"EZ's" A-B-C-SJ Class Begins

Good Afternoon,

What a fantastic day so far today.  First I watched the boys, JT and Mason this morning.  JT had "his" knitting box, but was lamenting about how few markers he had and so in no uncertain terms, said, "Nanny, you need to give me more markers....please."  He was totally serious.  So, I gave him four more markers for his collection.

Next, JT proceeds to take my knitting, holding up the end of the CN, and begins sliding his markers on to the needle and claimed he was knitting.  Too cute!

The first class of "EZ's" A-B-C-SJ began today at The Perfect Blend Yarn Shop in Saugerties, NY., http://yarnandteashop.com.  There were two students this afternoon, and so began the task of a gauge swatch, both were doing the baby version.  Then came the explanation of How?  What?  Really?

 Photo above courtesy of Schoolhouse Press Pattern #5

It really is confusing if you don't know how this sweater goes together.  So in terms of choosing yarn and placing color, as in the above sweater, how did the lavender stripe do that?  I want a solid at the cuff.  Do I knit some stitches in solid and some stitches in the color mix?  After a few simple explanations as to how the knitting process goes, it became much clearer to them. 

Then began the casting on and the marking of the stitches, not just sliding the markers on the needle.  The next question was about slipping the first stitch, which was a new technique, and then came the decreases.  Explaining there are four decreases in one row, it was thought directional decreases on either side of the marked stitch.  However, since this is an "upright" decrease, hence, the Sl 1, K2 toge, PSSO, or slip the first stitch, knit the next two together, then pass the slipped stitch over the stitch formed by  knitting two stitches together.  Phew!

Quite a handful to chew on and execute.  I think that they were clear on what direction they were working in and how the progress looks in terms of the pattern vs. the completed garment.  Always a good thing to remind students not to panic, follow the rows along carefully, and you should be OK.

There will be another class on Saturday this week as  well, so that was a plus.   No need to wait a full week.  Also, the Perfect Blend shop owner, Mary, will coach them if they can't wait until Saturday. 

What a Perfect day at The Perfect Blend Yarn and Tea Shop.  Happy Knitting!



Elizabeth Zimmermann's A-B-C-SJ Completed

Good Afternoon,

Sooo hot and humid here in the Hudson Valley aaggaaiinn.  We are having the "Dog Days" now.  What in the world will be in store for August?  OK, enough whining.  On to better topics.  

We are going to revisit EZ's Surprise Jacket.  It has been washed and blocked and I took it to The Perfect Blend this morning, it was still a little damp.  Anyway, it came out so beautiful, I hope that it gets some attention and that there are a few knitters that will want to sign up for the class. 

When I put it on the table it looked like this:

 Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Zimmermann's A-B-C-SJ Pattern by Schoolhouse Press
                                                                                                   

If you notice, both the sweater and the diagram are placed on the table in a similar fashion.  If you look at the diagram you can pick out where "A" and "B" are.  By rotating the lower "B", which is the front neckline, up to the Back or Neck "B", the piece looks more sweater - like.  Now there are just the sleeves to match.  Those are the "A's"  By putting them together, you now have:



Another interesting point, is that when the sweater was designed, there are button holes in both of the front bands.  It works out well for two obvious reasons:

1.  When this sweater was designed, there were no sonograms to know the newborn gender.  So,

     there was a double set of button holes to place buttons on the correct side on a neutral color  

     sweater. 

2.  Today, and this is my favorite part, with holes on both sides, you simply sew the buttons over the 

     holes you don't need.  You now have perfectly lined up buttons to button holes.

I'm sorry I don't have the Mattress Stitch ready for you.  I wanted to keep the shoulders open so everyone would be able to see what a genius EZ was.  I can't imagine how her brain worked so that she was able to design, what looks like above, as an unidentifiable piece of knitting.  There are probably as many guesses as to what it is as there are knitters who have never seen this before.

I will keep you updated on how the class goes and also will post the Mattress Stitch Video. 

Happy Knitting!  And, stay cool. 

P.S.  I took a set of hand knit washclothes to a local gift shop this morning.  The Manager seemed quite pleased with them.  They may be added as part of a new spa collection.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

            

 

Good Afternoon, 

So behind today.  I was with the boys this morning for a few hours, so I hope you will excuse me.  We were out on the porch while it was still cool.  I have such fun with them.

For a few more hours I was at yarnandteashop.com with Mary, the shop owner, and we were putting together a sweater class.  It is very interesting that this discussion happened to be today.  I told Mary that my blog yesterday had mentioned Elizabeth Zimmermann, EZ as she liked to be called, and one of her sweater designs.  Today's meeting will feature another of EZ's designs....the A - B - C - SJ or for those not in the know, that translates to the Adult Baby and Child's Surprise Jacket.

I will be teaching this class starting on Wednesday 7/25/12 and then again on Saturday 7/28/12.  That way we will be able to accommodate those who can come both during the week and on weekends.  It will be an on going class that anyone can hop into at any time.  I just love teaching like that because no one feels that they missed anything.

The class description that we used for the shop website is mostly EZ's own words taken from the book The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swanson.  As quoted from EZ (Elizabeth Zimmermann) the opinionated knitter:  "Dear knitter, I call it the "surprise jacket" because it looks like nothing on earth when you have finished knitting it.   Sew up two seams, and you find you have the nicest little garter-stitch baby (or adult) sweater you could wish to see, reversible, and with no side, or armhole seams to look ill-fitting or feel uncomfortable.   And there is no breaking-off or joining-in of yarn."

                                           Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Zimmermann's A-B-C-SJ Pattern
                                           by Schoolhouse Press

The knitting of this sweater, as many of you know, is knit in one piece.  It looks rather odd when knit and one doesn't quite know what to do with it.  But follow the directions in the pattern and it is a simple matter of folding the sweater, stitching the shoulder seams and voila!  the "Surprise Jacket" so suitably named.

                                                     Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Zimmermann's A-B-C-SJ Pattern
                                                     by Schoolhouse Press

I have knit this sweater before, most recently for JT when he was born.  I love the design and so many ways to make it yours just by color alone.  Each and every one looks slightly different, solids, stripes or color blocks, you get to choose.  Get crazy or stay subtle. 

Want to take the class and you don't live nearby?  Let's make a date to Skype or FaceTime the class.
Drop a comment in the box below or email me at dee@youandmeknit.com.

Happy Knitting and stay cool.