Knitting for Women

The Magical Magic Loop

I started knitting circular objects—socks, gloves, mittens, hats, and so on—on double-pointed needles (DPNs). While I enjoyed knitting the pattern, I didn't particularly like the finished object because I always ended up with ladders where
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Fair Isle Fever: The Ivy League Vest

In my knitting, I tend to get inspired by something and just jump right in, whether or not I know how to do certain techniques. I figure that hands-on is the best
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Another Technique for Finishing: Crochet Edging

A Note from Kathleen: My main craft is knitting, but several years ago I took a crochet class because I expected that I might like that craft, too. And I do enjoy crocheting, especially for items like baby blankets--it's simply so much faster than
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The Knit-a-Long Post (Plus the Kitchener Stitch and a Free Pattern!)

Monkey Socks: Wrap-Up Our first knit-a-long was a great success! When I started this knit-a-long back on July 1, I wasn't sure how it would go. I'm thrilled that Monkey Socks by Cookie A. were knit by about 20 people and to date there are 241
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Knitted Edging: The Perfect Match (and voting for a new KAL!)

A Happy Edging A friend of mine just finished a garter stitch baby blanket and when my knitting group saw the finished product we decided it needed a border of some sort. My friend didn't want a plain garter border, so I pulled out the new Harmony
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Making Time for Knitting: Organization and Inspiration

Carving out time for knitting has never been a problem for me, until now. I used to knit every evening for two or three hours while watching TV or listening to books on tape (and in between changing loads of laundry). With my new position here at Knitting
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Knitting Tip: Counting Cable Rows (and the Heather Hoodie Vest)

I think we might have an instant classic on our hands, folks! The response to the Heather Hoodie Vest from the fall 2009 Knitscene is causing a stir all over the web and in LYSs--and basically anywhere knitters and Knitscene meet! People are comparing
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Knitting Tech: Reversible Cables and the Rivulet Scarf

When I see an Aran sweater my heart skips a beat. Oh, how I want to knit one of those beautiful, heavily cabled and patterned beauties. I've seen so many variations of the Aran sweater, but one of my favorites is this lovely cardigan jobbie--the Pewter
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Free Pattern: Lovely Lace Shawl (Plus More Lace Tips!)

Tips for Joining A Shawl Worked in Two Halves Some long rectangular shawls or scarves are worked in two pieces and then joined at the center. Why? Because certain lace patterns produce a lovely scalloped or patterned edge at the cast-on end, but do not
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The Icelandic Lace Shawl & 6 More Free Lace Knitting Patterns

I had the honor of being invited to speak to Toronto's Downtown Knit Collective last week, and one could not have asked for a more gracious and delightful audience. (Thank you, DKC knitters!) One of the highlights for me was an elderly woman in the
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A Day With the Orenburg Lace Shawls

Note from Sandi: When I worked in the Colorado offices of Interweave, one of my favorite things to do was to pop into the PieceWork office and see what kind of knitted glories the editor, Jeane Hutchins, had there. I loved when Jeane would let me put
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5 Keys To A Great Knitted Sweater

Note from Sandi: We all have the experience of seeing a sweater in a magazine and saying, "WOW!" But what separates the fabulous sweaters from the ordinary? Here's popular knitwear designer and author Vicki Square to give us her thoughts
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Free Pattern: Knitted Lace Sachet

Note from Sandi: Here's the third in our series of "heirloom" staff projects from the Summer 2009 issue of Interweave Knits . This time, Eunny Jang, editor of Knits , gives us a lovely yet quick knitted lace pattern--just in time for a last
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Using Blocking Wires to Block Lace Shawls

For years, I have used pins to block my lace shawls--dozens and dozens of T-pins, painstakingly placed and then adjusted one by one until every single point was just right, and every single motif was shown off to its best advantage. I'd heard of blocking
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Knitting An Heirloom (in just two weeks!)

Note from Sandi: The staff projects are always one of my favorite parts of the new issue! I love seeing how each staff person takes a single idea and interprets it in her own way. In the Summer 2009 issue of Interweave Knits , the assignment was to "knit
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They're Here! Knits Spring Galleries, Part 1

I know you have been waiting for them, so here they are! The Knitting Daily Galleries for Interweave Knits Spring 2009 are finally here. There were so many beautiful sweaters in this issue that I chose eight to feature this time. Yes, eight. Multiply
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Eunny's Sweater Workshop: Petal Halter

Note from Sandi: Today we bring you another new feature: the Sweater Workshop, where we take a great sweater and examine its construction in greater detail. Again, we welcome Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits magazine, as our guide: Olga Buraya-Kefelian
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One Garment, Two Ways: Style Suggestions From Eunny Jang

Notes from Sandi: This week, Eunny Jang, editor of Interweave Knits , presents different ways to wear some of the designs from the Spring 2009 issue of Knits. Here's Eunny! Being a maker of any kind is a powerful thing: it means that tools for self
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Keep Your Knitting Simple (plus a Free Pattern)

Sometimes we forget: Knitting is supposed to be fun. It's what we choose to do in our free time, it's what we do for ourselves--to calm ourselves, to enjoy the rhythm of stitches, to revel in the feel of yarn slipping through our fingers. I like
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Tips & Tricks for Seamless Knitting

Note from Sandi: Any knitting technique that allows you to try on the garment as you go, making adjustments along the way, is a win-win. It allows you to really get to know your own shape, and how that shape may require different curves than the one in
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Finishing Tip: For Those Who Hate the Kitchener Stitch

I don't have any magic words to help you get all your holiday knitting done on time. (Sorry about that.) However, I do have a nifty little grafting tip for those of you who love knitting socks but, like me, utterly despise the Kitchener Stitch. I
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How to Become A Sock Knitting Addict

Note from Sandi: I'm glad so many of you enjoyed our Dancing Knitted Socks video ! (Some of you said it was fuzzy on your computer... here's a link for the high-res version .) So today, I thought it would be fun to hear from the person responsible
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More Winter 2008 Galleries!

Wow! I just finished reading some of the many comments you all have left on the Galleries posted on Monday , and I'm really thrilled with what you came up with. What was fascinating to me was how consistent your answers were! Here's what you all
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Blocking Tips: Acrylic and Other Non-Woolly Fibers

Note from Sandi: There were so many questions on blocking different sorts of fibers when I ran last week's posts on blocking that I decided to expand a bit on some tips I gave when this series was originally published in July of 2007. Here's a
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Blocking Basics, Part 2

Ready to block! Note from Sandi: I am off to Mobile, Alabama, to spend time with Grandma Rose and Grandpa Manuel this week. But I didn't want to leave you without a little Knitting Daily in your email inbox! In July of 2007, I wrote a three-part series
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Learn To Make A Sweater That Fits You Perfectly

At first when I thought about this post, I was going to write about my process for doing those little fit-and-flatter commentaries for the Galleries. I was going to talk about how I sit and read through every single pattern with the sample sweater in
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Step-by-Step Domino Knitting Tutorial

Notes from Sandi: Today, continuing our series on domino knitting, we have a post from Vivian Høxbro sharing more tips and tricks for this fun technique. Vivian is the author of the new Interweave book on domino knitting, Knit to Be Square , which
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Fair Isle: Tips and a Step-By-Step Tutorial

Note from Sandi: I've heard that a lot of people have fallen in love with Pam Allen's Fresco Fair Isle Mitts (see the photo? Pretty!) in the new Fall issue of Knits . I think it's the soft colors waving across the back of the hand, with the
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Ten Easy Free Knitting Patterns for Women

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!
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Knitting Out In The Wide, Wide World

I'm not much of a sports person (most of you have figured this out by now!). But I have gone with friends to sports events, because being with lots of people, watching men and women run around after small objects, eating junk food (I ADORE hot dogs
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Sweaters Don't Lose Weight With You

The photo at left was taken about a year ago. I don't look like that any more, mostly due to a very active dog (even with three legs, he can run circles around me and my pitiful two legs) and a husband who cooks mostly vegetarian fare. I must admit
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We Do The Math For You: Free Bust Dart Worksheet

Dear AnnR of the Comments: Regarding Bust Dart Math: You can do this. It doesn't take a genius. It's not really hard, I promise. Maybe the way I explained it made it seem hard, so today, I came up with a worksheet (and an Excel file !) that ought
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Bust Dart Math!

I guarantee that explaining this will take far longer than it will take you to actually DO the math. Plus, if I were sitting right next to you, I could show you in a nanosecond. But, we have our friend the written word to help us, so here we go: Bust
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Getting Started With Your Darts: Shoulders to Bust

The First Step: Choosing The Right Pattern Size For busty gals who want to use darts to help things fit better, here's a little trick: If you want a snug(gish)-fitting sweater, you can use your high-bust measurement, instead of your full bust measurement
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Bust Dart Placement

Third in Our Series on Bust Darts... For long-time Knitting Daily readers, this post might feel like a slice of deja-vu. There's some information that is just so critical to understanding how to do your own bust darts that I am borrowing some information
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Introduction to Darts: Vertical and Short-Row

The now-infamous Bust Darts Today we continue our adventures into the Land of Bust Darts... What exactly are Darts? Darts are ways of adding (or subtracting) fabric in a small area in order to create more (or less) room in a very small, very specific
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The Return of The Bust Darts

(I know you want to hear all about my adventures with the Yarn People at TNNA, but I am going to be out of the office this entire week. Thus, I have prepared several posts for you ahead of time which I think you will enjoy...) Today, we begin a long-awaited
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Choosing Yarn: The Importance of Drape

Obviously, when I knit Susan's Bulletproof Sweater at age 14, I had no concept that there was anything much beyond color to consider when choosing a yarn. I just pretty much thought that you used whatever yarn you wanted to for a sweater; and then
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My Beautiful Stiff-As-A-Board Sweater

To my delight and horror I have found The Second Sweater I Ever Knit (garage cleaning can be a truly scary thing for a knitter). I actually found this uh, "early work of art" a few weeks back, and have been gathering up my courage to share it
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Tips for Working Tricky Armholes

Working a Tricky Armhole: The Drawstring Raglan The Drawstring Raglan on Stef People are used to knitting raglans from the top-down, but the Drawstring Raglan is done from the bottom up, and I'm noticing a lot of emails asking for help at the part
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Shaping Lace: Increasing

On Monday, we talked about decreasing in lace; today, we'll talk about increasing in a lace pattern. Remember these helpful tips: * Find the yarnover/decrease pairs in the pattern and lightly circle them if that helps you keep track of them. * Always
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Who Invented Lace In The First Place?

Please Welcome Today's Guest Editor: Jeane Hutchins of Piecework magazine! Note: This week's free pattern, Knitted Lace Trimmings , came to us from Piecework, and so I invited Jeane to write today's post. Now heeeerrrre's Jeane! I hope
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Summer Knits Gallery, Part Two!

We have five more Knitting Daily Galleries for you today! The truth is that we Gallery Gals had so much fun trying on the garments from the Summer 2008 issue of Knits that we more or less couldn't stop ourselves. Who can blame us? For those of you
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Your Tips and Tricks for Adding a Knitted Hem

I love that so many of you had other tips to contribute to the discussion on working flat hems on a stockinette sweater. Knitters are so clever. You'd think a hem would be simple, and that there would be only one way to do it, but nope. There are
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Adding a No-Roll Hem to a Stockinette Sweater

The Gathered Pullover , like many stockinette sweaters, has a simple "rolled" hemline--you cast on at the bottom, and just start knitting in stockinette stitch. The stockinette causes the edge of the hem to gently roll upwards, providing an
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The Girl Who Loved Fiber Tools (plus making your own drop spindle!)

The tools of our trade add to the delight of our craft. Spindle or needle, hook or wheel, I love them all. Yes: I am a tool gal. Bring on the pretty orifice hooks, the elegant top-whorls, the superbly balanced knitting needles, the wheel that sings to
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Free Pattern: Slouch Rib Cardigan

Are you an adventurous beginning knitter who wants to try your hand (and your needles) at a sweater? Or perhaps you've been knitting for years and years, but you want a simple project to take with you on a trip—a project that you can wear soon
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Waist Shaping: Choose Your Curves

In the last post , we worked out the math to get us from hem to hip on a pullover worked in the round from the bottom up. Now that we are ready to actually dive into the waist shaping, there is a decision to be made: subtle shaping or curvy shaping? Gentle
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Waist Shaping: The Math, Hem to Hip

Don't be scared. I know it says "math" in the title, but it's knitting math, so we can handle it, right? (Fearless knitters and all that.) Plus, we'll go slow, we'll do this in stages, you can ask questions, and there are no
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A Cute Use For Sock Yarn: Free Lacy Hat Pattern

Katie Himmelberg , style editor of Knitscene and assistant editor of Interweave Knits, once again joins us as today's guest poster. Today, she talks about the her design process for Katie's Fountain Hat , our new free pattern, which was inspired
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Knit For Your Shape: Waist Q & A

Lots of interesting questions in your comments this week, so I pulled out a few to answer in the hopes that together we can clarify some of this! In the end, though, remember that the important part is to know your body's shape and be able to transfer
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What Shape Are You?

Long-waisted Bertha Apple, pear, banana; long-waisted, short-waisted... And that's just the women—we haven't even started to talk about the men yet! It's no wonder we're confused about body shapes. Seems like every website you go
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Are You In A Box?

Don't Box Me In A lovely not-box: Kathy Zimmerman's Dovetail Pullover Sorry. I couldn't resist that... Many folks avoid wearing garments with any kind of body shaping, preferring to wear boxy silhouettes, as they think that boxes hide areas
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Just In Time for the Oscars! Lacy Mesh Gloves

Katie Himmelberg , style editor of Knitscene and assistant editor of Interweave Knits, is today's guest poster! Here's what she has to say about our new free pattern, the Lacy Mesh Gloves, designed by Eunny Jang . Eunny Jang's Lacy Mesh Gloves
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Sticks N' Stitches, Pucks And Purls

I'm not the type to spontaneously attend a major league sports event. Heck, I don't even watch the little five-minute sports segment of the local news. But even I can be persuaded by the prospect of knitters in hockey jerseys cheering on the Colorado
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First A Surprise, Then The Finished Plus Size Central Park Hoodie

Goddess Amy in the CPH+! People have been wondering what Lisa and I had come up with as far as the promised CPH surprise, so here we go... A Gallery of the Central Park Goddesses! Yes, folks, that's right: Lisa sent me her Big Girl CPH, and I found
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The Central Park Hoodie: Which Size To Knit?

Originally, we were going to wait until Friday to post photos of Lisa Shroyer's finished Big Girl version of the Central Park Hoodie , but after all your requests, we just couldn't resist any longer...so: Voila! And yes, that is Lisa modelling
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The Central Park Hoodie--PLUS!

Heather Lodinsky's original CPH When Lisa Shroyer told me that she was knitting a Big Girl version of the Central Park Hoodie, I couldn't wait to see her Finished Object (known in blogdom as a "FO"). When I found out she was actually
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Gallery: The Ivy League Vest

Annie goes Ivy League! Katie's notes: (Katie Himmelberg is assistant editor of Interweave Knits.) This colorwork beauty, designed by Interweave Knits editor Eunny Jang, modernizes a Fair Isle classic with its close fit. Using a modest six colors,
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Galleries: Henley Perfected & Citrus Yoke Pullover (Plus Notes on Sandi's Gathered Pullover)

Katie wearing the Henley Perfected I asked Katie Himmelberg, style editor of Knitscene and assistant editor of Interweave Knits , to provide some expert commentary for us for each of the sweaters we have chosen for the Winter 2007 Interweave Sweater Gals
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Lisa Shroyer: Studying Knitted Sweaters For A Living

Lisa Shroyer Today's Knitting Daily post was written by the next in our series of Guest Star Editors: Lisa Shroyer , senior editor of Interweave Knits and editor of Knitscene magazine . I've been with Interweave since 2005. My main job is the
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Tips & Tricks For Twisted Stitches

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
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Mags Kandis and The Language of Color

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,
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Adventures in Yarn Substitution

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

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
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The 1824 Blouson: A Gallery

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
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The Four Knitting Truths

Bertha is overcome at your comments The Corset 9 and I would like to thank you for all the amazing and touching comments and emails. (Bertha is the strong, silent type, but she'd surely say "thank you" as well if it was her way to say anything
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Nine Women, One Sweater

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
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Looking In The Mirror

"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
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The Basics of Blocking, Part Two

Ready to block! On Wednesday, we began our Adventure in Blocking with a review of the basic tools and preparations you need to make before you get started. Now that you have everything gathered together, and now that you have experimented with blocking
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The Basics of Blocking, Part One

Everything you need to start blocking Since I finished the back of the Bonsai Tunic last weekend (from Interweave Knits Spring 2007 ), I figured the best way to start talking about blocking was to do a bit of show-and-tell, starring my new best friend
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Ta-DA! The Icelandic Lace Shawl from PieceWork

Just for you: The Icelandic Lace Shawl I absolutely LOVED reading all the different clever solutions you folks have come up with to use as blocking surfaces ... amazing. I do think, however, that Jen S. gets the Creative Gold Star for the week: For items
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A Hot Tomato, An Icelandic Shawl, And A Charming Tip

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
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Where The Darts Go

Photo 1: Knitters, meet Bertha Before we get started: Would everyone please chant "SHARon, SHARon, SHARon" a few times? Sharon is the clever, funny gal who chanted "Bust! Darts! Bust! Darts!" in the comments on Friday . I inadvertently
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In Which the Commenters Chant: Bust Darts, Bust Darts, Bust Darts!

Me and my hot Tomato in progress I should have known you'd want to know about the bust darts. Your comments on last Friday's blog entry were a HOOT and I just about giggled myself to pieces reading them all. By the time I got to Susan's comment
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My Surreal Knitting Life And That Stripe

Wendy's original Tomato I’m having a bit of a surreal life at the moment. I mean, I know I work for Interweave, and thus I’m supposed to be all nonchalant and cool about things like Norah Gaughan leaving a comment on my blog ….but I’m so not cool
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The Fair Art Of Stranded Colorwork

Norah Gaughan's Intricate Stag Bag Have you read the comments from Monday’s post ? Oh my goodness…There is practically an entire textbook full of tips in there about how to do Fair Isle successfully. You people are awesome! I had a completely different
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About That Stripe: Knitting A Fairer Fair Isle

Tomato by Wendy Bernard Maybe some of you are Fair Isle Wizards, but I am not. In fact, I'm kind of a Fair Isle Chicken. Give me lace knitting, and I purr and behave myself in public (well, mostly…). But Fair Isle—Fair Isle and I have a History. Fair
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You Asked For A Top, We Give You A Tomato

Tomato by Wendy Bernard Before Knitting Daily went live, I sent out a survey to all you charter members asking you what you wanted to knit. A rousing 37% of the 4,120 folks who replied said you wanted to knit a short-sleeved top. Drum roll, please: So
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Your Perfect Sock Pattern

According to the Sock Survey, your perfect sock pattern would be: Worked from the cuff down (70% of the votes); For a woman (46%); Designed in a textured (but not cabled) stitch pattern (22%); Worked on 5 dpns (37%); and Suitable for a variegated or handpainted
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Faroese Shawls

Faroese Shawls…the very name sounds exotic, bringing to mind images of delicate, spidery lace worn by fancy society ladies. The truth is that real Faroese Shawls are anything but fancy. Originally designed by hard-working women of the Faroese Isles
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A Shrug of Your Own: The Basic Recipe

Drop-Stitch Shrug So you have a cute little sundress, say, and you’re planning on wearing it out to dinner next week, but it gets chilly in the evening. You don’t want to completely cover up the neckline, because that’s one of the best parts of the dress
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The Mighty Shrug

It took a wardrobe malfunction for me to fully appreciate the power, the beauty, and the sheer usefulness of the humble garment called a shrug. Prior to the unfortunate malfunction, I had scorned shrugs as being something devised by an evil waif queen
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