Knitting Daily

All Hail the Snood!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

"Snood" sounds like a Dr. Seuss creature, doesn't it? The snood has been around for quite a while—remember those hairnet type things in the 40s? They were the quintessential woman's look of the era, and when I see a photo of one or someone wearing one in a movie, that era is evoked perfectly. Today's snood is something altogether different—no hairnet involved!—it's really a garment that is part scarf, part hood, part scarf.

Even though the media is calling this accessory a snood, I think it's really better named an infinity scarf—no beginning or end—and you can wear it an infinite number of ways: as a hood, scarf, or shawl.

In our Tuned in to Knitting Daily TV blog, we recently welcomed Adina Klein, creative director for Tahki Stacy Charles and former editor in chief of knit.1 and Vogue Knitting magazines. She had this to say about the snood: "The fashion industry is touting the snood (a cross between a scarf and a hood) and the infinity scarf, or moebius, as the hot new accessories for winter 2009. Featured this week in the Wall Street Journal and last week on Oprah, these fashion scarves are hitting the mainstream and mass-market retail. But there's no need to tell knitters how fantastic they are—we have long been cultists of the moebius (a rectangle that has been twisted 180 degrees) as an easy and versatile project that is inherently reversible."

I took a stroll through our pattern store, and here's what popped out at me "snood-wise":


Lacy Kerchief Scarf	Mossy Cowl	Pfeiffer Falls Hooded Scarf
Lisa Daehlin	Katie Himmelberg	Anne Kuo Lukito

The Lacy Kerchief Scarf can be worn as a shawl, a scarf, or as a kerchief. To get the kerchief look, simply drape the widest part of the piece over your head, with the lace edge at the back, and then cross the ends at your neck and toss them over your shoulders. Very Doris Day. The Mossy Cowl is an easy crochet project, and it's a free pattern, too! You can wear it as a cowl, or pull it up over your head for for a hood look. The Pfeiffer Falls Hooded Scarf is a lovely hood-scarf combo that's perfect for this time of year!


Twilight Lace	Nomad Hat and Scarf	Candy Stripes Kerchief
Laura Wallins	Kat Coyle	Kat Coyle

Twilight Lace is a stunning scarf/wrap/hood that you can dress up or down. I think it's really gorgeous in the white silk-mohair blend shown in the photo. Perfect for holiday wear! The cozy Nomad Hat and Scarf is a wonderful combo that's interesting to knit and will keep the wearer warm and stylish all winter. Candy Stripes Kerchief is one of those simple patterns that's endlessly versatile: it knits up so quickly, and you can use any color combo. Silver-gray and white anyone? This one would look look like a million bucks with a little sparkle, too.

A Free Moebius Pattern

Today we give you a new take on the moebius with the Endless Love moebius, knit in a lovely lace pattern that's simple enough for even beginners to knit.

The Endless Love moebius is knit on a size 8 US circular needle. Just like everlasting love, this moebius has no end and no beginning.

This is a two-skein pattern (you'll need about 325 yards of a worsted weight yarn, like the new Tahki Stacy Charles yarn Dove).

Here's a video demo of Adina making the Endless Love moebius in Episode 303 of Knitting Daily TV:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

If you're working on a moebius, infinity scarf, or snood, share a photo in the reader gallery!

Cheers,

Kathleen

In Which I Resist Temptation and I Choose A Yarn Color

KD Sandi — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:13:00 GMT

Dear Interweave Knits,

I love you. I hate you. I both hate and love you at the same time.

My faithful and clever readers have just spent several weeks carefully choosing a sweater pattern for me to knit, and a color for me to knit the pattern in, and here you go, publishing the new Winter 2009 IK with a cover sweater that makes me breathless with desire, so that the first words out of my mouth are, "I want to change the sweater pattern from the Farmer's Market Cardi to Nora's Sweater! Can we do a re-vote?"

Naughty, naughty Interweave Knits. How could you do this to me and my readers?

(deeeeeeep cleansing breath)

I shall hold fast to my resolve. My readers have spoken. The Farmer's Market Cardigan it shall be. The Farmer's Market Cardi is a gorgeous cardi and I love it and it will be mine.

However, on the bright side, at least I know what I am going to be knitting after I finish the Farmer's Market Cardigan. It's not like it's going to suddenly be 70 degrees in January here. It's not like I won't need a second warm cardigan.

All right, my beloved Knits, I apologize for having a moment of hate because you are so generous with beauty. That was small-minded of me. I can learn. I can grow.

I can knit more than one sweater this winter...

Friends again?
(The Winter issue ROCKS. Just being clear about that. It ROCKS. Thank you, Knits staff!!)

Color, Color, Color

This color-choosing thing was harder than I thought it was going to be. I guess I imagined that everyone would link into the Psychic Sandi Network or something and we'd all end up picking the same color, and then the birds would sing and small animals would dance on the lawn under my window.

But noooo. You folks are so creative that you came up with a total of 24 color suggestions. (There are only 43 colors available. You chose more than half of them. Whoot!)

Your colors ranged from the pale wisps of Beach Fog to the cheery delicate petals of Chinatown Apple to the mysterious Wisterious, finally moving on to the bold Lipstick Lava, the intricate shades of NIghtwatch, and the lush red/purple tones of In Vino Veritas.

There were more, but folks, a girl has to draw the line somewhere.

I've been to my local yarn shop to view the colors in person, and to get opinions from the good people who work at the shop as to what works best with my skin tone, and after careful consideration, the color I choose is: In Vino Veritas.

Besides. I just bought some awesome red cowboy boots. I don't have anything red to match them. Jeans, white shirt, In Vino Veritas Farmer's Market Cardi, and red cowboy boots.

Winter, bring it.

– Sandi

P.S. Let me know what you think! You can email me at sandi@knittingdaily.com or you can leave a comment.

2009 Winter Knits Preview!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: My friendly UPS gal brightened my day again on Friday and delivered the winter 2009 issue of Interweave Knits! I was on my way to A Grand Yarn, my LYS, so I slipped my copy into my knitting bag to show it off at the shop. And guess what, it was a hit! Several of my buddies were there and they all gathered around and ohhed and ahhed.

I really love the "paper lanterns" by Kristi Schueler. They're knit out of Louet Euroflax Sportweight, which I have in my stash. I'm adding this pattern to my home dec knitting list.

It's your turn to browse now, so here's editor Eunny Jang to introduce this fun new issue.

_______________________________________________________________________________

The winter issue of Interweave Knits is here!

This is my first real winter in Colorado. We've already had two major snowfalls, and the night temperatures are dropping quickly. I've put my beloved flats aside for lined, waterproof boots; I've put de-icing washer fluid in my car; I've bought an electric kettle, the better to make boiling-hot tea in a hurry. And I'm approaching my knitting with new enthusiasm. I'm ready.

Whole books have been written about the soul warming knitting can do, but this winter I'm most interested in the practical warmth a lapful of yarn provides. Slippers to guard against cold floors, cozy throws for curling up under, good, honest wool in mittens and hats and gloves.

There is something solid and reassuring in knitting, backed by centuries of real application: When we knit, we make something with our hands, and then use it to make life more comfortable, more beautiful, better. It's a pretty good deal.

In this issue of Interweave Knits, we're taking our knitting explorations in a number of different directions: We're taking a look at how simple constructions can benefit from just a little adornment ("All in One"); ways to explore the usual yarn + knitting = fabric equation ("Weighty Matters"); cables and cable lookalikes ("All Tangled Up); stranded colorwork in some new guises ("Strands"); and what positive and negative space can mean with knitting ("A Stark Contrast").

We're also taking a closer look at reversible cables, where pop culture commentary and knitting traditions meet, and taking you on a tour of knitting around the world. There's enough inspiration to send you off on a dozen knitting journeys of your own. Sweaters for men, sweaters for women and children, fun gift items and ways to fill your home with your craft—we've got it all.

Keep learning new things, keep exploring, keep knitting. What are you knitting to stay warm this winter? Let us know!

Cheers,

Eunny

Interweave Knits Accessories Preview!

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Remember that hilarious line from the movie Steel Magnolias: "the only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize"? Well, our new special interest publication, Interweave Knits Accessories, is a collection of patterns that'll keep you from becoming an animal for years and years!

With more than 60 favorite projects (at about 25 cents per pattern!) from the pages of Knits, KnitScene, and Interweave books, Interweave Knits Accessories is packed with patterns. You'll find pages and pages of scarves, hats, socks, gloves, and mittens—quick projects to go with everything in your wardrobe.

I love small projects because you can practice your skills on a small scale, perhaps challenging yourself a little here and there! And in today's economy, we could all use a couple of one- or two-skein projects, right? Shop your stash to find yarn for many of the patterns in Interweave Accessories.

You'll also get several popular "Back to Basics" tutorials, such as Finishing Details, Circular Knitting, Getting Started with Socks, and the Grand Plan Mitten Chart (I'm going to check this one out ASAP!).

Here are some of my favorite projects:


Koolhaas Hat	Forbes Forest	Orenburg Lace Triangle
Jared Flood	Kathy Zimmerman	Galina Khmeleva

I've admired the Koolhaas Hat since it debuted in the first issue of Interweave Knits Gifts, so I think it's about time to make one! I like the unisex appeal of this hat, and Jared Flood's designs are always a pleasure to knit. Forbes Forest is also a great unisex design, one that will work equally well with a fancy coat or a down vest. The Orenburg Lace Triangle is so beautiful—I love a stylish shawl, and this one is timeless.


Sideways Grand Hat	Subway Mittens	Citrine Socklets
Laura Irwin	Colleen Meagher	Marilyn Webster

The Sideways Grand Hat is a wonderful blend of fashion-forward and vintage style. This is one that looks good on many face shapes. You'll love the handy pocket in Subway Mittens, whether you need a spare subway token or an extra quarter for the parking meter! I love anklets, and the Citrine Socklets are cozy, pretty, and comfortable. They're designed with a beautiful silk-merino yarn, too, one that'll keep your tootsies warm throughout the winter.

So check out the preview for all of these projects and many, many more! I know you'll enjoy this wonderful collection as much as I do.

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Glove update! Thanks to all of you who chimed in on my yarn choices for the gloves I'm making. More than 400 of you commented! I ended up choosing the Koigu because of several comments about the wearablilty. Votes-wise, I think the Malabrigo came in first, followed by the lost-tag green, then the Koigu. I weighed the green, and I was afraid I didn't have enough to make both gloves—wouldn't that be awful?! I have a dim memory of making a pair of baby booties and a hat from that green . . . So, Koigu it is! I've cast on and I'll post photos as I go. Thanks again for making this so much fun!

This Winter's Hot Accessory: The Snood, Moebius or Infinity Scarf

Knitting Daily TV — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Free Pattern for The Endless Love Moebius and Hat!

Today’s guest blogger is Adina Klein, creative director for Tahki Stacy Charles and former editor in chief of knit.1 and Vogue Knitting magazines. Adina has made several guest appearances on Knitting Daily, most recently in Season 3 demonstrating a lovely moebius pattern. Her photo styling of this ensemble makes me think of the Goddess Frigga at Winter Solstice—just gorgeous! Here’s Adina to tell us more about this unique pattern, which is available for free download on our website here.

The fashion industry is touting the snood (a cross between a scarf and a hood) and the infinity scarf, or moebius, as the hot new accessories for winter 2009. Featured this week in the Wall Street Journal and last week on Oprah, these fashion scarves are hitting the mainstream and mass-market retail. But there's no need to tell knitters how fantastic they are—we have long been cultists of the moebius (a rectangle that has been twisted 180 degrees) as an easy and versatile project that is inherently reversible. Today I'm excited to present to you a new take on the moebius with the "Endless Love" design, knit in a lovely lace pattern that's simple enough for even beginners to lace.

Who says lace needs to be on size 2 needles? Delicate and feminine, the “Endless Love” moebius is knit on a size 8 circular and is a modern twist on the scarf. Just like everlasting love, this moebius has no end and no beginning. The pattern was designed by Teresa Chorzepa for Tahki Stacy Charles and uses only two skeins of DOVE, a new worsted-weight wool-blend (44% extrafine merino Wool, 44% alpaca, 12% nylon) with a unique combination of airiness and body, and a slightly felted appearance. It has great stitch definition and is equally perfect for knit and crochet.

Watch the video of my demonstration of the moebius in Episode 303 of Knitting Daily TV:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

If you like the “Endless Love” moebius pattern, check out the other designs in the Modern Romance collection . You'll fall in love with this dreamy collection of designs to knit in Tahki's supersoft yarns DOVE, SAVOY and TRUFFLES.

In the mood for a snood? For a more hood-like version of a larger moebius pattern, check out the Shadow Moebius in Tahki Rio from our pattern booklet Natural Landscapes Terra Collection, 4th edition, available online or at your local yarn shop.

Are you working on a moebius, infinity scarf, or snood for yourself or someone else? Leave a comment here and let us know what pattern and yarns you're using.

Yours in knitting,
Adina Klein

Knitted Cardigans: Buttonholes 101

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

The cardigan sweater is a classic for all seasons. You can throw it on over a T-shirt in the fall and spring, keep a light-weight cardigan on hand for chilly summer evenings, and wear one as a top in the winter. I have several cardigans in my closet and I wear them all year.

There are so many ways to knit cardigans, too—in the round, top down, or in pieces. I like the top down raglan method the best—it's a lot of knitting (LOOONG rows), but when it's done, it's done. And if you're brave you can just knit in the round and cut your sweater up the front to make it a cardigan! (This technique is called "steeking" and it works best with wool; I wouldn't try it with a slippery yarn.)

We recently published a free ebook, Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns. (If you haven't downloaded your copy, please click on the link and get yours today!) One of these seven patterns is sure to strike your fancy: from lacey and feminine to bulky and casual, there are a variety of styles to choose from.

Whichever cardigan you choose to knit, and whichever technique you prefer, one thing almost all cardigan sweaters have in common is buttonholes. Today I'm going to show you how to make two different kinds of buttonholes, the one-row buttonhole and the eyelet buttonhole.

One-Row Buttonholes

This buttonhole is a good one to have in your arsenal because it works really well with medium to extra-large buttons; I normally use this buttonhole with 3/4-inch or larger buttons.

To decide how many stitches to use while working this buttonhole, simply place your button on your fabric and see how many stitches it covers. Subtract one stitch, and that's how many stitches you should use. This example, from The Knitter's Companion by Vicki Square, uses five stitches.



Step 1	Step 2	Step 3

Work to where you want the buttonhole to be, bring the yarn to the front, slip the next stitch purlwise, then return the yarn to the back.

Step 1. *Slip the next stitch to the right needle, then pass the second stitch over the end stitch and drop it off the needle. Repeat from *.

Step 2. Slip the last stitch on the right needle to the left needle and turn the work. Move the yarn to the back and use the cable method to cast on 5 stitches as follows: *Insert the right needle between the first and second stitches on the left needle, draw up a loop, and place it on the left needle. Repeat from * 4 more times. Turn the work.

Step 3. With the yarn in back, slip the first stitch from the left needle and pass the extra cast-on stitch over it and off the needle to close the buttonhole. Then work to the end of the row as usual.

Since some of us find videos easier to learn from, here's Interweave Knits editor Eunny Jang with a video tutorial on the one-row buttonhole. (She demos the cable cast-on here, too!)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Eyelet Buttonhole

The eyelet buttonhole is self-sizing—bulky yarns make large holes that accommodate large buttons; fine yarns make small holes that accommodate small buttons.

Work the eyelet buttonhole on the right side of the work as follows: yarnover, then work the next two stitches together. That's all there is to it!

You can use an overcast stitch to reinforce the buttonhole if you think your yarn might wear or if your yarn is really flexible and you want to stabilize the size of the buttonhole.

I hope these buttonhole techniques will be a welcome addition to your finishing skills.

Cheers,

Kathleen
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NEW KAL ANNOUNCEMENT

I'm thrilled to announce the next knit-a-long: Fresco Fair Isle Mitts. More than 4000 of you voted, and the mitts won by a small margin. (The Freyja Hat and the Snowflake Scarf tied for second.) Our new KAL starts today, so click on the link to download your pattern for $5.50, run to your stash or your LYS for yarn, and cast on! Here's the link to the official KAL forum. Knit on!

The Winning Sweater!

KD Sandi — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:05:00 GMT

And the winner is...

The Farmer's Market Cardigan, by Connie Chang Chinchio! Whoo-hoo!

Everyone please give Connie, the designer of this fine cardigan, a round of applause for designing something so unusual and so flattering. I love this sweater, and I'm thrilled that you folks chose it for me to make for myself! You have such good taste :)

Actually, I was very impressed at the level of comments that came in with your votes. Many of you took the time to go over various fit details of your choices, explaining why you thought that particular shape would flatter me. I was quite amazed, not just at the time you took (thank you!), but at the insights you all had into garment choice. I think, needless to say, we've all learned a TON about shaping and fit and body curves over the past three years. (Perhaps we all deserve a round of applause, too!)

So the Farmer's Market Cardigan it is. And by the way: If any of you would like to join me in knitting this cute cardi, the pattern is in the Fall 2009 issue of Interweave Knits magazine.

What's next? Well, we have to choose some YARN, my friends! I know I said I would ask for help choosing yarn...but I'm wicked. I've already chosen the yarn. Not that I meant to choose the yarn, you understand. I meant to have all of you make suggestions and then vote and all that...but I was in my local yarn shop, and, well, let's just say that some yarn fell on me. Yes, that's what happened, some yarn fell off the shelves and landed on me. Now, it landed very softly on me, a whole skein of it barely brushing my skin...and that's how I noticed how cushy it was, and how soft-to-the-skin it was.

I had a yarn accident. You understand. Maybe you've had one yourself in your own local yarn shop?

Now as it happens, there wasn't enough of the color I coveted any particular color for a whole sweater, so I put the yarn back neatly on the shelf. But I knew it was The Yarn–thus, I present to you Dream in Color Classy, a gorgeous worsted weight yarn that comes in all sorts of glowing colors. Why don't you go look at the colors here–and then would you come back here and tell me which color you think would look best (leave a comment; I really do read them all!)? I'll be honest and say right up front that I have a color already in mind, but I am open to suggestions. No, I won't tell you what color I am thinking of, I don't want to influence your thoughts on the matter. Suggest away! You never know; I might be persuaded to pick the color you suggest.

Once a color is chosen, I shall ask the wonderful Megan, owner of Lettuce Knit, my local yarn shop, to order the yarn for me! And whilst we await its arrival, let's choose a size and take a look at the schematic to see if I need to make any alterations for my particular curves. I'll blog about that process here–partly to demonstrate how I go about it, but also to solicit your advice and help along the way. I've learned that you folks often see things about myself that I cannot see because I am too close to that girl in the mirror. :)

Report: The Pretty Little Thing

I finished it! I finished the little cowl made out of my very own handspun, and it's drying now after being lightly blocked. Someone asked me in the comments how one blocks something knit in the round, as it is impossible to spread it flat in a single layer.

Answer: I lay the garment flat (as a double layer) on either my blocking board or a couple of towels. I gently pat it into shape, making sure that the bottom layer is just as carefully nudged into shape as the top layer. If there are points or scallops, I pull them out together so that they match in length. Either way, I make sure that the edges line up and the whole thing is even and as symmetrical as it is meant to be.

So my pretty little cowl is still drying. Once it's dry, then I can play with it a bit to see how much memory the lace pattern gives the 50/50 silk/alpaca blend. So far, though...I love how it turned out! (Pattern: Pretty Thing, the Yarn Harlot's lace cowl design.)

There's more I could blog about–a little Bolero comes to mind–but I made quite a stellar mistake in that cute little mini-sweater, and I need some time to recover my dignity before I post about it. Next week, I promise.

Knit with joy...

– Sandi

P.S. Let me know what you think! You can email me at sandi@knittingdaily.com or you can leave a comment.

Knitting and Pumpkin Pie: What do they have in common?

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

My sister doesn't like pumpkin pie, (I do not understand; does not compute) but her favorite color is orange. I was thinking about this yesterday as I was raking up orange and yellow and brown leaves, thinking about how pretty the fall colors are, even as I'm hating raking. There are so many beautiful colors of orange out there: pumpkin orange, saffron, tangerine, rust, ocher, that Crayola favorite Burnt Sienna, and so on!

I love orange, too, but it's not something that I knit with very often. In fact, I only have one knitted piece in orange—a lace vest that I made when I first started knitting. I think one reason I don't knit or wear much orange is because I think of it as going with black, and my high school colors are orange and black. When I wear orange and black I feel like I'm back in high school in the bleachers cheering for the Tigers!

Our special today is a bundle of magazines, and as I was flipping through my issues I was appreciating how well the editors choose projects that convey the feeling of the season. What jumped out at me this time was the color choices: nice, subtle color palettes for spring and summer, with just enough vibrant color choices to be exciting; and deep, warm, cozy colors for fall and winter. Take the Every Way Wrap in the Fall 2009 issue of Interweave Knits, for instance—it's the perfect fall orange: a dark, pumpkin pie orange.

So, in case you haven't gotten the memo, what knitting and pumpkin pie have in common is orange! It's fall, and orange is a fall color, and we're going to be making thousands of pumpkin pies in a couple of weeks, and today I'm going to conquer my high school demons and bring back the orange.

I've gone through our pattern store and picked out several patterns, plus a couple of free patterns that look great in orange, and here they are!


Citrus Yoke	Saffron Cables	Refined Raglan	Sienna Cardigan
Katie Himmelberg	Kathy Zimmerman	Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark	Ann Smith

Citrus Yoke is a beautiful pullover that's knit in the round from the neck down with an interesting eyelet rib pattern on the yoke. The Saffron Cables afghan will keep you warm while you're knitting it and after you're knitting it! The Refined Raglan is full of simple styling: an eyelet pattern on the raglan portion of the sleeves, and a neat knitted hem on the bottom and sleeves. The Sienna Cardigan is a quick, worsted-weight knit with pretty, feminine touches along the button bands and the collar. (And it's also part of our free e-book Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns!)


Washington Square Vest	Tangelo	Wavy Orange Scarf	Fountain Hat
Simona Merchant-Dest	Kate Kukra	Rebecca L. Daniels	Katie Himmelberg

I love the variegated orange of the Washington Square Vest. This pattern incorporates lace on the edges and basketweave waist detailing. Tangelo is just what you need in the fall—a bouquet of flowers (and a fun, quick knit, too).

And now for two free patterns! The Wavy Orange Scarf will keep you interested as you knit—the wave pattern is one of those that's fun to watch develop. And the Fountain Hat is a wonderful gift option and a stash-buster! It's a small project that takes just under 400 yards of sock yarn. (And it's also part of our free e-book Knitting Lace: Knitting Daily Presents 7 FREE Knitted Lace Patterns!)

Well, that about wraps up my vacation to the Land of Orange. For a side trip, check out our Facebook post about orange yarns (about halfway down our page). And become a fan to get updates on your Facebook newsfeed!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Fill Your Calendar with Knitting Projects

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

I love calendars, especially wall calendars, and I spend a lot of time every year in the bookstore choosing something that will inspire me every day. It's a tough choice, too, because with wall calendars, you look at one photo for a whole month.

I've said before how lucky I am to have this job, and my luck knocked on the door last week in the form of the UPS gal, who handed me a package containing what will be my wall calendar for 2010. It's the new Spin-Off Calendar, and it's truly inspiring to someone who loves all things yarny. The photo at left is so beautiful, and that's just one of twelve!

(I can't believe we're coming up on 2010, though. It sounds so futuristic—I thought we'd all be flying around in spaceships by now!)

As I looked through my new calendar, I started thinking about my knitting and some of the projects that are in my queue. I thought it might be neat to plan my knitting for the year. I know some of this won't happen—we all have things that come up to disrupt our knitting plans (like cool new patterns we must knit now!)—but it was fun to look through my bookshelves and my Ravelry queue and schedule some projects.

A Year of Knitting, a.k.a. "Best Laid Plans"


Cabaret Raglan	Sculptured Lace Scarf	Soap Bubble Wrap	Bacchus Socks
Norah Gaughan	Kenny Chua	Connie Chang Chinchio	Alice Bell

I've had the Cabaret Raglan in my queue almost as long as I've had my Ravelry account. I love the simplicity of the Cabaret—it's a raglan pullover, but the eyelets and two-stitch cable patterns really dress it up. I think I'll tackle this in January and February.

The Sculptured Lace Scarf is something that I can knit at the same time as the Cabaret Raglan, because I like to have more than one project on the needles. I love the tight lace and cable pattern in this design.

The Soap Bubble Wrap is knit from a flax yarn but I have a linen blend linen in my stash that will be perfect. This warm-weather beauty will be a good knit for the spring months. For my alternate project, it's got to be the Bacchus Socks. There's an option for knitting these without the bobbles on the foot portion, which I think I'll do so I can wear them comfortably with shoes. These socks are just beautiful.


Tangled Yoke Cardigan	Harvey Kimono	Simply Marilyn	Side Slip Cloche
Eunny Jang	Louisa Harding	Debbie Bliss	Laura Irwin

I really like a cardigan, and the Tangled Yoke is a classic. At a gauge of six stitches to the inch, it's a nice, light cardigan that won't add bulk. I like the fabric that's produced when I knit on size 5 needles, and that's the needle size called for in this sweater. The cable pattern on the yoke draws the eye toward the face, too, which is a nice feature. This project will hit during the summer months, and while I don't like to knit with wool in the summer, I do like to have a new sweater to wear in the fall, so I'll have to deal with it, won't I?

My second summer project will be a Harvey Kimono. If you have a little one in your life, these darling kimonos couldn't be more perfect. They're so cute and they knit up fast. There's an option for a boy version or a girl version.

In September and October, I'm penciling in Simply Marilyn. This pullover is just that: simple. The big cable up the front and the cowl add a classic, cozy feel, and the larger gauge makes quick work of this sweater. It's so pretty in pink, too—or maybe I should do it in a soft blue since I already have two pink sweaters!

The second project for fall is the lovely Side Slip Cloche. There's a sample of this hat at my LYS and everyone who tries it on looks great—even me! It's a sophisticated hat that's fun to knit. My mom's been asking for one since she saw it on the cover of Boutique Knits last fall, so I'll put this on my holiday knitting list for October.

I'm not going to fill up my calendar for November and December, because I know there will be a bunch of last minute holiday knitting that I'll want to squeeze in. Plus, some of these projects will creep into later months, I'm sure.

So that's the plan, folks! Why don't you take a few minutes to put your projects on the calendar? It's really helped me set my knitting priorities, and I've had fun looking at the beautiful photos in my calendar, too.

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Interweave has come out with three new calendars, so if you're a quilter or a papercrafter, there's something for you, too.

The Central Park Hoodie (and Voting for the Next KAL!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

The Central Park Hoodie Knit-a-Long is officially over, although there are many of us still knitting like the wind to get this puppy done so we can wear it already!

I've got a sleeve left and the finishing, which is at least a week's worth of work. I'm knitting steadily, though!

We had an amazing amount of participation in the KAL: almost 800 comments! People really loved the project and shared their tips and tricks so generously. It was, and continues to be, a wonderful KAL, and that's because of the people involved. Thank you all so much for making this a really fun couple of months of knitting the Hoodie; I'm looking forward to knitting with you again in the next KAL (see below for voting!).

Here's a parade of beautiful Central Park Hoodies for you to enjoy, and if you're still working, don't despair—you're in good company. The KAL forum will be available forever, so post away!


Catherine's CPH	Artful Soul's CPH	Peggy's CPH


TMS's CPH	Teresa's CPH	Aporanee's CPH


Mardi's CPH	Candace's CPH	Barbara's CPH

What Should We Knit Next?

Several of you expressed interest in working an easy fair isle project, so all of my choices for the next KAL incorporate that technique. Fair isle is such a fun and rewarding technique—it takes the "just one more row" syndrome to new heights! (Just take a look at the fabulous new book of fair isle and colorwork patterns The New Stranded Colorwork by Mary Scott Huff. She's done an amazing job developing beautiful patterns for this technique.)

The Cactus Blossom Pullover and the Tomato Sweater are great first sweater projects that incorporate a bit of fair isle work. The Fresco Mitts and the Freyja Hat are both beautiful, quick-finish projects—which might be good for this busy time of year. The Lady's Duet and the Snowflake Scarf are easy and very "gift-able," and both scarves would work for the man in your life, too.

I hope one of these strikes your fancy, too!


Cactus Blossom	Fresco Mitts	Freyja Hat


Lady's Duet	Earflap Hat	Snowflake Scarf

Click here to vote for your favorite; I'll announce the winner next Friday.

Cheers,

Kathleen

Knitting For SOAR (plus VOTE on my next sweater)

KD Sandi — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Knitting For SOAR

You might have noticed that I did not post last week (bad blogger!). My excuse? I was at Interweave's Spin-Off Annual Retreat, learning all about my most favorite thing: Yarn. My SOAR adventure was, in part, a mission to find out more about this beloved substance, to see if I could make better yarn choices in my knitting. I figured the more I knew about yarn, the better knitter I could become.

My very first day there, the instructor hands me a puff of cashmere fiber and tells me to make some yarn with it. Yes, really. (And it just got better from there–we even made bunny fur yarn!)

That's what it was like. For SIX DAYS, people. For six days, people like Abby Franquemont and Judith Mackenzie McCuin and Maggie Casey and Amy King kept showing me things about yarn that made my little knitter's head explode.

Learning About My Own Knitting

As I was packing for SOAR, I realized that I needed a knitting project to take with me. The white starry baby blanket wouldn't do, as it is too big (and too white) to take on a plane. I finally decided to start a new project, just a bitty one (no, really, I can finish this one, honest I can...really...). In honor of SOAR, I chose to use some of my own handspun yarn–a 50/50 alpaca silk blend that I spun up into silky soft 2-ply sockweight yarn. For the pattern, I chose Pretty Thing, the Yarn Harlot's lace cowl design. That's a photo of it–I love how the pinks softly change from light to dark, like the petals of a rose. Makes me happy just looking it it!

By the time I got to SOAR, I had the cowl nearly half-done (see?). I set the knitting aside during the classes in favor of my spinning; once I got home, however, I was ready to knit again. I picked up the cowl project...and with all that SOAR knowledge so minty fresh in my mind, I realized that my lovely rose-colored yarn might not be a good choice for the cowl after all. (Rats.) Here's why:

What Have You Learned, Dorothy?

I took Robin Russo's three-day workshop on Exotic Fibers–including, of course, alpaca and silk. Robin challenged us to think of fibers and yarns in terms of words like elasticity (or memory), strength, softness, and sheen. A yarn made entirely of silk, for example, will have high marks for strength and sheen, but low marks for elasticity, as silk has no ability to "bounce back." Likewise, alpaca gets high marks for softness, but relatively low marks for memory when compared to its woolly cousins.

And therein lies the problem with my little pretty cowl. My cowl by its nature needs to be elastic–I want to pull it on over my head, and then have it snuggle charmingly against my neck. My handspun yarn is half silk (thus sheen, strength, and softness, but no memory); and half alpaca (thus softness and sheen, but not a lot of memory). While the yarn is a great choice for wearing against my skin, it may not be a great choice for something that needs to keep its shape over the course of a lot of stretching and pulling.

What might work better would be something with a little wool in it–say, an alpaca/silk/wool blend. (I'll keep that in mind for next time. It's Canada. The first snowfall is mere days away. Surely I will need more than one warm cowl during the next six months.) However, my cowl might be fine as is, because it's all lace. Lace has a bit more structure to it than plain stockinette, and this structure can bring a bit of elasticity to the mix, depending on the stitch pattern and the gauge.

As my SOAR instructors kept saying: It Depends. Try It And See.

I've decided to finish the cowl, block it, wear it, and then See What Happens. It's an experiment, a learning experience. If I learned anything at SOAR, it's that you never truly know anything about yarn until you try it out–because as we knitters know all too well, our mistress Yarn certainly has a mind of her own!

Stay tuned. I'll show you the cowl when it's finished and maybe do some stretch tests with it. That ought to be interesting...and give us all some good information for yarn choices along the way.

Sweater Poll: Choose Which Sweater I Knit Next!

Two weeks ago, I asked you to submit ideas for my next on-the-needles sweater project–and you responded with dozens of pretty sweaters! So the nominations are in, and I've counted your votes. Here are the top five sweaters you suggested I knit next: Tangled Yoke Cardigan by Eunny Jang; Central Park Hoodie by Heather Lodinsky (big girl sizing by Lisa Shroyer); Farmer's Market Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio; Curry Cabled Cardigan by Cathy Payson; and Sienna Cardigan by Ann E. Smith. Great choices everyone! Thank you.

Now vote for the final choice! Which one should I knit next for myself? (Go ahead, boss me around. You know you want to.)

Choose my next sweater project!

Knit with joy...

– Sandi

P.S. Let me know what you think! You can email me at sandi@knittingdaily.com or you can leave a comment.

Free Pattern and Video: Child's Holiday Capelette

Knitting Daily TV — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Give a big welcome to today's guest blogger Jil Eaton, whose name has become synonymous with kids knitwear. Last year she introduced her own yarn line—MinnowMerino distributed by Classic Elite Yarns—and offered knitters everywhere an adorable free pattern for a child’s holiday capelette (originally published in the CEY Web-Letter). Today we’re thrilled that Jil is sharing this pattern with our readers and viewers, and we have an exclusive video of Jil demonstrating the capelette’s embellishment techniques. Here’s Jil to t ell us more…

Hi Knitting Daily! The Holiday Capelette project that I presented this season on the TV show perfectly captures my design philosophy. My trademark QuickKnits—in larger gauges, clean silhouettes, chic design details, and pure clean color—all add up to a charming garment.

The Capelette, knit in holiday red and icy blue for a touch of insouciance, is very easy to work up and includes regularly spaced increases for the shaping. The cape is decorated with a single crochet chain, sewn in easy loops around the bottom edge in a contrasting color. It is then punctuated with French knots sprinkled playfully around the chain.

You can watch me demonstrate some of these embellishment options in this video:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Download the free capelette pattern here.

Embroidery, bobbles and other design details can make all the difference between an ordinary garment and one that is a showstopper. Color is key, and don’t be afraid to experiment--play with your yarn and have fun! Changing the colors for this capelette project could turn it from a holiday charmer to a classic party cover-up in pretty pastels or rich blues and aqua. Always use the best fibers you can find, for the joy of knitting and for the life of the garment, which could easily become an heirloom.

After so many years designing, teaching workshops and writing my “Ask Jil” column in KnitSimple magazine, I would say the single most important tip for perfect knitting is getting the correct gauge. Getting the gauge, or correct number of stitches and rows per inch, guarantees the garment will have the correct fit and drape, as the designer intended. Always do your swatch, which takes only a short time and is perfect for testing the ‘washability’ of that particular yarn. The gauge swatch is perfect as part of your knitting history; my students all maintain knitting notebooks, a typical 3-ring binder including clear plastic insert pages. Using one page for each project, include your personal copy of the pattern, notes, information about the lucky recipient, and your gauge swatch. Later the swatch can come in handy for any necessary repairs. As Nike says, “Just do it!” You’ll become a better knitter for life.

If you go to my website, www.minnowknits.com, you can sign up for my monthly email newsletter, MinnowNotes, or check out my blog at www.jileaton.blogspot.com. Remember, when we are knitting, all is right with the world! –Jil Eaton

Knitted Gifts: Spread the Joy

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

We've all wrapped up our precious knitted gifts in boxes and bags. And when we put them with all of the other gifts, they look just like everything else in the pile. Don't get me wrong, I love a big stack of presents, but I've stumbled upon some new items from Interweave that will make our knitted treasures stand out from the rest.



Swatch and yarn ball cards	Gift tags	Sheep and alpaca cards

I just got a shipment of these little gift items, and they're even cuter in person. I especially love the sheep gift bag, which I immediately stuffed full of yarn to take with me this weekend to a knitting retreat (stay tuned for some photos next week!).

Sharing our enthusiasm for our knitting lifestyle is fun and important, and these little cards and tags are a perfect way to do that. Using these items to present knitted gifts is special, and I'm even incorporating the cards into my stack that I pull from for all occasions. It's a nice way to spread the knitting joy.

And imagine getting a little package in the gift bag at right! Maybe you should pack up a one-skein project with a skein of yarn and a pattern, and give it to one of your knitting buddies. Perhaps something that person can make as a holiday gift?

That's not really re-gifting, is it?

Knitted Gift Tags

We featured this clever idea in Interweave Knits Gifts, and I thought you might like to try it. There's no real pattern for these, just take a look at the photo at left and freeform it! That's part of the fun.

Directions: Knit to a simple, outline shape, increasing, decreasing, and casting on as necessary. Hold your knitting up to the outline frequently to compare. Back your knitted shapes with card stock, punch a hole at the top, and add a piece of yarn to attach the tag to a gift.

You can make your shapes larger to use them as decorations, too. Try using some metallic yarn to add a little sparkle!

"Knitted" Cards

I really enjoy papercrafting, and I usually make my own holiday cards. This year I'm working on some cards where I'm using swatches instead of rubber stamps. I'm using a garter stitch swatch and pressing it on an ink pad, and then I'm pressing it onto the card to make a background.

I'm going to use a holiday image to try to make a sort of intarsia look, with an ornament or a tree or something in the middle of the knitted background. We'll see. I'll post some images when I get something that works!

Have fun with these ideas, and please share your results with us in the comments or the gallery!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Knitscene Photoshoot + Snow!

LisaShroyer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:32:00 GMT

I'm back from Colorado this week, and it's so nice to be home and away from the SNOW. While I was out west, we got a big snowstorm that dumped quite a bit of snow. We were shooting projects for the upcoming Winter/Spring 2010 issue. I'm already reviewing the images from the photographer—I think the snow lends a little knitterly magic to the pictures. Forget Fall, it's time for winter knitting! Can you believe it?

We did the outdoor shoot on a lovely bit of property west of Loveland, Colorado, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We rented a cabin for hair/makeup and wardrobe, but the rest of us spent the day outdoors, well bundled. Look for this issue out in January. In the meantime, we'll be busy putting it together!

P.S. I'm really excited about our featured designer and her Knitscene collection for this issue...hint: She has a PhD!

Perfect Knitted Gloves: Tips for Success

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

I’ve never knitted a pair of gloves, if you can believe that. Mittens, fingerless gloves, and wrist warmers are all in my repertoire, but no gloves! The thought of knitting all of those fingers has always steered me away from glove projects.

I usually get about four pairs of those tiny knit gloves that stretch to fit any size hand. Those last me all winter, interspersed with my down mittens for the really cold days. I’m over those gloves, though, they’re too thin for Spokane. And besides, I’m a knitter and therefore I should knit some gloves!

So here’s my plan:

1. Find a pattern.
2. Choose yarn.
3. Knit a gauge swatch.
4. Cast on.
5. Knit, knit, knit.
6. Finish one glove.
7. MAKE THE OTHER GLOVE!!

It's a nice plan, isn't it? Step 6 is the only step that makes me nervous…

Since I have Ann Budd’s The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, which has a whole section on making simple gloves, the pattern-finding is done. Step 1, check.

I’ve mentioned before that I have a ball of Socks that Rock sock yarn (not to mention all the sock yarn I got at the sock summit), and a couple of other choices, too. I like the idea of using sock yarn on small needles so that the gloves will be dense and warm. So here are the choices:

Leave me a comment below and tell me which yarn you like best!

I think my gauge will be about 7 or 8 stitches to the inch, and my hand circumference is about 7½ so I’ll be casting on 60 to 66 stitches.

How do I know this? That’s the brilliance of The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Ann gives you options. And by options, I mean OPTIONS! There are glove patterns for five gauges of yarn and seven sizes, and an amazing schematic.

A big bonus in the glove section is the page called "Quick Tips for General Success." Ann provides these tips for each type of pattern and they're easily worth the price of the book. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

If you’re using double pointed needles, use this tip to avoid the ladder: When you reach the end of a double-pointed needle, always work two or three stitches from the next needle onto the working needle. Doing so will move the boundary between needles and will help prevent a line of loose stitches between needles.
As you knit, poke the finished fingers into the hand to keep them out of your way.
To help eliminate holes at the base of fingers, pick up and knit one or two more stitches than required when you begin a finger, then decrease the extra stitch or stitches on the first round of knitting.

That tip for avoiding ladders will work for anything you knit on DPNs, not just gloves. Some of us occasionally have issues with ladders when we use the Magic Loop method (ahem. . .), so this is good for us, too!

I'll keep you posted on the gloves—I need to make quick work of them so I'm not forced to buy another pair of those little stretch gloves!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Decorate with Knitted Holiday Ornaments

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Even though it's just Halloween, I'm already dreaming of the holidays—my favorite time of the year.

I have a really beautiful collection of glass holiday ornaments that look just lovely on the Christmas tree. They sparkle and glimmer when the light hits them.

I usually get a couple of new ornaments as gifts each year—last year my mom gave me the most hilarious one: a hamburger. It's beautifully crafted, though, and I hung it proudly on my tree. Maybe this year I'll get some fries.

I have a couple of small trees, too. (I know, a little overboard on the trees!) This year I'm tgoing to make some knitted ornaments to put on one tree, along with a twisted cord garland. I think I can bang out several ornaments at my knitting group the next few Sundays. We'll see ... my Central Park Hoodie is mocking me from my knitting bag!

Want to knit some ornaments along with me? Here are some ideas:

Swatch Ornaments

Dig out your swatch box and put project swatches to good use making ornaments. Thin, drapey swatches will give the smoothest effect.

Materials: Glass or plastic ball ornament; knitted swatch (height and width similar to or slightly smaller than ornament circumference; exact dimensions are not critical, swatch will stretch to fit.); strong sewing thread, needle; ribbon (optional)

Directions: With right sides facing, sew two short ends of the swatch together to make a tube. Turn right side out. With a doubled length of thread, make a running stitch line along the bottom edge of the swatch.

From inside the tube, draw the thread tight and gather the bottom of the swatch into a tightly closed circle. Fasten off the thread. Pop the ball ornament into the swatch bag.

With a doubled length of thread, make a running stitch along the top edge of the swatch. Draw the top opening tightly closed, stretching the fabric slightly if necessary. Fasten off the thread. (Optional) Attach a ribbon for hanging.

More Free Ornament Patterns!



Use up odds and ends in your stash! Cabled Globes will add texture to your tree.	Try knitting this pretty Snowflake Ornament in a sparkly, white yarn.	Make these cute poinsettias in all kinds of colors! Be creative with your color scheme.

And don't forget about the Knitted Star pattern that we posted in the Inside Knits blog. It's so cute. I need a tree skirt for one of my little trees, and I'm thinking about making four or five of the midsized Knitted Stars and sewing them together point-to-point to make a cool tree skirt.

If you want to make a yarn garland, here's how:

Twisted Cord

Cut several lengths of yarn about five times the desired finished cord length. Fold the strands in half to form two equal groups. Anchor the strands at the fold by looping them over a doorknob. Holding one group in each hand, twist each group tightly in a clockwise direction until they begin to kink.

Put both groups in one hand and then release them, allowing them to twist around each other counterclockwise. Smooth out the twists so that they are uniform along the length of the cord. Knot the ends

Have fun with all of these ornament ideas!

Cheers,

Kathleen

What are you knitting for...Halloween?

eunnycjang — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:49:00 GMT

I've knitted miles and miles (well, actually, just a yard and a half) of bright orange I-cord. Can you guess who I'm going as for Halloween? Hint: I still need to cut it in half and wrap some tape around the ends of the cord for aglets.

If you need a refresher on I-cord, check out Kathleen's post on I-cord from a few days ago. I'm an I-cord devotee - it's strangely satisfying to slide those stitches and pull a row of knitting into a smooth, tight round. It's one of those knitting tricks that comes pretty close to magic. I like to use a very short DPN (about four inches long - I've seen these sold as "glove needles") to minimize the distance the cord needs to slide.

It comes in pretty handy, too. I love I-cord finishes on garments and accessories (it makes a nice stand-in for piping), of course, but I use it around the house wherever I need a bit of sturdy hollow cord. I've got loops of it running through the the holes in my kitchen utensils so they can hang on big hooks; I used some to hid a length of speaker cord in an awkward place; narrow I-cords have gradually ended up replacing most drawstrings in my clothes and bags over time.

And they come in really handy for when you need a set of bright orange shoelaces on short notice. I knitted this while watching the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers to get in the spirit - are you knitting part of your Halloween costume, too? Tell us about it!

Short and So Sweet: The Little Knitted Gift

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

My family has always made a big deal about the holidays. We have so much fun together cooking, eating, toasting and roasting each other, and shoveling/playing in the snow.

We've gotten really good at choosing gifts for each other, too. We take note of little things we say all year and try to pick out really meaningful gifts. (Although I did have to regroup one year after getting my brother a Dukes of Hazzard coloring book!)

And now that nephew Henry is around, the holiday fun has leveled up a notch or two! At four years old though, he's still a little bit more interested in the lights of Christmas than the presents! He loves the tree as much as I do.

In the last four or five years, I've been knitting gifts for my family, but as I've mentioned before on Knitting Daily, that might not happen this year, at least not to the degree it's happened in the past!

Maybe it'll be little gifts. I'll never be the gift-card type (not that there's anything wrong with that!), so I'll have to come up with some sort of handmade goodies!

Welcome to the Gift Parade

I think some of you might be in the same boat, so I thought I'd take a troll through the gift section of our free pattern collection and see what floated to the top. Here goes!



The Daisy Towel is so cute, with its little, embroidered flowers. It's a quick knit, made from cotton worsted-weight.	The Bride's Sachet isn't just for brides. Any gal would enjoy this delicate packet of good scent!	What child wouldn't want to see a Knit Father Christmas popping out of the top of a stocking on Christmas morning?



These polka-dotted Napkin Rings are perfect for the holiday table, and even more perfect as a hostess gift.	House Slippers are the trifecta of the perfect gift: easy-to-make, cute, and useful. These are simply cut out of an old, felted, wool sweater.	Knitted Cuddlies are so cute! If you have a little one on your gift list, look no further.

And for the knitter in your life, how about a gift subscription to Interweave Knits? I received a subscription to Knits once, and it was so much fun to flip through the issue that was tucked in my stocking, only to have a card fall out that said it was the first in a subscription. I was so excited!

Cheers,

Kathleen

I Need a Hat: The Knitted Slouch

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I am NOT one of those people who looks great in hats, especially the beanie-type hat. I wear those hats in the winter when I have too, but I much prefer the beret style hat or the slouch hat.

It was in the 30s this weekend in Spokane—it's getting hard to remember those 95-degree days when all I wanted for Christmas was a fan. I need a hat now, and I can't wait for the holidays to get one as a gift.

So, I was trolling through the free patterns on Knitting Daily, and I decided to try the Barrymore Slouch Hat by Lisa Shroyer from our recent free eBook, 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns. This hat is really easy and quick-to-knit, and it's also stylish and warm. Some slouchy hats don't cover the ears, which isn't an option for this climate. The Barrymore Hat actually has built-in ear flaps tucked under the band for extra coziness.

This hat has a lot of design features, such as the garter rows every so often and the buttons on the side. I have quite a collection of buttons from my great gramma, my gramma, and my mom (not to mention my own OCD button-shopping tendencies). I keep them in a vintage Crisco jar, which just adds to the charm of the collection.

I usually find just the right button in that jar, and it gets replenished regularly from various sources (tell people you have a button collection, and you never know what you'll get).

Building Skills: No Slouching!

This project uses several basic skills and some more intermediate techniques that add just a bit of a challenge. You'll do your basic knitting in the round plus a slip stitch row and a purl row each time you switch colors. You'll also pick up stitches with a crochet hook

If you're new to knitting in the round, here's a quick tutorial from Knitting Daily TV that shows how to join in the round when using both circular needles and double-pointed needles. You'll learn a couple of tips in this video clip, too, including how to keep a round marker on the needles when you're using double-points.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I have two black coats and one silver down vest, so I think I'll knit this hat out of a dark gray and a silver gray merino wool. Should be beautiful. (Or maybe some red and silver?)

Get the Barrymore Slouch Hat pattern and five more easy knitting pattern when you download your free eBook!

Cheers,

Kathleen

The Knitted I-cord: "I" is for "Ingenious"

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The venerable Elizabeth Zimmermann rediscovered and named the I-cord (the I-cord, called a "stay lace," was mentioned in Victorian needlework manuals). The "I" stands for "idiot" because Ms. Zimmermann thought the technique was so simple anyone could do it (even an idiot, I guess!).

I think the "I" should stand for "ingenious." The I-cord is simply a tube knitted in the round with two double-pointed needles (I've done it with a long circular needle, too).

The I-cord is one of those things in knitting that is endlessly useful. The technique is somewhat idiot-proof, once you get the hang of it, and it's also really mindless knitting (especially if you need a long I-cord, like in the Greek Pullover)—the I-cord is something to do in front of the TV or with a good audio book on board for sure!

Here's a quickie tutorial:

With a double-pointed needle, cast on the desired number of stitches. *Without turning the needle, slide the stitches to other end of the needle, pull the yarn around the back, and knit the stitches as usual; repeat from * for desired length.

(The illustration above shows knitting the stitches after you've slid the them to the other end of the needle.)

The I-cord Beanie: A Perfect Baby Topper

I've used I-cords for many things, but my favorites are those little hats where you finish up by making three or four inches of I-cord and then tying it in a knot. So cute!

I made a pair of booties and an I-cord hat for a friend who had a preemie baby, and he wore it all winter. He's a big boy now, but that hat is well-documented in photos.

There's a similar hat in my arsenal, one that I call the Noodle Cap. It's a simple cap pattern, like the one in the photo, but to finish it I knit about eight, 4-inch long I-cords and then attach them to the crown of the hat. It looks like there are noodles coming out of the top! It's especially cute if you use a white or cream yarn for the cap and different colors for each of the "noodles."

A Smooth Finish: The Applied I-cord

One of the best uses of the I-cord is in finishing. The technique is called "applied I-cord" (or sometimes "attached I-cord") and it gives you a really smooth, nice-looking finish that's perfect around armholes and necklines.

The Ruched Shell by Lou Scheila (below) is a nice example of the applied I-cord used in finishing; note the pretty neckline and smooth, even arm openings.

Here's how I do the applied I-cord.

With garment's right side facing and using a separate ball of yarn and circular needle, pick up the desired number of stitches along the garment edge. Slide these stitches down the needle so that the first picked-up stitch is near the opposite needle point. With a double-pointed needle, cast on the desired number of I-cord stitches. Begin knitting the applied I-cord as follows:

Step 1. Knit across the I-cord to the last stitch, then knit the last stitch together through the back loop with the first picked-up stitch on the garment.

Step 2. Slip the number of cast-on stitches back to the right hand needle (so, if you're doing a three -stitch I-cord, slip three stitches back to the right-hand needle).

Step 3. Knit across the I-cord to the last stitch, then knit the last stitch together through the back loop with the first picked-up stitch on the garment.

Step 4. Continue in this manner until all picked-up stitches have been used.

Here's a video tutorial, too.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I've seen the applied I-cord used well on felted bags, too. The bags are sometimes finished with two applied I-cords on top of one another, which felts into a sturdy, rounded border around the opening of the bag. It's a really nice finish when felted.

Case Closed: The I-cord Closure

I-cords can be used as pretty closures, too. Check out the Asian-style closures (at right) on the Mandarin Blouse.

My friend Leslie showed me how to make a really pretty I-cord knot closure: The Chinese Knot, which is nice on a cardigan for a little Asian flair. You could use it on a one-button cardigan instead of the button. The knot is from Knit Kimono, by Vicki Square. Here's my version:

Click here for instructions on making the Chinese Knot closure.

In Elizabeth Zimmermann's book The Opinionated Knitter, there's a photo of Ms. Zimmermann with her glasses on an I-cord strap, which shows yet another use for this versatile technique. I hope you'll try some of these projects that incorporate I-cords.

Have a great weekend!

Kathleen

Knitterly Heaven: Fiber Festivals

KD Sandi — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:54:00 GMT

I went off to Rhinebeck, New York, last weekend, to immerse myself in the fiber world at the huge annual NYS Sheep & Wool Festival. Did I have fun? Does a knitter have dpns under her sofa cushions?

It was fabulous. One llama tried to pick me up and get frisky with me on the first date. The llama kissed me several times on the face, then nuzzled my, uh, chest, then snuggled into my arms. (This caused a riot of giggles from the small folk around the pen.)

So, I tell ya. Llamas these days. No roses, no chocolates, not even a movie. Just kiss -n- nuzzle, then thank you ma’am.

As for me, I tried to be Well Behaved when it came to buying pretty things. I really did. I even managed to keep myself squeaky-clean as far as customs limits goes, although I admit that the total did hit three figures. It was rather worth the look on the customs agent's face, however, as he looked at my customs form when I landed in Toronto:

Customs gent: "How much did you spend while in the States?"

Me: "Blah-de-blah dollars."

Him: "Uh, huh. What did you spend it on?"

Me: "Wool. Oh, and a book."

Him: stare

Me: sheepish grin

Him: recovering "You spent blah-de-blah dollars on WOOL?"

Me: "Yes, sir. Wool. You know--yarn. And a book, too."

Him: shaking head "Are you going to sell all that yarn?"

Me: "No sir. I'm going to knit with it."

Him: stare

Me: amused grin, makes knitting motions with hands

Him: stamps paperwork "You can go."

So why should you go to a fibre festival? I give you SIX great reasons:

YARN! Yes, there is actual yarn at a fiber fest, not just fleece. There will be so much yarn that you will feel like you have died and gone to Knitter's Heaven. Take your time. Browse around. Breathe deeply. If you feel faint from yarn fumes, go have a cup of hot chili or a big coffee at the 4-H booth.

THE LOCAL FIBRE FOLKS! It is great fun to meet people who make their living creating pretty yarn for us to knit, or producing the fleeces that will become beautiful yarns for us to knit. And then there are the crafts folk (handblown glass needles, carved ball winders, hand-stitched knitting bags) who make so many beautiful things that enhance our knitting joy. A fiber festival allows us not only to meet these talented folk, but to support them financially so they can continue to support their families and to make cool stuff for us!

SEE! TOUCH! SNIFF! Sure, you can buy stuff online, but at a festival, you get to Touch and Fondle. (Yeah, baby.) Colors are their own bright cheery selves in person; you can tell immediately if that green is YOUR green or not. And if you are a spinner, there is no substitute for being able to put your hand into a bag full of luscious fluff. (I petted some Icelandic wool/alpaca/silk fluff and had to be dragged away bodily or I would still be there, petting and cooing softly to it.)

MEET THE KNITTERS. Oh my goodness, the friends you'll meet there. If you are on Ravelry, be sure to wear a nametag with your Ravelry name on it so other Ravelers can find you. Bring friends, meet new ones...and keep an eye out for your favorite designers and bloggers, too!

FUN! There it is folks, the most important reason to go. You will have a TON o' fun, or my name isn't Sandi Wiseheart. Really. Go. Watch the clever sheepdogs outwit the dumb sheep; pet some outrageously soft buffalo fluff; meet angora bunnies who should not be allowed to be That Cute; fondle gorgeous yarns dyed by talented local/indie dyers; eat local treats; and of course: Enhance Your Stash.

And finally, Reason Number 6, which is voiced so eloquently by my friend Mardi that I'll just quote her:

"Even just showing up and only spending $20 is a show of support for this community. The more bodies that walk through that gate, the louder the message is that this is important, that it’s not just a hobby but it’s history and heritage. Represent, people!"

Festival Tips: Wear comfortable shoes; drink lots of water; scope out the restrooms early and often; bring your family; and above all: Decide on a budget ahead of time and stick to it. (Don't forget that YOU are part of the fiber community and it's important to support yourself as well!)

You know you want to go. Rhinebeck's over for this year, but use your keen detecting skills to find out if there is a fiber festival within a day's drive of your home.

The alpacas say: You won't be sorry. Go to a fiber festival and Support the Wool Arts.

I'M STILL ACCEPTING SWEATER NOMINATIONS!

Here's the deal: You pick it, I knit it. I need a sweater, so you get to choose the pattern from Interweave's entire family of books and mags. Go for it! My only preference is that I'd like a cardigan rather than a pullover.

Leave your suggestions for The Sweater You Think Sandi Ought to Make For Herself in the comments, and I'll compile a list of your faves--and then you'll all get to vote!

Knit with joy...

- Sandi

P.S. Let me know what you think! You can email me at sandi@knittingdaily.com or you can leave a comment.

Cecily and Melissa Go to Rhinebeck

NewEnglandKnits — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:59:00 GMT

We are Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre, co-authors of the upcoming book New England Knits (Interweave, Spring 2010). We both live in Massachusetts, but at opposite ends of the state. We've known each other since before knitting ever took over our lives, but our shared love of the craft has made us a team.

While technically NOT in New England, the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY feels like it should be. Last year, on a crisp fall day at that very place, we discussed an idea that would eventually be a book called "New England Knits".

When you cross over the Massachusetts border into New York during prime leaf-peeping season, you can't help but be inspired as a knitter. It's clear that the colder weather is coming. Once inside the festival gates, it's almost overwhelming. People are sporting their newest or favorite handknit.

There are friends, new and old...

left to right: melissa g., cecily, julia, gudrun (www.shetlandtrader.blogspot.com), melissa l.

Fiber producing animals we know and love...

Group knitting projects...

Shopping...

And fair food (yum!)

It was rainy and cold on Sunday, so we were glad that we had taken in most of the Festival the day before. We're already looking forward to next year--after the book launches! Now that the book is in our editor's hands, there should be plenty of time to plan next year's Rhinebeck sweater (Cecily finished several for this year, you can see one of them in the last photo).

We hope to see you next year!

--Melissa and Cecily

Knit up a Blizzard (Scarf), Plus a Free Edging Pattern!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: I'm always inspired by each new issue of PieceWork magazine, and the November/December issue doesn't disappoint. It hits newsstands on November 3, and I think there are some projects in there that will have you running to your local yarn shop to pick up supplies for holiday gifts. Here to talk about the November/December issue of PieceWork magazine is editor Jeane Hutchins. She recommends some heirloom quality knitted accessories to both keep you warm this winter and to present to your loved ones this holiday season.

You'll want to pick up your copy of PieceWork right away (or order a subscription here) so you can get started on some of these projects. In fact, why not get started right now on the free border pattern near the end of this email! It's a beautiful, classic pattern that ace-knitter Ann Budd adapted from a Victorian-English pattern book.

Here's Jeane to introduce this fabulous new issue of PieceWork.

A Blizzard of Knitting

It snowed in Colorado last week—big, puffy flakes fell from the sky for hours. Watching them was mesmerizing; waking up the next morning to a snow-covered landscape was one of those special Colorado moments. With temperatures in the teens though, I really wished I had Inna Voltchkova’s glorious Meteliza Scarf from the November/December issue of PieceWork around my neck!

Inna, who grew up in Ukraine and learned to knit when she was ten, used an angora yarn named Blizzard for the scarf; "meteliza" is the Russian word for “blizzard.”

The yarn evoked memories of Inna’s childhood, in particular her angora knitted hat whose earflap shape she used for this scarf along with traditional Orenburg lace motifs—Cat’s Paw and Mouse Print. In Orenburg lore, the cats are chasing the mice!

Do check out the christening bag project in this issue, too. The first ninety rounds are knitted; the remainder is worked in broomstick lace, a form of crochet.

The designer, Karen Hooton, became intrigued with broomstick lace a number of years ago, and her combination of the two techniques is brilliant. I am always amazed by the ingenuity of our contributors.

The small, child’s hat shown here is in Jacqueline Fee’s collection of “homeless knittings.”

Jacqueline, intrigued by its unusual three-rib construction, which allows the hat to expand into the fullness of a beret, recreated it. It definitely will delight the lucky child who receives it.

Since this is last issue of the year, our thoughts turned to the holidays (and the first snowfall of the season helped). Nancy Bush’s evening stockings knitted with yarn that has a touch of glitter will be perfect for a holiday party.

The small heart-shaped ornaments are quick-to-knit projects; they were worked in two weights of yarn: fingering and sport. Use them as ornaments for holiday trees and package adornments.

We also hope they will inspire you to enter PieceWork's 2010 contest-Heart Ornaments. You could win $500 in cash!

We know you'll enjoy all this issue of PieceWork has to offer. We sure enjoyed putting it together for you.

—Jeane

________________________________________________________

A Wheat-Ear Border to Knit
Adapted by Ann Budd

If you’re searching for another quick-to-make idea, here’s a small project from our archives. Ann Budd adapted “The Wheat-Ear Border” from Volume 2 of Weldon’s Practical Needlework, a popular source for patterns in Victorian England. She used size 8 pearl cotton thread and size 0000 (1.3 mm) needles. We attached the edging to pillowcases, but that’s just one possibility. I think the edging will make a spectacular garland on a holiday tree!

CO 20 sts. P 1 row. Work Rows 1–16 until piece is desired length. BO all sts.
Row 1: (RS) Sl 1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, (k2tog) 3 times, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, (yo) twice, k2—22sts.
Row 2: K3, p1, k3, p13, k2.
Row 3: Sl 1, k1, yo, k2tog, (k3tog) twice, yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog, yo) twice, k5—20 sts.
Row 4: BO 2 sts, k4, p8, p2tog, p1, k2—17 sts.
Row 5: Sl 1, k1, yo, k3tog, yo, k3, yo, k2, (k2tog, yo) twice, k1, (yo) twice, k2—20 sts.
Row 6: K3, p1, k3, p11, k2.
Row 7: Sl 1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, (k2, k2tog, yo) twice, k2tog, yo, k5—22 sts.
Row 8: BO 2 sts, k4, p13, k2.
Row 9: Sl 1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, (ssk) twice, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, (yo) twice, k2—23 sts.
Row 10: K3, p1, k3, p14, k2.
Row 11: Sl 1, k1, (yo, k2tog) twice, k2, yo, k1, yo, (ssk) twice, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k5—22 sts.
Row 12: BO 2 sts, k3, p3tog, p2tog, p9, k2—17 sts.
Row 13: Sl 1, k1, (yo, k2tog) twice, k2, yo, k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1, (yo) twice, k2—20 sts.
Row 14: K3, p1, k3, p11, k2.
Row 15: Sl 1, k1, (yo, k2tog) twice, k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k5—22 sts.
Row 16: BO 2sts, k4 p13, k2—20 sts.

Wet-block edging to open up and set the lace pattern.

Fall Favorites: Versatile Knitted Wraps

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

It's getting down into the 20s and 30s here in Spokane, so it's time to bundle up! I've amassed quite the collection of cozy scarves, but the one I go to more than any other is a large, simple rectangle that I can wear as a scarf or as a wrap. My favorite way to wear it is around my shoulders with a shawl pin.

One of the most popular knitwear designs of this fall is the Every Way Wrap by Okmin Park. The pattern is in the fall 2009 issue of Interweave Knits, and it's amazingly versatile. This one will work for myriad sizes and styles, as you can see below.



The Every Way Wrap, worn as a vest.		The back view of the vest option.



The Every Way Wrap worn as a shawl.		And as a scarf!

The Crosstown Convertible

Our next adventure in versatility is the Crosstown Convertible.

This piece was featured on episode 210 of Knitting Daily TV and the free pattern is available here.

The Crosstown Convertible is a simple rectangle with sixteen buttons and buttonholes added (it's one of our favorite easy knitting patterns!).

It's as simple as knitting a scarf, but you can drape it and button it in so many different ways, it'll become a wardrobe staple. The Crosstown Convertible can be worn as a vest, a scarf, a shrug, or a wrap, and it has built-in pockets, too.

And if you're a beginning knitter, this is the perfect project for you—you'll be able to practice buttonholes and a bit of seaming. This design is a great bridge from knitting scarves to knitting garments.

Here's a video clip from episode 201, in which Bonnie Burton from Colorful Stitches shows several of the ways you can wear the Crosstown Convertible.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Try one of these patterns—I think you'll like the cozy comfort and style of either wrap (or both!). And if you've knit a wrap you love and you want to show it off, post a photo in our gallery section. We'd love to see it!

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Stitches East is happening this week in Hartford, Connecticut, and the CYCA (Craft Yarn Council of America) is offering a new venue for reaching out to new knitters and crocheters as well as providing a meeting place for current enthusiasts: the Share & Care Cafe.

The Cafe is a place to learn to knit and crochet for FREE and a place for visitors to gather, relax, and exchange ideas. There will also be a Warm Up America exhibit in the Cafe. (Warm Up America is an organization made up of volunteers who create handmade afghan blankets, clothing and accessories to help those in need. These items provide warmth and comfort to people who have lost their homes, fled abusive relations, or are being cared for in hospices, shelters, hospitals, and nursing home.)

The Cafe will provide free yarn and needles or hooks for anyone who sits down for a lesson, free how-to instruction sheets and a Resource Guide listing helpful information about guilds, websites, and CYCA members, their products and programs.

If you're headed to Stitches East, be sure and check out the Share & Care Cafe!

Knitting Daily

All Hail the Snood!

In Which I Resist Temptation and I Choose A Yarn Color

Color, Color, Color

2009 Winter Knits Preview!

Interweave Knits Accessories Preview!

This Winter's Hot Accessory: The Snood, Moebius or Infinity Scarf

Knitted Cardigans: Buttonholes 101

Recommended reading

The Winning Sweater!

And the winner is...

Knitting and Pumpkin Pie: What do they have in common?

Fill Your Calendar with Knitting Projects

The Central Park Hoodie (and Voting for the Next KAL!)

Knitting For SOAR (plus VOTE on my next sweater)

Knitting For SOAR

Sweater Poll: Choose Which Sweater I Knit Next!

Free Pattern and Video: Child's Holiday Capelette

Knitted Gifts: Spread the Joy

Knitscene Photoshoot + Snow!

Perfect Knitted Gloves: Tips for Success

Decorate with Knitted Holiday Ornaments

What are you knitting for...Halloween?

Short and So Sweet: The Little Knitted Gift

I Need a Hat: The Knitted Slouch

The Knitted I-cord: "I" is for "Ingenious"

Knitterly Heaven: Fiber Festivals

So why should you go to a fibre festival? I give you SIX great reasons:

I'M STILL ACCEPTING SWEATER NOMINATIONS!

Cecily and Melissa Go to Rhinebeck

Knit up a Blizzard (Scarf), Plus a Free Edging Pattern!

Fall Favorites: Versatile Knitted Wraps