Asymmetrical April!

Hello Everyone!

We have been waiting for Spring to show up in the Northeast and with temperatures climbing from the 30’s to 50’s then to 80’s and back down to the 40’s, our typical New England Spring has arrived in all its asymmetrical glory. And coincidentally, if you've read our newsletter, you know it's Asymmetric April! Our April is not be filled with varying weather fronts, but we do have projects where the yarn is knitted in different directions only to come together in stunning ways, much like the appearance of a beautiful rainbow after a weather event. Our designers this month, Josh Ryks on the Rebel hat and Stephen West on the Tripartite garment both take the venerable garter stitch and the versatile short row technique to new and incredible levels. According to his Ravelry profile, Josh Ryks is a color-obsessed knitter and designer from Minnesota. As a self-taught knitter, Josh has been altering patterns since the moment a pair of sticks and string was put in his hands. Josh got started on his “official” design career after knitting a shawl by Stephen West. The shawl opened his knitting world to a wonderful playground of shape, color, texture, graphic detailing, and lines - as well as creating a shawl-obsessed knitwear designer. Short rows, color, lines, endless garter stitch, and graphic punch can be found in his designer tool belt at all times - and he’ll always have at least one shawl in his project bag! His Ravelry username is SwordofaKnitter and his website is www.swordofaknitter.com, a combination blog and vlog (video blog). Check out his other patterns. They beautifully show what you can do with garter stitch and short rows.

As you can see from Josh's profile, he is inspired by arguably the most creative designer using the garter stitch (and short rows), Stephen West. 

According to his website, www.westknits.com, Stephen West was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He studied dance at the University of Illinois where he encountered his first yarn store, Klose Knit in Urbana, IL. The creative atmosphere of that local shop spurred Stephen to start designing knitting patterns and he was quickly featured in Knitty’s fall 2009 issue with his Colonnade Shawl. Soon after, he began publishing more patterns and launched a series of pattern books under the brand Westknits. He continues to produce pattern books and hosts several online knit alongs each year like the Mystery Shawl Knit Along, Yarn a Long and Westknits Shawl Club. His simple clean designs have now been knitted by thousands of knitters all around the World.

So here we have two very creative designers using relatively simple techniques in unusual and dynamic ways. For this blog entry, I will concentrate on our Rebel Hat. Linda says the hat’s name fits me well. Hmmm…..

As a departure from the bright colors our designer favors, I am knitting my Rebel hat in white, black, gray, and tan. I prefer muted and more natural colors (but a burst of orange has been known to find its way into some of my knitted work!). I suggest reading the entire pattern to plan out your color arrangement. I am using four colors so I will have more weaving in of the ends, but picking two colors for the Main and Contrasting Colors certainly has great appeal, which I am sure I will think of as well when it comes time to actually weave in those ends! The pattern is straightforward aside from the make One Left (M1L) and Make One Right (M1R), which are very well explained in the pattern. As I was first knitting this pattern I though how is this ever going to get into a hat shape? I usually knit in the round and this hat is knitted flat, but not in the usual way. The shape grows through the added stitch placement and the ingenious use of garter stitch. It is important to keep track of the rows as they are key in the shaping, particularly with garter stitch. The only thing that really gives the Right Side (RS) and Wrong Side (WS) definition in this phase of the knitting is how the striping looks in the beginning of the hat. It looks like the striping would look on the WS of the hat until you get to the directional knitted fold. I use old school pen (in different colors) and paper to keep track. I have used every tool, electronic and otherwise and for me, the old school method works best. I find the combination of tracking works for me, but use whatever works for you. As with most knitters and crocheters, I multitask (TV, coffee drinking, you get the idea) so tracking is crucial to bring me back on point. It also helps with Works in Progress (WIPs), where we all have a few (blog on WIPs in progress, how fitting!).

I am at the point where I have come to Section 4 of the pattern, the German Short Rows! I found that the description in the pattern of the SLPYO to accomplish short rows wasn’t as descriptive as I needed to this critical shaping of my Rebel hat. So this is where I turn back to “new school” and I found a great tutorial on German Short Rows at Tin Can Knits, https://blog.tincanknits.com/2015/05/. Although I have knitted short rows in the past, it’s been quite a while, so I need a refresher. I am working my German short rows as I write, and I will show my progress and a finished hat in the next blog. Here

is where I am so far (yes, that's a stitch marker to keep my front and backing clear view!):

I will post my Rebel hat completion in the new few days. I will also post about the amazing Stephen West project. Enjoy knitting this hat and let your inner Rebel free!

Knit On! Lisa

More March Madness, Thrumming!!

Hello Everyone!

If you're like me, you may have heard about thrumming but had no idea what it is. And then, Linda offers a class on thrumming so I had to get in gear and learn about thrumming. Once I saw the pattern, it made more sense.  According to Stephanie Pearl McFee of Yarn Harlot fame, "A thrum is a little wisp of unspun fleece or roving that is knit into your project every so often. Thrumming makes the insides soft and fuzzy, and freakishly warm. This technique is most often associated with Canada’s Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (where they know warm)." (http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/thrumfaq.html)

Typically, you can find a number of thrummed patterns for mittens. There are other hats and even a collared vest, but this flap hat is one of a kind. And while flap hats have long been used by the Military (OD Green, of course) and people living in the coldest parts of the World, flap hats have become somewhat of a fashion statement. So here’s our opportunity to knit a truly unique piece and learn a new skill at the same time, thrumming!

When I started knitting the thrummed hat, the weather in New England was getting warmer, like into the 50's and 60's warmer. That's a big deal in New England. I figured the hat wouldn't be used until next year when our inevitable frigid winters arrive in August (just kidding, usually it's November, which I still think is too early!) But, New England being New England, we had a Nor’easter and knitting the thrummed hat made much more sense. Our pattern is from www.cocoknits.com, Fleeced Earflap Hat designed by Julie Weisenberger.

Julie takes thrumming up a notch with her own version of "extreme thrumming", as she calls it. Her method is invisible on the outside and extremely warm on the inside. Her directions on How to Fleece are very detailed with step-by-step pictures. Even though there appears to be a lot going on in this pattern, I found that by reading the entire pattern I was able to better understand how all the pieces go together. Linda suggested using three sets of needles to knit each part, the front flap, and right and left ear flaps. Well, if you’re like me, of course you have three sets of needles, not that we admit to it often, but now we can confidently say we NEED all those needles!! Each piece requires fleecing so knitting each separately makes connecting the pieces much easier. I found the actual fleecing a little challenging at first because I learned that I really needed to tug the stitch a little tighter around the fleece. This is especially important when felting the fleece. The little tufts stay in place when the felting process is underway. And I recommend using the type of brush seen in the pattern. I tried other brushes and the type shown works best. Another tip Linda gave me to help with the felting is to gently steam iron the fleece. And trimming the fleece really does help with the felting. I was a little surprised what a difference trimming made. As you can see from my pictures, my fleece is fuller rather than packed, giving a faux fur look. I will also try a more “packed” look on my next thrummed hat. The different fleeced looks are personal preference and attractive either way. The thrummed patterns on Ravelry show a variety of fleeced looks and uses. Above all, a fleeced piece is meant to be warm. And on this last day of March when we are getting yet another Nor’easter here in New England, finding a use for my Fleeced Earflap Hat won’t be too difficult. I hope you enjoyed learning how to thrum on this very special hat. I enjoyed how the hat “grew” with each row and how it so beautifully came together. I especially like that this hat is unique.

My Fleeced Earflap Hat

Top View

My next Blog will be on Works In Progress (WIPs). I have two from our March projects, the Chevalier Mittens and the Kellie Fingerless Gloves (among others!).  I don’t think I know a Knitter or Crocheter who doesn’t have at least one WIP!

Knit On!

Lisa

March is Crochet Month!

Hello Everyone! This month we take a diversion from our knitting for one of our projects and delve into the world of Crochet! Knowing how to crochet broadens your fiber versatility. I learned how to crochet in 2008 by going to an adult education class held at the local high school. I crocheted almost exclusively for a few years and then went back to all knitting all of the time. Our project, Cache Basket by Yarnspirations, is my first crochet project in several years so I had to refresh my crochet skills. According to Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crochet, the word crochet is derived from the Old French crochet, a diminutive of croche, in turn from the Germanic croc, both meaning "hook". Crochet is a process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn, thread, or strands of other materials using a crochet hook. The name is derived from the French term "crochet", meaning small hook. These are made of materials such as metal, wood, or plastic and are manufactured commercially and produced in artisan workshops. The most noticeable difference between crochet and knitting, beyond the implements used for their production, is that each stitch in crochet is completed before proceeding with the next one, while knitting keeps a large number of stitches open at a time. (Variant forms such as Tunisian crochet and broomstick lace keep multiple crochet stitches open at a time.)  Any yarn can be either knitted or crocheted, provided needles or hooks of the correct size are used, but the cord's properties should be taken into account. For example, lofty, thick woolen yarns tend to function better when knitted, which does not crush their airy structure, while thin and tightly spun yarn helps to achieve the firm texture required for Amigurumi crochet. There are five main types of basic stitches (the following description uses US crochet terminology which differs from the terminology used in the UK and Europe). 1. Chain Stitch - the most basic of all stitches and used to begin most projects. 2. Slip Stitch - used to join chain stitch to form a ring. 3. Single Crochet Stitch (called Double Crochet Stitch in the UK) - easiest stitch to master Single Crochet Stitch Tutorial 4. Half Double Crochet Stitch (called Half Treble Stitch in the UK) - the 'in-between' stitch Half-Double Crochet Tutorial 5. Double Crochet Stitch (called Treble Stitch in the UK) - many uses for this unlimited use stitch Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial hile the horizontal distance covered by these basic stitches is the same, they differ in height and thickness. The more advanced stitches are often combinations of these basic stitches, or are made by inserting the hook into the work in unusual locations. More advanced stitches include the Shell Stitch, V Stitch, Spike Stitch, Afghan Stitch, Butterfly Stitch, Popcorn Stitch, Cluster stitch, and Crocodile Stitch. Check out the rest of the Wikipedia site on Crochet. The site covers the history and various types of crochet, hooks, and knitting as compared to crochet. Crochet has seen a resurgence in popularity. Crochet is very popular for charitable organizations. The original group of students in my basic crochet class ended up taking other classes together. We then moved onto charitable crocheting and were able to crochet hats, mittens and blankets for our local homeless Veterans Home. Nothing makes a project more worthwhile than it does making it for someone who really needs to stay warm. I really like crocheting for home projects, such as for an afghan or a basket, but this is by far one of the best crochet pieces to reawaken my crocheting skills. I think the combination of the rustic yarn and large hook using the single crochet stitch make this project attractive and useful. The pattern offers variations in size, which opens up many possibilities. But, first things first, I had to dig out my crochet tools and books. My go-to book when I was learning crochet is the now updated "Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crochet (second edition) by by Cecily Keim and Kim P. Werker (I have the 2006 first edition). As with other Teach Yourself VISUALLY books, the pictures and descriptions are very helpful and offer excellent reference material. In reviewing my hooks, I could see the evolution of my interest in crochet, from the metal hooks everyone starts off with to the smooth bamboo hooks. In my crochet hook stash, I found the perfect N-15 hook in bamboo by ChiaoGoo. It's the right length and feels great in my hand.  I chose the largest size basket so you know I would be crocheting for some time. I found that preparing and positioning my yarn to accommodate the four strands was key to avoiding tangling. I made two "cakes" and used a center pull and well as an outside pull. After the yarn was all set up, I did have a few starts and stops as I was trying to remember how to crochet. But once I "got it back", the flow of stitches grew with each round. When I arrived at the "crochet through the back loop" to create the bottom of the basket, I was excited that I would now be working on the body of the basket. The pattern says to use a stitch marker and I highly suggest it as well. Stitch markers for crochet are different because you attached the marker to the stitch and not have it on the hook as you would on knitting needles. I recommend markers that can be attached to the crochet stitch using either an open circular marker (Clover) or one with a lobster hook. As my basket "grew", I could see all types of possibilities for when I was finished. Once I got my crocheting rhythm down, I could watch television at the same time, or at least until I came to the end of the row to move the marker up one row. I attached my marker to the Chain 1. When it came time to change yarn colors (I have gray and cream colors), I used two strands from each color so the changed color blended rather than going to an abrupt change to a new color. In a sense, I eased into the new color. I can't wait to use my basket once it's done, that is once I choose how I will use the basket. I think this pattern makes a great, relatively quick gift. And that's another thing I like about crochet. If you want to make a baby blanket or an afghan, you can do so more quickly. Ravelry has some great patterns. Check out the Chevron patterns. They look more difficult that they actually are. Also, if you want to explore crochet using finer weight yarn with a large hook, beautiful, "bohemian" type shawls or cover-ups can be created.  One of my favorites is Amigurumi, the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. There are some very adorable patterns. I like The Friendly Red Fox Crochet at http://www.thefriendlyredfox.com. Explore the possibilities that crochet offers. Crochet is versatile and most of all, it's fun!

Knit and Crochet On! Lisa

Look for my upcoming blogs in the next few days on our knitted projects.

Kit Knitting, Yarns by HPF Style

Hello Everyone!
While I am waiting to start our March projects, I wanted to share knitting two of our kits from January. The first kit is the Brother Hat, pattern by Elizabeth Felgate. This pattern is actually part of of an overall booklet, The Hat Family. There are hat patterns for every member of the family. We used Lotus Yarns Mya, and doubled the yarn. You can use the double yarn method of your choice, either by using two balls of yarn, by making two balls out of the one, or even by taking one strand from inside and one from the outside. I used the latter, but use whatever works for you. Using such fine yarn can be a little challenging so doubling the yarn makes knitting this hat much easier. This pattern calls for the German Twisted Cast On. The pattern contains written, video and pictorial tutorials. I also used knitpurlhunter.com German Twisted Cast On http://knitpurlhunter.com/blog/?p=142.
This is a stretchy cast on and it does take some practice to master, but I think it is worth the effort. It did take a few tries, but this cast on is a great addition to the usual go-to Long Tailed Cast-On. The knit/purl pattern comes makes a very attractive hat. The geometric step ladder pattern offers a lot of texture. If your "Brother" has a larger head, in addition to using the largest circumference, we suggest lengthening the body of the hat, prior to the crown, to 6" to 6 1/2". This pattern is excellent for sharpening your chart reading skills. The chart is very clear and is a good starter for those more intricate charted patterns. The pattern has one area of possible confusion on page 5, Round 18. You will see the initials "NB". NB is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase nota bene, meaning “note well.” It is used to emphasize an important point. We all learned about using NB in high school or earlier, but having not seen this term in many years, it's easy to think this might be some obscure knitting abbreviation (I did for a few minutes!).  But no, your first inclination was correct. So, like other things we learned in school and wondered when we'd every use them again, here is an example where you never know what might pop up and you have to recall an old lesson or two! The finished hat has an interesting and modern-looking pattern that goes beyond  typical ribbing. And while this hat is for the Brothers in your life, my Sisters also loved the hat for themselves. This interesting hat is a big hit for anyone.
Here is my finished Brother Hat which is currently warming my Dad's head (and yes, he is a Brother).

The second kit is from our January designer, Joji Locatelli. The pattern is 3-Color Cashmere Cowl. We used a cotton-cashmere blend as an alternative to pure cashmere yarn. We knitted with Lotus Yarn Autumn Wind and Katia Concept  cotton-cashmere blends. This is a long, draped cowl that can be pulled up on your head as a hood. The yarn feels so good in your hands, you won't mind that you'll be knitting a series of bands, each beautifully elegant with clean lines. Joji gives instructions on how to avoid the jog when changing colors. I found the particular method of slipping the first stitch on the second round to be particularly helpful on the entire pattern, to include band changes and striping, over other methods previously discussed in our January blogpost. I also used the ribbing technique from our January blogpost. The tighter ribbing lines work especially well with the lighter weight yarns where loosely knitted stitches are much more visible. This cowl looks deceptively simples. There is a lot of detail, different stitch patterns, and color changes to keep your interest and surprise you as your cowl grows.
The combination of lace and stripes look great with work or casual wear. It even goes with your favorite jeans, workout or yoga attire. I think all JoJi Locatelli's designs are amazing. I look forward to exploring her other patterns.

 I hope you enjoyed knitting our kits. Don't be surprised if you are asked to knit the hat or cowl for a friend or relative. They are that striking. See you later in the month for our version of March Madness.
Knit On! Lisa