Knitting Daily : Toys

Knitting Baby Sweaters (Plus Cables!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:09:00 GMT

There is something so special about knitting for a baby (and then seeing your knitted item actually on the baby). So cute! I love looking through baby patterns and seeing the adorable babies modeling knitted sweaters and snuggling with knitted toys and napping in knitted blankets. Since I don't have kids of my own I've knit and given away many, many baby items over the years, and in the process, I've built my knitting skills. My favorite is the bear bunting I knit for my nephew, Henry (at left), out of Sirdar Snuggly. Was he cute or what? (He's turning four in October.)

And here's The H Sweater (at right) that I designed myself and knit out of Rowan All-Seasons Cotton (proudly worn over jammies).

I told you my knitting-origins story--one day of instruction and then book learning and swatching. I took a class about how to fix mistakes and then I went to Tricoter, a fabulous Seattle knit shop, and one of the gals there encouraged me to knit a sweater. So I knit a baby sweater for my neighbor's little boy. During the process I learned how to do simple shaping, bind off shoulders, pick up stitches, and seam the whole thing together. Quite a lot of learning for a three-month-size sweater!

I've got a couple of new projects in the works for Henry. One is a striped vest nightmare with 1001 ends to weave in (if anyone has a serger, call me!) and the other is a cabled vest.

I learned cables while knitting a baby sweater, and if you're new to cabling, I encourage you to knit a baby sweater to practice your cabling, too--try the simple but darling Cabled Raglan Baby Sweater by Rebecca Daniels. I have a friend with twin girls and I'm gearing up to knit two of these this fall!

If you want a lot bang for your buck, cabling is the way to go. Cabling is simply knitting stitches out of order to make them twist in a certain way. Whether you're knitting a simple rope cable, like the one in the Cabled Raglan Baby Sweater, or a more challenging cable project, the principle is the same--you knit certain stitches out of order to achieve the cabled appearance. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can pick up cabling; the technique is so simple you'll be able to start a cable project right away.

You all know how much I love a video, so instead of explaining how to cable, here's a demo from Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits, that'll have you itching to cast on a cable-ishous pattern.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

This clip is from Knitting Daily TV series 300, which has either just started airing on your public television station or is about to start airing. Set those DVRs so you don't miss anything!

Have a wonderful weekend. I hope you get a lot of knitting done!

Kathleen

Download the Cabled Raglan Baby Sweater and 6 more FREE baby knitting patterns with: Baby Patterns from Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Baby Knitting Patterns. This downloadable eBook consists of seven of Interweave’s best-loved baby knitting patterns. Download your copy today (and don’t forget to tell a friend so they can enjoy their own copy!).

New Free eBook! 7 Free Baby Knitting Patterns

KD Sandi — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:17:00 GMT

Great Free Baby Knitting Patterns eBook:
Baby Patterns from Knitting Daily:
7 Free Baby Knitting Patterns

There is nothing quite like a handknit baby gift.

Our readers are always asking us for more baby patterns: adorable little knitted gifts to make for new members of the family, or for charity. And it's no wonder baby patterns are so popular! Baby knitting patterns knit up quickly, and oh, the look of delight on the faces of the new moms and dads when they see the special something you have made!

Here are seven darling little baby patterns, chosen especially for this free knitting eBook by yours truly, Sandi Wiseheart, editor of Knitting Daily and auntie to the cutest nephews and nieces on the planet (humor me, here). I've made several of these baby knitting patterns for my own wee family members, so I've included my personal favorites here for you (and your own cutest-babies-on-the-planet) to enjoy.

These seven baby patterns are some of Interweave's best-loved baby knitting patterns: a set of booties shaped like barnyard animals, a simple garter-stitch kimono, an adorable pair of baby's first socks, a trio of cuddly (and easy!) toys, a simple lace beanie, a classic cabled cardigan, and a lace blanket full of stars. These baby knitting patterns range from beginner (the kimono) to intermediate, and each one has that little something extra to properly welcome that special new little one into the world.

Download Baby Patterns from Knitting Daily: 7 Free Baby Knitting Patterns

Free pattern: Child's Fair Isle Hat

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

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

Sweet Hex Child’s Hood
by Lisa Shroyer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Baby Patterns from Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Baby Knitting Patterns

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

Download Your Free eBook Today

More Gift Ideas: What to Knit for Baby

KD Sandi — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:08:00 GMT

Just as I’m writing Monday’s post about not having to knit any gifts this season…Two of my friends, Katie and Amy, go and have their babies. Sure, in each case I had nine months’ notice, but did I knit anything babyish so that the gifts would be all ready to go when the babies were ready to go? Of course not. So here we are, two adorable babies richer, and no adorable little knitted baby thingies with which to greet them. I feel like a chump.

I’m close to finishing the Camisa, and once I do, methinks it’s time to venture into Munchkin Land to do a bit of baby knitting.

What tiny delight should I make?

Half the fun of knitting a baby gift is deciding what to make. Everyone has their favorite sort of baby thing to knit—my favorite is teeny sweaters and jackets. So I went off in search of cute little baby coverings in the pages of whatever Interweave things I had unpacked already, which was an incomplete set of our magazines and the two books I carried with me on the drive to Canada, One Skein and Natural Knits for Babies and Moms.

I spent a very happy afternoon on a quest for the perfect baby sweater. I started making a list of all the sweaters I could find in those pages, and then some booties snuck in there, and then some hats, and before I knew it, I had a nice list of Interweave Baby Gifts. At that point, I realized that you would probably like to have a copy of this list! That way, the next time someone happily pats her belly and says, “Guess what? I’m pregnant!” you'll be prepared.

So here’s my list. I only included patterns that were for infants or babies, figuring that those for young children deserved their own list. Each item gives the original source, and, if it has been republished, where it is now. The patterns are from Interweave Knits, Knitscene, Knits Gifts, Interweave Felt, and Interweave Crochet, and also the two books I have on hand, One Skein and Natural Knits for Babies and Moms. (Maybe I can expand this list once I am a little more unpacked!) -- Sandi

Purchase One Skein by Leigh Radford

Purchase Natural Knits for Babies and Moms by Louisa Harding

Sandi's List of Interweave Baby Gifts

Look for the back issues and books at your local yarn shop, if they aren’t in your collection already. And while some of these patterns are already in our online store, look for more to be added in the near future!

HATS

Snuggly Baby Hats by Lora Steil (Knits Summer 04)
New Baby Blanket and Hat Set by Kristin Spurkland (Knits Summer 02)
Cherries ‘N Cream Baby Set by Diane Zangl (Knits Spring 99)
Diamonds and Hearts Baby Bonnet by Judith Durant (Knits Summer 97; buy this pattern online)
Vine Lace Baby Hat by Sandi Wiseheart (download for free on KD)
Oscar Baby by Katie Himmelberg and Lisa Shroyer (Knitscene Fall 06; buy this pattern online )
Beanie Hat by Louisa Harding (Natural Knits for Babies and Moms)
Blanket and Hat by Louisa Harding (Natural Knits for Babies and Moms)
Baby Hat by Leigh Radford (One Skein)

BOOTIES

Baby Bear Poncho & Northwoods Booties by Jennifer Carpenter (Knits Summer 01; Knits Gifts 06)
Barnyard Booties by Sue Flanders (Knits Summer 00)
Better Than Baby Booties by Ann Budd (Knits Summer 05; download for free on KD)
Old World Booties by Gryphon Perkins (buy this pattern online)
Fat Baby Booties by Bev Galeskas (Felt 07)
Boy’s and Girl’s Booties by Louisa Harding (Natural Knits for Babies and Moms)

CLOTHING and SETS

Dragon Skin Wrap by Angela Hahn (Knits Gifts 07; buy this pattern online)
Heirloom Aran Baby Set by Lisa Lloyd (Knits Spring 04)
Diamond Seed Baby Jacket by Erica Alexander (Knits Winter 04; buy this pattern online)
Origami Baby Kimono by Bonnie Franz (Knits Summer 03)
Gansey Layette by Veronik Avery (Knits Winter 02/03; buy this pattern online)
New Baby Blanket and Hat by Kristin Spurkland (Knits Summer 02)
Baby Born by Anne Rachap (Knits Winter 01/02)
Baby Bear Poncho and Northwoods Booties by Jennifer Carpenter (Knits Summer 01 and Knits Gifts 06)
Mandarin Baby Set by Cathy Payson (Knits Spring 00)
Cherries ‘N Cream Baby Set by Diane Zangl (Knits Spring 99)
Garter Stitch Baby Kimono by Kristin Spurkland (Knits Summer 05)
Buttercup Baby (crochet) by Elissa Sugishita (Crochet Fall 06)

BLANKETS and LINENS

Heirloom Aran Baby Set by Lisa Lloyd (Knits Spring 04)
Gansey Layette by Veronik Avery (Knits Winter 02/03; buy this pattern online)
New Baby Blanket and Hat by Kristin Spurkland (Knits Summer 02)
Star Light, Star Bright by Anna Rachap (Knits Winter 99/00)
Sweet Dreams Baby Blanket by Melanie Lewis (Knits Spring 97)
Bobby’s Blankie by Judith Durant (Knits Winter 97)
Bear Claw Blanket by Veronik Avery (Knits Spring 05)
Babette Blanket (crochet) by Kathy Merrick (Crochet Spring 06; buy this pattern online)
Nursery Valance by Lori Gayle (Knits Summer 03)

TOYS

Sir Stephen the Bunny (crochet) by Donna Childs (Crochet 08)
Elliot the Dragon by Jill Eaton (Knits Gifts 07)
Classic Teddy Bear by Mary Ann Gebhardt (Knits Gifts 07; buy this pattern online)
Best Friend Bears by Joan Haigh and Patricia Wulff (Knits Winter 99/00 and Knits Gifts 06)
Cat, Rabbit, and Teddy Bear by Louisa Harding (Natural Knits for Babies and Moms; pattern is also a free download on KD)

I hope this inspires your own knitting for little ones! As for what Katie and Amy’s babies are getting…I’m currently in love with wrap-front baby kimonos. Easy to put on, and a nice layer of warmth for the upcoming cold season...so I am eyeing the Harvey Kimono from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms (pictured above). Five teensy little pieces, a bit of seaming, and then the fun of choosing buttons. Sounds like a great excuse to get away from unpacking for a bit!

OK, that’s me--what’s your favorite thing to make for a new baby? Let us know!

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

Baby Patterns from Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Baby Knitting Patterns

Download Your Free eBook Today

The Booties Are Back! The Booties Are Back!

KD Sandi — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:15:00 GMT


	Gryhon Perkins' Old World Booties

By popular demand, we have made arrangements to bring back the Old World Booties pattern by Gryphon Perkins. (Free download! Whoo!) These booties are so cute, and so unusual, that I asked Gryphon to write a little bit about what inspired her to design these felted, playful shoesies for little folk.

Here's what Gryphon had to say:

Little feet, and the desire to have them in my life, were heavily on my mind when I designed these booties, so they came about as a 'build it and they will come' mojo. (I'm happy to report that it worked beautifully.) They've also played a great role in launching my design career, as a sort of hit single, so the original pairs hold a place of honour on a shelf in the living room.

Medieval-inspired patterns were a natural place for me to start since my first forays into the textile world were in the realm of historical, especially medieval and renaissance, costuming. I love the idea of adapting historical styles to fun and playful kids clothes and enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to reinvent non-knit styles for knitters. Be adventurous with these booties - try your own colour changes (alternating colours on the tassles? stripes?) or variations on the shapes (lace-up backs? taller serf booties?), or even scaling them up for big people feet!

The Old World Booties pattern danced their way into our online store. -- Sandi

The adorable Old World Booties!

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

Baby Patterns from Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Baby Knitting Patterns

Download Your Free eBook Today

Secrets of The Yarn Collectors

KD Sandi — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:00:00 GMT

1568 comments.

That's how many there are in response to Monday's post. (Actually, they are still rolling in...here comes number 1569, from Isabeau M.!) That unprecedented amount of feedback has left me somewhat stunned. I read through the first 200 or so, laughing and reading them aloud to my also-stunned husband, and then I realized I had meetings to go to and a post to write for today, so had to put them aside for a bit. I will read every single one of them myself, I promise—I wouldn't want to miss a single hilarious story about how Candi can justify buying yarn because her husband just bought himself a plane, or how Fiberlicious has 46 sweaters' worth of yarn and her friends are on their way to do an intervention.

Fleece Artist SeaWool, since you asked!

There is one comment, however, that needs to be addressed. Folks, we need to do a Knitting Daily Community Intervention for Vanessa, who says that she does not have a stash and thus does not know how to be a yarn collector:

I will browse for hours and never buy anything. Thing is, I start to look for a specific project and then I get sidetracked and start looking at yet another yarn and in the end I have nothing accomplished. Either that or I just don't know between which 2834382 yarns to choose! I need to be told HOW to be a yarn collector!

Vanessa, we are here to help. Here are some of our secrets to building a great stash, er, collection:

Basic Techniques of the Yarn Collector

1. Petting the Yarn
Reach out and lightly stroke the yarn with the fingers of one hand. Don't use too much pressure, just pet the surface so you can feel the yarn's softness and texture.

2. Cheek Testing
Quickly, so that no one can object, pick up the skein in one hand and rub the yarn lightly against your cheek. Tilt your head slightly so that you can get the most facial surface area against the yarn. If you find yourself quietly humming or purring during this activity, go with that. It is a natural reaction to piece of yarn art. (The knitter-yarn bond is beginning to form at this point.)

The knitter-yarn bond in action

3. Color Admiration
Hold the skein out in front of you, moving it at different angles as though it were a crystal and you wished to see the light reflect off of it from different angles. Walk to the window and admire the color as it looks under natural light. Hold the skein to your skin and notice how well it looks with your coloring.

4. Content Test
Read the label (don't let go of the yarn itself, keep stroking it with a finger or thumb); coo over the various lovely things which have made up this wonderful skein.

5. Distance and Resistance Test
Put the yarn down where you found it and walk away. Watch every other person in the store like a hawk to see if they go near your yarn. If someone looks like they are going to pick up Your Yarn, swoop in and grab it and say something like, "oh THERE it is, I am so glad I found one more skein of the EXACT SHADE OF (insert yarn color here) for my mother's birthday sweater, Whew!" This tactic tells you how much you really want the yarn: If you cannot stand to see another knitter even hover next to the shelf your yarn is on, you need to buy the yarn. If you can tolerate another knitter walking around the shop with your yarn, pick another yarn and start over. (It wasn't meant to be.)

Other Advice For the Blossoming Yarn Collector

Start small.
Sock yarn really doesn't count as stash, as many wise knitters in the comments have pointed out, so that's a non-threatening place to start. Pretty colors and reasonable prices; and you may even actually knit a sock out of it someday.

Bring a yarn friend.
A yarn friend is someone who says things like, "You deserve a little treat today," or "That is so beautiful; I bet you won't find one of those again anytime soon" or "It's just one skein of yarn, it won't kill your budget"--encouraging phrases that help you break down your resistance to buying non-practical collectibles such as Yarn. Art objects are for the soul, for the joy of the heart; a good yarn friend can encourage you to follow your heart and not your head whilst in the yarn shop.

And finally: The most successful yarn collectors have stopped asking themselves "But what would I make with it?" every time they see a skein they love in the shop. They buy for the love of the yarn, for the fuzzy delight the yarn brings to their lives. Yarn isn't just the project you can knit with it; yarn is its own joy, in and unto itself.

Or at least, that's what I'm learning from your comments. Yarn Collectors, Unite! Do you have any yarn-collecting secrets to share? Any tips for beginners? How do you decide whether a yarn is worthy to be collected or not?

And just for kicks and giggles, I put together a list of the free patterns on our site which require just a single ball/skein of yarn just in case you are inspired to use some of those onesies in your stash.

Projects Requiring One Skein
Garter Mug Cozies
Mesh Gloves
Fingerless Silk Mitts (Crochet)
Feminine Mittens
Slanting Stitches Hat (Crochet)
Quick Cuffs (Crochet)
Crocheted Lamb
Lace Cap (Crochet)
Get The Skinny Scarves (Crochet)
Knitted Cuddlies (solid colors)
Vine Lace Baby Hat
Better Than Booties Baby Socks
Traveling Rib Tie

Tomorrow (Thursday, April 24) is the LAST DAY you will be able to download the Garter Mug Cozies, so if you haven't gotten your copy, download it now!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? A bit more past the hem of the New Skinnier Gathered Pullover.

Amy Clarke Moore: The Ten-Year Cardigan

KD Sandi — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:00:00 GMT

Today we proudly present the first in our series of posts by Guest Star Editors—this one is from Amy Clarke Moore, editor of Spin-Off magazine.

This is the time of year that I pull out the brown cardigan I’ve been knitting for my Dad for since 1996. I work on it every year between November and February (the beginning of the holiday season until his birthday in February) with the hope that this will be the year that I finish it. In the ten years that I’ve been working on it, my Dad has lost about 30 pounds—so the sweater will be a little roomy. I’m so fortunate that he is so understanding and patient.

Also—even though I’ve managed not to run out of yarn and I haven’t (yet) lost the pattern—it does take a little bit of remembering each year to figure out where I am. I started leaving notes to myself to help out. Of course, then I have to figure out what my cryptic note to myself means. I thought that I left it last year having knitted a little bit too much on the back and I needed to do some frogging, but now looking at the note, it looks like maybe I frogged it a little too far and have to knit back. I’m sure Sandi’s frog could help me figure it out.

I have to confess that I made a decision error when starting this project—I let my Dad choose the yarn and while it is a lovely brown and a wonderful yarn, it does not inspire me. I tend to choose reds, oranges, and pinks most often, and also gravitate to greens, blues and purples—but always in groups—no one solid color by itself. Of course, that wouldn’t be appropriate for my Dad. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not afraid to wear color—I have seen him wear some pretty colorful shirts—but usually they are just one color—not a riot of colors. Or plaid. I want to make him something that he’d actually wear (and that my brother and sister won’t make fun of!).

And also, I probably shouldn’t confess this to a group of knitters—I so much prefer handspun yarn. I thought I’d be saving myself time by knitting this sweater for my dad in millspun yarns. . . but it turns out, I probably would have finished it years ago if it was handspun. All my projects in the UFO basket are millspun—I tend to finish my handspun projects or use the yarn in other projects if the project I initially embarked were misled. I mean! That’s handspun there. A little bit of me got caught up in the yarn as I was making it. I can remember the books on tape I was listening to when I spun it, and catch a whiff of the sheep barn mingled with the aroma of roasting almonds at the Sheep and Wool Festival where I browsed dreamily among the booths looking for fiber.

But maybe this will be the year that I finish my dad's ten-year sweater. And I really do want to finish it. I’ve been imagining my Dad wearing it these ten years—knowing how much he enjoys a good, hardwearing garment that will keep him warm while he goes about his work. I’ve finished the sleeves, worked a little too far up the back, and am nearly done with the right front—there isn’t that much left to do.

I also discovered that I prefer working on circular needles, even when I’m doing rows instead of rounds—so I made a lot more progress once I switched the needles out. It makes it easier to stick in my bag and take with me—which helps me get things done as I am a waiting room kind of knitter.

The hour between when my toddler Hannah goes to bed and when I go to bed is usually reserved for beading (if I haven’t put myself to sleep reading her books and singing her sleepy songs), and Saturday mornings are the best time to spin—when the sun is streaming into the living room and Hannah is playing quietly (or not so quietly) with her toys, so knitting occurs here and there in the unexpected free moments when I’d be waiting or in a meeting when it is better for my hands to be occupied with knitting (otherwise I’d have to sit on them). Apparently, I can’t just sit still—or that’s what my grandmother used to tell me. “You can’t sit still, can you!” Nope. But that means that most of my family members have socks or scarves or hats or sweaters that I made them over the years—not a bad thing for a waiting-room knitter.

I know I'm not the only one with 10-year projects (mostly because I've been reading Knitting Daily and have read the responses!). Do you also work on them a little at a time or do they lie dormant for years? Also, would you call my dad's cardigan a WIP (work in progress) or a UFO (unfinished object) or does it matter?

Learn more about Amy, spinning, and Spin-Off magazine on the Spin-Off website.

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

Knit Cardigan Patterns From Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns

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

Download Your Free eBook Today

In Which Sandi Visits The Frog Pond

KD Sandi — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Bye-bye to the Blue Tank...

I was very amused by your suggestions of cross-stitch pictures and tee-shirts with "The Swatch is Good. The Swatch is Wise. Listen to the Swatch." emblazoned across them. Personally, I think I need this message engraved on the inside of my eyeglasses so I cannot possibly forget it.

I would just like to know why it is so darned hard to LISTEN TO THE SWATCH? What happens between the time we swatch and the time we are needle-deep into a project, blithely knitting something that appears to pretend that the Swatch never existed?

Not listening to the Swatch (or not swatching in the first place) can cause Knitted Objects to behave badly, and in some cases, turn into long-standing denizens of the Land of UnFinished Objects. If a particular piece of knitting spends too much time off in UFO Land, then perhaps it is time to re-evaluate one's commitment to that particular long-distance relationship. Painful though it may be, sometimes it is time to ask the Final Questions: "Am I really going to finish this? Do I really WANT to finish this?"

It's tough to make that Final Decision To Frog, after you have put time, energy, and thousands of knitted stitches into a project. But a knitter's gotta do what a knitter's gotta do, even if it means letting go, turning over a new leaf, and ripping out a bunch of knitting.

I reached that point this past week, as I looked over the remaining 17 UFOs in my possession. I evaluated, and came up with three projects that I no longer felt committed to: a pair of green socks, a woolly cardigan, and a blue tank top.

So long, Green Socks...

The green socks were the first to go, as they were an impulse cast-on, one of those ill-conceived projects where you just simply MUST cast on something, but you don't really have a plan, nay, not even a pattern in mind. (Am I the only one who does this? Please say I am not.)

Next to go to the Frog Pond was the partially-knit woolly cardigan, lacking one front and the sleeves. Well... OK. Also lacking were my entire set of NOTES on the pattern, which was a Sandi original and is now lost in the mists of time due to an unfortunate misunderstanding between myself and my cat Sparrow over the finer points of distinction between a scratching post and my knitting notebook. (Dear Sparrow. He really does love so much to be involved in my crafts, but he's a weensy bit over-enthusiastic at times.) I could count stitches on the remaining pieces and re-create the pattern, but it wasn't an earth-shaking design anyway. So: Off to the Frog Pond with the Partial Cardi, and my UFO count is down by two.

Farewell, Woolly Cardi!

Finally, The Blue Tank Top. This one actually made it all the way to the seaming stage, but when I tried it on, it was way too big. I think this is the piece of knitting that caused the LightBulb of Negative Ease to go off in my head, pre-Hot Tomato. I made the Blue Tank a bit larger than my actual measurements, and it just kind of hung on me, instead of looking fitted and svelte. Alas, in this case, the Swatch was once again Wise and Good and it told me that there was no way to make the tank fit, short of cutting it to size. So it, too, has visited the Frog Pond.

I am now down to 14 UnFinished Objects. I feel strangely light and free. Plus: Now I have more yarn to knit other things with! Whoo!

Are there any projects lurking in your UFO pile which you can let go of? How do you make that Final Decision to Frog or Not To Frog? A bona-fide Work-In-Progress is one thing, even multiple Works-In-Progress, but what about some of those projects you all wrote about which have been sitting in your closets for YEARS? Maybe it's time to set all that yarn free so it can be used for a new project, one you'll love—and maybe even actually finish!

Next time: Ways to tame all the curly yarn that is the end result of a Frogging Session.

Happy Halloween! In honor of this holiday when dressing up as something from the Land Of Make-Believe is something even grownups do, our featured pattern of the week is the Make-Believe Crowns. I promise not to tell if the person you knit one of these for is yourself. Try wearing a crown whilst doing the dishes or vacuuming and see if that doesn't put a smile on your face!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Mwhaaaaa...FOURTEEN UFOS! The pullover for my husband is nearing the armholes, and I am considering the best way to proceed with a certain pair of lace socks.

Stitches and Swatches and Multiples, Oh My!

KD Sandi — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Gathered Stitch from The Harmony Stitch Guides

Look at the work of any of the top knitwear designers, from Shirley Paden and Mari Lynn Patrick to Mona Schmidt and Evelyn Clark, and one thing soon becomes clear: These folks really know how to use a stitch dictionary. Yes, they know how to design graceful silhouettes or socks that sing, but they can do things with a book of stitch patterns that would frighten fish (as the characters in Steel Magnolias might say).

Their "secret" (besides the fact that designers like Shirley, Mari Lynn, Mona, and Evelyn have talent running out their ears!) is that they know how to read a stitch dictionary like a cookbook, and how to adapt those little recipes to the larger canvas of a sweater, or the tiny, in-the-round canvas of a hat or a sock. With a few basic skills, you can start using the spice of stitch patterns in bags, hats, socks, sweaters, and any other knitted thing you can imagine.

So: Let's get started on building those "few basic skills."

What does THAT mean?

"Multiple of X plus Y" You will usually see this notation at the beginning of a stitch pattern, after the stitch name, before the actual row-by-row instructions. Those words can look a bit cryptic, especially if you are just starting out in the world of stitch patterns. What it means: It means that one full repeat of that stitch is X stitches wide, plus Y stitches "extra," outside of the stitch repeat, to balance out the design in a piece of flat knitting. Example: In Mona Schmidt's Tweedy Vest, the notation for the rib stitch pattern says "multiple of 8 sts plus 9." Thus, you can work a single repeat of this pattern over 17 stitches (8 + 9), two repeats over 25 stitches (8 + 8 + 9), three repeats over 33 stitches (8 + 8 + 8 + 9) and so forth. Want a matching scarf for the vest? Choose a multiple of 8 stitches, add 9 to that, and maybe add a few border stitches on each side in garter stitch so the sides don't roll in. Cast on!

What stitches do I repeat?

Look for the asterisk and the semi-colon.

The asterisk marks the beginning of the repeat section; the semi-colon marks the end. The stitches from asterisk to semi-colon are the ones you repeat, over and over again, to form an overall multiple of the pattern. Anything outside of the repeat section is there to balance the pattern. The "extra" stitches are sometimes called "edge stitches."

On Monday: Converting flat stitch patterns for working in the round. Hey wait...what about Friday? Friday, we say goodbye to someone very special, someone who has been part of Knitting Daily from the very, very beginning. Come join me in wishing him well!

Creative Swatchery

Creative uses for swatches: So far, some of your oh-so-clever ideas for using swatches include: doll afghans (Tara R.); patches on torn jeans (Lisa B.); sewn and stuffed as cat toys (Kerri M.); sewn into fingerless mitts (Coral B.), tiny gift bags (Ann R.), or sachets (Glenna E.); squares for charity afghan projects; and mug rugs (Martha S.). And I was very impressed by Wendy H., who puts her swatches into a book made of handmade paper, complete with notes on gauge, needles, and yarn—what a wonderful "knitting journal"!

Stitch of the Day page

Coming Up on Knitting Daily

It looks like you all are enjoying our new Stitch of the Day feature! I'm glad you like it. Next week we'll continue talking about ways to incorporate these stitches into your knitting. Near future: I'm also putting together a poll for you...here's a hint: Start counting your UFOs now.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I finished a UFO! Whoo! Done are the Waving Lace Socks that are destined for Michelle (shhh, don't tell her yet!). The yarn for Nicholas' cabled pullover has been delivered—double whoo! So I guess now I will be swatching...

You Are The Reason We Are Knitting Daily

KD Sandi — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Ms. Kitty and I say "Thank You"

You people are amazing. In your comments on Wednesday's post you spoke, more eloquently than I ever could, of the reasons we knit in the first place; the reasons we keep knitting; the reasons we start knitting after long absences from the needles; and the reasons why, once you are a knitter, your needles transform your life in ways both subtle and profound.

When we were planning Knitting Daily, I don't think any of us here at Interweave ever expected that you would be the ones teaching us about knitting, by sharing your knitters' hearts with us.

I was going to excerpt some of the beautiful things you all said in your comments, but it seemed somehow wrong to choose just only a few when each and every comment had something touching, and something wise, to say about our lives as knitters. But there was one comment, posted by an anonymous Knitting Daily reader, that kept echoing through everything everyone else was saying:

We are fortunate to be knitters and have healing powers in our hearts and our hands.

From all us of here at Interweave, and especially from me (and Ms. Kitty): Thank you. You have given us all more than you can ever know.

1824 Blouson

Next week is Sweater Gallery Week here on Knitting Daily! As promised, some of the local Interweavers have been trying on three of your favorite sweaters from the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits, and we have photos to show off how these lovely sweaters look on different types of lovely gals! So here's the lineup for next week:

Monday: Mari Lynn Patrick's 1824 Blouson.

Wednesday: Shirley Paden's Oriel Lace Blouse.

Friday: Norah Gaughan's Origami Cardi.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I have finished the Bonsai Tunic by Norah Gaughan...but there may have to be ripping back. I'm pondering. New to the needles: Swatching for a Sandi-sized version of the Corset Pullover! Plus, about 6 inches' worth of cables for a new design coming soon to Knitting Daily. Someone asked if this was the ONLY thing on my needles...you caught me! I am the Unfinished Objects Fairy, spreading my little stardust magic over as much casting-on and as many needle sets as possible.

Knitting A Salve for the Heart: The Tale of Ms. Kitty

KD Sandi — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Introducing Ms. Kitty

On Monday, when I wrote about the joys of handmade toys, I had no intention of actually knitting one of the little cuddlies whose pattern I was offering to all of you. I thought, what a cute pattern...but I have Serious Knitting Projects to work on, so no chance of me casting on for one of these guys. No way. I have sweaters to knit, and a scarf for orphans, and socks for a friend. I did not need another project on my needles. And I certainly did not need another stuffed animal in my life, as my bedroom shelves are filled with the little beasties.

But here it is Wednesday, and here I am putting the finishing touches on...a knitted cat. I don't know what happened. I was fine until I got home last night, and then...what? How did I end up knitting this darn cat? And why aren't I writing the post I had all planned out yesterday afternoon about Serious Knitting Things?

Because last night, I finally faced the fact that the little pewter urn on my table held the ashes of my beloved fifteen-year-old kitty Amber, whom we had had to put to sleep two weeks ago. I looked at that little jar, thought of my sweet-and-spicy little green-eyed calico, and felt compelled to Knit Something Right Then And There---not just any Something, but A Something that would express the joy of having Amber in my life, and my grief at her sudden passing.

Amber "Pinknose" Wiseheart

So I knitted a cat. Totally on impulse, all in one night. She's a purple kitty, perhaps as a nod to my childhood Cowie (who despite my best search-and-rescue efforts, remains hidden in the basement, no doubt still giggling, despite all of your pleas for him to come out and have his picture taken).

I brought the pieces to work with me today, and have been stuffing and seaming them on breaks. I stopped by the local bead store at lunch to try and find the perfect shade of green crystals to use as eyes, and I found some little amber beads, as well as a heart with the OM symbol on it, and a charm that has a pawprint on it, all of which I'm slowly incorporating into Ms. Kitty. As I sewed her body closed, I added a handful of a sage/cedar/lavendar mix and a pink polymer clay heart bead I had made, one with a sparkling crystal in the middle.

Now here's the fascinating thing: Ms. Kitty seems to be a magnet for my coworkers. Everyone who stops by my cubicle picks her up, asks what yarn she's made of (Tahki Bunny, which was the softest purple yarn I could find at home), and, before setting her down again, each person without fail gives her a little pat or a little hug.

I did not intend to knit a cat. Rather, I think that this purple kitty has in fact knitted me, knitted me back together a bit after a loss of a small being with a very large and courageous heart.

Sometimes we knit. And sometimes our knitting knits us.

Several of you mentioned you were knitting for new tiny family members...We have a really beautiful book of adorable patterns for both Mom and Baby: Natural Knits for Babies and Moms: Beautiful Designs Using Organic Yarns by Louisa Harding. The free pattern this week, Knitted Cuddlies pattern is excerpted with permission from this very wonderful book.

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

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A Knitted Toy Story

KD Sandi — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Knitted Cuddlies

My favorite toy growing up was a stuffed purple cow--it was the sixties, so Cowie was a truly vibrant shade of purple. I loved that cow. Heard of the Velveteen Rabbit? Well, this guy was The Velveteen Cowie. He got so tattered that my mom felt it was time for Cowie to move on. It got to be like a game: I'd go to school, leaving Cowie on my bed where he belonged. My mom would come into my room to clean up, take Mr. Cow into the garage, and put him into the box where we put our charity donations. I would come home from school, glance into my room, see that Cowie was missing, and then go out to the garage on a rescue mission.

I won, year after year. Cowie is still with me, in fact. He's in the basement of my house, giggling as we speak, eluding all my efforts to locate him for his big photo op--but he's there.

I had a lot of toys growing up--glass animals and plastic dolls and wooden building blocks and all sorts of playthings in-between. The ones whose memories I cherish, the ones I fought to keep, tattered ears and lost eyes notwithstanding, were the ones I referred to as Stuffies--the toys I could cuddle and carry about, the toys I could dress up and talk to and take to sleep with me at night.

So when I saw a report on TV last week about ways to console your kids when you have to take away a lead-tainted plastic toy, I thought of Cowie, and all the Stuffies who stuck with me through thick and thin, when plastic toys broke, and metal toys bent, and building blocks went missing.

If you've got a youngun, and you're faced with the task of taking away a toy that might be dangerous for them, may I suggest a swap? Trade them the plastic for a Stuffie, something with eyes and a nose and a personality and a heart. Knit them a bear, or a kitty, or a bunny; crochet them a lamb. Make a game out of discovering the new Stuffie's name, help your child choose a ribbon for their neck and a blankie to wrap their new friend in at night.

Knit a toy for a child, and maybe someday they'll be all grownup like me, digging through their basement searching for the one denizen of Toyland who really mattered to them their whole life long.

1824 Blouson

My favorite comment from last Friday's post was this one from Julie:

Holy. Moly. I've been using my bra band size this entire freaking time. No wonder my sweaters are always too big. I thought it was my gauge. *smacking forehead*

Judging from the state of my email, Julie, you certainly are not alone. I'll be continuing our series on sizing over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, if you have not started your own Beautiful You notebook, take a look at our How To Measure Yourself page and join the measuring party! I'll be adding more tutorials on other critical measurements, as well as instructions on how to decipher schematics and choose the best pattern size--and the best fit--for you.

Later this week: I'm wandering around the office with the 1824 Blouson from the Summer 2007 issue of Knits, sweet-talking folks into trying it on and letting me take their picture. Stay tuned!

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

Baby Patterns from Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Baby Knitting Patterns

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Learning From My Mistakes

KD Sandi — Wed, 09 May 2007 05:00:00 GMT

I have an industry secret to reveal: Knitting editors are human. (Not aliens from The Planet Of Perfect Knitting! Imagine that.) We make mistakes while knitting just like anyone else. The difference is that sometimes our knitting mistakes end up in a high-resolution photograph, published for all the world to see. Take a close look at the cute pink hat in the photo.
Can you spot the mistake?

After you admire the sweet lacy brim, your eyes may wander up towards the crown...where you will see the whopping mistake I made about six rounds down from the top. Yeah, baby. I screwed up Big Time and did not notice it until someone handed me an 8x10 glossy of my error--too late to knit another hat, too late to take a new photo, too late for even Photoshop to save me.

Think of the photo as a reminder to read the instructions, because the instructions are correct. Follow the instructions and you will get lovely star-like decreases that behave themselves and line up properly. Follow the photo, and you will get, well, a hat that looks just like the photo, mistakes and all.

I guess I don't mind making a mistake so much if it saves me from bigger, more horrible mistakes later on. This time, I learned never to let a photographer near my work—oh no, wait. That's not it. Let's see...Oh yes. I learned how to plan the decreases properly in lace knitting so that the decreases line up nicely.

What's the biggest knitting mistake you've ever made, and what did you learn from it? Email me and maybe I'll put some of the responses in upcoming newsletters.

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

Baby Patterns from Knitting Daily: 7 FREE Baby Knitting Patterns

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Wee Cute Knitting

KD Sandi — Mon, 07 May 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Lately, we've had a lot of pregnancies amongst the Interweavers, so there has been a frenzy of people knitting and crocheting wee cute things at meetings and in the lunchroom.

My own Wee Cute Knitting consisted of baby hats. I started with a pink hat sized for a preemie, just to get the pattern worked out. As it turns out, this pattern is pretty versatile: Knit it at the smaller gauge in pink for a frilly vintage look; or work it up at a larger gauge in a dark color for a more "skater-boy beanie" feel.

One of the tiny recipients, Isaac Berka, son of Amanda Berka (assistant editor of Spin-Off magazine), wore his hat to a photo shoot. Sure enough, the photo of Isaac-In-Hat ended up in the Spring 2007 issue of Spin-Off. The hat pattern was not in the magazine, because it was made out of store-bought yarn, not handspun. However, that issue had barely hit people's porches before we started getting requests for "the cute baby hat pattern." A few publishing magic tricks later, and voila! The Vine Lace Baby Hat pattern is now available (exclusively) for Knitting Daily members in the eBook collection below:
Amanda Berka and baby Isaac from Spin-Off Spring 2007

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