Pattern Writing: Online Class

I'm very happy to announce that I'm running an online class on Pattern Writing.

Delivered through Interweave's Craft University platform, this is a slightly different animal than many online classes. It's not a video class, it's not a lecture class - it's like an old-school distance learning class. The platform's main feature focuses around discussion forums. And the class is all about that: discussions for learning.

This class specifically addresses the details of how to create complete, clear and easy-to-use knitting patterns, for any type of design, and for any level of knitter. This is a comprehensive course on writing knitting patterns: You'll bring your designs and your knitting skills, this class will help you take them and turn them into a set of instructions suitable for self-publication or submission to a publication. Together we'll review in detail all of the elements that need to go into a knitting pattern. We'll talk about creating clear and logical pattern instructions. We'll discuss tools that you can use to create the pattern, including software and solution for layout and charting. And we'll talk about the process: technical editing, test knitting and preparing a pattern for sale or submission to a publication.

It's a fully interactive experience: expect lots of discussions and exercises and assignments. Although there's lots of value in the prepared material I will present, students should be prepared to participate in these discussions and do the exercises to get the most from the class. And equally, I expect to answer lots of your questions and participate in the discussions, too! The objective is to help you develop your own pattern writing style and style sheet, and to help you write a pattern or two, too.

If you've read my Pattern Writing book, and want to dig further, or are just beginning and need to get more hands-on guidance, this class is for you. You can work at your own pace and the system is set up to let us all use the discussion boards at any time! I'm looking forward to being able to answer your questions, and help you as you build your pattern writing skills.

It all starts May 30th, and runs until July 12.

Register here.

Given that this is a slightly unusual thing, you might have some questions about it. If you do, let me know by leaving a comment! I'll answer them for you here in the comments.

On "Difficult" Sock Yarns & How To Use Them.

I do love a good sock yarn. And goodness knows I buy a lot of it. And I tend to go for either something very neutral and very wearable, or something entirely insane.

And those insane sock yarns are fun, but not necessarily good for socks, y'know?

Some of them are too darn pretty to be used for socks. 

Some of them are too light to be used for socks. (Ever knitted socks with a colourway that has white in it? They look grimy pretty quickly.)

Some of them are too wacky for socks... for example this bundle of fantasticness I picked up recently.

Western Sky Knits' Rainbow Bright.

Sometimes we buy them because we love the name of the colourway, without considering what it actually looks like. (Oh come on, I can't be the only one who has done that...)

And some of them come in skeins a bit too small. (Looking at you, Noro Silk Garden Sock and your 328yds...)

I've been quietly working on a few designs for these "difficult" yarns, scarves and shawls and cowls, and I'm thinking that I'm probably not the only one who has a stash full of them. It's time for a collection, I think? Wooly Wormhead has done this for hats; I think I want to do a similar thing for wraps and neckwarming types of pieces.

So: what are you favourite "difficult" sock yarns? What sorts of colourways do you have in your stash that you need help using up?

Are you a yarn dyer with a yarn that might fit the bill? Drop me a line at kate dot atherley at gmail. Thanks!

Upcoming Webseminar: Garment Sizing & Fit

Next Wednesday, May 27th at 1pm Eastern Time, I'm running another webseminar. This time on the important - and often very puzzling - topic of garment size and fit.

For knitters who make garments, choosing which size to knit can be the most challenging part of the project. After all, if you can’t try it on, how do you know what it’s going to look like? This web seminar is all about making sure your hand-knit garments are the most flattering possible.

Garment fit isn’t just based on a single “bust circumference” number. We’ll show you to understand sizing and fit for all types of garments, and help you analyze the information in the pattern to help you diagnose whether a pattern is going to work well for you. We’ll provide tips for choosing the right pattern to start, and then show you how to ensure that you’re making the best possible size choice.

And we’ll also discuss alterations and tweaks to make a garment look and fit exactly how you want it to. The focus is on easy – math-free or math-light – solutions that are accessible to knitters of all levels. At the end of the presentation, you’ll feel confident choosing a garment pattern that works well for you, no matter what your size, style and fit preferences.

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Register now! Only $19.99. You can listen live, or after the fact, at your convenience. If you register before Wednesday morning, you'll get a copy of the presentation, too.

One of the best parts of these sessions for me is the question and answer section at the end. Let me help you figure out how make garments fit as well as possible.

Next extremity: The Hand Size Survey

Waaaaay back.... in the summer of 2011, specifically, I launched a survey to collect foot size data. I got over 500 results, and a book out of it.

Now it's time for hands. Once again, I'm seeking input from knitters, family members of knitters, friends of knitters - and anyone who has a tape measure and a couple of spare minutes.

I want to use the data to develop a better understanding of hand size, to help me better size mitten patterns.

It's quick, I promise! There are two questions about demographics (age-groups and whether you work in metric or imperial) and then six measurements.

(Dear Graphic Designer friends: please refrain from laughing at this image. You know who you are. Thank you.)

Google Form to fill in, please and thank you! Get any many hands as you can, please. Both of your own, and all available family members. Need something to entertain the kids on a rainy day? Get them to take the measurements.

As before, I will compile and publish the data on this blog, and on the Knittyblog. And who knows, there may be a book in it....

Thanks for your help!

Math for Knitters Webseminar Part 2

As promised! Part 2 of my Math for Knitters Webseminar series runs this Wednesday. May 13th at 1pm EDT.

Remember, if you can't attend live, you can always listen to the recording after the fact, on demand. Registration gives you full access for a year (and I will share my presentation, so you don't have to frantically scribble notes).

(If you missed part one, you can listen to the recording here.)

Part two is all about gauge - when it matters, how to check it, how to match it, and what to do if you can't. I'll share with you my "Gauge Alterations Degree of Difficulty Index", and equip you with tools for cope when you just can't get the right gauge with the yarn you want to use.

I'll also cover garment alterations, again focusing on building an understanding of what's easy and what isn't ("The Garment Alterations Degree of Difficulty Index"), and using that knowledge to help you identify exactly the right pattern to buy, to minimize the amount of time doing math. Just because I like doing math doesn't mean I'm going to make you do it.

Interview with Donna Druchunas: Lithuanian Knitting book

Over the last couple of years, I've done a fair bit of work with - and for - designer Donna Druchunas. We first got to know each other through Knitty. She's been a columnist there for a number of years, focusing on knitting styles, techniques and traditions of other cultures.

I love working with Donna. Not only is she a great knitter, a fantastic designer and possessor of enormous amounts of knowledge about historical and regional knitting techniques, but she's also smart and funny and opinionated in a way I adore. I've learned a lot working with her, too: long tail CO over two needles as an alternative (and easier) provisional cast on!!!.

I've been thoroughly enjoying our latest project together: I have been doing the technical editing on her upcoming collaboration with June Hall, "Lithuanian Knitting: Continuing Traditions".

The book tells stories from Donna and June's travels around Lithuania, learning about the local knitting techniques and traditions.

The book also includes over 25 patterns for traditional and modern socks, gloves, mittens, and beaded wrist warmers, all worked with Lithuanian techniques, pattern stitches, and motifs. The techniques used include colorwork, texture stitches, lace, and entrelac. There's also lots of information on the techniques and traditional styles of knitting.

As a technical editor, I've learned tons from the patterns, and was utterly captivated by what Donna has written on special Lithuanian techniques.

Donna's got a pubslush fundraiser set up, essentially as a way to enable presales to fund the printing of the physical book. (Having self-published a book myself last year, I realized that this is a smart thing to do.)

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Of course, with my technical editing perspective, I was interested in the technical side of the project, and Donna and I chatted about it.

Q: What technical challenges did you find in recreating/creating patterns for these designs?

A: The hardest thing was leaning the Lithuanian language well enough to read knitting patterns! That takes an extra level of work because knitting terms aren't defined in most dictionaries and sometimes the same words have one meaning in general conversation and another in knitting. For example, in Lithuanian the same word (akis) means eye or stitch, and the word raštai can mean either writing or pattern.

Q: What did you learn as you were building these patterns?

I learned a lot about how different kinds of yarns really change the results of a finished piece. You'd think after so many years of knitting and designing, I would have yarn substitution down pat! But I have several failed project samples in my box to prove that there's always more to learn. Lithuanian wool was very coarse compared to what we are used to today. When I tried to reproduce some of the designs in merino or other soft modern yarns, I was unhappy with the results and had to modify the patterns to suit the yarn. Some of the traditional techniques looked incredibly sloppy in softer yarns and others just didn't work at all. So in the book some of my designs are very close to reproductions of original pieces I saw in museum collections, while others are modern interpretations of Lithuanian styles of knitting.

Q: Where there any things you couldn’t figure out?

Not really. I have friends in Lithuania who are wonderful knitters and at my favorite yarn shop, Mezgimo Zona, I can always go for help! But because I am fluent in knitting, even though my Lithuanian language skills are mediocre at best, I was able to confidently translate knitting instructions. Perhaps I made some mistakes but I won't find out until some knitters in Lithuania read my books and email me! I love being corrected by Lithuanians. When someone in Lithuania corrects my language mistakes, I always feel like they are trying to help me and to understand me. When I was learning German, and a German speak corrected me, I often felt more like they were criticizing my lousy language skills.

When I took a class on making beaded wrist warmers from a Lithuanian teacher, and the class was in Lithuanian, I was able to understand the knitting part of the class. I did miss some interesting historical and cultural information that I learned later, though. I had thought men wore plain or neutral colored wristers, mittens, and gloves. But our teacher had told us in the class that men often wore the most colorful accessories and strutted around like peacocks showing off!

Q: Tell me a bit about the traditional pattern writing style that you find in old Lithuanian knitting books?

Well, most Lithuanian books didn't have pattern so much as basic instructions and models. For example, there would be a section explaining the steps to make a sock, including two or three options for working different heels and toes. Then there would be some photos of different socks, with a paragraph saying how many stitches the designer had cast on, what size needles she had used, and which heel and toe had been used. Sometimes charts are included for colorwork patterns, sometimes not. In other books, there are charts for entire mittens or socks, but no instructions. One thing I found very strange is that all of the mitten and sock charts have pointed tips for the toes and fingers, but the pieces in museums are almost all made with round shaping. Today in the markets, most mittens have the pointed shaping that we're used to seeing on Scandinavian mittens.

Q: Anything really cool about them that you wish we did in modern patterns?

I wish knitters today would learn conceptually how garments are constructed and then trust their knowledge so they weren't so tied to patterns. I learned by knitting from patterns, and I still enjoy knitting from patterns by other designers sometimes to relax, so I understand the need for patterns. But I think most knitters are smarter than they give themselves credit for, and they could easily recognize mistakes in patterns and customize designs to suit their tastes if they just had a little more confidence in what they already know! Buy a copy of Vogue Knitting's encyclopedia or something else similar, and read it from cover to cover several times. And study the patterns and schematics in your favorite books to see what you can learn about the basic shape and form of the types of garments and accessories you like to knit. That's the best advice I could give any knitter who wants to empower herself as a knitter.

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More about the book here. You can find Donna on Twitter and Instagram, too.

Math for Knitters Webseminars

Quick update:

We're rerunning my Math For Knitters webseminars.

Part one is tomorrow, April 29, 1pm EDT. Info and registration here. This one is all about yarn shop and pattern math. Make yarn substitutions with confidence. Read patterns and handle all those tricky instructions like "increase evenly across" and "reversing shapings".

Part two is Wednesday May 13th, 1pm EDT. Info and registration here. This one digs deep into gauge and what to do if you can't match it, and garment alterations and adjustments.

The best part of these is the live question & answer session at the end. I love helping knitters with real-life questions and problems. But if you can't attend live, registration gives you access to the recording after the fact, for a full year.

The Sock Book. Custom Socks: Knit to Fit Your Feet.

Since I tweeted a picture of the cover on Monday, I figured it was time to explain in a bit more detail.

The sock book I've been working on for the 10+ years I've been teaching knitting is nearly ready. It's to be released July of this year, from Interweave Press.

(The one in the picture is actually just a mockup, made for an accompanying video class I was taping.)

I've taken my Plain and Simple Sock patterns - both Top Down and Toe Up versions - and created a book all about how to make them actually fit your feet. 

I've provided the basic formulas and templates for both directions, and created the numbers for you for gauges from 4 to 9 sts/inch (including the important 6.5 and 7.5!), for finished socks from 5 to 10.5 inches in circumference. That's covering feet from 5.5 to 12 inches in circumference, and pretty much any possible yarn you might ever want to use.

And then. THEN. I've given you a ton of info on how to measure your feet properly to determine your fit needs, and how to customize the socks for those needs. 

Oh yeah, and there's some fancy patterns, too. Texture stitches, cables, lace, colourwork. All sorts of lovely socks.

The book also has all my sock knitting tips and advice and wisdom from nearly 20 years of sock knitting, and 10 years of teaching sock knitting.

It will be available at all your local book and yarn providers this summer. But you can also preorder now. If you want.

 

One Two Three

Step One: Say something ridiculous in front of Indigodragonfly's Kim.
Step Two: Get a colourway of sock yarn named after that ridiculous thing.
Step Three: Design a shawl for that colourway.

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One:
It was late. I was tired. Kim and I (and several others) were in an cramped hotel room, and I was wearing leopard print tights. As you do.

Two:
Meet "Ninja Leopard Interpretive Dance".

It's Kim's CaribouBaa, a fantastic plied fingering weight yarn. It's a pleasure to work with, and blocks beautifully.

Three:
A garter stitch shawl.

One Yarn.
Because some busy variegated yarns look best in garter stitch. And garter stitch is easy and soothing.

Two skeins.
It's big enough to be wrapped around; big enough for broader shoulders than mine.

Three directions.
Garter stitch one way is too easy. This shawl is worked in three different directions for a fun interplay of striping and colours. Carefully placed slipped stitches add definition and detail.

One, Two, Three: The perfect everyday shawl? Fun but not too taxing to knit or wear. Although it is entirely worked in garter, there are slipped stitches, a variety of increases, an attached edging technique, and picking up of stitches. That having been said, I do try very hard to write instructions clear enough that you can figure it out even if you haven't done that particular thing before.

And you can do it, too, it's easy (it's so easy)...

Casual and fun.

One yarn, Two skeins, Three directions.

Available for purchase from the usual places: Patternfish, Ravelry and LoveKnitting.

And get the yarn from Kim.

She'll also have kits at the Frolic, in other colours, too. Just in case you are slightly more sane than me...

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Many thanks to the forebearance of the team at Caplansky's. Our original photoshoot location fell through, and Claude and I were stupid enough to attempt a photoshoot at a deli. During the Sunday brunch rush. Elaine in particular gets a shout-out for not throwing us out.

Frolic: Classes Starting to Sell Out

Just a reminder that if you're coming to the Toronto Knitters' Guild Frolic April 25 and 26 and are interested in any of the classes, you should get signed up soon. Some of them are selling out already!

This year, I'm teaching:

• Crochet for Knitters
• Short-row Skills
• Slipped Stitch Colourwork
• Continental Knitting -- this one is already sold out
• Intro to Brioche
• Finishing Masterclass

I hope to see you there!

New Craftsy Class is Live: Preview Trailer & 50% Discount

My new Craftsy class launches today!

Perfect Knits Every Time - Understanding Knitting Patterns is aimed at knitters who are confident with needles and yarn, but are less confident about working from patterns.

In this class I explain how to understand everything about a pattern: not just how to read the instructions and understand all those special terms and abbreviations, but also

• where to find good patterns
• how to identify the right pattern for your skill levels
• how to make sure you're using the right needles and yarn for the project
• how to understand the sizing information given, and to make sure you always choose the right size to make
• how to read and work from charts

The goal is to help you find a pattern that's appropriate to your skill level and interests, and make sure that you're able to work through it with ease. Along the way I share tips for working from a pattern, to ensure you not only produce a beautiful finished result, but also that you have a good time doing it!

If you want a sense of what it's all about this, this video explains.

For a limited time, I'm offering you, my lovely blog readers, a special 50% discount. Register here!

Socks of Madness

I have a friend, J. J is a prolific sock knitter, and makes socks for all her family and friends and co-workers and those in need. One year, as a Christmas gift for me, she knitted a pair of socks for Norman. Yes, she gave me socks to give to my husband so I don't have to feel guilty about not knitting socks for him.

She's recently discovered something: that Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn is thicker (and warmer) than your typical sock yarn. And so Noro Silk Garden socks are not only a better gift for this miserable winter we've been having, but they're also quicker to knit.

Her rate of production has increased noticeably.

Now the other thing about J. is that because she often gifts her socks to non-knitters, she likes them to match.

I'll pause here. If you've ever used a Noro yarn of any kind, you'll know that the word "match" doesn't really apply. I adore these yarns, but the colour changes are random and unpredictable.

It's hard to make them match. Indeed, the runs of colour are long enough that I'm not even sure you can be guaranteed to get a matched pair out of a single ball, even with editing.

But my friend J., in addition to being amazingly generous and kind, is very persistent and very patient.

She's been making her Noro socks match. Sometimes, it's required two balls of the yarn.

I know, right?

As a result, she's been left with lots of bits. Small balls of colours she's edited out of the skeins.

When I  realized what she was doing, I shamelessly asked her for the leftovers.

From this...

Heck, it's free Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn. I lurrrve this stuff. You would have done the same. (I figure it's the knitting equivalent of licking the cake batter off the spatula. Don't want to waste a bit!)

So I'm making Noro Socks of Madness in the totally opposite direction.

Random two-round stripes of all those leftovers, totally unmatched. I mean, ok, the heel/cuff/toe of each sock is worked from the same colourway, but otherwise I'm just letting the colours fall where they may.

to this!

They're fun and warm and comfy and wonderful. And did I mention the yarn was free?

There is one small draw-back to this approach, however...

But even the epic weaving-of-ends will not deter me... I've already gathered enough for a second pair.

New(-ish) Pattern: Walking on Sunshine

I'm very happy to announce the availability of my Walking on Sunshine sock pattern. (The inspiration for the name? Well, it's a wavy cable, and a sunshiney colour... Children of the 1980s will immediately recognize it. Others will just be amused by the terribly dated video.)

This is actually an update of an old pattern I designed for the sadly-no-more VanDerRock yarns.

We've reworked it, update the pattern write up to my current standards and created easier-to-work from charts. It comes in three sizes for adult women - foot circumferences 7 1/4 (7 3/4, 8 1/4), to be worn with the usual inch or so of negative ease. The pattern is written for DPNs, magic loop or 2 circulars, as you prefer.

I've used Indigodragonfly's fantastic sock yarn, in one of her trademark crazy colours "Dawn's in Trouble, it Must Be Tuesday". (Kim always has just what I need. Last month I asked her for yarn the colour and texture of a shark, and not only could she do it, but it's a standard colourway.)

I love all-over cabled socks, and I ran the cables right down into the heel flap, too.

Need a slightly toothy but not crazy-making sock pattern to brighten up the dull days of March?

Need something to test out your new sunglasses with?

Available through the usual sources: Ravelry, Patternfish and LoveKnitting.

Fantastic photos taken by Gillian Martin, and thanks to Keri Williams for tech editing.

New Craftsy Class & Giveaway!

I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that I have a new Craftsy class launching at the end of the month: Perfect Knits Every Time - Understanding Knitting Patterns is aimed at knitters who are confident with needles and yarn, but are less confident about working from patterns.

I encounter a lot of knitters in this boat. I remember being that way myself. In my early 20s, when I decided to try knitting again, after a few years' hiatus, I went into a yarn shop. I knew what to do with my needles and yarn, and so I asked for some help choosing a project. They pointed me in the direction of the pattern binders and told me to choose something. Up until then, I'd worked from instructions my grandmother had given me, or had made pattern-less scarves.

I was terrified. How did I know what was going to be easy? I didn't understand the first thing about reading the yarn requirements or figuring out what size to make, and I certainly didn't know what WS and RS and foll alt and even and all those other terms meant. And then there were those *... repeat from where?

(I actually remember asking the woman behind the cash desk how I would know that the hat would come out the right size, when there were all these different yarns to choose from.)

In this class I explain how to understand everything about a pattern: not just how to read the instructions and understand all those special terms and abbreviations, but also

• where to find good patterns
• how to identify the right pattern for your skill levels
• how to make sure you're using the right needles and yarn for the project
• how to understand the sizing information given, and to make sure you always choose the right size to make
• how to read and work from charts

The goal is to help you find a pattern that's appropriate to your skill level and interests, and make sure that you're able to work through it with ease.

Along the way I share tips for working from a pattern, to ensure you not only produce a beautiful finished result, but also that you have a good time doing it!

I'm giving away a registration for the class. Enter here. The contest ends midnight Eastern Time Sunday March 29th.

Because browsing for patterns is an important part of the process... 

In Which I Sort Of Lose It, And Find It Very Informative

I don't spend a ton of time browsing or shopping on Etsy. I have bought the odd gift there, and some craftspeople whose work I love use the site to sell their work. But otherwise I'm not a big user.

I was aware that there are knitters selling handknits on the site - and there is the concern about the now-common practice of selling products manufactured elsewhere. Abby Glassenberg has a fantastic blog post on this topic.

The other day, I tripped over an Etsy shop selling handknits (to which I won't link, for reasons that will be obvious) . I was doing some looking around, as you do, to investigate how a particular design element was being used in fingerless mitts.

My reaction to this shop was visceral. I was shocked. I was appalled. I was offended. I was angry.

The strength of my reaction took me by surprise.

It was pretty clear from the photos that all the items in the shop were worked with twisted stockinette stitch. That is, all the stitches were twisted.

Image from blog HooksandNeedles.com

Now, some patterns use twisted stitches deliberately, for an effect.  Bavarian stitch patterns use them to create beautiful mini cables and travelling stitches.

And sometimes, twisted stockinette is used to create a denser fabric, or to add bias or change the fabric in some other way.

And indeed, some knitting traditions are based on twisted stockinette - specifically Eastern Crossed. It's not like it's not a valid technique.

But it's rare. Especially in North America.

The items in this Etsy shop weren't using Bavarian stitches, and given that they're all stuff like ordinary fingerless mitts and cowls, I'm pretty sure that they weren't using twisted stockinette for a particular effect. And the name of the store and the knitters and the (admittedly little) info given lead me to believe that they're not using Eastern Crossed.

I can't know for sure, obviously, but my immediate conclusion, therefore, was that the knitters creating the items for sale in this store are knitting wrong.

That's a loaded word, absolutely. And my reaction was loaded, too.

As a knitting teacher, I am all about options. I much prefer that students know that rationale behind a particular step or stitch or method, and understand where there are options. And I like, where possible, to allow the knitter to make her own decision about those options.

But I surprised myself with the immediately of my judgement about these items. My initial reaction was not to consider or allow any options - just that they were doing it wrong.

Technically speaking, what the knitters are doing is ok, it's is just not the common North American method.

When I calmed down a bit, and was able to open my mind a bit more, I went back to look at the store again.

And I realized what was making me angry. It was that it seemed pretty clear (again, the only info I have is the store info and the item descriptions, so I will freely admit to jumping to conclusions) that the knitters weren't aware that they were doing anything unusual.

And that was it. That was the bit that I was upset about. These knitters didn't know enough about their knitting to know that what they were doing was either worth fixing or worth explaining. Indeed, I was forced to conclude they didn't know enough about their knitting to even notice - and presumably wonder why - their work didn't look like the work of knitters around them, and as shown in books and magazines and in other pictures online.

And that makes me sad. If you don't see that your work is different, and then wonder why, and then learn more, then the conclusion I come to is that you don't really care about your knitting. And of course, I'm sad about that.

But then to sell those pieces to others... that's the bit that I got angry about.

Now. Does this matter? Not really! And I know there's lots of stuff of questionable quality on Etsy. It's not like Etsy is promoting these items as the best of knitting, or anything.

But ultimately, I realized, I was angry because I didn't want anybody to be disappointed with a knit piece. I didn't want anybody to not like a knit piece. I didn't want anybody to make something substandard, that would leave people with an incorrect impression about handknits.

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So yes, as Kim said, I did "flip out" a bit. Probably more than strictly necessary... But I have to say that in thinking about it, I learned a little something about myself.

(As a side-note, I also learned that it's very easy to created twisted stockinette if you're working on a loom, although again, these items were described as handknits, and some of the patterning used would be difficult to work on a loom, so I don't think that's the cause of the issue.)

What do you think? How would you feel if you saw something being sold that was "wrong"?

Reader Mail! Questions about Blocking and Casting On and Yarn Subs

I've been getting a few comments lately, with questions in them.

Although the commenters are leaving their name, they aren't leaving any contact info.

I'll be honest, I'm not actually sure how/where to respond to them. Is the commenter expecting to find the reply in the thread on that particular post? Or should I write a new post? Any thoughts? Is there a standard protocol for this?

What I'm going to do is write the replies here, and then link to this blog post from the comment threads on the various posts. And just hope that my correspondents find them.

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In my recent post on Blocking SusanJD asks about blocking swatches.

About blocking swatches for checking gauge. how do you block a swatch to get an accurate measurement of gauge?

Block the swatch the way you intend to wash the garment... if it's a machine washable yarn, machine wash it. If it's a hand-wash only yarn, handwash it and then roll in a towel to squeeze most of the moisture out. If it's going to be a big piece, like a long scarf or a one-piece seamless garment, hang the swatch to dry.

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An anonymous knitter asks about yarn substitutions for Mission Falls Cotton, in the post about my "Colour Your Own Story" baby blanket.

Would love to make this blanket! Mission Falls is no longer in business, how much of each color of worsted weight yarn will I need?

Mission Falls Cotton had 85yds/78m per ball. I used one ball each of 7 colours.

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And on my post about the Long Tail Cast On, Olivia asks a very good question

Great post! I'm a beginner knitter, and I love how quick and easy long tail casting on is. However, I find that after I cast on and begin the first row, I always have what I call a "yarn bridge" in between the two needles: basically a stretch of yarn that looks like a very loose stitch got caught in between the needles. Any idea on why this happens/ how to prevent it from happening? Thanks!

I assume that you're talking about when working in the round... ? If not, let me know and I'll provide more info.

It's actually pretty hard to get a really tight join when working in the round... Do the best you can, pulling the first couple of stitches of the first round as tight as you can. But then as you work around and around, you'll work over that spot many times, and it will tighten itself up. And when it's time to weave in the ends, use the tail to tidy up any residual looseness.

This Weekend! Classes at Linda's Craftique in Port Credit

I hesitate to the use the "s" word, but I think the worst of winter might be behind us. (I'm still wearing two pairs of socks, however. I wouldn't want to tempt fate.)

The best part of turning the calendar page to March is that my teaching schedule starts to heat up again with all sorts of fun events.  And it kicks off this weekend, March 14th, with a visit to Linda's Craftique in Port Credit. I'm teaching two classes: the all important Finishing and Top Down Socks 101.

Info here.

My favourite new thing: my necklace

For a long time, I've worn a little sterling silver crochet hook pendant on a necklace. I love it, but it's always felt a little wrong to me.

I mean, I'm a knitter.

I've wondered about a knitting equivalent, but never really found the thing.

Until this past Vogue Live in New York. Thanks to the Tsock Tsarina, I was introduced to the fabulous work of Leslie Wind. She's a jeweler, and she makes the most wonderful things for fiber artists.

I was idly looking at a nice display of shawl pins in the booth of Tsock Tsarina. And there it was. The clouds parted and the heavenly choir sang.

A hand-made sterling silver bent-tip darning needle. It's stunningly beautiful and just perfect for me. One of my favourite classes to teach is Finishing, after all. I am a loud and enthusiastic proponent of seaming.

And I regularly go on and on and on about how wonderful the bent-tip needles are.

Sold!

It's taken me a few weeks to figure out how to wear it, though. I initially just stuck it on a chain, but it hung sideways - you couldn't see the gorgeous eye. And then I tried a jump ring, but because the eye is quite deep, it didn't hang right.

Last week, when visiting my K/W posse, I asked Sue if she knew anyone who could help. She looked at me rather askance, texted Jen, and within minutes my problem was solved.

You see, Jen makes stitch markers. Lovely clever and fun little beaded stitch markers. In fun shapes.

So she just made me a custom stitch marker. A long skinny rectangle. With a bead, of course.

Now it's perfect. And I haven't taken it off.

On Blocking, and Vegetables

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My first Craftsy class (ooh... there's a hint there... ) is all about Blocking.

I was having a discussion with someone about it recently. He described the class as being an "Eat Your Vegetables" sort of thing.

Now, I feel very strongly about blocking. It's one of the least-understood and yet most important steps in the knitting process. Everything I knit has a bath before I declare it done.

Especially swatches. And anything that needs seaming. Or any special fabrics like lace, cables or colorwork. Or anything that I might have spilled coffee on. Or that might have dog hair on it. Or anything I've knitted during the winter when I'm obsessively applying moisturizer to my hands.

Now, if I tell knitters that they should wash their stuff before it's done, fear of water aside, this instruction is usually understood. And knitters can usually cope.

But as soon as we use the word blocking... well, we get blocked.

It sounds complicated. There's special equipment: mats and wires and pins. And you need to buy special wool-washes. And lie things flat. It sounds hard.

(So let's get this out of the way: 9 times out of ten, a wash is sufficient for blocking. Yes. When I say "block", most of the time all you need to do is wash it. 

Yes! The only time you need to do anything complicated, or with special equipment like mats and pins and wires, is when it's lace. The rest of the time, washing is ALL YOU NEED TO DO.)

And compounding the problem, I think we do a lousy job of explaining the value of blocking. We don't even do a good job of explaining why it's so important - let alone why it's so wonderful.

It's a bit like eating your vegetables. It sounds difficult and boring and it doesn't seem like there's any value. Who wants to, really? So you don't.

But then you discover that broccoli with cheese sauce is delicious, and that mushrooms add a sophisticated depth of flavour to a tomato sauce, and that roasted cauliflower with a bit of garlic, salt and olive oil is an even better snack than greasy old chips.

But you have to prove it to people. They won't just take your word for it. They have to try the roasted cauliflower. (Really, you do. It's amazing.) I have had to actually take stuff out of people's hands and put it in water, to prove my point. And then they get it.

To that end, I had a comment from a student in my Craftsy class recently that I wanted to share with you.
I knit a large hat, my first large item on size 1 needles, first 2 color in about 40 years and I was not really thrilled with it. But after blocking, it was just like you said. The stitches evened out and I feel the 4 months it took me to knit it (a promised gift) was time well spent after all.

See? Just like I said. Totally worth it!

And if you're still not sure it's worth your time or money, here's a trailer for the class.

At Shall We Knit this weekend

In some ways I'm very relieved that the end of February is approaching fast. But in others, I feel like it's moving too quickly. It feels like it was only last month I was visiting some of my fibre-besties over at Shall We Knit in Waterloo.

But it was before Christmas. Before the epic winter of coldness and misery got started.

I'm teaching a full slate of classes:

Two Socks Two Circulars. Because Second Sock Syndrome is a Very Real Problem.

Fearless Finishing. Because admit it: you don't like sewing up, and there's a little voice in your head that says you're probably weaving your ends in wrong. For knitters of all experience levels, this class focuses on making it easy and fun. And helping you understand the value of the techniques. I explain blocking and seaming and ends and picking up stitches.  And I promise I won't judge - you should have seen my first attempts at seaming!

Introduction to Colourwork. Because working one colour at a time is boring. Stripes, both horizontal and vertical! Polka dots! Checks!

Cables 101. If "C6R", "T2L" and "C3/2B" make you panic; and charts cause concern. This bootcamp will have you working cables with ease and style - and definitely no tears.

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Plus, I believe the sale closet is open this weekend. I have a special weakness for the sale closet.