Dec 27, 2013
Grapes, leaves and winding tendrils inspired a cable pattern
Drumroll!
After weeks of brainstorming, figuring,swatching and experimenting, I finally began KNITTING my aran sweater design for the Master Knitter Level 3 program.
Inspiration: wrought iron railings in New Orleans.
Ideally, I wanted to create this motif center panel with a V neck. Then, I’d make the body in one piece… a princess line sweater. It would be easy to customize when it came time to size the pattern. Unfortunately, my brain insisted that the cable motif would wrap around the neck and shoulders, which would probably require considerable short rows. Time is of the essence, and I’m much more of a cardi kind of gal anyway.
So the princess line sweater became a high low cardigan. This time.
I’ve grappled with my stubborn non conformity to traditional aran style. It would have been infinitely easier to drop a few stitch patterns into a basic sweater shape with ribbed edges. But I don’t like ribbed edges these days (exception for mittens!). My aran sweater has a stretchy provisional cast on with stockinette stitch hem. I’m using rick rib for the lower edges of the sweater, and I love the lofty light effect that contrasts with the other stitch patterns.
The Master Knitter program requirements are fairly straightforward: cables, bobbles and two other stitch patterns. I’m making this more difficult than need be.
Deadline’s a looming. I spent at least 3 weeks creating the 3 dimensional leaf shapes and the cable pattern with a bunch of grapes (bobbles) tucked inside. My swatch is nearly 2 feet long, complete with V neck shaping (that doesn’t include all of the work frogged!).
The yarn? Woolpak NZ DK weight purchased with my employee discount at Sit n Knit (Thanks, Janet!).
Once I drafted the pattern, work proceeds quite well… until the first leaves. I developed leaf patterns in 7, 9, and 11 st. I chose 7, and now wonder if the 9 wouldn’t fit the overall scale of the sweater better.
first repeat of cable pattern
Part of me says, forge ahead, deadline looming.
Any thoughts?
Sep 29, 2013
For many years, I bought yarn because it
- called to me (who else has heard the yarn whisperer?)
- was priced irresistibly
- made me feel good.
From these purchases, I made things, adapting patterns, making it up along the way. Despite trans atlantic moves and the inevitable destashing associated with such junctures, I built up a fine collection. Eventually, I whittled my way down to only leftovers in early 2006. Lately, I’ve bought yarn with the express purpose of making a sweater, a skirt, a pullover and followed a pattern (novel approach, right?). Patterns have their personalities and reflect not only the materials, but the designer and the habits of the maker. A successfully recreated project acknowledges features of all. This means you need to know the measurements of the person for whom you’re making. Ideally, you know what your project pitfalls might be.
Three cases in point from recent knitting projects:
Sorry for the selfie! It’s all I have live now.
1) Annamaria Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio: This fitted 3/4 sleeve V neck cardigan has nice shaping details and looks like a perfect choice for skirts or trousers. I noticed the 13.5″ from lower edge to underarm was the same length for all sizes.
Having just finished the Plaits and Links cardi with a similar length, I thought, no problem. But these armholes are much more fitted than Plaits and Links, which impacts overall sweater length. I do wish it was longer (and may do something about it). Measure! My mods are in my Ravelry project description.
How long is your back neck to tail bone? Where do your skirt waistbands and trouser waistbands usually lie? Do you wear loose base layers (cami, blouse or knit shirt) or fitted? Keep this in mind when choosing your patterns.
Btw, the yarn is Blackberry Ridge‘s sport weight wool and silk blend. This purchase falls into the “calls to me” category. I have quite a bit of this scrumptious yarn left and can’t wait to knit with it again.
Added cap sleeves, body length and a scoop neck
2. Slip Stich Shell from Green Mountain Spinnery. I picked up three skeins of their lovely Cotton Comfort yarn at the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool, suddenly determined to knit a garment before they came to the Common Cod Fiber Guild in July. The pattern is originally born in the crop top era, so I added several inches, then later when back and added more. I still wish it were longer. Sigh.
This is a good place to point out how ribbed edging is leaving most of my knitted garments. In this case, I did a provisional picot edge.
Modifying the pattern’s crew neck to a slightly scooped neck worked better for summer. I added the cap sleeves as well. The ribbed neckline also switched into the picot edge. Picot is definitely becoming a favorite for me, but I should keep my eyes open for other options. I wore this a lot this summer, despite the high wool content.
I really thought I would wear it this summer
3. The Sasha skirt is a Louet pattern I first admired in 2008, cast on in 2012, ripped back in 2013 and thought for sure I would wear this summer. The skirt comes in three lengths. I only had enough yarn for the shorter length and didn’t want the maxi skirt or long cocktail length, so I blithely assumed (without measuring) that the 23″ skirt length would be just right (looked good on the model!)
Ha! The first hibernation period began after I originally placed the blue ruffle at the lower edge. Yuck… it would make the yellow ruffle look totally weird, I decided. Use the yellow as the kick of color instead. So I ripped back and at that time, lengthened the distance between the second and the third ruffle. Finished, and it looked weird… more length needed between the first and second ruffles or the proportion is off.
With some green remaining, I picked apart what I thought was knitting between the first and second ruffles. Nope. Now the yellow ruffle and green skirt is separated. I’ll need to kitchener this together before moving back to my original goal. Time for project hibernation. Sigh.
Measure, and know thyself, oh textilfiliac.
Jun 30, 2013
Word is getting out! More people are learning about the Melrose Adult Education program’s topics and signing up to learn painting, acting, business skills, interior design and craft. Yours truly will lead a basic knitting skills class on August 5 and 12 from 7 pm to 8:30
- Basic Knitting Skills: Learn 2 ways to cast on, to knit, to purl, and how to bind off. Understand some of the most common abbreviations in knitting patterns and get ready to work on a basic knitting project! Bring light colored, smooth (no novelty yarns, please) worsted or bulky weight yarn and appropriate size of knitting needle. This class works for those who have never knit before, or need a refresher class. With your MCAE registration confirmation Sit ‘n Knit Melrose offers 10% discount on your class supplies. 7 – 8:30 p.m. Offered on Mondays August 5 and 12, 2013. COST: $25.00
I’ll also lead morning and evening sessions for Sit’n Knit’s boot camp series. Seaming knits, buttonholes and new ways to cast on and bind off will be the feature topics. I’ll let you know when registration is open for these Tuesday classes that begin August 13.
Jun 11, 2013
More than four months into Level 3 of The Knitting Guild of America’s Master Hand Knitting Program, I’ve completed reviews, reports and absorbed the contents of a lot of knitting references (thank goodness for interlibrary loans). To date, 12 of the 19 swatches are blocked, labeled and complete with swatch pages. Generally, the swatches were knit twice before they were worthy of blocking. I’ve answered the associated questions for these swatches. Onward and upward, I tell myself.
Soon, I’ll resolve my yarn choice for the doily. Isager’s Plant Fiber sounds and feels luscious, but I’ve never knit with it. Should I spend so much on a doily which could just as easily use Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fine for 40% less expense? Design notes, swatches, measurements and yarn options ferment for my hat and sweater designs. Combination ugh and delight, my attitude about the final level of the program ranges from joyful, determined, focused to dejected and incredulous (now why am I doing this when there are so many things I’d love to knit or crochet?).
Slowing the process slightly is my learning curve on making charts using Illustrator. The program doesn’t require anything nice computerized patterns, but it’s been a longtime goal of mine to develop a pattern template and graphic style for the patterns I write. Makes sense that I personally consider this to be part of a Master Knitter skill set.
My nagging fear: Not following the directions completely, which results in rework for sheer carelessness. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned about the Master Knitter Program, following directions, checking your work, letting others review your work and then checking it again perhaps has been the most valuable lesson (remember, I’ve been knitting for decades!).
This post is more brain unload than informative, inspirational or entertaining. There are online forums and I enjoy support from 2 other local knitters who are tackling the program, but Master Knitter journey is quite solitary.
Thanks for listening.
Jun 5, 2013
In case your bucket list includes learning to knit, or you just need a refresher to start stitching again, Melrose Adult Community Education and the MetroNorth Y are sponsoring two sessions this summer.
I’ll teach 2 ways to cast on, to knit, to purl, and how to bind off. You’ll learn common abbreviations in knitting patterns and get ready to work on a basic knitting project! Bring light colored, smooth (no novelty yarns, please) worsted or bulky weight yarn and appropriate size of knitting needle. With your MCAE registration confirmation Sit ‘n Knit Melrose offers 10% discount on your class supplies. 7 – 8:30 p.m. Offered on Mondays July 8 and 15 and August 5 and 12, 2013. COST: $25.00
Click to register.
It’s always fun to watch people grown on their knitting journey, and I’m glad I can be a part of it!
May 14, 2013
Early in the year, someone in one of Sit and Knit’s knitting groups expressed their desire to knit this.
As someone else echoed this sentiment, I suggested that we knit it together. Before we knew it, more than 15 people who frequent Janet’s shop were casting on either in her groups or a special KAL led by yours truly. I had a fun time making Kathy Zimmerman’s pattern. Working through the pieces, I made suggestions about fitting, approaches or modifications to the pattern. My personal sweater yarn came from Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm CSA 2008 (now operating as Juniper Moon Fiber Farm in VA).
Once finished, I wore it nearly every day for a week. And although I washed it for the winter, showers and breezes convinced me to pull it out for a tour of the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival. People asked cautiously, “Did you knit your sweater?” before giving it lots of compliments.
Stop by Sit and Knit in Melrose and you can see the sweater for yourself… in case you are so tempted.
Hold on a bit and I’ll upload notes and ideas on making this sweater based on our experiences. Suggestions for bust darts, pattern interpretations, sleeve length and an alternative bind off for the neck edge are part of the parcel.
Janet plans to have a Plaits and Links party in the fall, where everyone can show off their work. Perhaps we’ll see you then?
