The Finished Shawl

Very happy with it!

It's about 70 inches in wingspan, 35 inches deep. I wanted a bigger shawl, I definitely got a bigger shawl!

 

(Still trying to figure out how to rotate this pic...)

We're going to need a bigger mat.

I adore my Wings of the Pigeon shawl, and I wear it a lot. It's modestly sized, and just perfect for wearing with a dress when it's cool indoors, or with a light coat.

But as the weather inevitably turns arctic, I enjoy a larger shawl. The original is made from a single ball of Zauberball, and it's about 42 inches across.

When I was at The Needle Emporium last year I picked up two balls of Marks and Kattens Fame Trend yarn, in the "Party" colorway. The yarn is pretty much identical to the Zauberball - it's a slightly fuzzy 75% wool/ 25% nylon blend single, with very long stretches of color. It's ostensibly a sock yarn, but I think it's a bit too fine and certainly too fragile for socks.

The "Party" colorway is like my beloved Noro Kureyon 242, but without the green, and I thought it would be perfect for a larger, shawl. It will go with everything in my wardrobe, and be a real statement piece.

I've been working on the shawl on and off over the past year, and decided for my break between Christmas and New Year that I would try to finish it.

I did some math to see how much larger I thought I could make the shawl with a second ball -I reckoned that if the first one gets me about 140 rows, accommodating the ever-growing stitch count a second ball could get me about 60 rows. So I've been working away. The rows get longer as the piece gets bigger, and I started to try to figure out how long it was going to take me to finish the second ball... about 16 hours, I expected.

So I do what all obsessed knitters on a deadline do (don't we??): set a daily objective. The morning of New Years' Day, after good three hours of knitting into the second ball, I decided to weigh it. I had 112gms left. Of a 100gm ball.

I shook my head, blamed in on the hangover, and weighed it again. Yup. 112 gms left. So not only do I have a second ball of the yarn to use, it's significantly larger than expected. Exciting, I thought! A much larger shawl!

I thought I should check my progress against the original. You know what's it like when you're working a large small on a not-very-long circular needle - it's all bunched up and you don't get a sense of the size.

So I dug out the original, and laid them out together.

In addition to having significantly more yardage than I expected, my gauge is looser in this yarn - I actually think it's a bit thicker than the Zauberball.

I decided to keep going. New Year's Day is a quiet day on the couch here, and so I got a good five hours knitting done.

The original plan had been to work until I'd use the second ball. Realizing that I probably wouldn't find the time I needed to finish the second ball, the slightly revised plan was to work until the end of my Christmas break, the end of this weekend, and then call it done.

After looking at it this morning, I think it's done. (The new one is laid out, not even faintly stretched. Wingspan will be about 55 inches after blocking, I expect.)

Can't quite get the colours to read true in this light but this should give you a good idea of the patterning.  I can't wait to wear it!

History on Two Needles - Mine and Annie's

I had the distinct pleasure this summer and fall of working with Annie Modesitt on her new book, History on Two Needles.

Please forgive me if what is supposed to be a book review turns into a blog post about me...

I've been a serious knitter since the mid 1990s, in my early years as a knitter, resources available were scarce. There were few magazines, few books being published, and those books that were in print were hard to find.

I don't remember where I heard about Annie Modesitt - likely on the KnitList. I had read about Annie's self-published book "Confessions of a Knitting Heretic" and I knew I had to own it. I treasure my copy, and have only ever let it out of my house once - to a very special friend/private student H., who hails from Iran, and needed some emotional (rather than technical) support as a combination knitter.

I loved both Annie's clear and pragmatic approach to knitting, and her personal stories about her knitting experience. Annie made me feel like a clever and informed knitter.

Her approach suited my needs perfectly: she likes to explain the how and why, rather than just give blanket instructions without context. This is how I teach my classes, and I have carried over this approach into my own books.

I am a better knitter and teacher because of Annie.

I nearly fell off my chair this summer when Shannon asked me if I'd be interested in tech editing Annie's upcoming book.

I must confess, I was a little intimidated. Annie's work is of such great intelligence and creativity that I was worried I wouldn't be able to understand it. Her style is so distinctive that I was worried that I would ruin it. And her work is so wonderfully detailed and meticulous that I was afraid I'd make stupid mistakes.

However, the chance to to get an advanced peek at her work: I couldn't possibly say no. This new book has been in development for some time. It's an ambitious project: a set of garment and accessories inspired by historical images, blending Annie's love of art, history and art history - and the preview pictures had blown me away.

The process of working with Annie was wonderful. I loved that we could have discussions about what knowledge was safe to assume her knitters had; it was great to be able to use the mount-independent notation I'd been obsessed with since I'd seen it in her original book (k2tog-L and k2tog-R); I relished the challenge of complex patterns and constructions.

And once I got over the "surely I can't have found a mistake in Annie's work, it must be *me*" factor, it was an easy process, too. Annie was a very willing subject for my reviews, always happy to check her math when I suggested that something might not work, always open to my suggestions about clarification. And along the way, I learned a lot.

There's a huge variety of items in the book, drawing inspiration from art ancient and modern. Although all the projects are fabulous, I have two particular favourites.

As a knitter, I adore the  Minoan Surplice: it's simple, it's elegant, and so utterly modern.

I'm hoping to get time to make my own over the Christmas break.

And the other end, as a designer and an editor, I am in awe over the Sutton Hoo Helm. It's a masterwork of construction, absolutely fascinating piece.

(And if the weather is going to be as bad this winter as they say it is, I might have to knit one of these too.)

What I love most about the book - even more than the thrill of seeing my name in the acknowledgements list! and it is a big thrill! - is that Annie's love of the history comes through loud and clear. She has given a history and context for all of the items, with details on her inspiration.

It was an honour to be part of the process and I can't wait to wear my own Modesitt original.

Upcoming Weekend Classes

Sunday December 2nd I'm making a special appearance at the Knit Cafe in Toronto to teach an Introduction to Colourwork class. Fancy making my Campbell Glen mittens? Or ready for a curling sweater? Come and join me!

The class is suitable for knitters of any level who want to experiment with colourwork. All you need is to be confident with knitting and purling.

Details here.

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And the weekend after, Saturday December 8th, I'm at the Needle Emporium in Ancaster with the lovely Julie and Beth for two classes: Fixing Mistakes and Toe-up Socks.

Fixing Mistakes: Suitable for knitters of all experience levels, I talk about how to deal with mistakes of all kinds - when and how to fix 'em, and when you don't need to! Bring any mistakes you might have. (Not to imply you make mistakes, not at all... )

Toe Up Socks: This is an ideal next step in your sock knitting adventures. Suited to intermediate knitters, or knitters who have experience with top-down socks.

Info here.

"Unlike most knitters do"; on Slipping

I've been having a fascinating conversation with a knitter on Ravelry. My correspondent, the clever Patty-Joy, left a comment on my Bigger on the Inside pattern, suggesting a correction to the pattern.

I quote her comment here (emphasis hers):

"Another urgently needed pattern update is to indicate at the very start of the pattern that, unlike most knitters do, you must not slip the first stitch as if you do you won’t have nearly enough stitches to pick up the Tardis section."

This surprised me enormously, I'll be honest.The section of the pattern she's referring to is charted, and there isn't a single slipped st in the chart. The first st of every row is worked in stocking stitch.  I wouldn’t have thought, when writing the pattern, that I needed to make a note to not slip, since the instruction is specifically to knit (or purl) the stitch. And nowhere anywhere do I talk about slipping stitches.

What struck me was that Patty-Joy was suggesting, effectively, that knitters routinely ignore my chart...

Now, as a teacher and long-standing knitter, I'm well aware that there is a school of thought that you are to slip the first stitch of every row. But I didn't think that it was that common in practice.

As a designer, I only expect knitters to slip a stitch when I tell them to. And as a teacher, I tell knitters to only slip when the designer tells them to.(In general, IMHO, slipping the first stitch is only helpful or desirable in two situations: if the edges of the piece are going to be exposed, a slipped-stitch selvedge creates a nice edge; and in the heel of a top-down sock, slipping the first stitch of every row is used to help knitters figure out where to pick up stitches. It most other situations, it makes your life more difficult: I find it makes seaming harder, and it reduces the places to pick up stitches - applicable in this situation.) So yes, Patty-Joy's statement surprised me. It surprises me that knitters do slip that stitch in the face of instructions that tell them specifically to knit (or purl) it. Which causes me to wonder how many people do, as a matter of course, slip that first stitch? Do you?

Knit Accessories: Essentials & Variations

Another book already? I know! 

I've been teaching knitting for a while now, and I've worked on and off in yarn shops, and the question I hear so often is "I need a good basic hat/mitt/sock pattern". I hear this from newer knitters, who are looking to make their first hat/mitts/socks, but also from more experienced knitters who are looking for a set or reliable basics that they can use over and over again.

Every knitter needs a set of go-to accessory patterns: hats, scarves, cowls, socks and mittens. These are the patterns that we turn to every winter to make holiday gifts. These are the patterns a knitter relies upon when looking for a quick and easy knit, or a plain sock to work in a self-patterning yarn, or when the weather turns cold and the family needs hats.

KNIT ACCESSORIES: ESSENTIALS AND VARIATIONS is a 64-page booklet collecting these basics and providing a jumping-off point for knitters to create their own unique accessories.

Beginner-friendly and approachable, it’s designed to be a knitter’s first book of patterns, featuring clearly written patterns for easy-to-knit (but still useful) projects that help build confidence and skills.

And it’s not just for beginners! KNIT ACCESSORIES: ESSENTIALS AND VARIATIONS offers more experienced knitters a solid set of master templates to use over and over, with suggestions for altering and customization.

The Patterns
Simple and classic designs... scarves , cowls, hats, mitts and socks
... in a range of sizes... youth small to adult XL
... in two gauges each.... for flexibility without overwhelming

With recipes, ideas and tips for customizing
• suggestions for stitch patterns
• ways to customize with color
And for scarves and cowls, a table of yardage/gauge/finished sizes.

And It’s Not Just a Pattern Book
Mini tutorials to help newer knitters build confidence:
• how (and why) to check gauge for the patterns; and when not to
• tips for working in the round on both circulars and DPNs
• help with tricky spots, e.g.: closing up the hole at the base of a mitten thumb, picking up gusset stitches in top-down socks.
Tips and tricks for knitters of all levels:
• guidance on yarn substitutions – what makes a yarn good for a given application? (e.g. pilliness, washability, softness); recommendations for non-wool alternatives.
• suggestions for gift knitting – how to choose colors, sneaky ways to get sizing info, and what to make if you have no idea of size.

You can buy the book - either physical or digital versions (or both!) - online here, the digital version through Ravelry here. Soon to be available on Patternfish, too.

Interview on Leanne Dyck's Blog

Earlier this fall I struck up a fab email conversation with author and fellow knitter Leanne Dyck, author of the book "The Sweater Curse". Her book is a knitting-themed mystery - how could I NOT enjoy talking to her?

She's published an interview with me on her blog...  in which I confess I can't actually remember which was my first published pattern. This either means that I've published so many that I've lost track or (more likely) just that my memory is going.

New Pattern: Campbell Glen* Fingerless Mitts; And a Class to Go With!

The Argyle pattern evolved from the tartan of the Clan Campbell – the clan of my paternal Grandmother, who grew up in the glens of Scotland. (Really, these write themselves.)

Although this argyle stitch pattern seems very modern, it’s actually a traditional Fair Isle pattern that can be found in some very old, classic sweaters from Shetland. Subtle and classic in grey and white, bright colors would create a totally different look.

They use 2 x 50gm of fingering weight yarn. I used Baby Ull which I got at Shall We Knit, but any fingering would work. There's an Angora blend Regia at Lettuce Knit that would be wonderful for these, and The Purple Purl has some amazing Tanis Sock that would be great.  Spud & Chole Fine would be perfect, too, and the silk would make them very warm.

I got a small pair out of about 80yds of the CC and 120 yds of the MC, so it would work well for leftovers, too.

Suitable for knitters with a little colorwork experience, but you needn’t be an expert to make these work. (After all, blocking hides a multitude of tension-related sins.)

These mittens started life as samples for my Design Your Own Fingerless Mitts class, and they were so nice I decided to keep going and actually make something out of them.

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And by coincidence - or perhaps not? -  I'm actually teaching that class next weekend in Toronto at the DKC Winter Workshops. It's an ideal class for knitters who are new to colourwork, and it's a fun way to learn not only about how to work these types of patterns, but to learn about the history and how to design your own. More info about that here.

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Anyway, yes. If you're not in Toronto, or want to start knitting now, the Campbell Glen mitt pattern is available now on Ravelry

and Patternfish 

More info here.

*Many thanks to my Twitter followers who helped me out of my usual bind about naming patterns. These were going to be "Argyle Fingerless Mitts", and then they were going to be "Glen Campbell" - I think this is the best choice of the three for the name.

Best two souvenirs ever!

On my recent travels I was lucky enough to spend time with two people who I have considered "internet friends" for some time...

the lovely Fiona Ballard of Pip 'n' Milly Creations and the Yarn Yenta herself, Heatherly Walker.

Fiona makes fabulous bags of all kinds, and she knew I was preparing for a month of insane travel - and Fair Isle classes - so she gifted me with a custom-made knitting bag of my very own. In my favourite shades of orange.

 What's brilliant about this bag - other than the colour and fabric - I mean, really, how good is that print? - is that clear window at the front. Fiona knows I'm working on some Fair Isle, and the wide opening and clear window make this bag ideal for colourwork projects. The two balls of yarn sit side by side in the bag, and the chart rests tidily at the front. It's GENIUS. Bonus sneak preview of new design for you, too.

And Heatherly gifted me with a bag from Slipped Stitch Studios - a Doctor Who project bag for carrying my socks around in.

And I think it's even a little bigger on the inside... 

I'd spotted a student at the KnitLab event carrying a Doctor Who project bag the evening before, and was coveting it badly, so this was a serious hit.

It's so wonderful to have a face and a voice to go with the Twitter avatars I know so well, and to to be able to count both Fiona and Heatherly as my "real life" friends, too. (Not just because they gave me presents, really!)

It's been busy - still is!

I've taught at four major events this fall - the fourth, the Creativ Festival in Toronto, is missing.

It's been amazing. I've met so many wonderful people and taught so many fun classes and travelled and learned so much myself.

Wow.

So yes, the blog has been quiet but I'm only just catching up with myself and my laundry.

The travelling isn't quite done for the year, however.

Next weekend I'm at Shall We Knit in Waterloo for a full weekend of classes. We're focusing on skills-builders appropriate to knitters of all levels: Fixing Mistakes, Finishing, Continental Knitting and Pattern and Chart Reading.  More info here.

The weekend of November 24/25 is the DKC Winter Workshops.

And Saturday December 8th I'm in Ancaster at The Needle Emporium for Fixing Mistakes and Toe-Up Socks. Anyone who has ever attended a class at Julie's lovely shop will know to expect Festive cookies - Beth has promised! Info here.

DKC Winter Workshops November 24 & 25

Winter has come early this year, it seems. It was below freezing when I woke up this morning.

Toronto's Downtown Knit Collective Winter Workshops are coming early this year, too: November 24 & 25th.

On the Saturday I'm teaching a full-day workshop - Introduction to Fair Isle: Design Your Own Fingerless Mitts. Fresh from Interweave Knitting Lab in San Mateo, this workshop is a fun way to expand your knitting repertoire in two directions: learn all about Fair Isle knitting - the history, how it's worked, how it's designed - and THEN design your own pair of fingerless mitts using traditional Fair Isle patterning.

Sunday I'm doing a workshop on working in the round. I'll cover all the techniques: circulars, DPNs, the Magic Loop and 2-Circulars methods for small circumference rounds, and those new tiny little 8- and 9-inch circular needles. I'll provide all sorts of clever hints & tips for working in the round: including the life-changing way to fix a twist without undoing! Seriously - recent students have said that it's life-changing. I'll also talk about how to covert patterns that are written for working flat to be worked in the round (and when it's a good idea to do it, and when it's not), and how to convert patterns written for DPNs to Magic Loop/2 Circulars (and vice versa).

And then in the afternoon, it's 2 Socks on 2 Circulars. Banish Second Sock Syndrome! Make sure your socks match exactly! Learn a cool new skill! Apply what you learned in the morning's session! No experience with the 2-circulars method necessary, but students should have made a least a couple of pairs of socks.

The classes are held at Metro Hall in downtown Toronto. To register or get more info, visit the DKC website. Hope to see you there!

Vogue Knit Live Chicago - Day 2

Shannon catches me doing my "I made new sock knitters" victory dance.

Catching up with Jacqueline of Soak.

Hugging an alpaca, because, well,.... wouldn't you?

And buying yarn.. Zealana Air. Laceweight. 40% cashmere, 40% possum, 20% silk.

Vogue Knit Live Chicago - Day 1

Vogue Knitting Live Chicago, Day 1, in Pictures

Fab town, beautiful architecture. Chilly but bright day - perfect for wearing knits.

The hotel is ready for us!

Hey, that's me! I'm official!

My classroom. With my name on it and everything.

And my students. Loved them! So many great people!

Can't wait for Day 2!

Artifacts From My Knitting History

I've known N. since university - which was a long, long time ago.

Her son was born in 1997. I was just getting serious as a knitter at that point, and I was starting to experiment with design. I started a habit that has continued to this day: I used to buy very plain and basic garment patterns and personalize them with my own touches. When N's son was born, I was going through a colourwork phase.

N and I had lunch last week, and she proudly showed me one of the sweaters I knitted for her son. We borrowed a baby to model it.  (That's one of the many great thing about yarn shops, there are often babies around.)

Cute eh?

The sweater isn't bad, either.

It remember the yarn - it's a DK superwash wool. The left sleeve is purple with spots to match the right front, and the back is worked in four quadrants, one in each of the four colors of the sweater.  I, naturally, inspected the work. The knitting is pretty good, but my seaming has improved greatly since then.

I love that N. has kept the sweater all this time. It's nice to see how my work has evolved.

I don't have many of my early pieces; I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and I judged my own work harshly. I knew that it wasn't good, and I just didn't keep it. I wish I had - it's gratifying to see my own progress. And, frankly, I'd like to be able to show off my first few pairs of socks to reassure new sock knitters that everyone has to start someone.

KnitCity: A Splendid Time, With Coffee

I've been silent for a while; as I mentioned, I've been on the road. I had an amazing trip to Vancouver for the first KnitCity event. It was a roaring success, and I'm confident that Amanda and Fiona will be hosting the event for many years in the future.

The opening presentation of the event was given by Sylvia Olsen, on her work to preserve the Cowichan sweater traditions among the native communities in B.C. An amazing story, and she showed some fabulous work.

I was honoured to be asked to teach, and I met so many amazing people. So many great new friends and students.

It was great to meet the amazing Kim Werker. We've been internet friends for a while, and she was even funnier and more wonderful in person. We had a great discussion about teaching, and apparently I've inspired her to reconsider teaching crochet...

I also reconnected with Ellie Karas, a student of mine from my early teaching days at the Naked Sheep in Toronto. Ellie now runs a knitting shop and events company in Tofino, B.C., Knits By the Sea.

I love Vancouver. They understand me there.

One of my students - clearly a regular reader of my blog and my tweets, brought me a coffee to class. You know who you are: and THANK YOU! Although I don't encourage bribery, a strong americano never goes amiss.

I may have bought some sock yarn, from Em of Everything Old Yarns.

Possibly the greatest thing about the event, however, was the coat check. A local troupe of Girl Guides provided the coat check service, and the deal was that it was free if you bought a box of cookies.

How could you say no?

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In sadder news, my good friend and mentor Michael O'Connor Clarke recently lost his battle with cancer. My heart goes out to his family and friends. I've written about this before... Michael was a key part of my decision to change my career, and he was very present in my life as I was starting out my serious knitting adventures. I knitted a sweater for the birth of his youngest son, Ruairi. (It was red, with cables.) I remember that it was when I was working for Michael that I actually started wearing some of my handknits to work. And it was Michael who eventually told me to get the heck of out the tech industry. I will forever be grateful to him for his support and encouragement.

If it's Tuesday, it must be Entrelac

I've been eagerly looking forward to October for months now.

I've got a mad busy month, and I'm very excited about it.

October 10, 11 and 12 I'm teaching at the Creativ Festival in downtown Toronto. I've got classes on The Baby Surprise Jacket, Entrelac, Colorwork and Custom Fit Socks.

Oct 13 & 14 I'm teaching at the inaugural KnitCity event in Vancouver. Classes for that are Top Down Socks 101, Intro to Colorwork, The War & Peace 2-in-1 Socks, and a class on Working in the round: DPNs, Magic Loop & 2 Circulars.

October 26, 27 & 28 I'm in Chicago for Vogue Knitting Live.

And November 1 & 2 I'm in San Mateo California for Interweave Knitting Lab.

And somewhere in all of this my second book should be going to the printer.

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, and I'm resting up and filling up on pumpkin pie for strength.