Knitting Daily : Tops

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

Galleries, Part 1: Knits Summer 2009

KD Sandi — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:20:00 GMT

We've been doing the Knitting Daily Galleries for two years now, and each and every one of them is different; each and every one a delight in its own way.

This one was different for me, because it was the first time I couldn't be in Colorado for the photoshoot, cheering on the Gallery Gals from behind-the-scenes. But fortunately, I had lots of help in the Loveland office, and at left you see the gang responsible for this season's Gallery fun: Allison, Trish, Sharon, Toni, and Karen. The delight for me came in seeing how the Gallery Gals posed and styled themselves for each photo! They really got into the spirit of the shoot, bringing their own accessories and making sure everything looked great.

This group photo is really useful as it shows you our five Gallery Gals next to each other, so you can compare heights--the range is 4' 11" (Trish) to 5' 8" (Sharon). There's also a range of ages and body types, as you can see.

In other words: We listened. A few weeks back, we published a survey where we asked you various questions about the Galleries, and many of you said you wished there were taller models, and older models, and so forth. Given that we can only use folks who happen to work for us, and who happen to be in the Loveland office the day of the photoshoot, I think this is a pretty cool group to show off the lovely fashions in Interweave Knits Summer 2009.

We have three Galleries for you today: The Akomeogi Tunic, Spidery Tank, and Grotto Wrap. Come back on Wednesday, when our Gallery Gals will have three more pretty garments to show you!

If you haven't gotten your copy of Knits Summer 2009 yet, ask for it at your local yarn shop; or purchase it online from us. You won't be sorry; there are so many pretty summer tops and gift items this issue that it's hard for me to choose which one I want to knit myself!

-- Sandi

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I'm swatching for baby gifts for my new nieces-to-be! Meanwhile, I'm working on a pair of socks (as usual), and I just finished spinning some lovely hand dyed wool on my handspindle. (I'm getting into all kinds of fiber trouble, apparently.)

Free Pattern: Summer Sneak Peek!

KD Sandi — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:29:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: While we do not have the Knits Summer 2009 Preview ready for you yet, we have the next best thing: a Free Pattern Sneak Peek! Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits, is here to tell us about this special sweater. Here's Eunny!

When Karen Kendrick Hands first showed me the prototype for the Grotto Cardigan, I was smitten - the classic wrap sweater shape is always flattering and wearable, but she'd refined it by knitting in two symmetrical halves for fit and adding sweet gull-wing cables that run up the sleeves and shoulders and flow neatly around mitered corners. Knitted in an airy hand-dyed mohair and silk yarn, the Grotto Cardigan can take you through spring to the cool evenings of summer all the way into cooler fall weather.

-- Eunny

Download the free pattern for the Grotto Wrap now

Looking for that perfect summer project?
Our Interweave Pattern Store has hundreds of patterns to choose from!

There's a whole section called Tops, Tanks, and Camisoles--stroll through those and you might fall in love with a cute little number.

For those chilly summer nights, pop on over to the Shawls and Wraps section.

And since summer is when we are all on-the-go--how about a knitted tote bag or shoulder bag? Check those out here: Bags and Totes.

The hardest part won't be finding something you like...the hardest part will be choosing which one to cast-on for first!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I finished my small lace shawl and blocked it, using blocking wires for the first time--much faster than hand-pinning, with good results. I'm going out tonight, so I think I'll wear it to celebrate!

Finishing Tip: Mattress Stitch Tutorial

KD Sandi — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:23:00 GMT

Do you have some Spring projects hiding in your closet that are ABS: "all but seamed"? I bet you do. Seaming up projects is something many knitters express outright hatred for--they love the knitting part, but when it comes to the seaming, even a beloved project can go right into the back of the closet to languish in pieces. But the way I see it is: If you finish up those Spring projects, then you'll be guilt-free about starting some pretty summer tops!

I think a lot of knitters dislike seaming because they fear "ruining" the project with a bad bit of finishing. But if you know how to stitch a seam properly, the seaming is a breeze--plus, you get to actually wear your pretty handknit sweaters!

Today, I'm going to show you the basics of mattress stitch. And it's really, really not hard! (I promise. Would I lie to you?) The two things you need to know to work mattress stitch are: Bars and Legs. Yep, Bars and Legs, my friends.

Bars: If you take a close look at a piece of stockinette knitting, you will notice that there are "bars" connecting every column of stitches. Stretch the knitting a bit, you'll see a column of stitches, and then a column of bars, then a column of stitches. When stitching a vertical seam, like a side seam, you catch a bar of one side with your needle, then a bar from the other side, then a bar from the first side again. A full photo tutorial for a vertical seam is here.

Legs: If you look at the bottom of a piece of stockinette, you'll see the two "legs" of each bottom stitch sitting at the base of each column of stitches. When stitching a horizontal seam, such as a shoulder seam, you catch both "legs" of a stitch at the end of a column with your needle on one side of the seam, then catch the legs of an end stitch on the other side, and so on. A full photo tutorial for a horizontal seam is here.

What if seaming isn't the reason you haven't finished your sweaters? What if you've dropped some stitches, or there's a mistake several rows back? We're all human, we all make mistakes; the secret to being a great knitter is knowing how to fix your mistakes. Interweave's book Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters is a wonderful resource for all kinds of knitting problems--it has clear illustrations and step-by-step instructions to help you get out of all kinds of tangles! Look for Knit Fix at your local yarn shop, or order it here.

Now go finish up a few projects! After all, you want to wear them, don't you?

Enjoy!

--Sandi

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? There are two new little people arriving in my family this summer, and I'm working out what to make for them. One little person is going to get the Sólás Caomh, a delicious cabled blankie from Interweave Crochet Spring 2009; the other little person's gift hasn't been chosen yet.

Video Interview with Cookie A.

KD Sandi — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:35:00 GMT

Meeting a favorite designer in person is always a treat; listening to them talk about their inspirations for the designs that we knit each day gives us a deeper understanding of just how much work and love goes into each and every stitch.

I got to meet Cookie A., author of our new book Sock Innovations, in June of last year, and was immediately charmed by her quiet enthusiasm for All Things Sock. As I listened to her, I realized that much of her design inspiration comes from her love of mathematics. Through her own special brand of magic and alchemy, Cookie turns basic mathematical principles into easy-to-knit stitches that dazzle the eye. Lace, cables, twisted stitches--all are used as building blocks to create geometric masterpieces meant to peek out from the tops of shoes and the bottoms of your jeans. Her patterns are wildly popular; one of her earliest designs, Monkey, has been knitted by thousands and thousands of knitters worldwide.

The next best thing to meeting Cookie in person is--a Cookie video! And so the fine folks behind our Knitting Daily TV show sat down with Cookie for an interview, so we could bring Cookie to you!

In today's video, Cookie stars in a Designer Spotlight segment on Knitting Daily TV Series 200, talking about her famous Monkey socks, giving tips on resizing them for smaller and larger feet. You can download the free pattern for the expanded sizing version of the Monkey Socks from our Knitting Daily TV website. (Did you know that your Knitting Daily password and login also work on the Knitting Daily TV site? They do! Hooray, only one password to remember to download patterns!)

While you're there, be sure to take a look at all the episode listings to see what other wonderful goodies await you in episodes you may not have seen yet! We have the DVDs of both Series 100 and Series 200 available for purchase in our online store so you can have all the episodes right at your fingertips whenever you want.

Enjoy the video! Don't forget to take a look inside Sock Innovations, and order your copy here. Or why not show your local yarn shop some love--purchase the book from them (and pick up some sock drugs, er, I mean, yarn, while you're there).

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? A Cookie Sock, of course.

Eunny's Sweater Workshop: Petal Halter

KD Sandi — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:47:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: Today we bring you another new feature: the Sweater Workshop, where we take a great sweater and examine its construction in greater detail. Again, we welcome Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits magazine, as our guide:

Olga Buraya-Kefelian draws inspiration from many places. In particular, the Petal Halter, featured in our Spring Interweave Knits 2009 issue, was inspired by a quilted couture piece with a bandeau-like construction. But how do you go about translating such a sculptural piece into slinky, drapey knitted fabric?

The first order of business was finding the right yarn: the right yarn would have structure and a firm hand, but would be fluid enough to drape over the body flatteringly. Olga swatched a bamboo (too limp!) and a yarn wrapped with a viscose thread (too textured) before settling on a cotton and linen blend with a subtle metallic thread that had just enough body to make the stitches pop and show off the directional nature of the knitting, but enough drape to flow over the body.

Next came the business of plotting and fitting the pieces together. Originally, Olga planned to have the pieces diminish in size toward the shoulders, creating an A-line shape—but realized that the natural curves of a body would create a fitted and flared effect even from a straight tube. The ingenious final construction is made up of six identical pieces shaped like long, wide bows.

Each petal is knitted sideways, from the center out, curved slightly with short rows and worked with a garter stitch edging at the right side (Figure 1). After knitting half of the petal, the work is picked back up from the center and worked towards the other side in mirror image. Stitches are left live at the ends of each petal for later joining.

Two petals at a time are joined together to make shallow tubes, sewing live stitches down just inside the garter stitch edging of the adjoining piece to create an overlapped effect (Figure 2).

Tubes are then stacked and sewn together, sewing raw selvedges down just inside the garter stitch edgings of adjoining pieces (Figure 3).

Finally, stitches are picked up and knitted to make narrow, close-set straps. And there you have it: knitting innovation.

Make it your own: The Petal Halter is surprisingly flattering to a variety of body types; the segmented construction fits naturally and flatteringly whether you want to hide or play up your personal features. For more coverage on top, consider knitting the top tier of petals for a larger size and easing the extra fullness in as you sew. Pick up more stitches for the straps for a more tank-like silhouette (Figure 4). Or to go really bare, eliminate the straps altogether and simply attach narrow loops of I-cord to the center peaks for a truly halter-like look (Figure 5).

Our issue of Spring Interweave Knits has more great projects to carry you through until the summer one is available. If you haven’t gotten the issue yet, pick it up at your local yarn store, or order here.

-- Eunny

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!).

Download Your Free eBook Today

Add Your Personal Style to Knits Garments!

KD Sandi — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:34:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: On Monday, Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits, showed you a couple different ways to wear the Saoirse Shawl and the Petal Tank. Today, Eunny returns to show you the Posy Slip, the Watered Quartz Tee, and the St. John’s Wort Cardigan, all from the Spring 2009 issue of Interweave Knits. Here's Eunny!

The Posy Slip
Joanne Krantz’ Posy Slip is a sweetly literal way to wear a floral – big clusters of crochet roses line the front and back necklines. Though the dress seems wearable only by one body type, the fabric of the dress is actually knitted in a simple daisy stitch that combats sag and droop, and the shaping is done simply by switching needle sizes—you can customize this dress to fit any body. The simple shaping and fluid yarn combine to flatter curves.

The dress is designed to be worn as shown in the magazine, with a high boat neck in the front and a dramatically plunging back. But we think it also looks sweet reversed, with the V-neck in front (more flattering for some of us!). Take a look, too, at dressing the Slip up or down. It’s pretty on its own—but easy to wear over a t-shirt with a hip-slung belt, too.

The Watered Quartz Tee

Teva Durham’s Watered Quartz Tee uses an unusual wool yarn knit on bigger-than-recommended needles to create a filmy, diaphanous fabric without needing to knit at a prohibitively fine gauge. Stripes of single rib gather the panels slightly. Squared-off armholes are quick to knit, but they’re also easy to wear—casual and not-too-bare. The Tee is fun by itself—try it with shorts or a jean skirt or wide-legged pants or over a base layer, but it’s cute under a jacket as well—play with mixing textures and colors to get a combination that feels tactile and visually rich.

The St. John's Wort Cardigan

Finally, Cathy Carron strips a sweater down to essentials with the St. John’s Wort Cardigan. A piece this simple is truly versatile: in a hard-wearing mercerized cotton, the fabric has enough polish to be dressed up, but the silhouette is casual enough to be dressed down. Close it with its single big button over an empire-waist dress with lots of volume—the softly gathered lower edge echoes the shape of the dress. Or wear the Cardigan open over a more casual outfit—we have a great vintage shirt and jeans here, but it would be just as cute over a long tank top or a simple cotton tee.

There’s no end to ways to make a knit your own. What are some unexpected ways you’ve modified or worn a project from Knits? Let us know!

- Eunny

P.S. Not a subscriber to Interweave Knits? Click here to subscribe!

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

Download Your Free eBook Today

Update Your Wardrobe Cheaply With Needle Felting

KD Sandi — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:13:00 GMT

I made a vow with myself several years back: I Will Not Get Into Needle Felting. I figured I had enough "hobbies" (let's just be honest and call them "obsessions," shall we?) and I didn't want any more reasons to spend money that might detract from my knitting stash expansion efforts. Plus...I know myself. I love all things crafty. I just thought it wise not to add one more obsession to my already craft-crazed psyche.

That said...I've had these really warm and comfy felted slippers for a while, but they've started looking rather ratty and stained. Despite their embarrassing appearance, I love them and can't bear to give them up.

This week, as I was reading about different ways to Be Crafty On A Budget, I kept reading about embellishing clothes you already had: with sewn-on ribbons, with little knitted or crocheted flowers...and with needle felting. Suddenly, needle felting was everywhere I looked. And one day, I was pulling on my beloved battered felted booties and imaging them with little pink needle-felted birds on them....that's when I realized I was doomed. The time had come for me to try needle felting and see if it was something I might want to embrace in my crafty, obsessional repertoire.

I borrowed mats and needle tools from a friend, and then, because I'm a bookish sort, I pulled out the new needlefelt book we published this Spring, Simply Needlefelt. I read through the book last Saturday, thinking it would be all about arsty-but-impossible things done with lots of sheep fuzz. Wow, was I ever wrong! Did you know you can needle felt with yarn? Using a cookie cutter to make shapes? I thought of that little pink bird and immediately raided my husband's baking cupboard--and lo and behold, he had a birdie cookie cutter!

Two hours later, I had my little pink birdies on the slippers, each sitting on a tuft of green grass; the tatty old tops of the booties had been folded down and needle-felted with a simple braid of thick grey yarn.

The result charms me completely and has kept me from having to toss out something I loved; it has also saved my budget, because now I don't have to make or buy new slippers!

I was surprised at how easy needle felting was. And you know, there's something kind of therapeutic about sticking needles into something over and over. (Think about this. You'll see what I mean.)

I have an old grey wool skirt from my corporate drone days...I think that skirt could use some quality needle felting time to pretty it up a bit.

Enjoy. And let me know if you've caught the needle-felting bug!

-- Sandi

Curious about needle felting and want to learn more about how it's done?

Simply Needlefelt by Jayne Emerson is a great introduction to this addictive and enjoyable craft. The tools are inexpensive, and you can use all kinds of scraps and yarns you already have to brighten up everything from old wool jackets to hats and home decor. (I really want to try the french press cozy in here, since I have recently become a french press coffee snob.) I was amazed at all the little tricks and tips Jayne has in this book which I had never seen before...and Jayne, I gotta say that it's your fault that I am now eyeing my old clothes and thinking, hm, how can I stick some needles into those to make them look better?

Look for Simply Needlefelt at your local yarn shop, or purchase it online from us.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I started and finished a one-skein hat, and then needlefelted my booties this weekend! Two quick-and-pretty successes make me feel ready to go back and tackle a few of my other, longer-term projects with fresh energy.

Tips for When You Don't Have A Blocking Board

KD Sandi — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:28:00 GMT

Spray blocking on a blocking board

After years of blocking my knitting and crocheting on kitchen counters, floors, and dryer tops, I finally broke down one day and bought an Official Blocking Board. All that time, I'd been telling myself that I didn't need anything fancier—that is, until I started dealing with a serious lace habit. One day, I tried blocking my newest shawl on a makeshift foam board that I thought was waterproof ... but guess what. It wasn't. The board warped as the shawl dried, and the shawl warped along with it. I ended up having to re-block the shawl all over again. (Not fun, especially when I was anxious to wear it and show it off!)

A blocking board definitely makes the task of blocking a lace shawl easier, but you don't need an Official Blocking Board to do the job well. Knitters have been using mattresses, towel-padded floors, and other ingenious solutions throughout history.

Whatever creative solution you come up with for use as a blocking surface, be sure to keep these guidelines in mind:

Use the right surface for the task. A kitchen counter-top or a table padded with towels works fine for pieces that can be simply patted into shape. For items that need to be pinned out, such as lace shawls, you can try waterproof foam-core boards, an ironing board (for small pieces), or cork bulletin boards (covered with towels). Someone once suggested those interlocking rubber floor mats used for children's play areas—I thought that was rather clever.

Make sure the surface is water-friendly. All blocking methods involve water in some way, so make sure that water will not ruin whatever you are using. Note: This includes surfaces that may have dyes that might bleed through when wet!

Make sure that the surface is easily accessible. If you have arthritis in your knees, a set of rubber mats on the floor may not be the best choice for you, especially for anything lacy that takes a long time to pin out.

Your blocking surface has to be big enough for the biggest dimension of your knitting. You can't really block half of a scarf at a time, so the top of the dryer won't work well for large or long pieces.

The surface has to be something you won't need to use for other things for a day or three whilst your piece is drying. I've known some knitters to use their bed for blocking; this can be problematic if the knitting will take days to dry (unless you like sleeping on the floor).

Put your blocking out of the way. Your blocked piece needs to be undisturbed until it is completely dry, so keep
it out of range of cats, kids, dogs, and well-meaning housemates.

The comments on a previous post here contain dozens of clever ideas for blocking surfaces from your fellow readers, so check them out! And be sure to leave your own tips in today's comments, because no doubt some of you have even more great ideas from your own experiences.

-- Sandi

Sandi's Pick: Stocking Stuffer Idea

Does your family fill your stocking with toothbrushes and little bars of herbal soap at Christmas? Those are nice and all, but wouldn't you really rather have something knitterly? There are, after all, plenty of little things that fit in your stocking that aren't just your average stitch markers...And your family may think (silly them!) that you already have all the stitch markers and wee pairs of scissors you could ever need. (They're wrong, of course, but that can be a tough sell.) So maybe they need a little hint?

How about The Harmony Guides 101 Stitches to Knit Card Deck? The cards--each with a different stitch pattern--are a nice readable (yet portable) size (5.25" by 6.5"); they're quite sturdy, with rounded corners to help prevent damaging the edges. The front of the card has a color photo of the stitch, and the back has the full step-by-step instructions for the stitch. The stitches are favorites from The Harmony Guide series: some are from the Lace & Eyelets book, some are from the Cables & Arans book, and some are from the Knit & Purl book, so you get a little of everything! The set comes with an 8-page insert that tells how to use the cards.

And lest you think we've forgotten the crocheters: Check out The Harmony Guides 101 Stitches to Crochet Card Deck, with stitches from both The Harmony Guide: Basic Crochet Stitches and The Harmony Guide: Crochet Stitch Motifs.

Hot tip! Know what my favorite thing is about these stitch card decks? I can go through them to find stitch patterns I like, and then I can lay out my choices side by side to compare the designs before making my final choice. Now THAT'S nifty. (Kind of like playing Knitting Solitaire!)

Look for these great Interweave books at your local yarn shop, or purchase them from our online store.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles this week? I took my Leaf and Nupp Shawl to Alabama with me--it's amazing how fast lace knitting goes on a cross-country plane trip when there's no one to pester you! How far did I get? Check back later this week for photos!

Winter Knits Preview!

KD Sandi — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:26:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: Ever wish you could get a glimpse into editor Eunny Jang's mind as she plans the next issue of Interweave Knits magazine? Imagine sifting through gorgeous yarns, mulling over sketches and swatches, knowing that you get to choose what everyone will be knitting this season. What fun! But what a daunting prospect...how does Eunny do it? Here to introduce the Interweave Knits Winter 2008 preview, and to share some of her thoughts on putting together this issue is Eunny herself:

Though I'm getting ready to move to the chillier climate of the Mountain West, I've spent most of my life around the Mid-Atlantic. Generally, winters in DC and Baltimore are mild, wet, and a little dreary--we rarely get snow that stays pretty for longer than a day, and while it never gets cold enough to wear 100% alpaca, neither is it ever warm enough to wear just a hand-knit sweater without a jacket. I make a lot of gloves and hats, light scarves, and thin, layerable sweaters.

On the other hand, Colorado gets really and truly cold and snowy. Thick cables, stranded colorwork, and bulky yarns--here I come! I'm looking forward to knitting thick boot socks in wool, and making sweaters out of yarns heavier than worsted-weight. Quiviuk and alpaca might finally become practical, rather than simply indulgent, knitting.

My grandmother, who lived in Los Angeles for many years, has still another definition of winter knitting: silk and cotton tops with long sleeves rather than short, vests, and the occasional lace scarf. If she knits anything wool or heavy, it's as a gift for someone who might see the mercury dip below 50 degrees Farenheit.

Knitting from December through March can mean a lot of different things across our global knitting community. To that end, we've stocked the Winter issue of Interweave Knits with options: Sweaters that can function as outerwear and fitted sweaters for layering; scarves, hats, and mittens in a variety of fibers and stitches that range from rugged to mostly-decorative; even quirky home accessories for those who don't want to knit garments at all. We've explored our favorite winter yarn, tweed, but looked for fiber blends and silhouettes that make it work for any climate; interesting "woven"-style fabrics that look great in bulky and in delicate yarns; simple stitch patterns that look great on projects large and small; and textures that range from warm and cozy to delicately etched.

Casual weekendy cardigans for tramping in the snow, refined pieces appropriate for overheated offices or warmer climates, hoods that chase the chill, scarves that could work as year-round accessories--no matter what your winter is like, we've got something to keep you knitting.

What do you knit from December through March? We'd love to hear from you!

-- Eunny Jang
Editor, Interweave Knits

View the Interweave Knits Winter 2008 Preview

What's on Sandi's needles? I cannot tell a lie. I'm almost done with a pair of the Aran Slippers from Knits Holiday Gifts 2008. No, I haven't finished the socks yet. Yes, I am working on the lace shawl. Yes, I have a couple other projects scattered around the house right now. What can I say? Would you have better self-discipline if you worked for Interweave?

Ten Easy Free Knitting Patterns for Women

KD Sandi — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:46:00 GMT

Here are ten easy free knitting patterns for women--because sometimes you want to knit something fabulous and fast!
	Slouch Rib Cardigan by Cathy Payson. Easy knitted women's cardigan pattern that is simple enough to be your first knitted sweater!
	Frock Camisole by Katie Himmelberg. A simple, fashionable, and fast knitting project!
	Spectrum Scarf by Eunny Jang. What could be simpler than this easy knitted lace scarf? Get this beautiful pattern along with 6 others when you download the free eBook Knitting Lace: Knitting Daily Presents 7 Free Lace Knitting Patterns.
	Cecily Beanie by Louisa Harding. All knitting, no purling--the easiest knitted hat pattern you can imagine.
	Chevron Rib Tank by Ann Budd. No shaping on this easy beginner knitting pattern.
	Amanda's Squatty Sidekick Bag by Amanda Berka. Knit this in a weekend--the felting covers any mistake you make!
	Barrymore Slouch Hat by Lisa Shroyer. Download this comfy and cozy hat along with 5 other easy knitting patterns. Get these patterns in the free ebook Easy Knits from Knitting Daily: 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns.
	Garter Stitch Balaclavas by Mary Jane Mucklestone. Simple knitting and classic styling.
	Feminine Mittens by Amanda Berka. Knit in chunky yarn, you'll have warm hands before you know it!
	Boucle Shrug by Liz Gipson. Knit an easy rectangle, sew it up, and you have a lovely garment to wear over your favorite outfit.

Knitscene Galleries III: Riding To Avalon and Dirndl Raglan

KD Sandi — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Here are the final two Galleries from the new Fall 2008 Knitscene:

Riding to Avalon by Connie Chang Chinchio

Dirndl Raglan by Amanda Furlan

Gallery Gals' Choice!

I thought it might be interesting to hear straight from our Gallery models which sweater THEY liked best...and why. We heard from Amy and Erin in the last post; here's what Toni and Stefanie have to say:

TONI
I love simple sweaters with a touch of texture, and if it has a hood I’m even happier. The next sweater to join my “projects to start” list will be the Riding to Avalon sweater. I’ve already purchased the yarn. Thanks to Sandi and Knitting Daily I am excited to customize the sweater to my own proportions. Then I will be on the hunt for the perfect buttons

STEFANIE
I was in love with the Riding to Avalon sweater from the moment I saw the Knitscene preview, although my choice is a bit biased because I’m a sucker for hoodies (my favorite is an incredibly ratty purple one that I’ve been wearing for about 7 years but I refuse to give it up). There’s something so comforting about hoodies for me – not only will they protect you from the rain, but you can hide in them if you’re feeling exposed or awkward in public! Aside from the simple fact that it’s a hoodie, I also love all of the little details about this sweater: the extra long cuffs, the subtle color variation in the yarn, the overlapping neckline, the textured hood/cuffs, and the use of buttons as a design element. This sweater is simple yet complex at the same time - and I really like that. During the Gallery photoshoot, I realized that the sample sweater is definitely too small for me. I prefer hoodies to have a bit of slouch because I never wear them without a layer underneath, so if I ever made this (which, sadly, I don’t think I have the skills to do yet) I would make it a least a size bigger. Other than that – perfect! This is pretty much the exact sweater I would design for myself if I ever designed a sweater… I’d make a deeper hood, but that’s it

See all the designs in the new Fall 2008 issue of Knitscene magazine!
And then...if you just can't bear to wait to cast on, look for it at your local yarn shop. Actually, it appears that tons of you have already been doing just that, because we're getting calls from the shops asking to re-order it already! If there are no copies or no local yarn shops for miles around, then you can order it from us, of course. We wouldn't want you to suffer the agony of not being able to get this issue, would we? No, of course not.

Check out more Galleries from the Fall 2008 issue of Knitscene magazine:

Ahlstrom Bodice Gallery

Brocade Leaves Pullover Gallery

Opulent Raglan Gallery

Kaftan Dress Gallery

See all past Galleries!

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

Q&A from the comments:
Gail Costigan asks: I am actually interested in the nice little sleeveless "tank" that Sandi is wearing in the photo of the Kaftan. Where could I get that??????? Sandi says: You have good taste, Gail :) That's the Lace Blouson by Kim Dolce, from the Summer 2004 issue of Knits. It's one of my all-time favorite summer tops!
AnnR wants to know: I like the shirt that Sandi is knitting at the present time: The Camisa sweater with the V neckline. The yarn used is called Muench String of Pearls. Where can I get this yarn? Do you sell yarn at the online store? Sandi replies: Hi Ann! We don't sell yarn in our online store, so check with your local yarn shop and see if they can get it for you. It's really beautiful yarn--just a bit of sparkle, and a great texture. (I keep a ball of it on my desk here at work just to fondle when I need a pick-me-up.)

More great designs from Connie Chang Chinchio!

Every now and then a new designer comes along who seems to capture our hearts with everything she designs. Well, Connie, this time it's you, girlfriend! It started with the Henley Perfected, a sweet little lacy version of a comfy favorite, and went on from there to the classy Riding to Avalon hoodie in today's Gallery. So, just in case you're a Connie fan, here's where you can find more Great Connie Designs here at Interweave:

Henley Perfected: Winter 2007 Knits; pattern also sold individually in the KD Pattern Store
Printed Silk Cardigan: Spring 2008 Knits; pattern also sold individually in the KD Pattern Store
Drawstring Chemise: Spring 2008 Knits
Apres Surf Hoodie: Summer 2008 Knits
Riding to Avalon: Fall 2008 Knitscene

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? The Camisa, from Knitscene Fall 2006! I finished the Drawstring Raglan, and now I have swatched and cast on for a new summer top, in sparkly, wonderful yarn (String of Pearls from Muench). Love the yarn. Love the pattern. Stay tuned for photos!

Introduction to Darts: Vertical and Short-Row

KD Sandi — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:00:00 GMT

The now-infamous Bust DartsToday we continue our adventures into the Land of Bust Darts...

What exactly are Darts?
Darts are ways of adding (or subtracting) fabric in a small area in order to create more (or less) room in a very small, very specific area. The darts are placed so that they give more room for your curves--belly, bust, and booty all can be helped with the judicious addition of dartage.

In knitting, as in sewing, if you work a decreasing dart, you are taking away fabric: decreasing the number of stitches takes away fabric. To illustrate this with ordinary fabric: take a fold of your shirt between your fingers and pinch it closed. This makes the area around the dart smaller.

In knitting, again as in sewing, if you work an increasing dart, you are adding fabric: increasing the number of stitches adds more fabric. To illustrate this with ordinary fabric: Imagine if you were to cut up along the seam line of your pants legs, and then sew in fabric triangles between the seams of each leg. You'd end up with roomier pants legs (bell-bottoms, actually).

How do you work a dart?
There are as many different ways to work darts in knitting as there are clever knitters to invent them. But basically, more or less, you can break them up into Short-Row Darts and Vertical Darts. (Now that I have said that, you folks will come up with sixteen other kinds of darts that I don't know about.)

Differences Between Short-Row Darts and Vertical Darts

Short-row darts are formed by working partial rows to "build up" one small portion of your fabric. Thus: You can work an insert using short-row darts on the armhole side of your bust, and this will give your sweater some room for The Girls. (You may also be familiar with using short-rows to build up the back neck of a sweater, or to make sock heels. In fact...sock heels. Think about the shape of those for a minute. Little miniature bust cups, right? Exactly.) Worked horizontally, these darts add height to a small section of your sweater's bust area.

Vertical darts are worked, well, vertically. They are very similar to tailor's darts that run up and down the front of some blouses--they nip in where you need less room, and increase to give you more room where you need it. Worked vertically, these darts add/subtract width across the front (back) of the garment. In fact, they are the same idea as waist shaping, only used more dramatically. The increases and decreases in waist shaping are worked once every several rows, to make gentle curves; the increases and decreases in darts can be worked every other row (or every row) to quickly add or subtract fabric. Generally, most of us do not have very much vertical distance between bustline and underbust, so the decreases/increases have to be worked very close together--every other row/round, if not every row/round. A line of decreases/increases worked so closely together in a vertical line forms a dart.

Me and my hot Tomato in progress

Where Can You Use Darts?

Anyplace that needs extra room or extra shaping. My home-economics teacher in middle school used to say, "Girls, you are not refrigerators. Mark those darts and use them!"

Bellies: If you have a round little belly, you can work vertical increases in a top-down garment from the narrowest part of your waist down to the widest part of your belly in order to create more belly room. (For bottom up: Work decreases from the widest part of your belly up to your waist area. Note that you would want to adjust the hem cast-on stitches accordingly.)

Bottoms: If you have a voluptuous backside, work your darts as vertical increases in a top-down garment from the waist down to the widest part of your booty on the back of the sweater to create more booty room. (For bottom up: Work decreases from the widest part of your booty up to your waist. And you would want to adjust the hem cast-on stitches accordingly.)

Anywhere: If you have unusual body curves of any type, a strategically-placed dart might be just the thing to help your sweaters fit better. A rather odd example: My dog, Buddy, had to have his left foreleg amputated due to injuries sustained in Hurricane Katrina. (We're not from there, we got him as a rescue dog months after the storm.) He has a pronounced "bump" where his leg used to be. If I wanted to make him a sweater, the bump isn't big enough to be a stump (thus warranting a sleeve), but it is big enough to make a regular sweater rather ill-fitting. I could use darts to shape the Bump region, thus giving him the best custom-fitted tripod dog sweater from here to Baton Rouge. (Told you it was going to be an odd example!)

Coming up: How to figure out Where The Darts Go; Dart Math.

-- Sandi

P.S. I'm still out of the office, but I am reading comments from my Secret Location. So leave a comment and let me know if you have any questions or nifty things to say!

Past Adventures of the Hot Tomato

You Asked For A Top, We Gave You A Tomato

On The Third Day, I Ripped

My Surreal Knitting Life and That Stripe

In Which The Commenters Chant: Bust Darts, Bust Darts, Bust Darts!

A Hot Tomato

Questions, Questions: The Darts and More

Increases and Decreases for Sweater Knitting

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Remember: It's the Week of Knitting For Your Heart. Knit what you yearn to knit, instead of what you should knit, just for this one week. (I promise, the world won't end.)

Announcing The Poetry Winners!

KD Sandi — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Imagine hundreds of photos of magnetic poems. Poems of all shapes and sizes and lengths; poems arranged on refrigerators, poems arranged on table tops, poems arranged on knitted scarves, poems arranged on piles of yarn.

Imagine several Interweave judges, each with their own favorites. There were spirited discussions. There was spirited waving about of printed out poetry. There was spirited reading aloud of one's favorites in order to drown out the voices of the other judges.

Yeah, baby. Whoever said poetry was for the meek and mild has never judged a poetry contest.

We finally came up with our three top prize winners, and here they are!

First Prize: Angela Lane!

All of the poems would win fame and glory, but in the end, only one poem would be immortalized in a mitten pattern for all to see. And that mitten-worthy poem--our First Prize Winner--is by Angela Lane of Vidalia, Georgia! Her poem was a hauntingly rhythmic refrain, one that could easily be the Knitter's Mantra.

Angela's poem is being worked into a custom knitting chart for a new set of Poetry Mittens; we will have one of our knitters here knit up the mittens and send them to her as soon as they are done. The pattern will be available for sale in the Knitting Daily store as soon as all that is done.

Second Prize: Staci Perry

Second Prize goes to...Staci Perry of Austin, Texas. Staci's poem was a lovely, succinct, rhythmic poem that spoke to our hearts and our shared passion for the craft.

Third Prize: Denise Lotter

On to our Third Place Winner! This poem, by Denise Lotter of Anaheim Hills, California, is the best of the many haiku we received.

Fourth Prize: Debra Warstler (Best Presentation)

The judging was pretty heated, even when we had narrowed it down to just a few. In order to appease certain, uh, factions (namely, the person who kept ending every sentence with "But the SHEEP poem, that one is soo cute that it has to win something. C'mon, folks: the SHEEP poem!!") we added a fourth prize winner in a special category: Presentation.

And Fourth Prize, the prize for Best Presentation, went to the prettiest-to-look-at-poem, which is entitled "Sheep" and is by Debra Warstler of Canton, Ohio.

Congratulations to Angela, Staci, Debra and Denise! You should be very proud of yourself, considering how tough the competition was. And thank you to all the poets who participated, making this such a fun contest to judge!

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.

If you have a suggestion for a Knitting Daily saying or image we could add to the Cafe Press offerings Let us know!

Go Shopping At The Knitting Daily Cafe Press Store!

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.