In my quest for learning all I can about knitting I often enjoy reading tutorials and such around the Knitting  Blogosphere (or as Debi calls it Knitbloglandia).  That said, I’m sure we can all agree that some people in this world may be quite talented but not the best teachers.  It also holds true that an individual may have a deep understanding of a subject matter but not be able to perform a particular skill with the greatest of expertise.  I’m afraid there are many times I fall into this latter category.  I read all I can, learn all I can about a technique.  But, alas, while I may be able to do the technique myself it lacks a certain finesse.  *Sigh* My fine motor skills and my artistic eye are not as top notch as I would like. But that is what makes each of us here, the residents of Knitbloglandia, unique.

Anyway, I ramble on but I have a point.  (Really, I do).  I have collected a list, a top ten list if you will, of those tutorials and knitucational entries that our fellow stick clickers have created.  You may have other ideas.  My little corner of Knitbloglandia is quite small, afterall, I just learned about See Eunny Knit.   So, if you know of other tutorials or knitucational posts that are well written and easy to follow, leave you inspired not discouraged, etc. list ‘em in the comments. 

Let’s get started.

10. Making Provisions. Theresa, The Keyboard Biologist,  has a great tutorial on creating a provisional cast on in the round.  She takes this a step further in a follow up post by demonstrating how to make those pretty little picot edged cuffs on knitted socks.  Great photos, easy to follow.  You can read these great posts here  and here.

9.  Blockage.  Stephanie of Yarn Harlot  fame wrote a great tutorial about blocking lace back in 2005.  She gives specifications on keeping a straight edge (she uses string but blocking wires would also work great) and getting the best possible result.  This  is a very informative tutorial with the usual wit that we all love from our Yarn Harlot.

8.  Change is Good.  This tutorial wasn’t on a blog but it was written by a blogger so I included it.  Jenna Wilson, The Girl From Auntie (May God shower her with many blessings for the stupendous Rogue and Eris patterns) wrote a much needed article for Knitty .  The subtitle is Knit Smarter not Faster  and it is all about amending patterns for a better fit, choosing the right fit, etc. 

7.  Not Waiting on the Cable Guy. How many times have I seen a cable motif and thought “how’d they do that”?  Or search and search each resource I have only to come up empty handed.  Eunny  to the rescue.  In this  tutorial she shows each of us how to look at a finished cable and break down the steps needed to create that same cable motif.

6.  Not Getting Needled.  This could be a top ten list all on it’s own.  There are many, many tutorials out there about how to cable without a cable needle.  Although each of them is great in their own way, I appreciate Nanette’s  the most.  It is concise and one of the easiest to follow.

5.  Thumbs Up.  Nanette  (a two-fer) has a series on her blog about creating thumbs for mittens and gloves.  She referred to the series as Thumb Week.  Links to the posts on all sort of thumb gussets are
here , here, here , here too , and here.   (Did I lose you through all of that?).  As a bonus, I have also linked to her discussion on thumb gusset increases.

4. Turkey Day.  In October of 2005, Debi of Fluffy Knitter Deb  fame posted a marvelous tutorial on the Turkish Cast On .  Complete with photos and contrasting needles for clarity, the tutorial is very thorough, leaves no question unanswered and teaches you a valuable skill for creating toe-up socks (in addition to many other uses).  Debi’s blog could also get an additional listing in here for being informative overall.  Several times a month little details and tidbits will be included in one of her posts.  I have had many knitting A-Ha moments while reading an entry at Fluffy Knitter Deb .

3. The Long and the Short of It. Nona of Nonaknits wrote up an excellent series on short rows.  Since my attempts at short row heels were a bit holey, I loved reading Nona’s explanation.  Many of the tutorials I have read on short rows left me with many questions.  Not these.  Nona’s is concise yet complete and very easy to follow.  The tutorial is written over a short series of posts (and even includes Japanese short rows).  Here they are….

Post 1.       Post 2.       Post 3.      and…..    Post 4.

2.  Dyeing to Learn More. Once I stumbled onto a tutorial that left me speechless.  I have read it time and time again.  The odd thing is that the tutorial was not even written by a blogger but it was posted by one.  Our lovable Yarn Harlot had a guest blogger named Laurie who is artiste extraordinaire when it comes to hand dyeing fiber.  Laure wrote up an in depth tutorial (that was totally fascinating) under the title of The Wool House Presents.  It’s a four part series and a must read, even if you never intend to dye your own fiber.  Your life will not be complete until you read Part One,   Part Two,   Part Three,   and Part Four.

And finally, the number one tutorial is…..

1. Arsenic and Old Lace. Majoring in Lace (a tutorial series created by Eunny of See Eunny Knit ) came to rescue one day recently.  I was interested in designing a lace shawl but was a bit stumped.  Honestly, after reading Eunny’s lace primer I realized I was basically stumped because I lacked a foundational understanding of lace and the construction of shawls.  After reading this tutorial I was inspired and felt that I could not only design a shawl but I could also have much less difficulty in my lace knitting because I know understood the foundation of the techniques.  The series is divided into four parts: The Intro,   Part 2,   Part 3 ,   and Part 4.

So this is my list of Top Ten Tutorials.  Know of ones that you think are must reads????  Let me know.  Maybe we can create another list.    One of my main thoughts on creating this list was that each time I wanted to learn about a specific technique I turn to the blogs.  Some folks like Deb  and Eunny have helpful links to the tutorials that they create.  Others do not so you better have a pretty good guess as to where and when you saw them.  Anyway, I thought by making a list it might help to keep track of great teaching posts and have them listed in one location so I wouldn’t need to dig around. I created the list for myself but then decided that it may help others as well. 

Happy Reading!