Knitting Daily : Vests

Plan A Finishing Party!

KD Sandi — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:26:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: My boss is a knitter. (How many folks get to say that?) She also used to own a local yarn shop. She has also worked on Interweave Knits magazine in some capacity since the very beginning--now she is our publisher! (She's also a weaver and a crocheter and a spinner. Does she sleep? I don't think so.) All of this means she has lots of interesting stories to tell, so I keep dropping hints: "Marilyn, any time you'd like to write a post for Knitting Daily..." Last month, she started telling stories about the finishing parties she used to have at her yarn shop, and I thought you would like to hear them, too.

So: Here's Marilyn Murphy, publisher of all things fiber-y here at Interweave.

“Oh I am SO close to finishing _________.” “I’ll just wrap the yarn and the pattern and give ______ that this year with promises for completion next year.” C’mon. You’ve said these words or at least have thought them.

Years ago, I owned a great LYS in Chicago, the Weaving Workshop, and I have many fond memories of the holiday time. It was always a mix of the good and the bad. Good in that the shop was always bustling--last-minute gift purchases, buying yarn to start something over the holidays, desperate customers wanting their projects finished, or people wanting something custom made to gift to a loved one. Bad in that we never had time to make or finish our own gifts because we were the elves.

My store was located on a very busy street with tons of walk by traffic, located near the "L" (that’s Chicago speak for the elevated train). Because our windows caught the attention of hundreds of people daily, we enticed even the non-maker into the store, just in case they wanted to buy a finished item or had someone special on their holiday list. Books, accessories, equipment, sweaters, yarns, classes--all became gifts.

One year, we were so backed up on finishing, had our own gifts to finish, and we had many customers needing some cheering on as well, that we invited them to come for a finishing “all-nighter.” Videos were just becoming popular and we rented movies, had appetizers and pizza, and, of course, wine. We didn’t make it all night but we did work to the wee hours of the morning, but most importantly we had fun, encouraged each other, and completed our projects. I made multiple hats (in those days I could knit one on a size 8 needle in an hour). Kathy worked on her Fair Isle snowflake sweater. (She only worked on this sweater at holiday time. And, Kathy, if you’re reading this, let us know if ever finished it?) Judy seamed together many a sweater. Well, you get the idea.

We had other finishing parties over the years. One year a friend was having an exhibit of her knitwear designs--incredible intarsia sweaters that had a TON of ends. Two days before all the sweaters had to be sent off to the gallery, it was time to call in for reinforcements. She promised us food and wine and our knitting group showed up. We had our blunt needles in hand and, as a group that night, we wove in all the dangly threads and the art wear was ready for blocking.

At Interweave, we are working on finishing all those projects during our weekly craft lunch right now. Craft lunch is scheduled every Wednesday, but this month, it’s all about finishing things in time. I’m knitting a vest for my niece (the first one, the Shadowy Vest, is featured in Holiday Gifts; the pattern is a free download). I have one more to make after this one is complete so three of my nieces/nephews will have matching vests. Amy Clarke Moore, editor of Spin-Off, is knitting the sweater for her dad that she wrote about in her Knitting Daily post The Ten-Year-Sweater. We’re really cheering her on to complete it this year. Liz Gipson, co-host of Knitting Daily TV, is using a knitting bag from Interweave Knits as a flat pattern for her felted woven fabric and is gifting it to her “hm” ( I can’t reveal that). Liz Good, assistant editor of Fiberarts, is knitting a sweater for herself—imagine that. And Rebecca Daniels, assistant editor of Interweave Knits, is quickly knitting a project for PieceWork but by next week she’ll be thick into a project for an upcoming issue of Knits. This Wednesday, we’ll be back crafting together and as the day ticks ever closer, we may have to ramp it up to more than once a week.

So if you need some cheering on, and cheering up, plan your own finishing party. And know that there are many of us encouraging you on as well.

-- Marilyn Murphy
President and Publisher (Fiber Group)
Interweave Press

Finishing Techniques

Need a reminder how to do the mattress stitch? Don't know how to sew in a zipper? Forgotten how to make a pom-pom? Here are some helpful links to finishing techniques to help you through the last stages of your Christmas knitting:

Three-needle bind-off
Mattress stitch seam
Whipstitch
Sewing in a zipper
Backstitch seam
I-cord
Kitchener stitch
Sewn bind-off
Blocking
Pom-poms

And if the worst happens a week before Christmas....Ripping Out Without Ripping Your Hair Out.

Twelve days until Christmas...Need a quick gift idea? No problem!

Knitting Daily is here to help. Well. OK. I can't knit your projects for you, and I can't weave in your ends. But this nifty little website I work for here has lots of last-minute holiday knitting (and crocheting!) gift patterns for you:

Christmas Stockings eBook: Well, I suppose you could GIVE someone this ebook if they are a knitter. But what about knitting them a stocking out of this ebook instead? Seven great patterns. One nifty price!

Take a look at the Gifts & Whimsies section of our pattern store for more ideas. Something for everyone. Felted slippers (those are knitted; here are some crocheted slippers), neckties for the men in your life, dolls, dog sweaters, warm mittens, shopping totes--heck, there's so much in there I can't list it all. Go take a look and you're sure to find something nifty to knit or crochet.

And free stuff! We have free stuff!

A Litte Something Special: Five knitted ornament patterns from the Interweave staff

Crochet Gift eBook: Free and fun and fab, with five fast gifts for your family! (Whew!)

The Shadowy Vest: Marilyn is pictured above working on an entire trio of these!

Check out the Knitting Daily Free Pattern Library for more good (free) stuff!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles this week? The Leaf and Nupp Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush. I'm obsessed. I am done with 15 (now nearly 16!) out of the 21 repeats I want to do to make the scarf long enough; then I have the four-sided border to complete. What do you think? Can I finish this scarf in time for Christmas?

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?

The Fall Knits Preview is here!

KD Sandi — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:25:00 GMT

A note from Sandi:

The new Fall 2008 issue of Interweave Knits is here! And that means it's PREVIEW TIME...so I asked Eunny Jang, the editor of Knits, to tell us all what knitting treats await us:

It's July right now–in Baltimore, that means steaming sidewalks, iced tea, and ball games–but fall is right around the corner. Within a couple months, cooler weather will be here–in knitting time, that's just one sweater, or two vests, or four pairs of socks away. Within the pages of Knits, you‚ll find ample inspiration to prepare for the coming of fall: quick, flattering knits out of bulky yarns; projects that mix and match fibers and weights (hello, stash!); projects that explore unique constructions; and projects of all sizes that explore the things wool can do.

That last story is one of my favorites. It captures what our editorial knitting stories are all about–exploring the many directions a single inspiration can go in, giving insight in the process–but I also think of it as an example of how good, how satisfying, knitting is at all levels, in all facets. For me, getting back to basics with knitting never feels boring or tired: those stitches, those yarns, those movements are always compelling, because there's always something new to try, something new to explore or learn, and something new to be made every time. Wool? Sure, we know all about it. But think about how it changes when used in different blends, when spun in a different way, when worked up into a different kind of fabrics. Wool feels basic, but there's an awful lot to explore there. Plus, between sweaters, socks, accessories, and more, there's an awful lot to make.

So get knitting, and dig into the aspects of knitting you find most fascinating. Is it fiber? Perhaps our yarn articles will scratch the itch, or maybe the projects that consider fiber qualities carefully, and play them off each other for maximum effect. Is it constructions? Look for innovative tailoring and asymmetrical shapes. Technique? Understand and perfect invisible cast ons and bind offs once and for all with Beyond the Basics. Design? Check out what Kate Gilbert has to say about her design process.

Welcome fall!

View the Preview of the Fall 2008 issue of Interweave Knits magazine!

Eunny Jang
Editor, Interweave Knits

Come See the Knitscene Fall 2008 Preview!

KD Sandi — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:41:00 GMT

A note from Sandi:

The new Knitscene is here, and there is no one better to tell you about it than Lisa Shroyer, Knitscene's editor. Heeeerrrreee's Lisa:

I’m excited to bring you the preview for the Fall 2008 issue of Knitscene!

What is fun to make and wearable in real life?
What’s slightly quirky and unique without being outlandish?
What is a good use of a yarn?
What do people need in their closets?

The collection you’ll find in this issue of Knitscene is what we worked up on the basis of those questions. These are not novelty projects or purely conceptual, these are work-horse knits that fit into everyday life and can become funky or trendy through styling. At the end of the day, though phenomenal and intriguing as knits, these projects are real clothes. There’s no greater pleasure than getting repeated use out of a sweater you made—loving every stitch!

What is Knitscene?

Knitscene is a special magazine that comes out twice a year from Interweave Press, featuring easy, stylish projects that are fun to make. In this issue, you’ll find sweaters for fall, lots of accessories like hats, scarves, socks, and mitts, and projects that explore color-work, texture, and silhouette in intriguing ways. We work with themed story-lines in Knitscene; in this issue, we present a modern take on the medieval silhouette; a colorful outdoor story that’s filled with outerwear like cardigans and vests; and a globally-inspired story, featuring region-specific styles like the Kimono Socks, the Himalayan vest, and more. Enjoy the preview!

Lisa Shroyer
Editor

View the Fall 2008 Preview of Knitscene magazine!

Survey Results: The Sweater Men Want

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

Could this be the ultimate guy sweater?

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

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

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

OK, heeerrre we go!

What Men Want In A Sweater

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

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

Perfect on all counts: The Cobblestone

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

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

Other interesting bits:

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

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

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

Manly Pullover Patterns

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

For sale in the KD Pattern Store

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

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

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

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...

Spice Up Your Knitting

KD Sandi — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Alternating Twists from Cables & Arans

I am a stitch geek. I'm fascinated by the different ways that the humble knit stitch and the unassuming purl stitch get together and make a gadzillion different glorious combinations. My stitch dictionaries are stained with the love born of long and constant use; they tend to be found strewn around my living room, adorned with dozens of colorful stickies, rather than neatly lined up on my bookshelf.

A good stitch book can be the knitter's equivalent of a well-stocked spice cabinet: Take a familiar recipe, add a dash of lace, or a pinch of texture, and the result is something uniquely yours. Stitch dictionaries can be especially helpful if you are not quite ready to jump off into designing your own sweaters (yet!), but you want to add your own special touches to your knitting.

Which stitch to use where?

Scale: Just like spices, some stitch patterns are strong; a little goes a long way! Others are subtle; you can use them all over a large bag and not have it overwhelm the bag. (Think of the difference between a small, delicate floral print that works well on a blouse, versus a large, colorful floral print that might work better on your sofa.) However, if you are in love with a large-scale pattern, you can get a really interesting effect by using a single repeat in unexpected places. For example: Remember the cute pink Knitting Needle Knitting Bag from last week? What if you knitted that bag all in stockinette stitch, with just a single band of a cable stitch or lace pattern across the front? That way, you could make as many of the bags as you wanted to, and no two would be alike.

Gauge and sizing: Be aware that some stitch patterns will draw in your knitting a bit (cables, twisted stitches), while others will expand the fabric a little (lace and eyelets). A single repeat, used as a design element, will affect the finished size a little; an all-over extravaganza of pattern will affect the finished size a lot!

The best way to get to know a stitch, and the effect it will have on your knitting, is the same approach used by cooks when faced with a new spice: look at how the unfamiliar "ingredient" is used in other recipes, and then experiment for yourself.

Yes, I am talking about swatching. Yes, I know: Booorrrring.

But what if you thought about the swatches as squares for an afghan? Small pillows to spice up your bedroom? Pockets? Washcloths? You can even do what a friend of mine does with her swatches: She carefully blocks them and frames them and hangs them on her wall. How about that for knitterly art?

Do you have a creative way to put your swatches to use?

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!).