Knitting Daily : Lisa Shroyer

Decorate with Knitted Holiday Ornaments

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Even though it's just Halloween, I'm already dreaming of the holidays—my favorite time of the year.

I have a really beautiful collection of glass holiday ornaments that look just lovely on the Christmas tree. They sparkle and glimmer when the light hits them.

I usually get a couple of new ornaments as gifts each year—last year my mom gave me the most hilarious one: a hamburger. It's beautifully crafted, though, and I hung it proudly on my tree. Maybe this year I'll get some fries.

I have a couple of small trees, too. (I know, a little overboard on the trees!) This year I'm tgoing to make some knitted ornaments to put on one tree, along with a twisted cord garland. I think I can bang out several ornaments at my knitting group the next few Sundays. We'll see ... my Central Park Hoodie is mocking me from my knitting bag!

Want to knit some ornaments along with me? Here are some ideas:

Swatch Ornaments

Dig out your swatch box and put project swatches to good use making ornaments. Thin, drapey swatches will give the smoothest effect.

Materials: Glass or plastic ball ornament; knitted swatch (height and width similar to or slightly smaller than ornament circumference; exact dimensions are not critical, swatch will stretch to fit.); strong sewing thread, needle; ribbon (optional)

Directions: With right sides facing, sew two short ends of the swatch together to make a tube. Turn right side out. With a doubled length of thread, make a running stitch line along the bottom edge of the swatch.

From inside the tube, draw the thread tight and gather the bottom of the swatch into a tightly closed circle. Fasten off the thread. Pop the ball ornament into the swatch bag.

With a doubled length of thread, make a running stitch along the top edge of the swatch. Draw the top opening tightly closed, stretching the fabric slightly if necessary. Fasten off the thread. (Optional) Attach a ribbon for hanging.

More Free Ornament Patterns!



Use up odds and ends in your stash! Cabled Globes will add texture to your tree.	Try knitting this pretty Snowflake Ornament in a sparkly, white yarn.	Make these cute poinsettias in all kinds of colors! Be creative with your color scheme.

And don't forget about the Knitted Star pattern that we posted in the Inside Knits blog. It's so cute. I need a tree skirt for one of my little trees, and I'm thinking about making four or five of the midsized Knitted Stars and sewing them together point-to-point to make a cool tree skirt.

If you want to make a yarn garland, here's how:

Twisted Cord

Cut several lengths of yarn about five times the desired finished cord length. Fold the strands in half to form two equal groups. Anchor the strands at the fold by looping them over a doorknob. Holding one group in each hand, twist each group tightly in a clockwise direction until they begin to kink.

Put both groups in one hand and then release them, allowing them to twist around each other counterclockwise. Smooth out the twists so that they are uniform along the length of the cord. Knot the ends

Have fun with all of these ornament ideas!

Cheers,

Kathleen

I Need a Hat: The Knitted Slouch

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I am NOT one of those people who looks great in hats, especially the beanie-type hat. I wear those hats in the winter when I have too, but I much prefer the beret style hat or the slouch hat.

It was in the 30s this weekend in Spokane—it's getting hard to remember those 95-degree days when all I wanted for Christmas was a fan. I need a hat now, and I can't wait for the holidays to get one as a gift.

So, I was trolling through the free patterns on Knitting Daily, and I decided to try the Barrymore Slouch Hat by Lisa Shroyer from our recent free eBook, 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns. This hat is really easy and quick-to-knit, and it's also stylish and warm. Some slouchy hats don't cover the ears, which isn't an option for this climate. The Barrymore Hat actually has built-in ear flaps tucked under the band for extra coziness.

This hat has a lot of design features, such as the garter rows every so often and the buttons on the side. I have quite a collection of buttons from my great gramma, my gramma, and my mom (not to mention my own OCD button-shopping tendencies). I keep them in a vintage Crisco jar, which just adds to the charm of the collection.

I usually find just the right button in that jar, and it gets replenished regularly from various sources (tell people you have a button collection, and you never know what you'll get).

Building Skills: No Slouching!

This project uses several basic skills and some more intermediate techniques that add just a bit of a challenge. You'll do your basic knitting in the round plus a slip stitch row and a purl row each time you switch colors. You'll also pick up stitches with a crochet hook

If you're new to knitting in the round, here's a quick tutorial from Knitting Daily TV that shows how to join in the round when using both circular needles and double-pointed needles. You'll learn a couple of tips in this video clip, too, including how to keep a round marker on the needles when you're using double-points.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I have two black coats and one silver down vest, so I think I'll knit this hat out of a dark gray and a silver gray merino wool. Should be beautiful. (Or maybe some red and silver?)

Get the Barrymore Slouch Hat pattern and five more easy knitting pattern when you download your free eBook!

Cheers,

Kathleen

The Freyja Sweater: A Custom Knit

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A Note From Kathleen: A few weeks ago, Knitscene editor and Interweave Knits Senior Editor Lisa Shroyer blogged about upsizing the Freyja pullover from the fall issue of Knits. Her post has so much great information that I wanted to put it out to the masses. So, Masses, here's Lisa with some tips on upsizing this lovely Bohus pullover. Enjoy!

Freyja Checks In

For the Fall issue of Interweave Knits, Courtney Kelley designed the Freyja Sweater, a feminine, contemporary take on the traditional Bohus pullover.

In the gallery of the Freyja Sweater, both Gallery Girls wear this sweater well, and as you'll see, it also looks great in larger sizes on larger women. The overall look is understated—knitterly, elegant, casual. This is one of those designs that many women can wear, regardless of size or shape.

At first glance, the Freyja Sweater has some points against it for the Rubenesque woman—it's a seamless yoke, which often creates a lot of visual roundness and crowds the throat with a high crew neckline. And the Freyja has a graphically patterned yoke, which usually draws the eye to the widest part of the upper body—the circumference around the upper arms, upper back, and bust. Patterned yokes often cut right across the bust, which is not attractive on large-busted women.

But Courtney made some excellent tweaks to the traditional here. Her Freyja yoke is not a true seamless; the shaping begins with raglan decreases—not unheard of in the Bohus tradition by any means, but that's a different discussion!

There is a diagonal line of decreases between the sleeves and body at four points. This continues, in just main-color stockinette, for a few inches before the colorwork begins. Raglan shaping creates a more tailored line than seamless yoke shaping, which decreases concentrically around the upper body. The raglan "seams" create definition at each side of the bust, which makes for a flattering fit.

The other decision Courtney made was to begin the colorwork well above the bust line. The patterning here is more neckline decoration than yoke decoration. The pattern draws the eye up, and by not falling over the bust or upper arm, does not highlight those round spots for us. Once the colorwork begins, the shaping occurs in pattern, concentrically like a seamless yoke. The neckline is low and wide, which allows some skin to show along the collarbone.

A Star Sweater Is Born

I made this pullover in my own size, 44" bust. With a plain lower body, it's easy to customize the shaping in this design. I created a long A-line silhouette, since the typical hourglass waist is not flattering on my pear shape. I cast on for the size 46" and then decreased gradually down to the numbers for the 44" at the bust, and the yoke and sleeves follow the directions for the 44". I chose my own colors in the lustrous Road to China Light from The Fibre Company:

MC: amethyst
CC1: grey pearl
CC2: autumn jasper
CC3: citrine
CC4: malachite

With ten sizes in this pattern, the Freyja Sweater can work for you, too.

Let's knit for us,

Lisa

Interweave Knits: Holiday Gifts Preview

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Interweave has produced the fabulous Holiday Gifts issue for the last several years, and this one is no exception (preview the upcoming issue here) . Interweave Knits editor Eunny Jang and I recently got a chance to talk about this year's Holiday Gifts, which will be available on October 27. As Eunny and I were chatting, we got to talking about lots of things, including our favorite part of the holiday season.

"To be honest, I think I love the food best; I should probably say the good cheer, the family togetherness, etc., etc. But candy, turkey and dressing, seven fishes feasts, pannetone, Yule logs—name the tradition, I'll name (and eat!) the food!" Eunny said.

I love the food, too—we usually have a traditional ham dinner—but my favorite part of the holidays is decorating the tree. I have a nice collection of glass ornaments in the German style, and I love how they sparkle on the tree. I spend a lot of time rearranging the ornaments so that they show to their best advantage, too. My favorite is a little bird in a nest, and the hanger is a gold, sparkly pipe-cleaner-type thing. It's really a special ornament.

Speaking of ornaments, Ann Weaver designed some beautiful patterns for German-inspired ornaments (at right) for Holiday Gifts.

The 2009 issue of Holiday Gifts is huge—almost sixty projects! Seeing it all come together is always so rewarding; going from a sketchy concept to a finished magazine is pretty satisfying. Some of our favorite designs in this issue include Courtney Kelley's Nuneh Mittens and Silka Burgoyne's Lace and Twist Mittens. Eunny learned a new technique from the Nuneh Mittens: the Armenian method of tacking down the yarn to eliminate long floats.

I really like the delicate Lace and Twist Gloves. They're simply beautiful; perfect for some of the fingering-weight yarn I have in my stash, and perfect for the ladies in my life (especially my Gramma, who loves pretty, feminine accessories).

The Gift of Handmade

Many of the ideas in Holiday Gifts are future heirlooms just waiting to be made, and seeing them sparked memories for Eunny and I, about some of our most cherished gifts—both given and received.

Eunny said, "My grandmother gave me her collection of crochet hooks a long time ago, and while that gift isn't something that was made for me, it is something that made countless things for others. The most memorable handmade holiday gift I've given is the year I knitted some pretty intricate, traditional shawls for my mother, aunt, and grandmother. They were all different, and all beautiful—they immediately started trading them with each other and arguing over who got what."

My most cherished handmade gift is an embroidered pillow my mom made for me. The design is the beautiful, floral love stamp from 1989, and twenty years later, that pillow still has a place of honor on my bed. As far as giving gifts, I've made lots of things for friends and family. My favorite gifts that I made are little cross-stitched ornaments with my family's names on them; they hang on the stockings to designate whose is whose.

Home (and Away) for the Holidays

Even though it's only October 12th, both Eunny and I are looking forward to relaxing during the holidays—catching up on much needed sleep, cooking, eating, drinking good wine, and watching bad movies.

Eunny will be holed up in a mountain cabin and I'll be hosting the Portland contingent of Cubleys (my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew Henry) in Spokane.

I'm thinking about making Lisa Shroyer's Nordic Striped Ball for Henry. At 23 inches in circumference, it's a fun size for a 4-year-old!

That busy, wonderful holiday time will be here before we know it, so I hope you'll get busy with some of the gift ideas in Holiday Gifts.

Cheers,

Kathleen

What Are You Doing this Weekend? (Plus 8 Free Patterns!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Have any plans for the weekend? Might I recommend making your own dress forms and dyeing some sock yarn? And bar-b-queing flank steak and Portobello mushrooms while you're at it?

'Cause that's what I did last weekend and it was an absolute blast.

Designer Wendy Bernard came up with the idea of duct-tape dress forms, so my knitting group decided to give it a try. It was surprisingly easy, and not-surprisingly, super fun! Basically, you wrap a friend as tightly as you can in duct tape, cut it up the back, retape it, and stuff it with polyfill.

Check out Audrey and Soucia at left—we decided they looked like super heroes so we taped their initials onto their forms.

Our other activity was dyeing sock yarn. We bought a bunch of sock blanks and dyes and put the dyes in squirt bottles. It was amazing how all of the pieces turned out so differently and beautifully. Please note that we're doing this activity outside. One thing is certain: dyeing is messy, and spills don't come out. Just ask my flip flops!

We had such a wonderful time at our mini-retreat, I highly recommend that you plan your own weekend-knitting adventure soon.

Speaking of Weekends. . .

Our new special issue, Interweave Knits Weekend, is in stores so we thought it would be nice to roll out the instructions for our amazing staff projects from that issue. Just click on the photos to get the patterns.


By Anna-Liza Armfield Customer Service Representative Yarn: Farmhouse Silk Blend	By Marilyn Murphy Editorial Director Yarn: Naturally Tussock Aran 10 Ply	By Rebecca Daniels Editorial Assistant Yarn: Plymouth Tweed	By Lisa Shroyer Senior Editor Yarn: Lion Brand LB Collection Organic Wool


By Eunny Jang Editor Yarn: Cascade Ecological Wool	By Annie Bakken Marketing Manager Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash	By Sharon Riggs Assistant Editor Yarn: Universal Deluxe Chunky, Classic Chunky, Classic Worsted, Jewel	Marcy Smith Editor, Interweave Crochet Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece

Have fun this weekend!

Cheers,

Kathleen

5 Free Scarf Patterns, from the Interweave Knits Staff to You!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:32:00 GMT

Whether you knit scarves to take a break from serious knitting, to practice a new stitch, or even to knit up a quick gift, there's no denying that scarf knitting is popular amongst all skill levels. First you start with garter stitch scarves, and then you break into stockinette (and learn that the edges roll!), and pretty soon you're trying all kinds of pattern stitches and maybe even your first cabled scarf.

I tend to have a scarf project in the works at all times, it travels well and it's nice to have a project that you can pick up any time you need to kill some time in a waiting room or wherever.

There are truly some scarves out there that are masterpieces--take a look at the book Scarf Style for some examples of said masterpieces. I've knit Vintage Velvet from Scarf Style three times; the pattern is interesting enough to keep me going and the result is just plain extraordinary. (You knit a reversible cable pattern out of chenille yarn and then you felt it. Amazing!)

At Interweave, we think scarf knitting provides wonderful opportunities to practice fun stitch patterns, play with luxury yarns, and impress your friends and family with beautiful gifts.

In that vein, the fabulously talented Knits staff decided to arm you with five gorgeous and varied scarf patterns in fall's Staff Projects offering (see page 52 of the magazine). And, in response to your feedback, all five patterns are available here and now. No weekly doling out of the free patterns for me--I want to populate your holiday gift-knitting list all at once!

And now, drumroll please, here come the scarves!

LEAVES ON THE PATH SCARF by Laura Rintala, managing editor

Laura designed this scarf in honor of her favorite season, fall. The yarn is Valley Yarns, Williamstown, distributed by WEBS.

WAVY ORANGE SCARF by Rebecca L. Daniels, editorial assistant

This scarf gets its ripples because the piece is knit lengthwise instead of widthwise. The yarn is ShibuiKnits, Highland Wool Alpaca.

STAR SCARF by Eunny Jang, editor

This is a small-skein wonder, or use up leftovers from lace projects. The yarn is Valley Yarns, 8/2 Tencel, distributed by WEBS.

MYOPIA SCARF by Sharon Riggs, assistant editor

Inspired by the runway, Sharon designed her scarf so even the most nearsighted fashionista will be able to see the beauty. The yarn is Louet, Dyed Corriedale (it's a roving, actually).

TWILLY NECKERCHIEF by Lisa Shroyer, senior editor

Lisa combines honeycomb brioche stitch with garter stitch to make this stylish scarf. The yarn is The Alpaca Yarn Company, Classic Alpaca.

I know it's hard to believe that it's scarf knitting time (it's 95 degrees here in Spokane today), but that fall Interweave Knits issue has inspired me to shop my stash and my LYS and gather supplies for several fall projects, and I'm guessing it has you revved up for fall knitting, too.

Have fun with these scarf patterns!

Kathleen

P.S. Don't forget to visit Sandi's blog, What's on Sandi's Needles, this week! Sandi posts a new blog every Thursday.

Knitscene: Fall 2009 Preview

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:41:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: It's here! It's here! The new issue of Knitscene is available at your local yarn shop or bookstore as we speak. This issue is absolutely full of cutting-edge designs and information that you'll all want to have at your fingertips as you start your fall knitting. I have a huge bag of alpaca that's been mocking me for months now, and I think I've found the perfect project: the Emerald Isle Cardigan by Melissa Wherle. I need a new fall jacket and I love the cuff detail on this beauty. I really need that alpaca to get off my back, too, so I'm going to talk to it tonight about its new incarnation.

Knitscene editor extraordinaire Lisa Shroyer is here to introduce this jam-packed issue, and we're starting a Knitscene blog, too, so check KnittingDaily.com to see the first post in "Inside Knitscene." Lisa and other Knitscene folks will share insight into what makes Knitscene so special. Lisa is also going to post occasionally about upsizing patterns from Interweave Knits and Knitscene (Lisa brought us the plus-sized version of The Central Park Hoodie), and talk about myriad techniques, patterns, and interesting knitterly topics.

So here's Lisa!

I love this new Knitscene. From graphic colorwork to looping cables to simple plains of stockinette, these projects really hit that sweet spot of chic and oh-my-goodness-I-have-to-knit-that. If you're a knitter who enjoys each and every stitch, you'll find engaging patterns here. If you're a knitwear maven, like our own Kate Sonnick (Stylespotting), you'll find trend-relevant and wearable pieces. The projects range from beginner to intermediate, with most patterns falling in the advanced-easy category.

The photoshoot for this issue took place over a dreary, rainy, snowy week in April, in Denver, Colorado. Because of the weather, we shot a lot of the projects in the studio. I love working in the studio--the photos are all about the knitted garments. There's no distraction. And the final look is so clean and contemporary.

When we weren't in the studio, we shot at the Loveland Feed & Grain, an 1890s agricultural building in historic Loveland, Colorado. The peeling paint on brick, the rusted metal, the railroad tracks, all slick with rain that April day, lent a sense of history and romantic grit to the projects in the Graphic Elements story. Though the weather made for miserable working conditions, the final images really capture a kind of drama--from the cloud cover and the models being freezing but gritting their teeth through it! I wouldn't change a thing, now. Of course, it's July in the South where I am right now, and those April temperatures are a distant memory.

What is Knitscene?

Knitscene is a special magazine that comes out twice a year from Interweave, featuring easy, stylish projects that are fun to make. We work with themed storylines in Knitscene; in this issue, we present:

+ Contemporary Cables: Unusual cabled projects, including reversible scarves
+ Graphic Elements: Feminine yet graphically modern knits
+ Fall Session: His and hers casual outer wear
+ Unusual Wools: Tape yarns and tubular constructions make unusual fabrics

Features, Articles, and Technique Highlights

+ Profile on blogger and designer Melissa Wehrle, with four new exclusive designs
+ Technical Articles: Learn to count rows in a cable and read a lace chart
+ Stylespotting: Fashion knit-blogger Kate Sonnick walks us through the culture of the Cowichan

Enjoy the preview!

--Lisa

Find the new issue of Knitscene at your LYS, bookstore, or order it here.

Early Sneak Peek: Knitscene Fall 2009

KD Sandi — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:34:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: It's almost that time of year again--Knitscene time! Twice a year, we get to delight in the pages of a knitting magazine unlike any other--in the words of its editor, Lisa Shroyer: simple, stylish, spirited. Some wonderful and unexpected designs come out of this magazine, and so I am delighted to have Editor Lisa here to give us the inside scoop on what's ahead for us in the upcoming Fall 2009 issue of Knitscene...This is an exclusive sneak peek for our wonderful Knitting Daily readers, as the actual preview won't be released until the week of July 21st. So heeeeeeerrrrrrree's Lisa--enjoy!

Working on Knitscene is a peculiar experience for me. Most of the year I’m a back-room editor—crunching numbers on patterns, managing shot lists at photoshoots… Important work for sure, but not sexy. Then twice a year, this little magazine floats into my world and I get to play Editor with a big E. Play may be the wrong verb—it’s a lot of work—but it’s also a lot of fun.

As an editor grounded in knitting patterns, what’s my vision for this magazine?
-    The projects have to be about knitting more than anything else.
-    They need to be alluring and fun to make.
-    They need to celebrate yarn.
-    They need to be simple in construction but effective as fashion.

There are some designs in this issue that hit these points exceedingly—check out the Hollywood Herringbone Pullover by Kate Gagnon. It’s a cute, wearable project, worked in a sumptuous worsted-weight. Knitting the mosaic front piece is easy—instead of fussing with stranded colorwork in rows, Kate has chosen a slip-stitch two-color pattern that creates the look of Fair Isle. I love this sweater, from a stylistic and technical standpoint.

The Flourish Vest by Katya Wilsher is a tunic-length V-neck vest which will flatter lots of women, and the undulating cables are so much fun to work. Mixing up charts of differently-sized repeats is all it takes. In a true Aran weight, the knitting is quick.

Also in the Contemporary Cables section, we have two reversible scarves. So many knitters love cabled scarves, but detest the one-sided look. Try mixing knits and purls in a cable pattern to get a dual-sided effect!

All of these designers have worked hard to create projects that make sense technically, that are simple and fun to make, and that hit that sweet spot of chic and not-too-trendy. I hope you enjoy.

Also in this issue:
- Melissa Wehrle reinvents the boyfriend sweater
- Funky-construction wool yarns for rockstar looks
- How To: Read Lace Charts
- How To: Count rows between crosses in a cable
- Cowichan cool—the history of the trend and how to wear it

Look for the Knitscene online preview the week of July 21st; meanwhile, you can pre-order your copy now!

-- Lisa Shroyer

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Houston, we have a row of stars on the Star Light, Star Bright baby blankie! Now it's a few rows of stockinette and then it's to the stars, baby, to the stars...

We Ask the Editors: What Are You Proudest of Making?

KD Sandi — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:55:00 GMT

Do you ever wonder what the experts are proudest of making? I thought it might be fun to know what the editors of Interweave Knits, PieceWork, Interweave Crochet, and Spin-Off thought were their finest craft pieces--so I asked them to share the best of the work of their hands with us.

The one knit I'm most proud of is the Rambling Rose Cardigan from Interweave Knits Winter 2006. In a DK weight with lace inserts, raglan shaping, and a long silhouette, it wasn't a quick knit, but I enjoyed the knitting so much I finished it in about a month's time. The yarn is a wool/cashmere blend from Karabella, the fit is very slinky, and I worked the sweater all in one color, unlike the original that uses intarsia for a two-color look. It's a wardrobe staple for me!

--Lisa Shroyer
Senior Editor, Interweave Knits

As long-time Knitting Daily readers know, sometimes it takes me a long time to finish a project (update: I did finish the sweater for my Dad after only twelve years). So, the fact that it only took me two years to spin, design, and knit this domino sweater for my daughter Hannah gives me great relief. Here’s a picture of Hannah shortly after I finished it in January 2009. The spinning was a piece of cake, it was the knitting that took me a long, long time. The pattern will be in the All New Homespun, Handknit book that will be available this fall from Interweave.

-- Amy Clarke Moore
Editor, Spin-Off

I first started writing about crafts at the urging of Weta Ray Clark, the Home editor at The News & Observer in Raleigh, NC. She kept nudging and cajoling until I said yes. It was the best idea I never had, that brainstorm of Weta's. Meeting and reporting on crafters was the best fun ever.

So when Weta fell ill with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, I did what I know best: bring together crafters to make a blanket for Weta, whose treatments left her chilled even on the hottest Carolina days. I asked the newspaper's resident knitters and crocheters to make a strip of fabric 36 inches long. As anyone who has coordinated a blanket knows, everyone has her own tools for measuring, not all related to actual inches. So when the strips came in all sorts of crazy lengths, I laid them out and pondered. Initially, I attempted to make a merry blanket with edgy variable ends; it was quite terrible, soothing to neither eye nor soul. I pulled the strips apart, then kept nudging and cajoling until the strips lined up at the ends. I crocheted them together with various bright yarns, then added a deep crocheted ruffle, to create a bright confection of love.

Weta is no longer with us, but it is because of her that I am with you. I am glad to have helped transform the blanket from a wish to a warmth. It's what crafters do best.

-- Marcy Smith
Editor, Interweave Crochet

My mom was a very skilled and avid knitter. Regardless of what she was working on, she would stop to knit something for me—usually a new Fair Isle to match my latest ski clothes. But one day, I knew it was time, and I asked her to teach me. Although she was a very patient teacher, her eyebrows did raise when I announced that my first complete project would be a red cashmere scarf for my then boyfriend (it worked; he’s now my husband!). She wrote out a pattern, I bought the yarn and needles, and set off. Months and months passed; the planned Christmas gift was now to be a birthday gift; no wait, next Christmas! I finally finished it about two weeks before Christmas and promptly shipped it off to Mom for her to repair the numerous dropped stitches (I hadn’t given her enough time to teach me that part!). As usual, Mom worked wonders; Bob received his handknitted scarf, which he still wears. Of the handmade things I’ve made, I love this scarf the best—thank you, Mom!

--Jeane Hutchins
Editor, PieceWork

What things have you knitted that have made you the most proud? Leave a comment in our Forums--and maybe even upload a photo to the Reader's Gallery!

Thanks to our editors for sharing their proudest moments with us. We're all thrilled to bring good patterns and techniques to you so you can share in crafting and make something you're proud of, too. Need some more inspiration? This week, we have a special offer for those of you who wish to subscribe to all our fiber craft magazines. If you already subscribe to any of these magazines, we'll simply tag on a year to your subscription. We'll continue to supply patterns and information we're proud of and hope you'll continue to create.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I had to rip back a half-row of stars on the Star Light, Star Bright baby blankie because I dropped a yarn-over or three somewheres...all of a sudden, the stars were leaning a little bit too much to the left! So now I have a proper lifeline installed, as well as extra stitch markers. Onwards!

Welcome to the NEW Knitting Daily!

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

Welcome to our new home--and yours!

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

A few highlights of the new Knitting Daily home:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-- Sandi Wiseheart
editor, KnittingDaily.com

Free pattern: Child's Fair Isle Hat

KD Sandi — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:13:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: Knitting for a child seems to bring out in us the longing to make something worthy of being passed down through the generations. Here is Lisa Shroyer's contributrion to the staff design challenge for Interweave Knits Summer 2009: "Design an Heirloom."

Sweet Hex Child’s Hood
by Lisa Shroyer

Thinking about heirloom knitting brings up visions of intricate tapestry fabrics, long-loved silk baby items with deteriorating edges, natural colors, bits of lace as seen through a glass display case in a museum. I thought about fine gauges, rich patterning, and traditional techniques for this staff project. But what function for my heirloom knit? Heirlooms tend to collect around the milestones of life—births and weddings and religious ceremonies. None of those celebrations are personal to me at this time, so I was free to think about what I just really wanted to knit. And for me, that’s always stranded colorwork.

This child’s special-occasion hood is worked in two neutral colors in the round with one steek. You can see from the blocking photo how I cut open the steek with the stitches still live, blocked it, then later Kitchener'd the live stitches at the top of the hood to make a pocket-like shape. The steek edges and decorative cords are tucked into facings and tacked down.

In a silk/wool blend, this hood has a luxurious feel and shimmer, but does require machine reinforcement for the steek. It’s not that scary! (The Winter 2006 issue of Interweave Knits has a great tutorial on steeking.)

The hood is intended for a child about 8 years, but the fit is versatile and could work on kids from 5 to 10. You can see we also tried it on an adult model, and it’s really cute! The hood fits her more like a bonnet, but you get the idea. On a smaller head, the back edge will fall closer to the nape of the neck. If you want the hood for yourself, try working in a worsted weight yarn for a larger version.

PS. The title for this project comes from the decorative hex designs of the Pennsylvania Dutch. It’s a loose interpretation, but the motif here is an isolated, self-contained square with elements radiating from the center.

For more great ideas on how to "Design an Heirloom", get your copy of Interweave Knits Summer 2009, or for year round inspiration, subscribe to Interweave Knits today.

Download the free pattern for the Sweet Hex Child's Hood

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

Baby Patterns from Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Baby Knitting Patterns

This FREE downloadable eBook consists of seven of Interweave’s best-loved baby knitting patterns. Knitting for babies is fun for you, and appreciated by those who enjoy the finished product. Knit your favorite free baby patterns today—smiles are guaranteed. Download your copy (and don’t forget to tell a friend so they can enjoy their own copy!).

Download Your Free eBook Today

Tutorials: Picking Up Stitches Properly

KD Sandi — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:36:00 GMT

When we presented Lisa Shroyer’s post on entrelac last month, several hot topics came up in the user email: How do you REALLY pick up stitches properly? Where do you put your needle? How do you get the stitches spaced properly? And what is the difference between “pick up stitches” and “pick up and knit stitches”?

Apparently, the phrase “pick up and knit” causes confusion for many knitters.

What is "picking up and knitting"?

Picking up stitches is a way to add new stitches to an already finished bit of knitting--along the sides for a buttonband, perhaps, or at the neckline for a collar. You can add stitches to any edge: a cast-on edge, a bound-off edge, or the side edges.

There are two steps involved:

1. Pick up loops along the edge of the knitted piece, using a spare knitting needle. (This is the "pick up" part.)
2. Knit new stitches into those newly picked-up loops. (This is the "and knit" part.)

That's why many instructions say "pick up and knit"--it is a two-step process. Most knitters do both steps for each single stitch--pick up the loop, then knit a new stitch into it--before moving on to pick-up-and-knit the next stitch. However, there are many skilled knitters who pick up all the loops along the edge at once, placing them on a spare needle. They then switch the spare needle with the new loops to their left hand, and knit all the new stitches onto the loops in a second, separate step. It doesn't matter which way you do this, as long as you do both steps—pick up, and knit--for each stitch.

Here are some step-by-step photo tutorials:

Picking up stitches along a slipped-stitch row edge (such as a sock heel flap)

Picking up stitches along a cast-on or bound-off edge

In future posts, we’ll talk about how to pick up stitches evenly, and how to pick up stitches from a non-slipped stitch row edge.

-- Sandi

Guides To Interesting Stitches: The Harmony Guides

Entrelac has seemed to capture the imagination of a lot of knitters this year. I think one reason is that it is fun to do; another reason is that it is something different, a change from the usual knit-purl "ruts" we tend to knit ourselves into. If you find yourself yearning for something interesting to spice up your knitting, take a look at the Harmony Guides, a series of stitch dictionaries from your friends right here at Interweave Press. There's an entire book devoted to Lace & Eyelets, another one covering creative variations of the classic Knit & Purl texture stitches, and one on Cables & Arans--and the Cables & Arans book is even on sale! Coming soon, and available for pre-order now is the long-awaited Harmony Guide: Colorwork.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I cannot tell a lie. There might be the sleeve of a Spring sweater from the new issue that just jumped onto my needles, when I wasn't looking. All I can say is, I read Vicki Square's article in the new Spring Knits called "Start as Many New Projects as You Can," and her last sentence inspired me: "Knit anything and everything you want--and enjoy the scenery!" So I am indulging my knitting habit, and not worrying about whatever the knitting police might have to say about it.

Two Freebies! Entrelac Tutorial and Easy Entrelac Scarf Pattern

KD Sandi — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:36:00 GMT

One of the best entrelac tutorials I've ever seen is the Beyond the Basics article written by Eunny Jang in the Spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. Since entrelac can be a bit tough to explain, here's an excerpt from that article:

Entrelac fabric's series of tilted blocks are worked one at a time in tiers. Individual blocks may be worked over any number of stitches, and a piece may have any number of individual blocks.

In all cases, each block contains twice as many rows as it does stitches. Though the basic entrelac technique has several variations, the method described in this article produces tidy results.

When you practice entrelac for the first time, try working every other tier of blocks in a different color to emphasize the basketweave effect and make it easier to identify the block and live stitches of each tier.

Note: When you work the first stitch of every row, you can slip it for a tidy pickup edge, but be aware that you will lose some elasticity in the knitted piece.

In fact, that whole article is so good that here it is as a free Friday treat for all you nice Knitting Daily members:

Free download! Eunny Jang's Beyond the Basics: Entrelac Knitting Block by Block

Free pattern: Entrelac Scarf for Beginners
from Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene

If you’re new to entrelac and need a basic pattern to get started, you’re in luck! I just started an easy scarf and thought it would make a great beginner entrelac project. I made up the instructions based on Eunny Jang’s Beyond the Basics article on entrelac, so if you have that article, following the pattern will be a good exercise.

You’ll see I haven’t finished the scarf, but it’s such a quick knit I should be able to complete it before the weather changes here in the Northeast. Enjoy!

Download Lisa's Easy Entrelac Scarf Pattern
.

And a final entrelac tip from Lisa:

When picking up stitches along the selvedge of a block, try to pick up the first and last stitches as close to the ends of the block as possible—i.e., pick up stitches in the “corners” as much as possible, to avoid holes in those corners between blocks.

Look for another lovely beginner-level entrelac pattern in the new Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue of Knitscene--the Orchid Wrap, by Cecily Glowik Macdonald.

For those already in love with entrelac, you can purchase Eunny’s Entrelac Socks and Sandy Beadle’s Annetrelac Socks from the Knitting Daily Pattern Store.

-- Lisa Shroyer
editor of Knitscene magazine

Ask for Knitscene at your local yarn shop, or buy it online from us.

Have a knitting or crochet question? Ask the experts!

One of our favorite features on the Knitting Daily TV show is the segment called "You Asked It" where hosts Eunny Jang, Kim Werker, Liz Gipson, and Shay Pendray answer questions from our viewers. (That's YOU!)

So get your questions ready, because we're getting ready to tape the all-new third season of Knitting Daily TV!

Do you wonder how to work the Kitchener stitch in a cabled pattern? Do you want to know how to weave in ends properly? Want to know which yarn is best for the longest-wearing mittens? Ask Knitting Daily TV!

Send us your questions, and our producers might just choose yours to answer on the air!

Questions can be emailed to YouAskedIt@knittingdailytv.com.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Suddenly, I have become addicted to warm hats and I am obsessed with the idea of warm mittens...

You asked for it: Entrelac!

KD Sandi — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:10:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: When I asked you how you were a Fearless Knitter in 2008, hundreds of you described not only what you had accomplished last year, but what you hoped to accomplish in 2009. And surprisingly, one of the top four knitting challenges you wanted to tackle was entrelac, that marvelous and seemingly mysterious technique where knitted square builds upon knitted square to form a lovely on-the-bias patchwork effect.

So I was delighted to find out that Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene magazine, has included a lovely beginner-level entrelac pattern in the new Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue of Knitscene--the Orchid Wrap, by Cecily Glowik Macdonald.

Here's Lisa to tell us more about this beautiful knitting technique:

Entrelac: An Overview

When Sandi asked me to choose one project from the new issue of Knitscene to feature this week, I went back and looked at the comments on past Knitting Daily posts. What one technique did so many of you say you wanted to conquer in 2009?

ENTRELAC.

And it just so happens that we have a fabulous entrelac project in the Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue of Knitscene. The Orchid Wrap by Cecily Glowik MacDonald is a great project for entrelac newbies, as it’s a long rectangle without the complexities of shaping, stitch patterns, or working in the round. Working entrelac in the round is, conceptually, a little daunting, so I don’t recommend it for first-timers.

But what is entrelac? Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits, writes:
"Entrelac is a knitting technique that produces a fabric with a woven appearance—tiers of tilting blocks appear to run over and under each other. But the fabric is actually worked all in one piece as a series of interconnecting rectangles."

These interconnecting rectangles are worked one at a time, with lots of turning back and forth to work short right- and wrong-side rows. The rectangles, or blocks, are worked in tiers, building a vertical fabric. All the blocks of a single tier slant in one direction (i.e., to the right), then all the blocks of the following tier slant in the opposite direction (or to the left). You can pick out separate tiers in the Orchid Wrap because this project alternates a tier of teal blocks with a tier of pink blocks. Changing colors in entrelac is easy and creates really fun effects.

To work entrelac, you need to know how to:
1) Pick up and PURL stitches;
2) Pick up and KNIT stitches:
3) Work basic increases; and
4) Work basic decreases.
And that’s the extent of the know-how you need to make the Orchid Wrap.

The Orchid Wrap is, like I said, a simple rectangle in shape. But wrap it around your shoulders, folding back the top selvedge like a collar, button it asymmetrically, and you have a capelet. The size can be adjusted with the placement of the buttons, so it’s really a one-size-fits-most project.

For an in-depth tutorial on entrelac, including instructions for working entrelac in the round, see Eunny Jang’s "Beyond the Basics: Entrelac Knitting Block by Block" from the Spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. (Click here to subscribe to Knits.)

For those already in love with entrelac, you can purchase Eunny’s Entrelac Socks and Sandy Beadle’s Annetrelac Socks from the Knitting Daily Pattern Store.

On Friday, we’ll have a surprise for you…

-- Lisa Shroyer
editor of Knitscene magazine

Ask for Knitscene at your local yarn shop, or buy it online from us.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Suddenly, I have become addicted to warm hats and I am obsessed with the idea of warm mittens...

Preview Time! Knitscene Winter 2008/Spring 2009

KD Sandi — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:18:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: Ever met a knitter who just made you want to stare at her hands as her needles flew along? That's how I felt the first time I saw Lisa Shroyer, the editor of Knitscene magazine, knit. She's a thrower, she does amazing colorwork, and she's wicked fast with the needles. Lisa knits more stitches in a day than I knit in a week!

All that knitting seems to have given Lisa an deep affinity for what knit and purl stitches can do--she seems to have a homing instinct when it comes to finding great designs. Lucky us!

For example: See that pretty rainbow yoked sweater by Carol Sulcoski? Looks like a lot of stripes and ends to weave in, right? Nope. That's Noro Kureyon, a variegated yarn, and the colors change all by themselves. Clever--and Lisa chose it for one of the designs in the new Winter 2008/Spring 2009 issue of Knitscene magazine.

Here's Lisa to tell you more of what's in the new issue of Knitscene:

It's a new issue of Knitscene!

Knitscene is a special issue that comes out twice a year. We feature simple, stylish, and free-spirited designs that will appeal to a wide range of knitters. Most of the projects in Knitscene are easy to make, falling in the easy and advanced easy categories. If you want a quick-to-knit sweater with a hip silhouette, Knitscene is the magazine for you!

In this issue, we explore:

The classic combo of sweaters and denim—these designs look great with jeans
Whimsical knits for spring—luscious fibers, modern shapes, girly details
Rustic yarns and great outerwear pieces
Chunky yarns for fast (and economical!) accessories
Crochet accessories that feature a bit of knitting for the multi-crafter
The art of spinning with a drop spindle
Buttonholes and how to plan your buttonbands
The knitting world of designer Cathy Carron, with 4 new designs by Cathy
How to incorporate one vest project into your wardrobe to make 3 different fashion statements

I hope you enjoy this issue of Knitscene as much as I enjoyed working on it. Check out the preview and let us know what you think of the designs.

On Wednesday, we'll look in depth at the fabulous Orchid Wrap by Cecily Glowik MacDonald and talk about…entrelac!

-- Lisa Shroyer
editor of Knitscene magazine

Here is what designers are saying about Knitscene:

Designing for Knitscene is an absolute pleasure. The projects are accessible and fun at the same time. Forever Tweed, for example, is one of those sweaters a newbie can knit with ease, and a fun project for more experienced knitters looking for a quick, stylish sweater project!
—Wendy Bernard

I’ve always loved the way Knitscene features projects that are easy to knit but don’t necessarily look it! (And of course the fact that the photographs are shot in the Philadelphia area, where I live, is an extra bonus. Go Eagles!)
—Carol J. Sulcoski (author of Knit So Fine and Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn)

I love the challenge of creating a fun project that is interesting, and yet, easy. Most of my projects tend to become advanced because I cannot stop myself from throwing in one or two more techniques, and with Knitscene I like the challenge to edit myself to keep the projects easy. For me, there is nothing more fun then working up a project that at heart is easy, and turns into a knock-out.
—Robyn Chachula (author of Blueprint Crochet: Modern Designs for the Visual Crocheter)

Ask for Knitscene at your local yarn shop, or buy it online from us.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Still on the sleeves for my sister's Central Park Hoodie--working both at once on a long circular needle. (Yes, I did swap out the cable because I'm Just That Way.) But I also must admit to casting on for a warm hat, because it's Canada, and there's all this white stuff outside, and it's actually rather chilly white stuff.