Knitting Daily : Stash

2009 Winter Knits Preview!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: My friendly UPS gal brightened my day again on Friday and delivered the winter 2009 issue of Interweave Knits! I was on my way to A Grand Yarn, my LYS, so I slipped my copy into my knitting bag to show it off at the shop. And guess what, it was a hit! Several of my buddies were there and they all gathered around and ohhed and ahhed.

I really love the "paper lanterns" by Kristi Schueler. They're knit out of Louet Euroflax Sportweight, which I have in my stash. I'm adding this pattern to my home dec knitting list.

It's your turn to browse now, so here's editor Eunny Jang to introduce this fun new issue.

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The winter issue of Interweave Knits is here!

This is my first real winter in Colorado. We've already had two major snowfalls, and the night temperatures are dropping quickly. I've put my beloved flats aside for lined, waterproof boots; I've put de-icing washer fluid in my car; I've bought an electric kettle, the better to make boiling-hot tea in a hurry. And I'm approaching my knitting with new enthusiasm. I'm ready.

Whole books have been written about the soul warming knitting can do, but this winter I'm most interested in the practical warmth a lapful of yarn provides. Slippers to guard against cold floors, cozy throws for curling up under, good, honest wool in mittens and hats and gloves.

There is something solid and reassuring in knitting, backed by centuries of real application: When we knit, we make something with our hands, and then use it to make life more comfortable, more beautiful, better. It's a pretty good deal.

In this issue of Interweave Knits, we're taking our knitting explorations in a number of different directions: We're taking a look at how simple constructions can benefit from just a little adornment ("All in One"); ways to explore the usual yarn + knitting = fabric equation ("Weighty Matters"); cables and cable lookalikes ("All Tangled Up); stranded colorwork in some new guises ("Strands"); and what positive and negative space can mean with knitting ("A Stark Contrast").

We're also taking a closer look at reversible cables, where pop culture commentary and knitting traditions meet, and taking you on a tour of knitting around the world. There's enough inspiration to send you off on a dozen knitting journeys of your own. Sweaters for men, sweaters for women and children, fun gift items and ways to fill your home with your craft—we've got it all.

Keep learning new things, keep exploring, keep knitting. What are you knitting to stay warm this winter? Let us know!

Cheers,

Eunny

Interweave Knits Accessories Preview!

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Remember that hilarious line from the movie Steel Magnolias: "the only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize"? Well, our new special interest publication, Interweave Knits Accessories, is a collection of patterns that'll keep you from becoming an animal for years and years!

With more than 60 favorite projects (at about 25 cents per pattern!) from the pages of Knits, KnitScene, and Interweave books, Interweave Knits Accessories is packed with patterns. You'll find pages and pages of scarves, hats, socks, gloves, and mittens—quick projects to go with everything in your wardrobe.

I love small projects because you can practice your skills on a small scale, perhaps challenging yourself a little here and there! And in today's economy, we could all use a couple of one- or two-skein projects, right? Shop your stash to find yarn for many of the patterns in Interweave Accessories.

You'll also get several popular "Back to Basics" tutorials, such as Finishing Details, Circular Knitting, Getting Started with Socks, and the Grand Plan Mitten Chart (I'm going to check this one out ASAP!).

Here are some of my favorite projects:


Koolhaas Hat	Forbes Forest	Orenburg Lace Triangle
Jared Flood	Kathy Zimmerman	Galina Khmeleva

I've admired the Koolhaas Hat since it debuted in the first issue of Interweave Knits Gifts, so I think it's about time to make one! I like the unisex appeal of this hat, and Jared Flood's designs are always a pleasure to knit. Forbes Forest is also a great unisex design, one that will work equally well with a fancy coat or a down vest. The Orenburg Lace Triangle is so beautiful—I love a stylish shawl, and this one is timeless.


Sideways Grand Hat	Subway Mittens	Citrine Socklets
Laura Irwin	Colleen Meagher	Marilyn Webster

The Sideways Grand Hat is a wonderful blend of fashion-forward and vintage style. This is one that looks good on many face shapes. You'll love the handy pocket in Subway Mittens, whether you need a spare subway token or an extra quarter for the parking meter! I love anklets, and the Citrine Socklets are cozy, pretty, and comfortable. They're designed with a beautiful silk-merino yarn, too, one that'll keep your tootsies warm throughout the winter.

So check out the preview for all of these projects and many, many more! I know you'll enjoy this wonderful collection as much as I do.

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Glove update! Thanks to all of you who chimed in on my yarn choices for the gloves I'm making. More than 400 of you commented! I ended up choosing the Koigu because of several comments about the wearablilty. Votes-wise, I think the Malabrigo came in first, followed by the lost-tag green, then the Koigu. I weighed the green, and I was afraid I didn't have enough to make both gloves—wouldn't that be awful?! I have a dim memory of making a pair of baby booties and a hat from that green . . . So, Koigu it is! I've cast on and I'll post photos as I go. Thanks again for making this so much fun!

Knitted Cardigans: Buttonholes 101

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

The cardigan sweater is a classic for all seasons. You can throw it on over a T-shirt in the fall and spring, keep a light-weight cardigan on hand for chilly summer evenings, and wear one as a top in the winter. I have several cardigans in my closet and I wear them all year.

There are so many ways to knit cardigans, too—in the round, top down, or in pieces. I like the top down raglan method the best—it's a lot of knitting (LOOONG rows), but when it's done, it's done. And if you're brave you can just knit in the round and cut your sweater up the front to make it a cardigan! (This technique is called "steeking" and it works best with wool; I wouldn't try it with a slippery yarn.)

We recently published a free ebook, Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns. (If you haven't downloaded your copy, please click on the link and get yours today!) One of these seven patterns is sure to strike your fancy: from lacey and feminine to bulky and casual, there are a variety of styles to choose from.

Whichever cardigan you choose to knit, and whichever technique you prefer, one thing almost all cardigan sweaters have in common is buttonholes. Today I'm going to show you how to make two different kinds of buttonholes, the one-row buttonhole and the eyelet buttonhole.

One-Row Buttonholes

This buttonhole is a good one to have in your arsenal because it works really well with medium to extra-large buttons; I normally use this buttonhole with 3/4-inch or larger buttons.

To decide how many stitches to use while working this buttonhole, simply place your button on your fabric and see how many stitches it covers. Subtract one stitch, and that's how many stitches you should use. This example, from The Knitter's Companion by Vicki Square, uses five stitches.



Step 1	Step 2	Step 3

Work to where you want the buttonhole to be, bring the yarn to the front, slip the next stitch purlwise, then return the yarn to the back.

Step 1. *Slip the next stitch to the right needle, then pass the second stitch over the end stitch and drop it off the needle. Repeat from *.

Step 2. Slip the last stitch on the right needle to the left needle and turn the work. Move the yarn to the back and use the cable method to cast on 5 stitches as follows: *Insert the right needle between the first and second stitches on the left needle, draw up a loop, and place it on the left needle. Repeat from * 4 more times. Turn the work.

Step 3. With the yarn in back, slip the first stitch from the left needle and pass the extra cast-on stitch over it and off the needle to close the buttonhole. Then work to the end of the row as usual.

Since some of us find videos easier to learn from, here's Interweave Knits editor Eunny Jang with a video tutorial on the one-row buttonhole. (She demos the cable cast-on here, too!)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Eyelet Buttonhole

The eyelet buttonhole is self-sizing—bulky yarns make large holes that accommodate large buttons; fine yarns make small holes that accommodate small buttons.

Work the eyelet buttonhole on the right side of the work as follows: yarnover, then work the next two stitches together. That's all there is to it!

You can use an overcast stitch to reinforce the buttonhole if you think your yarn might wear or if your yarn is really flexible and you want to stabilize the size of the buttonhole.

I hope these buttonhole techniques will be a welcome addition to your finishing skills.

Cheers,

Kathleen
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NEW KAL ANNOUNCEMENT

I'm thrilled to announce the next knit-a-long: Fresco Fair Isle Mitts. More than 4000 of you voted, and the mitts won by a small margin. (The Freyja Hat and the Snowflake Scarf tied for second.) Our new KAL starts today, so click on the link to download your pattern for $5.50, run to your stash or your LYS for yarn, and cast on! Here's the link to the official KAL forum. Knit on!

Knitting and Pumpkin Pie: What do they have in common?

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

My sister doesn't like pumpkin pie, (I do not understand; does not compute) but her favorite color is orange. I was thinking about this yesterday as I was raking up orange and yellow and brown leaves, thinking about how pretty the fall colors are, even as I'm hating raking. There are so many beautiful colors of orange out there: pumpkin orange, saffron, tangerine, rust, ocher, that Crayola favorite Burnt Sienna, and so on!

I love orange, too, but it's not something that I knit with very often. In fact, I only have one knitted piece in orange—a lace vest that I made when I first started knitting. I think one reason I don't knit or wear much orange is because I think of it as going with black, and my high school colors are orange and black. When I wear orange and black I feel like I'm back in high school in the bleachers cheering for the Tigers!

Our special today is a bundle of magazines, and as I was flipping through my issues I was appreciating how well the editors choose projects that convey the feeling of the season. What jumped out at me this time was the color choices: nice, subtle color palettes for spring and summer, with just enough vibrant color choices to be exciting; and deep, warm, cozy colors for fall and winter. Take the Every Way Wrap in the Fall 2009 issue of Interweave Knits, for instance—it's the perfect fall orange: a dark, pumpkin pie orange.

So, in case you haven't gotten the memo, what knitting and pumpkin pie have in common is orange! It's fall, and orange is a fall color, and we're going to be making thousands of pumpkin pies in a couple of weeks, and today I'm going to conquer my high school demons and bring back the orange.

I've gone through our pattern store and picked out several patterns, plus a couple of free patterns that look great in orange, and here they are!


Citrus Yoke	Saffron Cables	Refined Raglan	Sienna Cardigan
Katie Himmelberg	Kathy Zimmerman	Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark	Ann Smith

Citrus Yoke is a beautiful pullover that's knit in the round from the neck down with an interesting eyelet rib pattern on the yoke. The Saffron Cables afghan will keep you warm while you're knitting it and after you're knitting it! The Refined Raglan is full of simple styling: an eyelet pattern on the raglan portion of the sleeves, and a neat knitted hem on the bottom and sleeves. The Sienna Cardigan is a quick, worsted-weight knit with pretty, feminine touches along the button bands and the collar. (And it's also part of our free e-book Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns!)


Washington Square Vest	Tangelo	Wavy Orange Scarf	Fountain Hat
Simona Merchant-Dest	Kate Kukra	Rebecca L. Daniels	Katie Himmelberg

I love the variegated orange of the Washington Square Vest. This pattern incorporates lace on the edges and basketweave waist detailing. Tangelo is just what you need in the fall—a bouquet of flowers (and a fun, quick knit, too).

And now for two free patterns! The Wavy Orange Scarf will keep you interested as you knit—the wave pattern is one of those that's fun to watch develop. And the Fountain Hat is a wonderful gift option and a stash-buster! It's a small project that takes just under 400 yards of sock yarn. (And it's also part of our free e-book Knitting Lace: Knitting Daily Presents 7 FREE Knitted Lace Patterns!)

Well, that about wraps up my vacation to the Land of Orange. For a side trip, check out our Facebook post about orange yarns (about halfway down our page). And become a fan to get updates on your Facebook newsfeed!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Fill Your Calendar with Knitting Projects

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

I love calendars, especially wall calendars, and I spend a lot of time every year in the bookstore choosing something that will inspire me every day. It's a tough choice, too, because with wall calendars, you look at one photo for a whole month.

I've said before how lucky I am to have this job, and my luck knocked on the door last week in the form of the UPS gal, who handed me a package containing what will be my wall calendar for 2010. It's the new Spin-Off Calendar, and it's truly inspiring to someone who loves all things yarny. The photo at left is so beautiful, and that's just one of twelve!

(I can't believe we're coming up on 2010, though. It sounds so futuristic—I thought we'd all be flying around in spaceships by now!)

As I looked through my new calendar, I started thinking about my knitting and some of the projects that are in my queue. I thought it might be neat to plan my knitting for the year. I know some of this won't happen—we all have things that come up to disrupt our knitting plans (like cool new patterns we must knit now!)—but it was fun to look through my bookshelves and my Ravelry queue and schedule some projects.

A Year of Knitting, a.k.a. "Best Laid Plans"


Cabaret Raglan	Sculptured Lace Scarf	Soap Bubble Wrap	Bacchus Socks
Norah Gaughan	Kenny Chua	Connie Chang Chinchio	Alice Bell

I've had the Cabaret Raglan in my queue almost as long as I've had my Ravelry account. I love the simplicity of the Cabaret—it's a raglan pullover, but the eyelets and two-stitch cable patterns really dress it up. I think I'll tackle this in January and February.

The Sculptured Lace Scarf is something that I can knit at the same time as the Cabaret Raglan, because I like to have more than one project on the needles. I love the tight lace and cable pattern in this design.

The Soap Bubble Wrap is knit from a flax yarn but I have a linen blend linen in my stash that will be perfect. This warm-weather beauty will be a good knit for the spring months. For my alternate project, it's got to be the Bacchus Socks. There's an option for knitting these without the bobbles on the foot portion, which I think I'll do so I can wear them comfortably with shoes. These socks are just beautiful.


Tangled Yoke Cardigan	Harvey Kimono	Simply Marilyn	Side Slip Cloche
Eunny Jang	Louisa Harding	Debbie Bliss	Laura Irwin

I really like a cardigan, and the Tangled Yoke is a classic. At a gauge of six stitches to the inch, it's a nice, light cardigan that won't add bulk. I like the fabric that's produced when I knit on size 5 needles, and that's the needle size called for in this sweater. The cable pattern on the yoke draws the eye toward the face, too, which is a nice feature. This project will hit during the summer months, and while I don't like to knit with wool in the summer, I do like to have a new sweater to wear in the fall, so I'll have to deal with it, won't I?

My second summer project will be a Harvey Kimono. If you have a little one in your life, these darling kimonos couldn't be more perfect. They're so cute and they knit up fast. There's an option for a boy version or a girl version.

In September and October, I'm penciling in Simply Marilyn. This pullover is just that: simple. The big cable up the front and the cowl add a classic, cozy feel, and the larger gauge makes quick work of this sweater. It's so pretty in pink, too—or maybe I should do it in a soft blue since I already have two pink sweaters!

The second project for fall is the lovely Side Slip Cloche. There's a sample of this hat at my LYS and everyone who tries it on looks great—even me! It's a sophisticated hat that's fun to knit. My mom's been asking for one since she saw it on the cover of Boutique Knits last fall, so I'll put this on my holiday knitting list for October.

I'm not going to fill up my calendar for November and December, because I know there will be a bunch of last minute holiday knitting that I'll want to squeeze in. Plus, some of these projects will creep into later months, I'm sure.

So that's the plan, folks! Why don't you take a few minutes to put your projects on the calendar? It's really helped me set my knitting priorities, and I've had fun looking at the beautiful photos in my calendar, too.

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Interweave has come out with three new calendars, so if you're a quilter or a papercrafter, there's something for you, too.

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

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

The Chart's the Thing: Tips on Reading Knitting Charts

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Sandi's recent blog ("What's on My Needles") got me thinking about what's in my UFO (unfinished object) pile.

My "pile" is less like a pile and more like a parade of different sizes of Ziplock baggies overstuffed with yarn, patterns, and projects on the needles—all shoved on a shelf in my storage room. (No wonder I don't have any 7s available! I must organize my stash and UFO situation, but that's a different day and a different post!)

Among several items in my UFO collection, I found a lace cardigan. It's black, which I think is the main reason it's still in the UFO pile. I love the pattern and the idea of a black lace cardigan, but my old, tired eyes have a hard time seeing the stitches. Lacework just compounds that problem for me.

I've worked on just a few big lace projects, and the majority of those have been written out line by line. For some reason, most of the projects I've worked on that could be charted (cable and lace projects) have row-by-row instructions instead. And if a chart is offered as well, I opt for the written directions instead.

I can use colorwork charts with no problems, but pattern charts are harder for me because I'm not that great of a "memorizer." I have to really make an effort to memorize charts, pattern repeats, phone numbers, you get the picture. (Maybe that's why I can't play a single song from memory on the piano after years of piano lessons. . .) I find myself constantly going between the symbol key and the chart, losing my place visually. Simple colored squares are so much easier to follow!

I've taken to coloring in pattern charts and coloring the keys to match, somehow that color cue makes it easier for me to memorize. It might be the years of cross-stitch I did before taking up knitting. Whatever, though—it works! Here’s my colored-in chart from Cookie A’s Monkey Socks pattern—see the pretty colors?

I was looking through my back issues of Interweave Knits recently, and I came across this article on reading charts: "Making Sense of Symbols: A Guide to Reading Charts." Ann Budd wrote it, and as with all of her information, it was very helpful for me. In her article, Ann says, "Charts have several advantages over row-by-row knitting instructions written out in words: They let you see at a glance what's to be done and what the pattern will look like knitted; they help you recognize how the stitches relate to one another; and they take up less space than written instructions."

Armed with this information, I picked up my black cardigan, situated myself under a light, and used the chart instead of the written instructions. The symbols were easy to recognize since I already had a couple complete repeats done. As I worked the row, I could see the pattern emerging and I found I was anticipating the upcoming stitches. The visual aid of the chart was helping me memorize the pattern. Bonus!

So check out Ann's article, I think you'll get some good tips, too.

And here's a tip from me: Use a Post-It note to keep track of your rows—if you place it above the row you're currently working on you can see the rows already completed on the chart. These will correspond to your knitting, so you can see the pattern on both the chart and the knitted piece.

And take some time every once in a while to look through your old magazines—I usually find a few gems I didn't notice the first time!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Gearing Up for Gift-Giving (plus two free bag patterns!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

We're having the most beautiful early fall here in Spokane. The air is crisp, the sun is shining, and all of my TV shows are starting up again. Well, I guess the TV shows are starting again everywhere, but that's still a sign of fall to me. I always knit while I watch TV, so I'm looking forward to some evening knitting time again!

And although it's just the beginning of fall, those winter holidays will be upon us before we know it. I've been giving knitted gifts ever since I started knitting, and this year will be no exception. Because of Knitting Daily, I'm busier than I have been in the past, so I need to get started ASAP. My past gift-giving efforts have included felted slippers, hats, mittens, and stuffed animals—smallish things that can be done in two or three weeks. This year, though, I have some projects in mind that need longer lead-times.

I've been so inspired by the books Knitted Gifts and Crocheted Gifts; I'm looking to those two books for holiday gift ideas. While none of these patterns are enormous undertakings, taken together, there are quite a few stitches that need to be knitted, so couch and stash, here I come!

Here are some of my gift contenders:

Ballet Flats (from Knitted Gifts)
by Marta McCall

There are lots of felted slipper patterns out there, but this one tops my list for its unique style and beauty. I would love to have a pair of these myself, but I think I'd like to give a pair as a gift even more. My sister would really appreciate these and they would look lovely on her; she has a sophisticated sense of style and a pair of Ballet Flats would suit her perfectly.

Animal Crackers (from Knitted Gifts)

by JoLene Treace

Nephew Henry loves dogs and cats, and I know he'd get a kick out of an Animal Cracker sweater. The knitted hem, cuffs, and rolled collar are such nice details on this sweater pattern and there are options for a dog, a cat, or a bear. Which one do you think is cutest for Henry?

Gentleman's Scarf (from Knitted Gifts)

by Veronik Avery

Although billed as a man's scarf, change the color (maybe) and the Gentleman's Scarf is appropriate for anyone. The stitch pattern is a zigzag and cable pattern that's knit at a fine gauge. Choose a yarn with some cashmere content and this gift will be a favorite for years! My mom's been wanting a pink scarf, and she always appreciates a nice gentleman!

Free (Gift) Bag Patterns!

Swirling Bag
by Kathryn Merrick

This one's from Crocheted Gifts, and it's a free pattern!

It's so nice to get gifts in a reusable bag, and this one is the definition of reusable. It's made from renewable cotton, and who wouldn't love to get a gift wrapped in a gift? Even if you're a novice crocheter, Kathryn's Swirling Bag is something you can accomplish. The color choices are endless—the sample is knit from Rowan Cotton Glace, which comes in so many colors it's staggering.

The Market Bag
by Vicki Square

Take a look at another free pattern, the knitted Market Bag. It's a wonderful gift for the eco-conscious shopper we all have on our list. I've "wrapped" gifts in reusable grocery bags (especially food gifts—imagine a baguette poking out of the top of the Market Bag) and the recipeints have been so happy with the ultimate in reusable giftwrap!

Why not take some time to plan your holiday gifts so you don't end up finishing things on Christmas Eve (believe me, I speak of what I know!)

Cheers,

Kathleen

Cabling without a Needle (Plus a free pattern!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

LOSE THAT CABLE NEEDLE!

My current project in Kathleen's Knit-a-Long—the Central Park Hoodie—is a cable pattern, and I'm saving tons of time doing the cables without a needle. In the fall 2009 issue of Interweave Knits there's a Beyond the Basics lesson on this technique, and I thought I'd present it here, too. I don't recommend this method for use with slippery yarn or with big cable crossings (crossing more than four or five stitches over each other), but for most of your cabling needs, it's magic!

Step 1
On a cable crossing row, work to just before the full cable group. With the yarn in back, slip all the stitches from the group purlwise to the right-hand needle to loosen them.

Step 2
For a cable crossing left (standard instructions: hold the cable needle to the front of the work), bring the left-hand needle to the front of the work and insert it into the fronts of all stitches that need to be held (Figure 1).

For a cable crossing right (standard instructions: hold the cable needle to the back of the work), bring the left-hand needle to the back of the work and insert it into the backs of all stitches that need to be held (Figure 2).

Step 3
Between the left thumb and forefinger, pinch the base of the slipped stitches firmly. Pull the right-hand needle completely free of all the slipped stitches (Figure 3; half will be on the left-hand needle; half will be free for a moment) and maintaining front/back position as established, quickly reinsert it into the free stitches. Make sure all the stitches are seated correctly on the needle; if they’re held firmly, the stitches won’t have twisted or moved at all during the time that they were dropped.

Step 4
Slip stitches on the right-hand needle back to the left-hand needle. The stitches are now out of order and will be crossed when they’re worked (Figure 4). Work as directed.

AND FOR EVEN MORE CABLING TIPS. . .

Check out our new DVD workshop, Classic to Creative Knit Cables with Kathy Zimmerman (whose friends call her the Cable Queen). I wish I would have previewed Knit Cables last week. I was watching TV while knitting on the Central Park Hoodie, and I did two complete cable chart repeats with the cable crossings going the wrong way. In the last segment of the workshop, Kathy demonstrates fixing miss-crossed cables without ripping back rows! I ripped back about twenty rows, but next time (and I'm sure there will be a next time!) I'll be able to avoid the frog.

KATHARINE HEPBURN CARDIGAN

Today's free pattern is Kathy Zimmerman's Katharine Hepburn Cardigan (photo at left), which first appeared in Lace Style. Made up of tiny rope cables and lace, this pattern harkens back to the 1950s and one of the icons of that era, Katharine Hepburn. This sweater begs to be worn with a skirt and a scarf around the neck, but it's equally at home over a fitted tee-shirt and some nice jeans. It's a true classic. Plus, the pattern gives directions for a bolero version for even more variety. This pattern is available in our recent free eBook, Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily:7 FREE Knitting Patterns. So click on the link and get the free pattern, plus six more cardigans to keep you busy this fall!

Kathy Zimmerman says cabling can be hazadous to your stash, and I couldn't agree more.

Cable on!

—Kathleen

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!).

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Another Technique for Finishing: Crochet Edging

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:30:00 GMT

A Note from Kathleen: My main craft is knitting, but several years ago I took a crochet class because I expected that I might like that craft, too. And I do enjoy crocheting, especially for items like baby blankets--it's simply so much faster than knitting. What I didn't expect was that knowing how to crochet could bring so much to my knitting. I use crochet skills all the time; the crab stitch (sometimes called the "shrimp stitch" or "backwards single crochet") is a lovely finishing stitch for necklines and the front edges of cardigan sweaters. The edging options are endless, really--just check out the array of crocheted edging resources out there!

Here's Marcy Smith, editor of Interweave Crochet, to share a perfect crochet-ending to a knitting story.

Rescuing a UFO with Crochet

Maybe you're not like me. Maybe your gauge is always spot on and the vision you have for your garment works perfectly.

Maybe you don't have a box of false starts and “Good golly, what was I thinking?” portions of garments. Maybe you don't have things that are too big / too small / just plain unwearable.

Well, I've got them. And when I finally admit that the thing just isn't working, sometimes I rip it back to a ball right away. And sometimes I stuff it in the Denial Drawer. Deep inside. And the balance is again tipped between unfinished objects (UFOs) and finished objects (FOs).

A recent Feng Shui unearthed a vast expanse of knitted purple fabric that I recalled, after a moment, wanted to be a guernsey back in the day. It was HUGE. But the texture is intriguing and I can see why I didn't rip it back to its essence. It would make a good kid-size blanket, if it were jazzed up a bit. It was time to remedy the balance: this UFO could become an FO, with a little help.

Now, I like knitting as much as the next fiber gal, but I Do. Not. Like. To. Pick. Up. Stitches. Especially a gazillion stitches around the edge of a thing that I don't like all that much anymore. Given that option, I'd just as soon stuff it back in the Denial Drawer. But there's a better solution, one that is accessible to anyone who loves all things yarny: crochet.

That's right. Crochet. With crochet, you work with just one stitch at a time, creating the edge as you work around. And it doesn't really matter how many stitches you make, so long as they look pretty even when you're done. And when you're done, you're done. You don't have to bind off a gazillion stitches. Just one.

To finish my blanket, I used the Simple Shell Edging from The Harmony Guides: Crochet Edgings and Trims, hot off the press. This book will guide even the most novice crocheter through the process. The Simple Shell Edging is a two-row edging, with the first being a base row of single crochet.

Because the edges of my knitted swath are pretty even and stable, I was able to make it even simpler: I eliminated the base row. So I just commenced crocheting green shells around the purple swath until my UFO became an FO—just a different FO. (To see the specifics of where I decided to put my hook when making the edge, check out the blog on CrochetMe.)

And now all is harmonious: I have one less item in my stash of “good gollies” and Project Linus has one more item in its stash of blankets.

While many of you already subscribe to Interweave Knits, now is a great time to add Interweave Crochet to your tool box. Get a free trial issue of Interweave Crochet and discover more fabulous edging ideas, amazing sweater patterns, expert tips, and more. We're on the front lines of the crochet revolution and we'd love to have you join in!

Best,

Marcy
Editor, Interweave Crochet

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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.

Weaving: The Perfect Stash-Buster

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:32:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: When I was little, my across-the-street neighbor was a fabulous weaver. She had a huge studio set up in her house and I used to spend hours watching her create the most beautiful tapestries, scarves, bedspreads, tablecloths, and runners--you name it, she could weave fabric for it. Though I haven't gotten into weaving until VERY recently (read on), that childhood fascination never completely faded. I was at the Madrona Fiber Arts festival in Tacoma, Washington a couple of years ago, and one of the vendors was featuring this little table-top loom. The speed at which the weaver produced about five inches of fabric was staggering; for weeks I had visions of Christmas gifts dancing in my head. I didn't buy the loom then, but I've been thinking about it off and on ever since I saw it. And then when I was in the office the other day, Handwoven magazine was going to press and I caught a glimpse of the projects. I couldn’t wait to get back home, go through my stash, and go to my local weaving store to look at looms. Oh, and I asked Liz Gipson, the managing editor of Handwoven, to get you busting your stashes too, and to inspire you along the way. So here's Liz!

Why should knitters care one bit about weaving? Knitters are "loopy" people not "over-under" people. You knitters use two sticks to make cloth; we weavers use this thing called a loom that has all kinds of moving parts. Knitting yarns come in playful balls; weaving yarns come on intimidating cones.

There is a reason that knitters might want to take notice of weaving--it's faster than knitting. I know, I know, you say, "but what about all those threads that have to go in all those different places?" It is true that dressing that loom does take some time. (Doesn't "dressing" provide a wonderful mental picture--I think I'll put on the cobalt top with the chocolate brown skirt. Another term you have probably heard is "warping the loom," yet it doesn't bring up the same cozy mental image. Anyway, I digress.)

The first few times you play dress-up-the-loom are just like learning to cast on or to purl for the first time: you feel like you're all thumbs. After the loom is dressed, though, the cloth grows row by row, not stitch by stitch! Plus, the big movements of weaving provide your body a break from the small movements of knitting.

Best of all for you knitters, though, is that you can also think of weaving as stash reduction. We all need some help with that, right? We owe it to our families to keep the yarn to just the spare room. (And weaving is absolutely not cheating on your stash!) Weaving provides a home for all of those lovely single balls of yarn you just had to have.

If all of this isn't enough to get you motivated to learn more about weaving, knitting and weaving can be used together to produce fabulous pieces, such as the Rigid Heddle Woven Ruffle Pillow. Here are two clips from season 1 of Knitting Daily TV: in the first one you can see the ruffle pillow being created as I show you how to weave on a rigid-heddle loom--one of the simplest, most knitter-friendly looms on the market.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

In the second segment I demonstrate how to weave on a table loom, which offers all the advantages of a floor loom (and sometimes even more when it comes to treadling options) but takes up less space. Both looms are beginner-friendly options for new weavers.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

For lots of tips and tricks about weaving, download the handy brochure "Get Weaving!," get your hands on the bestselling Learning to Weave (for floor loom weavers) or Weaving Made Easy or Hands On Rigid Heddle Weaving (for rigid heddle weavers), and go find yourself a teacher (there are tips on how to do this on learntoweave.com). And, all of the instructions for the weaving projects seen in Knitting Daily TV episode 105 are available on the Spinning and Weaving Association's website.

Have fun!

Liz Gipson
Managing Editor, Handwoven magazine

P.S. Goat update! Last fall I introduced Knitting Daily readers to my four cashmere-bearing goat friends, Bella, Faith, Diva, and Zeus. I've just sent nearly two pounds of cashmere off to the mill to be dehaired and cleaned. Diva for the most part has stopped tormenting Bella, and Zeus has developed an unrequited crush on Diva. Faith as usual carries on in her quiet unassuming way. You can read more of their adventures (and mine) in the back-page essay of the Fall 2009 issue of Spin-Off, coming soon to your local yarn shop and to Interweavestore.com.

Liz Gipson is a spinner, weaver, and all-around fiberista. Her day job at Interweave is the Managing Editor of Handwoven and she's a co-host of Knitting Daily TV on public television, where she offers advice about fibers, yarn-making, dyeing, and yes, weaving.

Knitting Patterns: To Read or Not to Read?

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:23:00 GMT

Yep, I'm the new girl here. It's my first week on the job in the Loveland office, and what do I find? A pile of books sitting on the desk. Of course, they're piled according to size and there at the top sits this little very bright green book of cartoons--It Itches, by Franklin Habit. I'm really not a big cartoon kind of person, but I it's so cute I have to flip through it. And what do I find? Appropriate KD content that is directly related to the post I was writing today! So I'm sharing two of Franklin's cartoons because they are just too darn close to my experiences with today's subject: Reading Ahead.

This was my process during the first year or so of my knitting career:

1. Choose a project.
2. Buy yarn, needles, etc.
3. Read the first line of the pattern.
4. Start knitting.

Although there are several problems with this process, the one I'm going to focus on is step 3.

Sometimes we're so excited about a new project that we dive right in and start knitting without reading through the pattern. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten to a point in the pattern and realized I needed to rip back because I didn't read what was coming next, or because there was some information hidden in the pattern in a place I didn't expect, or I thought I knew what kind of decrease to do but as it turned out, I didn't.

And let's face it, not all patterns are created equally. Designers have their own, unique methods of imparting information (which is part of the fun of knitting from a variety of designers' patterns). One time when I was knitting a pair of socks, I came across a line that said something like "if you're doing a larger size, add one or two stitches between each lace section of each line of the chart." This was on PAGE 3 of the pattern. That's right. Page 3. So, I had to rip out to the toe. Sad for me!

Lesson learned, though. I've changed my process to include reading through the entire pattern before I start knitting. I don't read word for word, I skim the pattern looking for key items like "AT THE SAME TIME" or "if you're knitting size L or XL" or "place X number of stitches on a holder," and while I'm at it I make sure I know what the heck the designer means when he or she says SKP or PSSO.

This has saved me from the frog pond so many times; it's worth it to spend that extra five or seven minutes reading. Let's make it a Knitting Daily standard practice: READ BEFORE YOU KNIT!

So that's my post for today and I'm quickly packing my bags to wing back home. But I grabbed It Itches off the desk and shoved it into my purse (I think it was meant for me to keep. . .) because it's perfect plane reading. And I'm hoping that my seat partner just might ask me why I'm laughing out loud so I can share some of It Itches with her or him. Grab a copy for yourself--it' a great hook to introduce someone to our wacky sense of fiber humor.

(Oh, and in case you were wondering, I've also added the gauge swatch to my process, but that's another topic.)

Circular Knitting: Jogless Stripes

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:00 GMT

I don’t know about you, but I’m a visual learner. I can read step-by-step instructions ‘til the cows come home, but I rarely get it right without photos or—even better—a video. In the new season of Knitting Daily TV (which starts at the end of July), co-host and Interweave Knits editor Eunny Jang hosts a new segment called “Getting Started.” She demonstrates basic and not-so-basic techniques to get you started on new projects.

One of these techniques has to do with knitting in the round. I love to knit striped hats in the round. Stripes are an easy and fast way to add color to a project, and a great way to use up those little bits hanging out in your stash, too!

The problem with knitting stripes in the round is that you get a little jog in the color—the first stitch in the row above a color change is actually the last stitch of the previous row of color, so it looks like you didn’t change colors soon enough. (This happens because when you’re knitting in the round you’re actually knitting a spiral, not a circle.)

When I complete a hat I always notice these jogs, but I've never known what to do about them. And, between you and me, I’m not a perfectionist knitter, so I give it the old shoulder shrug and move on.

However, even non-perfectionists enjoy improving their skills, so when I saw the Getting Started segment about jogless stripes in circular knitting, I was intrigued. In this clip, Eunny shows us two ways to avoid the jog with a slip-stitch technique that works for any width of stripe and the “barber-pole” technique for single-round stripes.

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Knitting Daily is just starting in Spokane, so I have a lot to look forward to. I've cleared off my TiVo and set it up to record all of the new shows, but if your TiVo (or DVR, or whatever) is sometimes cranky like mine is, preorder the new season's DVDs below! You'll be able to watch your favorite segments again and again, and when you need a little help, Eunny's excellent technique segments will be right at your fingertips.

And check out the behind-the-scenes fun at Knitting Daily TV in the new blog Tuned In to Knitting Daily TV.