Knitting Daily : Knitting Bags, Knitting Techniques

Oops! Now what?

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Being able to fix your mistakes is crucial to advancing beyond beginning knitting. In fact, after a beginning knitting class, I think an "Oops" class is the next step. This is where you'll learn to fix the most common mistakes that beginner knitters (all knitters, in fact!) make a lot.

In case you don't have access to an Oops class, though—I know many of you don't—I'll show you my two best fix-it techniques. A mini-class, if you will!

The first thing to know is how to unknit, or "tink" (which is "knit" spelled backward). Knowing how to unknit allows you to go backwards to fix a mistake so that you don't have to take your knitting off the needles. I use this technique ALL THE TIME. I mean it; I probably do a little unknitting every time I knit, which is every day, so . . .

Here's a video I made a few years ago that shows my way of unknitting, which is a little different from other people's method because I unknit from right to left instead of from left to right. Check it out:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Going from right to left is what allows me to get the tight tension on the unknitted yarn. I can get going pretty fast with this technique!

Unpurling: I use the exact same method to unpurl. With the purl side facing and the working yarn on the left, I put the needle into the purl in the row below, pull the yarn to the right to undo the stitch, and voilà!

Laddering Down to Fix a Mistake

This is a crucial skill to know, too, one that you can use to pick up a dropped stitched far below the row you're working on. Here's how do ladder down to fix a stitch, according to the fabulous book Knit Fix, by Lisa Kartus. (It's part of our amazing Beginner Knitting Kit!)


A Vertical Fix for Stitch Mistakes
While unknitting corrects mistakes horizontally, sometimes it's more efficient to drop down vertically through multiple rows to fix a single dropped or twisted stitch, or even to change a knit stitch into a purl and vice versa.


Figure 1	Figure 2	Figure 3

Trace along the column from the dropped stitch up to your needle. Knit or unknit to the stitch to the right of this stitch. Take the next stitch off of the needle and pull on either side of it to undo the column of stitches down to the location of the dropped stitch (or twisted stitch, etc.).	To rescue a knit stitch, push the crochet hook through the front of the hanging stitch. Then pick up the first ladder (the one farthest down from the knitting needle. Position the ladder between the tip of the crochet hook and the hanging stitch.	Pull the ladder through the stitch, back to front, and drop the rescued stitch off the end of the hook. Continue this maneuver until you've scooped every ladder through the loop below it, then transfer the stitch to the left needle. All fixed!

Pretty great technique, right? I use this one a bunch, too. You really do need a crochet hook in your notions bag so that you have it on hand to fix dropped stitches. I keep a size D and a size G in my knitting bag. The D works on smaller-gauge projects and the G works on everything from worsted-weight yarn on up to bulky. You can also add a J to your bag if you work on bulky and super-bulky yarn a lot; the G is a little small for super-bulky yarn.

Mastering these techniques will help you for years to come! There are lots more fix-it techniques to learn, so get our Beginner Knitting Kit for beginning knitters, which includes Knit-Fix, two more books, and four videos!

Cheers,

P.S. Did you learn a knit-saving tip when you were a beginner? Share it with us below in the comments!

For the Graduate

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

Cheers,

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

Light and Bright Knitting

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:01:00 GMT

As spring and summer arrive, color is all around me. It's popping up in my garden, my wardrobe, and my knitting bag. I recently went through my stash and pulled out some lovely salmon for a summer tee. I've knit three summer tops, and I wear them a lot. It's so great to be able to wear your knitting in spring and summer, and it's the perfect time of the year to enjoy color knitting.


Manteo Cardigan by Lisa Hoffman

LaFleur Clutch by Amy Miller

Here's Interweave Knits editor Eunny Jang to tell you about how she brought some color into her knitting, and her life.

Backing Away from Black

Maybe it was my mother's (unsolicited and kindly meant, I'm sure) advice to me the last time I went home: "You know, black looks chic when you're young, but you're getting older, and . . ." Maybe it's my ever-intensifying gardening obsession, or maybe my Colorado location, where the strong high-plains sunshine turns saturated colors startlingly vivid.


	The Seaglass Shell by Daniella Nii

	Birch Point Hoodie by Amanda Scheuzger

Whatever the reason, the seemingly impossible has happened-after a solid decade of wearing nothing but black, gray, and various shades of white, my wardrobe is starting to bloom with color. I have always liked color, liked working with it, appreciated it—on other people, that is. For myself, it has always seemed easier to wear neutrals.

But now I find myself craving color and contrast—I want a pop of bright against dark jeans; surprising, vivid shoes; whole dresses in candy shades. I'm starting to grow a collection of bright scarves. I've gotten on the colored tights train. I'm making a pair of goldenrod-colored cigarette pants. In short, I want to wear clothes that make me smile.

The things you wear should always make you happy. The things you make, doubly so. In that spirit, we filled the Summer, 2012 issue of Interweave Knits with light, bright, pop-y knits for breezy, lazy days: instant-gratification accessories you can make in a weekend, mellow and modern lace pieces to layer, drapey knits adorned with beachy texture, graphic stripes of color and texture, and simple, relaxed knits for slow-moving days.

As for me, I'm working away on a knitting basket that, for the first time, contains more colored balls of yarn than black or white ones. That riot of color is exciting and a little terrifying—but it makes me smile every time I pick up my needles.

—Eunny Jang, Interweave Knits, Spring 2012

Don't put your knitting away until fall! Start knitting now for the warm weather to come. All of the patterns shown here are available in the Interweave Knits 2012 Collection. Get yours today!

Cheers,

P.S. What's on your needles for spring and summer? Let us know in the comments!

Knitter's Resolution: Embellish It!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:00:00 GMT

There are some things that just feel like winter. Making Crock Pot dinners, for example, or Kahlua and coffee. In knitting, it's alpaca yarn, Aran Sweaters, and felted items such as bags and slippers.


Felted Daypack by Joy Doss

Felted Knitted Slippers by Marcy Petrini

I love felting. It's so much fun to knit something on giant needles (that ends up looking pretty horrible, by the way!), then to pop it into the washing machine and have it come out looking wonderful!

There are a couple of different types of felting. The knit-and-wash type, and the needle-felting type. I like to use both felt knitting techniques—and you can use both on the same project, too. Knit and felt a project, and then use needle felting to embellish it. Any of the felted knits shown here could be embellished with needle felting, making them even more beautiful!

My friend Cate Prado, of Cloth Paper Scissors Today, loves needle felting as much as I do. She even has a needle felting machine. (Yes, please!) Here are some tips from her for making your needle felting embellishment really special.

1. Keep it moving. When machine needle-felting, you have to keep the fibers moving beneath the needles. If you leave the needles in one place too long, you'll create a hole (unless you want to create a hole, in which case, this is a good thing). Also, the more you felt the piece, the more the fibers will merge and the colors and textures will blend. You can also flip the piece over and machine felt from the back, which will push the bottom colors and fibers up toward the top of the piece.

2. Use a variety of fibers. With craft felt or pre-felt as your base, play with different kinds of fibers and felting supplies. Fancy yarns, snippets of lace, and wool roving all work well. But don't pass up interesting dryer lint, snippets of batting, or trimmed threads. Dyed cheesecloth creates interesting textures, and silk is heavenly! Tip: Check the piles of old neck scarves at church bazaars and thrift shops. You can often pick up slightly damaged silk scarves for a song.


	The Kokopelli Bag by Teva Durham

3. Experiment and ask, "What if?" What if I felted this white lace onto a white base? What happens if the base is a dark color? What if I twist the fibers? What if I felt from the back? (Sometimes you flip the piece over and the back looks better!). Keep samples of your experiments and make notes.

4. Embellish. Hand or machine needle-felted fibers can be beautiful, but add a few beads, some embroidery, or found objects, and you have a real work of art!

I've learned a lot about felting from Cate. So take advantage of her expertise and try some felting embellishments this winter. Put it on your Knitter's Resolution List like I did!

Happy new year,

Do you enjoy needle felting? Share your experiences with us in the comments!

7 Free Patterns for Knitted Accessories

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:00:00 GMT

I just can't stop coming up with free eBooks for you!

The latest is a reboot of Knitting Accessories: 7 Free Patterns for Knitted Accessories. I've switched it up and put in some new patterns for you. I hope you like knitting accessories, because this new eBook is full of great patterns.

1. Modern Quilt Wrap; 2. Ribby Slipper Socks; 3. Knitting Needle Knitting Bag; 4. Folksy Headbands; 5. Flip-Top Mittens; 6. Bevy of Bangles; 7. Crumpet Beret

What could be more comforting than being wrapped up in the warmth of a colorful quilt? In the Modern Quilt Wrap, very loosely based on the traditional Log Cabin quilt block, Mags Kandis worked this wrap square by square in the easy and satisfying mitered-square method of color knitting.

These knitted slippers are warm and cozy. Cathy Carron designed her Ribby Slipper Socks with an interesting construction and with chunky yarn. They're a quick, easy knit, and you'll want to knit a pair for everyone in your family.

Pam Allen indulged her fondness for the berry stitch in the Knitting Needle Knitting Bag, whose cigar shape was inspired by a bag she saw in a catalog. Rather than binding off, she placed the live stitches on wooden knitting needles, squished them together to form soft gathers, and applied a little superglue. This is a great knitting project bag!

Kristin Nicholas's Folksy Headbands are colorful and unique. Knit just one or all three! This knitted headband pattern actually contains three projects: A Fair Isle headband, an embroidered headband, and a simple garter stitch knitted headband. Headbands make a warm addition to your wardrobe or the perfect gift, if you can bring yourself to give them away!

A pair of frosty-weather mittens in cool blues is just the project to get you started on your winter knitting. Debbie Bliss's Flip-Top Mittens are worked in cashmere, and to make them more functional, she made them convertible—a flip of the top exposes the fingers. Debbie worked a duplicate-stitch snowflake motif on the hand.

Mag's Kandis' Bevy of Bangles came from her love of big, bold bracelets and her loathing of the clang, clang, clunk that almost always accompanies them. Wrapped in beautiful cotton yarn, these bangles are silent! Knitted jewelry is all the rage, so jump on board with this easy project!

The Crumpet Beret by Maura Kirk and Fairmount Fibers is one-skein wonder that's also interesting to knit. This beret knitting pattern will help you knit the perfect gift accessory.

I hope you enjoy our almost entirely new eBook of patterns for knitted accessories! It'll keep your needles busy with fun new designs in the new year!

Cheers,

P.S. Do you have friends who like to knit accessories? If so, forward them this email so they can download Knitting Accessories: 7 Free Patterns for Knitted Accessories, too!

Learn Something New: Steeking

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:00:00 GMT


My Bohus-style sweater, waiting to be steeked

When I cleaned out my knitting bags(!) a week or so ago I found a sweater that needs to be steeked. It's a Bohus cardigan that's so close to being done—it just needs the aforementioned steek and then the buttonbands picked up and knitted. I've heard a lot of knitters talk about how scared they are to cut their knitting, but I'm not scared, I'm excited!

If you're new to the knitting technique of steeking, too, here's some great info from Interweave Knits and Knitting Daily TV host Eunny Jang.

Steeking: Cutting the Edge

A steek is a column of extra stitches used to bridge two edges of knitting. Steeks let you knit an entire sweater in the round without reverting to knitting flat. Steeks can be worked between the right and left fronts of a cardigan, the front and back edges of an armhole, and/or the sides of a neckline.

Openings are created by cutting along the center of the column of stitches—and sleeves, neckbands, and buttonbands are picked up along the cut edges. When the garment is complete, the cut edges are trimmed and neatly tacked down on the wrong side of the garment, creating a tidy facing. Although steeks are most often worked in color patterns, if you prefer knitting in the round to working flat, you can use them in solid-color sweaters as well.



Two examples of steeks and where to cut them. Both are equally effective.

What about raveling?
The thought of cutting into knitted fabric is counterintuitive at best. Doesn't the knitting ravel as soon as it is cut? Not when the circumstances are right. Steeking capitalizes on the reluctance of knit stitches to ravel from side to side. You can further secure the cut edges by choosing a "sticky" yarn (hairy animal yarns such as traditional Shetland wools felt so readily that the slight friction created in the knitting process mats the hairs together and discourages raveling).

Reinforcing and cutting steeks
There are several methods for reinforcing steek stitches before cutting, each appropriate to different circumstances. All of them require good light; patience; a small, sharp pair of scissors; and steady nerves.

Unreinforced: The traditional steek, worked in sticky Shetland wool in a garment with a very dense gauge, calls for no reinforcement at all. The friction you create as you knit will mat and felt the fabric very slightly, stabilizing the area to be cut and minimizing fraying. Simply cut carefully down the center of each steek, working in a very straight line and snipping just a few threads at a time.

Crocheted: Crochet steek reinforcements firmly bind together the sides of two adjacent stitch columns to hold the cut ends securely in place. The method is ideal for sticky or smooth animal fibers still at relatively dense gauges: the applied binding adds security even to yarns that don't felt readily, but it relies on a firm base fabric to stay in place. Crocheted steeks are not suitable for plant fibers or for superwash wools, since the base fabric must have some natural cling.

Sewn: When you use a very slick plant or synthetic fiber, sewing is the only way to ensure that a steek will not ravel. Because sewing stitches have no elasticity, some of the flexibility inherent in knitted fabric is lost when you use a sewn reinforcement. Save this method for when crocheting will not provide enough security.


Figure 3: Picking up and knitting from a steek edge

Figure 4: Tacking down the steek flap

Picking up and knitting from a steek edge
Once the steek is cut, you can pick up stitches just inside the cut edge, along the purl channel between the border and body stitches, and work button and neckbands. Figure 3, at left, shows a stitch being picked up at the edge of a steek; notice how the needle picks up the bar between the border stitch of the steek and the first stitch of the body, both of which were worked in the background color.

In shaped sweaters, the sleeves may be knitted separately and sewn in along the line created by the border stitch. In every case, the steek flap will naturally fold to the wrong side along the pick-up or seam line.

Once all finishing work is completed and the sweater has been washed and blocked, the steeks should be finished neatly by trimming away any frayed ends and tacking down the flap with a simple whipstitch or blanket stitch (Figure 4, at left). With every washing and wearing, the facings will full a little more, eventually creating a durable, hard-wearing finish on the inside of the garment.

—Eunny Jang

And now here's a video from the new season of Knitting Daily TV, episode 912, where Eunny demonstrates steeking.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Did you know you could download individual episodes of Knitting Daily TV? That's right—there are tons of knitting techniques right at your fingertips! Get episode 912, Eek, Steeks!, right now and learn even more about steeking!

Cheers,

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

Lovely Little Knits

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT


	Houndstooth Bonnet by Wendy Bernard


God's Eye Mitts by Alexis Winslow

Equilibrium Cowl by Carolyn Kern

West Side Socks by Mary Lycan

A note from Kathleen: I've seen knitted accessories all over the place, in stores here at home, boutiques I visit on my travels, and in the catalogs I get almost every day in the mail. I always think the same thing when I see them: "I'm so lucky I can knit these for myself!" I love being able to knit up a quick pair of mitts, a hat for a gift, or a pair of socks. So I always look forward to our special issue accessory magazines.

The newest is Knitscene Accessories, and as always, I spied a patter that I want to knit right away. It's the Houndstooth Bonnet by Wendy Bernard (pictured at right). It really is a bonnet, too; a bonnet for adults. I love it.

Here's Knitscene editor Lisa Shroyer to tell you more about this new issue.

Every knitter loves a little knit.

In this special issue of Knitscene, we bring you thirty-five designs that pack a lot of style and, in some cases, a lot of technique, into a small package.

You can play with luxe yarns, hand-dyes and novelties, or pull something from your stash and whip up a quick project.

The editorial themes range from rustic fisherman to urban hipster to out-there sci-fi. These crazy themes reflect the nature of accessories—they make your style from day to day. Use them to change up your look, your mood, even your identity.

Sweaters are the staples of a knitter's wardrobe, but little knits are the embellishment. I'd go so far as to say that accessories are the fun in your wardrobe—and your knitting bag.

While you're working up a pair of mitts or a slouchy cap, learn some new techniques. In these pages, you'll find tutorials on entrelac, Fair Isle, intarsia, twisted stitches, and the dangerous-sounding dropped stitch. Learn about people and companies working with yarn, discover a new tool or book.

An issue such as this offers trend-driven, yet still timeless, content for the serious knitter. Keep it on your shelf, come back to it again and again.


	Enjoying the photo shoot, Horsetooth Reservoir, Colorado, March 2012

I think you'll find the content constantly refreshing, constantly inspiring. I found working on this issue to be so—in fact, it's been one of the most fulfilling issues of my career so far.

This is good knitting, thanks to a group of designers and writers who work with passion for our benefit. Get your copy of Knitscene Accessories today, before they're all sold out!

Peace and happy stitches,

Knitting Cables and Textured Stitches with Lily Chin

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 16 May 2011 12:00:00 GMT


Lily Chin's Textured Tote Bag

I've been infatuated with many a knitted bag, but I think I may have finally found my true soul mate: the Textured Tote Bag, from Lily Chin's book Power Cables.

Lily's bag hits the mark for me in several ways. It's large enough to carry my knitting project, notions bag, and a small handbag; it's a really attractive bag, with the cables and textured stitches weaving in and out of each other; and it's really fun to knit!

Being a mixed-media gal, I have to tell you that while I was certainly attracted to this bag when I got Lily's book, I really fell for it after seeing Lily's new Knitting Daily Workshop DVD, Reversible Cables, where Lily talks about her trials with textured cables and shares her hits and misses (she said her first experiments were with garter-stitch cables, and both sides turned out "ugly"; she's hilarious). She demos her successful garter-rib cable designs and seed stitch-rib cable designs, which are showcased in several of her patterns, including the Textured Tote Bag.

The section about textured cables is fascinating to me because of the simple techniques that Lily employs to make such a bold statement.

These cables are simply four-stitch ribbed cables that cross back and forth over a bed of garter stitch. Because the rib pulls in in such a way that the knit stitches bury the purl stitches, the cable looks like a two-stitch cable, and it looks the same on the reverse. It's such a successful technique, and I love the impact it has on this bag, in this Earth-toned color of Berroco Linen Jeans (a linen/rayon yarn that' perfect for a work-horse bag).

Here's what Lily has to say about her cable technique: "The very first experiment I did when developing reversible cables was to work them in garter stitch, which was far from successful. Not wanting to give up on garter stitch altogether, I experimented and researched some more. I discovered that in order for any other textured stitch (such as garter or seed stitch) to be incorporated into a viewable cable, it must be confined to or contained within only one strand or set of stitches. The other set must be stockinette (or ribbing, which draws in and looks like stockinette). Basically, view this as a mixed pair! See how the other texture "snakes" its way around the stockinette or rib column? The idea is to have contrast between the smooth and the textured. Not only do alternating textures emphasize movement, they also impart another layer or dimension."

Here's a preview of Reversible Cables:

Just like the Textured Tote pattern, there's so much to love about this DVD: the cutting-edge techniques, the inspirational and achievable patterns, and Lily herself! I adore this DVD, and I know you will too. Get your copy of Reversible Cables with Lily Chin today, and join me in my adventures in textured cable knitting.

Cheers,

Help! I dropped a stitch at the end of a row!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:00:00 GMT


Since I didn't take a photo, I borrowed one from our friend TECHknitter, who calls this phenomenon "a terrifying mess." I agree! *(Photo copyright TECHknitter)*

I've been working on my knit-along project (the Seaweed Cardigan), and last week I had a disaster of epic proportions: My needle slid out of the first stitch and it dropped down several rows.

This has never happened to me before, so I wasn't sure what to do with all of those loops (besides saying "OH NO!!!" really loud).

I was so flummoxed that I missed the "teachable moment" aspect of the problem, I just focused on fixing it! I didn't even take a "before" photo of the chaos. I forgot about you, dear Knitting Daily readers, and how you would want to be part of my process.

So I'm going to recreate it for you, with photo help from our friend TECHknitter and Vicki Square and her go-to Knitter's Companion book and DVD, filled with basic and advanced knitting techniques.

SCENE: Kathleen's TV room, evening, "Big Bang Theory" on TV. Kathleen picks up her knitting bag and pulls out one of the fronts of the Seaweed Cardigan. She looks down to begin a row and notices that the end stitch has fallen off the needle and dropped down several rows.

Kathleen: "OH NO!!!" really loud.

Kathleen's dog Poppy, awakened from nap on the couch: "What the ... ?"

Kathleen digs out notions bag, finds locking marker, and captures rogue stitch before it can get into any more trouble.

She walks quickly to her office, grabs her laptop and the new Knitter's Companion DVD (because she loves a video and she remembers that Vicki talks about fixing dropped stitches at the end of a row).

She plops back in her chair, finds the segment on fixing dropped stitches, and relaxes to the dulcet tones of Vicki explaining how easy a fix this is.

Kathleen believes Vicki, follows her directions, fixes the stitch, and settles back in to her knitting and TV program.

Poppy heaves a sigh of relief and goes back to sleep.

End scene.

Edge-of-your-seat knitting drama, right?

Here are the steps I followed to bring order to chaos:

From The Knitter's Companion: When an edge stitch drops and ravels, there will be no visible "ladders," but there will be a large loop extending from the edge above a small loop, below which the knitted edge is intact.

1. Insert a crochet hook into the small loop, from front to back, then hold the large loop with some tension as you pull the lower part of the large loop through the loop on the hook to form a stitch.

2. With the hood in the stitch just made, pull the upper part of the large loop through this loop to form another stitch. Repeat steps 1 and 2 as many times as necessary.

3. With the hook in the last stitch made, pull the working yarn through this loop.

4. Place the last stitch on the needle, making sure that the leading leg is in front of the needle.

The illustrations above don't look nearly as daunting as the actual piece of knitting does, but if you gently pull the loops out to the side of the work, you can see which strands to pick up. Watching Vicki's tutorial on the DVD really helps show this.

(TECHknitter has developed a method in which you put the piece of knitting on a blocking surface and pin the loops out straight from the knitting. This secures everything; you unpin as you pick up the loops, so everything is tidy as you go along. Take a look at her blog!)

I don't want you to be caught short when you experience an edge-of-your-seat knitting moment, so please get yourself a copy of The Knitter's Companion DVD. You'll have Vicki Square, knitting teacher extraordinaire, waiting in your DVD collection to help you with whatever ails your knitting.

Cheers,

Knitted Motifs (and what to do with them!)

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:00:00 GMT


Molly's fabulous motif scarf

I've just gotten a new book, 150 Knit & Crochet Motifs by Heather Lodinsky (the designer of the Central Park Hoodie!), which is really getting my creative juices flowing.

Motifs have always intrigued me, and I've knitted and crocheted many of them, but I rarely put them together to make a project. My friend Molly got some mystery silk-wool yarn from a friend and crocheted a bunch of flower motifs with it. She put them together to make the most beautiful scarf, pictured at left. Isn't it wonderful?

I think about that scarf a lot, and I've been intening to make one, but haven't yet.

After looking through 150 Knit & Crochet Motifs, though, I think I've been properly inspired.

There are really a lot of things you can do with motifs; afghans, of course, scarves such as Molly's, trims, brooches, and so forth. I've seen some wonderful felted bags with motifs on the sides. They take on a whole new look when they're felted.

One of my friends has a March birthday and I was thinking I would knit her a spa set (washcloth paired with some fab soap). After seeing all of the motifs available in the book, I think I've found my washcloth pattern.

The Eyelet Square


	The Eyelet Square from 150 Knit & Crochet Motifs

Yarn: Worsted weight
Needle size: U.S. 7
Finished size: 6-7 inches, depending on your gauge

Cast on 4 stitches and divide evenly over 4 needles.
Join, taking care not to twist stitches.
Round 1: [Yo, k1] 4 times. (8 sts).
Round 2: [K1, k1tbl] 4 times.
Round 3: [Yo, k1, yo, k1tbl] 4 times. (16 sts)
Round 4 (and all even-numbered rounds): [K to the last st on the needle, k1tbl] 4 times.
Round 5: [Yo, k3, yo, k1tbl] 4 times. (24 sts)
Round 7: [Yo, k5, yo, k1tbl] 4 times. (32 sts)
Round 9: [Yo, k7, yo, k1tbl] 4 times. (40 sts)
Round 11: [Yo, k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k3, yo, k1tbl] 4 times. (48 sts)
Round 13: [Yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k2, yo, k1tbl] 4 times. (56 sts)
Round 15: [Yo, k5, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k5, yo, k1tbl] 4 times. (64 sts)
Round 17: [Yo, k15,yo, k1tbl] 4 times. (72 sts)
Round 19: [Yo, k17,yo, k1tbl] 4 times. (80 sts)
Round 21: [Yo, ssk] to the end of the round.
Round 22: [Yo, p20] 4 times. (84 sts)
Using a larger size needle, bind off loosely purlwise.

Yarn Choices

I'm going to knit my washcloth out of Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton, but if you wanted this motif (or any motif) to be a different size, you'd just choose a different yarn weight and corresponding needle size. Here's some more advice about yarn choice from Heather Lodinsky.

On entering a yarn store and faced with an abundance of rich colors, how do you choose the right yarn?

As well as color, the fiber composition and the drape potential of a yarn are vital to the success of a project. Start by narrowing your options and consider carefully the characteristics you require of the finished knitted or crocheted fabric.

Would it be better if the fabric had some elasticity or not?
Would a fabric with a good drape be better or one with a firm gauge and no drape?

If your proposed project is an afghan, then perhaps a soft, cozy fabric with good drape would be most suitable. Some people consider pure wool yarns preferable when crocheting an afghan or large project because wool is lighter then cotton and improves the drape of the fabric; but there are times when synthetic yarns are better—particularly for baby items that may require frequent washing. For a bag, a firm, resilient fabric would be ideal, and for a cushion, well, the choice is up to you.

The next step is to indulge yourself! Select a range of single balls or hanks of yarn from the store—or from your stash—and work a few sample blocks. With experience you will be able to gauge how a yarn may perform, but there are always surprises.

Remember that the hook or needle size and the motif block worked will influence the final result—so experiment with yarns, hook or needle sizes, and motif shapes with more or less texture or loft.

***
There are so many fun things to do with motifs—check out 150 Knit & Crochet Motifs for hundreds of ideas!

Cheers,

Holiday Gift Knitting: Inspiration Needed!

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:01:00 GMT


Pale Skies Cowl by Sarah Barbour

Leaf Cravat by Teva Durham

Diamond Seed Baby Jacket by Erica Alexander

Aegean Mitts by Amy Polcyn

Koolhaas Hat by Jared Flood

Last week I Tweeted that I'm still in the planning stages of my holiday knitting. And judging from the replies, I have a lot of company!

Yes, it's already the second week of November and a lot of us haven't started knitting gifts in earnest. I've dabbled with a couple of spa cloths for some soap-and-washcloth sets, but I have nothing of note to show for myself, and I have a bunch of things to knit up for the Great Grab Bag Event of 2010 (I'm starting a grab-bag tradition for my knitted gifts).

I decided a big dose of inspiration was in order, so I dipped into the Interweave Pattern Store and found just what I needed.

Here are the results of my browsing session!

Pale Skies Cowl by Sarah Barbour
I'm a big fan of cowls, and this one is sort of a super cowl. It can be worn as a scarf or a cowl; the buttons add a lot of versatility. The cables are bold and add so much texture. Plus, the Pale Skies is stunning—and to sweeten the pot even more, I have the project yarn in my stash!

Sarah used Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino to design this cowl, which is so soft you could just bundle it up into a pillow and sleep with it every night. My stash yarn is the light blue color, too, so I can make the exact version shown. Hoorah.

I hope I can work up the courage to make it part of the grab bag and not keep it for myself.

Leaf Cravat by Teva Durham
I love this little scarf. It's been around for about eight years, both in the Interweave Store and in a page protector in my (huge) "To Knit" binder.

I think it's about time the Leaf Cravat makes the transformation from pattern to finished object, don't you?

I have a lot of yarn that would match the gauge requirements for this scarf (22 stitches over 4 inches), so it'll be fun to look through my stash to see if I can match up a yarn I have with the pattern. I think I need something smooth and single-color.

And it has to be green, right? (I guess it could be red, orange, or yellow, too, but I'm leaning toward green.)

Diamond Seed Baby Jacket by Erica Alexander
This one won't go into my grab bag, but I couldn't resist including it in this post. If you need a baby gift for the holidays like I do, this is it!

There's something so "yesteryear" about this design, which really appeals to me. It's simple and classic—I just love that in a baby sweater. I gravitate more to plain baby clothes than to those with words and characters on them, so the Diamond Seed is just the ticket.

This is a simple, beautiful, and wearable baby jacket that is likely to end up in someone's hope chest. Just what I want for the special little one on my list.

Aegean Mitts by Amy Polcyn
I love fingerless mitts. They're perfect for warmer climates in the winter because they allow your fingers to breathe while keeping your hands cozy when there's a chill in the air, and they're crucial in cold climates (like mine) to put on when it's a bit chilly inside and you need to finish writing Knitting Daily.

I just got out a pair I knitted last year and put them in my office because it's a little drafty. I'm thinking I might keep them in my knitting bag, though, because the coffee shop where my knitting group meets is a little drafty, too!

The Aegean Mitts are just perfect for my grab bag knitting, too. I know any of the "grabbers" would be happy with them; I might just knit two pairs to put in the bag.

I think these would work for both men and women. Color can make such a big difference in this respect. I've seen scarves that I thought were designed for women, which when knit up in dark colors or a heather gray or brown and they looked very masculine.

Cables are unisex, I think—after all, why are those wonderful Aran sweaters are so often called fisherman's sweaters?

Oh, one more thing about this pattern—it's a great one-skein project for that ball of luxury yarn sitting in your stash. The pattern calls for Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 6-Ply, which is YUMMY. I have one skein of this in my stash, so I guess there will be one lucky person and one REALLY lucky person if I make two pairs! (Although I'm sure I can come up with another skein of some fab yarn so there are no tug-o-wars under the Christmas tree.)

And word on the street is that you can knit these in one evening. Here's hoping!

Koolhaas Hat by Jared Flood

This is one of my all-time favorite hats. I love it for several reasons. One is because I lived in Seattle for 20 years and the architect Rem Koolhaas designed the fabulous downtown library there, which is what inspired Jared to design his hat.

A second reason is that I've seen this hat on many, many people (male and female), and it looks great on everyone.

A third reason is that it's a really fun knit! It's one of those addictive designs; you want to keep going to see the next diamond pattern appear! A good thing when knitting under a bit of pressure, yes? (Being in publishing for my entire career, I get everything done faster and better when I have a deadline.)

I think I'll knit two of these hats, too, for the grab bag. It's really such a neat piece, and so fashion-forward.

So, I have my knitting list in hand now. Phew!

I can't wait to cast on these projects. I have to exercise some self-discipline, though so I don't cast them all on on the same night.

I think these four patterns are perfect for any knitter and "giftee," (and they're all on sale for the next 48 hours!) but if none of these strikes your fancy, check out the Interweave Pattern Store; there's lots of stuff on sale!

I promise you'll find something you think someone on your list can't live without.

Cheers,

Kathleen's Favorite Sock Knitting Tips

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:00:00 GMT


Sweetheart Socks

Knotty or Knice Socks

On-Your-Toes Socks

We've just come out with a download of sock patterns, Best of 2010: Top Ten Patterns for Knitted Socks (see photos of some of the "best of" at left). Looking through it got me thinking about how much I love to knit socks and some of the things I've learned over the years.

You know how I love a list of tips, so here you go!

Toes too pointy? My favorite pair of socks has a "well-rounded" toe, and the toe shaping is interesting. The pattern has me make regular toe decreases and then knit 4 rounds even; make the decreases again and knit 3 rounds even; make the decreases again and knit 2 rounds even; make the decreases again and knit 1 round even; finish by making decreases every other row until all of the decreases are made. I love this toe and I've used it several times.

Gusset stitches too loose? To make my gusset stitches nice and tight, I twist every picked-up stitch on the first round of knitting.

Gauge off in the round? Did you know that your gauge is probably different in the round than it is when knitting flat? I found this out the hard way and had to give a pair of socks away because my gauge was off. Now I always do gauge swatches in the round for projects that will be knit in the round, and flat for projects that will be knit back and forth.

Your little one's socks keep twisting around? I don't remember where I heard this tip, but it's a great one. Just make tube socks for kids! No heel to keep twisting to the top, and you can churn out tube socks one after the other-no heel flap, heel turn, gusset! And if you make several pairs out of the same yarn, you can just pluck them out of the sock drawer without worrying if you have a match. Love it.

Why do some people like knitting socks so much? I get this question a lot; some people just don't understand the attraction. Well, let me count the ways!

1. There's not a lot of instant gratification in knitting, but I can knit a pair of socks in a couple of weeks!

2. I like to have a pair of socks-in-progress in my knitting bag at all times. The portability of socks is great—I can pull them out anytime, anywhere.

3. What better gift is there but a pair of handknit socks? I've given several pairs of socks as gifts and they're all treasured by the recipients. I even turned a knitter friend into a sock knitter by giving her a pair of handknit socks. She liked them so much she knits them all the time now.

4. Socks are the perfect way to try out stitch patterns on a small scale. There are so many sock designs to try—just look at the photos at left! And have you seen all the beautiful sock yarns out there lately? It's amazing. I have so many gorgeous skeins of sock yarn—I put them in a clear glass vase so I can admire them before I turn them into socks.

5. One of the most important reasons that I knit socks is to continue the sock-knitting tradition that's been going on for centuries. When I'm knitting a heel flap or a gusset, I love thinking about the knitters who've come before me, knitting socks for their families, soldiers, and so on.

Become a part of that history yourself with Best of 2010: Top Ten Patterns for Knitted Socks. Here's to sock knitting and sock knitters!

Cheers,

P.S. I'd love to hear your favorite sock tips, so leave a comment and share with us!

Fearless Sock Knitting + a Cast-On Tutorial from Sockupied!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:00:00 GMT


Ann Budd's Twisted Diamonds begin with the Channel Island cast-on.

In our new eMag, Sockupied, knitting expert Karen Frisa provides directions and demos for several different cast-ons, and I'm highlighting the Channel Island cast-on for you here on Knitting Daily.

This cast-on is really pretty—it has a picot look—and very stretchy, so it's perfect for socks. (And it's used in Anne Budd's new pattern featured in Sockupied, Twisted Diamonds!)

The Channel Island Cast-On
by Karen Frisa

A certain cast-on method can make or break your top-down socks.

Not only can it add a nice decorative edge, but it can mean the difference between socks that go on easily and socks that don't!

It's important that your cast-on be stretchy enough to span the biggest circumference of your foot—between the top of the ankle and the back of the heel—so you can pull the sock on comfortably. The top edge of the sock also has to stretch more than the rest of the sock leg, since it sits where the calf widens.

Interestingly, most of us think that if our socks are falling down the ribbing needs to be tighter, but it could just be that the cast-on is too tight for your calf.

Here's a video demo with Interweave Knits editor Eunny Jang.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

And here are the written instructions with a cool animated step-by-step illustration!


	How to do the Channel Island cast-on (if you can't see the animation, click here)

1. Holding three strands of yarn together, make a slipknot about six inches from the ends and place it on the right needle (this does not count as a stitch). Divide the three strands, using a single strand as the working yarn and the two remaining strands as the tail.

2. Place the single strand around the index finger. Wrap the two-strand tail counterclockwise around the thumb so that two wraps are visible below your thumbnail. Make a yarnover on the needle with the single strand (see the animated illustration at right).

3. Beginning at the base of the thumb, slide the needle up through both loops on the thumb, then bring it over the single strand going to the index finger to grab it, then go back down through the two loops on the thumb (see the animated illustration at right, second and third frames). Drop the thumb loops and tighten all three yarns.

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for the desired number of stitches; each repeat creates two stitches. Distribute the stitches over your chosen needles and remove the slipknot from the needles (but don't undo it) before joining for working in the round, knitting the "beaded" stitches and purling the yarnovers. Undo the slipknot just before weaving in the tails.

______________

Try this cast-on technique on your next pair of socks. I think you'll like how it looks and behaves.

And if you haven't purchased this special issue of Sockupied yet, get yours now! What's so special about the eMag format is that there's something for every type of learner.

In the cast-on article I've excerpted from above, you'll get Karen's step-by-step text, Eunny's demonstration videos, step-by-step animated illustrations, plus a PDF of the article to download, print and tuck in your knitting bag.

I hope you enjoy this new cast-on technique!

Cheers,

Knitting on the Road: The Vacation Scarf

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:00:00 GMT


The Vacation Scarf

I spent last week camping in paradise, a.k.a. Yellowstone National Park. I went with a friend and we had so much fun seeing wildlife (bears, wolves, coyotes, moose, elk, pronghorn, and lots of bison!).

I brought along some knitting—a baby vest, a tee-shirt, and some random yarn just in case—but I hardly knit at all! There was just too much to see and do, and most days we got back to our campsite too late to sit around and knit; who wants to knit outside in 50-degree weather, let alone have your knitting smell like a campfire!

I did get some knitting done in the car, though, and a funny thing happened when I picked up the needles after several days of not knitting: I experienced an odd feeling, almost like an adrenalin rush, when I picked up the needles again. It was so weird! I guess I shouldn't have extended amounts of time away from knitting—it might be bad for my health.

Even though the projects I brought were fairly easy knits, I ended up not wanting to work on anything the least bit complicated—I still needed to be able to look out the window to see geysers and bison and wolves (oh, my!). So, I decided to make one of my easy go-to items: the eyelet scarf.


	A Scarf of Your Very Own by Ann Budd

I started thinking about this scarf after looking through our new eBook, Best of 2010 Patterns for Knitted Accessories. There's a pattern in there called A Scarf of Your Very Own, by Ann Budd. Ann took three lace patterns and did the math to make three different scarves out of laceweight yarn. While I was deciding what to work on in the car, I thought about this project and remembered my simple eyelet pattern.

This is one of my favorite quickie scarves, and I've made several for gifts. You can use any weight yarn and any size needles. What I'm using for my current scarf is a fingering weight, handspun seacell/merino blend from Three Irish Girls.

I got this yarn at the Sock Summit, and I've been admiring it for almost a year! I'm so glad I threw it in my backpack at the last minute. I had size 7 needles on hand, so I cast on 24 stitches, thinking I'd get about a 5 inch-wide scarf, which I did. (No real swatching on this one; I figured if I didn't like the width I'd just start over.)

Here's my pattern, now named The Vacation Scarf.

CO 24 stitches.
Row 1: K1, *YO, K2tog; rep from * to last st, K1.
Row 2: K1, *YO, P2tog; rep from * to last st, K1.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until scarf is the desired length (or until you run out of yarn!).

Pretty easy, huh?

This pattern gives you a lot of bang for your knitting buck. The lace pattern looks really fancy and it shows off variegated yarn really well, and it's a great stash-buster for those special one or two skeins of yarn you bought on vacation. (Yes, I did visit a yarn shop in Jackson, WY—Knit on Pearl is just darling!)



Kathleen and Mimi at Yellowstone Falls

If you're like me and you love a good accessory to take on the road with you, check out Best of 2010 Patterns for Knitted Accessories! Since it's an eBook, you can print out just the pattern you want to work on and slip it into your vacation knitting bag (mine was a Ziplock baggie!)

Cheers,

Flower Pins, Just in Time for Spring

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT

As I write this, it's 43 degrees and sunny here in Spokane. It's unseasonably warm—we're used to snow in February.

I know many of you are seeing more than enough snow though, so I'm pleased to give you a wee bouquet of crocheted flowers!

I found these little cuties when I was reorganizing my crochet projects, and they were in a bag with pinbacks just waiting to be sewn on. I was motivated by a wedding bag in a recent issue of Interweave Crochet, which had a few pretty flowers attached to it. They really made the project.

Since I had the makings of my own flower pins, I decided to finish them and give them as little treats to a couple of girlfriends. I made the two violet blossoms a couple of years ago, and the orange flower is one that was leftover after I did a scarf out of about twenty of these motifs (so beautiful, but I didn't take a photo of it before I gave it away!).

These flowers don't deserve to spend one more second in a plastic bag!

Unfortunately, I can't find the the patterns for the violets or the orange flower, whatever that is, so I whipped up the pink daisy this afternoon—I just sewed on a pinback, pinned it on my bag, and viola: instant spring cheer. I put one on my black knitting bag to brighten things up a bit! It's so cute.

Have an extra hour? Here's the pattern for you if you want to crochet your own pin.

Crocheted Daisy Pin

Materials: Any weight yarn and a crochet hook to match (I used Filatura di Crosa Brilla from my stash—it has a great shine to it—and a D hook)

Base ring: 6 ch, join with sl st.
1st round: 1ch, 15 sc into ring, sl st to first sc.
2nd round: 1ch, 1 sc into same place as last sl st, *[2dc, 1tr, 2dc] into next sc, 1 sc into each of next 2 sc; rep from * 4 more times skipping 1 sc at end of rep, sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Attach a pin back using the tail and end of your yarn (or sew in the ends and attach the pin back using a needle and thread).

Clear as mud for those of you who don't crochet, right? Well, let me take you through it (with links to our technique glossary, too!).

You're going to work in rounds, so you need to start by creating a ring, called the "base ring." For this pattern, you make a slip knot and then chain (ch) 6. You then join the 6 stitches into a ring by making a slip stitch (sl st). Base ring? Done!

In your first round, you're going to make one chain stitch and then single crochet (sc) 15 times into the base ring. If you think you can't fit all 15 single crochets into the ring, you can—just use your fingers to scootch the existing single crochets along the base ring to free up some space to crochet into. Finish your first round by working another sl st into the first single crochet in your set of 15 (which is where you'll end up after you sc all around around the base ring).

Round two is where it gets interesting! You're going to do a combination of double crochets and treble crochets to make the petals of the flower. The petals are made up of two double crochets on either side of one treble crochet; trebles are taller than doubles, to the trebles are what give each petal it's slight point. So, our instructions tell us to work on chain, and then 1 dingle crochet into the same place as the last slip stitch, which is the next place you can place a stitch after you do your slip stitch. No problem. Then you're supposed to work work 2 double crochets, 1 treble crochet, and 2 double crochets into the next single crochet. (By "the next single crochet," the pattern is instructing you to work all of those stitches into single crochets on the base ring.) Seem impossible? It's not—they really will fit. Thank goodness for the stretchiness of yarn, right? Even my cotton blend had enough give to make this work fairly easily.

After your double-treble combo is done, you do one single crochet into each of the next two single crochets on the base ring. And that's your pattern. You do that until you get to the last single crochet on the base ring, which you pass over, and then you finish by working a single crochet in the first single crochet you did in the second round. Cut the yarn and draw it through that last single crochet, and you're done. Congratulations!

Now find a bag or jacket that needs a little pick-me-up, and pin on some springtime. And while you're waiting for actual spring to come, try out Interweave Crochet—you'll find lots of fun embellishments to welcome the sun.

Cheers,