Archive for January, 2010
Designing my own shawl … swatches
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
So, Now that I’ve picked out my stitch patterns for class, I’m swatching them to see how they flow…
Here’s a rectangular swatch:
Sometimes it helps to look at the swatch from an angle to see how the stitches really flow into each other:
Here’s how I swatch to see how things will look in the actual shawl:
Posted in Patterns, tips and tricks, Online classes | No Comments »
Designing our own shawls
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
My online Design Your Own Shawl Class started this week, and I’m having a great time!
So far, we’ve drawn out basic sketches of our shawls:
And I’ve decided on which yarn I’ll use (Cascade 109). I’m using a bulky because I want what I’m doing to show up in the class videos, and because I love the look of “blown up” big lace on big needles!
We’re currently in the process of choosing stitch patterns, swatching, and getting ready to chart our lace!
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Self-Guided classes are now ready for signup.
Friday, January 15th, 2010
Hi Everyone!
I’ve decided to open up self-guided versions of both the Upcycled Tshirt Yarn Class and the Fitted Raglan Shawl Class. These classes have both been taught several times, and all of the material has been tried and tested and is ready for you to use.
The self-guided format means that you will be able to sign up at any time and have access to the class materials for 4 weeks from your date of signup. Within 24 hours of your registration (usually with minutes) you’ll be invited to the class, where you’ll find all of the video, handouts, patterns, etc. You’ll then be able to work through the materials at your own pace. This means that there’s no set date that the class will start, you simply sign up when you are ready to begin.
The differences between this setup and the way that my classes are normally taught are that we won’t have scheduled chat times, and you will be taking the class along with other people who may be at any stage of the class (since people will go in and out of class according to the date that they sign up.) You won’t necessarily be working with others at the same time, and won’t necessarily interact with your fellow classmates (unless you choose to.)
You will still be able to contact me with any questions / concerns, and I’ll answer within 24 hours.
Because my interaction with the classes will be less than usual, the cost of the class will be lowered by $10 / class. If you’ve been considering trying a class but were concerned about the cost or about the timing of the class fitting in with your schedule, this may be a great way for you to sample a class with less commitment.
(Our baby is due to be born on February 15, so I’m taking a brief hiatus from actively teaching after the Winter Session of classes ends. Spring Session will begin in March. If you’ve signed up to be a member of my knitting studio site, I’ll send you an email with spring class topics and dates as soon as I feel comfortable setting those in stone.)
Fitted Raglan Shawl Class (Self-guided version)
The class will be taught using a combination of pre-recorded video and PDF handouts. There is also a forum, in which you can ask questions at any time and meet others who are working through the same class, but may be at a different point in the material.
You will receive: a PDF copy of the knitting pattern, as well as additional PDF handouts with further explanation and instruction as to how to read lace knitting charts and work lace stitches, how to incorporate lace stitches into raglan - style increases, and more.
Materials: (Feel free to make substitutions!)
SockWeight Shawl, pictured in colors “Autumn Wine” (2 sk.) and“Rockwell” (1 sk.):
3 skeins Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock [80% Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon, 215 yds. / 2 oz.]
DK Weight Shawl, pictured in color “Mirth”:
3 skeins Lorna’s Laces Green Line DK [100% organic merino wool, 145 yds. / 2 oz.]
Worsted Weight Shawl, pictured in colors “Chagrin” (1 sk.) and “Courage” (1 sk.):
2 skeins Lorna’s Laces Green Line Worsted [100% organic merino wool, 210 yds. / 4 oz.]
Needles:
Sock Weight Shawl: US 5 / 3.75mm
DK Weight Shawl: US 7 / 4.5mm
Worsted Weight Shawl: US 10 / 8mm
SYLLABUS:
WEEK 1: Introduction to lace knitting and Lace Chart 1
–How to read lace charts
– How to cast on a garter stitch insert
–Lace chart 1 row by row video instruction
WEEK 2: Lace Chart 2 and working with color
– Lace chart 2 row by row video instruction
– Color Theory: Which colors work together and why
– How to effectively change from one color to another in this project.
WEEK 3: Lace Chart 3 and Finishing
– Lace chart 3 video instruction
– Finishing and weaving in ends in lace
– blocking
WEEK 4: Knitting time! Use this week to watch the videos,
ask questions, and generally finish up.
Sign up today, start class tomorrow!
Class Fee for self-guided version:
$35 for four weeks’ access to the class materials.
UP - cycled T-shirt yarn class (Self-Guided Version)
Learn to turn unwanted old (or new) t-shirts into a beautiful yarn that resembles expensive woven cotton tube-type yarns. I will show you how to create different weights of yarn, and to add effects to
the yarn while you’re making it.
You will receive: A PDF booklet of four knitting patterns (click on More Photos under the mosaic above to see more examples of class projects,) as well as additional PDF handouts with further
explanation and instruction as to how to create yarn from T-shirts, how to dye cotton yarn using natural and commercial dyes, and more.
SYLLABUS:
Week 1 of the class will teach you to turn those old Tshirts, jersey bed sheets, or yardages of Tshirt-type fabric into yarn
Week 2 of the class will be “Dye Class.” You’ll learn how to use natural dyes like tea and coffee to give your yarn an organic, earthy feel. We’ll also see how to use commercial dyes like Rit and
Dylon to add gorgeous bright color to the yarn and create special looks like self-striping and variegated yarns.
Week 3 of class will focus on projects for your yarns. Once you’ve created your t-shirt yarn, you’ve effectively RE-cycled your t-shirts, but our goal is to UPcycle. I’ll give you four patterns (leaf-shaped face cloths, lace wrap, lace triangle scarf, and lace shrug)
that will use your new t-shirt yarn to its best advantage. I’ll even go one step further and show you how to package your knits into gorgeous gifts that any friend or relative would love to receive.
Week 4 of the class will be time for you to knit your projects and ask any additional questions, watch the videos, and generally finish up.
The class will be taught using a combination of pre-recorded video and PDF handouts. There is also a forum, in which you can ask questions at any time and meet other students who may be at a different point in the class.
Class Fee for self-guided version:
$35 for four weeks’ access to the class materials
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Happy Birthday, Mazie!
Monday, January 11th, 2010
My baby is TWO today!
Yesterday she got her first haircut!
It FEELS like yesterday that she came home from the hospital!
Happy birthday, Big Girl!
Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
Soakers and a Tutorial (how to knit your own)
Sunday, January 10th, 2010
Two of the (Damask Rose) Malabrigo soakers:
I think I’m posting about this as a way to hold myself accountable, and also because my pregnant brain is telling me to focus hard on baby prep, even though realistically I’m pretty ready. My brain really wants to do serious baby prep crafting. Regardless of other work / deadlines. SO…maybe once my brain sees this post with pictures of my little knits it’ll calm down some.
I’ve finished 2 knit soakers, have yarn for a million more, and have one on the needles. I also have lots of eentsy fleece yoga pants, and ordered 3 of these wraps in NB and 4 small. So…I think we will be ok for the first 4 - 6 months soakerwise. I also have a few knits left over from Mazie. (Got it, Brain?? We’re prepped!)
A few people have asked me which is my favorite soaker pattern to knit. I knit a few pair of Picky Pants for Mazie, and they are the bomb, 
but I’m actually not that great about following patterns, I glance at the pattern occasionally but just knit them like I think they “should” be knit…so I developed my own, taking our climate into consideration.
We live where it’s HOT. It’ll be too hot for wool pants by March, so I like smaller soakers that just cover the diaper with some ribbing to keep messes inside. Here’s a couple that I did for Mazie:
A few people have asked me about these. Here’s the process:
Start out with one stitch, and, working in stockinette, increase one stitch each end of every other row until the top of the triangle measures a little bit bigger than your baby’s waist.
Change to 2×2 ribbing for about 1.5 - 2 inches. Bind off loosely.
Leaving about .5 inch at either end, pick up stitches along each side of the triangle and work in 2×2 ribbing for about the same distance you used for the waistband. (see above)
Fold in the points and seam.
For the ruffles, you just pick up stitches in a straight line across the back and knit for an inch or so. Do this 2 or 3 times to make a little row of them.
Posted in Patterns, baby | 5 Comments »
Soaker time in the city! Runnin’ wild and lookin’ pretty!
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
Well. It’s the point of New Baby Prep in which I knit soakers. We cloth diaper our babies, and that means that we need barrier layers. In the old days, our parents used my mom calls “plastic pants” or “rubber pants.” These are bloomery-looking panites made out of plastic that go on over cloth diapers to keep whatever is coming out of the diaper from leaking out and getting all over everything.
Today’s cloth diaperers use a variety of barrier layers in place of these plastic pants. We’ve sought alternatives because the plastic pants don’t breathe, which isn’t good for baby’s skin. They also can be very tight at the elastic, which typically isn’t adjustable. Some materials that work great as barrier layers are:
PUL (polyurethane laminate fabric) which is normal fabric with a thin, breathable layer of poly adhered to it.
Polar Fleece which for some reason is very waterproof while still being breathable and not absorbing any moisture. I like this material because it’s easy to stitch up a bunch of little covers or pants in very little time.
Hankdnit wool classic, pretty, and really just wonderful. Wool can be up to 60% saturated with water and still not leak! When coated with lanolin (by a quick soak in “Lanisoh” dissolved in water) it is virtually waterproof.
Wool fabric commonly used as suiting material, this fabric has all of the properties of handknit wool while remaining relatively lightweight and easy to sew. Best with it contains a little stretch fiber as well. (I have not made any soakers using this fabric.)
Felted wool either handknit and felted or storebought as fabric or thrifted sweaters and then felted. Great because it can just be cut and sewn and tends to be thicker and more waterproof than straight-up handknit wool fabric and thus more waterproof. But also more stiff. Good for overnight use!
I made a bunch of soakers (above) for Mazie, many of which I donated to an organization that provides clean, used cloth diapering supplies to lower-income families. Now, it’s time to get started on New Baby’s stash.
I’m winding up some really soft Damask Rose Malabrigo worsted and plan to get started today at my Dr. appointment. Photos soon!
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Simple Knitted Bodice…Preggo Version!
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010
So, when my friend Kathryn moved to England, she left me a mostly-finished Simple Knitted Bodice that she had started. She thought the color didn’t work for her. I’m a purple fanatic, so of course I was elated to be gifted with the partially finished sweater and yarn.
I finished it just before our trip to Iowa over Christmas.
Mods: Ended the sleeves just after the raglan join, only did one purl ridge for the neckline trim, and extended the body by about 6 or 7 inches. I didn’t adjust the body shaping at all, just blocked it to be more blousy at the belly.
If I was making this from the start for myself, I’d have lowered the lace detail to actually be under the bust…but I think I could block it to be lower if I was really perfectionistic about that. I also assume that it will be under the bust after the baby’s born and my body’s back to normal.
Next year, when I don’t need a maternity sweater, I’ll just re-block it to be slimmer in front. Well, cross your fingers for me that I’ll be able to say that, anyway!
I’m trying not to gain as much weight with this baby, but I’m no Heidi Klum. (Heidi did a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 6 weeks after the birth of her last baby.)
Here I was at about 31 weeks:
Yes, there is something on my shirt…that area tends to collect things. String, food, whatever I bump into.
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Newborn Knits!
Monday, January 4th, 2010
I’m working on a few little layette sets for New Baby! For Mazie, I knit a lot of 6-month things, but didn’t have anything for her to wear right away. So THIS time, I want to have at least a few things for her to wear when she gets home. It’ll be summery again in a few weeks, so our “Knits Window” is pretty small and closing.
Each set has a sweater, hat, and socks (or will when I’m finished, at least!)
Thanks to my knitting friend Stephanie for the heads up, I got in on a bunch of Lorna’s Laces Swirl DK at Jimmy Bean’s Wool for 50% off! I decided to use it to knit a few teeny baby sweater sets for my new little girl. (They still have lots of Lorna’s on sale, if you’re interested. I also recommend the Shepherd Sock, also on sale!)
I think I’ll order some more Swirl to make something for Big Sister, too.
The yarn is wonderfully soft and feels great in the hand. The knits are definitely next-to-the-skin (even baby skin) soft. I love that these colors aren’t typically “Baby Girl.”
I had a couple of emails in my inbox from concerned readers…I tweeted / facebooked (by phone) at one point last week about being stuck in a snowstorm with no internet. We survived! We were actually all holed up at Nathan’s parents’ house in IA. We were comfortable, but without internet and going really mad from cabin fever. They had 20.8 inches of snow over like 3 days. Everything was shut down.