Previous KAL’s

TinaLu wrote: ” You have brought my knitting to a whole new level and I’m enjoying every minute! “

Bits of Lace 2012     BOBBOL 2013     Beyond BOBBOL 2014

If you missed some of the knit-and-learn-alongs for previous months, you can purchase the pattern now and still take advantage of extra bonus FREE tutorials, tips & techniques articles in the monthly archives at KnitHeartStrings.

There’s lots of good information in the articles to help you enjoy your pattern even more (and who knows, you might even pick up a tip or trick along the way).

Veila M wrote: ” You are such a wonderful teacher. Thanks so much for the great photos and tips! … “

Note: This listing is in reverse date order, with the most recently completed monthly KAL listed first.

Beyond BOBBOL 2014 / 2015 KAL’s

Beyond BOBBOL 2014 carries on the tradition of learn-and-knit-a-longs for small projects while learning and practicing in bit-sized steps. 2013′s BOBBOL Series for Bits Of Beads/Bits Of Lace expanded the popular Bits of Lace 2012 Series with additional types of small lace projects and the addition of projects for building skills in beading. For 2014, we are set to go Beyond BOBBOL with  projects to refine our skills in lace and beads, and add new ones.

Flowered Crown Baby Hat (April – May)

our yearly focus on charity knitting

For this KAL only, everyone will be able to get the project pattern for free! Come join us to knit Flowered Crown Preemie Hat.

This pretty baby hat is knit in the round for the most part in a simple 1,1 ribbing. Its plainness is topped off with a “flower” design incorporated in the decreases for the crown shaping. I hope you will enjoy knitting this project for your favorite baby charities and baby-gifting occasions.

Get the Flowered Crown Preemie Hat here (free pattern)

Fabulous Beaded Eggs (March – April)

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Lace Embellished Towel (January – February)

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Knitted Snowflakes (December – January)

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Beaded Mosaic Knitting (November)

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KAL articles for Beaded Basket Weave Hat

• Unbeaded Variation of Mosaic KnittingBeading the slip-stitch Mosaic pattern is optional. So if you are just not into beads or don’t have easy access to them, I do hope you will nevertheless give the Mosaic Basket Weave Hat pattern a try.

Other Tutorials and Tips to complement the November KAL

Check out other beading tutorials and tips listed for previous KALs on this page, as well as on the Bits of Lace 2012 and BOBBOL 2013 pages. These tutorials and tips are free to all members.

Smoke Ring with Lace Edging (October)

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KAL articles for Smoke Rings

• Picking a Yarn
  The “smoke” part of the name smoke ring refers to the light-as-air fibers with superb warmth for their weight that are often used in making smoke rings.
• Sizing for a Custom Fit
  If there is need to resize a smoke ring pattern, it will usually not be major amounts. One of these strategies will likely suffice.
• What Goes Into the Design of a Smoke Ring?
  Spark excitement in how you can use the canvas of a simple smoke ring to play around with Form, Stitch Pattern(s), Embellishment and Structure.
• Don’t Overthink It
  Sometimes it is the easy things that can trip us up in our knitting. Don’t overthink this month’s 2-stitch decorative bind off edging.
• Blocking a Smoke Ring
  My motto is to keep it simple.

Spot Weaving: Spot woven knitting that mimics the look of beads (September)

Spot Woven Dishcloth (free pattern)

KAL articles for Spot Weaving

• Tips for Spot Weaving and Troika Technique
  Learn to spot weave and handle 3 working yarn ends for the troika technique.
• Spot Weaving for Other Kitchen Accessories
  Since Spot Woven Stitch produces a dense, non-stretchy fabric, it can be used to make sturdy kitchen accessories like dishcloths, hot pads and placemats.
• In-the-round Spot Weaving
  To expand the possibilities for spot woven projects even more, here are instructions for the in-the-round version.
• Patterns for Troika Technique
  Troika Technique uses 3 strands of yarn that are worked 1 strand each row in a rotating sequence. Try this interesting technique in one of these patterns.

Lacy Maizy (August)

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KAL article for Lacy Maizy

• Step-by-Step Cable Without a Cable Needle
  Forego the cable needle and just re-position the stitches using your knitting needles.

Market Bag (July)

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KAL article for Crossed Loop Market Bag

• Lace-Like Non-Lace
  I call the method used to make this stitch “cross looped”. It’s lace-like because of it’s openness, but not technically lace.

Charity Knitting Made Simply Elegant (June)

KAL articles for Charity Knitting Made Simply Elegant

• Easy 1-2-3 Pattern Outline for Elegantly Simple Bookmark
  I hope you enjoy knitting this little bookmark as much as I do, and that it will get you off to a good start in practicing to make the larger baby blanket (if you want to).
• Elegantly Simple Feather and Fan Shetland Lace
  Feather and fan lace is popular because it looks complicated, but usually is easy to knit. For the Elegantly Simple KAL, we have both elegant and simple.
• Elegantly Simple Left Slanting Triple Decrease
  Step-by-step photo tutorial. The left-slanting triple decrease produces beautifully embossed, sculpted lines in the Elegantly Simple stitch pattern.
• Step-by-step Right Slanting Triple Decrease
  Continuation of the photo tutorial series on the two triple decreases used in the Elegantly Simple feather and fan Shetland lace stitch pattern. If you are a visual person, this step-by-step photo series is for you!
• Bonus: Adapting Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket Pattern to Make a Stole
  You can easily adapt the Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket pattern to a rectangular stole made with your yarn. Here’s an outline.

Precious Treasures: Lorna’s Light Necklace Purse (May)

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KAL articles for Lorna’s Light Necklace Purse

• The Challenge of Tiny
  This month’s Precious Treasures KAL combines lace knitting and beadwork in the tiniest project we’ve attempted so far with tiny needles, thread and beads.
• Counting beads needed for a project
  Many patterns omit exact number of beads needed for a project. Especially if you are stringing by hand, it is nice to know. This is how to figure it out for yourself.
• Purl Twist Right
  I expect the p1tr (purl 1 twist right) stitch used in Lorna’s Light might have been new to you. It is used for firmer fabric and locking in tiny beads.
• Ideas for Beaded and Twisted Cords
  A fun part of making a necklace purse is coming up with a coordinating cord to go around your neck. Ideas and tips to make your own unique necklace cord.

Tea-time Serviette (April)

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KAL articles for Tea-time Serviette

• Choosing thread/yarn if you plan to dye
  The most critical step to successful tea dyeing is your thread choice.
• Edging Options
  Tea-time Serviette begins at the outer edge with a delightful Beaded Petit Scallop Edging. You can also consider one of these other edging options.
• Judy’s Straw Trick
  Judy Gibson’s trick for using a straw to help beads jump onto your needle.
• Long Tail Beaded Cast On
  This beaded cast on is very attractive because the beads will position themselves away from the fabric’s edge, giving a picot effect along the border.
• Petit Scallop Edging
  Tea-time Serviette features a dainty lace Petit Scallop edging that can either be started with a beaded cast on or left plain without beads.
• Zooming Along on the Center Area
  Making a Square in 4 Triangular Sections. The basics of outside-in square shaped circular knitting plus a few tidbits for the ever-curious knitter.
• Tea Dyeing
  Tea dyeing is an easy way to give common white thread a lovely vintage look. Dyeing can be done either before knitting or afterwards.
• Bonus Companion Project: Beverage Coaster
  Make a smaller companion piece for your Tea-time Serviette. This variation can be used as a large beverage coaster or teapot mat to protect your table.

Spring Lace Leaves Scarf (March)

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KAL articles for Spring Lace Leaves Scarf

• Can I Use This Yarn?
  If you are concerned about whether a yarn will work for a lace project, this article will address some points to give you the confidence to proceed.
• Roadmap to Framing Lace Like a Piece of Art
  The approach I often use for end-to-end, one-piece scarves with a central lace pattern surrounded by a knit-as-you-go lace border.
• Starting the Spring Lace Leaves Scarf
  Take a lace knitting journey with Spring Lace Leaves Scarf to learn, reinforce, grow confident, be inspired and enjoy.
• Combining Knitted Lace and Lace Knitting
  Keeping up with both knitted lace and lace knitting in the same row.
• Bias Effects in Lace Patterning
  Some of the most interesting and versatile lace stitch patterns are the simplest to knit. Many beautiful lace patterns make extensive use of bias.
• Bonus: an option to beading the Lace Leaf pattern stitch
  Bead placement to enhance the leaf outline of a lace pattern stitch.
• Completing the Framed Lace
  Basically, the final rows of a one-piece end-to-end scarf with inner and outer borders is a reverse of the beginning. But there are some differences to be noted.
• Bonus: Going Halfsies with Pull Over Join
  Converting an end-to-end scarf into a matching ends version of 2 identical halves joined with “pull over” bind off.

Irish Coffee Cozy (February)

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KAL articles for Irish Coffee Cozy

• Getting Started with Beaded Garter Stitch Knitting
  Don’t be concerned if you have not knit with beads before, or you need a refresher.
• Sometimes it’s the simple thing in knitting often forgotten that work the best. Using the simple half-hitch cast on might be one of those.
• I Hate to Purl and more about Beaded Garter Stitch
  For those who hate to purl, or prefer to knit rather than purl, you will love beaded garter stitch.
• Overcoming a Knot Too Happy Encounter
  What to do if you run into a knot. Step-by-step photo tutorial how to transfer beads to a temporary thread so you don’t have to re-string beads.
• No-sew Minimalist Seam using simple half-hitch cast on and 3-needle bind off
  This no-sew method uses the live stitches rather than a bound off edge, sp the seam is even less bulky than the minimalist seaming sewn method.
• Bonus: Rotating even-count grid designs
  Because of the square nature of beaded garter stitch, even count designs like this little beaded shamrock can easily be rotated as though it were doing cartwheels.
• Bonus: Kitchener Garter Stitch
  Instructions for joining with a sewn grafting method to produce an invisible seam in garter stitch.

I Heart Filet Lace (January)

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KAL articles for I Heart Filet Lace

• Getting Started with Filet Lace Knitting: Introduction
  Filet Lace Knitting aims to replicate even-count lace designs from other needlecrafts such as filet crochet, drawn thread embroidery and net darning.
• Tips for Selecting Materials and Supplies for Filet Lace Knitting
  For a satisfying experience in both the process and outcome of knitting filet lace, keep these things in mind when selecting your materials and supplies.
• Making open squares in filet lace knitting: The ktd decrease
  The ktd is fast once you practice and get into the rhythm. I hope you enjoy adding it to your knitting bag of stitches as much as I have.
• Making Filled Squares in Filet Lace Knitting
  The how and why of using yokp elongated stitches to make filled squares in filet lace knitting.
• Bonus: Beaded Filet Lace Knitting
  I must admit I have bitten by the bead bug. It doesn’t take much effort to find a reason to add beads to almost everything. How about you?
• Blocking in Progress for Natural Fibers
  You don’t need to wait until you complete your scarf to block and prove to yourself that you are on the right track. 5 Steps of Blocking in Progress
• Pleasing Reversibility: Looking at the other side of lace
  Sometimes it isn’t just a matter of right and wrong. The other side of knitting, it can be nice looking, too. I call this Pleasing Reversibility.
• Filet Lace: It’s An Upside Down World
  Don’t try this with most lace! Filet lace knitting is an exception to the norm that rows cannot just be knit in reverse order.

BOBBOL 2013 KAL’s

BOBBOL stands for Bits of Beads/Bits of Lace, and expands the popular Bits of Lace 2012 Series with additional types of small lace projects and the addition of projects for building skills in beading. Some projects are lace, some are beads, and some are both. There is something for everyone.

Lace Doily Beret (December)

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KAL articles for Lace Doily Beret

• Thoughts on Beading the Lace Doily Beret
• Starting the Lace Doily Beret
• Bonus: Guidelines to Make a Thread Doily from the Lace Doily Beret Pattern
• Making It Around the Lace Doily Beret Rounds
• The Balanced 3-to-2 Decrease: step-by-step photo tutorial
• Shaping the Lace Doily Beret vs. Tam

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Easy Elegance Mitts (November)

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KAL articles for Easy Elegance Mitts

• Any Beads Any Yarn (Make Your Own Beaded Accent Yarn)
• Let’s Twist! Plaited Ribbing
• Tips for Making the Most of Beaded Accent Yarn
• The Self-Reinforced Thumb Slot (a.k.a. self-reinforced one-row buttonhole)
• Finishing Touches for Easy Elegance
• Speeding Up Bead Stringing

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Beaded Crescent Neck Lace (October)

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KAL articles for Beaded Crescent Neck Lace

• Photo Tutorial: How to Knit the Beaded Loops Edging
• Using the Beaded Loops Edging as a basis for casting on
• Keeping It Simple Short Rows
• Beading the Bind Off Row
• Neck Lace: Finishing and Ideas for Wearing

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Little Beaded Pumpkin (September)

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KAL articles for Little Beaded Pumpkin

• Transferring Strings of Beads
• Structural Beaded Knitting
• Thinking of I-cord as a type of circular knitting on 2 needles
• Tips for Working with Lots of Strung Beads
• Wrap-up for Little Beaded Pumpkin KAL: Stuffing and Closing

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Kitty In Your Lap Towel (August)

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KAL articles for Kitty In Your Lap Towel

• Square Version of Kitty In Your Lap
• Kitty Spa Cloth
• Beyond the Holes of Lace
• Facial Features vs. Featureless

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Bells on My Toes Holiday Beaded Mini Sock (July)

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KAL articles for Holiday Beaded Mini Sock

• Stringing Beads in a Planned Color Sequence
• Single Bead Placement in Front of a Slipped Stitch
• Swags of Beads
• Bead Fringe Loops

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Dolly’s Top-Down Tri Shawl (June)

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KAL articles for Dolly’s Top-Down Tri Shawl

• Roadmap for a Top-Down Triangle Shawl
• Setting Up the Center Back Neckline of the Top-Down Triangle Shawl
• Tips and Techniques for the Main Body of the Top-Down Triangle Shawl
• Approaching the Finish Line of June’s Top-Down Tri Shawl KAL
• The Continuous Attach-as-you-knit Lace Edging Bind Off
• Extra Bonus: Sizing Up Dolly’s Top-Down Tri Shawl
  

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Pinwheel Flower (May)

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KAL articles for Pinwheel Flower

• Easy “Cheating” Center Start for Double Point Needles
• For Art’s Sake vs. Utilitarian – Does your knitting have to have a practical purpose?
• Decorative Crochet Chain Bind Off Technique for Lace Knitting (and knitted version)
• Blocking a Circular Lace Doily

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Mini Lace and Beaded Flag (April)

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KAL articles for Mini Lace and Beaded Flag

• Check Your Thread Colors for Colorfastness
• Knitting Lacy Stripes for the Mini Flag
• Tips for Changing Colors in the Mini Flag
• String 50 Beads for the Mini US Flag Stars
• Tips for Stringing Tiny Loose Beads
• Knitting the Bead Stars in the Mini Flag
• Words about Completing the Mini Flag
• Binding Off to Enhance a Wavy Edge
  

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Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch (March)

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KAL articles for Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch

• Sizing Up Crochet Hooks
• Using a crochet hook to pull a loop of yarn through a bead
• Some Other Options for Hooking Beads
• Going Around with Lace
• Knitting the Lace Edging of Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch – Part 1
• Part 2 of Knitting the Lace Edging of Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch
• Knitting the Main Body of the Yarn Pouch
• Completing the Pretty Awesome Yarn Pouch
• Bonus Step-by-step Technique: Gathered Woven Closure
• What Kind of Bead Color Person Are You?
  

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Seemingly Seamless 2-Needle Preemie Hat (February)

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KAL articles for Seemingly Seamless 2-Needle Preemie Hat

• Pointers and Tips about Elasticity
• Tips and Techniques for Part 1 of the 2-Needle Preemie Hat
• Knitting the Crown of the Preemie Hat
• Handmade Baby Item Donations Listing
• Seaming the Preemie Hat
• Knitting the Preemie Hat Circularly :: Converting rows to rounds
• Making the 2-Needle Preemie Hat Larger by Using Thicker Yarn
• Changing the Number of Stitches for 2-Needle Preemie Hat
  

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Beading Hearts Friendship Bracelet (January)

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KAL articles for Beading Hearts Friendship Bracelet

• Combining Beads and Yarn: Learning to Make Good Choices
• Beaded Garter Stitch: A Peek Behind the Scenes
• Bead Row Pre-Counting Tip
• Ideas for finding places to buy beads
• Reasons for Pulse Warmers
• Tidy Stretchy Edges
• Minimalist Seaming

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Bits of Lace 2012

Knitted lace edgings are a beautiful addition to garments, linens, and accessories. Because these trims are typically done on just a few stitches, each project takes just a small amount of materials and time.

A Bit of Lace Dolly Shawl (December)

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KAL articles for A Bit of Lace Dolly Shawl

• Distinctively Shaped Faroese Shawls
• Top Down Faroese Shawl: Starting at Neck Band
• Top Down Faroese Shawl: The Body of the Shawl
• Attach-as-you-knit Method for Lace Edging as a Bind Off
• Keeping Track of Which Edging Row You Are On

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Knitted Ribbons (November)

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KAL articles for Knitted Ribbons

• Picot Loops Lace Cast On
• 10 Reasons for Ribbons
• Ribboned Knitted Ribbon

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Bits of Lace Oak Leaf (October)

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KAL articles for Bits of Lace Oak Leaf

• Designing with Elements of Lace Edging Patterns
• Uses for Little Lacy Leaf Medallions
• More Ideas for Using Elements of Lace Edgings in New Ways
• Turning a Lace Edging into a Leaf

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Lace-edged Doily (September)

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KAL articles for Lace-edged Doily

• Starting the Lace Doily Edging: Provisional Cast On
• 5 Tips for Selecting a Perfect Waste Thread
• Crochet Provisional Cast On – Method 2
• Stockinette Lace Edging
• How long is long enough? measure-as-you-go easy method
• Tips for Releasing the Temporary Crochet Chain of a Provisional Cast On
• Grafting an Invisible Join
• Attaching your knitted edging to woven fabric

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Spiraling Diamonds Lace-edged Towel

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KAL articles for Spiraling Diamonds Lace-edged Towel

• Lace Knitting vs. Knitted Lace
• Wrong Side Decreases in Knitted Lace
• SSP (Slip Slip Purl) Technique
• The Shape of Things to Come
• How you slip does matter

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Antique Satin and Lace Ornament

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KAL articles for Antique Satin and Lace Ornament

• Thread Tips for the Christmas in July Project
• Ornament Ball Tips
• Charting the Lace Edging
• Easy Knitting with Beads: Preparation
• Easy Knitting with Beads: Slip/sliding a bead into place
• Q&A: What weight yarn with which bead size?

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Summer Lace Anklets

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KAL articles for Summer Lace Anklets

• Cable-and-Lace Edging Split Cuff
• 2 different styles of charting the same lace stitch edging
• Reading and Keeping Your Place in Lace Charts – Redux
• The Best Charting Style Is … ?
• Picot Loops for Easy Picking Up and Elasticity

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Lace Cable Bookmark

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KAL articles for Lace Cable Bookmark

• A Chance to Learn to Use Charts (if you want to)
• Communicating Lace Pattern Instructions
• Basics of Knitting Symbol Charts
• Charting the chain stitch selvedge
• The “No Stitch”
  
• Q&A re. Chain Stitch Selvedge
  
• Keeping Your Place in a Chart

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Three Eyelets Sachet

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KAL articles for Three Eyelets Sachet

• The Heritage of White Lace
• Striving for Perfect Results – Part 1
• Striving for Perfect Results – Part 2
• Playing around with variations of the double yarn over
• Lace Edging Building Blocks – The Heading
• How You Slip Does Matter – The Chain Stitch Selvedge

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Lace Bug Bookmark

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KAL articles for Lace Bug Bookmark

• You know more than you realize
• Distinctive and Decorative – the Double Yarn Over
• Substituting a single yarn over for a double yarn over eyelet
• Nuances of the half-hitch simple cast on

Extra Bonus Pattern (free)

• Simple Eyelet #2
• Bead-pinned Lace Edging Ornament

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Quick Lace-Edged Baby Socks

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KAL articles for Quick Lace-Edged Baby Socks

• Knitted Lace Edgings: a working definition and basic characteristics
• Simple Cast On :: a time and place for simplicity
• Choosing Yarn / Thread for a Lace Edging
• Yarn Over at Beginning of Row
• 3 points about knitting needles to make lace edging
• Curved edge bind off

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