DIY Network

Fringed Hippie Belt Fringed Hippie Belt From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-307

Take a trip back to the Swinging Sixties with Iris Schreier's groovy Fringed Hippie Belt, knit in a rich paprika-hued faux suede yarn.

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Fringed Hippie Belt

Knit-O-Meter Rating: Beginner to Intermediate.

Materials:

Great Adirondack Company's Suede (100% rayon), in Paprika
1-5/8" O-rings in tortoise (or desired finish)
knitting needles, U.S. size 7
crochet hook, U.S. size I

Casting on to a belt ring

Casting On to a Belt Ring (created by passing the short tail of a long-tail cast-on through the front of the ring before each stitch is cast on using the long-tail cast-on method)

Leaving a minimum of 12" on one end of the yarn, thread the yarn through one of the rings. Cast on one stitch, then snug the yarn against the needle and the ring. Before casting on the next stitch, pull the short tail through to the front of the ring. Repeat process until there are a total of 8 stitches on the needle.

Knitting the Belt

Figure A

After the initial increase from 8 to 10 stitches, the belt is knit in simple garter stitch for 3 rows alternating with long stitches that use yarnovers and dropped yarnovers (figure A).

Yo = yarnover (wrap yarn over needle, making an extra stitch, or yarnover)
Dyo= drop yarnover (drop the previous row's wrapped yarn, removing the extra stitch and creating a long stitch)

Row 1: K
Row 2: K1inc1, k to end
Row 3: K1inc1, k to end--10 sts
Row 4: *K1, yo; rep from * to last st, k1
Row 5: *K1, dyo; rep from * to last st, k1
Rows 6-8: K
Repeat rows 4-8 until piece measures 31" or desired length, ending with row 5.

Casting Off From a Belt Ring

After decrease from 10 to 8 stitches, cut the yarn, leaving a 15" tail, which is inserted into second belt ring while binding off.

Figure B

Row 1: K2tog, k to end (9 sts)
Row 2: K2tog, k to end (8 sts)
Cut the yarn leaving a 15" tail. *Pass the tail yarn through the ring (away from you) and into the position to knit (figure B). Insert the right-hand needle into the next stitch on the left-hand needle and use the tail yarn to knit 1. Bind off as usual. Repeat the process from * until you bind off all 8 stitches. Pass the tail through the last loop on your needle and pull the tail to tighten. Cut yarn. Weave in ends.

Attaching Fringe to the Belt Rings

Wrap yarn around cardboard to make quick fringe.

Cut 20 strands of yarn, 38" long (each fringe will use 10 strands). Hold the strands together evenly, folding them in half to make a loop. Insert the crochet hook into the first ring and catch all the strands in the center. Draw the loop end of the strands through the ring, making it large enough so you can pull the ends of the yarn through the loop. Insert the crochet hook into the loop and catch all 10 strands. Pull down on the ends so that the loops tighten snugly around the ring. Repeat on second ring.

You'll never get your needles mixed up with someone else's once you top them with original clay ornaments!

Knit Bit: Vickie shows how to sculpt custom needle head out of polymer clay to individualize needles for fun (and so they can be identified in a group).

1. Shape clay around the head of a needle.

2. Slip the shaped clay off and place on a baking sheet.

3. Bake according to manufacturer's instructions.

4. Allow the clay to cool slightly and slip back on the head. If it's too loose, adhere with glue.

Next: Lace Cuff With Beads

RESOURCES :

Great Adirondack Company suede yarn
Consult your local yarn store for availability.

Kato Polyclay
Prairie Craft Company / Kato Polyclay
Florissant, CO
Website: www.prairiecraft.com
Website: www.KatoPolyclay.com

Exquisite Little Knits Lark Books, a Division of Sterling Publishing, 2004
Sterling Publishing
Website: www.sterlingpub.com

GUESTS :

Iris Schreier
Knitting expert/author
Website: www.artyarns.com