Things have been a little quiet around here for the last couple of weeks.   You might assume that means that little knitting has been taking place, with the heat, vacations, and all the rest, but the truth is actually the opposite.   I have been finishing up a couple of projects, including a hat and sweater for my son’s first year of school, and wanted to wait to blog them until they were finished.

Over the past year, I have been admiring designs from Kate Oates.   You might be familiar with either of her design lines:  Tot Toppers and When I Grow Up.   She started out with some really fun hats for the younger kids, and her designs for boys really appealed to me.   Since then, she has started to design garments for children and women that somehow strike a balance between whimsy, simplicity and elegance.   My choice for Ethan’s sweater was her Gramps Cardigan (child or adult).   This cabled cardigan is available in sizes 6 months to children’s size 8, and then from the When I Grow Up line from a 30 inch bust to a 52 inch bust.   This means that pretty much everyone in the family could have a matching sweater!

I knit my version in Berroco’s Blackstone Tweed.   I’d never used a woolen tweed yarn before, and I can honestly say that this will be a “go-to” yarn for me.   For an easier care sweater, I’d recommend either Cascade 220 Superwash (we have tons of colors right now) or Berocco Vintage.

Since I haven’t posted in a few weeks, I’ll also share the hat pattern, which was knit with one and half left over balls of Blackstone Tweed.   I chose the Sweet and Sour Apple Hat, also from Tot Toppers.   As with the Gramps Cardigan, the pattern is written with sizes from infant to adult.

(Because my sweater is knit in navy blue yarn, my pictures don’t do the design justice, but here is a link to my Ravelry Project page in case you are curious:  Meridith’s Gramps Cardigan.) Read the rest of this entry »

If your success were guaranteed, what needlework project would you want to do?

A question like this came up in a book I was reading a month or so ago, (not necessarily about needlework), and I have found it popping into my mind occasionally ever since then.   If I were guaranteed to enjoy the process and the final product, what would I begin working on today?

For me, the answer is color.   I’ve always felt like I was venturing into a world that I don’t understand when I’ve tried to choose colors for my projects.   I can pick a color and pair it with a neutral, no problem, I can even pair a couple of neutrals, but when I try to combine more than two colors, or try to avoid neutrals, I feel like I am sure to choose something horrible.

One of my goals, beginning in the fall, is to put my home in order.   Over the last few years we’ve managed to collect a lot of stuff, but we haven’t really gone through and purged the things we no longer love.   The plan is a low budget one, meaning that I am going to sell some of the stuff, and use the money from that to re-decorate the room, making the space useful and beautiful at the same time.   This process is daunting, mostly because of choosing the colors for each room, and unifying that throughout the house.   I know that I want each room to have something that I’ve made in it, so I’ll have a lot of knitting, crocheting, maybe even needlepoint work to do.

Latvian Garden Blanket (picture links to FREE pattern)

In the planning stages of this project, I have been brushing up on color theory, and knitting techniques.   There are a couple of recently published books that I’ve found valuable, Color Knitting the Easy Way, and Mastering Color Knitting, both by Melissa Leapman.  (We currently have Color Knitting the Easy Way in stock, and we can special order Mastering Color Knitting.)   Both books include patterns, detailed technique instruction, as well as color theory discussion.

This time of year is a great time to think about beginning a color-work project, since we are starting to see fall yarns arrive.   We recently brought in over 20 colors of Cascade 220 Superwash, and starting in August, you’ll start to see new yarns in new colors.

With that, I’ll leave the question above to you. . . What project would you begin if your success were guaranteed?

Pattern of the Week: Accessory

I very rarely get transfixed by a pattern.   I see many, many that I like, some I want to knit, and a few that I actually do knit.   Once every couple of years, I find one that I just can’t get out of my head.   I work hard to complete other projects that are on the needles, but I keep checking out the projects on this much loved pattern.   I try to cast on for things that I actually need to make, but I find myself at The Studio, looking for yarn for this pattern that has me in its grasp.   Eventually, I find myself buying the pattern, but not the yarn.   I diligently knit on the projects on my needles, but soon I uncover the perfect yarn, and bring it home with me.   At this point, I may be able to talk myself out of casting on, if a project is nearing completion, or has a real deadline, but I will knit this pattern.

One pattern that had me in its grasp was the Bird in Hand Mittens by Kate Gilbert.   I originally queued this one back in 2008.   I didn’t have the skills to do stranded knitting then, so I waited, and gained skills.   I bought the pattern September of 2010, the yarn in March 2011, and cast on then.   I am going to finish these today, so that I can start the next pattern that has me besotted.

Stole

I saw this pattern a couple of months ago in an ad at the back of Interweave Knits.   I’m not sure if it was the hand painted yarn, the lace, or the entrelec that got me, but Birch became an obsession at that point.   Despite the number of beautiful examples we have around The Studio, I’ve never done a project with entrelec.   I’ve always thought the projects were gorgeous, but it seemed that they looked best in high contrast colors, and I tend to be more understated in my color choices.   I also love to work in lace, especially when I block it and the pattern becomes so beautiful.

The Birch pattern includes options for three sizes, so you can choose from a scarf, stole, or wrap.   The pattern takes 600, 800, or 1000 yards of fingering weight yarn, depending on the size you knit.   For an especially soft beautiful project, 4-6 skeins of KPPPM would be a great yarn choice.   We have a couple of colorways in stock that should work well for Birch.    Another great option would be Cascade Yarn’s Heritage Paints, which would require 2-3 skeins.

Do you get transfixed by patterns like this?   Which patterns are you aspiring to currently?

I don’t know about you, but for me, there is just something about giving new life to old things.   Whether I find a bargain on an old piece of furniture and re-finish it for use in my home, or a thrift store sweater that I can rip back and knit again, I always feel a sense of joy about the old becoming new.

One of the recent trends in yarn is to take used garments, or waste from garment production, clean and card the fibers and spin them into a new yarn.   Yarns made in this way range from the wildly colorful Sari Silk, to the tweedy softness of Rowan Revive.

Knowing how much I enjoy taking the old and making it new, I have been looking for ways to incorporate these yarns into my summer knitting.    I may have found my project, featured in the Summer 2011 Interweave Knits: the Pebble and Reed Tunic, knit with Revive.   Garter stitch edges, with interesting shaping, a simple all-over lace pattern, and a wide range of sizes. . .  I’m not sure that I could ask for much more in a sweater.    The designer, Daniela Nii, even takes into consideration that projects with cotton yarn tend to weigh themselves down, and she plans accordingly.

Even if a tunic doesn’t work for you, I think you should try out Revive this summer.  Check out the Purelife Recycled Collection Booklet with 16 designs, including a couple for men, for other knitting possibilities.

Are you enchanted with finding new life in old things?   Have you tried any of these up-cycled yarns?

Pattern of the week: For Children

Anytime I am crafting with a child in mind, even my own, I find myself wondering if the item will be used, worn, and loved.   I’ve made a couple of geometric shaped toys for Ethan and he played with them for a few minutes, before setting them aside in favor of something else.   I’ve found a glimmer of hope this week though.   When Ethan (my three year old son) was born, a friend from back in California sent us a crocheted blanket.  It was one of a few handmade things I received for him, and I wanted so badly for it to be a favorite.   For many reasons, however, that blanket had never been a favorite, though we had used it some.   A couple of nights ago, Ethan found the blanket that I had just washed and put away, and said, “I love this blanket.”   I had him pick it up and cuddled him up for bed with it.   I asked if he wanted to hear the story of Miss Denise, who had made the blanket, and he agreed.   I told him her story, which involves bringing foster children into her home, and eventually adopting a daughter of her own.   When I had finished the story, he said, “This is my favorite blanket.”   This gave me hope for the toys I’ve knit for him, as well as the spirit to find some new things to keep me busy crafting for my little guy.   When I saw the most recent issue of Petite Purls magazine, I knew I had to share it with all of you.

This issue of Petite Purls is their second anniversary issue, and is entirely focused on toys, including knit, crochet, and beginner sewing projects.   All Petite Purls patterns are completely free, and their articles are inspiring and informative.  In this issue there is a great article that focuses on different types of stuffing and the best uses for each, allowing all of us to make great toys.  Some of my favorite toys from this issue are the To Market veggies, complete with a milk bottle and a carrying basket, and Margarita, with her super-stylish embroidered bob haircut.   This issue also features local designer Kahra Grae (AKA Cheezombie) with her Duuude the Sea Turtle pattern.

The majority of the toys in this issue are worked in worsted or DK weight yarn, though some have accents of varying textures.  I think toys are a great time to use odds and ends from the stash, as well as yarns that are a great bargain.  For most of the toys, I’d recommend Berrocco Vintage, Vintage DK, or Weekend, making these toys completely loveable and washable.

What are your stories of knitting for children?  Do you have a favorite, always loved pattern?

With our current heat wave, I have been spending a lot of time indoors, ceiling fans going as fast as they can turn, and the airconditioner chugging away.   As I look around, I find that my space needs some decorative upgrades (well, really it needs more than that, but decorating is about all I can handle right now).   I’ve been looking through pattern books, magazines and, of course, Ravelry and have found all sorts of great ideas, including Lumen lights, and this Stripey Bolster Pillow.   However, the most intriguing pattern I’ve found is for a cushion/footstool.

This “Pouf” is a free pattern available from DROPS designs, which uses bulky to super bulky wool held doubled, or quadrupled.   One of the main reasons I like this pattern is that it is pretty versatile.   For instance, if you were to stuff it with some poly-pellets (contained in a zippered pillowcase), it would be a giant bean bag, perfect for a video game chair.   I was thinking of making a couple of these for use as cushions on my patio, and stuffing them lightly with poly-fil (again contained in a pillowcase), so that they were more flat.   One knitter even stuffed hers with 40 skeins of yarn, and used it as a stash containment device.

No matter how you choose to fill it, the first step is getting the yarn gathered.    We have some great yarns that would work well for this, including Burly Spun, Noro Iro, and Rowan’s Big Wool or Rowan Drift.   Many of our bulky yarns could also work well for this, but they’d require a little more experimenting with how many strands to use to get the 1 stitch to the inch gauge.

I hope this inspires you to have a look around your home and see how you could use your love of yarn and needlework to beautify your space.

Have you knitted for your home?  What did you make?

I suppose that last week’s patterns were accessories too, but, well, I love lace shawls so much, I think they get a category all their own.   This week, we’ll focus on a FREE sock pattern from the current issue of Knitty, the Rivercat sock.

Each summer, I begin a pair of socks, working on them whenever I need a break from a bigger project, or when I need a small project to take along.   Progress is slow at this rate, but by the time the first cool nights roll around, I am finishing them up, and can keep my tootsies warm.   My pick for this year is the Rivercat sock.  Rivercat is a beautiful, cuff down sock, decorated with yarnovers and decreases.   The pattern looks like it would be enough to keep a knitter interested, without being too difficult to memorize and follow.   The pattern is written for 4 foot circumference sizes, which means any of the normal math required to customize a sock has already been done for you.   (I don’t know about you, but I don’t mind doing the math, but I always choose someone else doing the math over me doing the math, if possible.)

I normally work my socks toe-up two at a time, using the magic loop technique, but I am actually excited to work these as written, to try out some of the Kollage Square Double Pointed Needles.   I’ve always loved my metal DPNs (I pick up the Addi’s whenever I run across them), and the square needles are supposed to help out with the hand fatigue that I sometimes get on smaller needles.   I’ve heard a lot of positive things about them, and I am excited to see if they’ll help me.

As usual, we have a great selection of sock yarns in right now, including Sock-a-licious.  Sock-a-licious is a great superwash merino blend sock yarn, which is subtly variegated in a way that I think will really allow the pattern to show through.

Are socks a summer project for you?  Do you like to work one or two at a time?   Do you prefer to work toe-up or cuff down?

This week we are featuring two lace patterns, one for those who are experienced with lace and light weight yarns, and another for those who are looking to gain experience with lighter weight yarns and lace: Rock Island by Jared Flood, and the Multnomah Shawl by Kate Elsa.

Rock Island is the latest shawl from Jared Flood, a Studio staff favorite designer.   Rock Island starts with the outer edge of the shawl, worked back and forth.   After that part is complete, then stitches are picked up and the shawl is worked to a triangular shape, with an ever decreasing number of stitches.   There is patterning on both the wrong and right side of the shawl, so this is definitely a project that requires experience and concentration.   In terms of yarn, we have a lot of small treasures in lace weight right now, definitely worth checking the lace area to see if a color appeals to you.   One of my new favorites is Ella Rae Lace Merino, which is available in 8 semi-solid colors.

The Multnomah Shawl is a beautiful garter stitch based triangular shawl, which finishes with a feather and fan lace pattern on the edge.   Multnomah is perfect for trying out lighter weight yarns, as well as a simple knit when other things are on your mind.   This is also a great pattern for understanding triangular shawl structure and learning to customize to get your desired size.   My favorite yarn for this is Koigu’s fingering weight yarns(KPM and KPPPM).   The shawl will take anywhere from 2-6 skeins, depending on the size you’d like.

Take a look at these two patterns and see if either is something that inspires you and your summer knitting.

Yes, you’ve read that correctly: the pattern of the week is back again, only with a new voice.   Laura Gayle kept all of us abreast of the newest and best patterns out there, and the patterns she chose were always something I wanted to knit.  Hopefully a few of the patterns I select will be something that you’ll be excited to cast on, work through and wear proudly.

This week, our pattern is a cardigan sweater.   The Spring Ribbed Cardigan has only been out a few weeks, so there aren’t many projects out there yet, but looking at the pattern, it has a lot of great things going for it.

First, the Spring Ribbed Cardigan has been written with a wide range of sizes in mind.   Going from a 32” bust up to a 56” inch bust, there is a size for almost everyone, especially when you consider that it can easily be worn with negative ease (open in the front).

Second, with the strong vertical design element, this cardigan will be flattering on most of us ladies.   Being plus sized myself, this is one of those things that I’ve learned to look for in a pattern, and the Spring Ribbed Cardigan definitely has it.

Third, there isn’t any seaming.   When you have the knitting done, block it and wear it proudly!

I could list many more great things about this sweater, but the final thing I’d like to add, is that this is a great take-along sort of project.   Many of you are knitting at kids’ sports, Royals games, vacations, and out at the park this time of year and this is a great take a long sort of project.  The stitch pattern is a garter stitch variation on ribbing, so it will keep your mind occupied, but not so much that it’s challenging.   On top of that, it is knit in one piece, so one needle, a few stitch markers, and some yarn and you can take it on the road.

Well, now that you are sold on the pattern, let’s talk yarn.   The pattern calls for a DK weight yarn.   For the summer, I’d recommend either Classic Elite’s Premiere, a cotton/tencel blend, which is really soft, and available in a number of soft springy colors, or I’d recommend Cascade Yarn’s Ultra Pima, which is a 100% Mercerized Pima cotton, which we have in many bright colors, pastels, and neutrals.

Be sure to watch for the pattern of the week here on our Studio blog, Facebook, or on Ravelry.  Next week, I’ll be featuring a fabulous lace pattern.

KSI:The Studio
A customer came into the shop the other day looking for a new sweater project.  She confessed her last sweater had not turned out well at all. In fact, she had run out of yarn before she got to the sleeves.    So naturally, she was a little worried about starting a new sweater when the old one had fared so badly.  “Ah ha!” I said.  “You need the KSI– The Knit Scene Investigators.”

Even experienced knitters run into problems with their projects.  Solving these problems is what makes them “experienced” knitters after all.  Before you start a new project or abandon a troubled project completely, it’s important to do a little “knit scene investigating” to see what went wrong.   You can always bring your dead or dying projects into the Studio and Cindy, the “Forensic Knitter,” or any other staff member can help with the post-mortem analysis.
Since this customer had run out of yarn before she started the sleeves, I suspected gauge might be a problem.  And when she mentioned that she was fine until she had to start decreasing for both the armholes and the neck edge, I knew that a row by row chart of decreases would have helped keep her on track.  In fact, I bet when she brings her sweater in, we will be able to rip it back to before the decreases and get her going again.  We can probably even track down the yarn she needs to finish, or find a coordinating yarn for the sleeves.
If you have “knitting crime” stuffed away in a bag in the bottom of your closet, it’s time to come clean.  Bring it in to The Studio for a “Knit Scene Investigation.”  We can help discover what went wrong and show you how not to repeat the same mistakes.  We might even be able to revive the patient.   And to help you before you tackle your next sweater project,  The Studio is offering “Seven Things to Make or Break a Sweater” class beginning March 15, at @ 5:30 p.m.   It’s the perfect class to keep you from committing a knitting crime.