| How to Knit Blankets Posted: 15 Nov 2020 04:00 PM PST A nice, warm, knitted blanket pairs perfectly with a good book on a cold night. A blanket is a long-term project, but you can always pick the project up when you have the time. Plus, when it's finished, the sense of achievement will make it all worthwhile! You can use a variety of knitting techniques and stitch patterns to create a unique and beautiful blanket to keep for yourself or give away as a gift. [Edit]Patch Blanket - Base the size of your patches on how big your blanket will be. Depending on what size blanket you'd like to have, you can make your patches big, small, or anywhere in between. Generally, a blanket will use patches that are , a blanket will use ones that are , and a blanket will have patches that are .[1]
- The amount of yarn you need depends on the weight of your yarn and your blanket size. In general, you'll need between .
- Knit 1 line of yarn using the cast on stitch. Make a simple slipknot with your yarn and slide it over your left-hand knitting needle. Wrap the yarn around your thumb, then slide the yarn loop onto the knitting needle again. Pull your thumb out of the yarn, then tug on both ends to tighten the knot. Keep repeating this stitch until you have 1 side of your square patch done.[2]
- This is one of the easiest ways to start a knitting project, and you'll probably use it a lot later on in other projects, too.
- For this project, you'll want size 19 US (000 UK) knitting needles if you're using bulky yarn, or size 15 US (000 UK) knitting needles if you're using medium-weight yarn.
- Slide your right-hand needle into the excess thread to keep knitting. Grab your second knitting needle and bring the point up close to the point of your left-hand needle. Wrap the loose yarn clockwise around the top of the right needle, keeping the yarn wrapped tightly as you move along. Pull the right-hand needle backwards just slightly, then slide it up through the closest loop on your left needle. Keep going down the line to complete one row.[3]
- When you've finished a row, you can move your empty needle back to the side with the working yarn to start a new one. Then, you can continue on using rows until you've made an even square.
- If you reach the end of a ball of yarn, just cast on again with your new length of yarn to keep going.
- This is a basic knit stitch, and it's useful to learn when you're making blankets, scarves, or hats.
- Finish the square by casting off. Once you're done with your patch, you'll still have yarn wrapped around your left-hand needle. Take your empty needle (the right-hand needle) and bring it up to the point of the left needle again. Knit 2 basic stitches using the loops attached to the left-hand needle, looping the stitches onto your right needle. Then, use the point of your left needle to grab the first stitch on the right needle and pull it up and over the second stitch.[4]
- Continue casting off until you've removed all of the stitches from both needles.
- You'll be left with a square patch of yarn that you can use to create your blanket!
- Make 12 equal squares. To complete your blanket, keep making even squares in the same size as your first one. Once you've made 12 squares, you can stop and arrange your blanket.[5]
- Knitting this many squares can take a long time, especially if you've never knitted before. Don't be afraid to put down your project and pick it back up again later.
- Arrange your squares in a blanket pattern. Once you have all 12 squares, spread them out on a flat surface to see how they'll look in your finished blanket. You can use your creativity here to make a pattern, mix and match colors, and try out different numbers in different rows.[6]
- It's helpful to spread all of the patches out before you move on so you can visualise how your blanket will look in the end.
- You can even alternate the patches in a right side up, wrong side up pattern.
- Sew each square together with an invisible seam. Position 2 of the squares next to each other and line up the edges. Thread a large sewing needle with a new length of yarn, then poke it into the edge of 1 square. Bring your needle up and through the yarn, then poke it through the edge of the second square, sewing them tightly together (kind of like a running stitch). Keep going back and forth up the 2 squares with stitches that are about apart until you reach the top.[7]
- The invisible seam is great for knitting 2 pieces of knit-work together. It's a very versatile stitch that will probably come in handy during other projects, too.
- Once you're done, you'll have a soft, cozy blanket with a fun, funky pattern to snuggle up under.
- If you attach all of your squares and realize your blanket isn't as big as you'd like it to be, you can just knit a few more patches and add them onto the ends.
[Edit]Solid-Colored Blanket - Cast on 210 stitches on your needle. To start a plain blanket, grab your knitting needle and make a simple slip knot with your yarn, pulling it over the tip of your left-hand needle to get started. Wrap the yarn around your thumb, then slide that loop onto the needle to attach your yarn. Tug on both loose ends of the yarn to tighten up the knot, then keep going with this stitch.[8]
- The length of your initial stitching will be the width of your blanket, so you can make it as long or as short as you'd like. This may be slightly more or less than 210 stitches, so you can play around with the number that you need.
- A blanket with 210 stitches will be about wide.
- As you might have guessed, you're going to need a long knitting needle for this blanket. Try to get size 7 US (7 UK) knitting needles for lightweight yarn or size 10 US (4 UK) knitting needles for bulky yarn.
- Depending on how large your blanket is, this project can take of yarn.
- Make the second row with a basic knit stitch. Take the empty needle in your right hand and bring the point up to the last stitch you just made. Wrap the loose yarn, or the working yarn, clockwise around your right-hand needle, then pull the right-hand needle backwards just slightly. Slide your needle up through the loop of yarn, then pull the loop onto the right needle. Keep going with this stitch to make the second row of your blanket.[9]
- Creating a plain blanket is all about making small strips of stitching. When they're all finished, you'll have an entire blanket!
- Keep stitching rows of yarn until your blanket is done. When you've finished a row, move your empty needle back over to the side with the working yarn and start again. You can use your basic knit stitch to keep going down the length of your blanket, stopping when you run out of yarn or your blanket is long enough to cozy up in. This can take quite a while, so don't be afraid to put your project down and pick it back up again later.[10]
- This is a great way to practice your basic knit stitch.
- The length of your blanket is up to you, but most solid-colored blankets end up being about long.
- If you reach the end of a ball of yarn, cast on again with a new length of yarn to keep going.
- Cast off the last stitches when you reach the end. When you're finally done with your blanket, take your empty needle and slide it underneath the last stitch you made. Do 2 basic stitches, then use the left needle to slide the first loop up and over the second loop, keeping them on the right needle. Keep going until there aren't any more stitches wrapped around your left-hand needle.[11]
- This is also called a "bind off."
- Pull the tail of the yarn through the last loop. To make sure your blanket doesn't unravel, take the tail end and pull it back through the loop hanging off the blanket. Pull the tail end taut to secure the knot in place and keep all your stitches tight.[12]
- Stitch the tail end of the yarn through the outer edge of the blanket. Take a size D crochet hook and thread the tail end of your yarn through it, leaving hanging out of the back. Use your crochet hook to thread the tail end into the border of your blanket for to secure the tail. When you're done, use scissors to snip the excess yarn off.[13]
- This will keep your blanket secure without adding a ton of bulk to the outer edge.
[Edit]Striped Blanket - Cast on the first 20 stitches. Wrap the length of yarn around your thumb and hold it in place to make a simple slip knot. Slide the loop over your left-hand needle, then remove your thumb and grab the 2 loose ends. Pull them taut to tighten the knot, then repeat this stitch 20 times.[14]
- For striped blankets, you can alternate your yarn color to make them interesting to look at.
- If you're making a baby blanket, try using muted colors that go with the color of their nursery.
- You'll need size 10 US (4 UK) knitting needles for bulky yarn and size 7 US (7 UK) knitting needles for lightweight yarn.
- The amount of yarn you'll need depends on the size of your project, but it's best to start with .
- Use a knit stitch to stitch the width of your stripe. Now you can decide how wide you'd like your stripes to be—most are between thick. Grab your right knitting needle and bring it up to the last loop you made. Wrap the working yarn around your right-hand needle, then draw it back just slightly to slide it through the last loop on your left-hand needle.[15]
- When you reach the end of one row, move your empty needle to the side of the row with the working yarn and start again.
- You can stop once you've completed a single stripe, but don't cast off yet!
- Wrap your new yarn color around your empty needle to switch colors. Take the end of your empty needle and bring it up to the last stitch you made like you're going to do a knit stitch. Instead of wrapping the last yarn color around your needle, grab your new color and wrap it once around the needle. Continue knitting on top of the previous row with your new yarn color to switch to a new stripe.[16]
- This is an easy way to switch between colors and avoid dealing with seam stitches.
- You can leave the excess yarn from your last color sticking out in a tail. When your blanket is done, just cut it off.
- Keep using a basic knit stitch to complete the rest of your blanket. You can add as many new colors and stripes as you'd like to until you finish up. If you're making a baby blanket, you'll probably want it to be about long; for an afghan or a throw, you might want it to be around long.[17]
- The length and pattern of your blanket is totally up to you, so get creative with it!
- Cast off the end of your stitches. Take your empty needle and slide it under the last loop you made. Do 2 knit stitches, then use your left-hand needle to slide the first loop up and over the back of the right-hand needle. Keep going until you've removed all of the yarn from your left-hand needle.[18]
- Weave the yarn tail into the edge of the blanket. Pull the tail end of the yarn through the last loop sticking out of your blanket, then thread it through a size D crochet hook. Use your crochet hook to weave the tail into the first on the edge of your blanket, then use scissors to snip the end off when you're done.[19]
- Now you can throw your blanket on the back of your couch or give it as a present during a baby shower.
- Knitting blankets can take a long time. One project can take a few months, or longer if you're just starting out.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Patch Blanket - Between of yarn
- 19 US (000 UK) or size 15 US (000 UK) knitting needles
- Sewing needle
- Ruler
[Edit]Solid-Colored Blanket - Size 7 knitting needles
- Between of yarn
- Size D crochet hook
[Edit]Striped Blanket - 10 US (4 UK) or size 7 US (7 UK) knitting needles
- Between of yarn
- Size D crochet hook
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Wash Dress Shirts in the Washing Machine Posted: 15 Nov 2020 08:00 AM PST A dress shirt always looks best when it's been properly washed and dried. However, dry-cleaning or professional laundering is expensive. Fortunately, you can wash most dress shirts in a normal washing machine at home. You only need to make some slight adjustments between washing standard and delicate dress shirts. This saves tons of money and keeps your shirts looking fresh. [Edit]Prepping the Shirt - Check the care label to confirm the shirt is machine-washable. Most dress shirts are cotton, linen, or polyester. These materials are all machine-washable, but double check the care label to confirm that it's okay to put the shirt in the washing machine. If the label says "Machine Wash" or has a symbol with a bucket filled with water, go ahead with putting it in the machine.[1]
- If you see a bucket with an X over it, or the words "Dry Clean Only" or "Do Not Wash," then bring the shirt to the dry cleaners. Usually, wool and silk aren't machine-washable.
- You might also see "Hand Wash Only" on the label. In this case, hand wash the shirt instead of putting it in the machine.
- Divide the white and colored shirts to prevent staining. If you're washing multiple shirts, separate out the white ones. This prevents the colors from bleeding together and staining the white ones.[2]
- If a white shirt has thin colored stripes, wash it with the whites. If a colored shirt has white stripes, wash it with the colors.
- Separate shirts made of silk, wool, cashmere, or other delicate materials. Fragile materials like these need a different wash cycle than other more durable materials. If any of your dress shirts are made of delicate material, separate them from the other shirts and run them in a different load.[3]
- If you aren't sure what your shirt is made of, check the care label. If it says "Delicate," then separate it out.
- Unbutton all the buttons on the shirt. Buttons can get snagged on the inside of the washing machine and damage the shirt. Make sure they're all unbuttoned before you wash it.[4]
- Remember all the little buttons on the sleeves. Some shirts also have buttons around the collar.
- Pretreat any stains on the shirt. Check the shirt for any stains. If you find any, wet them with cold water. Then, rub a spoonful of detergent onto each stain. Let the detergent soak in for 5 minutes before washing the shirt.[5]
- You can also buy stain-removing pens or sprays to pretreat the shirt.
- Also check the other side of the fabric for stains. It may have soaked through.
- Turn the shirt inside out before washing it. This helps remove any armpit and deodorant stains from the inside of the shirt. Remember to pull the sleeves as well so the entire shirt is inside out.[6]
[Edit]Loading the Shirt into the Machine - Set the machine to cold water. Warm water can make colors bleed and stain your other clothes. Make sure your washing machine is on its cold setting before starting it.[7]
- Most modern washing machines use cold water as their standard setting. This may be your machine's default as well.
- Both standard and delicate shirts require cold water, so don't adjust the temperature for different shirts.
- Load your normal detergent before putting the shirt in. In most cases, your dress shirts don't need any special detergent. Use the same amount and type you usually do, and pour it into the machine before loading the clothes.[8]
- If you're washing a plain white shirt, use detergent with bleach in it. Otherwise, make sure the detergent is bleach-free.[9]
- Place delicate shirts in a washer bag to prevent them from tearing. This is a mesh bag that's perfect for delicate items. It allows the water and detergent to clean the shirts while protecting them from getting caught on anything. Load your shirts made of silk, wool, cashmere, or other delicate materials into a bag before putting them in the machine.[10]
- Don't overload the bags. Follow the instructions for how many items each bag can fit.
- Washer bags are available online or from home goods stores.
- Run the machine on the normal cycle for standard dress shirts. Shirts made of polyester, linen, nylon, or cotton usually don't need any special setting. Set the cycle to normal and let it run until the load is finished.[11]
- Do not wash delicate shirts on the normal cycle.
- Set the machine to delicate for fragile materials. Shirts made of delicate materials could get ruined with the machine on the normal setting. Instead, set it to the delicate cycle. Then place the washer bag into the machine and let the cycle run completely.[12]
- Remember to consult the care tag if you aren't sure what material your shirt is made of. If it's marked "Delicate," then run it on the delicate cycle.
[Edit]Drying the Shirt - Shake the shirt out immediately after you remove it. As soon as the cycle is finished, take the dress shirt out. Hold it firmly by the collar and gently shake it a few times. This gets out all the crumples and avoids wrinkling when the shirt dries.[13]
- Don't leave your clothes in the washing machine after the cycle is done. They'll get wrinkled and musty. Take them out right away.
- Turn the shirt right-side out. Since you washed the shirt inside-out, reverse it again so the right side is facing out. Letting the shirt dry inside out might cause more wrinkling.[14]
- Press the shirt while it's still wet. Lay the shirt down flat on an ironing board. For the crispest results, use a hot iron on a low steam setting. Move the iron quickly to avoid damaging the shirt.[15]
- If you're not experienced with ironing, set the iron to a high steam setting. This won't give you the crispest result, but it avoids damaging the shirt.
- If you don't have time to iron the shirt right away while it's still wet, use a spray bottle and lightly wet the shirt before you iron it for better results.[16]
- Ironing is optional. If you prefer, you can skip it and just let the shirt airdry.
- Hang the shirt on a plastic hanger to dry. Take a wide plastic hanger and put the shirt onto it. Button the shift so it stays in place. Then, hang the shirt and let it airdry.[17]
- Don't use wire or thin plastic hangers. These could distort the fabric.
- Avoid putting dress shirts in the dryer. Not only do dress shirts look crisper if they're air dried, but you'll also avoid wear and tear by keeping them out of the dryer.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Study for an Online Class Posted: 15 Nov 2020 12:00 AM PST Online courses can be a more convenient, and sometimes cheaper, means of learning. If you signed up for an online class, however, sometimes concentrating on studying can be difficult. As you often absorb the material on your own time, you may struggle to stay focused. To start, create and stick to a strict study schedule. Make sure to find ways to work with online material. You may, for example, need to print out lecture notes on occasion so you can study away from the computer. Make sure to use effective study skills. Study skills that would work in any course are applicable to an online class. [Edit]Creating a Study Schedule - Choose a study space with reliable Internet access. You will probably need to refer to online lectures and notes when you study. Therefore, you will need a study space where your Internet access will not be interrupted. Internet access will be particularly important during things like study sessions for your class.[1]
- You can study at home, if you know you won't distract yourself. Many people, however, have difficulty concentrating when they try to study at home. This is one of the challenges of online courses.
- A place like an Internet cafe usually has reliable Internet access, as do some coffee shops and restaurants. Just make sure employees won't mind you hanging around these places for long hours while you study.
- You can also try a library.
- Set a time to log onto your class each day. Maintaining a strict schedule is vital to success in an online course. Even though you may not be required to attend classes or lectures at particular times, you still need to keep up with the course material on your own time. Therefore, self-discipline is important. Set a time each week to log onto the class and study materials.[2]
- You may have some regular lecture times you need to attend. However, you should also make time on your own end for review. This is especially important if you're required to review some of the course material on your own.
- To make an online class feel as vigorous as an in-person course, choose the same times and days to login each week. Set a specific timeframe for how long you'll read and review materials. You can, for example, log in from 2 o'clock to 4 o'clock Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to study.
- Make a calendar to follow. Oftentimes, deadlines won't be as obvious in an online course. As you won't be attending lectures every day, where you'll be reminded of due dates, making a calendar for your own reference is important. Add information as it becomes available, such as from emails from your instructor or notifications from the course.[3]
- You can make a physical calendar for yourself if you study at home. Write down things like the dates papers are due and the dates of tests and quizzes. This will help let you know when you need to start committing to reviewing materials.
- You can also make a calendar on your phone or laptop. This may be more helpful if you don't study at home, as you'll be able to refer to it while you're out studying.
- Strive to stick to your schedule. It can be hard to stick to a schedule for an online course. This is especially true if you're allowed to do things like watch lectures on your own time. However, be strict with yourself about adhering to your schedule. Self-discipline is vital to your success in an online course.[4]
- Remember, just because you don't go to the course in person does not mean it is not costing you money or that it does not affect your overall GPA. Make sure to treat an online course as seriously as you would treat a course you attend in person.
[Edit]Working with Online Material - Print out any materials you can. Sometimes, a computer can be a distraction. It can be helpful to turn your laptop off at times to study. In addition to helping you study away from your computer, you can highlight printed out materials and also make notes in the margins.[5]
- If you prefer to read typed lectures or reading material on a screen, you may want to invest in a Kindle. These aren't backlit, which reduces eye strain compared to reading on a computer screen.
- You should also print out things like a course schedule and syllabus. It's good to have a physical copy of these materials to refer to throughout the course.
- Take notes on online lectures. You should take notes online as rigorously as you would during a physical lecture.[6] Sit with a pen and paper and take careful, legible notes in front of your computer. Handwritten notes increase your retention of the material better than typed notes.[7]
- Use headings and dates to keep track of what materials are covered in each section of your notes. You can refer to these headings later when studying.
- Do not try to record every single detail an instructor said. Instead, jot down the general idea and any insights that help you better understand the material. Later, when you're studying, you can refer to your notes to remember the major ideas of the course.
- Even if you can re-watch lectures, taking notes is still helpful. It helps better remember the material later and you can also write down key material. If you need to, say, remember a date, you can refer to your notes instead of searching the video for the specific moment when this date was mentioned.
- Write out difficult material. If something is really difficult to understand, try writing it down. You can also try writing and rewriting anything you have to memorize. This can be a helpful technique for studying for any course, including an online one.[8]
- You can copy your notes onto a new sheet of paper.
- You can also write down vocabulary words, dates, names of important figures, and other information you need to memorize.
- Read difficult information out loud. If you're really struggling to understand something, reading it out loud can help. You will both see and hear the material, helping you better commit it to memory. If a lot of your online course material is text, this can be very helpful. If you have written lectures, for example, you won't hear them read out loud by an instructor. It can help to read them out loud yourself.[9]
- You can also try summarizing the material from memory out loud. You can, for example, pretend you're explaining a concept to another student.
[Edit]Using Effective Study Techniques - Avoid online distractions. It can be difficult to focus on your online course if you have a social media account open in another tab or are receiving notifications on your computer. When you're doing classwork, avoid browsing the Internet, checking your email, and other distractions.
- If necessary, you can install an app that will restrict your access to certain websites during a designated period of time so you can focus on your studies.
- Have goals for each study session. Never go into a study session undirected. Have specific goals each time you sit down to study. You can break the material up into chunks and study one chunk at a time. Make a schedule for yourself, with individual study sessions divided by topic.[10]
- You should also remember your overall academic goals when you study. This can help with your motivation. Think about how a good grade will contribute to your overall GPA. Think about how the material will benefit you after the course.
- Quiz and test yourself. Simple memorization can only go so far. One of the most effective means to memorize material is giving yourself tests and quizzes. Quizzing can improve memorization because of a process called "retrieval." Every time a memory is retrieved, it becomes more accessible in the future. If there are practice tests and quizzes available online, take as many as you can. You can also make up tests and quizzes for yourself.
- Flashcards can be a great way to test yourself on things like vocabulary and dates.
- You can also write down potential exam questions as you study. This can be very helpful if you're expecting an essay test. After you finish studying, take the test you made for yourself.
- Take breaks. Studying for long hours can easily lead to burnout. It's important to take breaks as you study. Take a break about every hour or so. Do something fun, like watch TV for a few minutes or go for a brief walk, and then return to your materials. You will find yourself feeling refreshed and recharged after a quick break.[11]
- Reach out to instructors with questions. Remember, your instructor in an online course is a valuable resource. Just because you don't see them every day does not mean you can't reach out to them. If you stumble across anything confusing while studying, do not hesitate to send your instructor an email asking for clarification.[12]
- If you have a web camera, try setting up a video chat meeting with your instructor for face-to-face feedback.
- Make flashcards. If you don't want to use physical flashcards, you can easily make flashcards online.
[Edit]Warnings - Do not miss discussion boards or exams. Even though the class is online, you will still be expected to attend classes on schedule.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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