Juvie June 2017!

Hello Everyone!
By now you’ve see our Facebook Page and know we are all about knitting for the small ones during Juvie June. We have the Baby through Adult Size Newsboy Hat, Seamless Hoodie, and Cocoon for baby snuggling. While knitting for babies and children provides some of the most beautiful gifts, did you know there has been an ongoing trend of children’s clothing looking more like miniature adult clothing. Our Baby Newsboy Hat can also be knit into adult sizes. Fashion is for now for all ages, and the little ones are all over the Internet and Instagram where the small ones have really gotten down all the latest trends. From hats to shoes and all that’s in between, everything is perfectly miniature... and perfectly stylish! Pinterest has pages devoted to children and knitted styles. Check out Pinterest CHILDREN – fashion and knitting at https://www.pinterest.com/volfi/children-fashion-and-knitting/
Another website and Facebook page is “Humans of New York” where the author/photographer, Brandon Stanton, will feature from time to time “Today in microfashion” centering on children all decked out with beauty and confidence,  http://www.humansofnewyork.com.
While the sheer number of children's fashions can be as mind boggling as adult fashions, knitting small size clothing is also a great skill builder. Intimidated by that sweater you’ve been dying to knit? Find a similar sweater in a child’s size. The basics are the same and knitting in a smaller size is not quite as daunting. Casting on, knitting, purling, seaming – they are all there regardless of size. As we become adults, sometimes our fearlessness to try something new is tempered and that even extends to something we love to do, like knitting or crocheting. That’s why knitting for children not only builds skills; it is also a confidence builder as well.

 

I wanted to knit a sweater for a long time. Yet, I didn’t think I could master the knitting requirements so that my end result would resemble a sweater. I’ve knitted hats, scarves, cowls, afghans, blankets, but never something that actually fit my body. So in discussing this self imposed dilemma with Linda, she suggested that I start small and knit a child’s sweater. So, I knitted the little sweater before I knew how to do flat seaming and definitely before I learned how to graft. Yet, that little sweater gave me confidence to try knitting a sweater for myself. And while I am still knitting my sweater, I am knitting it with beautiful yarn and confidence that once finished, it will be something that I will want to wear. I still have that little sweater to remind me to knit that sweater or anything else and to embrace that inner child and to be fearless and try new things.

Our class on the Baby Newsboy Hat is an example of how knitting small leads to something big. The brim is a special touch where we are learning how to use plastic mesh to stiffen the brim. We also have other projects such as the Seamless Baby Hooded Pullover with buttons and Baby Vests with flat stranded knitting of lambs. Learning to knit buttonholes in smaller garments gives way to buttons on adult clothing. And buttons are an art form in and of themselves. Children’s buttons are adorable and artisan and vintage buttons are beautiful additions to your knitted wear. Flat stranded knitting is quite different from stranding in the round. Sometimes the pattern is better knitted separately from the garment as a whole due to carrying yarn over greater areas where catching the yarn is just not practicable. And you’ll have another skill that will translate well to larger sizes. And if you don’t have small people to knit for, use the projects as a great way to enhance your knitting skillset. You can keep the project and refer to it when moving onto larger sizes.

We hope you enjoy knitting our own version of microfashion. The smaller set loves looking fabulous, too!!
Knit On! Lisa
  

Mosaic May - Wrap-Up!

Hello Everyone!

My Finished Hat

Crown

My Colors

In wrapping up Mosaic May, the projects for this month were not only interesting and creative, but set the stage for more mosaic knitting in my future! I will be talking about my adventures with the Mojo Hat and Tidal Flat Tote. I learned several things in knitting this skill builder hat project, the Mosaic Mojo Hat by Katie Carr Swanson. This pattern is very well written with clear instructions. I used worsted weight yarn in two colors as the pattern calls for - my hat Color A is turquoise and Color B is variegated red, dark blue, and turquoise. Due to past experience in knitting other hats, I made the large size to fit my head because I like my hats a bit more slouchy. I also opted for the size 8 needles per the pattern. The hat is entirely garter stitch, with the use of short rows and colorwork, taking garter stitch to a whole new level. The two-color garter stitch short row pinwheel crown revealed the variegated yarn in such a way that half the hat shows the darker blue and the other half shows red. This hat starts as a true skill builder because we have previously learned how to do a provisional cast-on, short rows, and how to graft. The pinwheel is a traditional crown for this type of hat, and truly enhances the stitch and colorwork. I chose the Mosaic Herringbone pattern for the band, which uses another, learned skill, chart reading. I knitted the rolled stockinette stitch edge with Color A as the primary part and Color B as trim. I really enjoyed knitting this hat, watching the pattern take shape, and the end result. But here’s what I would do differently the next time I knit this hat. I would go down a size in needle size. Garter stitch is very stretchy and the give can easily accommodate size 7 or even size 6 needles. I would also pick another band pattern so it would show up more clearly, especially with two relatively dark colors. I would go further and “manipulate” the variegated yarn so the transition from blue to red would be more noticeable. I am not displeased with my hat as knitted, I love the slouchiness and the colors are very rich. In skill building, however, we learn other ways to create the same piece, be it color contrast and color placement, needle size, and structure. All can be changed without changing the pattern basics. It is all about what works best for you and how you see the color and contrast, and how you would like your hat to fit. Stepping out of the confines of the pattern and adjusting it for your preferences is all part of enhancing your knitting. I have included my Mojo Hat and one of our knitters, Grace, who took our May Hat Class, was kind enough to let me include pictures of her hat so you can see the difference the color contrast and choice of band pattern make. Thank you, Grace, your finished hat is beautiful!

Yes, Grace, you did!

Grace's Finished Hat

I also knitted our kit, Tidal Flats Tote by Moira Engel, where Linda included notes for three tote bottom (and shape) variations. I chose to knit the round shaped tote. The mosaic and stranded patterns in the tote make it striking and the bulky yarn and yarn tape gives the tote textural appeal. The pattern is well written especially the Special Stitches Section. There is a clear chart for the stranded knitting. However, I highly recommend using Linda's additional notes. You will be knitting your tote in one piece instead of the additional sewing called out in the full pattern. One piece is sturdier than two, and there is no matching up sides. Definitely a win in my book. Working the bottom of the tote first, I knitted the round spiral pattern in the knit tape. Did I say the color will remind you of your favorite jeans? The knitting tape is Universal Yarns "fiber natura denims" come in colors with names that are jeans inspired like Indigo Dye, Vintage Wash, and Stonewashed, among others. Once the bottom is completed, a round of purl stitches transitions to the body of the tote. Here's where the mosaic knitting really takes off by using Universal Yarns Deluxe Bulky in Pulp (muted off white) and the denim color knitting tape. The color combination reminds you of your favorite jeans topped off with a crisp white shirt. The chevron mosaic pattern is subtle but quite visible due to the yarns' different textures. Transitioning into the stranded diamond pattern recalls skills learned during Fair Isle February on positioning yarn so the colors are properly aligned to ensure color dominance. The I-Cord Bind Off is perhaps one of the best techniques for a tote and is very easy to do using the pattern instructions. Knitting the I-Cord for the handle is a fun way to finish this intricate looking and deceptively easy tote. The tote incorporates a number of skills you have learned along the way and at the end you've created a fashion piece that is classic and trendy at the same time. Now your next decision will be what to carry in your beautiful tote. Yarn, of course!

Bottom View

My Finished Tote

I hope you enjoyed our Mosaic May and continuing to expand on your knitting skills. June brings knitting for the juvenile set - Juvie June's projects include a Baby Newsboy Hat that can be sized from baby to adult. Fashion isn't just for adults anymore!

Knit On and Keep Your Knitting Mojo Going!  Lisa