Knitting Daily

Knitting Hats for Charity

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

There are so many people in need. The homeless, premature babies, and those going through cancer treatments need hats to help keep them warm. As knitters, we have a unique opportunity to help people in need with our craft.

I'm particularly interested in knitting hats that teens will like. It's hard enough to be a teenager, but when you're homeless or sick, you really need some support. Teens tend to be very fashion-conscious, and they want to look good, no matter their circumstances.

Our eBook Easy Knitted Hats features fifteen hat designs, and I've chosen three that I think will appeal to teens.



Hear No Evil by Katie Himmelberg	Pinch Hat by Cecily Clowik MacDonald	Roll-Brim Hat by Grace Akhrem
Earflap hats are the in thing, and teens will love this striped version. It'll help them ward off the cold if they're forced to be outside in wintertime.	Teen girls will fall in love with this pretty, feminine hat. It's worked back and forth in garter stitch and then seamed. The seaming yarn is pulled tight to gather the fabric.	Stripes are all the range with teenagers, and so are slouchy hats. This topper is a quick knit and you can use up scraps from your stash while you're at it.

Two of these hats are knit in the round and striped. When knitting stripes in the round, you should know how to control the jogs that occur when switching colors. Here's how to avoid the jog:

The Jogless Jog

Knitting color stripes in the round can result in jogs at the "seam line where each new round begins. This occurs because the first stitch in the row above a color change is actually the last stitch of the previous row of color, so it looks like you didn't change colors soon enough.(This happens because when you're knitting in the round you're actually knitting a spiral, not a circle.) In Meg Swansen's Knitting (Interweave, 1999) Meg offers and ingenious technique for eliminating these jogs when working solid-color stripes of two or more rounds.

Work the first stripe (let's call that color A) for the desired number of rounds, change colors (color B) and knit one round.

Work the first stitch of the second round with color B as follows: Pick up the right side of the stitch in the row below the stitch on the needle (it will be color A, put it on the left needle and knit it together with the firs stitch on the needle. You will have worked the first stitch of the round twice, but because you work into the stitch below the one on the needle the second time, you have only worked it for one round and it appears as if it were worked just once.

The jog between the two colors disappears and the beginning of the round for color changes only is shifted one stitch to the left. Note: Do not change the position of markers required for the placement of any shaping decreases of increases (such as ones used for waist shaping).

Continue working as many rounds as you want with color B. To change to another color, simply repeat the process, working the first stitch of the round a second time by picking up the stitch in the row below the stitch on the needle, thereby shifting the beginning of the round one more stitch to the left for color changes.

*************
I knit for a teen charity here in Spokane, but I'm sure there are some wonderful charities out there for all of you hat knitters. Please leave a comment and share your favorite hat charity.

And be sure to download Easy Knitted Hats while it's on sale!

Cheers,

Custom-Fit Your Knits!

Kathleen Cubley — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:00:00 GMT


	Kate Atherley

Choosing what size to knit is something that sounds easy—what size is my bust? I'll knit that size! But that doesn't work every time, or even most times.

You have to take several things into consideration, including the style of the garment, the amount of ease you want it to have, and how your measurements will match up with the garment's finished measurements.

I know I've knitted things that turned out the wrong size, and chances are, you have, too. Avoid this heartache in the future! Join us for Kate Atherley's Knitting Designs with Custom Fit: The Basics of Sizing Knitting Patterns for Gaments webinar!

You'll learn all about garment sizing and fit and reading and understanding the sizing information presented in knitting patterns.

Some of the things Kate will cover in her webinar include:

How to choose what size garment to knit using sizing information and other pattern clues to make sure the complete garment fits as intended.
Key concepts of ease, fit, and styling to explore what type of garment and size would fit best for your personal style.
How to measure yourself properly.
Tips for easy garment alterations to make a garment flattering.
How to avoid some of the biggest knitting pitfalls that lead to ill-fitting garments.

Get the tools you need to master fitting your knits in the Knitting Designs with Custom Fit webinar. And this is only part one! Kate will be back with a follow-up webinar to show you how to incorporate waist-shaping, make more pattern modifications, and offer in-depth discussion on making custom-fitting garments.

Join Kate and me on June 27th at 1 p.m. Eastern Time for Knitting Designs with Custom Fit.

See you there!

Cheers,

Let your digits do the walking...

Linda Ligon — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:00:00 GMT

“Please write a post,” Karen Brock asked me, “telling our readers about our new digital products.”


PieceWork July/August 1995

In the 1650s, before my time, digital meant “pertaining to fingers.” It came from the Latin digitus. That’s pretty clear: we have enormous stores of publications—magazines and books—that are about doing things with your fingers. In fact, it’s astonishing what humans can do with their fingers. Knit, crochet, tat, embroider, do stumpwork, for pete’s sake. And that’s not even getting into making music on a lute, constructing origami figures, poking people in the eye, etc. Just our fingers and some thread can digitate a whole universe of tangible items. It’s in our nature, it’s in our DNA, it’s in our history.


	Pincushion from Weldon's Practical Crochet, Eleventh Series, a PieceWork eBook

By 1938 (also before my time, thank you), "digital” had taken on the meaning of using numerical digits, 0 to 9 and beyond. Of course, humans had been using their fingers to count numbers for millennia, and our fingers were even called digits, but for some reason the English language didn’t correlate digit = number with digit = finger until the year that Walt Disney made Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Adolf Hitler kicked off World War II (no correlation). In 1945 (I was just a baby), the term digital made the leap from simple counting to describing how computers worked—substituting numerical manipulations for common sense. (Do you detect a slight bias against computers? Bear with me.)


PieceWork July/August 2009

I confess: all the factoids above came from Wikipedia. Doesn’t mean they are right, of course, just that I can conjure them up by striking computer keys with my fingers. What an eerie coincidence. In the length of time that took, I could have knitted an egg cozy or worked an admirable buttonhole. Digitally.

But back to Karen’s request. What she was referring to, of course, are the “virtual” publications about digitally made objects that can be “downloaded” onto your computer or other electronic devices digitally: whole decades worth of magazines, electronic version of books first published in the 1800s, no end to the wealth of information you can have at your fingertips. And about “virtual” and “downloaded,” don’t get me started.

Cheers,

Tubular Cast-On for k1, p1 Ribbing

LouisaDemmitt — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:12:00 GMT

Even Number of Stitches

Version 1

With contrasting waste yarn, cast on half the number of stitches required using the backward-loop method. Cut the waste yarn. With the main color yarn, knit 1 row, purl 1 row, knit 1 row. Next row (WS) P1, bring yarn to back, insert tip of right needle into main-color loop at edge of first main color row (Figure 1). Place this loop on left needle and knit it. *P1, bring yarn to back, insert right needle into main-color loop 3 rows below (Figure 2), place loop on left needle and knit it; rep from * to end. Work in k1, p1 ribbing for several rows before removing waste yarn.


Figure 1	Figure 2

Version 2 - aka Alternate CO, Italian CO

Leaving a tail as for long-tail cast-on, make a slipknot on right needle (counts as the first purl stitch). Insert your left thumb and index finger between two strands, with tail end on thumb side. To create the next knit stitch (Figure 1), bring needle toward you, under front strand, up between strands, over back strand to grab it and pull it under front strand to make loop on needle. To create the next purl stitch (Figures 2 and 3), take needle away from you, over both strands, under both strands, up to grab front strand and pull it under back strand to make loop on needle. Continue alternating knit and purl stitches, ending with a knit stitch. Turn work. Keeping strands crossed to preserve the last cast-on stitch, work 1 row as foll: *p1, k1; rep from * to end.


Figure 1	Figure 2	Figure 3

Odd Number of Stitches

With contrasting waste yarn and using the backward-loop method, cast on half the number of stitches required plus one (total sts + 1, divided by 2). Cut the waste yarn. With main color yarn work as foll:

Row 1 K1, *yo, k1; rep from * to end (Figure 1).

Row 2 K1, *sl 1 pwise wyf, k1; rep from * to end (Figure 2).

Row 3 *Sl 1 pwise wyf, k1; rep from * to last st, sl 1 pwise wyf.

Rep Rows 2 and 3 once more.

Next row K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end. Cont in k1, p1 rib as established, removing waste yarn after a few rows.


Figure 1	Figure 2

Summer of Color: Inspired by Stitch, Sky, and Strand

LisaShroyer — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:46:00 GMT

I just finished a colorwork hat for the Winter issue of Interweave Knits. I live in the South, in a 100-year-old mill house, and I haven't turned on the AC yet...but that alpaca, three-color hat on my lap was a bit much for June knitting. For the last few hours of work, I sat in my favorite blue rocking chair on the front porch, hoping for a good breeze. Whew! It's off the needles, blocked, and on its way to tech editing.

Speaking of colorwork hats, I just got something fun in the mail. Well over a year ago, I designed a Fair isle beret for Mary Jane Mucklestone's upcoming book Fair Isle Style (look for it from Interweave this fall). When the Books department is done with the samples, they return them to the designers...so this old friend just came back to me!

Colorwork has always been one of my knitting loves. Recently, with all my travel to Colorado for photoshoots, and with a few camping trips to fill my weekends, I feel like I've had a lot of color inspiration. Here's a sampling of my world from this past month.

Incredible I-Cord

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT


	The Loop Pullover by AnnaLena Mattison

Some things in knitting are complicated, and some things are easy. And some things are easy and look complicated. I-cord is one of those things. It's simple to work, but it adds so much to a knitted object. It's a knitting technique that all knitters should master.

I've mentioned before that one of my favorite finishing techniques is the applied I-cord. It adds such a lovely, rounded edge to collars, sleeves, and pockets. But that's just one way to use I-cord.

Designer AnnaLena Mattison wrote an article for Knitscene last spring, showing seven ways to use I-cord and it's a wonderful resource! Here's AnnaLena!

Seven Ways to Use I-Cord

I-cord is a narrow knitted tube, usually consisting of three to five stitches. This cord can be used for bag handles, hat ties, embellishments, or edgings. Famous knitter and author Elizabeth Zimmermann discovered the technique and named it idiot cord because it was so simple. Now, we just call it I-cord.

To make an I-cord is very easy. You will need yarn and two double-pointed needles in a size that works with the thickness of the yarn.


Figure 1

Basic I-Cord
Step 1: Cast on 3 stitches.

Step 2: Knit the stitches, then slide them to the other end of the needle; do not turn the work but bring the working yarn behind the stitches to the first stitch on the needle (Figure 1), pulling the yarn snug against the back of the work.

Repeat Step 2 until the I-cord is as long as needed.


	Figure 2

	Figure 3

Attached or Applied I-Cord
This form of I-cord can be used as an edging on knitted items. In this case, you'll be picking up stitches along the selvedge of a knitted item and incorporating them into the I-cord.

Step 1: Cast on 3 stitches.

Step 2: Knit the stitches, then slide them to the other end of the needle; do not turn the work but bring the working yarn behind the stitches to the first stitch on the needle.

Step 3: Knit 2 stitches, slip 1 stitch as if to knit, use left needle to pick up 1 stitch along edge of work (do not knit; Figure 2), slip this stitch kwise to right needle, work last 2 stitches together as for ssk (the slipped I-cord stitch and the picked up stitch). Slide the 3 stitches to the other end of the needle; do not turn the work but bring the working yarn behind the stitches to the first stitch on the needle. Repeat Step 3 until the edging is complete.


Figure 4

Other Uses for I-Cord
As a variation on I-cord edging, stitches can be picked up along the work that needs to be edged (Figure 3) using an additional needle. A circular needle would work best if there are many stitches to pick up. With picked up stitches on your left needle, cast on desired number of I-cord stitches onto the left needle.

Work as for applied I-cord, but work the decrease with the last I-cord stitch and one stitch from the live, picked-up stitches. If using a circular needle, slip I-cord stitches back to the left needle and repeat until all picked up stitches have been worked.

I-cord edging can also be added to I-cord edging to create a double edging (Figure 4).


	Figure 5

	The Slouch Hat

Appliqued I-Cord
Used as embellishment, I-cord edging can be attached to any knitted surface by pinning a length of I-cord to the item and arranging it into any motif you like. Using a yarn needle and yarn, sew the I-cord to the item through the back, making sure the stitches do not show on the front of the work (Figure 5).

—AnnaLena Mattison, from Knitscene Spring 2013

The appliqued I-cord is amazing! It really adds a wonderful finish and you can add any motif you want to; it's up to you. Check out how effectively this technique is used in the Slouch Hat, at right. The I-cord swirl takes this hat from cute to sophisticated.

Every time I look through an older issue of Knitscene, I'm impressed with the in-depth how-to articles, innovative knitting patterns, and so much more. Get yourself the Spring 2013 issue of Knitscene while it's on sale! You can download it, too.

And while you're shopping, check out the rest of our screamin' deals on back issues of magazines! You'll discover all sorts of things that will inspire you.

Cheers,

P.S. What's your favorite thing about I-cord? Share it with us in the comments!

Vickie Howell is the new host of KDTV!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:55:00 GMT

We're so excited to welcome DIY lifestyle and needle arts expert Vickie Howell as the new host and co-executive producer of Knitting Daily TV!

"I'm truly thrilled to be joining the KDTV family, and can't wait to be back in fellow stitchers' living rooms sharing my passion for yarn-crafts and the vibrant community surrounding it," says Vickie. Well-known to many in the craft industry, Vickie was the host and creative consultant of the DIY Network and HGTV's show Knitty Gritty for eight seasons. Additionally, she was the co-host of DIY's Stylelicious, Lifetime Television's web series CRAFTED, as well as several craft-based TV specials.

"We are so excited to have Vickie join us as the new face of Knitting Daily TV, said Interweave's Yarn Group Editorial Director Karin Strom. "She will continue to bring viewers the in-depth needle arts programming they expect, while adding her own fresh and accessible approach."

Working with familiar Knitting Daily TV guests as well as a new lineup of the best knitting designers, authors, and instructors, Vickie's role as host ushers in a new chapter for the venerable Interweave brand. "Her thoughtful approach to sharing the love of knitting and crochet drew us to her," said Strom, "and we're excited that she'll help us share that same love of needlework with over 140-million potential viewers across the US!"

Vickie's knit and crochet designs have been featured in hundreds of publications worldwide, she has a regular column in Interweave Crochet magazine, and she has authored numerous bestselling craft books. In addition, Vickie is International Spokesperson for Bernat Yarn, with whom she has launched three co-branded yarns: Sheep(ish) by Vickie Howell, Sheep(ish) Stripes by Vickie Howell, and Cotton(ish) by Vickie Howell.

Vickie is a board member of the Central & South Texas Chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation and founder of the Purple Stitch Project to benefit children with seizure disorders. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her family.

Knitting Daily TV, currently in its eleventh season, is the longest continuously running knitting program on public television. Formerly known as Needle Arts Studio with Shay Pendray, it became Knitting Daily TV in 2010 under host Eunny Jang, and will now be named Knitting Daily TV with Vickie Howell. Guiding viewers on how to make fun yet stylish knitwear and crochet patterns and projects, Knitting Daily TV with Vickie Howell maintains the show's spirit by sharing great tips, techniques, knitalongs and more.

Eunny will be hosting one more series of KDTV, which begins airing in July, and Vickie will begin hosting starting with the shows that will air in January, 2014.

Cheers,

Applied I-cord

LouisaDemmitt — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:22:00 GMT

When attaching to an edge without live stitches: With double-pointed needle, cast on number of stitches directed in pattern. With right side of garment facing, *pick up and knit one stitch from edge, slide stitches to opposite end of double-pointed needle, knit to last two stitches, knit two together through the back loop; repeat from * for I-cord.

I-cord Bind-Off

LouisaDemmitt — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:15:00 GMT

When there are live stitches or picked-up stitches: With right side facing, cast on number of stitches directed in pattern onto left needle. *Knit to last I-cord stitch (e.g., if working a three-stitch I-cord, knit two), knit two together through the back loop, transfer all stitches from right needle to left needle, repeat from * for I-cord.

What are bast fibers?

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Summer is a time of knitting with lightweight fibers, and there are so many to choose from. I'm most familiar with cotton and linen, which are pretty easy to come by. But there are many more fibers to choose from, and they're becoming more and more common in local yarn shops.

Help yourself to a yarnsickle!
From upper right (peach yarnsicle): Bergère de France Cabourg,
Halcyon Block Island Blend, Louet Euroflax Sportweight, Habu Shosenshi, Fibra Natura Flax, and Hemp for Knitting allhemp3

Here's designer Deborah Robson to tell you more about yarns produced from bast fibers and how to get the most out of knitting with them.

Bast Fiber Yarns

Bast fibers are produced in the stems of some plants, including flax, hemp, nettle, jute, kenaf, and ramie. It's a wonder our ancestors figured out how to get the fibers out of the woody stems, a job that involves a long series of steps, including retting, scutching, and hackling: essentially, rotting, breaking apart, and pulling off the stem fragments to release the lovely, long, strong fibers hidden inside. Yet excavations from Stone Age dwellings contain evidence of the use of flax.

Contemporary textile artisans are often far less familiar with bast fibers than with wool, cotton, or synthetics. Flax lagged behind during the industrial revolution, because inventors figured out how to machine-spin cotton first. Wool is easier to work with. Synthetics have, to a great extent, shoved bast fibers to the side.

Nonetheless, with today's focus on sustainable production, the superb qualities of bast fibers are being rediscovered. They require fewer pest controls and grow in a wider range of environments than cotton, use less energy to manufacture than synthetics, and are biodegradable (although they're tough and exceptionally long-lasting). Fabrics made from bast fibers are easy to wash, nonallergenic, and comfortable to wear because they quickly absorb and release moisture.

Knitters are most likely to encounter—and be intimidated by—flax and hemp. These fibers don't have the elasticity you expect from wools and acrylics. When you first work with bast fibers, they don't flow gently across your needles, your fabric feels stiff, and your stitches look irregular. These are all temporary or preventable problems. If you adjust your techniques and both knit and wash swatches, you'll soon find yourself in a delightful new realm of knitting.

Bast fibers are less pliable, at least initially, than other fibers. With use and washing, they soften up. However, on the needles they can be slippery, and the stitches of a pure bast yarn won't flex much. Your needle choice can make a huge difference in how well you like a bast-fiber yarn. Select needles that aren't too slippery but have well-shaped and narrow points. Pure bast yarns also won't want to stay neatly wound into balls. Using a yarn caddy or a resealable bag to contain the ball can be extremely helpful.

Pure bast yarns made from long fibers (called line) will be so strong that you'll need to cut, instead of break, the strands. If you add a new ball by simply overlapping ends, the join may separate. Secure the join with a small, tight knot at a selvedge or at another near-invisible location.

Washing will both soften the fabric and even out your stitches. When care instructions suggest handwashing and drying flat, I also test a swatch with full machine processing. I love the wash-and- wear functionality I discover. Pure bast fabrics will tend to get narrower and longer when they're washed; be sure to do your planning and gauge calculations on a washed-and-dried swatch!

—Deborah Robson, from Interweave Knits, Summer 2011

It's a lovely assortment of yarns, isn't it? Please note Deborah's advice about washing and drying your swatch to see how it'll really end up in your finished object. You'll be amazed at the before and after! Last summer I knitted a T-shirt from a flax-blend; I machine washed and dried it and the fabric turned out so soft and flowing.

Interweave Knits includes a yarn review in each issue, so if you enjoy this sort of information about our favorite "tool," subscribe today!

Cheers,

P.S. Have you knit with a bast yarn? Leave a comment below and share your experience with us!

Separation anxiety (of the yarn stash variety)

LouisaDemmitt — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:04:00 GMT

There is a lot of stress involved with a cross-country move. Last month when my mother and I trekked from the East Coast to Colorado in my little Prius, we were quite lucky. We had beautiful although rather warm weather, we only got stuck in noteworthy traffic once (crossing the Mississippi River), and we still liked each other after spending endless hours together.

For me, the stress was in the packing. I decided early on that if something did not fit in my car, it simply was not coming. This was a hard and fast rule. So, my furniture is still in New York with my ever-so-understanding boyfriend, along with my bicycle, my easel, almost all of my books, my vacuum and most of my kitchen gear (except my rolling pin and cheese slicer, you know, the necessities). The most heartbreaking (non-living) leave behind though was my yarn.

Yes, I’m sure I could have squeezed it in amidst everything else, but this would have required more smooshing and stuffing than I felt my stash deserved. That yarn is special, and I did not want it to get pulled, snagged or unwound on the trip. It is all nicely arranged in an immense laundry hamper and some baskets in New York, and they simply would not fit in the car. I like to be able to see out of the back window, and these containers would have completely eliminated my view.

The day before I started to drive, I gave my boyfriend a tour of the things I was leaving behind. He has very generously offered to bring my accumulation of random stuff with him when he joins me next year. Winter clothes can wait until then, I said (perhaps unwisely). And how often do I really need the vacuum? That can come with you. As can my most everything else. But I would like to have my yarn with me. Will you mail it to me…please? He looked at me, eyes wide, eyebrows raised. What, he said, all of it?

It’s hard to explain the bond between a yarn person and her or his stash. It’s not that I’m going to make something with all of it immediately, it’s that I want the ability to use any of my yarn at any time. Of course I don’t need it. In yarn store rich Fort Collins I can easily find more. Last weekend’s trip to the Estes Park Wool Market was also helpful, and I adopted some lovely wool to be made into slippers. But those balls of string in New York are much more than balls of string. I have the orange wool I was given by friends at the end of an amazing summer in Vermont. I have the cotton I like to use for potholders and coasters. I have the chunky hand-dyed wool blend I bought my senior year of college that I haven’t used yet because it’s just so pretty as a skein. I have all the leftovers from countless projects, straggling bits and ends waiting to be reimagined as glamorous somethings.

I’ve been told my yarn will make it to me, a little at a time, over the next few months, little boxes of eastern memories finding their way west. In the meantime I will continue to file away patterns I want to make with my stash, saving them until my yarn and I are reunited in Colorado. Any of you out there who have also experienced stash separation anxiety, know you are not alone.

The Pan-Am Jacket: You Can Do It!

Kathleen Cubley — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Last fall, several intrepid knitters got together for a Knitting Daily Knit-Along and made Ashley Rao's Pan-Am Jacket. This jacket is a wonderful challenge for the courageous knitter. And it's the perfect project for a knit-along! Everyone learned so much from each other, and the community that was established was so fun to be a part of.

I must confess, though, that I didn't finish my Pan-Am; I never even started it. Shame on me! I've knit several of our knit-along projects, but I just couldn't fit this one in.

It'll stay on my list, though, because it's so beautiful, and flattering, too! It incorporates so many knitting techniques that you'll improve your knitting skills in the process of knitting, too. Here's a montage of finished objects:

They're all beautiful, and I love the color variety. It's so much fun to see what colors people choose, and I really didn't expect to see a two-color version! It wouldn't occur to me to knit this sweater in two colors, but I think it turned out great!

You can't see it in these photos, but some people knit the facing of the border and sleeves in a different color, which adds a secret detail just for the knitter. Neat-o.

In the knit-along forum there are a bunch of tips that are super helpful, but one that came up a lot concerned the sleeves and the Roman Ribs' tendency to bell out a bit.

Several knitters solved this by going down one or two needle sizes and did the cuff facing in 1x1 ribbing. This technique pulls the sleeves in a bit and manages the belling problem.

As I mentioned above, the Pan-Am Jacket is a challenging pattern—it's not for the beginning knitter. But I really encourage intermediate and even advanced-beginners to knit this jacket. If you don't challenge yourself, you won't advance, and the finished Pan-Am is so lovely, as you can see from the photos above.

So this is one of those knitting trifectas: interesting to knit, beautiful finished project, versatile wardrobe-builder. I love it.

And even though our knit-along is over, the forum will live forever on the web and you can glean so much knowledge from the knitters who went before you. So download your Pan-Am Jacket pattern today, read through the knit-along forum, and knit a fabulous jacket for yourself!

Cheers,

P.S. Have you knit the Pan-Am Jacket? Share your experience with us in the comments.

Brioche Knitting for Socks

Anne Merrow — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:50:00 GMT

Back in December 2012, I showed you the handmade socks for Dad’s Christmas gift… well, the promise of socks. I’m embarrassed to say that those remain in the promise phase. In the meantime, though, I did manage to knit socks for my boyfriend (previously unmentioned here to keep them secret).

Delivered less than 6 months late, the socks I knitted for my boyfriend for Christmas.

These socks were a chance to practice my belief that good knitters rip. I’m glad I chose a tightly twisted yarn, because it needed to hold up to many different design phases from allover stranded colorwork to the eventual plain stockinette with stranded knitting accents. The circuit-board-inspired socks have a green background with gold-striped heels and toes to evoke connectors. (The socks’ recipient is an electrical engineer.)

When it came to the cuffs, though, the stranded ribbing was either too tight or too sloppy in my uneven tension. (I confess that stranded colorwork is an area in which I need serious practice.) I wanted to keep the two-color vertical stripes, so I used a technique that’s less common in socks: a two-color brioche rib.

Brioche is a generally reversible fabric that’s frequently seen in sweaters, hats, and scarves, but the springy and thick fabric of the classic brioche rib is a rarity in socks.

Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark loves brioche knitting and teaching knitters to enjoy its possibilities.

Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark has a passion for brioche knitting, so I asked her about using it in socks. "Brioche stitch in two colors can be a great way to add colorwork to sock projects, since its unique structure makes it very stretchy, flexible, and often reversible (think turn-down cuffs),” she advised. “Try it in ribbing or stockinette stitch versions to add bold color effects without the floats of traditional stranded knitting."

The brioche stitch cuffs were the most fun knitting in this project, and I’m thinking of swapping out the corrugated ribbing for brioche in my next two-color socks. The cuffs of these are extremely stretchy, enough to accommodate a very wide calf. I went down a needle size for the cuff, and if I were making these again I’d go down another needle size.

(Note: There will be no pattern for these socks. The process of their creation was one I can’t recommend, though I do like the outcome; they started top-down, then ended by ripping out the first cuff and knitting it in the other direction, and the toes are entirely fudged. If I didn’t already have huge respect for the talented designers I get to work with, I would now.)

Enjoy,

Swatching "Everyday Gems"

arwilliams — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

One of the fun challenges for the assistant editor is coming up with fresh ideas for swatching our yarn review. I tend to skew towards the whimsical, like a color wheel to show off the hue variations in undyed wool (Knits Winter 2012), or Summer 2013's knitted diamonds. This season's review focused on free and easy silk blends. Think lightweight, casual-feeling combos of silk and linen, or silk and cotton, or pure silk in airy new constructions. A simple gemstone pattern seemed just the thing to highlight the underlying richness of these breezy yarns. Knit up a few to dress up your table for a little girl's birthday party, or work them in chunky cotton for regal coasters or potholders. Hope you enjoy!

Yarns pictured, clockwise from top left (teal): Elsebeth Lavold LinSilk, distributed by Knitting Fever, Classic Elite Yarns Silky Alpaca Lace, Berroco Fuji, Schulana Silco, distributed by Skacel, Shibui Knits Heichi, Knit One, Crochet Too Cozette, Manos del Uruguay Fino, distributed by Fairmount Fibers

Diamond Pattern

Cast-on 3 sts.

1: P3

2: K1fb, yo, k1, yo, k1fb

3: P7

4: K1fb, k1, yo, k3, yo, k1, k1fb

5: P11

6: K1, k1fb, k1, yo, k5, yo, k1, k1fb, k1

7: P15

8: K1, Ssk, k9, k2tog, k1

9: P13

10: K1, ssk, k7, k2tog, k1

11: P11

12: K1, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1

13: P9

14: K1, ssk, k3 k2tog, k1

15: P7

16: K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1

17: P5

18: Ssk, k1, k2tog

19: P3

20: Sl 1, k2tog, psso

Cut yarn and pull end through last stitch.

Spinning in the Andes

Linda Ligon — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:00:00 GMT


	In Accha Alta, men still weave potato sacks from natural-colored llama fiber. Photo by Joe Coca.

It wasn’t my first time in the Andes, that trip in 2005, but it was the first time I felt a real connection to the people and the incredible textile work being done throughout the region. I was on a tour sponsored by the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco (CTTC) and its North American support group, Andean Textile Arts (ATA). What a trip! We went to Machu Picchu and many of the other notable archaeological sites, we hung out in Cusco, but best of all, we visited weaving centers in the outlying villages. These ranged from nearby Chinchero to distant Accha Alta; from Chahuaytire to Pitumarca, where the ancient art of scaffold weaving has been revived (and where I got a special lesson from a very old weaver). We saw the first natural-dyed ikat warp in decades emerging from the cochineal dyepot in Santa Cruz de Sallac.


In Pitumarca, young men knit fancy caps, or chullos, while the women weave. Photo by Joe Coca.

We were served traditional quinoa soup and, as a special treat, roasted guinea pig. (Tastes like squirrel.) We shared gifts of bread and coca leaves, we received smiles and thanks and heartfelt hugs. The weavers of the Andes are so openhearted, so eager to share their vast and ancient stores of textile knowledge.


	Making colorful warps is a communal activity in Santa Cruz de Sallac. Photo by Joe Coca.

The woman who has been key to reviving the old techniques, to reintroducing the use of natural dyes, to creating viable markets for the splendid textiles of her people, is Nilda Callañaupa, founder and director of CTTC. This year has been a particularly productive one for her, with a major exhibition at Colorado State University, the release of her video, “Spinning in the Andes,” and organization of a spectacular event to be held in Cusco this November.

“Tinkuy” is the Quechua word for “gathering,” and Tinkuy de Tejedores will bring together indigenous spinners, knitters, weavers, embroiderers, and textile enthusiasts from the Americas and beyond. The program will include keynote speakers from the US, India, and the UK, and demonstrations and hands-on workshops in knitting, spinning, backstrap weaving, dyeing, braiding, and more. Dancing, singing, and special exhibits will round out the program. Following the four-day Tinkuy, visitors are invited to take the optional tour described above. Read about it HERE, put it on your calendar. Get out your pushka (spindle) and start practicing. Nilda’s video will put you on the right track.

Cheers,

Project Diary: The Burdock Cardigan

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

The Burdock Cardigan from November Knits is really a stunner. It has everything that makes a sweater a classic: an interesting and attractive stitch pattern, thoughtful design details such as a finished hem, and a figure-flattering silhouette. And cardigan knitting patterns are so versatile, it's always a good idea to add one to your wardrobe.


Karen's beautiful Burdock Cardigan

Back view of Karen's Burdock

My friend Karen knit the Burdock, and she's here to share her experience.

Karen's Burdock Cardigan

My measurements: Bust: 39 inches; Waist: 35 inches; Height: 5 ft. 4 in. I usually wear a size 10/12 blouse or a medium in a T-shirt.

When I flipped through my Winter 2012 issue of Interweave Knits and saw Maura Kirk's Burdock Cardigan from the book November Knits, I knew I had to make it.

I liked the finished bottom edge, which I think makes the sweater look very polished (but not too dressy-it would still look great with jeans). I love to make sweaters that I can wear on an everyday basis. I also thought that the berry pattern stitch was intriguing, a nice change from stockinette, but not too complicated.

The first thing I had to decide was what yarn to use. I wanted to go with the recommended Mountain Colors Mountain Goat, but choosing the color was difficult; there were so many beautiful colors I thought would look great in the sweater! I wound up choosing Moose Creek, which is a wonderful mix of dark browns with soft hints of plum, olive, and a dark mallard blue.

Then I had to decide what size to make. I chose the 37½, because even though I always swatch to get gauge, my knitting tends to loosen as the project progresses. I also think that a sweater fits better with a small bit of negative ease. I was able to obtain gauge with US #6 needles. It is not unusual for me to go down one to two needle sizes from what is recommended, as I tend to be a loose knitter.

I decided to make the sleeves slightly longer, more of a bracelet length rather than a three-quarter sleeve length. So I knit the sleeves 16½ inches to the underarms. I also decided to lengthen the sweater by two inches, because I think a longer look is more flattering on me than a cropped look. I added some minor waist shaping by going down a needle size for about 3½ inches at my waist.

Then I cast on, and the knitting began! I started with a sleeve, as I normally make this my large second swatch. I realized very quickly that these sleeves seemed too big on the lower part of my arm. In reviewing the pattern I saw there were no increases in the arms (which would be tricky with the pattern stitch). I restarted with #5 needles, which I used until approximately my elbow, and then switched back to the #6 needles. This worked well for me, and you really can't see the change in the stitch size with the different size needles, which I was worried about.

Because I was using a hand-dyed yarn, I alternated skeins every row in the sleeves and every other row in the body, hoping this would blend in any color differences in the skeins, as well as decreasing the risk of pooling. As I was knitting, I grew to appreciate the pattern stitch even more. The yarn has a fairly short color change, and the yarn overs blended the color changes stunningly. Instead of stripes of yarn colors (which you see in stockinette) each "berry" created by the yarn over in the pattern is a different color, which removed the striping effect and became subtle bursts of beautiful colors.

The pattern was very enjoyable to knit, easily memorized, and after working a few rows it was fairly mindless knitting, moving the project along quite quickly. The sleeves were a little fiddly with DPNs because the way the stitch pattern works, you have to move the stitches on the needles every other row. But I soon got in the rhythm of this, too.


	Sleeve detail

When combining the arms with the body, and working the raglan decreases, I had to focus a little more on how the designer wanted this accomplished. It's different than a usual raglan decrease in order to keep the stitch pattern nice. I started assuming how the decreases would go, but quickly had to back up and read the pattern more carefully. When I slowed down and followed the pattern, all proceeded without incident.

I didn't do the collar extensions as written. I only did one decrease rather than decreasing every other row, as there would be no collar left when you reached the middle back. Later, when I got to the finishing, I realized they probably didn't want any decreases at all. I was a little nervous about doing the Kitchener stitch for the collar as that stitch and I tend not to get along very well, but it actually wound up working okay. Finishing was very straight forward and I do love how neat and clean the front edges are.

If I were to knit this sweater over again, I would make the raglan length a little longer. The Burdock decreases 12 stitches every other row rather than the usual 8, so the raglan is a little short and a smidge tight under the arms as I wear it. I would have to think carefully about how to accomplish this, because the decreases as written keep the pattern stitch nice, without holes next to the raglan line.

I am very excited about this sweater, and look forward to adding it to my autumn and winter wardrobe. I think the Burdock will look great with jeans and a T-shirt, but it is polished enough that it could easily go with dress pants or a skirt and blouse. Right now, however, it's summer where I live. I'm tired of winter, and I'm ready to put away my wool sweaters!

—Karen Wohlen

The Burdock is a beautiful sweater that is going to become a staple in Karen's wardrobe. Do you want to knit the Burdock? You're in luck because November Knits is on sale; get your copy today and cast-on the Burdock Cardigan!

Cheers,

Learn a New Stitch Pattern!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

We have a new free eBook: Techniques for Knitting Stitch Patterns: A Guide to Knitting Stitches from Knitting Daily!



The Dot Stitch, Zigzag Eyelets, and the Lattice Pattern: Just three of the knitting stitch patterns you'll find in Techniques for Knitting Stitch Patterns: A Guide to Knitting Stitches from Knitting Daily

There's a saying that all knitting is made up of just two stitches: the knit stitch and the purl stitch. That's true . . . sort of.

Many of my favorite knitted items are made up of different stitch patterns, patterns that use knits, purls, yarn overs, increases, decreases, cable stitches and traveling stitches.

These stitches can be combined to make all kinds of different designs, from easy knit and purl stitch patterns to the most complicated lace stitches.

I've gathered some of my favorite stitch patterns here for you in our new free eBook, Techniques for Knitting Stitch Patterns: A Guide to Knitting Stitches from Knitting Daily!

Knit & Purl shows you four stitch patterns using just the knit and purl stitches. The variety of knitting stitch patterns you can make with these two stitches is amazing!

Lace & Eyelets features five beautiful knitting stitch patterns that you'll love. From the simplest eyelet stitch to the more complicated fern lace knitting stitch, there's something for everyone here.

Cables & Arans is made up of four amazing cable stitch patterns. You'll love the twisting, turning stitches in this section, not to mention the amazing texture you'll get with these cable stitches!

You can use these stitch patterns on scarves, shawls, dishcloths, mittens, and wherever else you need a beautiful pattern.

Download Techniques for Knitting Stitch Patterns: A Guide to Knitting Stitches from Knitting Daily, today and get started knitting fabulous stitch patterns!

Cheers,

Knitscene Style: Office edition

AmyPalmer — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:05:00 GMT

Two weeks ago, when I asked the Knitscene audience on Twitter for some questions for my intro post, Julia asked about what I wear, personally, especially in regards to the office setting. Thinking this would make an excellent blog post itself, I made plans to snap photos of my fellow editors, as well as myself, for a blog post today.

I took these pictures on Monday, and something funny happened. We're generally a fairly well-dressed group—nice jeans, office-appropriate tops, maybe a cardigan or two—but this past Monday, most of us wore dresses. This kind of collective effort doesn't happen here very often. We work on the "second-and-a-half" floor (the layout of this building is a little hard to describe but makes perfect sense when you see it in person), so we deal with a lot of stairs and so pants and flat shoes are the norm. But apparently on Monday, after we've had a couple of days to ourselves, we all have extra energy to make the effort.

I wore an orange sundress with a navy Swiss dot blouse knotted under my bust. I love this orange sundress, and it's one of the more "out there" purchases I've made in terms of color and clothing, but it's very comfortable and easy to wear on its own or with other pieces (you can see it again in the picture of me from that intro post).

Louisa, the new Knitscene assistant editor, wore a blue and white striped dress with a black cardigan. At the time, Louisa had only been on the job two weeks, but she apparently has instinctively picked up on our unofficial office dress code: I have a blue and white striped dress, and Allison, our managing editor, has a teal and white striped dress. That we've both worn on the same day. Thankfully Louisa's stripes are vertical, whereas the stripes on the other dresses are horizontal.

Interweave Knits' assistant editor Amanda wore a pretty pink dress with coral ribbon details at the neckline and a camel cardigan. Here, Amanda was busy opening boxes of projects and products for future Interweave Knits issues.

Our senior project editor for both knitting titles, Joni, was the only one wearing pants (well, only one of those people who agreed to be photographed—we're generally a pretty shy bunch), along with her lovely ombre-style pullover.

And Allison, managing editor and my aforementioned clothing twin, was wearing an incredibly comfortable looking maxi dress with navy and pink stripes. And now I want one for my own closet.

What's most surprising about the clothing options is that this week is press week for Knitscene Fall. Press weeks can mean running up and down the stairs to our production coordinator's desk many times between Monday and Wednesday, and yet those of us going to press were wearing dresses. But maybe this is only impressive to me. Maybe some people are capable of going up and down stairs in skirts and dresses and not falling over, but I do not claim to be one of those people.

It's too warm in the offices for many knitted layers at the moment, even though the weather's been pretty nice outside. West-facing windows and the afternoon sun mean we leave the heavy wool at home, but haven't yet transitioned into lighter, knitted summer pieces.

How do you dress for your office? Fun fact: The first pair of fingerless mitts I ever knit were made when I lived in Florida, because the air-conditioning was always on and I was always cold.

Happy knitting,
Amy

Snap to It!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT


	Darling fabric-covered snaps!

I'm almost done with the second sleeve of a cardigan, and I have snaps in mind for the closure. Wouldn't you know it, the Spring 2012 issue of knit.wear magazine featured an inspiring article about covering snaps with fabric before sewing them on. It's such a neat idea, and I love the little pop of color that will greet me when I'm taking off or putting on the sweater. And when I wear the cardigan open, those fabric colors will be so much cuter than an ugly metal snap.

Covering Snaps with Fabric

Fabric-covered metal snaps can refine the look of any piece that would normally use buttons and buttonholes. To use snaps instead of buttons, work any bands or other edge treatments as directed, omitting buttonholes. Covered snap closures will be hidden when a garment is closed and provide a flash of subtle interest when a garment hangs open.


Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

STEP 1 Choose a snap color and weight appropriate for your knitted fabric. Large snaps will work better with bulky knits, while a finer-gauge, delicate knit fabric may only be able to support a smaller and lighter snap. Metal snaps come in a variety of sizes and colors and are available at any fabric store that sells sewing notions. You will also need lightweight fusible interfacing and appropriate fabric scraps for covering the snaps. (Interfacing is a specialty fabric intended to provide stability and support to fashion fabrics. Here, it is used to add strength to the fabric and prevent fraying at the cut edges. Use a lightweight nonwoven or knit fusible interfacing to add strength without bulk.)

STEP 2 Make your patterns. Trace around the edge of the snap on a piece of paper and then add 1⁄8" all around to make the interfacing pattern. Draw a separate second circle, about twice the diameter of the snap, to make the fabric pattern. Creating patterns isn't strictly necessary but will make the process smoother when making several covered snaps at the same time.

STEP 3 Cut and prepare fabric and interfacing. Trace around your paper patterns onto your fabric and interfacing and cut out with sharp fabric shears. For one snap pair, you will need two circles each of fabric and interfacing. Following the manufacturer's directions, fuse the interfacing to the center of the wrong side of each fabric circle.


	Step 4

	Step 5

STEP 4 Using small, sharp scissors, cut a very small hole in the center of each interfaced fabric circle. The resulting opening should be slightly smaller than the snap peg to ensure a snug fit.

STEP 5 Cover the snap. Using thread that matches the fabric, sew a running stitch around the edge of the fabric circle. Place the snap halves on the wrong side of the fabric, aligning the holes in the fabric with the hole in the female side of the snap and with the peg on the male side. Pull the thread to gather the fabric, securing the snap within, and secure with several small backstitches.

STEP 6 Finish your garment. Sew the snap halves to your garment with neat, even overcast stitches that pass through the holes in the snap and do not show on the right side of the knitting. Snaps can match the knitted garment, adding an elegant and minimal closure, or they can contrast, making a quirky style statement. Try a bold solid to highlight the occasional colored fleck in a tweed. Or try small plaids or tiny prints for a surprise element that cheers up an otherwise simple design.

—Kathy Augustine, from knit.wear, Spring 2012

I can't wait to add fabric-covered snaps to my sweater! I'll post a photo on our Facebook page when I'm done. This is such a fun idea. Even if you're a beginning knitter, you can add these snaps and pump up the volume on the simplest cardigan sweater!

Knit.wear magazine is full of these types of interesting ideas for making your knits shine, as well as fabulous patterns from amazing designers. We've put all of the digital issues together for you in a knit.wear kit. Get yours today!

Cheers,

P.S. Have you used snaps on your knitwear? Share your tips in the comments!

Witty Knitters

Anne Merrow — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Of all the pages in Sockupied, the last one is generally my secret favorite. It’s not full of sock substance or genius knitting techniques, but the Last Stitch is the page most likely to make me clap my hands and laugh out loud.

Illustration by Amber Felts

In the Summer 2013 issue we launched our first caption contest. It was so much fun that we decided to do it again—this time with an airborne twist. By the end of the day Monday, June 10, send your caption idea to sockupied@interweave.com. We’ll choose our favorite entries and send the winners some lovely yarns from our sock stash! For complete details and contest rules, click here.

Enjoy,

Half Double Crochet (hdc)

LouisaDemmitt — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:18:00 GMT

*Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and pull a loop through stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over (Figure 1) and draw through all the loops on the hook (Figure 2). Repeat from *.

Short Rows (Purl Side)

LouisaDemmitt — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:46:00 GMT

Work to the turning point, slip the next stitch purlwise to the right needle, bring the yarn to the back of the work (Figure 1), return the slipped stitch to the left needle, bring the yarn to the front between the needles (Figure 2), and turn the work so that the knit side is facing—one stitch has been wrapped and the yarn is correctly positioned to knit the next stitch. To hide the wrap on a subsequent purl row, work to the wrapped stitch, use the tip of the right needle to pick up the wrap from the back, place it on the left needle (Figure 3), then purl it together with the wrapped stitch.


Figure 1	Figure 2	Figure 3

Short Rows (Knit Side)

LouisaDemmitt — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:44:00 GMT

Work to turning point, slip next stitch purlwise (Figure 1), bring the yarn to the front, then slip the same stitch back to the left needle (Figure 2), turn the work around and bring the yarn in position for the next stitch—one stitch has been wrapped and the yarn is correctly positioned to work the next stitch. When you come to a wrapped stitch on a subsequent knit row, hide the wrap by working it together with the wrapped stitch as follows: Insert right needle tip under the wrap from the front; Figure 3), then into the stitch on the needle, and work the stitch and its wrap together as a single stitch.


Figure 1	Figure 2	Figure 3

Magic, Promises, and Thread

Karen Brock — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:00:00 GMT

“I had buried my secrets early. . . . I buried my magic stones, my mirror, my special promises, my golden threads, objects of identity that connected me to the world . . .” I reread that passage from Ben Okri’s The Famished Road recently, one that I’ve returned to often. I love the images it evokes, that it helps me to remember the places where I have buried my secrets—wrapped in golden thread. I’m also curious about these personal objects that connect us to the world.


Ava T. Coleman's adaptation, shown at left, of the early-nineteenth-century Pineapple bag, shown at right. PieceWork January/February 2012. Photograph by Joe Coca.

PieceWork had a tagline at one time, “connected by thread.” That phrase might also sound familiar to some of you who have written to us about your personal connections to articles we publish or to those personal objects we include in PieceWork because I've used it often in response, marveling at the threads between us.


	Chris Laning's interpretation of the Sion knitted purse dating from the fourteenth century. Knitting Traditions Spring 2013. Photograph by Joe Coca.

Here in the PieceWork office we’re gearing up for our 20th anniversary issue: September/October will be full of special promise as we present an array of treasure bags. Pouches, purses, vessels of stones and golden threads that house treasures—secrets and objects of identity—and connect us to myriad worlds. They are objects of identity themselves. That’s just enough to whet your appetite, but stay tuned, you’ll learn more about our anniversary celebration in the weeks ahead, including the fun prize giveaways throughout the summer via our blog and eNewsletter.

PieceWork, too, houses treasure in its pages in a variety of techniques from diverse cultures and traditions, and we've got some superb themes planned for the upcoming year. Subscribe so you don't miss an issue. And consider being a part of it all. Learn more about contributing by reading our editorial calendar and contributor guidelines. Don't be shy. Email us questions and ideas, and let’s keep that thread vibrant and full of magic.

Enjoy,

Yoga and Knitting: Learning to Loosen up with Mercedes

LisaShroyer — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:12:00 GMT

In this week’s post, I talk to designer Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark about heryoga practice, how it blends with her knitting life, and some of her current projects. Find more of Mercedes’ work and insights at www.mercedesknits.com.

* * *

LISA: Let’s talk about yoga. I’ve been practicing for 3 years—I started because I was dealing with stress that led to, unfortunately, some anger management problems. A studio near me was offering a 7 week intro series and, on a desperate whim, I signed up. At the same time, I started hiking in the woods, just trying to get some balance, some peace, in my mind. Three years later, the combination of yoga and the woods has changed my life and my body. Why did you start practicing and what has it meant for you?

MERCEDES: Similar to my first experiences trying to pick up knitting (which took over a decade and 5 or 6 tries before it really “stuck”), I had short stints of yoga here and there since high school, but only got into it more in the last few years. Once I found my happy place with yoga, which really involved letting go and just being in the moment, it's become a pretty regular part of my self-care routine. Learning to be ok with my body in the moment, not getting annoyed at any inflexible spots, and understanding how to accept even tiny moments of a quieted mind (some days, that can be mere seconds, and I'll take it) all came more easily once I looked at yoga as a complete practice, and not just pretzel twisty poses to conquer. I practice yoga to help me have time to unwind and focus my attention, and to look at my body in a positive light.

LISA: In one of your blog posts, you talk about how working on a knitting book—which is an intense kind of work, I know!—led you to set some important goals: a 30-day yoga challenge, eating right, and getting enough rest. How have things been going since you set those goals? What lessons have you learned along the way?

MERCEDES: I've learned so much! First, as much as I love to exercise later in the day, yoga early in my routine helped set the tone for my day. If I left it until later, I'd be much more likely to get consumed by the day's task list and blow off my self-care time. I also learned how to approach yoga with a beginner's mind, giving myself the ok to be a little awkward, clumsy, unsure. It's like putting yourself in a somewhat vulnerable state, so the knowledge and confidence of the instructor becomes so much more important! I think being a student, in anything really, helps me appreciate and learn as a teacher, too. Getting clear instruction and support is so crucial to a good learning experience!

By the time the month was through, I felt like I had a good idea of what parts of my daily routine needed to change to keep up some solid habits. I kind of flaked out on some of these early the next month, because I took a two week road trip and the daily routine went out the window! Now I've picked the daily habits back up, and I'm making sure to get some physical activity every day, whether that's walking, weightlifting, running, or yoga. It helps my sleep cycle so much! It also helps counter the long hours of sitting at my laptop or knitting that happen most days.

LISA: So tell us about the book. When, what, and what do you love about it?

MERCEDES: I'm so excited about it, but the subject is still under wraps! I can say that it is slated to be released around Fall of 2014, and will be full of garment and accessory designs for women, and a few stylish knits for the guys, too. The sweaters and accessories stick to my usual design aesthetic, built on classic shapes with great detailing, mixing colorwork or textures to create flattering shapes that are fun to knit. So far every project has been something I'd love to wear!

LISA: You’ve sort of fashioned yourself a warrior for brioche knitting. (For our readers, I had the pleasure of taking a brioche class with Mercedes at a knitting retreat in 2012. I’ve been knitting a long time, but this is a particular technique that requires good instruction to get a grasp of. ) You’ll be teaching three classes in brioche at Interweave’s Knitting Lab in October. Tell us what students can expect to learn there.

MERCEDES: A brioche warrior! I like the sound of that. Is there a costume?

There will be three brioche classes that I'll be teaching Thursday and Friday of the Knitting Lab event; a brioche basics class to initiate new brioche stitchers each morning, and then two advanced brioche options during the afternoon sessions, one on brioche cablework and one on brioche colorwork. I'd love to see a small army of new brioche knitters head home with new skills from the event! For the basics class, we'll be talking about the structure of brioche knitting, which is really unlike any other knitting stitch but is based on some simple stitch manipulation that is so much fun once you learn the tricks and tips to make it work. We'll also go over cast ons, bind offs, and some basic shaping. Once knitters are familiar with the basics, the cables and colorworks classes build on that knowledge to add some great techniques to create even more visual interest and rich texture using the brioche stitch.

LISA: Ripping out brioche. Dropped stitches in brioche. Should it be as terrifying as it seems? You also have a DVD on brioche…does it offer help for the terrified knitter in these situations?

MERCEDES: It definitely does! Ripping and fixing mistakes in brioche is admittedly...weird. I think more than anything, having a solid grasp of the brioche structure is the biggest help, but there are some tips in the dvd to make fixing mistakes less stressful.

LISA: Brioche knitting is a complex series of strands that makes something uniquely beautiful. Kind of like yoga…a seemingly complex series of poses, moving limbs, dripping sweat, and breathing, that comes together and makes a transcendent experience for the practitioner. You remember the adage that everyone was spouting a few years back? “knitting is the new yoga.” For me, yoga was the new knitting when it came into my life. Do you see similarities between the two pursuits in your own life?

MERCEDES: Absolutely, although not always in the “zen knitting” kind of way! I'd go through these times of really wanting to be super bendy and blissed out in my yoga practice, only to get frustrated at my tight hips and knotted up calves or angry with myself for letting my mind wander off into the stressful thoughts of the rest of my life. Similarly, I'd have students in my beginner knitting classes who would ask, “Isn't this supposed to be relaxing?” as they clutched their needles with what I dubbed “the beginner death grip”, and I could see they were having those same sorts of anxieties and worries about getting it perfect (and so had I, when I had first picked up the needles). In both pursuits, I'd end up making some great strides when I loosened up and let go a little, giving myself permission to mess up, rip out, or even just scrap a project altogether! It's totally about the adage, “Perfection is the enemy of good.” All of a sudden, I'd realize I really was blissed out, and the movements of yoga and knitting were pretty dang relaxing. I love the feeling of just getting to know a new asana or a new stitch, experimenting to see where my body or the yarn wants to go, what the options are. There's always so much to learn!