Knitting Daily : Women

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.

Daring To Mention Crochet

KD Sandi — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:00:00 GMT

It's here! Fall 2007 Interweave Crochet

There, I said it: Crochet. We're an online community called Knitting Daily, and I've gone and said the word "crochet," right up front for all the world to see. From the beginning, crochet has been part of Knitting Daily's mission, but I haven't yet devoted a post to it. We've covered other yarnly delights, such as knitting socks, knitting lace, and tossing your knitting into the washing machine to felt it. Why shouldn't we also discuss that other lovely way to play with yarn—crochet?

Frankly, knitting and crochet sometimes seem like two grown sisters who've been having an ongoing feud since one sister stole the other sister's Barbie doll back in grade school. There's an odd schism between the two, and I've seen some pretty heated conversations online about which one is "the best." Sometimes it takes on the flavor of the Sharks versus the Jets: Crafters snapping their fingers to a backbeat, brandishing hooks and needles, and getting ready to rumble.

So it's worth asking: Why can't we all just get along? Why such strong feelings for and against? The sister-crafts of knitting and crochet are each beautiful in their own way; each of them has a rich history full of artistry and gorgeous things made with yarn and a carved stick (or two). After all: Handweavers and knitters don't spat like this. Embroiderers and cross-stitchers don't hiss at the mention of the other. Why does Needle scorn Hook, and vice versa?

As many of you know, I am a passionate crocheter in addition to being a passionate knitter. I have published designs that are all-crochet as well as those that are all-knitting. I speak the language of the hook about as well as I speak the language of the dpns. We have some great free crochet patterns here on Knitting Daily, including Lily Chin's Lace Dress (that's what Annie is wearing in the photo above), you can now subscribe to Interweave Crochet (four times a year! whoo!), and there are some great new crochet books coming out—and I'd love to share them all with you.

Some folks hate knitting socks. Some folks dislike knitting lace. And some folks don't like to crochet. But I think there's room for everyone here on Knitting Daily—what do you think?

Cable needle ingenuity: I'm still working my way through all your wonderful tips about cable knitting—thank you! I was struck by how resourceful and inventive you all are...Mary W. uses golf tees (I laughed out loud at that one!) and Marin U. has resorted to coffee stirrers as cable needle substitutes. This is definitely a discussion that deserves to continue again in the near future...so stay tuned.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

Sandi is not ashamed to admit that she almost fainted dead away when she found out one of her crochet designs had been selected for the cover of Interweave Crochet Spring 2006.

Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

KD Sandi — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Red Scarf Project Connections Scarf

(Try saying THAT title three times fast!)

It's true that the Connections Scarf I designed for the Red Scarf Project was my first cable-knitting project ever. I've managed to avoid cables until now, thinking that wrangling the cable needle was just too much fiddly knitting for this gal, thank you very much. Then my husband Nicholas asked for a cabled pullover for Christmas. When I started in about my distaste for cable-needle wrangling, he raised his eyebrows and pointed at the knitting I happened to have in my hands at that very moment: a sock being knitted with five very tiny, very fiddly, dpns.

I hate it when he's right.

So that's when I decided to design my red scarf pattern as a cabled scarf. I used the designing process as a way of getting to know the whole process of knitting cables: how they worked, how they fit together, how to incorporate them into a pattern. I learned a few tricks along the way, so I thought I would share those with you.

Use the cable needle that is right for you. I found that I kept dropping the little short/straight needles made specifically for cabling, so I tried a regular sock-sized double-pointed needle. Worked like a charm, because my fingers already knew how to wrangle that one. But that's just me. There's many different choices out there when it comes to cable needles. Try a few until you find the one that works for you.

Corollary: Try cabling without a cable needle. It sounds impossible, but you can learn to manipulate the cable crossings without the extra needle. There are many cable knitters who swear by this technique! I did the first end of the scarf with a cable needle, and then I tackled the second end without one. The effort it took to learn which stitches went where was well worth it, because now I feel as though I am understanding cables instead of just knitting them by rote. We have a list of online tutorials in our Techniques section.

Don't pull on the "held" stitches too hard. When you are holding the cable stitches off to the front or back of your knitting, don't pull them too far away from the rest of your knitting! Too much pulling will distort the stitches in the area of the crossing. Keep them as close to the main knitting as possible in order to help keep the tension and texture of your cable stitches even.

What The Back Looks Like

Watch what you are doing. Until you are comfortable with cables, cable knitting is not the time to multitask! I made several whopping mistakes because I was trying to knit the cables in a restaurant whilst talking with friends. Bad idea. (Lots of ripping out ensued.)

Steam-block Cables wrong side up. This may seem obvious, but just in case: If you are using a steam-iron to block your cable knitting, do it with the WRONG side of the cables facing upwards, or you will flatten all your nice intentionally-bumpy cables. Don't press down--keep the iron just a little bit above the fabric! And try using a pressing cloth to further help minimize the flattening factor.

You asked for it...Lynn G. asked if I would be willing to post a photo of what the reverse side looks like. There you go, Lynn!

What are your cable-knitting tricks?

C'mon, don't be shy. If you have tips on how to work with cables, leave a comment! After all, if I'm going to be knitting Nicholas an entire cabled pullover for Christmas, I'm going to need all the help I can get!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I am working out customizations for the Husband Sweater so I will be ready to cast on when the yarn arrives. What is the Husband Sweater? It's my nickname for the pullover my husband requested I make him for Christmas.

Knitting For Family: The Red Scarf Project

KD Sandi — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Connections: A Red Scarf

The Red Scarf Project, endorsed by Interweave, Lily Chin, and The National NeedleArts Association, was started in 2005 by the Orphan Foundation of America as a way of showing community support and encouragement to college-bound teens in foster care. This year, I was asked if I would design a Red Scarf pattern for Interweave to sponsor during the 2007 campaign, and of course, I said yes.

Designing a scarf, a scarf that hasn't been Done Before, especially a scarf for the Red Scarf Project, wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. It had to be narrow, long, look good on both sides, be wearable by both men and women, not too complicated to knit, and, oh yes: be red.

So, how does one go about designing something with such strict parameters?

As I always do when I am designing things, I started with a story idea. I know that sounds a bit odd, but I am a storyteller, and I tell stories with stitches as well as with words. Knitters have a rich tradition of telling stories through stitches--look at the wonderfully evocative names we give to cable and lace patterns: Hollow Oak, Wings of the Swan, Homes of Donegal, Dragon Skin. The language of textiles has become a metaphor for storytelling: a well-told tale is even called "a yarn."

I thought of those foster teens who will be wearing all the scarves we knit for them. I thought of how, someday, one of those teens might be my kids' teacher, or perhaps even marry into my family. Those teens are not really orphans: in a very real way, they are my future family.

Cabled version
Easier Twisted Rib version

Hence my cabled scarf, called Connections, where the stitches and patterns weave in and out, at times touching, and at times moving apart. Families are like that: we move in and out of each other's lives, but we stay connected, and our shared connections form a larger, stronger, whole.

Note that if you don't want to do cables, there's also a version that is cable-free--simply work the columns of twisted ribs the entire length of the scarf. However: The cables here are not hard, and if you have never tried cables, or think they are too difficult, then this scarf is a good place to start. How do I know that these cables aren't too hard? Because this is my first cable-knitting project. Ever. (Really.)

I figured that anything worth doing, is worth doing for family.

For more information about how to donate your scarf, and the foster kids who will receive the scarves, visit www.orphan.org.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

Mags Kandis and The Language of Color

KD Sandi — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Mags Kandis, editor of Folk Style

"English," Mags told me during our phone conversation last Friday, "is my second language." I was puzzled—maybe she had spoken French or Greek as girl? I heard no trace of an accent in her voice, but the phone can be deceiving. Finally, I asked her: "Well, what is your native language?" "Color!" she replied, with a laugh. And looking at her Modern Quilt Wrap, and the beautiful Folk Style book that she put together (or "wrangled," as Mags says), I would have to agree: Mags is absolutely fluent in the rhythm and grammar of color.

Most of us, however, feel insecure when it comes to that particular language. Me, personally? I'm one of those folks who feels that color is an alien language. I balk at the idea of designing anything in colorwork, because I am afraid of saying something horribly wrong, making some awful Color Faux Pas. I wear a lot of solid colors; my knitting is the same way: lots of solids, where texture and lace form the interest, rather than color.

So I asked Mags: How does she choose the colors for a project like the Modern Quilt Wrap? I was hoping for the magic-secret formula that would turn me into a color-speaking genius. Her answer: Listen to the language of color you already speak.

Her exact words were: "Don't think too much about it—Just do it! Let the colors come at you, and let them speak to you. Be fearless. You know when the colors work for you, and when they don't."

For those of us who don't feel fluent in the language of color, this Being Fearless stuff might take a bit of confidence building. Here's an exercise I've found really helpful: Flip quickly through a book or magazine, looking only at the colors, not the content. Stop when a page speaks to you solely because of its colors—and then spend a few minutes studying the colors that spoke to you. Could you design a version of the Modern Quilt Wrap based on those colors? This exercise is a way of having a Color Conversation with yourself, a way of developing your own "ear" for the language of color. Practice these sorts of color conversations (could you knit a sweater to match a favorite photo?), and you'll gain more vocabulary for, and more confidence in, your color choices.

The Modern Quilt Wrap and me

In choosing the colors for the Modern Quilt Wrap, Mags said that she had had eleven balls of Rowan KidSilk Haze in a basket, each a different color. She kept rearranging them, and then standing back to look at them, until it became clear that two of the colors just "didn't belong." She took those two colors out of the basket, and voila—the remaining colors were perfect.

What if you can't see the yarn in person, or don't have access to all the colors? Here at Interweave, the editors and designers work from color cards, sometimes called sample cards. You can purchase these color cards, made with actual snippets of the yarn in all the available colors, for a small fee either from the yarn company directly or through the shops that sell the yarn. Color cards are invaluable tools, well worth the small investment, particularly when you are working with a project where several colors are involved. Take the time to order a sample card first, and you won't have to stress over whether that red you saw on the Internet is really orange-red or blue-red.

And finally: Yep, that's me in The Wrap. I've been wearing it around the office for days.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

My Red Scarf design for the Red Scarf Project is coming this Wednesday to Knitting Daily! The yarn for the Husband Sweater is on backorder and may not arrive for a while. I am in serious peril of ordering nine balls of KidSilk Haze for the You Know What. (Help me, Obi Wan).

Adventures in Yarn Substitution

KD Sandi — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Modern Quilt Wrap

Yarn substitution. The very words strike anxiety into the hearts of knitters everywhere. The published photo is so beautiful, the yarn the designer used so utterly perfect in every way...but alas, the specified yarn is wool, and you're allergic to wool. Or the yarn called for would put too large a dent in your grocery money. Or you live in Australia, and the yarn is unavailable there. What to do? How can you find a substitute yarn that is perfect for you AND perfect for the pattern you've fallen in love with?

Sooner or later, every knitter is faced with the need to substitute yarns. The process can be painful and frustrating, or it can be exciting and creative, depending on how you approach it. So, given that so many of you wondered about substitutions for the Modern Quilt Wrap from our new book Folk Style, let's start there.

Ask yourself: What do you REALLY like about this scarf? Is it the color combination? If so, then look for yarns that have a lot of colors available, whether they are mohair, cotton, or merino. Does the fine fuzzy texture lure you in, but you want to make your own quilt-like color choices? Then you have a wider set of options: mohair, alpaca, merino blends might all do. Allergic to wool? A silk or bamboo yarn could be really beautiful.

Mag Kandis' Folk Style

The point is that in making substitutions, you are going to have to make compromises, because the only way you are going to get a scarf that looks exactly like the one in the Modern Quilt Wrap photo is to use the yarn Mags used. For example, that lovely color selection in a fine mohair/silk blend yarn is unique to Rowan KidSilk Haze, and it is highly unlikely you are going to find anything close to that combination in a similar yarn anywhere. (Now, watch: One of you is going to scour the Internet and prove me wrong. Go for it.)

Yarn Weight: As some of you noted, the weight designation for Kidsilk Haze varies depending on the source. My take on this: A fine mohair yarn can be tough to evaluate, because it has all those little fuzzy fingers sticking out of it (charmingly referred to as its "halo"). When the yarn is knitted, the fingers on one stitch push against the fingers of the neighboring stitch, and thus makes the yarn behave as though it were "fatter" than it is. I've got the Actual Sample Scarf right here on my lap, and the core of the fiber (without the halo) is close to a laceweight. But the halo gives the core extra bulk, causing the yarn to knit up more like a fingering, or even a DK, depending on needle size and gauge.

So what's the "correct weight" of yarn to substitute in this wrap? If you want to use a non-mohair, non-halo yarn, you will need to swatch (sorry! you knew swatching had to sneak in here somewhere) to discover a combination of needle size and yarn that gives you a drape that you like. Tip: To get the airy, lacy look of the original scarf in a non-mohair blend, try a fingering yarn and start with a needle size about two sizes bigger than that recommended on the label. If you like that look, great! If it's not open and airy enough for you, keep going up in needle size until you like what you see. (If the fabric is too open, go down a needle size.) Swatch until you love the fabric, then knit your heart out.

Will your scarf end up looking like a clone of the one Mags made? Probably not. Will your scarf be a gorgeous mirror of your own creative heart? You bet--and I cannot wait to see the photos of what you come up with!

You asked for it...The Yardage For Each Color

I wasn't sure if we at Interweave were going to be able to pull this particular rabbit out of our hat--but thanks to one of our miracle-working tech editors, the rabbit appears: The individual yardage amounts for each color used in the Modern Quilt Wrap. There were no notes from the original wrap, and figuring out the math was something no one here in the office had time to attempt. Enter the tech editor, Ms. L., who stayed up into the wee hours and worked out the numbers! We won't always be able to respond to these sorts of requests (especially not this fast!) because we just don't have the resources, but happily, this one time we can. Hooray for the amazing Ms. L.!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? About 38 inches' worth of cables and twisted stitches for my Red Scarf, coming soon to Knitting Daily. Note that I am desperately trying NOT to cast on for the Modern Quilt Wrap. (Don't encourage me. Next on my needles is supposed to be a Husband Sweater for Christmas. Must. Stay. Strong.)

The Scarf That Stole My Heart

KD Sandi — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Modern Quilt Wrap (yum!)

It's true: I hate to knit scarves. I don't know why. I just do. I am thrilled to have other people knit scarves, and in snowy January, I love snuggling up in a sweet little neck-wrap just as much as the next person. However, while I understand intellectually that knitting a scarf is the same as knitting a sweater sans shaping, I remain stalwart in my dislike of Knitting Scarves.

(I do, however, love crocheting scarves. This split scarf personality is no doubt a sign of some deep personal conflict, but there you have it: Crocheting scarves, yay! Knitting scarves, nay.)

Thus I find it particularly ironic that two weeks ago, I had my heart stolen by a knitted scarf pattern. I was flipping through a copy of Mag Kandis' new book Folk Style, and suddenly, my little knitter's heart went pitty-pat at the sight of the Modern Quilt Wrap scarf in all its gorgeous multicolored glory. I was captivated. And despite the current ban on New Cast-Ons in my house, I caught myself standing in front of my stash, contemplating this yarn or that yarn, debating colors in my mind, wondering what I would do if I were knitting the Modern Quilt Wrap for myself.

(I can fool myself, you see: It's not really a scarf, because it's wide...So: It's really a stole. Or a shawl. There. I feel much better now. I simply fell in love with a stole pattern, not a scarf at all. Whew.)

This scarf (er, I mean, stole) pattern has all the elements of a Perfect Knitted Scarf: It's built out of little mitered-square bits that you can take along to knit wherever you go. It's designed in a yarn that needs to come with a Surgeon General's Addictive Substance label, Rowan's Kidsilk Haze. It looks like a Log Cabin quilt design, only fuzzier and with yarn instead of calicos. And the colors are glorious (Mags, you are a genius with color!).

Mag Kandis' Folk Style

So naturally, when I was asked to choose one pattern out of the Folk Style book to feature on Knitting Daily, I chose the one that had stolen my heart: the Modern Quilt Wrap. I hope it steals your heart, too.

This is just ONE of the beautiful patterns in this oh-so-beautiful book. I actually had a rather hard time choosing between the Quilt Wrap, and Kate Gilbert's Paisley Shawl, and the cover project, Felt Appliqued Skirt by Gayle Bunn, and Leigh Radford's Urban Hand Warmers...you see my dilemma. They are all such fascinating and fun patterns.

I have to say that working for Interweave in no way helps my yarn addiction, nor my addiction to casting on new projects. It's like working in a crack factory, people. And this Folk Style book, well, it's just a particularly gorgeous way to feed anyone's knitting addiction.

You can thank me later.

Red Scarf Project

The astute amongst you will have noticed that there was a video of me knitting a scarf in last Friday's post, once again proving that my hatred for knitting scarves apparently has a few cracks in its mortar. However: It's not just any scarf, it's a Red Scarf. It's for orphans, as part of the Red Scarf Project, and thus totally worth the self-discipline of scarf-knitting. I mean, really: My life is so full of loving people and generosity, I could knit a thousand scarves and still not have given back enough. Time to pass it on and pay it forward...The pattern will be available on Knitting Daily next week.

Teva Durham Podcast: Podcasts are a great companion to your knitting--they are an entertaining alternative to watching TV during those endless stockinette stitch patches! Download Eunny Jang's interview with Teva, who has a new yarn line from Tahki Stacy Charles called Loop-d-Loop. (I also like to listen to podcasts while I am doing the dishes or pulling weeds--makes the task seem to fly by!) Have a question you'd like to ask Teva? Send in your questions and we'll post the answers on the website.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? About 38 inches' worth of cables and twisted stitches for my Red Scarf, 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.

The Origami Cardi With A Side of Pink Scarf (plus a surprise...)

KD Sandi — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Norah Gaughan's Origami Cardigan

Our final gallery this week features the Origami Cardigan by Norah Gaughan, from Interweave Knits Summer 2007. True to its name, this cardigan has a very unusual construction--simple and elegant, with a bit of "Wow, how did she think of that?" thrown in. The fronts are rectangles turned "on point"; the back is shaped something like an envelope flap pointing upwards, with the point trimmed off at the neck edge. Once knitted, you sew the bound-off edge of each front to the back along the lower portion of the back's long "flap" edge. Then you sew the raglan sleeve between the front and the back pieces.

Whew! Got all that? It's a bit hard to visualize, so with the help of patient Bertha, I took a photo of the Origami's left front panel, with things held out so you can more clearly see the side/raglan seam.

The side seam

Everyone here who tried on this cardigan loved it, and when Bertha was wearing it in our lobby, she attracted a lot of attention. The Origami's shape is flowing and unique--it makes me think of rice-paper screens, the smell of woven grass floor mats, and raw silk dresses.

Did I try it on? Yep. It's tight on me, because the sample size is a 33.5"--needless to say, that's not a Sandi-sized garment. What size would I make? Here's how I would approach the question: The 44" seems logical, given my 43" full bust measurement. However, take a look at the photo of me (with the idiotic grin--what was I thinking when that was taken?)
Origami Sandi and compare it to the magazine photo, which was styled by folks who knew how the sweater was supposed to fit. See the overlap at the front? On me, the overlap is about 3-4" short of the overlap in the official photo, so I need a sweater at least 4" bigger. The next size up from the 33.5" sample is 38.5", which would be five inches bigger from what I am wearing in the photo. The sample's armholes are a teensy bit tight on me; not so tight that they cut off circulation, but not as loose as I would like them. The extra inch allowed for armholes in the 38.5" size would be more comfortable. Given all this, the 38.5" size might be a good choice for me.

But why would I make a size smaller than my full bust measurement? Everyone sing along: Negative ease! If I made something ten inches bigger than the sample I tried on, it would be extremely comfortable--but it would be the comfort of a lovely tent on me. This sweater is all about shape and line and geometry; making it too big would destroy its beauty.

You can find the patterns for the Origami Cardigan, the Oriel Lace Blouse, and the 1824 Blouson in Interweave Knits Summer 2007. The Summer Wheat Tank is a free pattern on Knitting Daily. Enjoy!

Bertha hears the mermaids singing

In the "I Should Know Better Than To Post A Photo Without Mentioning The Pattern" Category: The scarf Bertha is wearing to show off her wild side is the Mermaid Scarf , designed by some wild crazy gal named Sandi for the Spring 2007 Interweave Crochet staff project. The scarf normally decorates my cubicle's bookcase, and so when Bertha suggested she be given something more free-spirited to wear, that bit of bright pink crocheted lace seemd the perfect choice.

Want a look at what's ahead on Knitting Daily? Someone came into my office at lunch today with a VIDEO CAMERA and caught me knitting a project that's coming in September. So here you go, a literal Sneak Peek!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Yes, folks, it's true: I will be ripping back the front of the Bonsai Tunic by Norah Gaughan. Yes, I shall post photos of my infamous defeat pre-rip-fest, but allow me to gather up my courage first. On my needles: About 18 inches' worth of cables and twisted stitches for a charity scarf, with the 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.

The 1824 Blouson: A Gallery

KD Sandi — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 06:00:00 GMT

The 1824 Blouson by Mari Lynn Patrick, from the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits, was one of your top picks for a Knitting Daily Sweater Gallery, so five of us Interweavers, plus the ever-obliging Bertha, modelled the sample garment for you: The 1824 Blouson Gallery.

Our findings: We all loved wearing this sweater. It was comfortable, the lovely dressmaker details made it just a bit special, and the cotton yarn had just a bit of give--but not so much give that we worried about the sweater "growing" on us!

One question I've heard asked a lot about the Blouson is: What size should I make? After seeing this sweater on the Five Plus Bertha, my personal opinion is that this sweater is an excellent example of something that looks great with a bit of negative ease calculated in. If you'll recall, ease is a way of describing the extra fabric that allows space between you and your garments--space for things like moving, breathing, comfort, and extra layers of other clothing. Negative ease means that there is a negative amount of "extra" fabric, so the fabric must stretch to cover your body.

The Blouson pattern is in here!

So to make an example of myself (as usual!): Take a look at the photo of me in the sample Blouson, which measures 36.5" at the fullest part of the bust. I have a 43" bust, and all my co-workers agreed that the sample looked pretty cute on me, even in a size that is two sizes down from the size that most closely matches my actual measurements. In other words: That sample on me is 6.5" of negative ease, which is a LOT of stretching over those Sandi curves. If I wanted something with a little more ease/roominess, I would make the 40.5" size, which would have 2.5" of negative ease--I think that it would probably still look great, without too much bagginess.

But what about gals who are less curvy than me--or more curvy? The 1824 Blouson is not meant to fit as closely as the Corset Pullover, and so it does not have as many opportunities for customization for individual curves. Therefore, your "homework assignment" for The 1824 Blouson Gallery is: As you look at the photos of the Five Plus Bertha in the sample sweater, ask yourself: Do you like the way the 36.5" sample size fits each one of us? If not, what size would you suggest each woman make, and why?

Once you've run through this little exercise, it may be easier to figure out what size you'd choose for yourself. We'll do the same thing on Wednesday with the Oriel Lace Blouse, and on Friday with the Origami Cardigan.

Summer Wheat Tank

This week's featured free pattern is the Summer Wheat Tank, by Lisa Shroyer, the editor of Knitscene and the projects editor for Interweave Knits. Lisa has a passion for designing garments that look good on a variety of body shapes and sizes, and she designed Summer Wheat with an interesting wrap-over panel at the midsection to give the illusion of a waist and curves where perhaps nature has not provided adequately in that regard.

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!).

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Nine Women, One Sweater

KD Sandi — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Bertha models the Corset Pullover

As many of you have noted, the pattern photo for Robin Melanson's Corset Pullover shows the sweater on a very willowy young woman. There were several of you who pointed out that this was a rather ironic choice, given our discussions on adapting patterns for all shapes and sizes.

Here is where I confess to a certain degree of deviousness--and perhaps even to having an ulterior motive or three. Several people have assured me that the Corset Pullover is really cute, and that it would be great on Knitting Daily--but based on the photo alone, I wasn't convinced. The funny thing is that ordinarily, I love everything that comes off of Robin's clever little needles...so I decided that both you and I needed to see this sweater in person--and that it would be a perfect example for our discussions on sizing and customization.

I went and found the original sample garment in the Knits storage room (we keep some of them on hand for publicity and display purposes), only to find that the sample was a bit too small for me to try on (rats!). I therefore dragged Bertha, our shapely mannequin, out of the basement so she and I could play a bit of dress-up.

Guess what? On Bertha's 34" (86.5 cm) curvy self, the Corset really IS adorable. (Yay Robin! I should have known. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. What was I thinking?)

I went back and looked at the pattern itself, and sure enough, Robin had this note at the very beginning: "This sweater was designed to fit closely. To achieve this effect, make the size that is closest to your actual chest measurement."

Now, mind you: the sample sweater measures 35.25" (89.5 cm). The lovely Ms. Willow in the pattern photograph definitely is not wearing the Corset close to her heart, shall we say.

The Interweave Corset Gals!

That's when I went on a quest to get some photos of the Corset on several real women of different sizes and shapes, so I could somehow convey to you how this cute top might look on YOU, whether you are a lovely petite or charming larger gal. Unfortunately, the sweater here is just too small to show on true goddesses--but then, it is also too large to show on true nymphs. Hopefully, we can satisfy some of you Naiads in the middle, however.

I found nine women around the office willing to try on the sample sweater--and, more importantly, willing to share their bust measurements with you, so you could judge how the sweater looks with various amounts of ease, both positive and negative. Our oh-so-generous (and quite lovely) Interweave Corset Gals range from a petite charmer who is just a bit over 33" around, to a new momma with a 36" chest, on up to a shapely 40" redhead. With the help of Kat's HTML wizardry, I've put all the photos, plus comments on ease and customization suggestions for each woman, on a separate gallery page that includes some back and side views, as well as a couple of up-close detail shots.

If you folks find this helpful, I have the garments from the Summer 2007 issue of Knits here in the office....unfortunately, the Fall garments have already been sent out on the Trunk Show tour, but we can take a vote to pick out a few of the Summer sweaters and see how they look on the locals!

A couple of notes in response to the comments...

To our petite sisters: Several of you were worried that we might cut out the smaller sizes in favor of your larger sisters. Let me reassure you that this won't happen. Everyone, slender or plush, deserves beautiful knits that fit. As so many of you noted, changing the size range isn't necessarily the answer anyway--what is needed is more information on customizing for yourself. Everyone is different. Everyone is lovely. Everyone, no matter their size, shape, color, or personal style, is welcome and celebrated here on Knitting Daily. (You all rock.)

And finally....for Gabriele and Bust Dart Fans everywhere:

Dear Gabriele,

You have not missed the Bust Dart tutorial! The exponential growth of Knitting Daily has had the entire team working double-time just to keep up with the basics lately, so I fear we all are a bit behind...but I haven't forgotten! The document is sitting right here on my laptop, and I can still hear the chants from InternetLand of "Bust Darts! Bust Darts!" We'll have another pair of hands on deck shortly, and that will free me up to be at your service, bust-dart-wise.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Photo coming soon of the finished Bonsai Tunic by Norah Gaughan. 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.

Looking In The Mirror

KD Sandi — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 06:00:00 GMT

"You Are Beautiful." This phrase was taped to the frame of every bathroom mirror in my grandparents' home, a bit of whimsy-with-a-message provided by my mischievous, loving grandpa for his visiting granddaughters. For years, I'd look at that phrase and think, "Yeah, right" and then try to find something else--something not me--to look at whilst washing my hands. It was so hard for me to believe that a plump, bespectacled teenager with brown hair, brown eyes, and olive skin could be anything even close to beautiful.

Sometimes, there are definite advantages to being all grownup--such as being able to see beauty in all its forms, in real women and real men of all shapes, sizes, and colors. As I read your comments and emails the past few days, the words my grandfather put on the mirror kept coming back to me, over and over: You Are Beautiful. Your passion and desire to knit well-fitting garments for yourselves, no matter your size or shape, shows that deep inside yourself, no matter what society says, you, too, know that you are beautiful.

So how beautiful are you? Above are the results of the Sizing Survey, which was filled out by a staggering 8,974 people since it was posted last Wednesday. As so many of you pointed out, the survey only asked about bust size, which I chose because it is the measurement used by most knitting patterns as a determinant of pattern sizing. However, bust size alone isn't an accurate gauge of what will fit you--and what will look good on you. So I'm looking into devising a survey that will cover a number of critical measurements, giving us a much more accurate picture of how beautiful you all REALLY are!

For now, however, there are the results of the Sizing Survey from last week.

Interesting, huh? Was that what you expected to see, or not?

An Essential Tool for Every Knitter (and Crocheter)

This year, for Christmas, I'm asking for a full-length mirror, one of those freestanding oval mirrors with a nice wood frame. I'll make sure there is really good lighting in the corner where that mirror will go, and then, once I have it all set up, I'm going to paint or stencil or somehow emblazon the top of the mirror with my grandfather's words: "You Are Beautiful."

The mirror isn't just sentimental--a full-length mirror is an important tool for any knitter (or crocheter), in order to get to know the body you are knitting for, to get a clear view of how your knitted garments fit, and to learn what works (and what doesn't work) on your particular shape. Wherever you place your mirror, make sure that you have good lighting so you can really see what's what! If looking in the mirror intimidates you, then give yourself some encouragement: hang pretty scarves above the mirror, light a candle, play nice music--and maybe try putting one of my grandpa's little labels somewhere on the frame.

One Garment, Different Women

This week's featured free pattern is the Corset Pullover by Robin Melanson. After reading all your requests to see photos of garments on different-sized people, I managed to talk some of the gals around the office into trying this one on for you! I'll have those photos and more for you Wednesday and Friday.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles today? The Bonsai Tunic by Norah Gaughan. Almost done stitching up the side seams...photo coming soon of the finished item!

Eunny Jang: Working In A Knitting Wonderland

KD Sandi — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Here she is! Eunny Jang

What if one day, someone called you on the phone, and asked you to be the new editor of Interweave Knits magazine? That's exactly what happened to popular blogger and oh-so-talented knitting designer, Eunny Jang. Talk about getting your dream job...

I'd had the pleasure of interviewing Eunny several months ago, right after she was hired--in fact, that first interview was part of one of the very first Knitting Daily newsletters. I thought it was time to check back in with Eunny again, especially now that her very first issue as editor, Fall 2007 Knits, is about to hit the store shelves. I wanted to know what it was like to literally be Alice in Knitting Wonderland...

Eunny, your fans in the blogosphere want to know: What have you been up to since you were hired as editor of Interweave Knits? Seems like Interweave kind of whisked you away to wonderland for a while there!

How do I even begin to answer this question? It's definitely been a busy last couple of months for me. Of course, there's the learning curve associated with coming into any new job in a new company, but with the added pressure (let's be honest, terror!) of coming into a magazine with such an amazing track record already, with such big shoes left to fill! I've been in the thick of editing the Fall issue, and Knits Gifts 2007, developing and working on the Winter issue, and concepting for Spring. I went to my first TNNA, which was just a little overwhelming. I've gone through two shoots now, for Fall and for Gifts, and am in the middle of planning Winter's shoot. I've taped segments for the NeedleArts Studio TV show. I've been working on my pattern book. I've met designers and knitting icons I'm completely starstruck by. I've been traveling a lot, like every couple of weeks.
Eunny's first issue of Knits I've been working on a new blog(!!), which will launch soon. And trying to fit in sleeping and eating and breathing when I can.

What has been the most exciting part for you about working on the Fall issue of Knits?

I think I'd have to say the late-stage part of press week, when the magazine actually begins to look like, well, a magazine. That part is absolutely fascinating – seeing all these things you've been working on individually come together into one big bursting-at-the-seams book. I also loved working on the front part of the book, specifically the gallery with images of all the projects. Starting with this issue, we're really front-loading the magazine with all kinds of technical information, detail shots, and other knitterly tidbits of information in that space, which makes the photo gallery as rich as the patterns themselves. As much as I'm proud of it as its editor, I'm also just really excited about it as a knitter – you see a big, beautiful photo, but you also get notes on cool construction elements, stitch patterns, yarns, insights from the designer, etc.

Wednesday: Part 2 of Eunny's interview!

Do you have a question for Eunny? Leave a comment with your question, and Eunny and I will choose a few for her to answer in upcoming issues of Knitting Daily!

Bella Blouse

This week's featured free pattern: Bella! I noticed that a lot of you were asking for more patterns for short-sleeved tops--tops that might be flattering on a variety of body types. Erin, our web analyst, happened to mention that she was almost finished knitting the Bella Blouse, from the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. Once I saw it, I thought, I bet the Knitting Daily folks would love that! Erin says it's an easy and fun knitting project--just stockinette stitch and some lace, all on mid-size needles so it knits up quickly. Enjoy!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles today? The front of the Bonsai Tunic by Norah Gaughan. Almost done with the armholes!

A Hot Tomato, An Icelandic Shawl, And A Charming Tip

KD Sandi — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Hot Tomato Salsa!

It is Friday the 13th, a traditional "bad luck day" in the U.S.--but I am throwing caution to the winds and wearing my fresh-off-the-needles Hot Tomato. I realize that in doing so, I am making myself a target for coffee accidents, spaghetti spills, and other natural disasters which might be attracted to my new bright-orange sweater. I scoff, nay: I laugh in the face of stains and dribbles, because folks, even if I do say so myself, this top is HOT. (I am no fool, however. I drank my coffee before I got dressed, and I am on a strict water-and-colorless-food diet until I get home from work tonight.) It's not blocked yet, because I finished it literally fifteen minutes before leaving the house. So the photo here is just a sneak preview. Next week, I'll give you a rundown on the modifications I made to the original Tomato, and give you a Hot Tomato Bust Dart PDF status check.

Out of the archives!

Last week, Jeane Hutchins,
Coming Next Week: Icelandic Lace Shawl the editor of PieceWork magazine, received word that the Yahoo Lacey Shawl knitalong was desperately seeking copies of the pattern for a gorgeous Icelandic Shawl published in the July/August 1996 issue of PieceWork. This issue is out of print, and thus a lot of lace knitters are very sad. Sad lace knitters...not good, people. We want happy lace knitters! So Jeane and I came up with a Plan: Guess what pattern is coming to Knitting Daily next week? Yep. The Icelandic Shawl, fresh from the Interweave archives. At first, we worried that we wouldn't be able to dig it up, as not everything from that time period was saved in a digital format. But Jeane valiantly kept searching, until at last she found the original text and transparencies for the pattern! Our star production department is working on getting this into top digital form for next week.

"I didn't know PieceWork had knitting patterns in it!" Yup. Each issue, PieceWork magazine features one or more knitting projects
PieceWork July/August 2007 with a rich cultural and/or historical perspective--as well as articles and patterns for everything from tatting to embroidery, quilting to crochet. Well-known knitting designer and author Nancy Bush is PieceWork's knitting contributor. The July/August 2007 issue has a wonderful story about a woman who traveled through Russia by train, and found herself buying several Russian knitted lace heirlooms along the way. Instructions for knitting a Russian lace scarf are also included.

Charm Wrap Chatter

Several of you noted that the oh-so-luscious Classic Elite Charmed yarn recommended for the Charm Wrap is more of a luxury yarn than an everyday sort of yarn...what to do if you have a everyday budget but you still want to knit that darling cardigan? Substituting yarns is a great way to "personalize" a pattern and really make it yours! There are two factors that go into successful yarn substitutions: gauge, and the character of the yarn itself. The original yarn used for the Charm Wrap is a worsted weight yarn, with a gauge of 4.5 sts per inch on size 8 needles--so start your search for a substitute with worsted (CYCA #4) yarns with a similar recommended gauge.

Next: The original cashmere/mohair blend has a lovely drape; the mohair and cashmere each have a bit of "grab" to them so that the stitches hold onto each other and the fabric keeps its shape. You'll want to find a yarn with similar characteristics for a similar look and feel. There are plenty of wools and wool blends out there that would fit that description. But what if you wanted something slightly exotic that was still not too pricey? There are some wonderful worsted weight bamboo yarns out there this season. In fact, I'm working on a sweater using Classic Elite Bam Boo right now, and I adore the drape, the sheen, and the slight touch of "memory" this yarn has. Whichever yarn you choose, don't be stingy with the swatching, as that will be the best "gauge" of how the finished product will turn out.

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.

Knitting Lace: Knitting Daily Presents 7 Free Knitted Lace Patterns

Are you addicted to lace knitting? Or maybe you've admired some of the gorgeous knitted lace patterns out there and want to give lace knitting a try? Here are seven of Interweave's top knitted lace patterns, gathered together in one FREE ebook for you.

Whether you are a first time lace knitter, or a seasoned expert, you'll enjoy the timeless beauty of knitting lace. Get these stunning projects that will continue to inspire, and be loved for generations to come. You'll want to make every one of these lace 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 Lace Patterns Today

Lace Knitting: You Have Questions, Everyone Has Answers!

KD Sandi — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 06:00:00 GMT

What The Front Looks Like

So, my lace-loving friends: I made a list of the more than 30 questions you asked in the comments from Monday's post. About a quarter of those were promptly addressed by your fellow commenters...which is a Very Good Thing, seeing as it would take me several weeks of posts to answer all those questions myself! And whilst some of you might be in Lace Knitting Heaven during those weeks, I know that some of you want me to get back to the bust darts, and others of you want to chat about cables, or sock toes, or intarsia. So: I'll answer as many of the questions as I can this week, and then we'll have another Lace Week every now and then to talk about the rest!

Don't forget to take our survey: What Kind of Lace Knitter Are You?

Now: On to the questions!

What does the front of the Summer Shawlette look like? It looks the same as the front of the Comfort Shawl! Same front, different backs, plus the Comfort Shawl is a bit longer, and done in merino instead of cashmere.

A not-too-scary lace chart

We want more charts! Many of you asked for charts of the lace patterns we offer on Knitting Daily. Charts are definitely on my own wishlist, so let me see what we can do. It may take a while to pull together the resources on our end, but be assured that charts are on The List.

Can you please go over reading charts? They confuse me! Charts are the maps of the lace world. To start getting used to charts, find a lace pattern in your favorite knitting magazine (Interweave Knits, right? Right!), and compare the photos of the finished lace to the charts. Notice how the shapes formed by the chart symbols look like the shapes of the stitches in the photo? Bingo! There are standard stitch symbols used by most knitting patterns, so spend some time looking at the symbol keys included with the charts and you'll soon be able to recognize yarnovers, decreases, knits, and purls. Practice reading the symbols aloud, in order, and then trying knitting along as you chant, "K2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2..."

Reading Charts for Lace Worked in Rows: The first stitch of a lace chart is at the bottom of the chart, at the far right side. Each box is one stitch. Right-side rows on the chart are worked from right to left. (Try saying to yourself: "Right Side Starts Right Side".) Wrong-side rows on the chart are worked from left to right. This is because when you are working back and forth in rows, you are turning the fabric around--so think of yourself "turning around and going back the other way" to work the next row of the chart. Get to the end of that row of your knitting, turn your knitting around, and on the chart, turn around and go back the OTHER way again!

Reading Charts for Lace Worked in the Round: In this case, each chart row represents a round. For knitting in the round, you read ALL of the chart rows from right-to-left (starting with the bottom row of the chart), because you are always knitting in the same direction, around and around.

How do you keep track of where you are? Over time, most knitters come up with a creative way to keep their places in their lace knitting. I use stitch markers obsessively between repeats on the needles; I use a sticky note aligned with the row I am currently working to keep my place on the chart. Some people write each row of the lace pattern on a separate index card, flipping to the next card as they complete each row. Some people use little chants to help keep the work flowing between markers, as the rhythm of the chanting helps avoid a missed step in the pattern. For example: For the first row of the lace chart shown, try: "Two, toga, YO!, one, YO!, essssKay, two!" (Get it? "toga" for "k2tog"?) Don't be afraid to make the chanting a little silly--besides increasing the fun factor, it actually helps you to remember the chant better!

What does "no stitch" mean? (I always giggle to myself at this one, because this was one of the questions the senior editors asked me in my first job interview here. Yes, of course I passed--I'm here, aren't I?) A "no-stitch" box is just a placeholder, as follows: If you decrease a stitch in Row 1, you have one less stitch in Row 2. Charts are boxy and linear, so in order to make the little boxes line up properly (and to keep the roadmap clear so you can visualize the pattern), that "lost stitch" is greyed out in Row 2. (The reverse is also true: If you increase, you will have a new stitch in Row 2 that was not there in Row 1--so Row 1 may need a grey "not-there-yet-but-will-be-soon" placeholder box.) Just skip that greyed-out little no-stitch rascal. Ignore it. "It's just there to make the chart square."

How do I fix mistakes? There is a Truly Great pictorial explanation of how to fix forgotten and dropped lace stitches (yes, including yarnovers!) in the book Lace Style--and I'm not saying that just because I work for Interweave, I really, really mean that. I couldn't do a better job of explaining how to fix lace mistakes if I tried, so I won't. Go get the book! In fact, the entire last chapter covers practical tips on lace knitting, so it's really invaluable. (Plus, the book has pretty lace thingies to knit! I cannot restrain myself from pointing out that one of the 21 projects in there has BUST DARTS: the Lace-Edged Corset by Michele Rose Orne.)

If you really want to become a mistake-fixing guru, then take a look at Lisa Kartus's Knit Fix. Pictures, graphs, photos, step-by-step...everything you need to feel like a knitting genius!

On Friday: Hot Tomato Progress, Batman! Plus Lace Survey results, and more lace knitting fun. Plus, a preview of an exquisite lace shawl pattern we thought was lost in the Piecework archives...but it's BACK (soon), exclusively for Knitting Daily members!

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.

Knitting Lace: Knitting Daily Presents 7 Free Knitted Lace Patterns

Download Your Free Lace Patterns Today

Holey Lace Knitting, Batman!

KD Sandi — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 06:00:00 GMT

my lacy little Summer Shawlette

OK, so I couldn't resist the goofy title. It's Monday, my laptop decided to die halfway through this post...but who cares, because we get to talk about lace knitting this week. Whoo!

Increases and decreases: That's really all lace knitting is--really! Yarnovers (increases) form the holes in knitting, decreases form the ridges and wavy lines that give shape to the holes. If you can do a yarnover and a k2tog, you can do lace...it really is that simple. But to a beginning knitter, or to someone who can't tell knitting from macrame, lace knitting is mysterious, exotic, the stuff of fairy tales. Well, OK...the truth is that lace knitting entrances even expert knitters, because, even when you know how it works, it's still just plain magical. Knit a bit of lace, and no matter how hard it really was, you still feel like you've created a bit of knitted sleight-of-hand.

By this point, you may have guessed that I adore knitting lace. Lace socks, lace shawls, lace on sweaters...give me holes in my knitting and I'm a happy gal. So imagine how thrilled I was when Pam Allen, then the editor-in-chief of Interweave Knits, called me one day to tell me that the Knits Staff project for the Summer 2006 issue was going to center around lace. I was SO excited
Blocking the shawlette that I almost missed the part where Pam said the words handspun Mongolian cashmere.

Cashmere. Plus lace. For a while there, I think I went a little bit lace-looney, thinking all sorts of Happy Lace Thoughts at odd moments. I read every lace book in the Interweave library. I swatched and sketched and mumbled excitedly to myself. I spent a couple of weeks charting and Doing Math and arguing left-slants versus right-slants with myself. At the end of all the mumbling, there was the Summer Shawlette: a miniature Faroese shawl, light and airy, lacy, but not so lacy that it looked like I was wearing my mother's Christmas tablecloth. I laid it out to block it, and could hardly believe that I had knit something that lovely. All the mumbling aside: the actual knitting of the shawl was the easiest part. Really. (The cashmere definitely helped, but still.)

A Little Lacy Survey For You...

So now you know that I love lace knitting--but what about you? What kind of lace knitter are you? That link will take you to a little survey where you can tell me about your level of lace-love so when I talk about lace the rest of this week (and in future posts up ahead), I'll have a better idea of the type of information you are looking for.

Questions about lace knitting?

On Wednesday and Friday, I will be sharing some answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions about both the Summer Shawlette and the Comfort Shawl. If you have a particular question about lace knitting that you'd like me to answer this week, go ahead and leave a comment. And if you've already knit the Summer Shawlette, and you'd like to share a photo with us: Send us a link!

About Michelle's Yarn Bouquet: Michelle was very flattered that so many of you liked her little floral tribute to the Knitting Daily community! Here's her recipe for the bouquet, which is much easier than you might think: Take 3 skeins of colorful, fuzzy yarn. Mush each skein into the shape of a ball. Take three green knitting needles. Poke the "knobby" end of each knitting needle deep into the center of a yarn ball. Insert the needles into a flower vase, pointy-end down. Tie a ribbon around the neck of the vase and voila! Dr. Seussian Yarn Flowers.

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.