Knitting Daily

Optical Illusions and Summer Knitting

arwilliams — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Colorado is finally warming up, just in time to pick my favorite projects from the Summer 2013 issue of Interweave Knits!

If you haven't heard, Colorado was still getting snow up until two weeks ago! Ginevra Martin's Midsummer Aran is the perfect project to cast-on as the weather turns. In a unique cotton/cashmere/hemp blend from Lanaknits, this piece has everything you could want in a sweater for Colorado's crazy climate. Breathable cotton, soft and comfy cashmere, and a bit of hemp for drape and lightness. The sweater's texture is trans-seasonal, too. Columns of lace give the same visual appeal as deeply etched cables for a detailed summer sweater that has all the sculptural interest of traditional Arans. I love the muted mustard color, but I think it would be fabulous in a crisp, beachy white later in the season. Either would look great with a lightweight tailored pant.

Another favorite is Julia Farwell-Clay's Albers Pullover. Her intarsia technique doesn't just simplify finishing. The vertical lines breaking up the stripes add a whole new line, making a horizonatally striped sweater surprisingly slimming. I'm reminded of so called "miracle dresses," dreamt up by Stella McCartney to flatter the female body.

The dusty colors of Green Mountain Spinnery Cotton Comfort perfectly capture a beachy summer vibe. It would be fun to knit up another version in crisp black and white— think the classic French Breton shirt.

So, what are your favorites?

Happy knitting!

Knitting a Dahlia

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT


The Dahlia Cardigan by Heather Zoppetti

One of my favorite flowers is the dahlia and one of my all-time favorite cardigan knitting patterns is the Dahlia Cardigan by Heather Zoppetti, which originally appeared in Interweave Knits, Fall 2011. I love the drape in front, the decorative leaf detail on the sleeves, and most of all, the fabulous square of lace on the back.

This sweater is certainly beautiful to wear, but it's so much fun to knit, too. The construction is unique: the lace square is knit first. Stitches are bound off along the upper and lower edges of the panel, leaving live stitches on the two sides.

The rest of the back fabric is worked in two sections that start in the middle and work out, incorporating the live lace panel stitches. A section of stitches worked with waste yarn on either side mark the position of the armholes. The fronts are simple continuations of the back stitches, still worked from side to side.

Finally, the waste yarn marking the afterthought sleeve openings are snipped, stitches are picked up on either side, and the sleeves are worked in the round from the top down. The only seaming this sweater needs in the end is to sew the bound-off top and bottom edges of the lace panel into the back fabric. Very clever!

Sounds easy, and guess what? It is!


	Sheila's beautiful Dahlia Cardigan

My friend Sheila knit the Dahlia Cardigan a couple of years ago (see photo at right), from a subtly variegated cotton/alpaca blend. She really enjoyed knitting the cardigan, but she did say that it was a lot of stockinette knitting that took quite awhile because she used size 4 needles. It was worth it, though, and Sheila wears her Dahlia Cardi a lot.

A Different Way to Cast-On

The Dahlia Cardigan pattern suggests using the crochet provisional cast-on to start the lace panel. It starts with just four stitches, immediately increased to eight on the first row, and then you're instructed to divide the stitches onto four DPNs and begin the lace chart. When the sweater is complete, you carefully remove the waste yarn from the provisional crochet cast-on, thread the tail on a tapestry needle, draw the tail through the four original stitches, pull tight, and weave in the tail.

I thought maybe this whole process could be simplified by substituting a little-known but really handy cast-on: Emily Ocker's Circular Cast-On. Here's how you do it:

Emily Ocker's Circular Cast-On

This technique comes from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac (Dover, 1981). Make a simple loop of yarn with the short end hanging down (Figure 1). With a crochet hook, *draw a loop through main loop, then draw another loop through this loop (Figure 2). Repeat from * for each stitch to be cast on (Figure 3). After several inches have been worked, pull on the short end (shown by arrow) to tighten the loop and close the circle.

Using this Emily's cast-on, all you would have to do is weave in the tail after you get a few inches into the lace panel. I really like the idea of not having to pull out the provisional cast-on at the end of the project—what if you dropped some stitches? Horrors!

Anyway, it's always fun to try a new cast-on!

Get the Dahlia Cardigan pattern today, along with many more patterns and great knitting information, in Interweave Knits Fall 2011.

Cheers,

P.S. P.S. Have you leared a new cast-on recently? Share it with us below in the comments!

Learn How to Photograph Your Knitting

Kathleen Cubley — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT


Chicken hat by Gale Zucker

Do you wish your photos of yarn, knits, and crafts were swoon-worthy? Do you want to feel more confident with your camera in hand? So do I!

My photography skills aren't what I wish they were; I want my knits to look as good in photos as they do in real life, and you probably do, too.

I'm thrilled to announce that we're offering a webinar to help you learn to photograph your knits so they look their best. Professional photographer and knitter Gale Zucker has put together a one-hour class that will help you hone your photography skills and set you in the right direction: Basic Photography Skills for Knitters.

Gale's presentation is jam-packed with photography instruction and tips to improve your photos of yarn, knits, people, and the world around you. Culled from her longer workshops, she'll show and share easily understandable composition ideas and tricks to make the best use of light.

She'll also give us exposure tips, thoughts on choosing backgrounds, getting colors to behave, photographing finished objects, and how to get real people to look wonderful in your knits. It's a little bit of everything, with tips you can use right away.

String of mittens by Gale Zucker


	Thumbs up! By Gale Zucker

Your Ravelry projects page, website, Facebook timeline, and blog photos will never be the same! For beginners to more advanced photographers, this session is fun, fascinating, and 99.9% jargon free!

Check out Gale's blog to see her wonderful photos and to get inspired to improve your photography—I love the darling sheep photographs.

Sign up for the webinar today, and we'll see you on June 5 at noon Eastern time. I can't wait to improve my photography skills!

See you there,

The Spacey World of Hilary Smith Callis

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite things about Knitscene is its featured designer profile each issue. I love learning about designers and their inspiration. This time, it's Hilary Smith Callis, the designer of the Knitty smash hit, Citron, who's designed three special pieces for you. Here's writer Robin Shroyer to tell you more:


The Wavelength Tank

Stitches and Supernovas

Comet ISON, scheduled to appear in November, has scientists predicting that it will be the "Comet of the Century," but while it could dazzle, it could just as easily fizzle out before it arrives.

Comet ISON may have the scientific world waiting with bated breath, but astronomically inclined designer Hilary Smith Callis will do anything but disappoint in 2013. Hailing from San Francisco, Hilary boasts a career background that every dreamy eight year old-and adult for that matter-would lust after. As a project scheduler for NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, Hilary works alongside some of this country's brightest minds and is at the forefront of astronomical observation and, admittedly, a whole lot of design inspiration.

Hilary burst onto the knitting scene in 2009 with her now famous Knitty design, Citron—a shawlette with over 10,000 projects on Ravelry. "I sort of submitted Citron to Knitty on a whim. I created it by just playing around and didn't have high hopes for it being accepted," said Hilary. "I was shocked when it hit 100 projects in the first week . . . but even now, I still have a hard time thinking of it as a big deal since it was just something I whipped up for fun." Thankfully, Citron's rave reviews pushed Hilary to design more projects with publication in mind, and she began submitting her ideas to magazines. Hilary has since been featured in four different publications.

You can now find her knitting and designing during her long commutes to NASA or on her days off while taking care of her two-year-old son.


	The Saturn Cardigan

	The Eclipse Top

You'll find an ease about her designs but also something that doesn't let you look away. Lingering between her common use of stockinette stitch is delicate shaping, rolled edges, feminine eyelets, and flattering cables. Hilary is this issue's Knitscene designer, and you'll find hints of her iconic style in featured in the three pieces she created for this issue.

The Wavelength Tank, inspired by the electromagnetic spectrum, is perfect for stargazing on a warm summer's night. The rolled hem, scoop neck, and waist shaping give the piece a soft, feminine look that simultaneously allows it to drape with ease. The strategic use of increases and decreases throughout create a fun wave pattern that mimics the range of light.

Inspired by an annular eclipse, the Eclipse Top uses an eyelet pattern to give the illusion of little eclipses moving across the pullover's front panel. The clean, A-line design of this piece makes it a perfect sweater to transition from summer to fall.

Hilary uses a few adaptations to make the Saturn Cardigan different from your standard button-up. Knitted top down, this cardigan features a yoke neck with rings reminiscent of Saturn and three-quarter length sleeves that make it perfect for throwing over a cotton summer dress.

Can't get enough? Visit theyarniad.com—Hilary's "epic" knitting blog that's named after Homer's Iliad and features projects past and present, as well as her patterns.

—Robin Shroyer, from Knitscene Summer 2013

The Saturn Cardigan is just beautiful. I love the rings of Saturn that circle the yoke. The color combos are endless; how about chocolate brown and mustard yellow? Or sky blue and coral? Or the gray and green that's shown here? I love the versatility of this cardigan knitting pattern.

Subscribe to Knitscene today so you can get all of these patterns and more delivered right to your door!

Cheers,

P.S. Have you knit Citron or any other designs of Hilary's? Leave a comment let us know about it!

Craft Daily Is Here!

Kathleen Cubley — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:39:00 GMT

My knitting workshop video library just got too big for the bookshelf! The new Craft Daily site is here, and with streaming videos for knitters you can watch Knitting Daily TV and knitting workshops with just a click of the mouse. What's even better is that you can take these videos with you anywhere. Allow me to introduce you to Craft Daily, your new resource for visual knitting.

Here's fellow knitter Annie Hartman Bakken to tell you more:



Watch a preview of how Craft Daily works, with Online Education Manager Laura Esposito.

CraftDaily.com

I feel like the new generation of knitting is here. Craft Daily is a video streaming site for knitters. Whether you're a new knitter or have been knitting for years, there are videos for every skill level. Learn how to read yarn labels from Eunny Jang on Knitting Daily TV or knit a sweater from the top down with Wendy Bernard. It's all here.

If you've ever had the luck of attending a knitting class, the benefits of the visual knitting experience is priceless. You can see the instructor cast-on and knit, and often times a light bulb goes off. It all seems so easy when you see it done!



	Watch Eunny Jang demonstrate short-row knitting on Knitting Daily TV episode 708, on CraftDaily.com.

Craft Daily brings those knitting classes to practically any device that supports a strong internet connection (Mac, PC, iOS). You can watch 45+ Knitted Cast-Ons and Bind-Offs with Ann Budd anytime. Let's say you're on the train traveling to Newark, and you can't remember that stretchy cast-on for ribbed socks. Well, log on to Craft Daily and watch the video in the dining car. Yes, folks, it's that easy.

One of the more exciting bits of Craft Daily for me is the addition of Knitting Daily TV videos. Every time a new season of the show comes out, I get lots of comments about how the show doesn't air in certain areas. Or, it's airing at 6 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Now you don't have to set the DVR to record the show, because Craft Daily has episodes streaming on the site. Plus, they're adding more and more videos each week.

The Craft Daily site also allows you to build a library of your favorite videos, so you can keep track of those you've seen and want to watch again. I've bookmarked Lily Chin's Reversible Cables video, because the first time I watched it there was too much to absorb. I'm not as fast a knitter as Lily. I want to revisit it when I actually have the yarn and needles in my hands to knit along.

The Craft Daily site is brand-new, so go check it out. You can watch previews of the videos to see if they're something that interests you. Plus, you can leave helpful comments on each video for other knitters. I'll be there. Probably for another twelve hours!

—Annie Hartman Bakken, associate producer of Knitting Daily TV and Interweave's yarn division marketing manager

Craft Daily has videos for quilters, crocheters, and even metalsmiths; so we knitters can dabble in other crafts as well. Just what we need, right? Another crafting hobby!

I might not go buy a soldering kit, but I actually have enjoyed watching the jewelry making videos. And some of the sewing and quilting videos are great for knitters that want to sew their seams or embellish their knitwear.

As you can see, Craft Daily is an amazing way to learn crafting techniques and "waste" many, many more hours on the computer. Enjoy!

Cheers,

We Are Connected

Jeane Hutchins — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

I am continually amazed by the number of contributors, both to PieceWork and Knitting Traditions, whose efforts to tell a story about a family treasure lead to their discoveries about the lives of family members. Some of whom were almost completely forgotten.

Here is a case in point:


The stockings that belonged to Darlene Watson's grandfather; her article about the stockings is included in PieceWork's Knitting Traditions Spring 2013 issue. Photo by Joe Coca.

“My Grandfather’s Stockings,” Knitting Traditions Spring 2013. Author Darlene Watson writes that her mother received some of her own mother’s possessions after she died. Among them was “a small cardboard tie box containing a pair of delicate, handknitted baby stockings. On the back of the box was written: 'Sox worn by Charles Jacob Geiser. Hand made by his mother, Barbara Geiser.' . . . We will never know why these stockings remained stored away for so many years, but I’m glad they did. Had it not been for them and the persistence of my daughter, Sheila Derrington, I might never have ventured into my family’s history and ancestry, digging through box after box and deciphering handwritten accounts.”


	Some of the vintage needlework magazines in PieceWork's collection. Photo by Ann Swanson.

Several years ago, my brother became very interested in our family tree and spent a lot of time tracking our ancestors back to the 17th century. One of the astounding things he learned while doing the research was that our great-grandmother, Cora Black Page, had written for at least one of the women’s magazines published in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Augusta, Maine. Needlecraft Magazine, Comfort, Hearth and Home, and Practical Housekeeper were among the magazines published in Augusta. Unfortunately, we never learned the names of the magazines Cora contributed to. As many of you know, PieceWork has a treasure trove of vintage magazines, including a number of issues of Needlecraft. Whenever I can, I carefully peruse them, looking for Cora. If any of you ever run across her name in a needlework publication, I would love to know.

Searching for family connections is so rewarding, often surprising, but never dull. If you want to explore this fascinating way to connect with your past, do check out Family Tree Magazine, another member of the F+W family. Every issue covers resources, reviews of the latest technologies, census reports, and more to help you discover your own genealogy and your family connections.

Enjoy,

Laura Ingalls: Lace Knitter

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

As many of you know, I'm a big Laura Ingalls Wilder fan. I read all of her books as a little girl, more than once. I read them again when I was about 30 years old and recovering from surgery. I remember that as a wonderful time, even though I was bed-ridden for two weeks.


The Ingalls girls: (left to right) Carrie, Mary, and Laura. Photographer and date unknown. (Photograph © the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Mansfield, Missouri.)

I wasn't a knitter when I re-read the Little House books, so I didn't take note of Laura or the other characters knitting in the books. I was so thrilled to see this article about Laura knitting, which appears in the May/June 2013 issue of PieceWork magazine. Author Mary Lycan does a fabulous job bringing Laura and her knitting back to life, along with providing fascinating background information about what was going on in De Smet un 1880. Here's an excerpt from that article:

OF ALL THE NEEDLEWORK described in Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books, the petticoat lace that Laura (1867-1957) knitted during the Hard Winter of 1880-1881 speaks to me the most. As supply trains coming west from Minnesota were blocked by ice and snow, as food and fuel stocks dwindled to nothing, as shrieking blizzard winds blew snow into house-high drifts or scoured the street bare, thirteen-year-old Laura sat in her Pa's store building in De Smet, Dakota Territory, and knitted lace edging on fine needles with a spool of cotton thread.

Winters were usually a season of relative leisure for farmwomen. After the hard work of harvest and preserving, drying, smoking, or freezing food for the coming winter, they could rest a little. Typically, they did their housework in the morning and served the main meal at noon. After the dishes were done and the baby put down for a nap, they could sit down with their needlework.

There was plenty of routine needlework to do. The four Ingalls girls wore wool dresses and petticoats over long flannel underwear, all handsewn from store-bought yard goods. Ma and Mary knitted socks for Pa and stockings for all the girls. Everyone had to be cocooned in wool coats, shawls, hoods, mufflers, and mittens before they could step outside.

Ma could knit socks by firelight or lamplight, and blind Mary could knit at any time. Early afternoons, with their strong sunlight, were the best time for the fiddly patterns and tiny stitches of Laura's fancywork. Midday winter sunlight reflected from ice or snow was the strongest and clearest light of all.

Pa's store building in De Smet, on the east side of north-and-south running Main Street (now Calumet), had windows on each side of the front door. That was just the place to put Ma's and Mary's rocking chairs for the most warmth and light, and that is where Laura sat to work on her lace on a Saturday in October of 1880:


	Delicate shell-motif lace from the New-York Tribune weekly edition, November 11, 1879, chosen by Mary Lycan for the lace that Laura knitted for Mary's petticoat in The Long Winter. (Photograph by Joe Coca.)

"In the sunshine from the western windows Mary rocked gently, and Laura's steel knitting needles flashed. Laura was knitting lace, of fine white thread, to trim a petticoat. She sat close to the window and watched the street, for she was expecting Mary Power and Minnie Johnson. They were coming to spend the afternoon, bringing their crocheting. . . . 'Oh, bother! I've miscounted the stitches!' she exclaimed. She unraveled the row and began to pick the tiny stitches up again on the fine needle. . . . The little loops of thread were dimming before her eyes as if she were going blind. She could not see them. The spool of thread dropped from her lap and rolled away on the floor as she jumped up." [The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder]

Then another blizzard struck.

When coal supplies began to run low in De Smet and trains were blocked again, the Ingalls family stopped using the coal heater in the front room and huddled around the cook stove in the kitchen in the back. The cramped, darker kitchen had a single side window. Laura kept knitting her lace.

When sunshine melted the frost on the window and it refroze into sheets of ice over the cold glass, she pried the ice off the panes, wiped them dry, and kept on knitting. She finished the lace before Christmas. The trains were still blocked, and so buying Christmas presents for anyone but Grace and Pa was out of the question.

Laura wound her lace into a roll, wrapped it carefully in tissue paper, and gave it to Mary: "She fingered it lovingly and her face was shining with delight. ‘I'll save it to wear when I go to college,' she said. ‘It's another thing to help me to go. It will be so pretty on a white petticoat' " [The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder].

—Mary Lycan, from PieceWork magazine, May/June 2013

How many of us have said something like "oh, bother!" when we've miscounted our own stitches? I love it. And Mary's reaction to her gift is so touching. As part of her article, Mary Lycan chose a lace border that she thought might be similar to Laura's lace. The pattern is a combination of Vandyke triangles and garter-stitch squares, and it would indeed look lovely on an 1880s-style petticoat.

All of this makes me want to read The Long Winter again! It was one of my favorites. And maybe I'll do a little lace knitting and make Laura's lace edging for a pillowcase, since petticoats aren't part of my everyday wardrobe!

PieceWork magazine is always full of wonderful information and patterns that connect us to our favorite figures in history and introduce us to new ones. Subscribe today so you don't miss a thing.

Cheers,

P.S. Are you a Little House fan? Leave a comment and let us know which book is your favorite and why! Mine is Farmer Boy. Who's with me?

For the Graduate

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Every year when graduation time rolls around I can't believe these little babies I've known since day one are graduating from high school (or college!).

When I graduated, I got lots of checks, which was great, but I also got a handknitted blanket. I still have that blanket, and every time I see it, I remember so fondly the great-aunt who knitted it for me.

So I send a check to my graduates, but I like to include a little knitted goodie as well. I haven't knitted a blanket for anyone yet, but I'm sure I will at some point. Here are some ideas for knitted gifts for the graduate in your life:


		Plein Air Tote By Amanda Scheuzger Every girl needs an oversized tote, and this one is really special. Counterpane cables make up the sides of this knitted tote. The bag features a dense knit in a blend of llama/wool yarn, great structure, a fabric lining, and leather handles. It's perfect for carrying large, heavy objects—like school books! Knit this for a high-school grad, and she'll be the envy of all of her college buddies with their boring backpacks.

Professor Jackson's Scarf By Ivete Tecedor A blown up houndstooth pattern is classic made modern in this knitted scarf. It's also the perfect customizable gift. Make it in your grad's college colors and he'll wear it constantly! It's fun to knit, too—you'll want to keep going to see the pattern emerge. The stranded colorwork scarf is knit as a tube with seamed ends so there's no messy wrong side.

		Saffron Cables By Kathy Zimmerman Wrap your grad in a giant hug with this beautiful knitted afghan. Kathy scaled her striking arrangement of cable crossings to the generous proportions of this cozy blanket. Ropelike strands weave in and out on a background of reverse stockinette stitch, and seed stitch forms a deep border around the edges. A cushy blend of wool and alpaca will keep your grad warm on chilly mornings. This one would be great in school colors, too!

Friday Slippers By Kristen TenDyke These slippers are super-fast knits. They're unisex and easy to size, too, so you can knit a pair for all of the grads on your list. Short-rows shape the instep and the button closure keeps the slippers snugly on the feet! Recipients will love these cozy slippers.

I hope you'll knit one of these fantastic projects for the graduates in your life. There are lots more projects in the Knitting Daily Shop, too.

Cheers,

P.S. What was your favorite graduation gift that you gave or received? Share it with us in the comments!

Mother's Day is coming fast!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

I'm still looking for a gift for my mom. How about you? Knitters know that our craft is not a quick one, though, so we need to plan our gift knitting was ahead of time. But sometimes, life gets in the way, doesn't it.

I want to knit something for my mom, but knitting patterns for women can be pretty big undertakings. I've gathered some small projects that you have plenty of time to knit up for Mother's Day. I think your mom would like any of these gifts!


		Krista Cowl By Jennifer Chase-Rappaport The Krista Cowl is a beautiful combination of cables and eyelets. Since this is a close to the neck cowl, you can cast on and be done in a couple of evenings. It's knit on just 79 stitches! Choose a variegated yarn in your mom's favorite color—and make sure it's soft! This is a great project to use some vintage buttons on, so raid your button jar and see what you can find!

		Novel Sleeve By Kathy Zimmerman eReaders are such a great option for people who love to read. You can tote around all the books you want in one electronic device. I love my Kindle, and my mom loves hers, too. And I love this gift idea! It's knit from a sport-weight cotton, so it'll be nice and sturdy, but you can line it with fabric if you want to. It's a fun way to customize a project like this. Your mom will love her lacy eReader cover!

		Neat as a Pincushion By Mags Kandis Pincushions are so useful and really fun to make. These beautiful baubles use up small bits of wool yarn, and will soon have you going back to your stash to make another. You can customize your pincushions with whimsical embroidery, too. If your mom is a seamstress, she'll love one or two of these little cuties!

		Marianne's Romantic Bookmark By Caroline Mills Carolyn was inspired to design this beautiful bookmark thinking about Marianne Dashwood and John Willoughby reciting Sonnet 116 to each other in the 1995 film version of Sense and Sensibility. The edging is meant to look like the waves of the tempest, yet the arrows point in one direction as in "never shaken," love is "an ever-fixed mark." I love this bookmark. It's just beautiful and really special. If your mom is a reader, she'll love it!

		Budding Branches By Kendra Nitta Hot water bottles are such a comfort if you're sick or have sore muscles. Knit this cover for your mom and she'll think of you while she's enjoying the toasty comfort of her water bottle. Bobbles and traveling stitches come together to make this a fun project to knit and to give. I know my gramma would have loved this water bottle cover. Maybe yours will, too! Some people think hot water bottles are old-fashioned. But the warmth and comfort they provide never goes out of style, especially with this beautiful cover.

I'm not sure which one is my favorite, but I think my mom would like the eReader cover the best. She's a voracious reader, and her Kindle goes wherever she goes.

I hope you'll knit one of these gifts for your mom (or Grandma), too.

Cheers,

P.S. I love my mom so much. One of my favorite little things about her is that she always has cold water in the car. Leave a comment and share something special about your mom!

Step into History with Sockupied

Abbi Byrd — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

The newest issue of the eMag Sockupied is now available, and as always, it’s teeming with stunning patterns and fresh takes on sock-knitting techniques. From delicate leafy lace to colorful bobbles, there’s plenty of knitting to keep your needles clicking all through the warmer months and into fall.

What I particularly love about this issue, though, is that beneath its modern exterior are techniques and designs with an unexpected and rich cultural history. Lisa Stichweh designed the Schwäbische Socks, featuring an intricately woven pattern of traveling twisted stitches inspired by a knitting tradition from Austria and Germany. Reminiscent of Gothic architecture, the stitch patterns were used on socks in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and were later seen adorning sweaters in the early twentieth century.


Lisa Stichweh's Schwäbische Socks		Heatherly Walker's Provenance Socks

The bold colorwork patterns of Heatherly Walker’s elegant Provenance Socks were derived from French embroidery from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The scrolls, floral motifs, and fine stripes translate perfectly into a pair of everyday wearable socks.

Tracing her Hungarian roots, Laura Fazekas Halfpenny came across a knitting tradition that she effortlessly interpreted into funky modern footwear: brightly bobbled stockings worn as part of folk costumes in the small village of Sióagárd, Hungary. The costumes are heavily decorated and riotous with color. Peeking out from beneath a flurry of bright skirts are knitted neon-colored stockings with columns of tiny bobbles, worked much like the distinctive nupps of Estonian knitting. Although her interpretation doesn’t follow the traditional Hungarian folk colors, the varied color scheme reflects the multicolored nature of the costume.


Laura Halfpenny's Zokni kötés stockings.		The ladies of Sióagárd, Hungary, complete their elaborate folk costumes with unique bobbled and embroidered stockings. Photo courtesy of Művelődési Ház Sióagárd.

Whether classic or contemporary, you’re sure to find a pair of socks to suit your style in the Summer 2013 issue of Sockupied. In addition to beautiful patterns, there also are features on knitting two socks at once (including one inside the other known as the War & Peace method), cast-ons for two-color cuffs, and much more! Download your copy today and take your sock knitting to the next level.

Enjoy,

Abbi

Sockupied Takes to the Streets

Anne Merrow — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Feet on the Street in Melbourne and Ontario

Welcome to the first post in our occasional “Feet on the Street” blog feature. There is such a passion for sock knitting around the world, and in this installment we feature knitters from Canada and Australia. We’re starting with just two sock stories, but there will be more tales of sock knitting to come. (To send us a submission for the series, see the complete details here.)

Ode to a Second Sock

These socks were knitted as a birthday present with Regia sock yarn in a colorway designed by Kaffe Fassett. The second one was a long time on the needles, which started me thinking about what the first, finished, sock might think about that.

It's been half a year since I saw you

I have been forlorn since then

Now that you’re off the needles

I won't let us be parted again

You were such a long time in the knitting

I had begun to despair

Would you ever be finished?

Would we at last be a pair?

I will guard you in the washing machine

That Bermuda Triangle for socks

I will never pill or snag on you

You are one right out of the box

—Lynn from Melbourne, Australia

When asked what yarn she’d like to receive, Lynn said, “I'm more interested in trying out yarn that I can't readily buy in a bricks and mortar yarn shop in Australia . . . . Yarns from North America are harder to find.” We’re happy to send her a pair of skeins of Quince & Co. Tern, a wool/silk blend that’s made in the United States.

The Kilt (Hose) Connection

My husband and I are both passionate about our Scottish heritage. Between the two of us we own five kilts—and believe it or not he is the one with three and I with two.

My husband has never been happy with the kilt hose that he has purchased in the past, as they never fit right. I decided this would be a perfect Christmas gift, a custom pair of hose.

They took a tremendously long time, and to be honest I don't know if I would do another pair. My husband has a new appreciation to how much work goes into knitting, and he cherishes them. I love them and am very proud of them. They challenged me, but it was worth it!

These hose are special for me as they represent my love for my husband, my Scottish heritage and my new love for knitting! The pattern is John Anderson’s Kilt Hose Top Down by Robert Jenkins, knitted in Briggs & Little Tuffy Yarn.

—Robyn from Bayfield, Ontario, Canada

In honor of Robyn’s heritage, we’re pleased to send her a skein Dazzle 4 Ply Sock from The Natural Dye Studio in Devon. Dazzle is 100% Bluefaced Leicester, a breed that originated near the Scottish border.

Keep your Feet on the Street stories coming—and keep your feet happy with handknit socks.

Knits and the City

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

There's no place like New York City. At least that's what I hear; I've never been! I've got a trip planned for this fall, though, so I'll finally get to see all of the amazing locations in the Big Apple. My friends who've traveled there have recommended all sorts of activities and must-see sites—some of the big touristy stuff and some off-the-beaten-track adventures.


The Museum Sweater

The Magnolia Cafe Cardigan

The latter is my favorite way to sight-see when I travel, but I certainly can't skip the biggies like the Statue of Liberty, the 9-11 memorial, or Ellis Island. I look forward to taking some walking tours and seeing lesser-known parts of the city, though, including some corners of Brooklyn. And I have a long list of yarn shops and other crafty locations to visit. I can't wait!

Designer Melissa Wehrle is a New Yorker, and her new book, Metropolitan Knits, is an homage to the city. Here's what she has to say about the city and her book:

New York City is a realm of fascination and wonder for many artists, songwriters, poets, designers, filmmakers, and others throughout the world. For the last fifteen years I've lived in this wonderful city, and I've seen just about everything one could imagine—from the most fantastic art and music the world can offer to people grooming themselves on the subway.

Growing up in a small farming community in southern New Jersey, I didn't know at first what I was getting myself into. It took me a while to adjust, but now I couldn't imagine my life without New York; the city has helped shaped me into the person I am today. I have come to embrace, and feel I am ever embraced by, all of the sights and sounds of this city. New York is the muse that inspires and carries me through my days as both a designer and an artist.

New York is a great place to live, work, and play. Everything is right at your fingertips twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. (Not to mention we have more yarn stores than I can count on the fingers of both hands!) Cultures, ideas, and creativity blend seamlessly into source of never-ending inspiration.

For this book, I tried to capture the heart and soul of the city, designing knitwear that will take you through the many and varied experiences the city affords to residents and visitors alike. In these pages, you will find just the right sweater for the occasion: From walking the busy thoroughfares of Manhattan, to relaxing at your favorite coffee shop on the weekend, to enjoying the many peaceful green spaces and parks throughout the city.

While the city often seems to be always in a constant state of change and upheaval, I hope that these designs will be timeless, well-worn additions to your wardrobe that will last through the never-ending, sometimes fickle, changes in trends and fashion. These pieces will show off your knitting skills and maybe even teach you some new skills along the way.


	The Brooklyn Bridge Cardigan

Great care was given to the selection of yarn for each design. A wide range of yarn weights, price ranges, and materials were used to suit everyone's taste. I used yarns that I personally love for one reason or another, carefully matching the yarn properties of drape, shine, and feel to each individual design. However, yarn weights are also provided should you wish to substitute with a yarn of your liking.

It is my sincere intention that within these pages you will find designs that not only inspire you but that will also become cherished additions to your sweater collection. Also, I hope to bring a little bit of New York style home to you, wherever you may live.

—Melissa Wehrle, from Metropolitan Knits

Now I'm even more excited for my trip. And since I'm going in the fall, maybe I'll knit a sweater from Metropolitan Knits to take with me!

Order Metropolitan Knits today, or download it instantly from the Knitting Daily Shop!

Cheers,

P.S. Do you live in New York City, or have you traveled there? Tell me your must-sees in the comments!

Celebrate the Beauty of Lace

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

There are few things more beautiful than an intricate piece of lace, and there are few projects as fun to tackle techniques as knitting lace! The new issue of PieceWork magazine is the annual lace issue, and there's fabulous lace patterns, history, and photographs on every page. Here's Editor Jeanne Hutchins to tell you more:


	Wrap yourself or someone you love in this stunning Orenburg warm shawl. Galina A. Khmeleva chose luxurious cashmere yarn for this project, a fitting choice for what will surely become a family heirloom. (Photograph by Joe Coca)

Magical Lace

In 1904, Brentano's published Samuel L. Goldenberg's Lace: Its Origin and History. (It's available online as a Project Gutenberg eBook.) Goldenberg (1864–1936) worked for the family business in New York City, Goldenberg Brothers and Company, importers of lace. In his introduction, Goldenberg writes:

"The task of the author of this work has not been an attempt to brush the dust of ages from the early history of lace in the hope of contributing to the world's store of knowledge on the subject. His purpose, rather, has been to present to those whose relation to lace is primarily a commercial one a compendium that may, perchance, in times of doubt, serve as a practical guide. though this plan has been adhered to as closely as possible, the history of lace is so interwoven with life's comedies and tragedies, extending back over five centuries, that there must be, here and there in the following pages, a reminiscent tinge of this association."


Delicate shell-motif lace from the New-York Tribune weekly edition, November 11, 1879. (Photograph by Joe Coca)

I discovered Goldenberg's book while putting together this annual Lace issue of PieceWork. Although Goldenberg's intent was clearly to produce a reference for those in the business of selling, not making, lace, he examines more than ninety-five types of lace, hand- and machine-made, from Allover to Ypres.

He succinctly describes the construction and relates the history of each type as well as providing crisp black-and-white close-up photographs.

Lace: Its Origin and History apparently was the only book Goldenberg wrote, and I could find no information about how long his family's lace-importing company remained in business, but I did discover that Goldenberg and his wife, Nella, who had moved from New York to Paris in 1905, were two of the survivors of the Titanic disaster in April 1912.


	Karen Brock used instructions from Addie W. Heron's Fancy Work for Pleasure & Profit (1894) to knit this torchon-lace edging. (Photograph by Joe Coca)

Delve into more fascinating facts on lace—knitted, needle, bobbin, tatted, crocheted, and machine-made—in this issue. And discover a few more people who have been captivated by magical lace. There is just something about lace!

Subscribe to PieceWork magazine today so you don't miss any of the fascinating articles and patterns in our upcoming issues!

P.S. Do you enjoy lace knitting? Tell us about your favorite piece of knitted lace in the comments, below. Mine favorite is the lace edging that my great-grandmother knit for a set of pillowcases. I still use them!

Learn How to Knit Aristida

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

As you know, I'm a recent convert to triangular shawls. They're beautiful and really useful, especially this time of year! I went to a spring football scrimmage last weekend (go, Cougs!) and, thankfully, I wore a shawl. The weather was quintessentially springish in Spokane, windy/cloudy/sunny all at once and one right after the other. I was taking that shawl on and off all afternoon and I was so happy I brought it!

There's a new shawl in town, called the Aristida. We've kitted it up for you, too! It's knit from Valley Yarns Semi-Solid Hand Dyed Sock Yarn by the Kangaroo Dyer, a soft 100-percent merino wool yarn that you'll love working with.

This shawl is rated easy, as in "I'm ready to move past scarves." And what a wonderful first shawl pattern that's easily memorized because you can clearly see the pattern emerge as you knit.

There are some knitting techniques you'll need to know to knit Aristida, and I'm here to show them to you.

There are bobbles involved (yay!). Here's a video to show you how to knit them.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Did you notice that Eunny talked about knitting backwards (!) in the video? That's a great skill to have under your belt when you're knitting bobbles. Here's a little more about it:

Knitting Backward

This useful technique allows you to work stockinette stitch with the right side of the work always facing you. It is especially handy when you're working on just a few stitches, as in making a bobble. Step 1. Insert the left needle into the back of the first stitch on the right needle and wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around the left needle. Step 2. Pull the new stitch on the left needle through to the front of the work and let the old stitch slip off the right needle. Repeat steps 1-2. (From The Knitter's Companion by Vicki Square)

Another technique you'll need is the crochet provisional cast-on. This is how you do it:

With waste yarn and crochet hook, make a loose chain of about four stitches more than you need to cast on. With needle, working yarn, and beginning two stitches from end of chain, pick up and knit one stitch through the back loop of each crochet chain (1) for desired number of stitches. Work the piece as desired, and when you're ready to work in the opposite direction, pull out the crochet chain to expose live stitches (2).

Aristida is really pretty, and I love a diamond lace pattern. I'm not crazy about fringe in general, so I might leave that off if I knit Aristida, and let the bobbles shine on their own.

Now that you're armed with know-how, get your Aristide Kit today and cast on!

Cheers,

P.S. Do you have any tips for making bobbles? Share them with us in the comments!

Knit Nostalgia with Laura Ingalls’s Petticoat Lace

Caitlin P — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Editor's Note: We asked PieceWork’s marketing manager, Caitlin Polasek, to share her thoughts about our May/June 2013 lace issue.

I grew up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie books and was captivated by the cozy pioneer life Laura brings to life in her stories. My mom taught me to sew when I was young, and when I worked on one small project or another, I identified with Laura carefully crafting a secret present for one of her sisters before Christmas. The pancakes my dad made on special weekends reminded me of the winter Almanzo and his brother spent eating pancakes every day when snow stopped incoming trains and supplies were short in town. The cornfields behind my childhood home made me feel like Laura’s prairie was just past the backyard, and I would spend full summer days playing outside with nothing more than my surroundings and my imagination.


Delicate shell-motif lace from the New-York Tribune weekly edition, November 11, 1879, chosen by Mary Lycan for the lace that Laura knitted for Mary's petticoat in The Long Winter. Photo by Joe Coca.

Because of these warm childhood memories, Little House on the Prairie holds a special place in my heart. So, when I opened the cover of the new May/June issue of PieceWork and scanned the table of contents, Mary Lycan’s Laura Ingalls’s Knitted Petticoat Lace immediately caught my eye and I turned straight to it.


	Trish Faubion adapted the instructions for the tatted Fuchsia-Design in Points or Edging by Nellie H. Youngburg found in the November 1925 issue of Needlecraft Magazine.

Mary explores the knitted lace edging Laura painstakingly makes during the winter of 1880, and the historical context surrounding it. From reading the books, I knew knitting, crochet, and needlework filled much of the Ingalls girls’ time, especially during the fall and winter when weather kept them cooped up indoors. I was intrigued to learn about the trends of the late 1870s, a time when knitted-lace edgings came back into vogue and gained popularity with Laura and her peers. Mary Lycan’s description of how painstaking and time-consuming knitted lace could be impressed on me the Ingalls girls’ dedication to their needlework. She says: “I used to think that the lace was a metaphor for the blizzards of that Hard Winter—it was white, and it was endless. Now I see its gift as a symbol of hope for Mary’s education and of Laura’s commitment, at age thirteen, to help provide it for her.”

If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can create your own knitted-lace edging with the Shell Lace to Knit. Mary Lycan charted this garter-lace edging from the pattern that appeared in the November 12, 1879, weekly edition of the New-York Tribune.

In addition to your own Ingalls-inspired lace edging, you’ll find a Shetland lace shawl to knit, a lace medallion to tat, an Orenburg warm shawl to knit, a lace-edged endowing purse to make, and more—each accompanied with stories of the rich histories surrounding the pieces—in the newest special Lace issue of PieceWork. Subscribe today to make sure you never miss an issue.

-Caitlin

Sensational Sock Knitting

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

I've been a really lame sock knitter in the last few months. There are two socks on the needles, from two different sock knitting patterns, and I didn't really have any plans to pick either of those socks up in the near future.


	Provenance Socks by Heatherly Walker: Colorful scrolling patterns inspired by centuries-old French embroidery

But then I got an email that contained the link to the Summer 2013 issue of Sockupied. Talk about motivating me to get back to sock knitting!

Here's Sockupied Editor Anne Merrow to tell you more:

Genius, Stitch by Stitch

When I was learning to knit, friends told me that there were only two stitches, so it couldn't be that difficult. But as any knitter knows, there are enough possible maneuvers of those two little stitches to keep us fascinated for a lifetime.


Cataphyll by Hunter Hammersen: Lacy leaves branch out across fine ribbing and stockinette panels

It's the small but clever innovations—adding a second yarn, wrapping in another direction—that make knitting so intriguing. Sometimes even a small change can create a whole new result.

In this issue, Heatherly Walker's socks feature an ingenious two-color cuff, which you can learn with step-by-step directions, illustrations, and video. Kate Atherley finds at least five ways of knitting socks two at once.

This issue's featured designer, Hunter Hammersen, draws on her knowledge of science with designs inspired by butterfly and botanical drawings. In this issue we get a sneak peek at her brand new book, The Knitter's Curiosity Cabinet, Volume II. And each of our five brand-new designs features its own stroke of knitting brilliance.

On the miniature and quirky canvas of socks, the concentration of creativity is a constant marvel. I can't wait to see what genius comes next from the needles of sock knitters.

—Anne Merrow, from Sockupied Summer 2013

Beautiful self-striping sock yarn

Check out a really neat visual from Sockupied, at right. I love self-striping sock yarns—and the image of them flowing off of paintbrushes is great! The stitch pattern shown is a chevron pattern; here's how you do it:

Simple Chevron
Multiple of 9 sts
Round 1 (RS) *K2tog, k1, [k1fb] 2 times, k2, ssk; repeat from * to end.
Round 2 Knit.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for pattern.

Download Sockupied Summer 2013 now and start knitting sensational socks!

Cheers,

P.S. How many socks do you have on the needles? Leave a comment and share your shame (if you're not ashamed, all the better!).

Knitting for Baby

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Is there such a thing as baby season? If so, it seems like we're smack dab in the middle of it! Or maybe it's just knitting-for-baby season. Whatever the case, I've got a couple of baby knitting patterns on the needles, and I need to cast on more.

Luckily, baby knits are small and quickly completed, so I have time to finish my little items before all of the babies are born!

I need one more project, though, and we have some darling new patterns in the Knitting Daily Shop; here are the choices:


		Buttoned-Up Boots by Rosemary Drysdale Little boots? Yes, please! And I love the strap and the buttons at the sides. These are perfect for a special baby boy. Or work them in pink or fuchsia for a little girl.

		Chevron Swing Coat by Irina Poludnenko This is so retro and cute! The chevron stitch is a classic, and the color scheme is so eye-catching. The top of the coat is knit in the feminine solid-dot stitch, which goes beautifully with the chevron stripes. What a cute little coat for springtime. And there's a darling matching dress, too, the Chevron Empire Dress, with the chevron pattern adorning the sleeves and hem. Precious!

		Striped Hoodie by Lynn M. Wilson Garter-ridge stripes are so cute in this little hoodie. And the pocket is so grown-up! Customize this for a boy or a girl just by changing the color scheme.

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Laura Hein
How cute is this? You can play wolf or sheep with this reversible knitted toy. Wolf in Sheep's Clothing is made in two pieces, knit in the round and then crocheted together. So much fun for playtime!

Aren't these baby knits great? All of them are knit from Tahki Cotton Classic or Cotton Classic Lite—the perfect yarn to use to knit kid's clothes. Any one of them would thrill a little one or a parent-to-be. Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments and I might knit it!

Cheers,

Spreading Joy with Yarn Art

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

With the tragic bombings and explosions we've experienced lately, I wanted to share something good with you: yarn "bombings." (I hate to even associate the word with our beloved yarn! I'm going to call this "public yarn art"; much better.)

The following article from Interweave Knits Spring 2013 highlights these works of public yarn art, and profiles one of the founders of the movement, Magda Saveg.

Making Public Yarn Art

When Magda Sayeg and her friend knit a cozy for the door handle of her clothing boutique in 2005, they were venting their frustration over their unfinished knitting projects. Passersby, who responded with wild enthusiasm, attributed the cozy to an anonymous and creative reclaiming of Houston's sterile landscape.

Over the next two years, Sayeg and her friend bore down and knit like crazy, forming a group called Knitta, Please (or simply Knitta) that swelled to a dozen members, all of whom adopted anonymous, craft-meets-hip-hop nicknames such as PolyCotN and AKrylik. Knitta worked together or in smaller subsets to knit graffiti for far-flung monuments such as the Great Wall of China and Notre Dame Cathedral. With the help of the Internet, their brand of soft, fuzzy, and easily removable street art took off.

Untitled, by Knitta, September 2011, 320 square feet of knitting. I think this is fabulous! What a wonderful pick-me-up! Can you imagine coming across these stairs while going about your busy day? I hope I get to see something like this some day.

When the group disbanded several years later—some went off to college, moved away, or simply didn't have time to commit—Sayeg took Knitta on as a solo pursuit. She got an Addi Express knitting machine so that she could produce material at a faster clip, and found a team of local knitters through a call for help on her Facebook page.

She started accepting commissions, working for public art organizations and for companies including Sunglass Hut and Smart Car, who paid her to wrap their products in yarn.

Today her work is a mix of craft, design, and commerce. After she's approached to do a project, she does a site visit and then works out a design through Photoshop. "Once the final design is approved, my manager and I translate the piece into a pattern that is then knitted," she explains. "It's only halfway done at this point. The installation process involves taking the knitted material and applying it to a specific object. Depending on size, this can take up to two weeks to properly complete."

Sayeg's dream project—covering an airplane in knitting—may take even longer.

—Sabrina Gschwantdtner, from Interweave Knits Spring 2013


	*I love you, R2D2! (Photo copyright Sarah Rudder)*

Those stairs! I would weep with joy if I happened upon them—not to mention the photo ops.

Speaking of photo ops, one of my other favorite pieces is the R2D2 that I shared with you on our Facebook page last year. Knitter Sarah Rudder created an R2D2 slipcover for a concrete street post in Bellingham, Washington. R2 brought so much joy to people! Check out the big hug he got from a little guy, at right. I love it.

By the way, I've seen those street posts in Bellingham, and I wish they could all be transformed into R2D2s! Start knitting Sarah; maybe you should contact Magda . . .

Interweave Knits shares so many glimpses into the world of knitting; subscribe now so you won't miss out on any of the upcoming issues!

Cheers,

P.S. Have you seen any public yarn art? Tell us about it in the comments!

Toe-up or top-down? Socks your way

Anne Merrow — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:00:00 GMT

I recently received an email asking whether Sockupied includes toe-up sock knitting patterns. Why yes, we do! But how many, I wondered?

I took a look at all three Sockupied issues from last year, which are available together as a Kit of the Month until the end of April 2013. Of the 17 sock patterns, there are 13 pairs to be knitted top-down and 6 toe-up. (If you’re wondering how 13 + 6 = 17, it’s because two of the designs, Cat Bordhi’s Flutterby Socks and my Up + Down Socks, have included directions for knitting toe-up and top-down.)


The Up + Down Socks from Simply Sockupied are designed to be worked in either direction, perfect to try a toe-up sock pattern for the first time.		Cat Bordhi’s Flutterby Socks use her brilliant Sweet Tomato Heel, which fits perfectly worked cuff-down or toe-up.

Technically Speaking

Some knitters prefer to toe-up knitting because they’d prefer not to do the Kitchener stitch to graft their toes. Others prefer to avoid short-row heels. But designers sometimes mix and match these elements in different ways, and there are more new toe-up sock techniques that make knitting and wearing them more fun.

Lorilee Beltman’s toe-up Our Paths Cross Socks include a clever flap-and-gusset heel, usually a top-down element, with the decreases placed at the back of the leg. Kate Atherley added a gusset to short-row heels to make her toe-up (A)Symmetry Socks fit better. And Candace Eisner-Strick even figured out how to knit short-row heels and toes without a single wrap and turn in her Semaphore Socks pattern.


Lorilee Beltman's Our Paths Cross Socks, Sockupied Spring 2012		Kate Atherley's (A)Symmetry Socks, Sockupied Spring 2012

Some knitters and designers have strong preferences on knitting direction. Ann Budd has been known to design toe-up socks, but if you put needles and yarn in her hands she almost always turns to a top-down sock pattern that she shared with us in Simply Sockupied as Ann’s Go-To Socks.


Candace Eisner-Strick's Semaphore Socks, Sockupied Fall 2012		Ann's Go-To Socks by Ann Budd, Simply Sockupied

Knit All the Socks

At last count I had enough sock yarn to make over 70 pairs of socks. (But who’s counting?) With all that yarn, I don’t want to limit myself to knitting only toe-up or top-down. Besides the patterns, the 2012 issues of Sockupied include lots of techniques from toe-up and top-down toes to design elements that work in any sock. Until the end of April 2013, these three issues are on sale together as a bundle for $11.99, so you can knit in every direction to your heart’s content. (All right, so we haven’t done any side-to-side socks. Yet.)

Do you prefer knitting toe-up or top-down? Tell us why in the comments.

Vintage Magazines

Linda Ligon — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT


	PieceWork, July/August 2010


PieceWork, March/April 1993

I used to haunt flea markets looking for back issues of magazines I had known and loved as a child. My family subscribed to the middle-brow usuals: Life, Saturday Evening Post, Reader’s Digest. We didn’t have many books in our home, so I spent hours and hours poring through these periodicals. We looked forward to the annual “joke” cover of Saturday Evening Post by Norman Rockwell: how many mistakes can you find in this painting? Even my four-year-old brain could engage in that challenge. And Reader’s Digest – I may scoff at it today, but I loved the quizzes and anecdotes and occasional natural history article.

Seeking out old magazines became sort of a family tradition as I got older. I gave my mother a 1910 edition of Harpers for her 80^th birthday, and we had a great time going through the ads and articles and thinking about how the world was in her birth year. These tangible cultural reminders incite nostalgia, but they also raise other concerns.

My mother gave my husband a subscription to National Geographic for his birthday every year from the time we married until she died – some thirty years. That’s 360 magazines! And he can’t throw anything away! When we moved recently, they had to go, and not even the local nursing homes would have them. The world is awash in wonderful back issues of National Geographic.


PieceWork, July/August 2004


	PieceWork, November/December 1995

We have a complete archive of all the Interweave Press magazine back issues in the basement of our office building, and sometimes I go down there to look something up. It’s hard to accept that the oldest ones date back to 1975 – almost four decades! Antiques! It’s never a quick trip. I find the issue I want, the factoid I’m seeking, but in the process I find dozens of other bits and pieces that I just have to stop and read, or at least look at the pictures. All these back issues take up a whole room, a room that used to be a bomb shelter in the 1950s. No way could I fit them into my house.

Like many women my age (and younger), I wax eloquent about my love of paper, pages to turn, magazines as objects. And I hope they never go away. But at the same time, if I had to choose between a set of pages to fondle and all the rich content those pages hold, I’ll take the content any day. That’s the beauty of magazines in electronic form, on CDs, on the internet. You can have the content without the clutter. On the other hand, I’m pretty comfortable with clutter. It’s a conundrum.

Save on PieceWork back issues—print and electronic—today!

Cheers,

Knitting Triangluar Shawls

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT


	Basilica, from Free-Spirit Shawls

Vogue Knitting Live was held in Seattle a couple of weeks ago and I was lucky enough to go. I got a triangular shawl kit, which is something I don't usually knit. There's no real reason I don't knit triangular shawls, it's just that I've always been more into scarf knitting and wide, rectangular shawls.

But after seeing Lisa Shroyer's new book Free-Spirit Shawls and learning her tips about wearing shawls, I think I'm a convert. I can't wait to cast on my shawl—I think it'll be the perfect summer knitting project.


Spaythe, from Free-Spirit Shawls

Bryusa, from Free-Spirit Shawls

Here's Lisa to tell you about a triangular shawl knitting technique: from the top down!

The Top-Down Triangle

One of the most popular ways to knit a triangular shawl is from the top down, with increases worked at four lines—one at each outer edge and two in the middle, each flanking the center spine. The standard top-down shawl begins with a garter tab, which is worked such that there is no visible cast-on; the shawl just grows from the top edge downward and outward.

How to Work a Garter Tab
Using the invisible provisional cast-on, cast on 3 stitches. Knit 7 rows. Turn your work and use the right needle to pick up and knit 3 stitches down the side edge of the work. Unzip the provisional cast-on and place 3 live stitches on the left needle, then knit them, for a total of 9 stitches.

You now have a short piece of garter stitch with live stitches emerging from it on three sides. These three sections (of 3 stitches each) represent the three shaping "lanes" to be worked in the shawl body. After the cast-on, a standard shawl would be worked as follows: 3 garter stitches for the edging, yarnover increase, knit 1, yarnover, knit 1 (center spine), yarnover, knit 1, yarnover, 3 garter stitches for the edging.

As the stitches increase, patterning can be worked over the knit stitches. Each right-side row increases the stitch count by four, with the result that two triangles grow outward from the garter tab, with the center-spine knit stitch separating them down the middle. Obviously, the final rows and bind-off will be worked over many stitches.

Top-down triangles can be small or large; just stop knitting when it suits you! Stitch patterns have to be worked in multiples that integrate with the rate of shaping and the stitch counts, but as you can see from Spathe (above), you can achieve beautiful allover patterns.

—Lisa Shroyer, from Free-Spirit Shawls

Intrigued? Me, too. Lisa's book is full of modern, fun shawl patterns. Order your copy of Free-Spirit Shawls today and cast-on a summertime project!

Cheers,

P.S. Are you a shawl knitter? Leave a comment and tell what your favorite shawl shape is!

Make it seamless!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT


	Kathleen's top-down seamless cardigan, in progress!

Seamless knitting and I have a love/less-love relationship. When the method first became popular again several years ago (it had a little lull after Elizabeth Zimmermann and Barbara Walker made it famous), I knit sweater after sweater in one piece.

Then I got tired of knitting on such a huge piece, so I went back to knitting sweaters in pieces. I liked how each piece was more portable than the huge one-piecers. (Disclaimer: I usually knit a 48- to 54-inch size, depending on the ease I want, so my seamless sweaters are pretty sizey.)

But I always go back to the seamless knitting technique because there are so many great patterns written using it. I'm working on a seamless sweater right now (shown at right)—a top-down cardigan. It's my own pattern, one that I'm developing as I go. I am keeping notes, though, so maybe I can get it published! I'm working on the sleeves now, and to finish it off, I'm going to knit a wide seed-stitch border for the front.

In the new book The Art of Seamless Knitting, Simona Merchant-Dest and Faina Goberstein have pulled together a group of beautiful designs, plus plenty of information to help you understand seamless knitting, convert pieced sweater knitting patterns into seamless sweaters, and even step-by-step instructions on how to design your own seamless knits.

It's a fantastic book. Here's an excerpt, all about top-down construction worked in rows (versus in the round), which is how I knit my sweater.

Top-Down Construction Worked in Rows

To work cardigans seamlessly from the top down, cast on stitches for the neck and work back and forth in rows to the base of the armholes, shaping the neck and armholes along the way. Then work the lower body in one piece in rows to the lower body all in one piece in rows to the lower edge. To finish, work the sleeves (in the round) to the cuffs.




Raglan Shaping Cast on stitches for the neck and shape the neck as desired while working back and forth in rows, increasing along the raglan lines to the base of the armholes. Place the sleeve stitches onto holders and work the remaining body stitches in rows to the lower edge. To finish, work the sleeves in rounds to desired length.		Circular-Yoke Shaping Cast on stitches for the neck and shape the neck as desired while working the specified number of increase rows to the base of the armholes. Place the sleeve stitches onto holders and work the remaining body stitches in rows to the lower edge. To finish, work the sleeves in rounds to desired length.



Dolman Shaping Provisionally cast on stitches for the back right shoulder and sleeve and work back and forth to the base of the neck shaping. Repeat for the back left shoulder and sleeve, joining the two halves at the base of the neck and working in one piece to the base of the armholes. Then pick up stitches from the provisional cast-on for the front, work the front to the base of the armholes, shaping the front neck as desired. Bind off the front and back sleeve stitches together, and then work the remaining body stitches in rows to the lower edge. Work the lower body (above right) in one piece in rows to the lower edge, shaping the waist and hips as desired.

There's so much to learn about top-down sweaters! Reserve your copy of The Art of Seamless Knitting today and we'll send it to you as soon as it's here!

Cheers,

P.S. I don't have a name for my sweater design yet. Help me out and leave me a suggestion in the comments!

Intergalactic Crafting

AmyPalmer — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:35:00 GMT

Hilary Smith Callis is our feature designer in Knitscene Summer 2013, and we love the combination of fantastic knitted sweater patterns and her out-of-this-world day job with NASA. Click the photos for more info about each pattern.

We have 18 other stellar knitting patterns in Knitscene Summer, but sometimes a knitter likes to take a break from yarn—a harsh but very real truth. If you're looking for some more astronomy-inspired projects, here's some projects adorning my short list of crafts-to-do (when I get around to putting down the yarn, that is).

Photo from Stars for Streetlights

I absolutely love this DIY galaxy dress from Stacie at Stars for Streetlights.

Julep has a tutorial for star-spangled nails that I really want to do but I have trouble not knitting long enough to allow nail polish to thoroughly dry. It's a real problem.

Not a DIY project, but thanks to this tip from Nylon magazine, you can match your footwear to your celestial sartorial choices with galaxy-print Converse sneakers. Allow me to answer the unasked question: No, you can never have too many pairs of Converse.

Or you could, in fact, make your own cosmic kicks.

There are slew of galaxy-inspired projects on the web. I haven't found any others that directly involve yarn, but if someone has knit a solar system, please please please provide a link—that's a must-see for sure!

Happy knitting,
Amy

Summer is on the horizon!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT


	The Wavelength Tunic by Hilary Smith Callis

It's hard to believe, especially when Interweave's offices in Loveland were closed on Monday because of a blizzard, but summer is coming. We have a 70-degree day coming up in Spokane, and my spring cleaning (I'm talking to you, garage!) is almost completed, with the hammock chairs unearthed and hung in the blooming maple tree.

I'm getting in the mood for shorts and t-shirts with the summer issues of knitting magazines making their appearances. The newest is Knitscene Summer 2013, which happens to be Editor Lisa Shroyer's last issue as editor. Lisa is taking over the reins of Interweave Knits, and Knitscene Assistant Amy Palmer will be at the helm for Knitscene. Exciting stuff is coming up!


The Venice Beach Tank by Kathryn McNaughton

The Longboard Pullover by Amanda Bell

Here's Lisa to tell you about the Summer 2013 Knitscene, and to talk about an interesting concept: the commonality we often find between ourselves and other knitters:

Have you ever noticed common threads among your knitting friends? A tendency to favorite the same TV series? A similar zeal for purple, for certain yarns, for the chai tea at that place on the corner? It happens.

Knitters make up a huge and diverse population, but as you move among your fellow crafters at fiber festivals, at knit night, on forums online, you've probably realized that we have a lot in common, too. And those commonalities often have nothing to do with knitting.

When I asked Hilary Smith Callis to be our featured designer this issue and learned more about her work at NASA, it hit me: I've known a lot of people in the yarn industry with science backgrounds. I've met super-smart, super-accomplished, seemingly left-brained women who also like to "pet the skein." I realized that quite a few Knitscene designers are STEM people (STEM: science-technology-engineering-mathematics).

What draws techies to knitting? Kim Werker digs into this question in her piece "E = M1²."

Moving from astronomy to chemistry, we take a look at dyeing. Caitlin ffrench walks us through the art of solar dyeing, and you'll find recommendations for undyed yarns and dyeing tools in Materials.

Whether you're looking for easy knitting patterns or a summer challenge, the Summer 2013 issue of Knitscene is full of patterns you'll love. Get your copy today, or if you just can't wait, download the digital copy now.

Summer is a time for color. For the science of long days, for wonder and travel and rest. I hope this issue brings a little of all these things to you.

Peace,

P.S. What's your favorite thing about summer knitting? Share it with us in the comments!

Sockupied Summer 2013 Preview

Anne Merrow — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:30:00 GMT

The Summer 2013 issue of Sockupied is almost here, but for now, we hope you'll enjoy this sneak peek of all the sock-knitting bliss this issue has to offer! From knitting two socks at once to cast-ons for colorwork, you'll find helpful tips and tricks to take your knitting to the next level. Five brand-new sock patterns featuring bobbles, lace, colorwork, and more will keep you on your toes all through summer.

The Mac and PC versions of Sockupied will be available from the Knitting Daily Store on April 29th, but the iPad version is available now.

Projects

Schwäbische Socks

by Lisa Stichweh

Elegant woven stitches transform and travel down the feet

Construction: Top down, short-row heel

Finished Size: 7½ (8¼, 9)" (19 [21, 23] cm) foot circumference and 8½ (9, 9½)" (21.5 [23, 24] cm) long from back of heel to tip of toe; foot length is adjustable.

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet (90% superwash Merino wool, 10% nylon; 192 yd [176 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]): #1249 maroon, 2 (2, 3) skeins.

Needles: U.S. size 1½ (2.5 mm).

Notions: Markers (m); cable needle (cn); tapestry needle.

Gauge: 30 sts and 48 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in St st.

Skip to my Lou

by Rae Jean

Mesh lace provides the canvas for colorful handpaints or subtle solids

Construction: Top down, short-row heel

Finished Size: 7 (8¼)" (18 [21] cm) foot circumference and 9½ (10½)" (24 [26.5] cm) long from back of heel to tip of toe; foot length is adjustable

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug 400 (100% Merino wool; 400 yd [365 m]/5¼ oz [150 g]): #166 elephant's daydream (blue) or #23 slate (variegated), 1 skein

Needles: U.S. size 1 (2.25 mm).

Notions: Markers (m); tapestry needle.

Gauge: 30 sts and 46 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in St st.

Provenance Socks

by Heatherly Walker

Stripes and ornate scrolling patterns inspired by centuries-old embroidery

Construction: Top down, flap heel

Finished Size: 7¼ (8¼, 9)" (18.5 [21, 23] cm) foot circumference and 9½ (10¼, 11)" (24 [26, 28] cm) long from back of heel to tip of toe

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Silk (85% superwash Merino wool, 15% mulberry silk; 437 yd [400 m]/3½ oz [100 g]): #5639 VanDyke brown (MC) and #5674 baby denim (CC), 1 skein each.

Needles: U.S. size 2½ (3 mm).

Notions: Markers (m); tapestry needle.

Gauge: 36 sts and 34 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in charted patt.

Cataphyll

by Hunter Hammersen

Leafy branches cut across panels of stockinette and fine ribbing

Construction: Top down, flap heel

Finished Size: 7 (8, 9)" (18 [20.5, 23] cm) foot circumference and 7¾ (8½, 9¼)" (19.5 [21.5, 23.5] cm) long from back of heel to tip of toe; foot length is adjustable.

Yarn: Plucky Knitter Primo Fingering (75% superwash Merino wool, 20% cashmere, 5% nylon; 385 yd [352 m]/3½ oz [100 g]): dandy lion, 1 skein

Needles: U.S. size 1 (2.25 mm)

Notions: Markers (m); tapestry needle

Gauge: 32 sts and 48 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in St st.

Zokni kötés

by Laura Halfpenny

Knotty stockings inspired by Hungarian folkwear

Construction: Toe up, flap heel

Finished Size: 7" (18 cm) foot circumference and 9" (23 cm) long from back of heel to tip of toe; foot length is adjustable.

Yarn: Ella Rae Lace Merino(100% superwash Merino wool; 460 yd [421 m]/3½ oz [100 g]): #9 mustard (MC), #30 cherry red (CC1), and #131 orange fire (CC2), 1 skein each. Yarn distributed by Knitting Fever.

Needles: U.S. size 3 (3.25 mm)

Notions: Markers (m); tapestry needle.

Gauge: 34 sts and 48 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in St st; 44 sts and 48 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in bobble patt, relaxed.

Features

Try This: Two Socks at a Time by Kate Atherley

Tech: Colorful Cast-ons for Cuffs

Eye on Design: Hunter Hammersen's Chamber of Wonders by Leslie Ordal

Departments

Great Yarns

Self-striping yarns for hassle-free color

Try These

Stylish sock sacks and satchels

The Last Stitch

Caption this cartoon! See here for details.

There's so much to love in this issue of Sockupied!

Cheers,