Beginner Knitting: tips for creating the Garter Stitch

Beginner Knitting:

• how to knit the Garter Stitch, English style

The most basic of all knit stitches, the Garter Stitch is often referred to as the "knit stitch" because it uses the knit stitch to create this fabric called Garter Stitch.

The Garter Stitch is a wonderful knit fabric because the front and back are identical, making this a useful stitch for scarfs, afghans, hats, leg warmers, neck warmers, etc.

In the example seen below, a triangle shape is forming by increasing one stitch at the beginning of each row.

This particular increase is called a Yarn Over.  

It is created by bringing your working yarn over the working needle (right hand needle) before you begin the stitch.

As you can see, it leaves a lovely yet simple border of loops.

To create the Garter Stitch, start by casting on any number of stitches.  Then, use the knit stitch for every row.  

In the example seen above, I am using Clover circular needles to carry the weight of the fabric. 

This will eventually become a shawl and will be very heavy to work with.  Using circular needles, to create flat fabric, is my preference when creating large items.

The yarn I am using is from Jo-Ann Stores.  Sensations yarn is a Jo-Ann brand of yarn.  This particular yarn is Caribbean in the color metallic orange. 

You can find more info about this yarn at: http://www.joann.com/sensations-caribbean-yarn/zprd_11388865a/

The video below demonstrates a up-close view

of how to create the knit stitch.  

This video goes into great detail,

offering tips on how to create the knit stitch.

Fabric 101: prepare the selvage edge

Always prepare your fabric for sewing or crafting by removing the selvage edge.  

The selvage is discarded because it lacks print, but mostly because it will pucker once the fabric has gone through the laundry.  

The following method is intended for fabrics that should not be ironed.  

This guide is set up for right-handed instructions.  You can easily convert to left-handed instructions by flipping the photos upside down.  

Unfold your fabric so you can work with a single layer.

Begin by lining up the selvage on your cutting mat.

Don't worry about the  bottom side of the fabric, this will be uneven from the store cut and should not be used as a guide.  This can be fixed later.

Next; Line up your fabric ruler, with the selvage edge, making sure to cut beyond all of the selvage (the white and the printed portion).  

Hint: Line up your ruler with the selvage edge, as well as the lines on your cutting mat.

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Rotary Cutters, like this OLFA brand, 

are essential for precise cuts and really save time.

After you have made the cut, with your rotary cutter,  carefully peel back the fabric

without moving the ruler,

so you can ensure no portion remains uncut.

If you find some strands have not fully cut,

now is the time

to run your rotary cutter along the ruler again.

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Once you are certain you have a clean cut,

now you can remove the ruler.  

It might help to slice-off the hanging selvage,

before you slide the ruler up to continue cutting the remainder of selvage edge.

Continue sliding the ruler up the selvage,

repeat all the steps

until you have come to the end of the selvage.

Turn the fabric over

and repeat on the other selvage.

Now you can use these "selvage-free" sides as your guide to straighten out the other edges, or to line up patterns, etc.

Embroidery and Sewing Brother LB-6800

I just wanted to share some items I have created using my Brother LB-6800 Embroidery and Sewing Machine:

Added Snowflakes here-n-there ...

I sprinkled some 
mini-sized snowflakes
down across the front
to give a more three-dimensional look. 

Actually, for my first attempt, I started out simple
by trying out a one-color butterfly design
that comes already loaded onto the machine. 

So, I cut a pair of my son's outgrown pants 
and up-cycled one of the legs into this fun purse.

I used a macrame belt as the shoulder strap.  By sewing button holes on each side I ran the belt through each hole, then tied a knot to secure the strap.  This size would hold a water bottle nicely.

Next I tried a two-color design onto this pink sweatshirt.

I think it turned out nicely.

Twin Love Birds on Blue Hoodie Sweatshirt

After that, I got brave and tried another
two-color design.

Take a look at this "Floral Horse" tote bag.

This project was supposed to be a sweatshirt but I forgot to rotate the design

so the horse turned out running down the shirt, not across.

No worries!

I cut it up and turned it into a pocket on a tote bag.

For my next project;

I started to create a

Cherry Themed Kitchen Towel Set.

So far, I have only created 2 towels of the set:

I put the Cherry Towel set on hold so I could embroider, for my husband, six of his workshirts.

He runs up the recycle program at his employer and takes great pride in doing his part to save the planet:

Next photos are of a multi-color design. 

I shoved a pillow into the shirt
to puff it up for the photos.

This project started out as a
simple one-color design
but turned into a rather more complex design.

I started with the flower,
added the butterlies ...

and then added the small flower.

I wanted to experiment with the fonts,
which came included with the machine,
so I found these cute little tote bags.

Turns out these totes were too small

to work with on the embroidery loop,

and too small to use on the sewing arm,

unless I wanted to take these apart.

So instead, I used quilt binding tape

and embroidered right onto that tape.

Then I sewed the quilting tape directly on

to the little tote bags.

I sure hope the girls like their totes!

My introduction to using the Bond-America Ultimate Sweater Machine

the Bond-America Ultimate Sweater Machine



The more I use my Ultimate Sweater Machine, the more I like it.

In these photos you can see my first attempt,

to change the yarn color for creating stripes,

turned out to be pretty simple.

It took me about 30 minutes to complete 15 inches tall and 30 inches wide. 

Each of the mint color stripes are 20 rows each.



Changing yarn colors with the USM

Although the view, as you knit with the machine, is from the wrong side of the finished item, you can see where the yarn color change is to the right.

Also, notice the black weight-bar at the bottom of the yarn.  This is essential for avoiding any dropped stitches.

As with any gauge of the knit stitch, the sides will begin to curl in.  

I discovered; by adding some wooden clothes clips to the sides kept the yarn tails out of the way and also prevented this curling in.

Child's Knit Hat

In this photo is a knit bonnet-hood hat I created for a 6 year old. 

It took me about 2 hours to complete this hoodie,

including the crochet border and tie strings.

I could never knit that fast by hand.

Below is a close up of the knit stitch created

on my Bond-America Ultimate Sweater Machine.

I love the look achieved with the variegated (multi-color) yarn. 

close up of the knit stitch from my USM

I'm sure to get much use from my new USM,

now that winter months are here.

Soon I'll post some more detailed projects,

along with any hints and tricks I have learned.

Organic Ingredients ... are they really worth the extra price?

Before we begin discussing the pros and cons of Organic Ingredients, we must first understand the basic requirements for the USDA Organic Seal.


Products that contain a minimum of 70 percent organic ingredients, can use the phrase "made with organic ingredients" and may list up to three organic ingredients; however, the USDA Seal cannot be used on the packaging.

Products labeled "Organic" must contain a minimum of 95 percent organic ingredients, and labels stating "100 percent organic" can only contain organically produced ingredients, with the exclusion of water and salt.





To learn more about Organic Certification visit the USDA website.


Many would agree, the consumption of organic food products is much healthier than foods laced with toxins. So, would it also make sense to use organic skin care products?

Since our skin absorbs through oil based or through alcohol based products, and water based products cannot be absorbed through the skin, the answer would depend on the base ingredient.

Skin care products based with water as the main ingredient are not usefull for penatrating the nutrients through the skin, however, the toxins are not absorbed either.

Skin care products using alcohol or oil, as a base, ensures more ingredients are absorbed through the skin. Obviously the alcohol based products will be more drying to the skin. Therefore, the oil based products will be the best vehicle for transfer of the nutrients through the skin.

The higher the quality oil, the better the absorption. With more absorption of the product, we must be aware of the quality level for each of the ingredients which are contained within the product.

When in doubt; if you can't pronounce it, you probably don't want to be using it on your skin.

So, the next time you find yourself debating between the price of two similar skin care products, take a look at the ingredients and ask yourself if you can afford not to buy the higher quality product.

Isn't your health and well being worth the extra money?

Organic Herbal Soap Bars

Green River Cottage

proudly presents

Organic Herbal Soap ~ 4 ounce Soap Bars

Cuts easily into thirds, with a kitchen knife,

for use as hand soaps.

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Truly an all-Natural experience …

Created with ingredients that are plant based, and further defined as an herbal soap, these soaps are truly 100% natural. The ingredients used in these bars DO NOT include synthetic fragrances, synthetic colorants, and/or synthetic preservatives. That’s right, there are no artificial substances and, where possible, only organically grown products are used. This line of purely herbal soap is scented strictly with Essential Oils, and colored only with organic herbs and plant extracts. This soap base recipe is made from 100% certified organic oils and absolutely contains no parabens. Your skin will certainly know the difference.

How organic is our soap?

Green River Cottage ensures our Organic Herbal Soap Bars contain ONLY organic base oils and the ingredients are a minimum of 85% organic. Due to the “chemistry” of soap making, it is almost impossible to go much higher than that. Within the “natural products” industry, there is a conversation brewing as to whether soap can be technically defined as "organic" (since soap is the result of a chemical reaction and most of the original organic materials have been transformed). Soap's raw ingredients are either organic or they're not, regardless of the definitions, and we our committed to using certified organic oils.

Organic Certification?

Certification is a rigorous professional standard that must be validated and re-issued annually. Many skin-care companies claim to sell organic products but are not officially certified. Without certification, they are actually in breach of national policy, and, technically, they are not allowed to make the organic claim. Official Organic Certification assures our procedures truly support our organic status.

What makes this soap so special?

A good bar of soap is one that contains a balance of three essential properties.

• Durability (bar hardness)
• Lather Quality (both fluffiness and stability)
• Moisturizing ability

These different properties, come from the different fatty acids, which make up molecules, of the organic vegetable oils used as the base of our herbal soap. Unfortunately, the fatty acids that are moisturizing are not those that contribute much to lather quality, and the ones that make great lather are drying to our skin. A perfect bar soap is the result of carefully balancing the fatty acids to maximize the bar's hardness, lather quality, and moisturizing ability.

Still confused? Try one bar of Organic Herbals soaps. Trust us, you’ll know exactly what we mean by a perfect bar of soap.

Is there any glycerin in our soap bars?

Yes. Glycerin is a natural part of the vegetable oils used to make our herbal soap, and it is a natural part of all Green River Cottage soaps. These soaps qualify as "glycerin soaps" because glycerin accounts for 9-10% of the final product. Unlike most commercial soap companies, these soaps retain all glycerin produced during the saponification process. Since glycerin is a sellable commodity, commercial soap makers remove it for sale, or they keep trace amounts for mention on their labels. Our soaps differ from the clear "glycerin soaps" because our bars are not transparent. To produce their transparency, "glycerin soaps" contain a sugar-alcohol compound that can dry your skin … yuck!

What is the difference between Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils?

Essential oils are pure plant extracts used for scenting or aromatherapy. Fragrance oils are synthetically made substitutes for essential oils. This is one of the most common misrepresentations among natural products, especially for natural soap. There are so many soaps on the market, even those labeled "natural", that contain Fragrance oils.

And the word “Handcrafted” is no indication it is a natural soap. Often, a soap label will say, "contains essential oils." However, such a label can be deceiving -- it is always important to check if it ALSO contains fragrance oils. Fragrance oils can be problematic because, as synthetic compounds, they can dry out your skin and will irritate sensitive skin.

This is why Green River Cottage has created this line of Organic Herbal Soap Bars.

Of course, we will continue to sell our line of Goats Milk Soaps for our customers who prefer a less expensive, yet great smelling soap. But for those who need (or want) a higher quality grade of soap, GRC Organic Herbal Soap Bars was created specifically with you in mind. As a purely herbal soap, these contain only true, plant-extract Essential Oils.

Always, always read a product's label. If the ingredients includes the word "fragrance," "perfume," or "parfum," then it's synthetic and not-natural, even though its packaging may say it is a natural soap.

I have sensitive skin and can't use soap. Can I use GRC Organic Herbal Soap Bars?

We cannot guarantee it, chances are, yes. The synthetic ingredients found in lotions, creams, make-up, and soaps are what aggravate most skin sensitivities. However, using products without these ingredients leaves nothing left to irritate your skin. Many people who have had trouble with dermatologist recommended soap or "sensitive skin" soap have found success with GRC Organic Herbal Soap Bars. This is because even doctor recommended sensitive skin soaps contain many unnecessary chemicals that can, and do, irritate your skin. Again, always read the list of ingredients in your soap. Although many people with sensitive skin enjoy using our scented herbal soap varieties, we recommend our Unscented Soap for people with extreme sensitivities.

Will GRC Organic Herbal Soap Bars help with my eczema?

Yes. Although our herbal soap does not heal eczema, it will minimize both the redness and the itching. As we said, remove the synthetic ingredients from soaps and there is nothing left to bother your skin. After using our soap, you'll be surprised to see just how bad your eczema was before.

We have many customers with eczema. One mom wrote to say "Thank you!" My son has suffered with horrible eczema from the age of 2 years old. He was repeatedly told to stay away from fragrance. However, most “unscented” products did not work and some exacerbated the eczema. We learned, most “unscented” products list the word “fragrance” in the ingredients and almost all contain petroleum (a big irritant for eczema sufferers).

Do GRC soaps contain lye?

All soap (including our soap lines) is made using lye (NaOH, "sodium hydroxide"). Even those transparent "glycerin" soap and the "melt and pour" soaps are made using lye. Transparent glycerin soaps are made from oil and lye, like opaque soaps, except that a sugar-alcohol compound is added to maintain transparency. In a properly produced soap, lye is a raw ingredient, but there is no lye that remains in the final product. All lye is consumed in the saponification process and presents no danger to you. Superfatting further assures that all lye is consumed. Any company that claims their soap is not made with lye is either promoting false information or doesn't understand the chemistry behind soap.

Hey, what is superfatting?

Superfatting is a process by which soap-makers maintain extra skin-nourishing oils in their soaps. All Green River Cottage soaps have superfatted recipes. Superfatting soap does not make your skin oily. Rather, it allows your skin to maintain natural moisture levels.

Do GRC herbal soaps contain SLS?

No, no … never, never. SLS (sodium laurel sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate) and other surfactants are often added to soaps to increase lather quality. They are commonly found in soaps, including many marketed as natural soaps, as well as glycerin soaps, liquid soaps, and shampoos. As synthetic compounds, SLS and other surfactants dry out your skin and, for many people, cause irritation. Beware eczema sufferers! Even 100% fragrance free products can irritate if they contain harsh ingredients. GRC Organic Herbal Soap Bars are never processed with SLS or any other surfactants.

Cost-cutting short cuts would defeat the purpose for this line of soap. Instead, we prefer to focus on making this high quality soap from organic oils that doesn't depend on surfactants for its lather. Carefully balanced oils in the base recipe provide the proper fatty acid mix for a wonderful, rich - and most importantly - completely 100% natural lather.

Fatty acids, aren’t they a chemical?

All oils (and fats) have a molecular form called a triglyceride, which means they are made up of three fatty acids, (just chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms), and a glycerin-like base. In saponification, the fatty acids participate in a chemical reaction that results in molecules of soap while leaving the glycerin behind. All our herbal soaps are made from organic vegetable oils and the natural fatty acids they contain.
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