Knitting Daily : Knitting And Crochet

In the Loop

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT


	The Calypso Clutch by Brenda K. B. Anderson

I think I have about twenty handbags, or maybe more, but I always go back to my three or four favorites. When I was flipping through the new issue of Interweave Crochet, I found a new go-to bag! It's the Calypso Clutch by Brenda K. B. Anderson, shown at right. I love the chevron stitch body with the decorative buttons. The clutch stays closed with magnetic snaps and the lining is a gray polka dot fabric—darling!

Like many of you, I like to knit and crochet, and the new issue of Interweave Crochet is full of lovely patterns for warm-weather wear. Here's Interweave Crochet editor Marcy Smith to tell you more about what's in store in the summer 2013 issue:

A couple of months ago, I found myself in a chilly coastal town with no hat. (I know, right? How could I not have a hat?)


The Undefined Cowl by Janet Brani

The Tango Tunic by Doris Chan

As it happens, there was a crafts fair set up on the town's green. And there I found and purchased a crocheted hat. It's pretty great—a beret made with three strands of yarn held together and crocheted with a big hook. Three people promptly stopped me on the street and asked where I got it.

Here's the thing: I could have crocheted that hat in twenty minutes. But without yarn and a hook, I was just a person with a cold head.

A few weeks ago, I got to thinking about folks who, even if they had a yarn and hook, could not conjure up a hat. Some of these folks are people who will have a hat only if someone gives them a hat. So I set about turning a huge pile of yarn into beanies, berets, and slouches (you can get a peek at the project on the Back Page and read more about it at CrochetMe.com). And while I was crocheting those hats, I was thinking about you all—and this great skill you have that allows you to crochet a long string of yarn into a functional beanie that you could give to someone with a cold head. Why am I writing about this now, when daffodils are poking their heads up out of the soil and the dogwood are putting out little buds?

Because, right now you're gathering up cotton thread to make the beautiful crochet jewelry in Chain, Bead, Picot; sassy non-plied yarn to make Doris Chan's Tango Tunic top, Lily Chin's fabulous Cancan Collar, or Janet Brani's Undefined Cowl; and all manner of lightweight fibers to make one of the terrific girls' dresses by Kathy Merrick, Cristina Mershon, and Laurinda Reddig. And you'll need space in your stash area to make way for the new yarn, right?


	The Can Can Collar by Lily Chin

So you can gather up the wools of winter—all the stray fibers and partial balls—hold them together, and, using the biggest hook you have, crochet a beanie. Or two. Or as many as your stash allows. Each one will take you less than an hour. Then when cold weather returns, find homes for these beanies. All those cold heads will thank you.

Also in this issue, in a continued celebration of you, Kathryn Vercillo joins us with her new column: Everyday Crochet. She begins by talking with two Australian crocheters who teamed up to support each other through a sweater-making project. In future issues, she will talk with crocheters who, just like you, crochet from pure love of the craft.

Have a lovely spring. We'd love to see what you're crocheting! Stop by CrochetMe.com to show us. And subscribe to Interweave Crochet now to get these beautiful patterns delivered to your door!

Best,

P.S. What's your favorite thing to crochet? Share it with us in the comments!

Designing the Ruched Yoke Tee

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:01:00 GMT

Two years ago, in the Spring 2011 issue of Interweave Knits, the Ruched Yoke Tee debuted. We're knitting the Ruched Yoke in our current knit-along, and I thought it would be fun to learn more about the project.

Knits intern Sharon Zientara helped out with the photoshoot for the Spring 2011 issue, and she was so taken with the Ruched Yoke Tee that she contacted the designer, AnneLena Mattison and asked her about designing the garment. Here's their conversation:

One of my favorite garments during shooting was the sweet and simple Ruched Yoke Tee. I absolutely L-O-V-E knit tees. Who can stop knitting garments just because the weather is heating up? This adorable top is perfectly paired with any spring bottom; shorts, skirts, jeans or crops. And the more I get to know a finely-made cotton yarn in my knitting life, the more I can see it being whipped into all sorts of great summer knitting patterns. Given all that, it seemed expedient that I get the lowdown on the tee, knitting, and inspiration from the designer herself, the lovely AnneLena Mattison.

Q: How long have you been knitting and from whom or what did you learn?
A: I grew up in Denmark, a country with a strong knitting tradition. Both of my grandmothers, my mom and aunts knit. I think I must have learned from them somewhere around age 5, I don't remember exactly, all I know is that when I entered school I knew how to knit and crochet.

Q: How about designing? For how long have you been doing that?
A: As a little girl, before I could read patterns, I made clothes for my dolls. As an adult, for years, I designed and made many clothes and toys for my 6 kids and husband, and in the summer of 2010 I started submitting my designs to Interweave Knits. My first design was in the winter issue.

Q: From which sources do you get your design inspiration?
A: When I see a nice stitch pattern or a design detail in any type of textile, it will marinate in my head for a while before I have a new design to put down on paper. I also get design ideas from the storyboards put out by IK.

Q: How about your inspiration for this particular design?
A: I really liked the ruching on the "Tea Leaves Cardigan" by Melissa LaBarre and last summer I came up with a design for a little girl's tee for my youngest daughter and she really loved her tee.

Q: What was most challenging about designing the ruched yoke tee? What challenges did you encounter in working it up yourself?
A: I always find the math the most challenging and also the most satisfying aspect of designing. I don't particularly enjoy knitting with cotton so that was the most challenging part of knitting the tee.

Q: What if any recommendations do you have for modifying this pattern (i.e. plus size, larger bust, etc.)
A: The pattern already comes in sizes from child's size 2 all the way to size 55¼" bust circumference and I don't think it would be hard to make it bigger. I am a pretty curvy girl so I included some bust short rows on my own tee; it would be easy to do some bust short rows about one inch down from the armhole.

Given your pick of any fiber you could dream of, which would you choose?
I am partial to wool or a silk/wool blend both for knitting, dyeing and spinning.

Who's your favorite knitter in the history of time?
I very much enjoy Elizabeth Zimmermann's books and think it would have been a real treat to meet her in person.

I hope you enjoyed this interview! And it's not too late to join our knit-along!

Cheers,

Knitting Daily TV Turns 10!

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:00:00 GMT

I note from Kathleen: It's hard to believe another season of Knitting Daily TV is here! But it is, and I'm thankful. Each episode is so full of interesting techniques, patterns, and fun personalities. If you want to learn how to knit, or if you want some new tips and tricks, or if you just enjoy welcoming Eunny, Kristin, and Clara back into your home, wait no longer!

Here's Associate Producer Annie Bakken to tell you what's to come in series ten of Knitting Daily TV.


Eunny demonstrates fancy increases and decreases to shape your knitwear on episode 1003.

Clara Parkes and Eunny are in the knitting lab to talk about softspun yarns on episode 1005's Yarn Spotlight.

Behind the Scenes, Immersed in Yarn

As a knitter, there's nothing better than to be surrounded by the yummy yarns on the set of Knitting Daily TV.

We've taped the tenth season of the show, and I'm proud to say we get better and better with each series. Airing this January on Public Television, series 1000 of Knitting Daily TV is sure to delight our fans and hopefully intrigue new knitters to join us. Plus, if you're a yarn lover, tune in to see first-hand some of the newest yarns on the market.

Lucky Number 13!

We have thirteen new episodes, which means thirteen more quick tips and thirteen more getting-started segments with host Eunny Jang. We paid attention to what our fans wanted on our Facebook page, and we're diving more into sweater construction, lace knitting, knitted socks, and new design orientated segments. Viewers will learn how to tailor their knitwear, how to add drape using the right yarn and stitches, and even how to add small design elements that make all the difference.

Clara Parkes is also back on this season of Knitting Daily TV with thirteen more yarn spotlights, where all yarn lovers (crocheters, weavers, spinners too!) can enjoy her scientific, informative take on the newest yarns and how to best put these fibers to the test in your knitting. Learn the difference between handpainted and hand-dyed, woolen and worsted, and mercerized versus non-mercerized cotton. Plus, have you heard of possum yarns?!

Introducing Knit-Alongs!

Also brand-new are two knit-alongs with Kristin Omdahl. Mixed into our usual how-to designer segments, you can knit alongside Kristin to make the Agua Rios Vest and the Wheeled Lace Shawl.


	Kristin Omdahl knits the Wheeled Lace Shawl on this season's knitalong.

Both of these patterns are geared towards women, for beginning to intermediate knitters. They both look like elaborate knits, but are actually easy to master with Kristin's step-by-step approach. And, they're classic, ageless garments that we hope a wide audience of knitters will enjoy.

As always, favorite guests Laura Bryant and Barry Klein are also back for more knitting and crochet know-how with slip-stitch knitting, tencel yarns, and Tunisian crochet. This season also welcomes crochet designer Robyn Chachula with crocheted jewelry and edging advice.

I hope you'll tune into the show and enjoy watching it as much as I love being a part of it. And as always, please feel free to leave comments as to what you like, love, or want to see more (or less!) of on Knitting Daily TV. We're listening!

Tune in to Knitting Daily TV on your local PBS station, or order the DVDs now and get KDTV delivered right to your door!

Cheers,

P.S. What's your favorite thing about Knitting Daily TV? Leave a comment and let us know!

No Assembly Required!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:00:00 GMT


	*Warmth, from Finish-Free Knits, by Kristen TenDyke*

	*Honor, from Finish-Free Knits, by Kristen TenDyke*

Knitters who don't enjoy finishing, rejoice! Fabulous designer Kristen TenDyke's new book Finish-Free Knits is coming out in December.

Kristen got a round-about start as a knit and crochet designer—she started as a graphic designer at Classic Elite Yarns, with lots of crochet experience but very little knitting experience. Her skills improved as she immersed herself into the knitting culture at Classic Elite, and she soon became a technical editor and then a published designer.

Her first published design was intended for Classic Elite, but they felt it wasn't for them, so Kristen submitted it to Vogue Knitting. It was accepted, and even found its way onto the cover of the 2006 Vogue Knitting Holiday Issue. Since then, her patterns have also appeared in Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, Knit Simple, Twist Collective and Knitty.com.


*Delight, from Finish-Free Knits, by Kristen TenDyke*

*Light Bolero, from Finish-Free Knits, by Kristen TenDyke*

Here's an excerpt from an article about Kristen, which appears in the Winter 2012 issue of Interweave Knits:

The Coincidental Knitter: Kristen TenDyke

Kristen says she pulls inspiration "from anywhere." In some ways, editing the patterns others design informs her ideas. She explains, "My boyfriend is a musician. He listens to music, gets inspired, and writes music. My tech editing is my listening." She also listens to "whatever my body is telling me it wants. When it gets cold out, a lot of my designs are warm cardigans. If my hands are cold, I put in pockets."

The lacy cotton Light Bolero (pictured below left), one of twenty designs in Finish-Free Knits, was Kristen's response to an over-cooled office. "I wasn't dressed for air-conditioning. I wanted something to throw over me to keep me warm, so I drew up a sketch as I sat there. Then I came up with a yarn idea. Once I had the sketch done, I started swatching different stitch patterns."

As with all of the designs in the book, the Light Bolero requires no finishing. Like the Greek goddess Athena, who sprang full grown from Zeus's head, the book's projects spring from the needles fully formed. "I wanted to challenge myself to see how many ways I could create a seamless sweater. There are top-down, bottom-up, and side-to-side patterns—a lot of interesting constructions," Kristen says.

The concept of seamless garments might sound daunting to knitters accustomed to knitting fronts, backs, and sleeves separately, then finishing. But Kristen is reassuring: "I tried to make the patterns as easy as possible. In general, only one thing happens at a time!"

Still, some of the patterns definitely provide fodder for knitters who want to improve their skills. "There are some techniques I understand will challenge some knitters" she says. "Some garments have pockets, hoods, set-in sleeves. I like to remind myself that anything can be done, really."

—Spike Gillespie, from the Winter 2012 issue of Interweave Knits

I agree with Kristen—anything can be done in knitting. It's just a matter of patience, practice, and perseverance. Thank goodness Kristen has all three traits or we wouldn't have this wonderful new book.

Order your copy of Finish-Free Knits today so you can get started on one of Kristen's fabulous sweaters!

Cheers,

P.S. Do you dislike finishing? Leave a comments and tell us why!

Knitting + Crochet = Fabulous (and Free!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Knitting and crochet are sisters who share a rich history. From knitted buntings to crocheted lace collars, these two crafts have been providing beauty, pride—and even a livelihood—for hundreds of years.

To celebrate this history, I've pulled together five patterns that use knitting and crochet to achieve beauty, style, and even a little whimsy, in Sensational Knit and Crochet: 5 Free Knitting and Crochet Patterns, a free eBook!.

Clockwise from top left: Lacy Cables Scarf; Snow Queen Hat; Snowflake Sweater; Coco/Holly Topsy-Turvy Doll; Mélange Turtleneck

Knitted cables wind through the center of Annette Petavy's Lacy Cables Scarf, with a deep frame of elegant mesh crochet stitch. The Snow Queen Hat by Anastasia Popova is a quick knit with crocheted motifs adding a bit of snowy style to the brim. Mari Lynn Patrick's Snowflake Sweater draws on knitting skills to shape worsted-weight yarn around a crocheted motif worked in a lightweight yarn. Clever crocheted seams draw the garment together.

The Mélange Turtleneck by Katie Himmelberg pairs a stockinette body with crocheted, shell pattern sleeves and collar. It's great in two colors, or use just one to make a sophisticated show-stopper. Knit and crochet form fast friends in Annie Modesitt's Coco/Holly Topsy-Turvy Doll. The socialite Coco is knitted, and her hippie chick friend Holly is crocheted.

We've also provided some crochet basics for you in case you're new to crochet or need to brush up on your skills.

Expand your needlework skills by trying one or more of these knitting and crochet patterns; download Sensational Knit and Crochet: 5 Free Knitting and Crochet Patterns today!

Cheers,

A Page From the Past

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:00:00 GMT

I'm a history buff. Masterpiece Theater? Yes, please. Historical novels? Don't mind if I do. And knitting history? Sign me up!

The new issue of Knitting Traditions is full of wonderful historical information paired with knitting patterns that current designers have updated for modern-day knitters. I found the following article fascinating, and I thought you would enjoy it, too.


Lesley O'Connell Edwards's shell-patterned bag inspired by a nineteenth-century Cornelia Mee pattern. The bag is knit in 16 different shades of Appleton's Crewel wool. (Photograph by Joe Coca)

Cornelia Mee: A 19th-Century Knitting Entrepreneur and Writer

Cornelia Mee was one of the first writers of knitting books in the United Kingdom and a noted proprietor of needlework establishments, first in Bath and then in London. Her career extended from the 1840s, when knitting was a novelty for the upper classes, to the beginning of the 1870s. She wrote prolifically on knitting, netting, and crochet, and published a book on tatting. Her early books were expensive; her later ones, like those of many of her contemporaries, were smaller and less expensive. She taught classes in needlework, allegedly traveled to the Continent to select new designs, and produced instructions and patterns prodigiously, all the while raising a family and managing a populous household.

In 1837, Cornelia married Charles Mee, who was born in 1812 and seems to have been a gentleman. About 1840, the Mees opened a "Berlin warehouse" (an establishment that sold Berlin wool and other needlework supplies) in Bath. They had two children, one in 1839 and the other in 1841.

In 1842, Cornelia published her first book, A Manual of Knitting, Netting and Crochet Work. A marriage, two pregnancies, a thriving retail business, and a publishing program, all in the space of five years-what energy and initiative she must have had to accomplish all this!

Berlin wool threads (similar to today's Appleton's crewel wool) and Berlin patterns were relatively new in England but had gained great popularity with women of the upper classes, who had leisure time for fancywork. Berlin (or German) wool was a fine merino, dyed in a wide variety of colors primarily for doing pictorial canvaswork but later also for fancy knitting. It was sold in two thicknesses: single and double.

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Toward the end of her life, Cornelia also was venturing into publishing "receipts" printed separately on cards that were then held together in stiff paper sleeves instead of bound in book form. The individual card could then be carried in one's workbag. The first and second series of Bijou Receipts for Baby's Wardrobe were published this way, as was the First Series of Bijou Receipts for Knitting and Crochet.

Cornelia Mee died in November 1875. Charles died in Bath in 1888. Cornelia's business, run by her daughter Mary, continued on until 1886. The books, on the other hand, had an influence far beyond their time and place. Just imagine the quantities of knitted, crocheted, and embroidered work that were spawned by her publishing efforts and the pleasure and industry they provided to British women of all stations.

—Lesley O'Connell Edwards, from Knitting Traditions, Fall 2012

What an admirable woman Cornelia was! One of the reasons I love Knitting Traditions is because the editors research people and literature from the historical knitting world that might have been forgotten. I'm grateful to them!

Get your history fix with the Fall 2012 issue of Knitting Traditions. It's available now!

Cheers,

Ergonomics for Knitters

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:00:00 GMT

It's pretty amazing how information you need finds you. I've been having hand and forearm pain for a couple of weeks now. I'm wearing my hand brace at night, taking ibuprofen, and icing it, but it still hurts! I've been thinking about taking a break from knitting, but I can't bring myself to seriously consider it.

Yesterday, I got the Fall 2012 issue of Interweave Crochet magazine and I found an article called "No Pain, Just Gain" by Andee Graves! Just what the doctor ordered, if you will.

Here are a couple of exercises from Andee's article. I've done both of three times since discovering them and my hand is feeling better! Amazing!



Wrist and Forearm Extensor/Flexor Table Stretches Extensor Stretch: Sitting back from your desk, straighten your arms and hold your hands flat. Place the back of your hands along the edge of the table. Bending only at the wrist, with fingers pointing at the floor, press gently into the table edge. Flexor Stretch: Sitting back from your desk or table, straighten your arms and hold your hands fl at. Place your fingers along the edge of the table, bending only at the wrist, with fingers pointing at the ceiling. Press gently into the table edge.		Hands Tendon Glide Start with your wrists in a neutral position. STEP 1: Extend your fingers apart and toward the back of your hand. STEP 2: Relax the extension and curl the top segment of your fingers to the base of your fingers. STEP 3: Repeat Step 1. STEP 4: Relax the extension and fold your fingers to the base of your palm. STEP 5: Repeat Step 1. STEP 6: Make tight fists. STEP 7: Repeat Step 1.

Easy and effective! I've really been struggling, so thanks, Interweave Crochet.

By the way, there are lots of wonderful patterns in this issue, too, as always. There's no reason not to dabble in knit and crochet, so why not try Interweave Crochet today?

Cheers,

P.S. Have you ever experienced hand or arm pain? Leave a comment and tell us what you did to cure it!

How to Organize an Unruly Stash

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: Interweave Crochet's project editor Sarah Read recently blogged about a subject near and dear to us fiber fiends, especially those of us who enjoy knitting and crochet, and when I read about Sarah's stash adventure, I knew you'd love to read about her journey, too.

Taming the Stash

When faced with a feral stash, you may have heard that the safest course is to curl up in a ball, cover your neck, and play dead. But I believe that even the wildest of stashes can be tamed. And yes, that's my own stash up there, back when it was very wild indeed (a few weeks ago).

The first step in taming your stash is to get ALL of it and spread it out where you can see it. (From experience, I can tell you that this is best done while small children and the yarn-prejudiced are not at home.) As you lay it out, divide it by sections, like so:

It's a little hard to see my category names in this photo. Clockwise from left, they are: Acrylic Island, Sock Valley, Accessories Alley, Cotton Cove, Mountains of Thread, Sea of Sweaters, and Bay of Lace. A little humor never hurt any of us, right?

Have your empty bins handy, and load the yarn into the bins according to category. Create categories that make the most sense to you. For example, my categories are:
1. Sweater yarn (sweater quantities of worsted yarn)
2. Tee yarn (yarn for short-sleeved garments)
3. Sweaters made of itty bitty yarn (sport and fingering weight in sweater quantities)
4. Lace
5. Cottons and linens
6. Thread
7. Sock yarn
8. Super fancy-pants sock yarn
9. Acrylic and baby yarn
10. Single skeins (not of the cotton, lace, thread, sock, or acrylic variety)

The next step is to build a fort out of your bins.

Then, when you have conquered the world from the safety of your yarn fort, file the bins away in their storage space.


My hanging holder of projects

If you know the next few (or many) projects you intend to start, keep them filed in a separate, easy-to-access system. My friend Sheri from The Loopy Ewe blogged about her fabulous baskets, and one of her readers suggested using a hanging shoe holder as a great space saver, which seemed like the perfect solution for me, as my attic studio has no level walls.

It's great for holding a small- to medium-sized project worth of yarn, as well as the pattern for the yarn, so five years from now, when you finally get to that project, you remember what it was going to be.

Congratulations! You are now a stash-tamer. You are probably also much more aware of the scope of your stash. I was actually comforted by the process, especially when I ended up with two extra empty bins that were certainly not empty the last time I did this. That means two things to me:

1. I have two empty bins to fill, and

2. If I can work through two bins a year, I'm not as close to Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy as I thought I was.

So . . . now it's your turn to flash your stash! Come to the forums and share your stash, feral or tame!

Cheers,

Sarah

An All New Season of Fiber Television: Do the Math

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:00:00 GMT


Eunny demonstrates wrapped stitches, which can be used in handknits for a cinched waistline like in the tank pictured here.

Host Eunny Jang joins Mathew Gnagy, author of the upcoming Sideways Knitting book to talk about structural knitting.

What a novel idea! Kt Baldassaro shows Shay a fun scarf project that allows you to play with different yarns for a fun final project.

Knitting Daily TV Series 700 is hosted by Eunny Jang and experts Kristin Omdahl and Shay Pendray.

A note from Kathleen: One of my knitting buddies broke her wrist earlier this summer, and she can't knit until September! The horror. She was going through knitting withdrawal so I lent her season 6 of Knitting Daily TV. She was so happy being able to take part in her craft even with her wrist in a cast. She took a bunch of notes about projects she wanted to knit and tips she wanted to practice once her wrist was back to normal. She also ordered her own copies of Knitting Daily TV on CD so she could watch them whenever she wanted.

There's a new season coming up, and I invited Annie Bakken, associate producer, to give you the rundown.

Knitting Daily TV Is Back for Season 7!

As associate producer of Knitting Daily TV, I'm excited to bring you what I think is the best tips and techniques series we've produced so far. To prove the educational value of this season, I thought I'd break it down into numbers.

13 in-depth technique segments: Host of Knitting Daily TV (and editor of Interweave Knits magazine) Eunny Jang begins each episode with a knitting tutorial. This season showcases knitting socks with the magic loop method, an overview of knitted felt, how to fix handknits that fit poorly, unique wrapped stitch techniques, bind-off methods, and lots more.

7 star designers: Invite novelty yarn specialist KT Baldassaro into your fiber studio to add beads to a summer tank. Guest appearances by fan-favorites Laura Bryant and Barry Klein touch on proper ways to measure for knitting and how to add knitted ruffles to your work. Other guests include the Helping Hands Foundation's Penny Sitler, celebrity knitter Deborah Norville, new author Mathew Gnagy, and more.

13 Chain Reaction Afghan Project crochet-alongs: For crocheters out there, each episode brings crochet expert Kristin Omdahl and editor of Interweave Crochet magazine Marcy Smith together to discuss and make the Chain Reaction Afghan Project. A collaborative afghan of 20 squares from well-known and up-and-coming designers, this afghan has a vast amount of crochet techniques from simple to quite complicated.

13 quick-tips from Eunny Jang: Each episode of Knitting Daily TV ends with a quick-tip from Eunny, all which are simple to master and ingenious for making your knitting nightmares disappear. Learn how to finish your projects with whipstitch, baseball, or mattress stitch; knit-on edgings; custom toggles; and learn how to weave in your ends in intarsia knitting; keep track of your knitting using stitch markers; and much more.

10 patterns: As always, with each series of Knitting Daily TV free pattern downloads are available on the website KnittingDailyTV.com so you can knit and crochet along with the cast and crew. For the beginning knitters, there's a fun cabled scarf that incorporates novelty yarns (the pattern will be available for download July 21, 2011). For the more advanced knitter, there's Mathew Gnagy's Bethany Cardigan, which you can download in September, that derives its shape from sideways knitting techniques. And for the crocheters, there's a beautiful crocheted shawl and a complete 20-square afghan; both patterns are available this month.

23+ tips: Knitting Daily TV Series 700 also includes free tips and technique downloads on the website. Print out a schematic chart for proper measurements as well as 22 other tips from designers.

2 bonus segments: The 4-DVD set of Knitting Daily TV 700 includes two bonus tutorials with host Eunny Jang. This season she discusses Fair Isle and short-row knitting. The DVD is available online, so get your copy now!

All in all, I hope these numbers prove that this season of Knitting Daily TV is sure to increase your yarn knowledge. We hope you'll tune into the show on your local Public Television station this month, and visit us online at KnittingDailyTV.com.

Cheers,

Free Knitting Patterns—Tahki Colorplay Challenge Winners

Kathleen Cubley — Sat, 14 May 2011 10:46:00 GMT

For a Limited Time*:

Free Tahki Colorplay Challenge Patterns

Knit or Crochet a winning design . . . Here are the scarf patterns you selected as your favorites. Knit or crochet your version of the scarf in the shades the designers selected or choose from endless combinations with the 135 colors available in Tahki Yarns' 100% mercerized Cotton Classic.

Look for Cotton Classic (or its lighter-weight version, Cotton Classic Lite) at your LYS or at TahkiStacyCharles.com.

Hap's Pinwheel Scarf:
Designed by Kristin Rowse

Hap's Pinwheel Scarf is the winner of the Tahki Cotton Classic Colorplay Challenge in the knitting category.

About the Designer: Like many avid knitters, I live by the motto "There can never be too much yarn in my stash!" I learned to knit from my grandmother at age six and never quit. My creations have always been works of true love for family and friends. A recent lay-off has provided the motivation to explore a "career" change. So today, as a single mom of an active three year old, I am endeavoring to turn my beloved hobby into a living designing/producing knitwear for children and accessories for women.

Download your free scarf knitting pattern: Hap's Pinwheel Scarf

A Tangle of Color:
Designed by Stephanie Sario

A Tangle of Color is the winner of the Tahki Cotton Classic Colorplay Challenge in the crochet category.

About the Designer: I am a 27-year-old wife and mother of two who loves to spend any spare moment I can squeeze out of my day crafting. While my true love is crochet, I have gone through seasons of quilting, sewing, and jewelry making. I learned to crochet at age 4 from my mom. While my mom never had the patience to follow a pattern, I loved the security in knowing that I was "doing it right." Little did I know the excitement, and joy that comes from having an idea, working through it technically, and then seeing it finished.

Download your free crochet scarf pattern: A Tangle of Color

*Tahki Colorplay winning crochet and knitting patterns will be available on Knitting Daily though June 3, 2011.

KDTV Series 700: It's almost here!

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:00:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: Knitting Daily TV just finished shooting its seventh season, and associate producer Annie Hartman Bakken is here to give us a peek behind the scenes. After reading about the show antics and all the good stuff coming up, I can't wait to see the new season! Here's Annie to tell you more.


During her segments, Eunny faces lots of cameras, lights, and a teleprompter.

Before the cameras roll, Kristin and Marcy chat with the producer.

Taping KDTV Series 700

After descending on Beachwood, Ohio, for a fast week of knitting and crochet in the production studio, we just concluded our seventh season of taping Knitting Daily TV!

In order to put together a star-studded, information-packed season, we depend heavily on sponsors, our content producer, guest stars, and even the UPS man to deliver the garments in time. We had some close calls and a few last minute changes, but we managed to put together what I think is the best season of Knitting Daily TV to date!

We have 13 jam-packed episodes of Getting Started and Quick-Tips segments for knitters, including techniques like knitting with the magic loop method, felting gauge tutorials, knitting fixes, an in-depth look at wrapped stitches, non-traditional ways of joining, short-row tips, a study of knitted steeks, and much more.

Crocheters will enjoy the crochet-along with Kristin and the editor of Interweave Crochet, Marcy Smith, putting together the Chain Reaction Afghan Project. Learn how to crochet 20 afghan squares, along with unique ways of joining them for a beautiful finish.

And we have guest stars galore: Laura Bryant, Barry Klein, KT Baldassaro, Penny Sitler, Mathew Gnagy, and Deborah Norville, just to name a few.

It's not all hard work, though! We always find time to have fun when we're together. There's a Filene's Basement close to the studio for shopping and there are great restaurants in the area for our bi-annual dinner together.

Here's a look behind-the-scenes during our fun shoot in Ohio.


	The studio door is decorated with candid shots of Eunny in the sweaters she wears for each episode.

	Shay's Cowboy Cookies are always a treat.

Wardrobe Control

Since we tape the show out of order, we have to somehow keep track of which sweater Eunny wears for each episode.

All the sweaters are hung and labeled with tags, but the easiest solution to double-checking that Eunny has right sweater on is to take digital photos of her and print them out, label them with post-it notes that say which episode is which, and tape them to the studio door (photo at right).

Shay's Cookies

Carrying on a tradition started by her late husband when she taped The Needlearts Studio, Shay always bakes and brings Cowboy Cookies for the cast and crew.

Facebook fans of Knitting Daily TV have asked for her recipe, so without further ado, here it is!

Cowboy Cookies
1 cup margarine or shortening (Shay uses Imperial margarine) softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups instant rolled oats
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pecan pieces
1 cup coconut
1 12-oz package chocolate chips

Cream shortening or margarine and sugars. Beat in eggs. Stir in flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in oats, vanilla, pecans, coconut, and chocolate chips. Drop onto greased baking sheet and bake at 350 F for 15 minutes.

Makes about 60 cookies.

Cookie Tip: If you store the cookies in a tin, as opposed to a sealed plastic storage container, the cookies will get crispy—our preferred cookie-texture at Knitting Daily TV.


Clockwise from upper left: Shay Pendray is all smiles in her host photo; Laura Bryant and Barry Klein have a good laugh before they tape one of their segments; Between takes, associate producer Annie (me!) poses with Eunny and director Mike; Eunny plays around on set with one of Mathew Gnagy's mannequins.

Happy Moments

When the cameras aren't rolling, we do have a lot of slap-happy, giggly moments. The people at the studio and the people we work with in the yarn industry are one-of-a-kind, genuine folks.

It's been a pleasure working closely with everyone involved. Thank you for another great season!

Season 700 of Knitting Daily TV will begin airing on Public Television stations nationwide this coming July, be sure to check your local listings to see if it will air in your area.

In the meantime, catch up with the DVD set of KDTV series 600, which is on sale now!

Cheers,

Blocking: Before and After

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:00:00 GMT


The Moss Fern Wrap before blocking.

Immersed in a nice bath.

The wrap during blocking.

A note from Kathleen: In knitting and crocheting, blocking is what separates the wheat from the chaff, the men from the boys, the great from the mediocre. And the a-ha moment really comes alive when you see before and after photos.

I invited Sarah Read, project editor of Interweave Crochet, to tell you her blocking story. Welcome, Sarah!

Sarah's Story

I think nearly everything is better if it has just a bit of crocheted lace embellishing it. I always have at least one lace project in progress. Of course, that means that my blocking boards and wires are almost constantly in use.

Blocking makes all lace more beautiful.

Freshly made lace is rumpled, springy, and stretchy. It's lovely, but is not even near its full potential.

To achieve airy, drapey, elegant lace, we need to block it.

This is my pre-blocked Moss Fern Wrap, designed by Kimberly K. McAlindin (Interweave Crochet Fall 2009). It's a great shawl for lace beginners: it works up quickly with a simple, easy-to-remember stitch repeat. My shawl was made with a wool/soy/cotton/chitin blend sock yarn (South West Trading Company's Tofutsie; one ball).

Once it was finished, I soaked it for ten minutes in a bowl of warm water with a bit of wool wash in it.

Note that some fibers like wool wash and others don't. Some like warm water, and others prefer cold. Check your ball band and have a nice chat with your yarn before this step.

After the shawl had a nice soak, I stretched it out on a foam mat and threaded blocking wires through each edge of the shawl, weaving the wire through the lace openings. (Blocking wires are long, thin rust-proof wires that you thread through the edges of your garment. They make it really easy to block large pieces like lace shawls, although I know Kathleen uses them all the time for sweaters and scarves, too. I ordered mine online.)

Then I gently stretched the wires away from each other, stretching and opening the stitches of my lace. When it was stretched out to the point where the lace looked nice and open, and the measurements of the shawl were to my liking, I pinned down the wires.

The Moss Fern Wrap after blocking: Fabulous!

I let the shawl dry over night, and then, voila! I had lovely, airy, open lace!

If you've caught the lace bug, subscribe to Interweave Crochet today! We always include at least one project for lace lover, and we love providing lots of great tips and techniques for all kinds of projects.

Isn't blocking amazing?

Cheers,

A Knitting Wrapsody: Knitted Shawls, Wraps, Scarves, and Skirts

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:00:00 GMT


Arcelia Skirt		Arcelia skirt worn as a halter!

A note from Kathleen: Kristin Omdahl is best known for her amazing crochet patterns, but she's a wonderful knitting designer, too. Her work incorporates unique stitches, shapes, and embellishments that are so much fun to work with!

In her newest book, A Knitting Wrapsody, Kristin incorporates her signature motif designs into eighteen fabulous projects.

I asked Kristin to write about her new book for us, and here she is!


Sand Dollar Cape

A Wrapsody of Knitting

I've been designing knitting and crocheting patterns simultaneously for the last six years, and I make time to both knit and crochet every day. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to showcase A Knitting Wrapsody's knitwear collection.

My vision for this book was to take inspiration from other crafts and unusual places and apply it to knitted shawls, wraps, scarves, and skirts. I took inspiration from crochet, weaving, embroidery, fishing, seashells, and even an oil painting.

I also wanted to create versatile garments, so most of the pieces in the collection can be worn in a variety of ways. (My favorite surprise was that the Arcelia Wrap Skirt looks wonderful as a halter top. I can't wait to wear this top this summer!)

The most challenging project in the book was the Sand Dollar Cape. Inspired by—you guessed it—sand dollars, I thought it would be interesting to make a circular cape with overlapping ovals around the outer perimeter to easily weave a belt in and out to cinch the waist while keeping the "sleeves" wide and loose. It's a really flattering silhouette.

The challenge was that I started this project at the neckband and increased outward to the lower edge of the cape. Because of the amount of overlapping fabric, this project uses a lot of yarn. And I was trying to create a garment without knowing whether it would work, or even look nice, until it was finished. I was sweating bullets for over 1,800 yards! It wasn't until I bound off that I realized it was a success.


The Nerina Scarf

My son and I love fishing and I enjoying our fishing knots and have been trying to figure out how to incorporate my fishing knots into my stitchwork for years.

The Nerina Scarf is a really cool scarf that uses short-row shaping heavily to create beautiful ruffles and holes. The holes were a natural place to weave in cords for ruching the ruffles to manipulate the scarf into a cowl or capelet. Because the cords needed to be closed, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to use a uni-knot (the same knot that I use to join leader line to fishing line) in my knits!

The first project I designed for A Knitting Wrapsody, and the project that created the inspiration for the book's concept, was the Tree of Life Ruana. The ruana is a quick and easy knit in a simple, textured stitch with a beautiful pleat on each front that is fun to create.

The back of the ruana is my favorite part of the piece, though, and the one I was so excited to create. I fell in love with the painting Tree of Life by Tim Parish and wanted knit something like it.

I created a color chart for knitting the tree trunk in intarsia stockinette. The contrast of stockinette really pops on the textured fabric of the rest of the ruana. And the simple, chain embroidery stitch used for the spiral branches complements the stockinette stitch texture very well.


Tree of Life Ruana		Tree of Life Ruana, back view

The branches are embroidered free form. I chose a roving style yarn for this project because the texture of the yarn weaves in really well—there are a lot of ends to weave in on this project, and I wanted to make sure that when they were woven in they would stay in place!

A Knitting Wrapsody comes with a workshop DVD because I wanted to demonstrate the unusual techniques and offer my help, tips, and tricks. It's an hour-long DVD and I think it really complements the patterns in the book.

I love teaching and sharing my love of knitting and crochet with my readers, so DVD workshops are a great way for me to share my crafts more personally.

I hope you enjoy A Knitting Wrapsody. I sure enjoyed writing it for you!

Warm regards,

Kristin

Knitting + Crochet = Love

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:00:00 GMT


Lacy Cable Scarf

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to spend some time with Marcy Smith, editor of Interweave Crochet. She's a lot of fun, and we had a good time talking about our yarny crafts.

One of the topics that always comes up when Marcy and I talk is how crocheters don't knit and knitters don't crochet. We can't figure it out, because the two crafts really love each other!

Marcy and I came into our crafts the same way, but from opposite directions. Marcy started with crochet and began knitting when she was pregnant with her second child and she was overcome with the need to knit a baby sweater. I started with knitting and, as I was exposed to crochet in knit shops and from my crocheting friends, I knew I had to learn some basics.



	Snow Queen Hat

	Snowflake Sweater

I went beyond the basics as I discovered how easy and fun crochet is, and how great it is for afghans, baby blankets, and for finishing my knitting (I especially love reverse single crochet; it creates a picot look around necklines, cuffs, etc.). There are also some beautiful crocheted garment patterns out there, too. I've yet to tackle one, but I have a couple in the queue.

One thing that surprised me was how I fell in love with the classic crochet motif, the granny square—I've made giant granny squares for baby blankets and small grannies that I've seamed together to make scarves and shawls.

The fall issue of Interweave Crochet includes a special knit + crochet section and Marcy just happened to be working up one of the designs, the beautiful Lacy Cables Scarf (photo at left).

There are really some lovely patterns in the issue that organically combine knitting and crochet, taking the two crafts and merging them into one seamless design.

The Snow Queen Hat by Anastasia Popova is really pretty; smooth stockinette pairs wonderfully with the swirl motifs. I love the cream tone-on-tone, too.

I'm a big fan of snowflake designs—I use some version of them almost every year on my holiday cards—so Mari Lynn Patrick's Snowflake Sweater is right up my alley. I love the large, crocheted snowflake motif, and the knitted part of this sweater is really interesting. Mari Lynn has placed decrease sections strategically around the snowflake insert so the points are cleverly surrounded by knitting. It's really a showstopper.

And then there's the Lacy Cable Scarf by Annette Petavy that Marcy was making. I just love this! It combines two classic looks, cables and lace, and it's so classy. I can picture myself wearing this a lot. Marcy made hers two-toned, with a green cable panel and blue lace borders. It's really pretty.

I would make and wear any of these pieces, but I think my favorite project in this issue just might be a non-garment design: Annie Modesitt's Coco Holly Topsy-Turvy Doll. Annie is always so creative, and here she combines her creativity with a good dose of whimsy. Coco is a knitted "socialite" doll (she has pearls in her hair), and when you flip her over, Holly, Coco's crocheted boho buddy appears. In this project, knitting and crochet are—quite literally—friends!



Coco		Holly

How cute are these little ladies? I have a 7-year-old on my gift list, and I think this might just be the perfect thing for her.

So how about it, knitters? Let's make like Coco and be friends with crochet! Check out Interweave Crochet for these and lots more patterns, instruction, and inspiration.

Cheers,

Wrist Rest Template

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:59:00 GMT

Wrist-rest and leaf template, PDF version

©Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
This excerpt comes from: Gifted: Lovely Little Things to Knit and Crochet
Visit shop.knittingdaily.com/knittingpatterns for more great patterns!