Knitting Daily : Galleries

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!

Presenting the Interweave Knits Fall Galleries

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the galleries for the fall issue of Interweave Knits (or as I call it the new-classic issue of Interweave Knits). From the very launch of the Knits Galleries, I loved them--as soon as a new issue of Knits came out I watched Knitting Daily like a hawk, waiting to see my favorite sweaters on the gorgeous gallery gals. Now I get to introduce my first galleries to you; I hope you like them.

We're showcasing four sweaters and four models; one model in her 20s (Keira), one in her 30s (Toni), one in her 40s (Brenda), and one in her 50s (Ruth). We want to show you how one garment can span the test of time and look good on many different people of different ages, body types, and skin and hair colors. Each of our models really made the garments their own; selecting the garment itself and then wearing it with their own personal style and panache.

Click on the photos below and then scroll down to view the fall Knits galleries.

If you haven't gotten your copy of fall 2009 Knits yet, ask for it at your local yarn shop; or purchase it online from us. Get this magazine while it's still available--it's a classic!

Have fun with these, and let us know what you think!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Welcome to the NEW Knitting Daily!

KD Sandi — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:12:00 GMT

Welcome to our new home--and yours!

For a while now, we've been working on moving Knitting Daily into a larger, prettier online home for everyone, with more goodies, more features, and more room to grow! And so today, with much pleasure, we are opening the doors and inviting you in to have a look around and find your favorite places, old and new!

A few highlights of the new Knitting Daily home:

Reader Galleries: That's right! You asked for them, and here they are, your very own place to upload your knitting photos and show off your stuff! You can even post your YouTube videos! I can't wait to see what you've been working on.

Blogs: Not only can you still find the familiar Knitting Daily blogs and tutorials, you'll soon be able to read blogs from your favorite magazine editors such as Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits and Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene, as well as exciting guest bloggers. There will also be a blog from yours truly chronicling my own knitting adventures, an expansion of the popular "What's on Sandi's Needles?" section.

Videos: Knitting videos and how-tos from Knitting Daily TV and your favorite Interweave editors. Let the experts show you how!

Patterns tab: Take a look! (I love this part.) Here you can find individual listings--with photos!--of every pattern published back through 2007 in Interweave Knits, Knitscene, Felt, and Holiday Gifts, as well as the free patterns appearing on Knitting Daily TV and the Knitting Daily website! We're continuing to load older issues as fast as we can, so eventually you'll have an entire "catalog" of all Interweave patterns to browse through. Each pattern's listing will indicate whether it is free, available for sale in our pattern store, or no longer available; each listing will have yarn information, sizing, links to errata (if necessary) and a place for you to tell us what you think about the pattern.

An updated FAQ and Help section: A great place to find answers to all sorts of questions, from downloads to tags. There's a lot of helpful information here, so check this out if you need some help.

Community Center Feedback Forum: This is the place to tell us what you think of the new Knitting Daily site! Don't be shy, come on in and share your thoughts.

We’ve had many people do the heavy lifting to get KD ready for move-in day. We’ve moved almost everything from the old place, but now, some of those things may be found in different rooms. And just like moving into a real home, we’ll get the rest of the boxes unpacked, a little every day.

So welcome to the new Knitting Daily--and look for more goodies to come as we continue to "unpack our boxes" and get all the furniture moved into just the right place. Please leave a comment in the forums and let us know what you think! After all, this is your new home too. I hope you like it as much as we do.

-- Sandi Wiseheart
editor, KnittingDaily.com

Galleries, Part 2: Knits Summer 2009

KD Sandi — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:35:00 GMT

A few weeks back, we published a survey where we asked you various questions about the Galleries, and there were over 500 individual comments--and I read each and every single one.

One question was asked over and over again: "Sandi, you're writing these fit commentaries for the models after they've tried on the sweaters--how do we pick out a size to knit when we don't have the sample sweater to try on?"

The usual answer--find a favorite garment similar to the sweater you'd like to knit, and compare its measurements to those given in the pattern schematics--may not work with an unusual garment such as Linda's Wrap Vest, the cover sweater from Interweave Knits Summer 2009. Unless you have a very cool closet, it's doubtful that you own anything like this elegant wrap. So how to choose the size that's right for you?

Here's one strategy: Read through the pattern to see how the garment is constructed, study the schematic to see how the pieces fit together, and look carefully at the magazine photo. What are you looking for? You're looking for key areas of fit. In the case of Linda's Wrap Vest, the two key areas of fit are the shoulders and the bust area, because the entire garment drapes from these two places. Have a friend measure across the back of your shoulders; compare this to the schematic. If you pick a size where this measurement is too wide, the wrap will not sit securely on your frame; too narrow a measurement and the wrap will be too tight to flow and swing! Next: Compare your bust measurement to the finished bust measurements and add at least two inches of positive ease. Find the size in the pattern that most closely matches both the shoulder width and your bust measurement.

Another trick: Do you sew? If you do, then you can make a "muslin," or fabric mock-up of the garment. This is particularly effective for unusual pieces like Linda's Wrap Vest, where the garment sections have straight edges. Use t-shirt material from the fabric store (it's knitted, right?--so it will have the right sort of drape and stretch), and make pattern pieces out of paper bags, following the measurements given on the schematic. Add a quarter inch seam all around for sewing; stitch the pieces together as they would be connected in the actual knitted garment. Try on your "muslin" and see how it fits!

These approaches may take a bit of extra time--and delay that delicious moment of casting on a bit longer--but the time will be well-spent in creating a garment that you know will fit you the way you want it to!

We have three more Galleries for you today: Linda's Wrap Vest, the Stanwyck Pullover, and the Filet Patch Blouse. Enjoy!

If you haven't gotten your copy of Knits Summer 2009 yet, ask for it at your local yarn shop; or purchase it online from us.

-- Sandi

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I'm swatching for baby gifts for my new nieces-to-be! Meanwhile, I'm working on a pair of socks (as usual), and I just finished spinning some lovely hand dyed wool on my handspindle. (I'm getting into all kinds of fiber trouble, apparently.)

Galleries, Part 1: Knits Summer 2009

KD Sandi — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:20:00 GMT

We've been doing the Knitting Daily Galleries for two years now, and each and every one of them is different; each and every one a delight in its own way.

This one was different for me, because it was the first time I couldn't be in Colorado for the photoshoot, cheering on the Gallery Gals from behind-the-scenes. But fortunately, I had lots of help in the Loveland office, and at left you see the gang responsible for this season's Gallery fun: Allison, Trish, Sharon, Toni, and Karen. The delight for me came in seeing how the Gallery Gals posed and styled themselves for each photo! They really got into the spirit of the shoot, bringing their own accessories and making sure everything looked great.

This group photo is really useful as it shows you our five Gallery Gals next to each other, so you can compare heights--the range is 4' 11" (Trish) to 5' 8" (Sharon). There's also a range of ages and body types, as you can see.

In other words: We listened. A few weeks back, we published a survey where we asked you various questions about the Galleries, and many of you said you wished there were taller models, and older models, and so forth. Given that we can only use folks who happen to work for us, and who happen to be in the Loveland office the day of the photoshoot, I think this is a pretty cool group to show off the lovely fashions in Interweave Knits Summer 2009.

We have three Galleries for you today: The Akomeogi Tunic, Spidery Tank, and Grotto Wrap. Come back on Wednesday, when our Gallery Gals will have three more pretty garments to show you!

If you haven't gotten your copy of Knits Summer 2009 yet, ask for it at your local yarn shop; or purchase it online from us. You won't be sorry; there are so many pretty summer tops and gift items this issue that it's hard for me to choose which one I want to knit myself!

-- Sandi

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

Eight Examples of Outstanding Knitwear Design

KD Sandi — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:39:00 GMT

On Monday, Vicki Square shared her top 5 keys for a great sweater design. Today, I thought I would wander through the Interweave Pattern Store with these 5 keys in hand, and pick out one or two examples of each one. Because we're heading into summer, the garments I have chosen are all suitable for warm-weather wear (or cooler summer nights!). Here are my picks for garments that fit each of Vicki's top 5 keys:

Key #1: Overall presentation must be aesthetically strong and balanced.

OK, I know I said that I was going to choose warm-weather garments, but there's one garment that is such a standout that I just couldn't pass it up: Norah Gaughan's Nantucket Jacket. This garment is an outstanding example of all the best that knitwear design has to offer: the stitch patterns, the shaping, the details, the yarn choice, the color. One look at it, and you know you are looking at something special, something timeless, something where all the features work together to form a harmonious whole. (And actually, you could wear it on a cool summer evening, because the yarn is breathable merino and the sleeves are three-quarter length.)

Key #2: The marriage of yarn to garment has to be a desirable match.

My two choices here are the Printed Silk Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio, and the Waterlily Top, by Pam Allen. You know a designer has chosen the absolute perfect yarn for her design when knitters have trouble coming up with an adequate substitution! No other yarn will do for either of these garments, not if you want the drape, flow, color, and sheen of the originals.

Key #3: Choose a stitch to showcase, and not overpower, the yarn.

Here, I immediately thought of two garments at opposite ends of the spectrum. First, Butterfly, by Katie Himmelberg, is done in all-over stockinette stitch to emphasize the shiny drape of the lovely bamboo yarn. Second, Shirley Paden's Oriel Lace Blouse uses an all-over, large-scale lace pattern to compliment the subtle color shifts in the hand-dyed silk. Look at either garment: Can you picture the Butterfly in a more elaborate stitch pattern? No, because it would take away from the simplicity and flow of the top. And few other stitch patterns would give the Oriel Lace Blouse that "wow!" factor.

Key #4: The garment's design absolutely must be well grounded in knowledge of garment construction, proportion, and knitting techniques.

Again, I chose two garments which exemplify two completely different aspects of great garment construction: Pam Allen's Flutter Sleeve Cardi and Norah Gaughan's Origami Cardi. The Flutter Sleeve Cardi has everything: great shaping done cleverly and well; sleeve caps that fit; and overall proportions that look great on a variety of body shapes. We featured this in one of our Knitting Daily Galleries last year, and every single person who tried it on was amazed at how well it fit and how flattering it was, no matter what the body type.

Norah's Origami Cardigan is at the opposite end of the spectrum as far as garment construction goes: She appears to break a lot of the rules, but when you wear the finished garment, you realize that she has in fact, followed every single rule—she's just gotten there by the road less travelled, if you will! Melding aspects of traditional Japanese couture with modern yarns and stitchery, the Origami Cardi is a standout example of stellar knitting technique.

Key #5: There is one feature that acts as a primary focus, with all other design elements enhancing this feature, not detracting from it.

In Stefanie Japel's Cable-Down Raglan, the cables take center stage—and everything else, from yarn choice to the overall shaping—enhances the cables but never ever overwhelms them. I love how the raglan stitching at the shoulders leads your eye right down into a gorgeous cable on the sleeves; the smooth merino yarn makes those cables pop.

You mean I can only pick eight? Well, no one said "eight" exactly, but there was a limit to how many sweaters I could talk about in one post. So I had to leave out a lot more of my favorites.

What would your picks be? You might want to take a stroll of your own through Interweave's Online Store, where you will find patterns for all eight of my picks, plus many, many more great spring and summer designs! You never know what you might find...

-- Sandi

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

New Free eBook! 7 Free Knitted Lace Patterns

KD Sandi — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:01:00 GMT

Great Free Lace Pattern eBook:
Knitting Lace: Knitting Daily Presents
7 Free Knitted Lace Patterns

Are you addicted to lace knitting? Or maybe you've admired some of the gorgeous knitted lace patterns out there and want to give lace knitting a try? Here are seven of Interweave's top knitted lace patterns, gathered together in one FREE ebook for you.

There's a knitted lace pattern here for everyone, from beginning lace knitter to advanced! Beginners can try their hands at a lovely knitted lace scarf (there's two easy lace scarves to chose from), then move on to a triangular lace shawl, a pair of knitted lace mitts, and a knitted lace hat. More experienced lace knitters will love the Icelandic Lace Shawl. The knitted lace cardigan is worked on large needles and uses a traditional lace knitting pattern for a knockout lace sweater. Something for everyone!

Download Knitting Lace: Knitting Daily Presents 7 Free Knitted Lace Patterns

We want to know what you think!

The Knitting Daily Galleries have become a hallmark of our newsletters over the past two years. But are they "just for fun" or do they play an active role in what you knit and how you knit it? We've constructed a short survey to find out how you use the Galleries. And if you'd like another look at the Galleries, you can view them here.

Thanks so much!
-- Sandi

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knits Spring 2009 Galleries: Part 2

KD Sandi — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:14:00 GMT

Each time a new issue of Interweave Knits is released, I start seeing a lot of buzz online about the Galleries, our photo collections of Interweave staffers wearing the sample sweaters from the magazines to show the sweaters on different body types and sizes. Knitters speculate which sweaters will be chosen, knitters beg that we include this favorite or that favorite in the Gallery lineup. People even send me email, asking that I "do a Gallery" on a particular sweater they have been considering, because they want more information and photos to study before they make the final decision to cast on.

I'm really pleased that the Galleries have not only captured your imaginations, but that they seem to have become such an important tool in helping you decide which patterns to add to your queue this season. And I'm constantly seeking to improve the Galleries and their value to you: Each each time I do a Gallery here on Knitting Daily, I ask for feedback, and then incorporate that feedback into the next season's Gallery.

One reader question that I often receive is this one:

How do I choose which garments to feature in the Knitting Daily Galleries?

Great question! Here's a little sneak peek into the Mind of Sandi as I plan the Galleries.

First: I read your comments and posts online; I look to see which sweaters you are curious about, which sweaters have captured your imagination. If a sweater has generated lots of buzz online, such as the Whisper Cardigan, then I put it on the list.

Then, I pick out sweaters that I think might need a little more "air time" in order to get the attention they fully deserve. The Millefiori Cardigan, for example--it is such a gorgeous sweater, with such pretty detailing, that I wanted to give you another look at it.

And then, frankly, the Gallery Gals themselves insist on trying on a garment that calls to them.

Sometimes a garment cannot be included in the Gallery photoshoot, because it has been sent off to be on the Knitting Daily TV show, or be included in a class, for example. Our garments have a busy life after the magazine is published and we have to work the Galleries around that schedule as best we can.

And that's how they are chosen! This time, eight garments were selected. We showed you the first four on Monday: The Diminishing Rib Cardigan by Andrea Pomerantz, the Silk Cocoon Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio, the Saoirse Shawl by Norah Gaughan, and the Zickzack Tunic by Melissa Wehrle

Today's Galleries are:

Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig

Millefiori Cardigan by Andrea Pomerantz

Sweet Tee by Mary Jane Mucklestone

Parker Cardigan by Deborah Newton

All this week's Gallery patterns can be found in our Spring 2009 issue of Interweave Knits. If you haven't gotten your copy yet, ask for it at your local yarn shop, or order it here.

Take a look at our Gallery Gals wearing the sample sweaters from the magazine; ask yourself which sweater is best for which body type, and which sweater might look drop-dead fabulous on YOU. My hope is that these Galleries help you learn to visualize how the sweaters will look on your own body, and give you inspiration to knit things that you might never have thought of knitting before!

Enjoy! And please let us know your thoughts on the Galleries. Each individual Gallery has its own comments section, so chime right in with your own views on each garment and what you think looks best on each of our Gallery Gals.

-- Sandi

P. S. A huge thank you to this season's Gallery Gals: Toni, Allison, Elizabeth, Annie, and Stefanie.

They're Here! Knits Spring Galleries, Part 1

KD Sandi — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I know you have been waiting for them, so here they are! The Knitting Daily Galleries for Interweave Knits Spring 2009 are finally here. There were so many beautiful sweaters in this issue that I chose eight to feature this time. Yes, eight. Multiply that by a few Gallery Gals per Gallery and that's a LOT of photos for you to enjoy!

What is a Knitting Daily Gallery? For each new issue of Interweave Knits, I convince several Interweave staff members to leave their desks to try on some of the lovely sweaters in the magazine. We pretend to be models, hit poses, and let our wonderful photographer Ann capture our best sides as we show you what each sweater looks like on women of varying shapes and sizes. There is only ONE sample sweater for each design--the same sweater used in the magazine photoshoot--so part of the fun is seeing how the sweater fits someone a little bigger or smaller than the model in the magazine. Each Gallery Gals' measurements are provided, courtesy of our valiant in-house models, to help you visualize different amounts of ease and fit.

Our hope in doing these Galleries is that they will help you to choose sweater patterns to knit for yourself, and that they will help you begin to see what looks good on people of different body types. We've heard so many readers say, "I would never have thought to knit that for myself until I saw it on the Gallery Gals!"

Maybe you thought you could never wear a wrap sweater. Take a look at the Gallery for the Silk Cocoon Cardigan below and see if it changes your mind! Maybe you never imagined yourself wearing a long tunic with a tall, ribbed hem...every single Gallery Gal thought the same thing before she tried on the Zickzack Tunic and was wowed by the results!

What are your thoughts on the Galleries? Each individual Gallery has its own comments section, so chime right in with your own views on each garment and what you think looks best on each of our Gallery Gals.

Today's Galleries are:

Diminishing Rib Cardigan by Andrea Pomerantz

Silk Cocoon Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio

Saoirse Shawl by Norah Gaughan

Zickzack Tunic by Melissa Wehrle

And Wednesday's Galleries....are a secret until Wednesday!

Enjoy!

-- Sandi

P. S. A huge thank you to this season's Gallery Gals: Toni, Allison, Elizabeth, Annie, and Stefanie.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? My goal this week is to finish up a couple of pairs of socks...because after that, I have some baby gifts to make!

The Joy of Toe-Up Socks

KD Sandi — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:37:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: There's more than one way to work a sock, as many long-time sock knitters will tell you. Most of us learn to make them by starting at the cuff--but if you find that this method isn't making you happy, then perhaps you could try knitting socks from the toe up. Here to explain this versatile and easy technique is an excerpt from Interweave Knits Summer 2007 by Ann Budd, author of Interweave's Getting Started Knitting Socks. Ann's a huge fan of handknit socks herself. (Ann's bio states that she has not worn a store-bought sock in years, and has never met a handknit sock she didn't like!) Here's Ann!

Working Socks From The Toe Up

In general, I like to knit socks from the top down, beginning with a cast-on at the top of the leg and ending with the Kitchener stitch at the tip of the toe. But sometimes it's practical (and preferable) to work in the opposite direction--from the tip of the toe to the top of the leg. With this method, you cast on stitches at the tip of the toe, work the foot to the desired length, work short-rows to shape the heel, then work the leg to the desired length, finishing with a flexible bind-off at the top of the leg. One advantage of the toe-up method is that you can try on the socks at any point along the way to make sure that they fit just right.

Another advantage of toe-up sock knitting is that the heel is shaped in short-rows without a heel flap or gussets. You won't have to count rows in the heel flap or pick up stitches for the gussets, which can be particularly helpful if you're working with a highly textured yarn that obscures individual stitches or you tend to have trouble seeing the stitches. And best of all for many knitters, when you work from the toe up, you don't have to work the Kitchener stitch.

Working socks from the toe up is also a good idea if you're worried about running out of yarn. Begin with two balls of equal size, one for each sock. Work the foot to the desired length while you have lots of yarn, then continue up the leg as far as you can before the ball runs out. This is a great way to economize with expensive yarn--buy a single ball for each sock and use every precious yard.

-- Ann Budd

The full version of this article, complete with detailed how-to information and stitch number charts, appears in the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. Check it out!

If you'd like a step-by-step guide to knitting socks, including size and gauge charts and basic stitch patterns, ask for Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd at your local yarn shop, or buy it here.

Want to try a toe-up sock?
Here's two great free toe-up sock patterns!

If you've never tried toe-up sock knitting before and want a great free sock pattern, there's two in our FREE sock pattern ebook!

The Caspian Sea Socks are a knockout, with an intricate colorwork design, down to the patterned soles. This free sock pattern comes complete with detailed full-color charts and step-by-step instructions.

The William Street Socks were designed based on Ann Budd's article mentioned above, and sport big thick cables which stretch to cushion your feet...or the feet of someone you love! This sock pattern is appropriate for either men or women, and is specially designed to fit larger feet--because everyone deserves a pair of handknit socks!

This easy sock pattern is available in our FREE sock pattern ebook:

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily:
5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

So what kind of sock patterns are in this eBook? Let's see. There's a knitted lace sock pattern, a cabled sock pattern, a colorwork sock pattern, a men's sock pattern, and an easy beginner sock pattern. Something for everyone!!

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

The Top 5 Knitting Daily Posts of 2008

KD Sandi — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:39:00 GMT

Here on Knitting Daily, we love YARN!

Which posts did you like best? I took a look at which emails had the highest "open rate"--meaning the emails you opened and read versus those you left unread and unloved in your inbox (or worse, those you deleted!). And here's your Top 5 Most-Read Posts of 2008:

1. The Booties Are Back! The Booties Are Back! (May 30)

2. Come Play On Our New Site -- Including FORUMS! (May 23)

3. Tips for Working Tricky Armholes (May 28)

4. Are You In A Box? (February 25)

5. The Knitting Tools That Lurk In Your Closet (February 11)

So what do those tell me about what you want to see on Knitting Daily? You LOVE it when we make a beloved but long-out-of-print pattern available online, especially one that is as cute as those little felted booties. You were excited about the "grand opening" of our new KD site. You really like tips and techniques, especially anything that helps you knit better fitting sweaters.

And you REALLY hope that there are, in fact, hidden knitting tools lurking in your closet. (I'm not really sure why asking "Are you in a box?" got everyone all excited. I mean. Did you folks just really need vacations?)

But the post that says the most about who we are as a community is the one that generated nearly 1700 comments, the highest number of comments ever on Knitting Daily: the post titled Are You A Yarn Collector? (from April 21, 2008). That one told me the following:

We. Love. Yarn.

Well, it's a good thing you like patterns, techniques, tips, and yarn, because there's a whole lot of all of that coming up in the days ahead on Knitting Daily.

A video tip for knitting colorwork patterns more easily;
Information about the wonders of knitting sweaters without seams;
The new Spring Knits preview;
Some fun behind-the-scenes shots from the Spring Knits photoshoot;
Our traditional Knitting Daily Galleries, as well as a new Gallery showing you different ways to rock the new Spring styles!
All that, plus more video techniques, richer forums, more photos, and more fun.

Oh yes. And more yarn. Because, when you're Knitting Daily, it really is all about the yarn.

-- Sandi

Soon to Be a Winter Wardrobe Favorite: Knitted Jackets by Cheryl Oberle

Baby, it's COLD outside! As I am writing this, the temperature is 12 degrees Fahrenheit here in Canada where I live; it is 30 degrees Fahrenheit in Loveland, Colorado, where the main Interweave offices are. My town is buried under a foot of blowing snow (I'm beginning to understand the entire reasoning behind having a snowblower oh-so-much-more-clearly now!). And I'm dreaming of warm things, lovely, lovely knitted warm things...

What could be nicer than a handknit jacket this time of year? A book chock-full of patterns for gorgeous hand-knitted jackets, that's what, which is exactly what we have for you this winter: Cheryl Oberle's Knitted Jackets. I'm already in love with the Northwest Celtic Jacket pictured here; there are twenty patterns in this beautifully photographed book for everything from lace wraps to simple coats to warm you against the chill.

No one designs wraps like Cheryl; I first met her years ago when I fell deeply in love with her book Folk Shawls (also available from we nifty folk at Interweave Press). The shawl I knit from one of the patterns in that book has become a cherished friend on cold days like today.

So. Now all I have to do is figure out if I have the time to knit that beautiful Celtic jacket...Ah, well. It's good for knitters to have patterns that inspire our dreams of yarn and long evenings by the fire with our favorite projects in hand.

Look Inside Knitted Jackets: 20 Designs from Classic to Contemporary

Look for Knitted Jackets at your local yarn shop; or buy it online from us.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Did I finish my mom's Leaf and Nupp Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush? I don't know. I'm writing this ahead of time so I can have Christmas off. All will be revealed sometime early in Janaury 2009, I promise...

How Were You A Fearless Knitter in 2008?

KD Sandi — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:55:00 GMT

Did everyone have a joyous holiday, however you celebrated? Did you hug your family, eat lots of food, have a few hours of wonder and gratitude? Did you get cool knitting or crocheting or spinning stuff? Did you at least get a gift certificate so you can go to the yarn shop and buy yourself some nice yarn or needles or a knitting bag or even some nice books from Interweave? (hee hee)

And now, in three days, it will be 2009. Unbelieveable! 2008 will soon be behind us, so I thought it high time to ask you all a very important question:

How were you Fearless in 2008?

Remember that I started off the year challenging everyone to try something new in their crafting, to boldly go where no yarn-lover has gone before. So now I'd like to know what you did! Did you try cables for the first time? Did you learn to spin? Did you block something for the first time? Did you finally make a sweater that FITS?

Leave a comment. Heck send us a photo and when the holiday craze dies down a bit, maybe I can make a Fearless Gallery of what all you fab folks did this past year.

But Sandi--how were YOU fearless in 2008?

Oh, yeah. I guess it isn't fair to ask you to share your fearless feats and not tell you what mine were!

The big fear I conquered this year was my fear of Color. I have always thought of myself as Color Stupid, and avoided any Fair Isle pattern where I had to choose my own combinations as though it could give me a disease. Someone at work challenged me to face that fear, and in the process, I discovered Deb Menz and her stunning book Color Works. I was convinced that I was hopeless with color; Deb helped me become color-confident. The end result? I designed two separate Fair Isle swatches in two different colorways. And they don't suck. Hooray!

The other fear I faced was one so many of us carry around with us. I faced my fear of What I Look Like In Photos. Like so many women, I've grown up hating how I look in photographs, and not really wanting to have my picture out there. But in the process of posing for the Galleries, and in working with the fearless and gorgeous Gallery Gals, I learned so much about what looks good on me and what doesn't that now I am no longer squirrelly about getting my photo taken.

Heck, I'm even OK with being on TV. So when the Knitting Daily TV folks asked me if I would do some on-camera interviews with people for the You Asked It segments of Series 200 (coming to a public TV station near you January 18th!), I said yes--and then immediately went shopping for a cool on-camera outfit. My husband and I spent hours finding just the right clothing; I then went home and made myself a lovely necklace and earrings to match. I even bought new lipstick and new eye makeup.

I flew to Ohio, where the show was being taped...and the airline proceeded to lose my luggage, complete with Fancy TV Outfit and Makeup inside. For two entire days, they lost my luggage.

I had nothing to wear for two entire days--let alone on camera--but the rather frumpy outfit I had worn on the plane. Robyn Chachula saved the day for the TV taping by lending me a sweater from the Blueprint Crochet trunk show, and then--get this--Kim Werker DID MY MAKEUP FOR ME using her own cosmetic kit. (Now, THERE are some REAL friends for you.)

A year ago, I would have cringed with embarrassment over not having the perfect clothes and makeup for my big TV debut. This time, I just couldn't stop laughing about how funny the fates were being to make me Walk My Talk about wearing your clothes and not letting them wear you!

OK, now it's your turn. Tell us how you were a Fearless Knitter, a Fearless Crocheter, or a Fearless Spinner in 2008.

And by the way...thank you all for a wonderful, amazing year of knitting, yarn, and learning. Each and every day, I am grateful for each and every one of you. It is a privilege to share in your crafty lives each day.

-- Sandi

P.S. Do you want a Knitting Daily Fearless Knitter/Crocheter button for your blog? Sure you do!

Cool Knitting Daily Stuff!

Did you know you can buy Fearless Knitter/Fearless Crocheter tote bags, tee shirts, mugs and other nifty things in our Knitting Daily Cafe Press store? Yup. We have graphics with all kinds of variations on the Fearless theme, ready for you to display with pride!

Go take a look. (You know you want to.)

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

More Winter 2008 Galleries!

KD Sandi — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:25:00 GMT

Wow! I just finished reading some of the many comments you all have left on the Galleries posted on Monday, and I'm really thrilled with what you came up with. What was fascinating to me was how consistent your answers were! Here's what you all said for the individual Gallery Gal gallery photos:

Annie's Gallery: The consensus was that the Printed Silk Cardigan (from Knits Sping 2008) was the most flattering, although the Dainty Stripes Pullover from the current Knits Winter 2008 came in a close second.

Debbie's Gallery: Everyone agreed, hands down, that the Braided Pullover (from Knits Fall 2008) was the best style and silhouette for her. As for sweaters in the current issue, you were split between voting for the Victoria Yoke Pullover on her and the Manchester Jacket.

Meghan's Gallery: Again, your votes were split here. You loved how she rocked the Ropes and Picots Cardigan, but also loved how the Victoria Yoke Pullover rocked her!

Today's New Galleries!

Here are three new sweater galleries from Interweave Knits Winter 2008, featuring the same sweater worn by different women:

Manchester Jacket by Alice Halbeisen

Victoria Yoke Pullover by Jennifer Lang

Dainty Pinstripes Pullover by Emilee Mooney

And here are three new Gallery Gal galleries featuring the same woman wearing different sweaters:

Bonnie's Gallery

Toni's Gallery

Stefanie's Gallery

The galleries presented in Monday's post were:

Blooming Cardigan Gallery
Ropes and Picots Cardigan Gallery
Climbing Vines Pullover Gallery

Debbie's Gallery
Meghan's Gallery
Annie's Gallery

Which sweater style is best for your body type?

As I said on Monday, the point of this week's galleries is to see which style of sweater looks best on which body type. Since we are only looking at body shapes and types, there are no measurements included. Why? Because you could be a really large-framed woman and have the same shape as petite Annie; you could be tiny and have curves like mine!

As you look at these Gallery photos, consider the elements of the sweaters and how they play up--or play down--the different attributes of each model. Does one sweater show off a pretty waistline? Does another sweater add curves to a straight silhouette? And so on.

For each woman, leave a comment letting us know which sweater you think is best for her body type--and why! Hopefully, this will help you to find the sweater that is best for YOU.

-- Sandi

Want to see more of the beautiful sweaters from Interweave Knits Winter 2008?

View the Knits Winter Preview, with pattern information, bonus photos from the magazine photoshoot, and more!

Give the gift of Knits!

Before I came to work for Interweave, a dear friend of mine gave me a wonderful Christmas gift--subscriptions to three Interweave magazines! I remember being so touched that this friend had gone to all the trouble to find out what magazines were out there, and to research the best ones (seriously, that's what he told me, he "researched the best ones")! Which magazines did he gift me with that holiday season? Spin-Off, Handwoven, and Beadwork--because I already had a subscription to Interweave Knits!).

If there's a knitter in your life, give them the gift of great knitting patterns and informative articles about all aspects of knitting--give them the gift of a subscription to Interweave Knits. And for the other crafters around you, check out the entire family of Interweave magazines--from crocheting to painting and drawing, from quilting to beading and jewelry making, there's something there for everyone who loves to create beautiful things.

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

Every knitter has dreamed of the perfect cardigan pattern that he or she might knit some day. From a cozy cable knit to luminous lace, this free ebook will be your dream come true. This is a wonderful and varied collection of cardigans-which is one of the most important pieces in your wardrobe. You'll want to make every one of these knit cardigan patterns, so download your free eBook now and get started (and don’t forget to tell a friend so they can enjoy their own copy!).

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They're Here! The Knits Winter 2008 Galleries: Part One

KD Sandi — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:17:00 GMT

Yes, it's that time again: Time for the Knitting Daily Galleries!

Each time a new issue of Interweave Knits comes out, a group of us in the Interweave offices gather to try on some of the wonderful garments from the magazine, and we take photos to help you see how the sweaters look on different women with different body types.

Here are three of the garments from Interweave Knits Winter 2008, worn by seven women from Interweave:

Blooming Cardigan by Sarah Hoadley

Climbing Vines Pullover by Joëlle Meier Rioux

Ropes and Picots Cardigan by Laura Grutzeck

Which sweater is best for your body type?

Let's say that you want to knit a sweater. Let's say that since you are clearly a person of extremely good taste, with a refined sense of style and beauty, you want to knit a sweater out of our new Winter 2008 issue of Interweave Knits.

And let's say that right now, you're not in the mood to make a bazillion adjustments and tweaks to a pattern to make it flatter you. Sure, you can make those adjustments, because you've been reading Knitting Daily and you have the Waist Shaping Calculator and the Bust Dart Worksheet and you know how to use them.

But not this time. This time, you just want to knit, more or less straight from the pattern. (A little length adjustment at cuff or hem is fine, you think; but no bust darts or anything like that.)

So. Which pattern from the Winter Knits 2008 issue would you choose, and how would you go about choosing it?

This week's post are here to help you do that, with the help of six lovely Gallery Gals and yours truly. We're going to take a look at body types, and what kind of sweater is flattering for which type "straight out of the box," so to speak--straight from the magazine, no major adjustments (other than size or length) needed.

So this time, the sweater fits everyone in our Galleries, but it fits each of our Gallery Gals a bit differently due to her personal body type; each sweater of course also looks different on each woman due to her individual style.

My question to you is: Which sweater is best for which body type? All of the sweaters are beautiful; all of our Gallery Gals are also beautiful, each in their own way. But if each of our Gallery Gals--Toni, Annie, Debbie, Stefanie, and two new additions, the lovely Bonnie and the amazing Meghan--wanted to choose the most flattering sweater for their body type, which one would you tell them to knit?

And which one would YOU knit for yourself, based on your own body type?

Body type and fashion are tough to teach in words. Therefore, I've cooked up something special this time for you: I've made pages for individual Gallery Gals, showing one woman wearing many sweaters, with comments as to what each style plays up--and plays down--for that woman. Here are three for today:

Debbie's Gallery

Meghan's Gallery

Annie's Gallery

Pages for other gals will be posted on Wednesday. Each woman's page includes a few garments from past Galleries (if available) as well as the new sweaters, so you can compare a range of styles for each woman.

Note that we're only looking at body shapes and types this week; so no measurements. You could be a really large-framed woman and have the same shape as petite Annie; you could be tiny and have curves like mine!

For each woman, leave a comment letting us know which sweater you think is best for her body type--and why! Hopefully, this will help you to find the sweater that is best for YOU.

-- Sandi

Want to see more of the beautiful sweaters from Interweave Knits Winter 2008?

View the Knits Winter Preview, with pattern information, bonus photos from the magazine photoshoot, and more!

Give the gift of Knits!

Before I came to work for Interweave, a dear friend of mine gave me a wonderful Christmas gift--subscriptions to three Interweave magazines! I remember being so touched that this friend had gone to all the trouble to find out what magazines were out there, and to research the best ones (seriously, that's what he told me, he "researched the best ones"! Which magazines did he gift me with that holiday season? Spin-Off, Handwoven, and Beadwork--because I already had a subscription to Interweave Knits!).

If there's a knitter in your life, give them the gift of great knitting patterns and informative articles about all aspects of knitting--give them the gift of a subscription to Interweave Knits. And for the other crafters around you, check out the entire family of Interweave magazines--from crocheting to painting and drawing, from quilting to beading and jewelry making, there's something there for everyone who loves to create beautiful things.

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

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Help for Finishing Holiday Gifts: Learn How to Block

KD Sandi — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:38:00 GMT

Everything you need to start blocking

Note from Sandi: The holidays are a time to be with family--not to spend locked away in a room trying to finish up your holiday knitting! In July of 2007, I wrote a popular three-part series on blocking that seemed just perfect to share again as a way to help with last-minute holiday knitting madness--both yours and mine! After all: Even Knitting Daily editors need a little time off, and I am winging my way to Mobile, Alabama to visit with Grandma Rose and Grandpa Manuel this Thanksgiving week.

So while I am away, here's The Basics of Blocking, Part One. And below I also give you two recommendations for audiobooks--knitting audiobooks, of course--to lend some holiday spirit to those last hours of holiday knitting.

(Are you the kind of person who learns by watching? Episode 103 of the first season of Knitting Daily TV has a great lace blocking demo, and Episode 201 of the upcoming second season shows how to block large projects! Buy the Season One DVD or pre-order the Season Two DVD.)

(originally published July 25, 2007)

Since I finished the back of the Bonsai Tunic last weekend (from Interweave Knits Spring 2007), I figured the best way to start talking about blocking was to do a bit of show-and-tell, starring my new best friend: the charming Miss Blocking Board! The board was a birthday treat for myself, and now that I've had a chance to drive Miss Board around the block a bit, I'm wondering what I ever did without her.

Note: The instructions given here will work for a variety of knitted and crocheted items.

Step 1: Gather the basic tools. You'll need the following:

A surface to block on. Blocking boards, mattresses, towel-covered tables, foam floor mats, cork boards...anything waterproof and pin-able.
Some means of getting your knitting wet. Depending on the method you choose (see below), you will need one of the following: spray bottle for spraying, sink big enough to immerse the piece, wet towels, or an iron or garment steamer.
Something to measure with. Experts such as Ann Budd suggest a yardstick rather than a tape measure, because tape measures can stretch and cause inaccuracies in your final measurements.
The pattern schematic and measurements. This is to guide you in coaxing the piece into its proper size and shape as you block.
Pins. Some people swear by using blocking wires, or strong cotton thread, to help eliminate pin-marks and scalloped edges. Try them if you have them. Whatever you use, make sure all materials are both waterproof and rustproof.

Step 2: Weave in your ends! Really. Take a deep breath and just do it. Blocking will help all those little loose ends get secured in place, and also will help "set the stitches" you weave the ends into, so they don't look quite as bumpy as you think they will.

Use the schematic as a guide

Step 3: Check the pattern measurements. Look at the schematic, if there is one; otherwise, look to see what the "finished measurements" section says. Measurement tip: If you made alterations to the pattern, you made notes along the way, right? Of course you did! Make sure that you account for any changes you made, such as a slightly different gauge, or customizations, when you block.

Step 4: Decide which wetting method is best for your knitting. You can spray, steam, soak, or roll in wet towels to get your knitting wet. Which method you use depends on the fiber content of the yarn, as well as the stitch pattern, garment type, and your personal experience and preferences. But which is the BEST method? The best method is the one that gives you the results you want with that particular yarn and stitch combination. (Sorry. I know you wanted The One True Answer, but it's not that simple.) Do your homework--read the yarn label, check the yarn company's website, read your favorite knitting books (all by Interweave, right? Right!), and then experiment--on a SWATCH, of course, not on the cabled pullover it took you months to knit (see, swatches are good for something besides driving us knitters insane).

The most important thing about learning to block your knitting is: It's YOUR KNITTING. Not my knitting, not anyone else's. Be bold! Try different things until you find what works for you. By experimenting, you might just stumble on an awesome blocking trick you can share with the rest of us!

I leave you with an astounding and amazing Knitting Fact: There is no such thing as The Knitting Police. I promise, on my honor as a knitter, that no one will come in the middle of the night to cart you off to Bad Knitters' Prison if the way you block isn't the way I block.

On Friday: Part 2 of The Basics of Blocking.

Sandi's Picks For The Holidays

I always think of the holidays as a time of storytelling--we tell the stories of our traditions, our families, and our beliefs in our celebrations and in our gatherings. I like to listen to stories on CD while I am knitting and travelling--audiobooks make the stitches and the time fly by. May I suggest two audiobooks of knitting stories for you? Knitting Memories and Knitting Lessons, both edited by Lela Nargi and distributed by Interweave Press, are collections of tales by famous knitters such as Clara Parkes, Teva Durham, Vicki Howell, Trisha Malcolm, Kathryn Alexander, and more, narrated by an Audie-award winner (an Audie is the Oscar of the audiobook world). Listen to an excerpt from Knitting Memories; we have an excerpt from Knitting Lessons online as well. Look for these audiobooks at your local yarn shop, or buy them in our online store.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles this week? I am taking my Leaf and Nupp Shawl to Alabama with me, as well as the Aran Slippers. Those ought to keep me out of trouble, right?