Wool Free and Lovin' Knit

Book Review: Knitwear Design Workshop

I've been shopping around for awhile for a really comprehensive Knitwear Design book to have in my knitting library. It had to be written in language I could understand with lots of illustrations.  I think I found it in Knitwear Design Workshop: A Comprehensive Guide to Handknits  by Shirley Paden.

This is a hardcover book but open it up and you'll find a spiral bound book within which means the book lies flat when opened -- love that! Shirley caught my attention right in her forward to the book in which she shares the story of how she came to designing and also what her personal style and approach has been.  I knew I wanted to hear more of what she had to share from her knowledge and experience. And it's a LOT.

Book Review: The Knitter's Life List

I just got a copy of Gwen W. Steege's The Knitter's Life List: To Do, To Know, To Explore, To Make   and I haven't been able to put it down. 

Based on the idea of the "bucket list" (things you want do before you die) or leap list (things you want to do before you leap into the next stage of your life), The Knitter's Life List is a "to-do" for Knitters.

In collaboration with several well-known knitters, designers and yarn makers Gwen has laid out "a list of things to do, patterns to try, techinques to explore, places to go, movies to see and much more -- all related to knitting."      That list takes up over 300 pages and as Gwen says, is not a comprehensive one, but just enough to inspire you and get you started on creating your own list. 

There's a lot of great information in this book, lists of fiber festivals, schools for knitters, and movies and books that feature knitting.  There's brief biographical sketches on a number of designers and yarn makers. Techniques are described in general (not in detail) with info. on where you can learn more.  The appendix itself has enough information to make it worthwhile to purchase this book. 

I loved the fact that there's plenty of ideas for the wool-free knitter in this book too.  When Gwen discusses yarns to try she gives equal billing to wool-free fibers. There's a good section on knitting with silk, and she includes wool-free authors like Amy Singer in her list of people you should meet.  

There's something for everyone in this book whether it starts you thinking about your own Knitter's Life List, gives you ideas of new places to go or presents new things to try or buy.  It's a great overview of the knitting world for new knitters too. And what a great "gift" book for a fellow-knitter.

But I do think the book will have a short shelf-life unless they bring out regularly updated versions. The knitting world is growing and expanding at such a rate that information can be quickly outdated. 

In the meantime, it's inspiring me to start  some lists of my own:

Yarns I want to try

Patterns I want to knit

Places I want to go

Techniques I want to learn...

So. what's on your Knitter's Life List? 

50 Baby Booties to Knit -- Book Review

One of the gifts in my stocking this year was this book, 50 Baby Bootees to Knit by Zoe Mallor. 

It's a wonderful collection of bootie and sock patterns to knit for babies and I hope to draw on it often this year to put aside some baby shower gifts (just in case) and to donate to our church's 4th trimester group.

I started off with a really easy knit (complicated only by the fact that I missed reading a "turn" early on in dividing for the first foot) and have managed to produce a pair of textured-cuff booties (pg. 60) using some cotton yarn I got in my stocking as well (Filati's Fantasia Carezza).  This yarn is 100% cotton in a soft shade of blue.  The gauge was slightly off from the yarn called for  in the pattern, so I knit the 3-6 month size and  finished it measures as the 0-3 month size  according to the chart provided in the back for sizing small feet.  Works for me!

The patterns seem to be well-written. Lots of fun designs without requiring a lot of complex knitting techniques.   A good handy reference book to have on the shelf when you want something a little "special" for a little someone.

I promise to share more booties from this book as I knit them in 2012. It should be a great way to use up some of my stash!

  

Wendy's Lace

 
Much to my shock and amazement, I won this book over at the Mason-Dixon Blog this month. 

If you are a sock knitter perhaps you've seen Wendy's two previous books, Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits  and Toe-Up Socks for Every Body: Adventurous Lace, Cables, and Colorwork from Wendy Knits.  

Her newest book,  Wendy Knits Lace: Essential Techniques and Patterns for Irresistible Everyday Laceis a visual feast for the lace lovers eyes.   There are twenty patterns in all, everything from scarves, cowls and shawls to socks, gloves and sweaters.  All beautifully photographed and oh, the stunning colors.  

Did you know that according to some experts, "lace knitting" has patterning on every other row (with a resting row in between )and knitted lace has patterning on every row?   Well, that's just one of the tidbits for the novice lace knitter that I've gleaned so far.   

And speaking of novice lace knitter (that would be me) she has some wonderful instructions starting with types of cast ons and ways to join yarn and a list of blocking tools for lace knitting . I like the section with  illustrated help for fixing your mistakes in lace knitting -- a handy reference I shall refer to again and again and again I'm sure. 

As for the patterns, there's a nice combination of easy and more challenging lace and patterns using both straight and circular needles,  so something to appeal to everyone. 

I know I was swearing off lace just a project or two ago, but Elizabeth's Cowl takes only 140 yards so I think I have found a match for my remaining skein of Handmaiden Sea Three, and another  great gift to knit!

 

America Knits: Audio Book Review

I've been working on several different projects the past few days and listening to the audio book, America Knits by Melanie Falick from the Knitting Out Loud Series.

Written by Melanie Falik, this book highlights fiber artists throughout the United States.  Some of the knitters, designers, wool dyers and fiber artists highlighted through brief biographical sketches are Meg Swansen, Nancy Bush, Nicky Epstein and Julie Hoff .

One on the sketches that fascinated me most was that of Sally Fox, the owner of Natural Cotton Colors Inc.  It was refreshing to hear, in this wool-centric collection, of a fiber artist who was working without wool and making a fresh contribution to the world of knitting. 

I found it fascinating to learn little tid-bits of the lives of so many names I've seen and heard of in the world of knitting and if you've ever wondered how Norah Gaughan got her start or where Pam Allen gets all her ideas etc. then this is definitely the book for you. 

On the downside, Christine Marshall is not my favorite narrator (I find her a little stilted at times) and the audio version does not include a visual copy of the designs created by these artists just for this book.  Overall, however, this makes a wonderful audio companion for knitting.

I also like to listen to novels while knitting, but I do find that listening to books on knitting, while knitting, is my favorite way to combine the two.  

What about you?  Do you listen to audio books while you knit?  What are your favorites? 

 

Book Review: Sensual Knits

A friend gave me Sensual Knits: Luxurious Yarns, Alluring Designs , for Christmas last year and while I was quite taken with it at the time,  it got put away on the bookshelf in the post-Christmas clean up and I sort of forgot about it.  

Fast Forward to earlier this week when I was looking for another book in my collection and I happened upon it again.  I poured myself a glass of Iced Tea and spent some time reading through it and there are some REALLY lovely patterns in this book.  

The book is divided into 5 Chapters :

Barely there: Camisoles, tanks, a vest and a twin set

Sensual Chic: Modern Sweaters with hip details

Wrapped in Luxury: Cardigans and jackets to keep you warm

Feminine Mystique: Dresses to capture their attention (it may sound like bitter grapes, but unless you have a perfect figure, I suggest passing on these)

Magic is in the Details: Accessories (gloves, a shawl,a wrap, stockings) to complete the look. 

I'm impressed with the way the schematics,  charts and photos are interspersed with the written pattern material.  It's really well organized and (although I've yet to knit one) the patterns seem very easy to follow. There's a wide variety of contributing designers with info. on where to find more designs by them.  It's a beautiful book just to look at even if you don't knit a thing. 

The sweater that caught my eye is the Samuri Sweater. The suggested yarn is  a Silk & Wool blend but  I've been dreaming about how I might knit this up in a combination of the Habu Stainless steel silk and Elspbeth Lavold Hempathy with a bright teal cami underneath.  What do you think? 

Anyway, I'm delighted my friend gave me this book and suspect I shall knit more from it as the years go along.  Definitely one to consider adding to your own collection!

 

B is for Purl - Franklin Habit Speaks at the Common Cod Fiber Guild

Franklin sporting his Gentlemen's laceweight nightcap knit from an antique pattern

Last night I joined about 100 other knitters in a lecture hall at MIT for a meeting of the Common Cod Fiber Guild (my first).  We all sat and knit while Franklin Habit guided us through some of the challenges to be faced in knitting from some of the earliest written knitting patterns.   

If you've read his blog the Panopticon, you'll know that Franklin has a wonderful wacky sense of humor and he had us all, literally, in stitches.

But all the laughs aside, it was a fascinating presentation of early antique knitting patterns.  We take so much for granted, now, with common terminology and charts and photographs (not to mention videos) to aid us in following a pattern and these helps were just not present for the Victorian knitter. 

I'm In Love

With this gorgeous sweater coat!!

The pattern is Issara by designer Anne Kuo Lukito and it's published in the Twist Collective fall 2010  (I love these photos of the pattern too).

I might want to liven up the top yoke a bit (not sure how) or maybe different buttons would work. But overall, I LOVE this coat. 

There's only ONE problem. It's knit with SuperBulky yarn.  Anyone know of a great wool-free SuperBulky yarn that would work for a garment of this size and weight?  Please do tell! 

 

Review: Cowl Girls

Another new knitting book I got for Christmas this year was Cathy Carron's Cowl Girls: The Neck's Big Thing to Knit.  I might have bought this book just for the clever title, but I put it on my wish list because I'm a huge cowl lover.   (when hats don't look great on you, cowls are a lovely alternative with the added bonus of being a scarf/headcovering all in one).

But the book has more than cowls. There are patterns for the "Gaiter", "Dickey", "Snood", Balaclava, "Infinity scarf", "Donut", and even a knitted "Necklace" and a clear definition of each in case you don't know the difference!

Almost ALL of the patterns feature a wool or wool/blend yarn with two exceptions:

"Zig and Zag" (which is featured in Classic Elite Yarns, Verde Collection, organic cotton)

 

And "All that Glitters" (which is featured in Euroflax linen by Louet).

 

Cathy does note that "most of the designs are for cold-weather wear, but many could be adapted in silk, cotton or linen for warmer climes" and, I would add, for "wool free knitters".  

Regrettably she does not provide those wool-free alternatives in this book so, you'll have to figure them out yourself, but there's such flexibility in garments like these that I don't think it will be too hard. 

Cathy does provide excellent instructions at the back of the book for those who prefer to knit these patterns on straight needles rather than "in the round".   

All in all, a great collection of interesting and easily adaptable patterns that even a wool free knitter can work with. 

I've started in on the "Candy Wrapper" Cowl -- more on that tomorrow!

 

 

More Magic

Much as I love the mattress stitch, it only works for vertical seams.  That's why it's good to have the "Invisible Horizontal Stitch"  in your bag of tricks as well. 

 

With right sides facing, you simply insert your needle under the first "V" below the bound off edge on one side. Next,cross over and insert it under the first "V" below the bound off edge on the other side and pull snuggly.  As long as you are joining to pieces with the same # of bound off stitches, you'll just work V to V all the way across.  Studio Knits has a great visual tutorial on this stitch here. 

Notice how my seaming yarn just disappears even on the underside?  It's magic. 

So, the Lizard Ridge Afghan is FINALLY all seamed.  It wasn't really as bad as I thought it would be.  Now to decide on the color for the border. I'm going to try an attached I-cord border -- sure hope I like it!