to the 100% wool!)

Peruvian Knits

Looking at stunning Peruvian knitting patterns makes me itch to start knitting a new earflap hat. Here is a great tip, if you cannot find a pattern you love, start looking at photos for inspiration. It would not be hard to convert the llamas below into a chart!

Hand Knit Gloves with Llamas at the Pisac Market, Ruins at Pisac, Peru

Photographic Print

Miller Hopkins,...

Buy at AllPosters.com

Knit Chair

I'm not sure if I would call this yarn bombing, because I don't see this as an act of graffiti, but of home decoration. Whatever the case, this chair is surely a work of art. Now I want to figure out how to make one of these myself...

Photo credit Lorna Watt via a Creative Commons License

Plan Ahead

This is an intersting yarn bomb that shows a message. "Magda Sayeg, founder of Knitta, takes knitting out of the home and onto the streets. In Plan Ahead, she intricately weaves a playful message to pedestrians, bikers, and drivers onto an ordinary fence using colorful yarn. The message – to plan ahead – is reinforced by the artist’s choice to shrink the last to letters of the phrase and bend them vertically into only the small bit of space left over at the end of the installation, as if writing in a notebook and running out of space. Plan Ahead directs viewers' attention to Brooklyn's waterfront environment and examines the occasionally contentious, often harmonious relationship between nature and constructed space."

Photo credit New York City Department of Transportation via a Creative Commons License

Knitting Machines

I wanted to be able to make my on blanks (not necessarily sock blanks) for dying yarn so I purchased an inexpensive knitting machine. I selected the NKOK Singer Knitting Machine even though it had poor reviews. I think that anyone who purchases a crank knitting machine expects fantastic results... but since I don't care about a few dropped stitches when I plan to unravel the projects anyway, I thought it would work well for my purposes. Expect to see some dyeing experiments with these blanks in the future!

Knitting while Working Out

I'm not sure a slenderizing machine really counts as working out, but I have thought about knitting while using stationary bike pedals like the InStride Cycle. I fine these leg rollers terribly amusing, and it makes a fantastic knitting picture!

Pat Ogden at Slenderizing Salon Knitting in Padded Chair While Leg Rollers Work from Thigh to Ankle

Photographic Print

Eisenstaedt,...

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Dyeing Yarn with Tea

You can dye yarn with so many different kitchen products. The following tutorial will take you through dyeing 100% wool yarn with three different types of tea.

Girl sitting in the Garden

Girl Sitting in the Garden, or the Knitting, 1879

Giclee Print

Manet, Édouard

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I really should get a print of one of these art knitting images for my future knitting studio! (along with many vintage knitting magazine covers)

Cute Knitting Patterns For Every Season

I find it a bit harder to knit in the summer. The warm weather sometimes makes it hard for me to think about creating warm garments. If your fingers are itching for something to do, there are many knitting patterns available for a variety of seasons.

Get free knitting patterns, ideas & special offers + a FREE ebook, “15 Free Cute Knitting Patterns For Every Season.”

Ziyal Cowl

I never tried smocking in my knitting until I cast on the Ziyal Cowl. The simple ribbing in this pattern is jazzed up by the smocked stitches. An excellent tutorial accompanies the pattern, so don't be afraid to try to do this yourself!

Crochet Measuring Tape

Some people think it is hard to get a gift for a knitter, but there are many fun things out there including some darling crochet tape measures! Why not get a crochet measuring tape for your favorite knitter or crocheter?

I *Heart* Yarn

This is a fun yarn bombing project. I am not sure what kind of fiber creaft created these bench wraps (or if it is acutally just wrapped.) But it looks great!

Photo credit TEBart via a Creative Commons License

Knitting in Art

Here is another lovely painting featuring a knitter.

Knitting

Art Print

Watkins, Anthony

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Drafting Mawata

To this novice spinner, spinning silk hankies are one of the easiest fibers I've ever worked with. Because the staple length of silk is so long you can actually knit directly with the unspun fibers!

Knit Bracelets

If I could bring knitting into every aspect of my life, I would. Imagine my delight when I came across the following Ravelry project for knitted bracelets! There isn't a pattern to these beauties as much as a tip by the knitter on how to create your own.

Young Girl Standing in a Doorway Knitting

I'm not very good at knitting while standing... which is why it still boggles my mind that there is a world record for longest scarf knit while running a marathon!

Young Girl Standing in a Doorway Knitting, 1863

Giclee Print

Meyer von Bremen,...

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Don't forget the base!

So frequently we see poles yarnbombed, but rarely do we see the feet of the pole taken care of as well. I also like that these are circular granny circles, I think the gaps in the yarn bomb are really cool looking.

Photo credit Lord Jim via a Creative Commons License

Now this is a bath for a knitter!

When Vogue Knitting shared the following image on facebook, I felt delighted. I have so much yarn in my stash, that I could almost recreate this picture (although the bathtub in my home doesn't have feet... I'd have to bring all of my yarn to my parents' house!)

Stag Beetle

The designer considers the legs of this amazingly crafted Stag Beetle to be a cheat, but as a fellow insect designer, I don't think that they are a cheat at all! In fact, I think that the knit body gives a great representation of armor (which is funny since it is actually soft.)

The pattern includes a printout for the legs and antennae so you don't have to recreate the form.

Thank you, Ginny, for the submission!

Making of the Natural Gas Commercial

If you thought the natural gas commercial where heat spread over the house as knit wool, you will love to learn about how they made this video! I cannot imagine knitting all of that just to unravel it, but it makes a super cool effect when played in reverse.

Natural Gas Commercial

The idea of the film is simple. How to visualize the warmth of natural gas? By the use of the stop motion technic, we see how warmth spreads through the house as knitted wool. This is one of the coolest uses of knitting in a film I have ever seen.

Surprisingly Stretchy Bindoff

There is nothing worse than making toe up socks and then being unable to fit them on your foot because the bind off was too tight. The following video shows a wonderful method to make a "surprisingly" stretchy bind off that incorporates a YO before the K or P stitch.

Who are the Twilight Taggers?

Whenever I am doing research on yarn bombing for new KPOTD posts, I find the most amazing projects done by the Twilight Taggers.

Bali, the fiber artist behind the Twilight Taggers, is located in Melourne Australia and designs these incredible projects. You can contact her if you are interested in commissioning a project. I wonder how many other people are involved, or if she does all of the knitting herself. Today it is not about a single piece of work, but about Bali's collection. Make sure you check out her blog to see all of the amazing things she has accomplished.

Go Get!

Go Get! Twilight Taggers did some yarn bombing for go get (a car sharing service) What a way to get noticed!

Photo credit Twilight Taggers via a Creative Commons License

Photo credit Twilight Taggers via a Creative Commons License

Naughty Knitting

There are many naughty knitting patterns out there, but there is one that makes me giggle every time. (PLEASE NOTE: the following link will take you to knit images that are mature in content in a cartoonish way. You may not want to open this at work!) The Phallic Chapstick Cozy would make a wonderful favor at a bachelorette party.

Cake Dyeing

What happens when you wind yarn into a cake (ball) first and then stick it in the dyebath? Check out this great step by step article to find out!

Craziest Yarn Bomb

What is the biggest hat you have ever made? Have you ever thought to make one for a bus stop to keep the roof from leaking? AllFreeKnitting shared this fantastic photo of a bus stop cozy (or a bus stop hat?) I am very impressed by the design, because there is a lot of cohesion, now just squares stitched together. I highly recommend that you take a peak!

Prime Factorization Sweater

I look for crazy science knitting patterns frequently, but there are also many intricate math knitting patterns out there too. The Prime Factorization Sweater features squares composed of the prime factors of the number (starting in the bottom left) where each prime number has its own color. Brava!

Yardage Estimates for Sweaters

How much yarn do you need for a project? Elann has a useful chart to help you determine how much yardage (well, meterage) you will need for a given sweater project. This chart contains chest measurment vs. yarn weight. I highly recommend taking a peak.

Dyeing Wool/Acrylic Blends

I started dyeing yarn because I had a ton of 20% wool/80% acrylic remaining from my sampler afghan. In response to many questions I received about dyeing acrylic on YouTube, I decided to create the following video:

P.S. You cannot dye 100% acrylic using these method!

Knitting Girl

It would take a long time to knit anything if you had to pose for a painting mid-stitch!

Knitting Girl, 1869

Art Print

Bouguereau,...

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Rumor has it!

Rumor has it! is "a lovely pair of socks that is not very difficult to knit and looks both elegant and playful." I know that they make me want to play!

Thank you, Fleurtje, for the submission!

Carbon Nanotube Yarn

I have been doing a lot of spinning lately, but I have never given any thought to spinning carbon nanotubes! "Carbon nanotubes are some of the strongest and stiffest materials known, and a growing area of research involves spinning them into flexible yarns – bundles of fibers that can be treated to produce superconducting cables, or electrodes for batteries or fuel cells." - Nature News Blog

Thank you, Keith, for the submission!

Talking to my Zpagetti

I consider knitting to be about reflection. Sometimes it is hard to start a project, and these reflections are as much a part of the knitting process as the finished product.

"Because it is about real life and about knitting. My slogan: 'a day without knitting is a day without joy.' And that is what this story is about. " Talking to my Zpagetti.

Thank you Fleurtje for the submission!

Cate Blanchett Granny Square Dress

Now that I know how to make granny squares, I am still not sure if I would want to wear them..

Granny Square Shorts

Urban Outfitters is upcycling old knit and crochet afghans. It should be noted that you get a random pair of shorts out of a random recycled afghan, many people have been disappointed that they did not receive this pattern!

Extreme(ly) Tiny Knitting

We have seen branches and hockey sticks as knitting needles, but have you ever thought of using sewing pins?

Happy Chanukkah Yarn Bomb

It is a little early to be thinking about Chanukkah, but this is a cute way to celebrate the festival of lights. One of my favorite parts of the menorah is looking at the candle reflections in the window. I love that you can see similar types of reflections on the bottom of the bench!

Photo credit serentiy_now via a Creative Commons License

Knit Sandals

The only trouble I see with knitting my own footware (as shown in the amazing sandals below) is finding the soles. Using some hemp and creative lace, you could really create some stylish footware very cheaply (once you find the soles, of course!)

I discovered the following awesome sandles on the One Sheepish Girl blog.

You better beleaf it

I like silly knitting patterns, and what is sillier than putting a cozy on an apple (You Better Beleaf It)? This adorable little knitting pattern is available for free via Ravelry downloads. I think there is a practical nature to this project, too... protect your apples from bruising while in your lunch bag.

Thank you Fleurtje for the KPOTD nomination, "A great way to use your leftover yarn"!

Knitware is taking over

Knit overalls?!?! Knitware is taking over! Check out the Bundle Your Bum article to see more

crazy winter knit fashions.

Crochet Furniture

These are the coziest bean bag foot stools ever. I came across these in Paola Lenti store. Now I cannot stop thinking about getting rope and knitting/crocheting out of it...

Storm Trooper Hat

There is a lot you can do with a generic skullcap* and bits of felt (*note the hat pattern I've linked to is not the hat featured in the photo.)

Photo credit Annie Pilon via a Creative Commons License

Pudify's Large Squid

Photo credit Pudify

"How could you NOT want to knit a giant cephalopod! It's amazing." It certainly is! I happen to love squid knitting patterns.

Thank you Lynette for the submission!

Ducks in the Fountain Part 2

A few months ago, I shared the following image of ducks in a fountain:

Photo credit Twilight Taggers via a Creative Commons License

I thought they were incredibly cute and wanted to know how they were made. It turns out that Bali of Twilight Taggers has shared the pattern on her blog. Now you can crochet your own Rubber Ducky Jumper! (Great step by step photos are included with the pattern.)

Some Like it Hot

I never loved knitting with plastic knitting needles, and I got rid of all of the ones I had many years ago. If only I had come across the shop of SewNewThings sooner! They create bangle bracelets out of vintage knitting needles. What a great gift for the knitter in your life.

What do you do with old Tshirts?

What do you do with old Tshirts that are too ratty (and too loved) to be donated to Good Will? Why not turn them into yarn and find a new use for them? This video will show you how to get a continuous piece of yarn out of a Tshirt.

What would I make out of Tshirt yarn? Well a bathmat, bowl, a toy, something that doesn't require a lot of drape and where structure is a blessing.

June 9 - International Yarn Bombing Day

The BBC is reporting on yarn bombing? This fiber art is sweeping the world (and international news scene.) Last Saturday (June 9) was International Yarn Bombing Day, an event that kicks off knit in public week.

I am looking forward to finding amazing images from this years event!

Formulas for Dyeing Yarn with Food Coloring

Want to know how to mix colors? The website DyeYourYarn.com has come up with many different color recipes based off of KoolAid and food coloring. I like the McCormick Dye Formulas because this is the dye I use the most frequently. I will have to refer to this website in the future as I am planning out my colors.

Brain Hat

I love it when people share interesting knitting projects with me (in fact, that is the whole point of KPOTD!) Now this is a thinking cap if I've ever seen one. I wonder if it is constructed through appliqued (or sewn) icords of if there is some whole other manner of construction.

Thank you, Uncle Russ, for sharing this with me!

Knitting for Mom

Did you knit something for your mother for Mother's Day? Last year I shared an article filled with free Mother's Day themed knitting patterns, and now I am pleased to add a fabulous eBook to the list. 9 Easy Knitting Projects for Mom is a free eBook filled with classic garments that your mom, or any other woman in your life would love.

Get free knitting patterns, ideas & special offers + a FREE ebook, “9 Easy Knitting Projects for Mom.”

Yarn is Art

A few months ago, I received a press release as part of the Lion Brand Yarn mailing list. I have always loved van Gogh's sunflowers, and now you can see them recreated out of yarn!

"Lion Brand Yarn Studio Unveils "Yarn is Art" Window Display in NYCYouTube Video Showcases Creative Talents of Local Artist Who Created the Art Pieces All with Yarn. "

One Skein Patterns

Do you frequently find yourself with single skeins of yarn but no ideas for projects? The following free eBook from AllFreeCrochet will help give you some inspiration.

Get free crochet patterns, ideas & special offers + a FREE ebook, “One Skein Patterns: Crochet Made Simple.”

Learn to Crochet Kits

I love kits. I like having patterns and yarn all rolled up into one nice little package. It is fun when you already know the craft, but they also come in really handy when you want to learn something new. When I was ready to teach myself how to crochet, I found myself searching for different learn to crochet kits. Some kits come with videos, others with written instructions.

How did you learn how to crochet?

"Does it still count as yarn bombing if it is happening in plain sight?"

"Does it still count as yarn bombing if it is happening in plain sight?" I vote yes! (I really enjoy the drive by paparazi look to this picture.)

Photo credit Tara Anderson via a Creative Commons License

Fibonacci sequins

When you are adding sparkles to your knit ware, do you add them randomly or according to a pattern? The following cartoon isn't exactly knitting related, but it is worth a good chuckle.

How do you wear those handmade scarves and shawls?

This video isn't knitting related, but it is SUPER useful for some fun ways to wear scarves and shawls. I found it useful enough that I felt it deserved a place on KPOTD. How do you wear those handmade scarves and shawls? I find myself wrapping them around my neck to display the lace, but there are some good ideas for in this video!

Handmade Yarn Bowls

Where do you keep your yarn ball while you are knitting? Does it ever accidentally fall onto the floor? What would you do if you could keep it anchored in a pretty handmade bowl? I only discovered yarn bowls recently, but apparently they are a very popular way to keep everything organized while you knit. I happen to love the added layer of craftsmanship to the whole knitting process.