Knitting Photos Extraordinaire!

Good Afternoon,

Ugh!  Hot! Hot! Hot!  But I'm still smiling because sitting right in front of me is the biggest vase of sunflowers.  My sweetheart brought them home from work yesterday.

This picture was edited in a new iPad App that my photographer suggested.  I have just started working with it this morning and absolutely love it.  The App is called Diptic, and this week it is the free App of the week.

The photo above is a class that I taught, Gauntlet Fingerless Gloves.  I had not used my student's photos before, guess I was waiting for this to come along. 

There are so many layouts, colors, etc, etc, etc, I just can't stop playing with it.  I am thinking this is a great way to create photo albums of all your great projects.  If you sell your things on your website or somewhere else, this could change for sure what your online shop would look like.

I put together photos of the boys this morning and emailed them off.  Without a doubt, they were well received. 

Here come the T-Storms, so want to get this out before I lose my Internet connection.

Have a great afternoon and Happy Knitting!

A Student's Thank You

Good Afternoon,

Another hot and humid day in the Hudson Valley, New York.  There is a possibility of T-Storms, if so, hopefully not too severe.

Busy day today, so this will be written in short segments throughout the day.  Breakfast with daughter, lunch with a good friend I haven't visited with in about six weeks, and also back to work tonight after a few nights off.

I'm back once again, and today I would like to share with you a conversation that I had a few days ago with someone on one of the knitting blogs that I read.  She stated that she had picked up a pattern and was totally confused by some terms and also that double point needles were to be used during the knitting, but the pattern didn't seem like it started out that way.

Her question had been sitting there for a day or so, and not wanting a knitter to be frustrated, I made the attempt to help her out.  I mentioned that the key words to beginning knitting after the cast on, was to look for terms such as "in the round" or "join without twisting".  I also de - mystified the knitting terms by explaining what they meant and how to execute them.

The return comment included the first few rows of the pattern, where I determined that she was to begin knitting flat on the double points and then pick up stitches at said areas then to join into a round. 

There are so many times that just some simple direction from a listener, and most of us are good at that aren't we, can get "that stuck in the pattern" person over the hump and on their way.  I think it is that way in life too.  I can remember being reminded to listen harder and louder than I spoke or sang.  It is so very true.  What I have found in the knitting community, most knitters are extremely compassionate and helpful of others with less experience and knowledge.

On that note, let me share some of our ending conversation with my new knitting friend:

Thank you so very much Diana, no as yet I haven't started my slippers I am just about finished a shawl I took the Sweetheart Shawl (Jasmine Shawl) internet class with Kristin Omdahi, its been an easy shawl to knit but seeing I haven't knitted for such a long time I have had some problems but there all sorted now.

I saw the Pemberley Slippers (Jane Austen) it was apart of the 2011 Jane Austen knitting book but you could purchase the pattern on its own so I did so will start my knitting of them when I finish the shawl.

I really appreciate your explanation on the pattern so I will keep it safe for when I start my slippers....... 

Thank you again

Andrea

I am so happy to be able to mentor and coach students, helping them along their knitting way.

Have a great rest of your day and Happy Knitting!

Layering Shrug

Good Morning,

We had a little rain last night, but not enough to give good relief to the ground.  Gratefully, there are no draught conditions like other parts of the country. 

I have started a new project yesterday, and knitting it is simple, clear and so far, error free.  It is a free down loadable pattern called Layering Shrug by Juju Vail for Loopknitting.com.  I am knitting it in Malabrigo lace weight yarn color 148, Holly Hock.  The yarn is a tone on tone 100% Baby Merino spun single.  I wish that you could feel this it against your skin....yummy! 

Here is the link for the Layering Shrug:  http://www.loopknitlounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Layering-Shrug-1.2.pdf

Here is the link for Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino:  http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/


Back to the Shrug.  The pattern begins some rows up the sleeve with a provisional cast on.  Then you knit down to the "cuff" area and bind off.  Those first 12 rows, I did change the pattern just a smidge, just because I do stuff like that.  I did not knit the purl rows, instead continually worked the yarn over rows for the 12 rows. 

The very bottom of the picture is the bind of and just above that is the 12 rows I altered.  Then you move on up the sleeve.   I also realize that the pattern is not written for lace weight yarn, but the person who will receive this is a small size, so with the gauge that I am getting, 7.5 stitches to the inch on a size US 4 circular needle, this should be OK.

I am so anxious to see how this design comes together.  I friend of mine had knit it awhile ago, and I loved it...so now can't wait to experience the complete project for myself.

Have a great afternoon everyone, Happy Knitting!

Road Trip

Good Afternoon,

Hot once again, but as I write this, I am traveling to Massachusetts with my Mom and my Sister.  We are going to my Brother’s for a hair day.   He has a salon in his house, Salon DKS, and I don’t mind the travel when the result is a visit and a hair day.  I am not driving, so it is a productive day for me. 

I finished a washcloth minutes ago, that I hope that he will want to carry a line of in his shop.  Fingers are crossed.  I also ordered a two pound cone of unbleached and undyed Hemp yarn to use as well.  Hemp is a perfect fiber as it is organic, antimicrobial, biodegradable, and exfoliates your skin.  The more it is washed the softer it gets. 

I can think of dozens of ways to use this fiber besides a washcloth due to it’s wonderful properties. Having a dish cloth or pair of socks would be a good start.  I will have to make a pair of socks to see how they feel on my sensitive tootsies.

We are no on the last leg of the trip, getting closer to our exit and then I have to stop writing.  Time to pick up my other project, a sweater that I am knitting from left over yarn from a baby blanket I finished in June.

                                            

I am now in my brothers shop waiting my turn.  My sister is in the chair first. 

My turn next...that's cause Mom is relaxing in the pool.  Time to pull the sweater out of it's bag and get a move on.  Projects are lined up and have to get moving.

Have a great weekend everyone and 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.

            

 

Yes, You Can Knit This

Good Afternoon,

Late start today, watched the boys this morning, and it was fun just lazing around on the porch and cuddling.

I was doing some browsing through one of the forums that I read and came upon one today that I posted a reply to.  The question was regarding DPs, a set of five.  "Do you begin with the DP's or only work on two needles to start."  The second question was, "Since you are using a set of five, do you work the two slippers together?"

These are certainly legitimate questions, especially if this knitter is fairly new to her craft.  But sometimes, even those of us who have been knitting for many years, can get caught up on a word or phrase that we might have to read more than once, or just cast on and get to it.

I am not familiar with the pattern she was referring to, but I was able, I believe, to ascertain that these slippers would be knit one at a time.  By the way, it is a Jane Austen design.  Since she likes to work with more period garments and accessories, so, I don't think that this technique, two at a time, would be included.  There was no mention by the knitter of using two circular needles or one very long circular needle that would lead one to believe that they would be knit two at a time either.

This knitter's other question being "When starting, use two needles or all five."  I explained to her that the magic words here might be, cast on X # of stitches and divide between four double point needles and join without twisting.  If there was no mention of dividing or joining, they would most probably be started flat and then worked circularly later on. 

Some of these terms and directions can be very confusing to knitters of varying expertise.  One of my new favorite things to do is to introduce a new knitting pattern to my class for test knitting.  No charge for the pattern, they just have to buy the materials for the item.  During a conversation with two other designers and teachers this past Saturday, we decided that this might be a great way to test a pattern.  We have probably knit it hundreds of times and from memory, but once it goes on paper, somehow something seems to get omitted or lost along the way.  What we do is just so automatic.

We also do not work for major publications or have a well known name. And, of course, no trove of test knitters at their disposal to make sure every thing works.  Now, here is a "hoot" that I have to share.  Having been a test knitter for a couple of local designers, the trickiest thing was when I found an error, my head and hands do an auto correct and keep on going, forgetting to write it down, of course.  That is no help at all. You almost need someone of lesser experience to do this test knitting for you, because they are more likely to fire away with questions regarding wording and technique.

The next time you knit from a pattern and encounter an error, please do not get angry or impatient with us.  Sometimes things just slip through the cracks unintentionally.  In most cases there is some contact information to reach someone about an errata update.  Please do not feel that your questions are inappropriate or "dumb" because I do not consider any questions inappropriate or "dumb".
In closing,  when starting a new pattern, check for unfamiliar terms, do a gauge swatch, adjust needle size if necessary, cast on and dive in.  Don't try to digest the pattern or gain an understanding by combing every word.  The key things to look for are:

1. Is this knit in the round?
2. If so, do I need DPs as well as CNs?
3. If knit flat, how many pieces are there.
4. How is this put together if knit flat?

I know a few of these items may be found in the description of the pattern as well as mentioned in the materials and tools needed, but I still like to glance through just to make sure I have all the facts I need.

Armed with this information, you should be able to tackle many things that you might otherwise choose not to do.  Knitters tend to underestimate their abilities with the familiar phrase, "I could never do that!"  Yes, you can and I can help.

Happy Knitting!  Get your challenge on!

Sweater Pattern in Bite Sized Pieces

Good Morning,

Another great day!  Hope where you are you are enjoying this slightly cooler weather.

Spent some time with my photographer, Matt, this morning.  He was taking some pictures of a sweater I knit in late winter for one of my students and the Scribble Lace Cowl.  The Scribble Lace Cowl will be ready in a few days if anyone is would like to try it.  I had mentioned in an earlier blog that I will share it with any who are interested. 

Back to the sweater.  This design was in Interweave Knits Fall 2009 issue.  It is called Farmer's Market Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio.  Sandy, my student,  had put the sweater on her "to knit" list soon after purchasing the magazine.  I think it remained on her "to knit" list due to the fact that she wasn't sure about knitting the pattern.

Anyway, months later, she was shopping at one of her LYSs and found a great sale on a couple of bags of yarn.  When she came to the next knitting class, Sandy brought the magazine and a ball of the yarn with her.  I told her that she would most likely get a good result with this yarn, but a gauge swatch was a must.  She was still quite nervous about knitting this sweater, not feeling quite up to the task. 

The following week, she came back to class with a gauge swatch, and a perfectly matching gauge, but still very nervous.  I'm sure it had to do with the fact that there was a great deal of shaping in the form of vertical darts both front and back plus the usual shaping that a fitted cardigan has.  There were several "at the same times" in the pattern and it was that, I felt, that made her hesitate, as well as a more intricate collar and top of pocket.

I offered to rewrite the pattern out for her to follow easily.   The pattern was broken down into manageable bite sized pieces with all of the shaping mapped out, numbered and bulleted for repeats and rows. All Sandy had to do was just check off the rows and repeats as she knit them.

Some weeks later, she brought the sweater back to class and asked me to finish it for her.  I felt badly that she didn't want to finish it herself, but knowing her as I do, it would just sit there, unfinished and doomed to the eternal closet.  On closer inspection, I noticed some gauge changes, probably due to her anxiety levels at the time, and I was fearful of being unable to match her gauge.

Without telling her right away, I began the sweater from scratch.  Fortunately, she had plenty of yarn to do this with.  Within a  month, I had finished and blocked her new sweater.  I had done a little tweaking, as I do with all patterns that I knit, just can't help myself, and the sweater looked as if it might have been designed for her.  The fit was beautiful, and she has received many compliments.  Connie's sweater design was a hit with all of Sandy's friends. 

The point of my story is, don't be afraid of what looks to be a complicated pattern.  Take the time to pull it apart.  Rewrite by hand, or copy the page and pull it apart, enlarge it, do whatever it takes to work through whatever areas in a pattern are causing you stress.  The first step is just to check your gauge and then cast on.  So many times it is just getting started that is so daunting.  I'm sure Sandy might have been able to finish, if she was able to sit with me the whole time, but she does a fair amount of traveling preventing that.

So, take a deep breath, a little attention to details, and cast on those stitches.  Take your time.  You have no race to win.  If it takes you a month, two months, no matter, just whittle away at those stitches and rows.  I will share the photo with you as soon as Matt does the editing.  Since it is an Interweave Pattern, I will also submit it to Knitting Daily.  I will let you know if it is accepted and posted on their website.

Happy Knitting!