Knitting Daily

The Central Park Hoodie (and Voting for the Next KAL!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

The Central Park Hoodie Knit-a-Long is officially over, although there are many of us still knitting like the wind to get this puppy done so we can wear it already!

I've got a sleeve left and the finishing, which is at least a week's worth of work. I'm knitting steadily, though!

We had an amazing amount of participation in the KAL: almost 800 comments! People really loved the project and shared their tips and tricks so generously. It was, and continues to be, a wonderful KAL, and that's because of the people involved. Thank you all so much for making this a really fun couple of months of knitting the Hoodie; I'm looking forward to knitting with you again in the next KAL (see below for voting!).

Here's a parade of beautiful Central Park Hoodies for you to enjoy, and if you're still working, don't despair—you're in good company. The KAL forum will be available forever, so post away!


Catherine's CPH	Artful Soul's CPH	Peggy's CPH


TMS's CPH	Teresa's CPH	Aporanee's CPH


Mardi's CPH	Candace's CPH	Barbara's CPH

What Should We Knit Next?

Several of you expressed interest in working an easy fair isle project, so all of my choices for the next KAL incorporate that technique. Fair isle is such a fun and rewarding technique—it takes the "just one more row" syndrome to new heights! (Just take a look at the fabulous new book of fair isle and colorwork patterns The New Stranded Colorwork by Mary Scott Huff. She's done an amazing job developing beautiful patterns for this technique.)

The Cactus Blossom Pullover and the Tomato Sweater are great first sweater projects that incorporate a bit of fair isle work. The Fresco Mitts and the Freyja Hat are both beautiful, quick-finish projects—which might be good for this busy time of year. The Lady's Duet and the Snowflake Scarf are easy and very "gift-able," and both scarves would work for the man in your life, too.

I hope one of these strikes your fancy, too!


Cactus Blossom	Fresco Mitts	Freyja Hat


Lady's Duet	Earflap Hat	Snowflake Scarf

Click here to vote for your favorite; I'll announce the winner next Friday.

Cheers,

Kathleen

Knitting For SOAR (plus VOTE on my next sweater)

KD Sandi — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Knitting For SOAR

You might have noticed that I did not post last week (bad blogger!). My excuse? I was at Interweave's Spin-Off Annual Retreat, learning all about my most favorite thing: Yarn. My SOAR adventure was, in part, a mission to find out more about this beloved substance, to see if I could make better yarn choices in my knitting. I figured the more I knew about yarn, the better knitter I could become.

My very first day there, the instructor hands me a puff of cashmere fiber and tells me to make some yarn with it. Yes, really. (And it just got better from there–we even made bunny fur yarn!)

That's what it was like. For SIX DAYS, people. For six days, people like Abby Franquemont and Judith Mackenzie McCuin and Maggie Casey and Amy King kept showing me things about yarn that made my little knitter's head explode.

Learning About My Own Knitting

As I was packing for SOAR, I realized that I needed a knitting project to take with me. The white starry baby blanket wouldn't do, as it is too big (and too white) to take on a plane. I finally decided to start a new project, just a bitty one (no, really, I can finish this one, honest I can...really...). In honor of SOAR, I chose to use some of my own handspun yarn–a 50/50 alpaca silk blend that I spun up into silky soft 2-ply sockweight yarn. For the pattern, I chose Pretty Thing, the Yarn Harlot's lace cowl design. That's a photo of it–I love how the pinks softly change from light to dark, like the petals of a rose. Makes me happy just looking it it!

By the time I got to SOAR, I had the cowl nearly half-done (see?). I set the knitting aside during the classes in favor of my spinning; once I got home, however, I was ready to knit again. I picked up the cowl project...and with all that SOAR knowledge so minty fresh in my mind, I realized that my lovely rose-colored yarn might not be a good choice for the cowl after all. (Rats.) Here's why:

What Have You Learned, Dorothy?

I took Robin Russo's three-day workshop on Exotic Fibers–including, of course, alpaca and silk. Robin challenged us to think of fibers and yarns in terms of words like elasticity (or memory), strength, softness, and sheen. A yarn made entirely of silk, for example, will have high marks for strength and sheen, but low marks for elasticity, as silk has no ability to "bounce back." Likewise, alpaca gets high marks for softness, but relatively low marks for memory when compared to its woolly cousins.

And therein lies the problem with my little pretty cowl. My cowl by its nature needs to be elastic–I want to pull it on over my head, and then have it snuggle charmingly against my neck. My handspun yarn is half silk (thus sheen, strength, and softness, but no memory); and half alpaca (thus softness and sheen, but not a lot of memory). While the yarn is a great choice for wearing against my skin, it may not be a great choice for something that needs to keep its shape over the course of a lot of stretching and pulling.

What might work better would be something with a little wool in it–say, an alpaca/silk/wool blend. (I'll keep that in mind for next time. It's Canada. The first snowfall is mere days away. Surely I will need more than one warm cowl during the next six months.) However, my cowl might be fine as is, because it's all lace. Lace has a bit more structure to it than plain stockinette, and this structure can bring a bit of elasticity to the mix, depending on the stitch pattern and the gauge.

As my SOAR instructors kept saying: It Depends. Try It And See.

I've decided to finish the cowl, block it, wear it, and then See What Happens. It's an experiment, a learning experience. If I learned anything at SOAR, it's that you never truly know anything about yarn until you try it out–because as we knitters know all too well, our mistress Yarn certainly has a mind of her own!

Stay tuned. I'll show you the cowl when it's finished and maybe do some stretch tests with it. That ought to be interesting...and give us all some good information for yarn choices along the way.

Sweater Poll: Choose Which Sweater I Knit Next!

Two weeks ago, I asked you to submit ideas for my next on-the-needles sweater project–and you responded with dozens of pretty sweaters! So the nominations are in, and I've counted your votes. Here are the top five sweaters you suggested I knit next: Tangled Yoke Cardigan by Eunny Jang; Central Park Hoodie by Heather Lodinsky (big girl sizing by Lisa Shroyer); Farmer's Market Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio; Curry Cabled Cardigan by Cathy Payson; and Sienna Cardigan by Ann E. Smith. Great choices everyone! Thank you.

Now vote for the final choice! Which one should I knit next for myself? (Go ahead, boss me around. You know you want to.)

Choose my next sweater project!

Knit with joy...

– Sandi

P.S. Let me know what you think! You can email me at sandi@knittingdaily.com or you can leave a comment.

Free Pattern and Video: Child's Holiday Capelette

Knitting Daily TV — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Give a big welcome to today's guest blogger Jil Eaton, whose name has become synonymous with kids knitwear. Last year she introduced her own yarn line—MinnowMerino distributed by Classic Elite Yarns—and offered knitters everywhere an adorable free pattern for a child’s holiday capelette (originally published in the CEY Web-Letter). Today we’re thrilled that Jil is sharing this pattern with our readers and viewers, and we have an exclusive video of Jil demonstrating the capelette’s embellishment techniques. Here’s Jil to t ell us more…

Hi Knitting Daily! The Holiday Capelette project that I presented this season on the TV show perfectly captures my design philosophy. My trademark QuickKnits—in larger gauges, clean silhouettes, chic design details, and pure clean color—all add up to a charming garment.

The Capelette, knit in holiday red and icy blue for a touch of insouciance, is very easy to work up and includes regularly spaced increases for the shaping. The cape is decorated with a single crochet chain, sewn in easy loops around the bottom edge in a contrasting color. It is then punctuated with French knots sprinkled playfully around the chain.

You can watch me demonstrate some of these embellishment options in this video:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Download the free capelette pattern here.

Embroidery, bobbles and other design details can make all the difference between an ordinary garment and one that is a showstopper. Color is key, and don’t be afraid to experiment--play with your yarn and have fun! Changing the colors for this capelette project could turn it from a holiday charmer to a classic party cover-up in pretty pastels or rich blues and aqua. Always use the best fibers you can find, for the joy of knitting and for the life of the garment, which could easily become an heirloom.

After so many years designing, teaching workshops and writing my “Ask Jil” column in KnitSimple magazine, I would say the single most important tip for perfect knitting is getting the correct gauge. Getting the gauge, or correct number of stitches and rows per inch, guarantees the garment will have the correct fit and drape, as the designer intended. Always do your swatch, which takes only a short time and is perfect for testing the ‘washability’ of that particular yarn. The gauge swatch is perfect as part of your knitting history; my students all maintain knitting notebooks, a typical 3-ring binder including clear plastic insert pages. Using one page for each project, include your personal copy of the pattern, notes, information about the lucky recipient, and your gauge swatch. Later the swatch can come in handy for any necessary repairs. As Nike says, “Just do it!” You’ll become a better knitter for life.

If you go to my website, www.minnowknits.com, you can sign up for my monthly email newsletter, MinnowNotes, or check out my blog at www.jileaton.blogspot.com. Remember, when we are knitting, all is right with the world! –Jil Eaton

Knitted Gifts: Spread the Joy

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

We've all wrapped up our precious knitted gifts in boxes and bags. And when we put them with all of the other gifts, they look just like everything else in the pile. Don't get me wrong, I love a big stack of presents, but I've stumbled upon some new items from Interweave that will make our knitted treasures stand out from the rest.



Swatch and yarn ball cards	Gift tags	Sheep and alpaca cards

I just got a shipment of these little gift items, and they're even cuter in person. I especially love the sheep gift bag, which I immediately stuffed full of yarn to take with me this weekend to a knitting retreat (stay tuned for some photos next week!).

Sharing our enthusiasm for our knitting lifestyle is fun and important, and these little cards and tags are a perfect way to do that. Using these items to present knitted gifts is special, and I'm even incorporating the cards into my stack that I pull from for all occasions. It's a nice way to spread the knitting joy.

And imagine getting a little package in the gift bag at right! Maybe you should pack up a one-skein project with a skein of yarn and a pattern, and give it to one of your knitting buddies. Perhaps something that person can make as a holiday gift?

That's not really re-gifting, is it?

Knitted Gift Tags

We featured this clever idea in Interweave Knits Gifts, and I thought you might like to try it. There's no real pattern for these, just take a look at the photo at left and freeform it! That's part of the fun.

Directions: Knit to a simple, outline shape, increasing, decreasing, and casting on as necessary. Hold your knitting up to the outline frequently to compare. Back your knitted shapes with card stock, punch a hole at the top, and add a piece of yarn to attach the tag to a gift.

You can make your shapes larger to use them as decorations, too. Try using some metallic yarn to add a little sparkle!

"Knitted" Cards

I really enjoy papercrafting, and I usually make my own holiday cards. This year I'm working on some cards where I'm using swatches instead of rubber stamps. I'm using a garter stitch swatch and pressing it on an ink pad, and then I'm pressing it onto the card to make a background.

I'm going to use a holiday image to try to make a sort of intarsia look, with an ornament or a tree or something in the middle of the knitted background. We'll see. I'll post some images when I get something that works!

Have fun with these ideas, and please share your results with us in the comments or the gallery!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Knitscene Photoshoot + Snow!

LisaShroyer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:32:00 GMT

I'm back from Colorado this week, and it's so nice to be home and away from the SNOW. While I was out west, we got a big snowstorm that dumped quite a bit of snow. We were shooting projects for the upcoming Winter/Spring 2010 issue. I'm already reviewing the images from the photographer—I think the snow lends a little knitterly magic to the pictures. Forget Fall, it's time for winter knitting! Can you believe it?

We did the outdoor shoot on a lovely bit of property west of Loveland, Colorado, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We rented a cabin for hair/makeup and wardrobe, but the rest of us spent the day outdoors, well bundled. Look for this issue out in January. In the meantime, we'll be busy putting it together!

P.S. I'm really excited about our featured designer and her Knitscene collection for this issue...hint: She has a PhD!

Perfect Knitted Gloves: Tips for Success

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT

I’ve never knitted a pair of gloves, if you can believe that. Mittens, fingerless gloves, and wrist warmers are all in my repertoire, but no gloves! The thought of knitting all of those fingers has always steered me away from glove projects.

I usually get about four pairs of those tiny knit gloves that stretch to fit any size hand. Those last me all winter, interspersed with my down mittens for the really cold days. I’m over those gloves, though, they’re too thin for Spokane. And besides, I’m a knitter and therefore I should knit some gloves!

So here’s my plan:

1. Find a pattern.
2. Choose yarn.
3. Knit a gauge swatch.
4. Cast on.
5. Knit, knit, knit.
6. Finish one glove.
7. MAKE THE OTHER GLOVE!!

It's a nice plan, isn't it? Step 6 is the only step that makes me nervous…

Since I have Ann Budd’s The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, which has a whole section on making simple gloves, the pattern-finding is done. Step 1, check.

I’ve mentioned before that I have a ball of Socks that Rock sock yarn (not to mention all the sock yarn I got at the sock summit), and a couple of other choices, too. I like the idea of using sock yarn on small needles so that the gloves will be dense and warm. So here are the choices:

Leave me a comment below and tell me which yarn you like best!

I think my gauge will be about 7 or 8 stitches to the inch, and my hand circumference is about 7½ so I’ll be casting on 60 to 66 stitches.

How do I know this? That’s the brilliance of The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Ann gives you options. And by options, I mean OPTIONS! There are glove patterns for five gauges of yarn and seven sizes, and an amazing schematic.

A big bonus in the glove section is the page called "Quick Tips for General Success." Ann provides these tips for each type of pattern and they're easily worth the price of the book. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

If you’re using double pointed needles, use this tip to avoid the ladder: When you reach the end of a double-pointed needle, always work two or three stitches from the next needle onto the working needle. Doing so will move the boundary between needles and will help prevent a line of loose stitches between needles.
As you knit, poke the finished fingers into the hand to keep them out of your way.
To help eliminate holes at the base of fingers, pick up and knit one or two more stitches than required when you begin a finger, then decrease the extra stitch or stitches on the first round of knitting.

That tip for avoiding ladders will work for anything you knit on DPNs, not just gloves. Some of us occasionally have issues with ladders when we use the Magic Loop method (ahem. . .), so this is good for us, too!

I'll keep you posted on the gloves—I need to make quick work of them so I'm not forced to buy another pair of those little stretch gloves!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Decorate with Knitted Holiday Ornaments

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Even though it's just Halloween, I'm already dreaming of the holidays—my favorite time of the year.

I have a really beautiful collection of glass holiday ornaments that look just lovely on the Christmas tree. They sparkle and glimmer when the light hits them.

I usually get a couple of new ornaments as gifts each year—last year my mom gave me the most hilarious one: a hamburger. It's beautifully crafted, though, and I hung it proudly on my tree. Maybe this year I'll get some fries.

I have a couple of small trees, too. (I know, a little overboard on the trees!) This year I'm tgoing to make some knitted ornaments to put on one tree, along with a twisted cord garland. I think I can bang out several ornaments at my knitting group the next few Sundays. We'll see ... my Central Park Hoodie is mocking me from my knitting bag!

Want to knit some ornaments along with me? Here are some ideas:

Swatch Ornaments

Dig out your swatch box and put project swatches to good use making ornaments. Thin, drapey swatches will give the smoothest effect.

Materials: Glass or plastic ball ornament; knitted swatch (height and width similar to or slightly smaller than ornament circumference; exact dimensions are not critical, swatch will stretch to fit.); strong sewing thread, needle; ribbon (optional)

Directions: With right sides facing, sew two short ends of the swatch together to make a tube. Turn right side out. With a doubled length of thread, make a running stitch line along the bottom edge of the swatch.

From inside the tube, draw the thread tight and gather the bottom of the swatch into a tightly closed circle. Fasten off the thread. Pop the ball ornament into the swatch bag.

With a doubled length of thread, make a running stitch along the top edge of the swatch. Draw the top opening tightly closed, stretching the fabric slightly if necessary. Fasten off the thread. (Optional) Attach a ribbon for hanging.

More Free Ornament Patterns!



Use up odds and ends in your stash! Cabled Globes will add texture to your tree.	Try knitting this pretty Snowflake Ornament in a sparkly, white yarn.	Make these cute poinsettias in all kinds of colors! Be creative with your color scheme.

And don't forget about the Knitted Star pattern that we posted in the Inside Knits blog. It's so cute. I need a tree skirt for one of my little trees, and I'm thinking about making four or five of the midsized Knitted Stars and sewing them together point-to-point to make a cool tree skirt.

If you want to make a yarn garland, here's how:

Twisted Cord

Cut several lengths of yarn about five times the desired finished cord length. Fold the strands in half to form two equal groups. Anchor the strands at the fold by looping them over a doorknob. Holding one group in each hand, twist each group tightly in a clockwise direction until they begin to kink.

Put both groups in one hand and then release them, allowing them to twist around each other counterclockwise. Smooth out the twists so that they are uniform along the length of the cord. Knot the ends

Have fun with all of these ornament ideas!

Cheers,

Kathleen

What are you knitting for...Halloween?

eunnycjang — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:49:00 GMT

I've knitted miles and miles (well, actually, just a yard and a half) of bright orange I-cord. Can you guess who I'm going as for Halloween? Hint: I still need to cut it in half and wrap some tape around the ends of the cord for aglets.

If you need a refresher on I-cord, check out Kathleen's post on I-cord from a few days ago. I'm an I-cord devotee - it's strangely satisfying to slide those stitches and pull a row of knitting into a smooth, tight round. It's one of those knitting tricks that comes pretty close to magic. I like to use a very short DPN (about four inches long - I've seen these sold as "glove needles") to minimize the distance the cord needs to slide.

It comes in pretty handy, too. I love I-cord finishes on garments and accessories (it makes a nice stand-in for piping), of course, but I use it around the house wherever I need a bit of sturdy hollow cord. I've got loops of it running through the the holes in my kitchen utensils so they can hang on big hooks; I used some to hid a length of speaker cord in an awkward place; narrow I-cords have gradually ended up replacing most drawstrings in my clothes and bags over time.

And they come in really handy for when you need a set of bright orange shoelaces on short notice. I knitted this while watching the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers to get in the spirit - are you knitting part of your Halloween costume, too? Tell us about it!

Short and So Sweet: The Little Knitted Gift

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

My family has always made a big deal about the holidays. We have so much fun together cooking, eating, toasting and roasting each other, and shoveling/playing in the snow.

We've gotten really good at choosing gifts for each other, too. We take note of little things we say all year and try to pick out really meaningful gifts. (Although I did have to regroup one year after getting my brother a Dukes of Hazzard coloring book!)

And now that nephew Henry is around, the holiday fun has leveled up a notch or two! At four years old though, he's still a little bit more interested in the lights of Christmas than the presents! He loves the tree as much as I do.

In the last four or five years, I've been knitting gifts for my family, but as I've mentioned before on Knitting Daily, that might not happen this year, at least not to the degree it's happened in the past!

Maybe it'll be little gifts. I'll never be the gift-card type (not that there's anything wrong with that!), so I'll have to come up with some sort of handmade goodies!

Welcome to the Gift Parade

I think some of you might be in the same boat, so I thought I'd take a troll through the gift section of our free pattern collection and see what floated to the top. Here goes!



The Daisy Towel is so cute, with its little, embroidered flowers. It's a quick knit, made from cotton worsted-weight.	The Bride's Sachet isn't just for brides. Any gal would enjoy this delicate packet of good scent!	What child wouldn't want to see a Knit Father Christmas popping out of the top of a stocking on Christmas morning?



These polka-dotted Napkin Rings are perfect for the holiday table, and even more perfect as a hostess gift.	House Slippers are the trifecta of the perfect gift: easy-to-make, cute, and useful. These are simply cut out of an old, felted, wool sweater.	Knitted Cuddlies are so cute! If you have a little one on your gift list, look no further.

And for the knitter in your life, how about a gift subscription to Interweave Knits? I received a subscription to Knits once, and it was so much fun to flip through the issue that was tucked in my stocking, only to have a card fall out that said it was the first in a subscription. I was so excited!

Cheers,

Kathleen

I Need a Hat: The Knitted Slouch

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I am NOT one of those people who looks great in hats, especially the beanie-type hat. I wear those hats in the winter when I have too, but I much prefer the beret style hat or the slouch hat.

It was in the 30s this weekend in Spokane—it's getting hard to remember those 95-degree days when all I wanted for Christmas was a fan. I need a hat now, and I can't wait for the holidays to get one as a gift.

So, I was trolling through the free patterns on Knitting Daily, and I decided to try the Barrymore Slouch Hat by Lisa Shroyer from our recent free eBook, 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns. This hat is really easy and quick-to-knit, and it's also stylish and warm. Some slouchy hats don't cover the ears, which isn't an option for this climate. The Barrymore Hat actually has built-in ear flaps tucked under the band for extra coziness.

This hat has a lot of design features, such as the garter rows every so often and the buttons on the side. I have quite a collection of buttons from my great gramma, my gramma, and my mom (not to mention my own OCD button-shopping tendencies). I keep them in a vintage Crisco jar, which just adds to the charm of the collection.

I usually find just the right button in that jar, and it gets replenished regularly from various sources (tell people you have a button collection, and you never know what you'll get).

Building Skills: No Slouching!

This project uses several basic skills and some more intermediate techniques that add just a bit of a challenge. You'll do your basic knitting in the round plus a slip stitch row and a purl row each time you switch colors. You'll also pick up stitches with a crochet hook

If you're new to knitting in the round, here's a quick tutorial from Knitting Daily TV that shows how to join in the round when using both circular needles and double-pointed needles. You'll learn a couple of tips in this video clip, too, including how to keep a round marker on the needles when you're using double-points.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I have two black coats and one silver down vest, so I think I'll knit this hat out of a dark gray and a silver gray merino wool. Should be beautiful. (Or maybe some red and silver?)

Get the Barrymore Slouch Hat pattern and five more easy knitting pattern when you download your free eBook!

Cheers,

Kathleen

The Knitted I-cord: "I" is for "Ingenious"

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

The venerable Elizabeth Zimmermann rediscovered and named the I-cord (the I-cord, called a "stay lace," was mentioned in Victorian needlework manuals). The "I" stands for "idiot" because Ms. Zimmermann thought the technique was so simple anyone could do it (even an idiot, I guess!).

I think the "I" should stand for "ingenious." The I-cord is simply a tube knitted in the round with two double-pointed needles (I've done it with a long circular needle, too).

The I-cord is one of those things in knitting that is endlessly useful. The technique is somewhat idiot-proof, once you get the hang of it, and it's also really mindless knitting (especially if you need a long I-cord, like in the Greek Pullover)—the I-cord is something to do in front of the TV or with a good audio book on board for sure!

Here's a quickie tutorial:

With a double-pointed needle, cast on the desired number of stitches. *Without turning the needle, slide the stitches to other end of the needle, pull the yarn around the back, and knit the stitches as usual; repeat from * for desired length.

(The illustration above shows knitting the stitches after you've slid the them to the other end of the needle.)

The I-cord Beanie: A Perfect Baby Topper

I've used I-cords for many things, but my favorites are those little hats where you finish up by making three or four inches of I-cord and then tying it in a knot. So cute!

I made a pair of booties and an I-cord hat for a friend who had a preemie baby, and he wore it all winter. He's a big boy now, but that hat is well-documented in photos.

There's a similar hat in my arsenal, one that I call the Noodle Cap. It's a simple cap pattern, like the one in the photo, but to finish it I knit about eight, 4-inch long I-cords and then attach them to the crown of the hat. It looks like there are noodles coming out of the top! It's especially cute if you use a white or cream yarn for the cap and different colors for each of the "noodles."

A Smooth Finish: The Applied I-cord

One of the best uses of the I-cord is in finishing. The technique is called "applied I-cord" (or sometimes "attached I-cord") and it gives you a really smooth, nice-looking finish that's perfect around armholes and necklines.

The Ruched Shell by Lou Scheila (below) is a nice example of the applied I-cord used in finishing; note the pretty neckline and smooth, even arm openings.

Here's how I do the applied I-cord.

With garment's right side facing and using a separate ball of yarn and circular needle, pick up the desired number of stitches along the garment edge. Slide these stitches down the needle so that the first picked-up stitch is near the opposite needle point. With a double-pointed needle, cast on the desired number of I-cord stitches. Begin knitting the applied I-cord as follows:

Step 1. Knit across the I-cord to the last stitch, then knit the last stitch together through the back loop with the first picked-up stitch on the garment.

Step 2. Slip the number of cast-on stitches back to the right hand needle (so, if you're doing a three -stitch I-cord, slip three stitches back to the right-hand needle).

Step 3. Knit across the I-cord to the last stitch, then knit the last stitch together through the back loop with the first picked-up stitch on the garment.

Step 4. Continue in this manner until all picked-up stitches have been used.

Here's a video tutorial, too.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I've seen the applied I-cord used well on felted bags, too. The bags are sometimes finished with two applied I-cords on top of one another, which felts into a sturdy, rounded border around the opening of the bag. It's a really nice finish when felted.

Case Closed: The I-cord Closure

I-cords can be used as pretty closures, too. Check out the Asian-style closures (at right) on the Mandarin Blouse.

My friend Leslie showed me how to make a really pretty I-cord knot closure: The Chinese Knot, which is nice on a cardigan for a little Asian flair. You could use it on a one-button cardigan instead of the button. The knot is from Knit Kimono, by Vicki Square. Here's my version:

Click here for instructions on making the Chinese Knot closure.

In Elizabeth Zimmermann's book The Opinionated Knitter, there's a photo of Ms. Zimmermann with her glasses on an I-cord strap, which shows yet another use for this versatile technique. I hope you'll try some of these projects that incorporate I-cords.

Have a great weekend!

Kathleen

Knitterly Heaven: Fiber Festivals

KD Sandi — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:54:00 GMT

I went off to Rhinebeck, New York, last weekend, to immerse myself in the fiber world at the huge annual NYS Sheep & Wool Festival. Did I have fun? Does a knitter have dpns under her sofa cushions?

It was fabulous. One llama tried to pick me up and get frisky with me on the first date. The llama kissed me several times on the face, then nuzzled my, uh, chest, then snuggled into my arms. (This caused a riot of giggles from the small folk around the pen.)

So, I tell ya. Llamas these days. No roses, no chocolates, not even a movie. Just kiss -n- nuzzle, then thank you ma’am.

As for me, I tried to be Well Behaved when it came to buying pretty things. I really did. I even managed to keep myself squeaky-clean as far as customs limits goes, although I admit that the total did hit three figures. It was rather worth the look on the customs agent's face, however, as he looked at my customs form when I landed in Toronto:

Customs gent: "How much did you spend while in the States?"

Me: "Blah-de-blah dollars."

Him: "Uh, huh. What did you spend it on?"

Me: "Wool. Oh, and a book."

Him: stare

Me: sheepish grin

Him: recovering "You spent blah-de-blah dollars on WOOL?"

Me: "Yes, sir. Wool. You know--yarn. And a book, too."

Him: shaking head "Are you going to sell all that yarn?"

Me: "No sir. I'm going to knit with it."

Him: stare

Me: amused grin, makes knitting motions with hands

Him: stamps paperwork "You can go."

So why should you go to a fibre festival? I give you SIX great reasons:

YARN! Yes, there is actual yarn at a fiber fest, not just fleece. There will be so much yarn that you will feel like you have died and gone to Knitter's Heaven. Take your time. Browse around. Breathe deeply. If you feel faint from yarn fumes, go have a cup of hot chili or a big coffee at the 4-H booth.

THE LOCAL FIBRE FOLKS! It is great fun to meet people who make their living creating pretty yarn for us to knit, or producing the fleeces that will become beautiful yarns for us to knit. And then there are the crafts folk (handblown glass needles, carved ball winders, hand-stitched knitting bags) who make so many beautiful things that enhance our knitting joy. A fiber festival allows us not only to meet these talented folk, but to support them financially so they can continue to support their families and to make cool stuff for us!

SEE! TOUCH! SNIFF! Sure, you can buy stuff online, but at a festival, you get to Touch and Fondle. (Yeah, baby.) Colors are their own bright cheery selves in person; you can tell immediately if that green is YOUR green or not. And if you are a spinner, there is no substitute for being able to put your hand into a bag full of luscious fluff. (I petted some Icelandic wool/alpaca/silk fluff and had to be dragged away bodily or I would still be there, petting and cooing softly to it.)

MEET THE KNITTERS. Oh my goodness, the friends you'll meet there. If you are on Ravelry, be sure to wear a nametag with your Ravelry name on it so other Ravelers can find you. Bring friends, meet new ones...and keep an eye out for your favorite designers and bloggers, too!

FUN! There it is folks, the most important reason to go. You will have a TON o' fun, or my name isn't Sandi Wiseheart. Really. Go. Watch the clever sheepdogs outwit the dumb sheep; pet some outrageously soft buffalo fluff; meet angora bunnies who should not be allowed to be That Cute; fondle gorgeous yarns dyed by talented local/indie dyers; eat local treats; and of course: Enhance Your Stash.

And finally, Reason Number 6, which is voiced so eloquently by my friend Mardi that I'll just quote her:

"Even just showing up and only spending $20 is a show of support for this community. The more bodies that walk through that gate, the louder the message is that this is important, that it’s not just a hobby but it’s history and heritage. Represent, people!"

Festival Tips: Wear comfortable shoes; drink lots of water; scope out the restrooms early and often; bring your family; and above all: Decide on a budget ahead of time and stick to it. (Don't forget that YOU are part of the fiber community and it's important to support yourself as well!)

You know you want to go. Rhinebeck's over for this year, but use your keen detecting skills to find out if there is a fiber festival within a day's drive of your home.

The alpacas say: You won't be sorry. Go to a fiber festival and Support the Wool Arts.

I'M STILL ACCEPTING SWEATER NOMINATIONS!

Here's the deal: You pick it, I knit it. I need a sweater, so you get to choose the pattern from Interweave's entire family of books and mags. Go for it! My only preference is that I'd like a cardigan rather than a pullover.

Leave your suggestions for The Sweater You Think Sandi Ought to Make For Herself in the comments, and I'll compile a list of your faves--and then you'll all get to vote!

Knit with joy...

- Sandi

P.S. Let me know what you think! You can email me at sandi@knittingdaily.com or you can leave a comment.

Cecily and Melissa Go to Rhinebeck

NewEnglandKnits — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:59:00 GMT

We are Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre, co-authors of the upcoming book New England Knits (Interweave, Spring 2010). We both live in Massachusetts, but at opposite ends of the state. We've known each other since before knitting ever took over our lives, but our shared love of the craft has made us a team.

While technically NOT in New England, the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY feels like it should be. Last year, on a crisp fall day at that very place, we discussed an idea that would eventually be a book called "New England Knits".

When you cross over the Massachusetts border into New York during prime leaf-peeping season, you can't help but be inspired as a knitter. It's clear that the colder weather is coming. Once inside the festival gates, it's almost overwhelming. People are sporting their newest or favorite handknit.

There are friends, new and old...

left to right: melissa g., cecily, julia, gudrun (www.shetlandtrader.blogspot.com), melissa l.

Fiber producing animals we know and love...

Group knitting projects...

Shopping...

And fair food (yum!)

It was rainy and cold on Sunday, so we were glad that we had taken in most of the Festival the day before. We're already looking forward to next year--after the book launches! Now that the book is in our editor's hands, there should be plenty of time to plan next year's Rhinebeck sweater (Cecily finished several for this year, you can see one of them in the last photo).

We hope to see you next year!

--Melissa and Cecily

Knit up a Blizzard (Scarf), Plus a Free Edging Pattern!

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A note from Kathleen: I'm always inspired by each new issue of PieceWork magazine, and the November/December issue doesn't disappoint. It hits newsstands on November 3, and I think there are some projects in there that will have you running to your local yarn shop to pick up supplies for holiday gifts. Here to talk about the November/December issue of PieceWork magazine is editor Jeane Hutchins. She recommends some heirloom quality knitted accessories to both keep you warm this winter and to present to your loved ones this holiday season.

You'll want to pick up your copy of PieceWork right away (or order a subscription here) so you can get started on some of these projects. In fact, why not get started right now on the free border pattern near the end of this email! It's a beautiful, classic pattern that ace-knitter Ann Budd adapted from a Victorian-English pattern book.

Here's Jeane to introduce this fabulous new issue of PieceWork.

A Blizzard of Knitting

It snowed in Colorado last week—big, puffy flakes fell from the sky for hours. Watching them was mesmerizing; waking up the next morning to a snow-covered landscape was one of those special Colorado moments. With temperatures in the teens though, I really wished I had Inna Voltchkova’s glorious Meteliza Scarf from the November/December issue of PieceWork around my neck!

Inna, who grew up in Ukraine and learned to knit when she was ten, used an angora yarn named Blizzard for the scarf; "meteliza" is the Russian word for “blizzard.”

The yarn evoked memories of Inna’s childhood, in particular her angora knitted hat whose earflap shape she used for this scarf along with traditional Orenburg lace motifs—Cat’s Paw and Mouse Print. In Orenburg lore, the cats are chasing the mice!

Do check out the christening bag project in this issue, too. The first ninety rounds are knitted; the remainder is worked in broomstick lace, a form of crochet.

The designer, Karen Hooton, became intrigued with broomstick lace a number of years ago, and her combination of the two techniques is brilliant. I am always amazed by the ingenuity of our contributors.

The small, child’s hat shown here is in Jacqueline Fee’s collection of “homeless knittings.”

Jacqueline, intrigued by its unusual three-rib construction, which allows the hat to expand into the fullness of a beret, recreated it. It definitely will delight the lucky child who receives it.

Since this is last issue of the year, our thoughts turned to the holidays (and the first snowfall of the season helped). Nancy Bush’s evening stockings knitted with yarn that has a touch of glitter will be perfect for a holiday party.

The small heart-shaped ornaments are quick-to-knit projects; they were worked in two weights of yarn: fingering and sport. Use them as ornaments for holiday trees and package adornments.

We also hope they will inspire you to enter PieceWork's 2010 contest-Heart Ornaments. You could win $500 in cash!

We know you'll enjoy all this issue of PieceWork has to offer. We sure enjoyed putting it together for you.

—Jeane

________________________________________________________

A Wheat-Ear Border to Knit
Adapted by Ann Budd

If you’re searching for another quick-to-make idea, here’s a small project from our archives. Ann Budd adapted “The Wheat-Ear Border” from Volume 2 of Weldon’s Practical Needlework, a popular source for patterns in Victorian England. She used size 8 pearl cotton thread and size 0000 (1.3 mm) needles. We attached the edging to pillowcases, but that’s just one possibility. I think the edging will make a spectacular garland on a holiday tree!

CO 20 sts. P 1 row. Work Rows 1–16 until piece is desired length. BO all sts.
Row 1: (RS) Sl 1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, (k2tog) 3 times, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, (yo) twice, k2—22sts.
Row 2: K3, p1, k3, p13, k2.
Row 3: Sl 1, k1, yo, k2tog, (k3tog) twice, yo, k1, yo, k2, (k2tog, yo) twice, k5—20 sts.
Row 4: BO 2 sts, k4, p8, p2tog, p1, k2—17 sts.
Row 5: Sl 1, k1, yo, k3tog, yo, k3, yo, k2, (k2tog, yo) twice, k1, (yo) twice, k2—20 sts.
Row 6: K3, p1, k3, p11, k2.
Row 7: Sl 1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, (k2, k2tog, yo) twice, k2tog, yo, k5—22 sts.
Row 8: BO 2 sts, k4, p13, k2.
Row 9: Sl 1, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, (ssk) twice, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, (yo) twice, k2—23 sts.
Row 10: K3, p1, k3, p14, k2.
Row 11: Sl 1, k1, (yo, k2tog) twice, k2, yo, k1, yo, (ssk) twice, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2tog, yo, k5—22 sts.
Row 12: BO 2 sts, k3, p3tog, p2tog, p9, k2—17 sts.
Row 13: Sl 1, k1, (yo, k2tog) twice, k2, yo, k3, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1, (yo) twice, k2—20 sts.
Row 14: K3, p1, k3, p11, k2.
Row 15: Sl 1, k1, (yo, k2tog) twice, k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k5—22 sts.
Row 16: BO 2sts, k4 p13, k2—20 sts.

Wet-block edging to open up and set the lace pattern.

Fall Favorites: Versatile Knitted Wraps

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

It's getting down into the 20s and 30s here in Spokane, so it's time to bundle up! I've amassed quite the collection of cozy scarves, but the one I go to more than any other is a large, simple rectangle that I can wear as a scarf or as a wrap. My favorite way to wear it is around my shoulders with a shawl pin.

One of the most popular knitwear designs of this fall is the Every Way Wrap by Okmin Park. The pattern is in the fall 2009 issue of Interweave Knits, and it's amazingly versatile. This one will work for myriad sizes and styles, as you can see below.



The Every Way Wrap, worn as a vest.		The back view of the vest option.



The Every Way Wrap worn as a shawl.		And as a scarf!

The Crosstown Convertible

Our next adventure in versatility is the Crosstown Convertible.

This piece was featured on episode 210 of Knitting Daily TV and the free pattern is available here.

The Crosstown Convertible is a simple rectangle with sixteen buttons and buttonholes added (it's one of our favorite easy knitting patterns!).

It's as simple as knitting a scarf, but you can drape it and button it in so many different ways, it'll become a wardrobe staple. The Crosstown Convertible can be worn as a vest, a scarf, a shrug, or a wrap, and it has built-in pockets, too.

And if you're a beginning knitter, this is the perfect project for you—you'll be able to practice buttonholes and a bit of seaming. This design is a great bridge from knitting scarves to knitting garments.

Here's a video clip from episode 201, in which Bonnie Burton from Colorful Stitches shows several of the ways you can wear the Crosstown Convertible.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Try one of these patterns—I think you'll like the cozy comfort and style of either wrap (or both!). And if you've knit a wrap you love and you want to show it off, post a photo in our gallery section. We'd love to see it!

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Stitches East is happening this week in Hartford, Connecticut, and the CYCA (Craft Yarn Council of America) is offering a new venue for reaching out to new knitters and crocheters as well as providing a meeting place for current enthusiasts: the Share & Care Cafe.

The Cafe is a place to learn to knit and crochet for FREE and a place for visitors to gather, relax, and exchange ideas. There will also be a Warm Up America exhibit in the Cafe. (Warm Up America is an organization made up of volunteers who create handmade afghan blankets, clothing and accessories to help those in need. These items provide warmth and comfort to people who have lost their homes, fled abusive relations, or are being cared for in hospices, shelters, hospitals, and nursing home.)

The Cafe will provide free yarn and needles or hooks for anyone who sits down for a lesson, free how-to instruction sheets and a Resource Guide listing helpful information about guilds, websites, and CYCA members, their products and programs.

If you're headed to Stitches East, be sure and check out the Share & Care Cafe!

Cabling Without a Needle, the Sequel

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I'm working on my Knit-a-Long, the Central Park Hoodie, and even though I'm behind my own schedule (!), I'm making fast progress now that I can devote more hours to this project.

The Central Park Hoodie is actually a really quick project, for several reasons: the gauge is a generous 4.25 stitches per inch, the pieces have minimal shaping, and the cable pattern makes me want to keep going ("just one more cable repeat. . ."). I've been working on a couple of other projects for Knitting Daily, though, and my CPH got neglected for a couple of weeks.

I do have the back and one-and-a-half fronts done now, and I'm going to do the two sleeves at once. I usually don't like to do that because I make a mess of the two strands of yarn—I fail at the walking and chewing gum test—but I want to get this sweater done so I can wear it!

I've been using Interweave's cabling without a needle directions (click here for the tutorial I posted on Knitting Daily), but I recently discovered another method, one where you knit the stitches on the needles as you twist them. Our original instructions have you twist the stitches on the needle first and then knit them. This second method is faster, I think, and I need all the speed I can get in order to keep up with my knit-a-long pals!

I made a video of the technique and here it is! I demonstrate a left-crossing cable first, and then a right-crossing cable.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

A Free Pattern for You!

Here's a cable pattern for you to try this method with: the Peasant Blouse by Teva Durham. Teva appeared on Knitting Daily TV on season 2 and talked about her theories for designing unique and fashionable knitwear.

There are a couple of different cables in this design, placed off-center to add even more interest and flair. I love peasant blouses in general, but they're usually designed for summer wear; this version of the blouse is appropriate for fall and wintertime, too. I love the cables, of course, but I also admire the neckline, with its eyelets and ribbon tie.

Teva is such an innovative designer; I think you'll really like this project.

And if you need more cabling inspiration, check out our Knitting Daily Workshop Classic to Creative Knit Cables with Kathy Zimmerman. Kathy provides basic instruction, tips, tricks, and excellent patterns in this special tutorial.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers,

Kathleen

I'm Chilly & I Need a Sweater: Which One Should I Knit?

KD Sandi — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:43:00 GMT

The leaves aren't just falling outside, they're dumping themselves in huge thick carpets on my lawn. I've started wearing a coat when I walk the dog, scuffing my waterproof boots through the rivers of leaves on the sidewalks.

Autumn has arrived here in southern Ontario.

I've started mentally inventorying my cold-weather gear, and, given the lessons I learned last year during my first Canadian winter, my closet could use a little knitted help. I have a lovely thick down coat, but no hat. I have thin leather gloves, but the dog ate one of my thick winter mittens last spring (the vet bills were shocking--now we keep all knitted goodies out of Buddy's reach). I could wear The One Mitten, but then I'd feel like some sort of knitterly rock star. Thankfully, I have two or three scarves for caulking purposes, plus several shawls to tuck around me. (My friend D. believes that scarves are the essential Canadian piece of cold-weather garb. She has the most awesome collection of knitted and handwoven scarves, and wears them with panache, sometimes two or three at a time. Now THERE's a woman who knows how to dress warmly and well.)

Thus, at minimum, I need one hat and one pair of mittens. Given that the temperatures have already dropped below freezing several nights in a row, methinks I need these knitted goodies as fast as I can knit them.

Happily, one of my UFOs was a set of thrummed mittens--remember those (that link takes you to the main post and pattern links, here are tips and a tutorial)? The poor things had been abandoned at the point where they were all knit up...except for the thumbs. The line of waste yarn marking the thumbholes seemed to crook a mocking smile at me, chiding me for leaving the mittens undone so long, when all that was needed was a set of thumbs.

So I sat down one night and thumbed them :) And now they are done, and not only do I have some nice fluff-lined mittens, my UFO count is down to 16. Whoo!

Except that my WIP number may be about to creep up, from three (Bolero--still working on all that ribbing; Star Light Star Bright Blanket--fifth row of stars!; and socks--halfway through the first one) to four...because I'm about to cast on for something else I need.

A sweater. A nice, warm, Toronto sweater.

I know it might seem to you that I, of all people, must have plenty of sweaters...and I do. They just don't fit me anymore. As many of you know, I've lost a lot of weight since in the past year...and so my closet is filled with Extra Large sweaters when I am no longer an Extra Large Sandi.

My current sweaters are quite lovely for slopping about the house in; Tim, the kitten, has even discovered that one of them forms quite a lovely, warm cat tent when I am wearing it whilst watching TV. ("Your sweater is rumbling." "Yes, dear, I know." "Are you hungry?" "No, but I think perhaps Tim is.")

However, as much as I like sharing my sweaters with my cats, I'd really like a sweater that fits just me, thank you very much.

Given that there are a gadzillion wonderful sweater patterns out there, I thought it might be fun to have you help me choose the next one I make. What do you think? Have any ideas? The only two parameters are: I'd prefer a cardigan, and given that we're playing on Interweave's playground here, how about an Interweave pattern?

Leave your suggestions for The Sweater You Think Sandi Ought to Make For Herself in the comments, and I'll compile a list of your faves--and then you'll all get to vote!

Hee. This could be fun. (Would you like to choose the yarn and the colour too? Why not? Let's choose the pattern first, though. One thing at a time.)

All right then: A bit of knitterly fun for all of us, as the leaves skydive to the ground and the temperatures drop with them.

Knit with joy...

- Sandi

P.S. Let me know what you think! You can email me at sandi@knittingdaily.com or you can leave a comment.

Book Update & Rhinebeck Here We Come!

NewEnglandKnits — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

What’s Happening with New England Knits?

The photo shoot is over and the garments and patterns are being tech edited, so, what are we doing now? Writing the book!

We met the other day to discuss the content and introductions for each of the three sections of New England Knits. When designing the garments in the book we used some of the inspiring things about New England: the beautiful ocean views, the historic city streets, and the still-working farms. Our designs are inspired by these locations—now it’s just a matter of putting that inspiration into words. We’re looking for some inspiration to describe our inspiration!

We’re also working on polishing up our technique descriptions, as well as providing some knitterly tips. It’s difficult sometimes to properly explain a technique, especially when you’ve used it so many times that it doesn’t require much thought anymore, but we’re focusing on trying to present them clearly, in a way that even a newer knitter can understand.

Although there is still much to do, we are getting closer to completing our work on New England Knits. The fantastic thing is, we are still having fun and it is still amazing to us that we are going to have our book published! Everything has come together even more wonderfully than we could have imagined, and the great team at Interweave has been incredible.

This weekend is the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, New York. Though technically, Rhinebeck isn’t in New England, it was a crisp fall day at that very same festival last year that inspired the first discussion of our book. This weekend must be our anniversary then -- exactly one year since we began our book journey. Time flies when you’re working hard and having fun!

We are planning on taking many pictures at the festival and posting them when we return, so check back here next week to share our Rhinebeck adventure. —Melissa and Cecily

The Freyja Sweater: A Custom Knit

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A Note From Kathleen: A few weeks ago, Knitscene editor and Interweave Knits Senior Editor Lisa Shroyer blogged about upsizing the Freyja pullover from the fall issue of Knits. Her post has so much great information that I wanted to put it out to the masses. So, Masses, here's Lisa with some tips on upsizing this lovely Bohus pullover. Enjoy!

Freyja Checks In

For the Fall issue of Interweave Knits, Courtney Kelley designed the Freyja Sweater, a feminine, contemporary take on the traditional Bohus pullover.

In the gallery of the Freyja Sweater, both Gallery Girls wear this sweater well, and as you'll see, it also looks great in larger sizes on larger women. The overall look is understated—knitterly, elegant, casual. This is one of those designs that many women can wear, regardless of size or shape.

At first glance, the Freyja Sweater has some points against it for the Rubenesque woman—it's a seamless yoke, which often creates a lot of visual roundness and crowds the throat with a high crew neckline. And the Freyja has a graphically patterned yoke, which usually draws the eye to the widest part of the upper body—the circumference around the upper arms, upper back, and bust. Patterned yokes often cut right across the bust, which is not attractive on large-busted women.

But Courtney made some excellent tweaks to the traditional here. Her Freyja yoke is not a true seamless; the shaping begins with raglan decreases—not unheard of in the Bohus tradition by any means, but that's a different discussion!

There is a diagonal line of decreases between the sleeves and body at four points. This continues, in just main-color stockinette, for a few inches before the colorwork begins. Raglan shaping creates a more tailored line than seamless yoke shaping, which decreases concentrically around the upper body. The raglan "seams" create definition at each side of the bust, which makes for a flattering fit.

The other decision Courtney made was to begin the colorwork well above the bust line. The patterning here is more neckline decoration than yoke decoration. The pattern draws the eye up, and by not falling over the bust or upper arm, does not highlight those round spots for us. Once the colorwork begins, the shaping occurs in pattern, concentrically like a seamless yoke. The neckline is low and wide, which allows some skin to show along the collarbone.

A Star Sweater Is Born

I made this pullover in my own size, 44" bust. With a plain lower body, it's easy to customize the shaping in this design. I created a long A-line silhouette, since the typical hourglass waist is not flattering on my pear shape. I cast on for the size 46" and then decreased gradually down to the numbers for the 44" at the bust, and the yoke and sleeves follow the directions for the 44". I chose my own colors in the lustrous Road to China Light from The Fibre Company:

MC: amethyst
CC1: grey pearl
CC2: autumn jasper
CC3: citrine
CC4: malachite

With ten sizes in this pattern, the Freyja Sweater can work for you, too.

Let's knit for us,

Lisa

Interweave Knits: Holiday Gifts Preview

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:30:00 GMT

Interweave has produced the fabulous Holiday Gifts issue for the last several years, and this one is no exception (preview the upcoming issue here) . Interweave Knits editor Eunny Jang and I recently got a chance to talk about this year's Holiday Gifts, which will be available on October 27. As Eunny and I were chatting, we got to talking about lots of things, including our favorite part of the holiday season.

"To be honest, I think I love the food best; I should probably say the good cheer, the family togetherness, etc., etc. But candy, turkey and dressing, seven fishes feasts, pannetone, Yule logs—name the tradition, I'll name (and eat!) the food!" Eunny said.

I love the food, too—we usually have a traditional ham dinner—but my favorite part of the holidays is decorating the tree. I have a nice collection of glass ornaments in the German style, and I love how they sparkle on the tree. I spend a lot of time rearranging the ornaments so that they show to their best advantage, too. My favorite is a little bird in a nest, and the hanger is a gold, sparkly pipe-cleaner-type thing. It's really a special ornament.

Speaking of ornaments, Ann Weaver designed some beautiful patterns for German-inspired ornaments (at right) for Holiday Gifts.

The 2009 issue of Holiday Gifts is huge—almost sixty projects! Seeing it all come together is always so rewarding; going from a sketchy concept to a finished magazine is pretty satisfying. Some of our favorite designs in this issue include Courtney Kelley's Nuneh Mittens and Silka Burgoyne's Lace and Twist Mittens. Eunny learned a new technique from the Nuneh Mittens: the Armenian method of tacking down the yarn to eliminate long floats.

I really like the delicate Lace and Twist Gloves. They're simply beautiful; perfect for some of the fingering-weight yarn I have in my stash, and perfect for the ladies in my life (especially my Gramma, who loves pretty, feminine accessories).

The Gift of Handmade

Many of the ideas in Holiday Gifts are future heirlooms just waiting to be made, and seeing them sparked memories for Eunny and I, about some of our most cherished gifts—both given and received.

Eunny said, "My grandmother gave me her collection of crochet hooks a long time ago, and while that gift isn't something that was made for me, it is something that made countless things for others. The most memorable handmade holiday gift I've given is the year I knitted some pretty intricate, traditional shawls for my mother, aunt, and grandmother. They were all different, and all beautiful—they immediately started trading them with each other and arguing over who got what."

My most cherished handmade gift is an embroidered pillow my mom made for me. The design is the beautiful, floral love stamp from 1989, and twenty years later, that pillow still has a place of honor on my bed. As far as giving gifts, I've made lots of things for friends and family. My favorite gifts that I made are little cross-stitched ornaments with my family's names on them; they hang on the stockings to designate whose is whose.

Home (and Away) for the Holidays

Even though it's only October 12th, both Eunny and I are looking forward to relaxing during the holidays—catching up on much needed sleep, cooking, eating, drinking good wine, and watching bad movies.

Eunny will be holed up in a mountain cabin and I'll be hosting the Portland contingent of Cubleys (my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew Henry) in Spokane.

I'm thinking about making Lisa Shroyer's Nordic Striped Ball for Henry. At 23 inches in circumference, it's a fun size for a 4-year-old!

That busy, wonderful holiday time will be here before we know it, so I hope you'll get busy with some of the gift ideas in Holiday Gifts.

Cheers,

Kathleen

Faux Isle: A Great Colorwork Technique (plus a free pattern!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

There are so many beautiful variegated and self-striping yarns out there. They're perfect for adding some pizzazz to your stockinette projects, but have you thought about doing some colorwork with these yarns?

The term "faux isle" is a funny play on words, but it's also a neat technique that uses one variegated or self-striping yarn and one solid yarn to knit a Fair Isle-type pattern.

I'm working on a faux isle hat (at left) for my brother for Christmas, and it's so much fun. Like all of the colorwork I've done, it's really addictive—I can't wait to see the next row!

I developed my own easy knitting pattern for this hat, which my friend Deborah kindly modeled for me—she's one of those people who looks great in hats of all kinds.

This is today's free pattern, so read on!

Kathleen's Faux Isle Hat

This hat measures about 18 1/4" when finished, and fits about a 20" head. For a larger head, cast on more stitches in multiples of four.

Your gauge should be 21 stitches to 4 inches in stranded knitting.

Using worsted weight yarn (you'll need about 100 yards of a variegated yarn and 100 yards of a solid yarn) and size 6 US 16" circular needles, cast on 96 stitches in the solid color (Yarn A).

Place a marker at the beginning of your work and join for working in the round.

Work in k2, p2 rib for 1 1/2", using the variegated yarn (Yarn B) for the purl stitches and Yarn A for the knit stitches.

Knit 3 rounds in Yarn A.

Knit 2 rounds in Yarn B, and then work rows 1 through 8 in Chart A.

On row 9, switch to Chart B, repeating rows 1 through 6 of the chart until the hat measures about 7 1/2" from the cast-on edge (or to desired length minus 2 inches).

Using just one of the yarns (A or B, you choose!), begin decreasing crown as follows:

*K10, k2tog; rep from * around hat—88 sts rem.
Knit 1 round even.
*K9, k2tog; rep from * around hat—80 sts rem.
Knit 1 round even.
*K8, k2tog; rep from * around hat—72 sts rem.
Knit 1 round even.
*K7, k2tog; rep from * around hat—64 sts rem.
Knit 1 round even.
*K6, k2tog; rep from * around hat—56 sts rem.
Knit 1 round even.
*K5, k2tog; rep from * around hat—48 sts rem.
Knit 1 round even.
*K4, k2tog; rep from * around hat—40 sts rem.
Knit 1 round even.
*K3, k2tog; rep from * around hat—32 sts rem.
Knit 1 round even.
*K2, k2tog; rep from * around hat—24 sts rem.
Knit 1 round even.
*K1, k2tog; rep from * around hat—16 sts rem.
*K2tog; rep from * around hat—8 sts rem.

Break yarn, leaving about 4 inches of tail. Thread tail onto a tapestry needle and pull through remaining stitches. Cinch tight.

Weave in ends and block lightly.

Fill Up Your Basket With Faux Isle

Faux isle projects really give you a lot of bang for your buck; because of the variegated yarn, it looks like you're using several colors, but you're just using two colors throughout the whole piece. I enjoy Fair Isle projects, both the process and the product, but this faux isle technique is so easy (not so many ends to weave in!) and beautiful in its own right.

Here are some ideas for your project basket.



The Cactus Blossom Pullover is a beautiful and easy pattern that knits up quickly in worsted weight yarn. This is a comfy, slouchy sweater that's perfect for weekend adventuring.	The Faux Fair Isle Cardigan is so beautiful! I love the colorwork in the ribbing. This is a cardigan that will end up in the hope chest for the next generation to enjoy.	My friend Laurie knit this version of the faux isle kids' sweater. Isn't it amazing what a change of color can do? Whatever the color, though, this one's a keeper.

I hope you'll try a faux isle project—I think you'll really like the results.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. If you ask me a question in the comments section, check back on the blog post for the answer; I'll either answer there or send you a personal message. Thanks!

A Tale of Toe Woe: The Zombie Socks

KD Sandi — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:17:00 GMT

One UFO Down: 17 Left To Go

I've had a pair of socks sitting in my knitting basket for, oh, I think it's been over a year now. Way back when, I wanted to make a pair of socks to be for Nicholas, so I opened up the bin containing my sock yarn stash and told him to Pick Something. He chose a lovely yarn (Socks that Rock) in a bright colorway that reminds me of that rainbow sherbet I ate as a kid. (He says if he has to wear boring professorial styles to teach, he might as well have nifty creative socks to wear so he doesn't feel too much like a Stepford Husband.)

The fact that these socks have been sitting unfinished in my knitting pile for OVER A YEAR boggles my mind--what's the problem? They really are Just Socks. They're not a complicated sweater, or an intricate lace shawl...in fact, the pattern is as close to zombie TV-watching knitting as you can get short of plain stockinette. It's not even a "real" pattern--I cobbled together a basic heel flap, and a basic heel, and a basic toe, all from the person who taught me how to knit a great sock instead of just a good sock: my former boss and co-worker, Ann Budd. (If you're interested in basic sock patterns and basic sock construction help, her Getting Started Knitting Socks is killer. And I'd say that even if I didn't work for Interweave, I promise.)

My Zombie Knitting Socks, I called them. They are so easy that I can't even say I designed them, because I'm sure if I looked on Ravelry I'd find that several people have thought of the idea before me. But they're my personal "go-to" basic pattern when I Just Want To Knit Some Socks.

So why did these really simple, really pretty socks remain Zombie Socks for so long? This was unusual, even for me. Thus, I sat down to examine the silly things--was there a mistake I had to undo? A gauge problem? What?

Turns out that the socks were ABT: All But Toe. That's my personal term for a pair of socks stalled by the K-word: the dreaded Kitchener Stitch.

Oh, please. What is UP with me and the darn K stitch? It's not like it's all that hard--so why do I get stuck on it so often, with socks languishing for months due to that one silly technique?

Upon reflection, I think it's because I know two things about myself and The K Stitch: I can't do the K without looking at the book, and I can't do the K well. It always comes out looking sloppy, completely out of step with all my other careful knits and purls.

I can knit a killer lace shawl. I can do twisty celtic knot cables. I can size a sweater up and down, I can tech edit, I can do lace charts and work out knitting problems in my head.

I just can't quite manage the K yet...and right now, there's other things going on in my life, and I don't have to be The Perfect Knitter Right This Minute.

But I did want to finish those socks rather badly. I could have grafted them on the needles, but I wanted to be daring and try out a new-to-me technique I learned from Lucy Neatby at Sock Summit: the Toe Chimney.

Want a little Toe Chimney Tutorial? Good, because I've made one for you. :)

It's fun, and it makes you feel like you've done something really clever, so what's not to like?

Sure, we all need to learn the Kitchener Stitch, because it's really useful for grafting everything from hoods to shoulder seams to the two halves of lace stoles. (In fact, here's a video tutorial on the Kitchener stitch from Knitting Daily TV episode #208. You can order the entire season on DVD here!)

But if the dreaded K stitch is all that stands between you and a finished pair of socks, at least now you know at least two other ways--grafting on the needles, and toe chimneys--to finish off those UFO toes!

Knit with joy...

- Sandi

P.S. Let me know what you think! You can email me at sandi@knittingdaily.com or you can leave a comment.

7 FREE Knitting Patterns for Men

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Our newest free eBook is all about men!

Knitting for men is a popular topic here at Knitting Daily, and because we live to serve, we thought we'd gather our favorite men's sweater patterns and package them up into a lovely collection: Knitting Daily Presents: 7 FREE Knitting Patterns for Men.

Editor Sandi Wiseheart has chosen five men's knit sweater patterns and a couple of essential accessories, all picked with warmth, wearability, and great style in mind. So whether you're a man knitting for yourself or a woman knitting for men, there's something here for everyone.

The Old Way Gansey by Ann Budd is a comfortable, drop-shoulder pullover designed with traditional motifs. This sweater blends the best of old and new styling.

Kate Kuckro's Charcoal Ribbed Cardigan incorporates saddle shoulders, vertical ribs, and a narrow shawl collar to make this men's knit sweater a perennial reader favorite.

If a men's knit scarf pattern is all you need, try Ann Budd's Basketweave Scarf: It's perfect to knit for yourself or for a gift. Comfy and stylish, it's a wonderful addition to any guy's wardrobe.

Rhapsody in Tweed is a mock turtleneck by Kathy Zimmerman. It's a fabulous design full of Kathy's trademark cables—this one will be a favorite for men who knit and the women who borrow sweaters from them!

If you're looking for a little colorwork in your sweater knitting, try Norah Gaughan's Striped Pullover. Its simple, slip-stitch pattern knits up so quickly. And every man likes a bit of color, right?

Sandi Wiseheart's Nicholas's Fingerless Gloves will keep your fingers warm while you go about your business—whether knitting, texting, raking leaves, or walking the dog. The cable-stockinette pattern is sure to please all wearers.

The Woven Band Pullover by Hana Jason is the perfect man's sweater: simple and stylish. This is truly one for the ages—a linen stitch background and a crew neck all in a one-piece, cuff-to-cuff construction.

So here's to you, men! Let's get knitting!

Cheers,

Kathleen

Knitted Star Pattern

Jason — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT

These knitted stars appeared in the Fall 2009 issue of Interweave Knits (see Yarn Review, page 20). Each of the five "points" is knitted flat and joined to the last point. They’re fun and quick to make, and easy to adjust in size—try tiny ones for gift tags, or much larger ones for decorations, or sew two together and stuff.

This pattern may be used as a formula for any size star—we found 7-stitch segments to be the smallest practical multiple. The pattern below calls for 21-stitch segments.

To change the size of the star, cast on an odd number of stitches greater than 5. Follow instructions as given, working a double decrease over the 3 center stitches on each right-side row. Subtract 1 from the number of cast-on stitches and divide in half to find the right number of stitches to pick up along the selvedge.

Five-Point Star

Materials: Any weight yarn and suitable needles; tapestry needle.

Segment 1:
Use the knitted method to CO 21 sts. Set-up row: (WS) Purl.
Row 1: (RS) Sl 1 with yarn in back (wyb), k8, sssk, knit to end—19 sts rem.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Sl 1 with yarn in front (wyf), purl to end.
Row 3: Sl 1 wyb, k7, sssk, knit to end—17 sts rem.
Row 5: Sl 1 wyb, k6, sssk, knit to end—15 sts rem.
Row 7: Sl 1 wyb, k5, sssk, knit to end—13 sts rem.
Row 9: Sl 1 wyb, k4, sssk, knit to end—11 sts rem.
Row 11: Sl 1 wyb, k3, sssk, knit to end—9 sts rem.
Row 13: Sl 1 wyb, k2, sssk, knit to end—7 sts rem.
Row 15: Sl 1 wyb, k1, sssk, knit to end—5 sts rem.
Row 17: Sl 1 wyb, sssk, k1—3 sts rem.
Row 19: Sssk—1 st rem.
Segment 2:
*With RS facing and 1 st on right needle, pick up and knit 10 more sts down slipped-st selvedge of lefthand side of Segment 1, ending at corner. Turn and use the knitted method to CO 21 sts—32 sts total. Set-up row: (WS) P20, p2tog, turn—1 st dec’d. On WS rows, you will join Segment 2 with the picked-up sts along Segment 1 by working p2tog over last st of Segment 2 and next picked-up st.
Row 1: (RS) Sl 1 wyb, k8, sssk, knit to end—2 sts dec’d.
Row 2 and all WS rows: Sl 1 wyf, purl to 1 st before turning point on previous row (slipped edge st of Segment 2), p2tog (edge st and foll picked-up st), turn.
Row 3: Sl 1 wyb, k7, sssk, knit to end.
Row 5: Sl 1 wyb, k6, sssk, knit to end.
Row 7: Sl 1 wyb, k5, sssk, knit to end.
Row 9: Sl 1 wyb, k4, sssk, knit to end.
Row 11: Sl 1 wyb, k3, sssk, knit to end.
Row 13: Sl 1 wyb, k2, sssk, knit to end.
Row 15: Sl 1 wyb, k1, sssk, knit to end.
Row 17: Sl 1 wyb, sssk, k1.
Row 19: Sssk—2 sts rem: 1 st for Segment 2 and 1 st for Segment 1.
Segments 3, 4, and 5:
Rep from * for Segments 3, 4, and 5—after each segment you will have 1 more final st rem. 5 sts rem when all segments are complete. Break yarn and thread tail through rem 5 sts and cinch to close. Sew seam between Segment 5 and Segment 1. Weave in ends and pin out to block.

An Affair for Three Seasons: The Knitted Jacket

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:00:00 GMT

Last weekend I went to camp. The event was called Wild Women's Weekend and it was held at a YMCA camp that I went to as a child. It was so much fun to go again as a "big kid"!

Three of my knitting friends went along, too, and even though there were a bunch of activities on the schedule, we sat our butts on the dock and knitted for hours in the sun. It was in the 80s—beautiful weather for late September! The evenings were chilly, though, and all four of us knitters packed a knitted sweater or jacket for the nippy nights.

I was recently going through my closet, switching out summer and winter clothes, and I was mourning a bit because I have so many knitted jackets that I wore all fall and winter when I lived in Seattle. The mild weather there allowed me to wear my favorite knitted jackets to work almost every day from mid-fall to early spring. And since it was Seattle, I'd just throw on a light raincoat overtop as needed and run out the door.

Now, not only am I working from my home office (work clothes = sweats and slippers!), but it'll be COLD and snowy soon. Time for a big girl coat (and boots and mittens and scarves and hats. . .). I'll wear my hand-knit scarves and mittens all the time, but wearing my knitted jackets as outerwear will be delegated to the fall and early spring.

Just because I can't wear my jackets as much as I want to anymore, I'm not going to stop knitting them! I'm adding Three Sisters to the queue ASAP. It's from Knitted Jackets by Cheryl Oberle.

This book is full of wonderful jacket patterns; it's hard to choose just one. Three Sisters appeals to me because I love the "three sisters" in the jacket: garter stitch, stockinette stitch, cable pattern. It's elegant in its simplicity.

And I appreciate the name of the piece, too: Even though I only have one sister, Liz, she's going to want this jacket before it's even close to being off the needles. (Every time I start a project Liz says, "That's going to look GREAT on me!")

Below are three of my favorite knitted jackets, modeled by my mom and my sister. (The Central Park Hoodie is soon to join this club because I'm making it a bit bigger and longer so I can wear it as a jacket this fall.)


The Brown Jacket: This jacket is my favorite. I knit it a couple years ago out of a variety of yarns. It's got some silk, some merino, and some nylon, all coming together to make a soft, cozy, warm fabric. (That's my mom amongst the roses.)	The Silk Garden Jacket: I knit this about five years ago, and I wear it all the time: a testament to the durability of Noro Silk Garden! I also call this sweater the "ton of buttons sweater." (That's sister Liz modeling.)	The Big Button Jacket: This one is a favorite among the knitted jacket fans. I love wearing short -sleeved items over long sleeved tee shirts, and this sweater is perfect for that. (My sister is such a trooper, modeling for me on command!)

Have you knitted any jackets? Share some of your favorites with us in the forums!

Cheers,

Kathleen