Knitting Daily : Pullovers

Great Free Easy Knitting Patterns EBook

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:26:00 GMT

Lots of us want to fill our project baskets with easy knit patterns, especially in the summertime. Occasionally, though, easy knitted patterns can sacrifice style: there's sometimes a lot of room between "easy" and "attractive."

Not so in this new, free Ebook, Easy Knits From Knitting Daily: 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns! Sandi Wiseheart has put together a wonderful variety of simple, stylish, easy knitting patterns. Full of easy stitches and simple techniques, Easy Knits From Knitting Daily: 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns is just what the Hey-It's-Summer-Let's-Relax doctor ordered. (If anyone has that doctor's number, send it to me STAT.)

Here's a snippet from Sandi about this free pattern collection. "Our designers have used easy stitches and simple stylings to produce some of the most popular designs we've ever published: Green Tea Raglan, all knits and purls in a gorgeous top; the Knitting Needle Knitting Bag knits up quickly with large needles, which are then glued onto the final row of stitches; the Barrymore Slouch Hat, a great introduction to knitting in the round on large double-pointed needles; the Ribby Slipper Socks, with an ingenious construction that doesn't require a genius knitter; the Super-Simple Wrap Cardigan, a graceful cardi in "five easy pieces" of stockinette stitch with a garter stitch belt; and Mike's Easy-Fit Pullover--something for the guys, with an easy knit/purl texture and great shaping that he'll wear every weekend."

Sandi has carefully gone through each simple knitting pattern and added tips and tricks to guide you effortlessly through the projects. You'll find lists of techniques, stitch guides, a simple chart primer, and a glossary of terms.

You'll get a lot of bang for your buck (er, download?) with these easy knits, so click on the link and cast on!

Kathleen

Download Easy Knits From Knitting Daily: 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns

Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

KD Sandi — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:23:00 GMT

Sometimes we forget: Knitting is supposed to be fun. It's what we choose to do in our free time, it's what we do for ourselves--to calm ourselves, to enjoy the rhythm of stitches, to revel in the feel of yarn slipping through our fingers.

I like to remember this, especially when I'm frustrated and ready to throw a project, needles and all, all the way across the room! (Yes, of course this happens to me too!)

Ann Budd, the editor of Interweave's new book Simple Style, was my officemate for a while, and she used to say to me, "Remember it's only knitting--no one dies, no one's life is at stake." And in this new book devoted to keeping our knitting simple, Ann offers the ABC's of Simple Knitting--I've chosen just a couple of the "alphabet advice" tips to share with you here:

A is for: "Ask for help if you run into problems. Knitting shops are full of kind, helpful people who have a vested interest in your success."

L is for: "Laugh at your mistakes and learn from them."

Q is for: "Quit when you're tired or frustrated with a pattern. Chances are that it won't seem so daunting when you're fresh and rested."

What do you do to help keep your knitting fresh and fun? Share your thoughts with us.

And most importantly: Enjoy your knitting!

-- Sandi

Free Pattern: Twisted-V Pullover

What are your favorite sweaters to wear? Day after day, chances are that you reach for the classic styles, the pullovers and cardigans with simple styling and one or two special details: a great stitch pattern, a pretty yarn. I like those special details, because they set a handknit sweater apart from the ones you buy at the store--can't you always tell when a sweater has been knit by hand?

The Twisted-V Pullover by Alice Halbeisen is one of these soon-to-be-favorites. The twisted ribbing flatters your curves, and the pretty triangular shapes at cuff and bodice are like nothing you'd find in a store. The best of handknit style, straight from the pages of our new book Simple Style--and it's our gift to you!

Download the Twisted-V Pullover for free.

Check Out Knitting Daily TV for more free patterns, and great knitting advice

The Twisted-V Pullover is featured on Episode 204 of Knitting Daily TV: Series 200, so while you're downloading the pattern, take a peek at what else is in that episode: advice on changing needle size to get gauge; an interview with favorite designer Norah Gaughan, and more!

Find out where Knitting Daily TV is showing in your area.

Purchase Knitting Daily TV: Series 200 on DVD so you have all the episodes to watch any time you wish.

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

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

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

Galleries II: Opulent Raglan and Kaftan Dress

KD Sandi — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:33:00 GMT

Here are the second set of Galleries you voted for from the new Fall 2007 Knitscene:

Kaftan Dress by Salena Lee

Opulent Raglan by Wendy Bernard

Which sweaters did the Gallery Gals themselves like best?

I thought it might be interesting to hear straight from our Gallery models which sweater THEY liked best...and why. Here's what Amy and Erin said:

AMY

It’s hard to choose a favorite one, though if pressed, I’ll say the Opulent Raglan by Wendy Bernard. It made me feel warm and cozy, and as pretty as I can expect to feel in a sweater. What more could you ask from a sweater? I liked the way it looked on all the Knitting Daily Gallery Gals, too—it was flattering on everyone. It’s going in my queue, for sure.

ERIN

Sometimes I like altering sweaters I knit. It makes me feel powerful and smart maybe. And it is a good thing since I always have to make one alteration or another due to my long arms and large-ish bust. But sometimes, it is really nice to have a pattern where I don't have to do a single thing to change it. No math. Just knitting. And it is pretty. And flattering. And still interesting enough to want to knit. The Opulent Raglan is that for me. Love it.

See all the designs in the new Fall 2008 issue of Knitscene magazine!

Check out more Galleries from the Fall 2007 issue of Knitscene magazine:

Ahlstrom Bodice Gallery

Brocade Leaves Pullover Gallery

Coming up on Friday: Galleries for the Dirndl Raglan and Riding to Avalon.

Don't forget to visit the website and leave a comment and let us know what you think of the Fall Knitscene Galleries!

What's a Gallery? It's where I take the original sample garment from the magazine and persuade several women try it on and let me take their photo, to show you different varieties of fit and flatter. I provide individual commentaries for each picture, with suggestions for customization for each woman. There's only one garment for each design, so sometimes the sweater doesn't fit--that's where the commentaries get really interesting, as we explore why it doesn't fit, and how to alter it so it does fit!

See all past Galleries!

Knitting Daily Hot Tomatoes on TV!

Remember Wendy Bernard's Tomato from No Sheep For You? Remember how I made a bright orange version with bust darts and called it the Hot Tomato? Well, several of you Knitting Daily readers also made your own versions of Wendy's Tomato. They were so cute that we asked some of you to send in your sweaters to be filmed for Episode 102 of the new Knitting Daily TV show! On the show, Wendy walks us through each sweater and what adjustments were made--I was so tickled to see something I'd made on television! The show itself begins airing on select public television stations starting next Monday... but if you can't wait, you can pre-order a DVD of the entire first season now --the DVD is available Monday, July 21st. Wendy is also featured in Episode 101 (can you tell I'm a big Wendy fan?). Wendy's patterns are irresistible--remember when I fell in love with the Elinor Tunic in Interweave Knits Summer 2008? I wanted to take that one home with me after we took the photos for the Elinor Gallery...

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

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

Download Your Free eBook Today

The Knitscene Galleries Begin!

KD Sandi — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:36:00 GMT

You Voted For Them!

Two weeks ago, I asked you to vote for the garments you'd like us to include in the very first KD Knitscene Gallery (what's a Gallery? see below). Your votes are in, and here are your top Gallery choices (in no particular order):

Ahlstrom Bodice by Lou Schiela
Brocade Leaves Pullover by Kathy Zimmerman
Dirndl Raglan by Amanda Furlan
Kaftan Dress by Salena Lee
Opulent Raglan by Wendy Bernard
Riding to Avalon by Connie Chang Chinchio

Today, we have two Galleries ready for you to enjoy (while we finish getting the others ready!):

Ahlstrom Bodice Gallery

Brocade Leaves Pullover Gallery

This time, eight Gallery Gals gathered in a tiny basement photography studio to have our photos taken by Ann Swanson, a talented photographer for many of our Interweave magazines and books. I bought a pretty curtain to serve as a backdrop and borrowed a plant from someone's office to give a bit of atmosphere. The new set-up gave us all a chance to really focus on making sure everything was just right: How do you show off a pretty bit of waist shaping? What is the best position to stand in? Is it better to take a front view, a side view, or both? And most important of all: What the heck do you do with your HANDS?

As you will see, we did a lot of experimenting with all of the above, in an effort to really show off the garments, their fit, and their style, to all of you. We had a fabulous time! We hope you enjoy the Galleries half as much as we enjoyed doing them.

Stay tuned for more Galleries: Coming Up: The Kaftan Dress, Opulent Raglan, Dirndl Raglan, and Riding to Avalon.

What's a Gallery? It's where I take the original sample garment from the magazine and persuade several women try it on and let me take their photo, to show you different varieties of fit and flatter. I provide individual commentaries for each picture, with suggestions for customization for each woman. There's only one garment for each design, so sometimes the sweater doesn't fit--that's where the commentaries get really interesting, as we explore why it doesn't fit, and how to alter it so it does fit!

See all past Galleries!

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

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

Download Your Free eBook Today

My Beautiful Stiff-As-A-Board Sweater

KD Sandi — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:29:00 GMT

To my delight and horror I have found The Second Sweater I Ever Knit (garage cleaning can be a truly scary thing for a knitter).

I actually found this uh, "early work of art" a few weeks back, and have been gathering up my courage to share it with you all. Why courage, you ask? Well, first of all, I knit it when I was fourteen. Secondly, I knit it rather badly.

There it is in the photo. It's on Bertha because I'm fairly certain that anyone with arms couldn't get into that little pullover without dislocating something--like a shoulder, maybe, or possibly a neck. The armholes are tight, the neckline is small, and the waist...well. I must have been knitting for a life-sized Barbie doll. And the fabric...how shall I say this? The fabric could stop bullets, it is so stiff. See how the sleeves stick straight out from the body? Talk about a sweater holding its shape. That cute girly sweater could do double-duty as body armor.

To be fair: This really was only my second sweater ever. And I confess, I was blinded by a girlfriend crush. C'mon, you remember those horrible high school things, where you desperately wanted to be friends with someone who didn't even know you were on the same planet? Ah, yes. I was one of those super-dorky nerdy kids--big glasses, really dumb clothes, always in Honors Calculus but never picked for ball teams. The Beautiful Susan had red hair, green eyes, gorgeous clothes, and was just as good at sports as she was at math. I adored Susan...from afar, of course. I couldn't really get near her, because, well...I was a dork and she was a cheerleader. See? Doomed.

So, with the clear logic of teenagers, I decided to knit her a sweater. Yeah, I know. It makes total sense, doesn't it? I couldn't speak to her, couldn't be seen with her, but I could win her friendship with a handknit sweater. (Go me.)

I chose ivory yarn, because it would compliment her skin and her hair. I chose acrylic, because that's all there was at Woolworths. And I chose a puff-sleeve, textured, cropped-waist pullover pattern, because I thought it would make her look like a move star. And her size? I totally eyeballed it, because of course, when you're fourteen, you are gifted with extra-sensory perception and you know all things, right?

Oh. My. Goodness. Let us now count the ways in which both I and this project were doomed.

Not only was the gauge wrong for the yarn, and the yarn wrong for the gauge, but each and every stitch was knitted through the back loop. See how the ribbing at the bottom twists to the right? The whole sweater does that. The pattern did not require the stitches to be knit through the back loop, of course. I was just kind of going through a stage, shall we say.

The result was a sweater that might be considered by the police department for use as body armor. Knitted Kevlar. People in the Witness Protection Program could wear sweaters like this, be perfectly safe, and stylish, besides.

I thought perhaps blocking might work out the kinks a bit. So I washed it gently, let it dry, and breathlessly tried it on myself. (That, by the way, is how I discovered the part about not being able to get it on or off without nearly dislocating someting. I serously considered calling 911 to have someone come and help me get out of it.) The sweater was completely and utterly hopeless.

OK. Maybe not quite hopeless. It was never going to be worn by anyone other than Bertha, perhaps, but I've kept this sweater for quite a long time, unwrapping it periodically and viewing it rather fondly. Why? Certainly not because it reminds me to check my gauge, or knit my stitches properly.

I keep this sweater because a fourteen-year-old-girl spent her own money and hours of her own time knitting a sweater out of love for someone, someone who barely knew she was alive. In the end, of course, I was far too shy to even show the sweater to The Beautiful Susan; I packed it away in a box, taking it out now and then over the years to ponder it with affection: Why I would possibly invest so much in a gift for someone I barely knew? And why was I keeping it, year after year?

Because knitting is not always about perfect stitches and accurate gauge. Sometimes knitting is a way of telling a story to ourselves, and to those around us.

That sweater will never be wearable. But I think, out of all the sweaters I've knitted so far, it's kind of my favorite. I like the story it tells.

-- Sandi

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Working on the Drawstring Raglan!

Did you guess right?

KD Sandi — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:54:00 GMT


	Look what came in the mail for me!

On Monday, I posted a little survey to ask you what you were knitting out of the Summer 2008 issue of Knits. I also asked you to guess which project I am making.

So: Did you guess right about what I was making?

Yes! You did! How on earth did you guess correctly, when I gave you no clues, no hints, no anything? You folks are amazing.
There was a actually a tie for the top guess--Wakame Tunic and Drawstring Raglan--so let's look inside the box of yarn that arrived on my doorstep and see what's inside:

Ta-DA! Yarn for the Drawstring Raglan.

Take a bow, all of you brilliant folks.

Of course, I am dying of curiousity: How did you know? Why did you pick that one--if you picked another one, why that one? Inquiring minds desperately want to know. However, we still in the land of No Comments here, so you can't really tell me. (Frustrating, this no comments thing. The database wizards are taking longer than anticipated to work their magic; we shall all just have to be patient. I am told that Friday is the day we can begin to speak to one another again. I can't wait.)

Want to know what you all picked out for me? Here's the list, top down.

1. Wakame Tunic, Drawstring Raglan (tie) 12% each
2. Leaf Kimono, Apres Surf Hoodie (tie) 11% each
3. Wallis Cardi 8%
4. Elinor 7%
5. Folded Cowl, Roped Shell, Tidewater Wrap (tie) 6% each
6. Delft Tee 4%
7. Imprint Tank 3%
8. Confectionary Tank, Autumn Asters, Gossamer Scarf, Brick Pullover (tie) 2% each
9. Windowpane Socks, Tapestry Skirt, Plaid Halter 1% each
10. Eyelet Surplice Dress, Maltese Hats, and "nothing" (tie) less than 1%

OK, How about you? What are YOU making?


Hey! Bertha's knitting my sweater!

Hands down, the most popular kid on this block is the Apres Surf Hoodie, with 17% of you casting on for that lacy little gem.

Here's the breakdown for what you are knitting for yourselves:

1. Apres Surf Hoodie 17%
2. Wakame Tunic 10%
3. Wallis Cardi 8%
4. Drawstring Raglan, Roped Shell, Gossamer Scarf (tie) 7% each
5. Tidewater Wrap, Leaf Kimono (tie) 6% each
6. Nothing 5%
7. Delft Tiles, Confectionary Tank, Windowpane Socks (tie) 4% each
8. Maltese Hats, Folded Cowl Tee (tie) 3% each
9. Elinor Tank, Imprint Tank, Brick Pullover, Autumn Asters (tie) 2% each
10. Tapestry Skirt, Plaid Halter, Eyelet Surplice Dress (tie) 1% each

It's always so interesting to see what catches your eye in each issue. For example, while you thought the Drawstring would be adorable on me, it's not one of your top choices to knit for yourselves. Same with the Leaf Kimono.

So here's a little homework assignment: Sit down with a friend (doesn't have to be a knitting friend) and go through a couple of knitting magazines. Have your friend pick out what she thinks would look best on you; you pick out what you think would look best on her. Sometimes our friends see possibilities for us that we ourselves might never have imagined, because they have a different, more objective, view of who we are and what we look like.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? If I can steal it away from Bertha, I'll be working on the Drawstring Raglan!

Knitting for Men: Modifying the Brick Pullover

KD Sandi — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Kathy Zimmerman's Brick Pullover on T.J.

You folks are such a hoot. All day yesterday, folks around the office were quoting your comments on Monday's Men of Interweave Gallery to each other. I am pleased to announce that the comments included our very first Knitting Daily proposal of marriage (an arranged marriage, but still); and many, many exclamations of admiration for our four male models.

I must say, there was quite a lot of giggling here.

Modifications for the Brick Pullover

Now, down to serious business. You asked some great questions about modifying the Brick Pullover from the Summer 2008 issue of Knits, so let me try to give you some hopefully great answers!

Can you show us a photo of this sweater on a woman? Sure. I've added a photo of me-wearing-The-Brick, plus the usual commentary, to the Brick Pullover Gallery.

The neck looks as though it is being pulled down too low in the back. Adrienne B. and Terrie R. both asked if it would be possible to add some short-row shaping (a la Elizabeth Zimmermann) in the back to remedy this.

On this particular sweater, you cannot add short-rows horizontally across the back "yoke," as each shoulder/yoke section is worked from side to center, as an extension of the sleeves, not from the bottom up or top down. (Read through the construction notes at the top of the Gallery page; you will see that there is a vertical seam connecting both shoulder pieces at center back.)

You could, however, work fewer bind-off rows when shaping the back neck. So for example, in the pattern, at Shape Back Neck, work to the point where it tells you to "bind-off 2 sts at back neck edge three times." If you "bind off 2 sts at neck edge" only twice, then you have two additional columns of stitches that run the full length across the back neck, raising the back neck by the width of two stitches.

The back neck section

And Now: The Question of Beer Bellies

Sharon H. asks: "My husband has a rather large belly. I know what to do for women's shaping, but I can never find anything about different men's shapes. Any hints?"

Well, men are just human beings, after all. Bodies are just bodies, right? And a beer belly is just one sort of curve, yes? All right then. Although shaping for men is non-traditional, perhaps this is one tradition it is time to let go of, in the interests of better-fitting clothing for all you wonderful men out there, knitters or no.

If you were knitting for a woman with a large belly, you'd add short rows, or increase/decrease to give some waist shaping, for example. However, for a sweater like this one with a distinct pattern over the belly, you can't really add short-rows (regardless of whether you were knitting it for a man or for a woman). The pattern stitch is "in the way," so to speak; the short-rows would show. You cannot add "belly darts" here for the same reason.

Since the Brick Pullover is worked hem upwards, what about casting on the number of stitches corresponding to beer-belly-plus-ease, then working decreases on the way up (at the sides, where they won't show), so that when you get to the chest area, the stitch count is closer to manly-chest-plus-ease?

Bertha says rust is not her color...

Yes, this is the same sort of math one does for waist shaping, so you could even use the Waist Shaping Calculator, I suppose. Differences: You aren't working an hourglass; you'd want the shaping to be gradual and subtle; the narrowest part isn't necessarily the waist; and you (probably...) won't be increasing back up to accommodate a "bust." Other than that: It's Just Math. We've talked about fearlessly using our shaping skills for women's sweaters; why shouldn't we use our knitterly math skills to make men's sweaters more comfortable and flattering, too?

And finally, my favorite comment:

What, no Bert? Bertha must be lonely! (Laura S.)

Welll..Bertha really wants to focus on her career right now, so I'm not sure she's ready for a boyfriend. However, I have been thinking about getting Bertha a "big sister" once the budget allows...

Do you have any questions or suggestions about adjusting this sweater to fit yourself or someone you love? Leave a comment!

Want a Fearless Knitter Tee Shirt? Announcing The Knitting Daily Cafe Press Store!

You've been asking for Fearless Knitter tee shirts—now we have them! Visit the Knitting Daily Cafe Press Store for Knitting Daily and Fearless Knitter tee shirts, hats, messenger bags, tote bags, bumperstickers, mugs, and and all sorts of goodies. We even have baby bibs that say "I'm gonna be Knitting Daily!" and tee shirts for your dog. Have a suggestion for a Knitting Daily saying or image we could add to the store? Let us know!

Go Shopping At The Knitting Daily Cafe Press Store!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? With a couple of projects marinating in the Naughty Corner, I went back to knitting socks. When all else fails, knit socks.

Finally: A Gallery With Men In It!

KD Sandi — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Today, I am pleased to present to you: The Men of Interweave, wearing Kathy Zimmerman's Brick Pullover.

Aaron in his red carpet moment

It was much easier to get the guys to pose for gallery photos than I thought it would be. I had imagined having to promise free pizza; but Mark, T.J., Aaron, and Eric were actually a bit excited about being included. (Aaron kept talking about his moment of stardom and how it might lead to "bigger things." I felt badly about that—I mean, this is a knitting site. It's not like there are casting directors scanning our galleries for the next Harrison Ford. Sorry, Aaron. But if anyone knows Ryan Seacrest or Simon Cowell, could you please give them a ring on Aaron's behalf? Thanks.)

More men are knitting than ever before, and it's been pointed out to me that I tend to address only the women knitters, leaving the guy knitters feeling a bit slighted. So, men, this time, it's all you. Women, I know you want to knit for the guys in your life, so please change the pronouns as appropriate.

You men knitters have it easier in terms of getting your knits to fit. For one thing, you do not have to ever worry about inserting bust darts. (Big plus right there, as far as this busty gal is concerned.) You generally do not wear your clothing with negative ease, so again, you don't have to do things like waist shaping and tummy darts and all that.

However, for men-who-knit and those who knit-for-men, there are four things to watch for in terms of fit: overall ease, hem length, sleeve length, and shoulder width.

Ease: The more clothing you like to wear underneath, the more ease you will need, so ease preferences can vary from summer to winter. Guys, go into your closet and measure several of your favorite sweaters to get an idea of how much ease you prefer.

Hem and sleeve length: These are rather individual choices. My husband, who has extremely long arms, likes his sweater cuffs extra-long—to the base of his thumb, actually. So again, measure yourself, measure what's in your closet, and knit accordingly.

Shoulder width: If the sweater's shoulder width (across the back of the shoulders) is not wide enough, you will have trouble moving your arms comfortably. Again, get out that measuring tape and go explore your closet.

Everyone had a lot of fun with this Gallery; I hope you enjoy it, too!

—Sandi

View the Brick Pullover Gallery

List of all past Gallery pages

Stay tuned: We'll be announcing the winners of the Knitting Daily Poetry Contest later this week! Hundreds of entries left our judges fighting for their favorites; we finally have the results!

We love to hear what you think! Really. Would I lie to you?

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? With a couple of projects marinating in the Naughty Corner, I went back to knitting socks. When all else fails, knit socks.

The Eunny Galleries (AKA The IK Editor Becomes A Gallery Gal)

KD Sandi — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Today we're doing something that I don't think any knitting magazine has ever done before: The editor of Interweave Knits, Eunny Jang, is trying on some of the garments from the Summer 2008 issue of her own magazine, so we can show you what they look like on HER.

Eunny, trying on the Drawstring Raglan

And thus a new Gallery Gal is born...

This time Eunny herself will be providing the commentary on how she would modify the garments to fit her shape and size. (Eunny also asked me to chime in with any additional comments I might have. We'll see...)

Let's start off with some of Eunny's thoughts about the garments in the Summer issue and how she herself might wear them:

The Editor Galleries: Notes from Eunny Jang

I’ve got a confession to make: I feel most comfortable in jeans and a tee-shirt, and the vast majority of my clothes are in solid, somber hues. While I love to knit and admire items full of color or texture, for my day-to-day clothing, I tend to fall back on the easy, the comfortable, the unremarkable. This issue’s knits, however, got me out of the box: Figuring out how richer pieces can fit into my lazy-girl wardrobe can be tricky, but is rewarding.

As usual for the galleries, I’ll guide you on what modifications I’d make to suit me. Not a single knitter in the world is any one “standard” size, and I’m no exception—I’m short (about 5'2" on a good day), not a waif, and have a thick upper body for my height. I’m also very long-waisted (even though I’m short, I tend to find that I need to lengthen sweaters rather than shorten them), short-legged, busty, and broad-shouldered. To top it off, I’ve got some bad scarring from a long-ago accident and prefer not to go sleeveless or too bare on top, so I’m always thinking about how to layer.

Cheers!
—Eunny Jang
Editor, Interweave Knits magazine

Visit Eunny's Gallery

List of all past Gallery pages

I've been PODCASTED!

Download the Top 5 Winning Patterns! (free)

Sandi here again...and have I got something fun for you! This week, Kathy and Steve Elkins of WEBS America's Yarn Store invited me to be a guest on their podcast, Ready Set Knit! Come join us as we chat about the Readers' Choice Award winners, what it's like to be a knitting blogger and make mistakes in public, and lots of other fun knitting stuff! Starting tomorrow morning (May 3), you can download the podcast from the WEBS website, or you can look for it on iTunes.

What's a podcast? It's a little radio show you can listen to on your computer or download to your MP3 player. Grab a cup of tea and your knitting and listen while you get a few rows done!

Spectrum Scarf (free)

This Week's Featured Free Pattern!

Download the Spectrum Scarf, featured in the Yarn Spotlight section of the Summer 2008 issue of Interweave Knits. Take four skeins, each a different color, of a soft laceweight baby alpaca yarn. Knit with four strands of the same color held together and a large needle, this is the easiest lace scarf you will every make, due to the simple, no-brain-drain lace pattern. ("Great TV knitting!" says Eunny.) The color changes are clever: changing the number of strands of each color you hold together as you knit, in a gradually changing spectrum from light to dark.

We love to hear what you think! Really. Would I lie to you?

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? This week has been the Week of Knitting Weirdness here in Chez Sandita. I had to send one of my projects to the Naughty Corner (hoodie for Hubby) due to a disagreement about row gauge and sleeve length. The dog, who has never liked yarn before, chewed on a second project, destroying it partly. I broke a sock needle. (I think I'll do some spinning this weekend.

Summer Knits Gallery, Part Two!

KD Sandi — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT

We have five more Knitting Daily Galleries for you today! The truth is that we Gallery Gals had so much fun trying on the garments from the Summer 2008 issue of Knits that we more or less couldn't stop ourselves. Who can blame us?

Elizabeth in the Apres Surf Hoodie

Here are today's five Galleries:

Drawstring Raglan by Margery Winter

Imprint Tank by Sarah Hoadley

Plaid Halter by Gryphon Perkins

Wakame Lace Tunic by Angela Hahn

Apres Surf Hoodie by Connie Chang Chinchio

I hope you find these Galleries both fun and helpful. They've become a tradition here at Knitting Daily, partly because you've told us how much you love them!

Enjoy!
—Sandi

List of all past Gallery pages

Information about positive and negative ease

Did you find something particularly helpful in these Galleries? Come back and let us know! Really. We love to hear from you. Yes...REALLY.

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

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

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Summer Knits Galleries: Part One

KD Sandi — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT

Yes, it's time for another set of Knitting Daily Galleries! This time, the Gallery Gals of Interweave Press try on the garments from the new Summer 2008 issue of Knits, all for the Greater Glory of Knitting.

Erin tries an artsy pose in the Wallis Cardigan

For those of you who don't know, every time a new issue of Interweave Knits comes out, I gather together a bunch of the women in the office and ask them to try on the sample garments from the magazine. Then I take photos, and voila: the Knitting Daily Galleries! We do this so you can see the garments on a range of body types and sizes. There's only one sample for each design—the actual sample garment photographed for the magazine—which means that we can only show photos of folks who fit into that one sample. We are creative. Sometimes we show someone wearing a sweater in a size they would NEVER actually wear so you can see what that looks like.

What's it like on Gallery Day here in the Interweave offices?

Imagine that it is 40 degrees outside, and your camera-happy co-worker comes around asking you to try on tank tops and thin tees so she can take your photo and put it up on the Internet. You have fifteen minutes (it's your break) to try on ten garments and pose for pictures in someone's office.

That's what our Summer Gallery days were like here. We had a fabulously good time! We have more garments than ever this time. Each Gallery Gal found a favorite sweater that she wanted to take home with her. (We kept re-counting the sweaters to make sure none were, um, borrowed.)

We, the Gallery Gals of Knitting Daily, hope that you get as much pleasure out of these Galleries as we did taking the photos!

The five we are modeling for you today are:

On Wednesday, we will have five MORE garments from this great issue, plus a special treat on Friday. And then a week from now, a new gallery...da da DUM dum: The Men of Interweave model Kathy Zimmerman's Brick Pullover. You will not want to miss that one!

Each gallery page included the usual Sandi Running Commentary, which is me providing tips about fit and flatter.

Enjoy!
—Sandi

P.S. Pssst! Want more Gallery Goodness? Here's the list of all past Gallery pages!

Have a look at the Galleries above, and then come back and let us know what you think! Really. We love to hear from you. Yes...REALLY.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? There was a box on my doorstep when I got home on Friday, after sending out the Summer Preview post. That box was full of yarn. The yarn is for one of the Summer garments. (I am a hopeless case.)

It's Summer Preview Time!

KD Sandi — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:00:00 GMT

The daffodils are blooming, the lilacs are blossoming, and that means it's time for the Knits 2008 Summer Preview! (We want you to have your summer knitting well in hand before the REAL heat starts, you see.)

Who better to introduce the next issue of Interweave Knits than the editor herself: Eunny Jang!

from left: Elinor Tunic, Roped Shell, Drawstring Raglan

Eunny Jang Presents: The Knits 2008 Summer Preview

If there's a downside to editing Interweave Knits, it's that new issues no longer come as a pleasant surprise. By the time I actually get my hands on a finished magazine—as desk copies, now, not as a sudden treat in the mailbox—I'm already intimately familiar with it, having shed sweat and tears (and occasionally blood—paper cuts!) over every word and photo in it. By the time an issue becomes a paper-and-ink, tangible thing, the Knits staff has already been thinking about and working on it for the better part of a year.

We do get excited when the previews go up, though. This is our first chance to see what people think of our hard work—to live the new issue thrill vicariously, through our readers.

The Summer 2008 issue, which hits newsstands May 13, has a little bit of everything. We know it can be tough to find great things to knit in the hot months, so we've assembled a collection of projects that hit all the sweet spots of summertime knitting: simple, quick knits; lacy things; cool fibers; easy silhouettes. It's not your same-old same-old, though: This year, we're revisiting summer knits with a special focus on color. That can (and does) mean a lot of things: stranded colorwork accents, allover slip-stitch knitting, intarsia motifs, even single solid colors we found inspiring. All the projects are light and airy, with a little something special.

from left: Wallis Cardigan, Brick Pullover, Gossamer Stars Scarf

Some projects highlight how minimalist color lets pattern and line take center stage: Take a look at how Wendy Bernard's ELINOR TUNIC makes a mosiac pattern pop by using complementary shades, or Margery Winter's DRAWSTRING RAGLAN uses one unexpected stripe to liven up a classic shape.

Angela Hahn uses color and stitch structure together to create an intriguing fabric and a drapey silhouette in the ROPED SHELL. Melissa Werhrle's WALLIS CARDIGAN punches up beautiful details and clean, classic lines with a surprising, look-at-me solid. Kat Coyle's GOSSAMER STARS SCARF highlights simple lace stitches with a glossy, ever-so-slightly variegated silk. And Kathy Zimmermann's BRICK PULLOVER makes an unusual construction shine by working it in a subtle chilly-night-at-the-beach rust color.

Color can make a big impact, or act as a flattering backdrop. It can change the look and feel of a knitted project more completely than any other alteration; it truly can make a garment yours. As you enjoy the new issue, think about your ideal colors—have fun!

— Eunny Jang
Editor, Interweave Knits magazine

View the Interweave Knits Summer 2008 Preview!

Free Pattern: Confectionary Tank by Deborah Newton

Eunny and I thought you needed a little treat while you waited for the Summer issue...so here is the Confectionary Tank, a fun and richly colored tank top by Deborah Newton. The stitching is easier than it looks—the mosaic texture is created with an eight-row slip-stitch pattern that helps mix and coordinate the seven bright colors of silk. Minimal finishing means you'll be of to that beach party in no time. Enjoy!

This pattern will be available only until July 31st, so be sure to download your copy now!

So, what do you think of the Summer garments? Let us know!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? We had a long meeting here yesterday, so I now have 3" done on the New Skinnier Gathered Pullover. Hooray for meetings where you can knit!

Yarn For The Gathered Pullover: What I Chose and Why

KD Sandi — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:00:00 GMT

Before we begin, it turns out I have an apology to make. Y'all don't mind holding on for a sec, do you?

Dear Silkworms,

I am so sorry that I offended you by calling you bugs, or even worms. You are animals, full and respectable members of the animal kingdom, and if my words caused you harm, I sincerely apologise. I hope that we can put this ugly misunderstanding behind us, and that, when I hold your lovely dried spit--er, hardened extrusions--in my hands, that you and your ancestral spirits will look kindly upon me and guide my knitting, so that my work will do honor to you and all of animalkind.

There. Whew. I had visions of silkworms dancing all around my bed, with little signs, chanting, "Animal Rights For Bugs! Animal Rights For Bugs!"

I needed to make amends, you see, because I am going to talk about the yarn I chose to make the Gathered Pullover, which is part silk. (Good to appease the silkworm union before I venture into touching their extrusions. If you know what I mean.)

But let me start at the beginning.

Hana Jason's Gathered Pullover

Today, I'm going to walk you through how I chose the yarn for my Gathered Pullover, because maybe I chose the right yarn...and maybe I didn't.

The original yarn specified for this pattern is the always-lovely Brown Sheep Top of the Lamb. I own so much Brown Sheep yarn that I think the warehouse has me on speed-send. ("Back up the truck to the driveway, folks...just back 'er in!")

But as I have discovered from past sweater adventures, my skin does not adore this yarn as much as I adore it. Like many wool yarns, it is a bit on the prickly side. This "prickly factor" is common to many wools-from-sheep, depending on the breed, the way the yarn is spun, and probably the phase of the moon. The prickles are due to short fibers within the wool itself, fibers that stick out of the yarn. Some of these fibers might be slightly thicker fibers than the main wool, some might just be the main wool being unruly. Different breeds have different amounts of Prickle Factor, and different spinning and processing methods alleviate this Prickle Factor to some degree.

And some folks do not even feel the Prickle Factor.

The Gathered Pullover is meant to be worn fairly close-fitting; I would want to wear it next to my skin. Thus: Prickle Bad. So, I needed to walk away from the lovely Brown Sheep, and choose something different.

What are the special needs of this sweater in terms of yarn?

The Gathered Pullover is drapey, so the yarn cannot be too stiff. (Part of this drape is achieved via a rather large gauge, but still, the yarn must cooperate.) The most noticeable feature of the pullover is the central cable...and now we have a challenge. We have to find a non-stiff yarn which will also accommodate a cable.

What yarn is best for cables?

Well, what exactly is a cable? A cable is a structural, almost sculptural element in the fabric, where the two-dimensional fabric is built up upon itself, via twisting and overlapping stitches, in order to create a three-dimensional effect. One important element of the yarn is The Grab Factor: in order to hold the shape of the cables, the yarn has to grab on to itself a bit. If the yarn is too slippery, the cables will just sink out of sight, pulled by the weight of the yarn into oblivion. If the yarn is too stiff, well, again: we need a bit of drape here.

If you look at the royalty of cabled sweaters, the Arans, they are made out of very "sticky" wool—the yarn definitely has the ability to grab on to itself and hold the intricate shapes of the cables. We learned in the last post that wool has lots of little scales running along the fiber; these scales, even when closed, give the wool just a little roughness, just enough texture to not slide around too much. In traditional Aran wools, there is also quite a bit of lanolin left in the yarn, which helps the grab factor.

However, for this sweater, Aran wools are not want I want. I want something a little grabby, but smooth to the skin. I also need drape. I also need....purple.

What alternatives to 100% wool could I find?

Cotton was out--it has no memory, thus is way too stretchy. 100% silk was out, because I am on a budget. But silk...I like silk. Hm. What about a silk blend? Silk and wool together. Silk for the drape and sheen, wool for the grabbiness needed to hold the cable together. So I wander around my LYS until I come up with Crystal Palace Creme, which is 60% Merino and 40% silk. (Sadly, this yarn has now been discontinued.) I knit a swatch, and the cable seems to hold, the fabric feels good against my skin, and the purple is gorgeous.

And so the knitting began. Yes, I swatched until I wanted to scream, switching needle sizes (and materials--I got more accurate gauge on my size 9 wood needles than on my size 9 metal needles!) until I got exactly the fabric I wanted. It is true that I knit it in the 44.75" size, and before I even got to the sleeves, I had lost enough weight so that I will have to go down a size in order to make the sweater look right. But: What do you think of my yarn choice, given the cables and the drape? What would you have chosen, and why? Let us know what you think!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Laceweight alpaca/silk, and on another set of needles, lovely tan worsted wool-from-sheep, and on another set, silk/merino DK.

Survey Results: The Sweater Men Want

KD Sandi — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Could this be the ultimate guy sweater?

I just never know what I am going to get when I post a survey here on Knitting Daily. It's always a little scary—will anyone answer? Will people think the questions are dumb? Will I end up having to make up the results because I only got six responses, and five of those were from folks wanting to sell me things I can't talk about on a family website?

Fortunately, you folks are extremely generous with both your time and your thoughtful replies. In particular, I'm tickled to death that a whopping 52% of the folks who filled out the survey (What do men want in a handknit sweater?) were non-knitting men.

Non-Knitting Gentlemen: I thank you. What stars you are to take time away from whatever else you were doing to follow your spouse, your daughter, your sister, the total stranger in the next cubicle, over to the computer to answer my little survey. Your contribution to the greater good of knitting is deeply appreciated.

OK, heeerrre we go!

What Men Want In A Sweater

The Perfect Men's Sweater is a long-sleeved pullover (80%), without a hood (64%). It is dark in color (90%), preferably solid blue (82%). It has minimal texture (68%), although something subtle, such as a bit of ribbing, is acceptable (58%).

Cables were a popular second option (46%). Second choice color was black (76%), followed by brown (72%). Charcoal grey was a big write-in winner (how I managed to leave that one off my color list is beyond me). Heathers and tweeds had very respectable followings, as did forest green. Camoflauge and sports team colors were also mentioned a number of times, as were (curiously) puce, lime green, and pastel pink.

Perfect on all counts: The Cobblestone

(Puce? C'mon, guys. What's up with the puce thing?)

One gentleman badly wanted a flourescent green or yellow sweater, but was concerned about the possibility of divorce if he pushed too hard in his request. Several other men also mentioned that their wives were very, um... influential... in their color choices. (Perhaps marriage license applications need to include color preferences as part of the questionnaire?)

Other interesting bits:

• Yellow, orange, and bright colors each got a 10% vote share.
• Pastels were favored by less than 6%.
• 39% said they would like "a little bit of bright color".
• 45% liked beige/cream/white; 34% liked red; 15% purple.
• Cardigans were favored by 30%; pullover vests, 14%; zippered or button-up vests, 8%.
• 8% did not like to wear any kind of sweater or vest at all.

As mentioned above, 52% of those who answered were non-knitting males. 11% were male knitters; 38% were women answering on behalf of someone male. 28% were age 30 to 39; more than 130 were under the age of 20, and there were two lovely people who checked the 90+ box.

Once again: Thank you to all the folks who responded to the survey, particularly those who are not fiberfolk and thus weren't really sure what the heck was going on. Personally, I would MUCH rather give someone exactly what they REALLY want, rather than spend hours knitting someone a purple cardigan only to later find out that their heart's desire was in fact a flourescent green pullover.

Manly Pullover Patterns

Now that we've heard from the men about their sweater preferences, I thought I'd go through the patterns on Knitting Daily and find the ones that met their masculine criteria:

For sale in the KD Pattern Store

Tan textured pullover shown above: Cobblestone Pullover, by Jared Flood
Subtle texture: Anniversary Pullover by Kathy Zimmerman
Fisherman-style pullover: Old Way Gansey by Ann Budd
A bit of color and texture: Tree Bark Pullover by Fiona Ellis

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I cannot tell a lie. I made a big boo-boo in the Gathered Pullover, and shall be calling Cap'n Frog in for help. And I'm working on a new Secret Project for Knitting Daily!

Knitting For Men: A Survey

KD Sandi — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Ah, Knitting Fearlessly. It sounds so adventurous. It gives one that delicious thrill, that tingle, that little buzz that says: Go Knit Anything You Want To Knit. (Yay!)

Cobblestone Pullover

However, if you're knitting something to be worn, then part of Knitting Fearlessly is also Knitting Intelligently: Know For Whom You Are Knitting Before You Casteth On. If you're knitting for yourself, as I've said before, this in part means knowing your REAL measurements, not the measurements you fear you have!

If you are knitting for someone else, however, Knowing For Whom You Are Knitting Before You Casteth On takes on a whole new meaning: Will the Other Person want to wear what you want to knit for them?

This can be an especially tricky question if that Other Person you want to knit for is male.

Knitting for men is always a bit of an adventure. From yarn choice (Is it a "manly" yarn? What the heck is a "manly" yarn, anyway?) to pattern choice (Is this something a guy would actually wear? Why or why not?) and right on into choice of buttons for a cardigan (plastic? metal? wood?), we agonize and dither and wonder what we should knit for the dudes in our life.

So I decided to cut right to the chase:

Men, please, give us a break and help us out:
Take this survey and tell us what kind of sweaters you like.

This survey is meant to be filled out by men, so if you are a woman who knits for men, go grab your guy and see if he will answer the questions himself. Read them to him over the phone, if you have to. Read them to him whilst he is watching the game. Send him the link and promise him a beer when he gets home. Whatever it takes. (If you know lots of guys, like, you have five strapping sons, then maybe try to get them each to fill out a separate survey.)

One Sweater We Know Men DO Like!

We do know, of course, that a lot of you are knitting, or planning on knitting, Jared Flood's Cobblestone Pullover for your guys (or even for yourself!). And no wonder! I've seen dozens of photos of the finished sweaters, on men of all shapes and sizes, and it simply looks terrific on everyone.

Many of you have written in or called to ask if we can recommend a yarn to substitute for the now-discontinued Classic Elite Skye Tweed listed in the original Cobblestone pattern. The kind folks at Classic Elite have let us know that Renaissance, a 100% wool yarn that comes in 34 colors, works up at the same gauge as Skye Tweed, and will give a similar fabric to the original yarn.

The Cobblestone pattern is now available in the Knitting Daily Store.

I loved some of the comments that said you felt fearless enough to try this or that type of knitting, as long as you knew you had support.

Well, that's what Knitting Daily is for, isn't it? To help provide the tools, the tricks, the patterns, and the community so that you can be as fearless as you want to be.

So: Kat made a couple new Fearless buttons, including one for crocheters, and one that is a generic yarn ball in case you are multi-craftual (like me!). Get blog buttons! (Instructions and other sizes and designs are included.) Enjoy!

Hockey Fun!

Tune in on Wednesday, when I'll have photos and stories to share from last Saturday's Sticks N' Stitches hockey game! I met some wonderful knitters and cheered myself hoarse.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I'm almost done with the cable on the front of the Gathered Pullover. I did not finish my husband's pullover in time for Christmas (oh well), but I did finish the hood and am halfway done with the sleeves.