Lisa Shroyer
Today's Knitting Daily post was written by the next in our series of Guest Star Editors: Lisa Shroyer, senior editor of Interweave Knits and editor of Knitscene magazine.
I've been with Interweave since 2005. My main job is the pattern manager/editor of Knits.
I manage all the knitting patterns in the magazine, from tech editing
to photoshoot to final published pattern. I fondle all the garments,
count stitches, swatch, study charts, do lots of math on my grimy
little well-loved calculator, check yarn info, chase down designers
with questions like "did you use the eastern CO or the figure 8?" and
so on.
I live in Philadelphia, the Interweave headquarters are in Colorado,
and Eunny Jang, the editor of Knits, is in Maryland. So I travel quite
a bit! I love my job, because I love knitting and yarn and technical
bits and I really love a great magazine. Studying sweaters is a good
way to make a living.
My credentials? I've been knitting for about 18 years, crocheting
for almost 3. I come from a knitting/fiber family—my parents founded
the company Nancy's Knit Knacks (www.nancysknitknacks.com). We can
trace our lineage on my mother's side back to the Aran Islands
themselves!
Apothecary Raglan (Knitscene Spring 2008)
As
for what I like to knit things with—wool! Big winter sweaters, fair
isle hats, cabled thingies. I do not care for making socks (shoot me
with a dpn). I like to design conceptual pieces, garments that are a
study in line and graphic as opposed to highly traditional or subtly
articulated garments. My recent patterns were the William Street Socks,
Road to Golden, Summer Wheat Tank, and Orbit Lace.
What am I working on right now?
A cabled scarf for myself (using a stitch pattern from the new Harmony Guides), finishing up my Central Park Hoodie (from Knitscene Fall 2006), and many unmentionable UFO's in my knitting closet...
What's next for Knitscene?
That's right, my other (!) job is as editor of Knitscene,
Interweave's little but luscious biannual special issue. This mag's
focus is on simple projects, stylish shapes, and garments that are
wearable and contemporary. We don't take ourselves too seriously. You
could call Knitscene the little sister of Interweave Knits. We JUST
went to press on the Winter 07/Spring 08 issue of Knitscene. It's a
great issue, filled with trans-seasonal layering pieces, hoodies,
cardigans, fitted tees, and quick accessories.
New Wyoming Vest (Knitscene Spring 2008)
For
this Winter/Spring issue, I designed two garments. One is the
Apothecary Raglan—okay, it's the most challenging project in the issue,
but I like to think the brain exercise is worth it! Worked in a bulky
wool-blend singles, it has an unusual top-down construction. The yarn
is self-striping, and I couldn't pass up the chance to manipulate the
colors.
The turtle neck is worked first as entrelac in the round, then a panel
of entrelac splits off from the neck and is worked as a flat panel.
Then you pick up stitches around the base of the neck piece (which has
splayed out to form a yoke) and work the body as a top-down raglan in
allover 1x1 rib. The colors pool in the entrelac section, then make
funky stripes on the body. It's warm, comfy, very elastic (can be form
fitting or loose), and is a fun way to incorporate entrelac into a
sweater. And really, in this bulky yarn, it doesn’t take long to make.
I may be a fast knitter, but I mean that!
The other project I designed is a cardigan vest called New Wyoming
that combines a super bulky yarn with a light and feminine silhouette.
This was so quick to knit! I literally made it in three days.
Central Park Hoodie (Knitscene Fall 2006)
And
last but not least: We're running a bonus Knits Spotting feature on the
Central Park Hoodie (CPH in blogland). We've found knitters around the
country who made this grand-slam project from the Knitscene Fall 2006
issue of Knitscene, and we're showing off their versions. AND I revised
the pattern to include three new PLUS sizes—52", 56", and 60"—so that
everyone can make this great sweater. Look for that on Knitting Daily
in December, along with pics of my finished 52" CPH! Because yeah, I am
a big girl. And I am an advocate for positive ease, people. Positive
ease + big girl bust = big CPH. Coming your way soon.
Coming Up on Knitting Daily
Next week: It's Thanksgiving here in the States! We'll have a tiny holiday treat for everyone; and just so you know: There will be only one Knitting Daily post that week.
Then on Monday, Nov. 26, We'll be back to our usual schedule with The Winter Knits Galleries! We've
chosen several of the sweaters from the Winter 2007 issue for the Women
of Interweave West to try on and model for you, so you can see the
sweaters on a variety of different body shapes. Katie Himmelberg, style
editor of Knitscene, and assistant editor of Knits, will be walking us
through some helpful styling tips for different body types. Don't miss
the fun!
Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.
Where in the world is Sandi knitting today? Sandi is knitting
her way around Toronto, Canada for a bit, while she visits with loved
ones. She'll be back as soon as she finishes a few more rows...