Knitting Daily : Guest Editors

Free Pattern: Winter Twilight Mitts

KD Sandi — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:46:00 GMT

I have never made fingerless mitts before. And, I really never had any intention of making any, until this past winter when the temperatures dipped, unseasonably for our area, and days and days of cold weather seeped into the Interweave offices, leaving them so chill that my hands would stiffen as I attempted to type. The idea of making fingerless mitts, and making them sooner than later, also began to seep in.

A walk in the woods one blustery winter day was all it took for the inspiration. The sun was completely hidden by a thickly overcast sky. As the sky began to darken, a purple hue rose up. That sky was not one of those flat, gray cloudy days, but puffs of fast moving clouds racing over a gray plane. These puffs gathered and pooled rose and purple color giving the sky unexpected depth. And the barren winter trees created a stark lacy relief to that color and became the framework for the mitts.

The mitts are identical on all four sides requiring only one chart. Work across the chart as usual for the first half of the stitches, then work back across the chart from left to right to work the last half of the stitches. The cashmere yarn worked on bamboo dpns is the icing on the cake: pure knitting bliss. Wearing the finished mitts is almost as nice as making them—just not quite so fun.

Laura Rintala is managing editor of Interweave Knits magazine.

Not a subscriber to Interweave Knits? Click here to become one and see more great knitting patterns and tips in every issue.

(P.S. from Sandi: Laura had to keep a sharp eye out when I was taking the extra photos of these mitts to make sure that these pretties did not sneak their way into my pockets or purse, never to be seen again (well, not until the first snow day, anyway). I mean, who could blame me? Purple. And cashmere. And trees. They are STUNNING and maybe I will have to break my "no stranded colorwork" rule to make myself a pair. Oh, and one final point: Laura designed the first mitt freehand. No charting, not until the second mitt and the pattern writing. Freehand. On the needles, in other words. I just can't get over that one.)

Download the free pattern for the Winter Twilight Mitts!

Sandi Recommends

Want to learn more about the techniques of stranded colorwork knitting? One of my favorite books is The Art of Fair Isle Knitting, by Ann Feitelson--an Interweave classic from 1996 that is still going strong. The patterns are stunning, the technique chapters give me great confidence every time I am faced with colorwork projects, and the sections on history make the women of the Shetland Isles come alive: "[Knitting] was absolutely a financial necessity. The more you could knit, the more you could eat." There is a wonderful chapter on how to select colors, which for me was worth the cost of the book all by itself. (If you like having someone read to you, click here to learn more about the audiobook version of The Art of Fair Isle Knitting so you can listen to the stories of the Fair Isles while you knit!).

Purchase the book The Art of Fair Isle Knitting

Want more colorwork mitt patterns? We've got Michele Rose Orne's Composed Mitts and Donna Kay's Little Gems Mitts waiting for you in our pattern store. (Not into colorwork? There are cabled and ribbed and lace mitts (oh my!) in the store, too.) Below are convenient links to the Interweave Store:

Purchase the Composed Mitts
Purchase the Little Gems Mitts
Shop for other glove and mitten patterns in the Pattern Store

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily. She is flying along on the Camisa (dang, that's pretty yarn!!), and hopes to be able to wear it for you before she leaves for Canada!

Connie Chang Chinchio: Inspired by the Details

KD Sandi — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:19:00 GMT

A note from Sandi:

This week, we have two new knitting goodies to celebrate: the book Inspired to Knit by Michele Rose Orne, and the new Fall 2008 issue of Knitscene magazine. I thought it might be interesting to ask three Knitscene designers what had inspired them to design and knit their pieces for this issue.

Our final guest poster of the week is Connie Chang Chinchio, designer of the Riding to Avalon hoodie:

I was tickled when I saw that the editors at Knitscene named my hoodie for the Fall/Winter issue the Riding to Avalon hoodie because I was an avid reader of historical fantasy fiction when I was a kid. Hoodies for me have always evoked cloaks somehow – whether it's the gossamer hood attached to Princess Leia's white Star Wars gown or the elven robes Arwen wears in the Lord of the Rings – there's something utilitarian yet beautiful about them. For this design, the first element that jumped in my mind was an asymmetrical neckline extending into a hood in a patterned stitch. I matched that with long sleeve cuffs in the same stitch, closed by buttons like those that fasten the front neck.

This sweater is also the first time I've designed something in the round (at least up to the armholes). I usually like seams in my garments because I think it gives them stability and structure – especially in drapier, heavier yarns like silk, cotton, or alpaca. But since the Swirl was 85% merino, I felt it had enough memory to work well in an in-the-round design. And I must admit that it was nice eliminating some of the seaming that's usually required!

Since my background is in science, I tend to prefer casual, comfortable clothing. My design aesthetic follows that preference and veers towards the simple rather than the ornate. I like feminine delicate pieces, but pared down to their most basic expression. Lace is my first love. It can make a full sized garment feel as light as air, but I also like finely etched texture patterns worked over a small scale. I think I still fall into the trap of designing what I like to wear, which when taken to its most extreme end, would mean that I would be putting out only stockinette cardigans in ultra-fine gauge yarn. I enjoy working with small gauge yarns the most because I feel they offer a lot of versatility in terms of fit and design possibilities, but I am starting to appreciate the challenge and art of designing in heavier gauges. Plus, everyone needs a quick project once in a while!

I am obsessed with knitwear design. I find myself constantly thinking about it when my mind wanders. There's something about the color, texture, variety, and beauty of yarn and the fabric it makes that never ceases to fascinate me. When I'm not knitting, I work in environmental science research studying air pollution. I keep a blog at http://physicsknits.blogspot.com.

See more photos of Riding to Avalon (and 32 other great projects in the Fall 2008 Preview of Knitscene magazine!

New to the Free Pattern Library: Seafoam Towels by Ann Budd

Back in the summer of 2001, Ann Budd designed a wonderful set of hand towels using thick, thirsty chenille yarn and an easy all-over lace pattern. These towels, which Ann named the Seafoam Towels, have been one of our most popular and most-asked for patterns over the years after the Summer 2001 issue of Knits sold out. But now, for your summer knitting pleasure: They're Baaaaaack!

Download your copy of the Seafoam Towels and voila! No more agonizing over what to knit your mother-in-law for the holidays. (My own family might find a few of these under their Christmas trees!)

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? The Camisa, from Knitscene Fall 2006! I finished the Drawstring Raglan, and now I have swatched and cast on for a new summer top, in sparkly, wonderful yarn (String of Pearls from Muench). I'm done with the back waistband, and am now working the back skirt panel. Stay tuned for photos!

Star Athena: Inspirations From Everywhere

KD Sandi — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:03:00 GMT

A note from Sandi:

Today, our guest poster is Star Athena, designer of the Kimono Socks:

As a designer and semi-crazed sock enthusiast I am always looking for original inspiration and unexpected details in knitting. Ideas can hit you anywhere, whether traveling through the spice markets of Southern India or waiting to have your tires replaced at a gas station. It doesn’t matter where you are; images, color and patterns surround you.

For this issue of Knitscene, I was inspired by the simple lines and geometry of a kimono. I played around with wrapping and layering fabric around the cuff of a sock when it hit me to try stitch patterns that simulate a wrap without adding the extra bulk. I sketched a few ideas of what a kimono might look like wrapped around a foot and started to get really excited. The lines gave the socks interest from every angle.

The completed socks simulate a kimono in design, but also have a fun twist to suggest a sash: ties that are knit into the fabric as you go. They are created by casting on and binding off stitches in the middle of a round, so there are no extra ends to weave in when you’re finished.

Another current obsession I have is aligning the “right” yarn with the “right” pattern. When successful, they are meant to compliment each other like a great relationship. The right yarn will show off a pattern in the best possible way. The right pattern will make the yarn sing. Each is better for the harmonious pairing. For this project, Louet Gems is a fantastic yarn to work with, producing a fabric with clear stitch definition and available in a full spectrum of colors. Ginger is a classic turning leaves fall color perfectly suitable for a Japanese inspired sock. Plus, this project works up pretty quickly in sport weight yarn.

Because of the bold lines, it made sense to me that these socks should have a mirrored right and left design. An added bonus is that this helps the knitter avoid the dreaded “second sock syndrome.”

ABOUT ME: I am a designer and writer living in Portland, OR. I have contributed both articles and patterns to a number of places in print and online, including the 2009 Pattern a Day Calendar, the book “Expectant Little Knits”, knitty.com, and through Ravelry. In 2007, I was a guest on diy’s knitting TV show “Knitty Gritty”. I started the annual online spin-along, The Tour de Fleece in 2006 to spin yarn along with the Tour de France. I’m especially proud of the ribbons I won for homespun yarn at the LA County Fair in 2006 and 2007. I love the way a big fair can combine excellence in craft with deep fried Oreos on a stick.

When I’m not designing, I’m dreaming about designing. I’m also knitting, spinning, dying fiber, writing, doodling, walking, doing crossword puzzles, drinking tea, eating chocolate, stretching, contemplating the cruelty of existence, and exploring the great Pacific Northwest.

View the Fall 2008 Preview of Knitscene magazine!

Design Inspirations: Editor's Picks From the Hurt Book Sale
Our annual Hurt Book Sale is on now through next week! I browsed the inventory myself and here are a few recommendations:
How about some expert design advice from the pros? In the Style series, Pam Allen and Ann Budd give you not only dozens of beautiful, inspirational patterns, but also a unique Design Notebook in each volume that provides guides to designing your own beautiful garment: Wrap Style, Scarf Style, Folk Style, Bag Style, and Lace Style.

REMEMBER: The books in the Hurt Book Sale aren't pristine, so if you want a lovely pristine copy all your own, visit your local yarn shop!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? The Camisa, from Knitscene Fall 2006! I finished the Drawstring Raglan, and now I have swatched and cast on for a new summer top, in sparkly, wonderful yarn (String of Pearls from Muench). Love the yarn. Love the pattern. Stay tuned for photos!

Amanda Furlan: Inspirations of a First-Time Designer

KD Sandi — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:18:00 GMT

A note from Sandi:

Today, our guest poster is Amanda Furlan, designer of the Dirndl Raglan:

Originally, the Dirndl Raglan was intended to be a cardigan! While I was knitting the original, I was also in the midst of planning a trip to Munich, Germany for my masters program. I think all the excitement came through in the designing of this sweater that mimics the traditional blouses worn by Bavarian women as part of the dirndl. While it is not a direct translation of the drindl dresses, it is my interpretation of how the blouses might look as a sweater. The sweater, trimmed in a cabled-lace, has slightly puffed three-quarter length sleeves, a square neck, and simple, classic design that I hope brings a little bit of Oktoberfest to everyone as it could be worn in the fall during the festival.

The sweater is knit from the top down with yarn-overs along the raglan sleeves and would be great for someone wanting to dabble for the first time in cables and lace. The use of the lace and cables as ribbing hugs the body in a way that gives the sweater a more fitted look without needing to do any other shaping.

The Mission Falls 1824 Superwash yarn was a dream with which to work! It knits up beautifully and shows off the details of the cable and lace work. The drape is also wonderful! Through out the entire knitting of the sample, I gushed to other knitters about how great this yarn is. The bonus is that the yarn is machine washable and keeps its shape perfectly when washed in the machine.

I am a first time designer, and love classic clean lines for garments. I’ve been knitting for about 5 years, and I knit top-down quite often because I can wear the garment so much quicker after I finish knitting! When I am not knitting, I am hanging out with my pug, Yoda, or visiting the big city of Chicago with friends. I blog about our antics at Purls and Pugs (http://aswanson.typepad.com/knit).

View the Fall 2008 Preview of Knitscene magazine!

What inspires you to knit? Do you ever get "stuck" in your knitting? Or perhaps you have wondered how designers come up with so many fabulous ideas in their knitting? Michele Rose Orne, a long-time knitwear designer, takes us on a journey through creativity, inspiration, and the birth and development of design from idea to garment in her new book, Inspired to Knit. Follow the link to read an excerpt, order the book, or to join a creative bunch of folks working on a Mood Board Project inspired by Michele's book.

We want to know what inspires your knitting! Leave a comment and share your inspiration with all of us.

Behind the Scenes At Knitscene Magazine

KD Sandi — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:43:00 GMT

A note from Sandi: Are you ever curious how a magazine is dreamed up--and the dreams made real--by the editors? What inspires them? How do they take those inspirations and turn them into real-life sweaters in those gorgeous photographs we all love to drool over? I asked Katie Himmelberg, the style editor of Knitscene magazine, to share some of the process with us, from inspiration to photo session...

The Making of Knitscene
by Katie Himmelberg, Knitscene's style editor

The “look” for each issue of Knitscene is decided upon about nine months before the magazine hits newsstands. Editor Lisa Shroyer and I collaborate on ideas for the themes; they might originate with a movie we watched, a photo, or trends we’ve spied from fashion magazines, blogs, and of course, knitters! Then, to give our designers a clear idea of what types of projects we’re looking for, I gather images from all those sources and create a “mood board” for each theme. We discuss what kinds of silhouettes fit the story and techniques the projects might include.

The Projects
Then, after the submissions come in from designers, Lisa makes her final selection and we choose yarns for the projects. Color is a very important element in making all the projects in one story work together and look cohesive in the end, and it is very influential in how the project will be styled for the shoot. The yarn goes off to designers, and then we wait and wait and wait. Seeing the projects as they come in is very exciting, and then seeing them all together in their “stories” is another thrill.

At this point, we begin to talk more specifically about how we’d like to shoot the projects; sometimes our initial ideas for sets or clothes change after seeing the garments in person. Sometimes we even put a project or two into a story different from the one it was originally designed for! So much is dependent on actually seeing the garments together. Don’t get me wrong; our designers do a great job with their proposals, giving us a clear idea of what the final product will be—there’s just nothing like seeing the actual piece, live and in-person.

The Photoshoot
Next up: the fun and exhausting task of preparing for the photoshoot! We hold a model casting call with local amateur/non-models. We like to use everyday people as models, since they reflect our readership and lend a natural, authentic feel to the magazine. We meet with our photographer to go over our ideas and possible locations. And I shop. Since we are shooting for the fall issue in the spring and vice versa, I scour thrift stores for unique and out-of-season pieces, and fill in with items from department and discount stores. I like to keep the styling accessible; we don’t really need $300 jeans and such! The looks in Knitscene are a little more refined and accessorized than you might see on the street, but overall I think they reflect the everyday wearability of the projects. The look is more free-spirited and funky than the classic look of Interweave Knits.

After we’ve chosen our models and done most of the shopping, we have a pre-shoot day where we have the models come in and try on the projects and clothes to see who looks best in each. I take notes on what works and what doesn’t and what I still might need to shop for. At this point, I also try out accessories with the projects and make lots of lists organizing who will wear what, with which outfit and extras, and hair and makeup ideas.

We shoot Knitscene over three days, one day for each story, to allow for set and location changes. Photoshoots are hectic and exhausting, but they are also a lot of fun and the final result makes the hard work worth it. Our days begin early. Lisa and I arrive as the photographer and make-up artist are getting set-up, and I organize and steam the projects and clothes we’ll be shooting that day. Shortly after, the first model arrives and we get her prepped for the first shot. It always feels great to get that first shot under our belt! It usually takes the longest to prep and then we are on a roll after that.

View the Fall 2008 Preview of Knitscene magazine!

Knitscene is having a Gallery of its own!

Yes, that's right: Knitting Daily is going to have a Knitscene Gallery, to celebrate all the fabulous garments in the Fall 2008 issue. However...there are 33 designs in that magazine, and the Knitscene folks and I found that we were having a hard time choosing which ones to feature in the Gallery. So we thought we would let you help us choose!

Vote for the Knitscene Gallery Garments!

What is a Gallery? For several of the past issues of Interweave Knits, Sandi Wiseheart and her trusty band of Gallery Gals and Guys have tried on some of the actual sample garments from the magazine photoshoot, to give you an idea of what the garments look like on a range of shapes and sizes. There is only ONE sample garment for each design, and since all of us are different, Sandi writes an individualized commentary for each person, noting where adjustments might (or might not) be made to get the most fabulous fit for each and every body. Every person who tries on the garments finds surprises ("I never thought I could wear that!"); each time we do a Gallery, the feedback from readers is that the Galleries are extremely helpful in helping them to choose and fit their own sweaters. Come join the fun!

View past Galleries!

A Knitter's Thanksgiving

KD Sandi — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Me, at Sunny Rock B&B

I am back from Canada, and instead of being a respite from my work, the trip allowed me to re-connect with the joy behind what I do for a living. I am a professional knitter; I am a professional writer-about-knitting; knitting permeates every moment of every day of my life. However, sometimes the daily hustle-bustle of getting the Knitting Daily posts out leaves little space in my life for experiencing the simple joys of being a knitter...and this trip, though short, was full of little special moments that brought back these joys to my knitterly heart.

The first sight that greeted me, 1700 miles from home, in a lovely bed and breakfast hideaway called Sunny Rock (www.sunnyrock.on.ca) was what you see in the photo at right: a pair of antique sock blockers.
Antique sock blockers Sock blockers! And in one of the guest rooms, a vintage spinning wheel sat in a bedroom corner. The oh-so-gracious (and funny!) owners of Sunny Rock, Sally and Jan, upon hearing what I did for a living, brought out a gorgeous handknit aran cardigan given to them by a neighbor, and they allowed me to chatter on and on about staghorn cables and honeycomb stitches and how cleverly the sweater was designed.

The perfect place to knit

On the wide veranda overlooking a river and waterfall were the perfect chairs to sit and spend an afternoon knitting and chatting, admiring the beautiful music of the water and laughing at the antics of the beaver family who live under the dock.

One afternoon, I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, so I laid down for a nap. When I woke up, my husband Nicholas had pulled up a chair close by the bed, and was quietly knitting away on a pair of socks he is making just for me.

The view from our knitting chairs

And on my last day in the Toronto area, we made a mad dash to Lettuce Knit (www.lettuceknit.com), one of the area's local yarn shops, to buy Canadian yarn. I bought Fleece Artist and SeaSilk and would have bought more, but my husband reminded me that Christmas was coming...so I pointed out a couple more goodies in the shop and made sure I carefully said the name of each one twice in his hearing.

Canadian yarn!

And on the plane journey home, a young man, very puzzled by the orderly tangle of circular needles and sock yarn in my hands, got up the courage to ask what the heck I was doing. I explained the idea behind knitting two socks on two circular needles, and he told me stories of his grandmum knitting shawls and hats.

Everywhere I went, the mere fact that I was a knitter seemed to bring out tales of family and friends, gifts and histories, often from total strangers. Everyone had a knitting story, or a special knitted gift to share.

I am so lucky to be a knitter. I am so fortunate to be able to listen to stories of how knitting touches everyone's lives.

The bounty of a Local Yarn Shop!

And so, this Thanksgiving week, I am deeply grateful for all the gifts in my knitter's life: For yarn, that sweet, seductive, magical substance that I can never get enough of. For knitting needles, that quietly click and feel so warm and useful in my hands. For the creative geniuses (who humbly call themselves "knitwear designers") who come up with lovely patterns so worthy of time spent knitting thousands of stitches to bring their designs to life. And of course, I am grateful for all the elves behind the scenes who tech edit, test knit, edit, copyedit, layout, and otherwise make the patterns make the journey from designer to book or magazine.

I am grateful for my knitting friends, and for my non-knitting friends who politely compliment me on every knitted item as though it were the Sistine Chapel of knitwear. I am full of gratitude for local yarn shop owners, who are the heart of knitting in each town I visit. And when I need something exotic, the online shops are there to send me goodies from far away.

And finally, I am grateful for you, our Knitting Daily readers, who share your passion and your humor so generously.

We here at Knitting Daily wanted to share a special message with you this holiday season—so here, just for you, a little video greeting card from all of us to all of you.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Nicholas and I

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

A special thank you to our guest editors, Amy Clarke Moore, Kim Werker, and Lisa Shroyer, for writing such wonderful posts while I was gone. And to those of you who asked: No, I am not Canadian, but my husband Nicholas teaches at York University in Toronto most of the year, so he was the loved one I was up there visiting!

Lisa Shroyer: Studying Knitted Sweaters For A Living

KD Sandi — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:00:00 GMT

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...

Kim Werker: Talking To Knitters About Crochet

KD Sandi — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 07:00:00 GMT

Melange: half knit, half crochet.(Winter 2007)

Today's Guest Star poster is Kim Werker, editor of Interweave Crochet magazine and the new book Crochet Me.

Isn't Sandi just the best? Not only are her KD posts entertaining and informative even for crocheters like me, she makes a great lunch date when I'm in Colorado to put an issue of Interweave Crochet to bed. And that's exactly what we did a couple of weeks ago: we sent the winter issue off to press.

In addition to working on the magazine, I've spent the last several weeks promoting my new book, Crochet Me. Not only is it amazing to talk about this project I'm so proud of and to tell the stories of so many talented designers, it's also an incredible privilege to meet crocheters and knitters from across the land. Oh, yes, I was surprised, too, by how many knitters came to say hi, ready to get an earful from me about crochet. I talk fast, too. So it's really an earful.

When Sandi asked me to write a guest post on KD, I thought of all the conversations I've had with knitters over the years, and wanted to take this opportunity to share some of what has come out of those chats. I'd love to know what you think. Here's the gist:

Close your eyes and picture a crocheted sweater.

Let me guess. It's made from double crochet. It's dense. It's hot (in the warm sense). It resembles body armour. As a knitter, it's an affront to all you value about handstitched garments.

Now open your eyes and take a look at the latest issue of Interweave Crochet, or at Crochet Me. Nary a body-armour garment in the bunch. Why?

Antoinette Cardigan (coming Winter 2007)

It's because to achieve a flattering, pleasing fit in crochet you have to approach three things just as carefully as you approach them for a knitting project: Yarn, stitch, and hook size. The only difference between knitting and crochet is that, well, they're different from each other. Crochet stitches are denser than knit stitches, and there's a far wider variety of them to choose from. That can be overwhelming. I can't stress enough how important it is to swatch early and swatch often! Grab an hour and some yarn and needles and hooks, and take a wee journey with me.

Make a stockinette stitch swatch in one yarn on the needles you'd normally knit it with. Then make a swatch in single, half double, or double crochet with a hook the same size as the needles. Then make a third swatch, this time with a hook at least one full millimeter-size larger.

In either case, the crochet swatch will be thicker than the knit swatch. That's because a crochet stitch is essentially a tube, while stockinette stitch can lay pretty much flat. It's tempting to write off crochet right there, isn't it? To say, "Crochet is too dense and thick to make a flattering garment." But that's lazy, folks. Notice that the third swatch, on a larger hook, drapes much better than the one made with a smaller hook. A sweeping generalization about crocheting garments: Use a lighter-weight yarn and a bigger hook than recommended. This isn't because crochet is worse, it's simply that crochet is different from what you're so familiar with.

Really, whether you're interested in crochet or not, being thoughtful about yarn, stitch, and implement size is key to any successful project.

What do you think? I'd really love to know.

Visit Kim's blog on interweavecrochet.com.

Kim's final book tour appearance will be this Thursday, November 15th, from 7-9 pm at Unwind in Burbank, California (www.unwindyarn.com).

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...

Amy Clarke Moore: The Ten-Year Cardigan

KD Sandi — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:00:00 GMT

Today we proudly present the first in our series of posts by Guest Star Editors—this one is from Amy Clarke Moore, editor of Spin-Off magazine.

This is the time of year that I pull out the brown cardigan I’ve been knitting for my Dad for since 1996. I work on it every year between November and February (the beginning of the holiday season until his birthday in February) with the hope that this will be the year that I finish it. In the ten years that I’ve been working on it, my Dad has lost about 30 pounds—so the sweater will be a little roomy. I’m so fortunate that he is so understanding and patient.

Also—even though I’ve managed not to run out of yarn and I haven’t (yet) lost the pattern—it does take a little bit of remembering each year to figure out where I am. I started leaving notes to myself to help out. Of course, then I have to figure out what my cryptic note to myself means. I thought that I left it last year having knitted a little bit too much on the back and I needed to do some frogging, but now looking at the note, it looks like maybe I frogged it a little too far and have to knit back. I’m sure Sandi’s frog could help me figure it out.

I have to confess that I made a decision error when starting this project—I let my Dad choose the yarn and while it is a lovely brown and a wonderful yarn, it does not inspire me. I tend to choose reds, oranges, and pinks most often, and also gravitate to greens, blues and purples—but always in groups—no one solid color by itself. Of course, that wouldn’t be appropriate for my Dad. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not afraid to wear color—I have seen him wear some pretty colorful shirts—but usually they are just one color—not a riot of colors. Or plaid. I want to make him something that he’d actually wear (and that my brother and sister won’t make fun of!).

And also, I probably shouldn’t confess this to a group of knitters—I so much prefer handspun yarn. I thought I’d be saving myself time by knitting this sweater for my dad in millspun yarns. . . but it turns out, I probably would have finished it years ago if it was handspun. All my projects in the UFO basket are millspun—I tend to finish my handspun projects or use the yarn in other projects if the project I initially embarked were misled. I mean! That’s handspun there. A little bit of me got caught up in the yarn as I was making it. I can remember the books on tape I was listening to when I spun it, and catch a whiff of the sheep barn mingled with the aroma of roasting almonds at the Sheep and Wool Festival where I browsed dreamily among the booths looking for fiber.

But maybe this will be the year that I finish my dad's ten-year sweater. And I really do want to finish it. I’ve been imagining my Dad wearing it these ten years—knowing how much he enjoys a good, hardwearing garment that will keep him warm while he goes about his work. I’ve finished the sleeves, worked a little too far up the back, and am nearly done with the right front—there isn’t that much left to do.

I also discovered that I prefer working on circular needles, even when I’m doing rows instead of rounds—so I made a lot more progress once I switched the needles out. It makes it easier to stick in my bag and take with me—which helps me get things done as I am a waiting room kind of knitter.

The hour between when my toddler Hannah goes to bed and when I go to bed is usually reserved for beading (if I haven’t put myself to sleep reading her books and singing her sleepy songs), and Saturday mornings are the best time to spin—when the sun is streaming into the living room and Hannah is playing quietly (or not so quietly) with her toys, so knitting occurs here and there in the unexpected free moments when I’d be waiting or in a meeting when it is better for my hands to be occupied with knitting (otherwise I’d have to sit on them). Apparently, I can’t just sit still—or that’s what my grandmother used to tell me. “You can’t sit still, can you!” Nope. But that means that most of my family members have socks or scarves or hats or sweaters that I made them over the years—not a bad thing for a waiting-room knitter.

I know I'm not the only one with 10-year projects (mostly because I've been reading Knitting Daily and have read the responses!). Do you also work on them a little at a time or do they lie dormant for years? Also, would you call my dad's cardigan a WIP (work in progress) or a UFO (unfinished object) or does it matter?

Learn more about Amy, spinning, and Spin-Off magazine on the Spin-Off website.

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.

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