Knit-a-While

The Wonder of Strategically Placed Holes

By Ida | Published: June 22, 2010

I’ve been thinking about holes lately. Not the ones that annoy you; the ones that are beautiful. And what are holes? Nothing–the absence of something. So, it may be odd, but some of the most beautiful knitting patterns are about nothingness. Think about it. Lace can be incredibly beautiful. I stand in awe at some of the lace projects my knitting friends have created, but when looked at closely, one sees that it’s about holes. I certainly do not want to be seen as disparaging their work. In truth, I’m quite envious of their ability. Plus, these are not holes placed willy-nilly as one knits. No, these are strategically placed holes.

The other day, I opened the door and was greeted by a package. Well, to be more exact, a package the mail carrier had slipped under my mat (bless him). I could immediately tell it was a book, but couldn’t figure out which one. I set it aside to look at it when I returned from my errand.

When I opened the package, this is the book I found.

Yes, The Art of Knitted Lace (Potter Craft, 2010). It seemed almost cosmic, as I had been thinking about doing more (all right, any) lace. (To see images from the book, check out Knit Picks.)

As one might expect in a book with patterns by designers such as Lisa Lloyd, Berta Karapetyan, and Annie Modesitt, the lace is beautiful. There are patterns for shawls, stockings, sweaters, scarves, and socks, among other things. As I mentioned to my Plurk buds yesterday, the pattern for June Bride Mitts (fingerless ones) is gorgeous. I just wish I had some place to wear something as pretty.

The patterns are divided into “Romantic Lace,” “Runway Lace,” and “Casual Lace.” The patterns are well written and beautifully photographed. In some cases, instructions are both written out and charted, but even those unfamiliar with charts should not be daunted. There are schematics, which many knitters find invaluable. There are patterns for most skill levels, so the knitter new to lace should find something with which they’ll be comfortable.

But, The Art of Knitted Lace is much more than a pattern book. The book begins with “Lace Basics,” one of the most helpful how-tos of lace knitting that I have seen. “Lace Basics” is a clearly written and well-illustrated explanation of pattern and chart reading, provides concise definitions of special terms, explains the necessity of and best way of blocking your project, and provides guidance in how to select the best yarn and needles for your project and how you work. There is also a primer on how to design a shawl.

Many of us have a fear of knitting lace. After all, many of the knitted lace projects we see appear to be complex. But, as Kristin Omdahl writes in the introduction:

Lace is a journey, not a destination. And if you can knit, you can knit lace. There is no elusive secret! Simply put, it is a combination of knit, purl, increases, and decreases–just like any other type of knitting.

If you’re ready to take that journey, The Art of Knitted Lace is a passport to successful projects.

Would you like your own copy of The Art of Knitted Lace? Just make a comment on THIS post by 10 PM EDT Sunday, June 27, and you’ll be entered in a random drawing for a copy of the book.

And a Word About Socks

If you’re a sock knitter looking for patterns, check out Criminal Sock Investigations on Crafty Detour. The first pattern, Mae Finch, was introduced yesterday. It should be a lot of fun, and I can tell you that the patterns are gorgeous.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am affiliated with Crafty Detour and Criminal Sock Investigations.

Posted in Reviews | 39 Comments

It’s About Animals

By Ida | Published: June 16, 2010

A Baaing with a Brogue Update

I love the Internet. Not long after I posted my lament about Irish yarn, I received this comment from reader Nic:

Hi. I made some inquiries and phoned Donegal Yarn Kilcar in Co.Donegal and spoke to a very nice fella from the yarn factory there. He tells me that the yarn from sheep in Ireland is used mostly in the carpet industry and that yarn for weaving and hand knitting has been imported from Australia/New Zealand for the past 100 years or so. Apparently that yarn is much finer and produces a better ply etc.

First, it thrills me to no end that one of the blog’s readers would be so kind to do such a thing. Thank you so much, Nic.

Now, I have to admit that what she told me makes me sad. (Okay, it also makes me feel kind of stupid not to know what I want has been a rarity for about 100 years.) So much of what I think of as knitting’s history is associated with Ireland, and it makes me incredibly sad that they’re outsourcing yarn. I can appreciate the fact they want softer, better plying fiber, but I wonder why they can’t raise the type of sheep they need for that in Ireland. Maybe it’s climate; perhaps it’s not economically feasible. All I know for certain is that I’m disappointed, because I’ll have to change my dream project.

Oh, several people have let me know that there are indie dyers and spinners in Ireland that could possibly provide me with what I need. I’ll be checking them out.

Amigurumi for Knitters

I love the little amigurumi creatures that seem to be taking over parts of the fiber world. Though I know how to crochet, I’m afraid my skills aren’t good enough to make these little creatures. Then, the other day I picked up my mail, and there was a package from Watson-Guptill, a publisher of knitting books. I hadn’t requested anything, so whatever was inside would be a surprise. And it was.

Yes, it’s amigurumi for knitters!

Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi, by Anna Hrachovec, has animals, furniture, and other things for the knitter who has wanted to create amigurumi but thought their crochet skills lacking. The designer, creator of Mochimochi Land, explains the derivation of the name (a sticky-rice sweet) and how she came to create such lovable creatures. The techniques required are explained clearly and shown vividly in photographs. In fact, the photos of the mattress stitch shows the technique better than in many other pattern books. Readers will learn what yarns work best and the importance of knitting a gauge swatch. Hrachovec also explains how to make the toys child friendly, and when they’re not, she lets you know.

There are several items I want to make as toys for the cats. You would follow the same instructions for cat (and I presume dog) toys as you would were you knitting them for small children. Basically, you knit at a tighter gauge and avoid plastic parts, tails, and the like–anything that can be pulled off and stuck in a wee one’s mouth. The cats will probably get the Squirrels on Wheels and Hamster Herd. My mother collects pigs, so she’ll get the Pigs with Wigs (sans wigs) as soon as I can find just the right bright pink yarn. Me? I want the Confused Moose, but not with the birds in the antlers. Oh, and the Bite-Free Bedbugs are adorable. Of course, I have to make the adult version of the Feet Eaters (the featured object on the cover).

And once you’ve gotten the idea and technique in hand, Hrachovec shows us how to create our own mochimochi object! I’ve already got several in mind I want to do.

No, this book is not a necessity for one’s knitting library, but it’s a fun addition.

NOTE: I tried to link the book to my Amazon Associate account, but it wouldn’t work. And yes, I followed instructions. If anyone knows the hidden secret, please let me know.

Posted in Reviews | Tagged Irish knits | 3 Comments

A New Knitting Read

By Ida | Published: June 11, 2010

Several posts ago, I reviewed While My Pretty One Knits. I mentioned that the author, Anne Canadeo had a sequel out, and I have now read it.

The main characters are back in Knit, Purl, Die. Returning to Plum Harbor after a few years in Florida is Gloria. And middle-aged Gloria didn’t come home alone. She brought her much-younger new husband, Jamie, an artist. And there’s Phoebe’s new friend, Crystal. She’s a bit odd, but she wants to learn to knit, so she becomes a part of the Black Sheep Knitters.

Few people will be surprised when Gloria is found dead. While the police are satisfied that it was a pool-side accident, the Black Sheep Knitters aren’t as ready to buy their findings. And, of course, they’re right not to.

It isn’t necessary to have read While My Pretty One Knits before reading Knit, Purl, Die. The events of the first book are discussed in this one, some multiple times. As with the first book, many readers will know long before the Black Sheep Knitters–and the police–the who and why of Gloria’s death. And, like the first book, there is a lack of character development, though Suzanne is brought into the main storyline a bit more than in While My Pretty One Knits, as she is helping Gloria find a new house. In Knit, Purl, Die, the lack of character development seems a bit more obvious, especially since the knitters depend on Dana, wife of an in-the-know attorney, to wrap up the details of the crimes.

Both books include notes from the knitters, and recipes and/or patterns, which make the Black Sheep Knitters seem more real.

The third book in the series will be out in December. And I’ll likely read it. The books are a fun and quick read despite being predictable. I must confess to wondering how many people will be killed in the third book. In the first book, one person died. In the second, two died. We all know that deaths come in threes.

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All I Want Is Yarn From a Sheep that Baa’d with a Brogue. Too Much to Ask?

By Ida | Published: June 8, 2010

Apparently.

You’d think that it wouldn’t be a problem now, would you? Ireland has a lot of sheep. But getting yarn from those wooly creatures seems to be a task left to those with more ins than I have. Which, truth be told, would not take many. I went online this afternoon, looking for someplace in Ireland to order yarn. Of course, I was looking for sock yarn, and that might have been the problem. I did find a company in Colorado that sells yarns made in Ireland. I was looking for sock yarn, and the only sock yarn they had was in natural colors. Pretty, but not quite what I was looking for.

I went on Plurk and asked if anyone had a source. A couple of people mentioned they had purchased yarn in Ireland that had been made in the United States. This is apparently becoming the norm. How sad.

As much as I’d love yarn that was born and raised in Ireland, I will settle for yarn that started as fiber on the bodies of sheep in Ireland. Where it was finally manufactured into yarn I guess will not have to matter. For some reason, that makes me incredibly sad. I still have as one of my goals, however, the knitting of a fisherman’s sweater in true Aran weight yarn from Ireland. Let’s hope at least that will come true. My socks, however, may have to settle for yarn from sheep with a fake brogue.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

It’s June, It’s Hot, and I Can’t Find a Pattern I Like

By Ida | Published: June 1, 2010

Happy first day of June. Just a few more weeks, and it’ll be the first day of summer. On the calendar, anyway. It’s been hot here and many other places for quite a while. And please, weather people, 80 degree weather is not “warm”: it’s bleeding hot. I really have to stop checking the 10-day forecast for highs in the 50s or 60s. They’re just not there. Sheez, there are few days with forecasted highs below 80.

There Has Been Finishage

(And yes, I should probably stop making up words.)

Socks 5 and 6 are finished.

Those are the Lae Wedge Anklets from the May 2010 Creative Knitting. I immediately started another pair, the Sanquhar Socks in Wendy Johnson’s, Toe-Up Socks for Every Body. As of early yesterday, I’d gotten this far.

I’m using Knit Picks Palette for these.

On the Hunt

I’ve long grown accustomed to having difficulty finding patterns that will fit. Happily, that situation is beginning to change, as more and more designers realize that there are many knitters on either side of the “whomever decided what was normal” spectrum. And, I applaud them. But that doesn’t mean every pattern is available in every size. That can never happen, and I do realize that. Besides, there are some garments that look wonderful on, say a size 10, that will never look good on me, a size–well, bigger than that. And, even if a pattern is available in my size, that doesn’t mean it will look good on me.

But I digress, sort of.

I want to knit a summer top. Of course, I should have started last November, since I’m not exactly a speedy knitter. I did some searching and found a pattern I like. It’s the Inamorata on Knitty. It’s almost perfect. I even bought the DK yarn for it. But now I am having second thoughts.

All I really want is a simple top (some lace is okay, but let’s not be crazy) with cap sleeves. Actually, I think they’re called ballet sleeves, too. I hate sleeveless things, but I will wear them around home. I’ve looked everywhere I can think, and I can’t find such a pattern. Yes, I may be able to design one, but I really don’t have time right now. I could probably add such sleeves to an already-designed tank, but while I can do it in my head, I’m not so sure I can translate it to a pattern.

So, if you run into such a pattern in a wide range of sizes, please let me know.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Knitty, sock knitting, WendyKnits! | 4 Comments

Memories and an FO

By Ida | Published: May 26, 2010

Summers in Iowa were hot and humid. Very hot and very humid. We didn’t have air-conditioning, so when it got really hot, my dad would pile us into the car and we’d go for a drive. Of course we didn’t have air-conditioning in the car either, so all the windows were down. Sometimes we’d just go for a drive around town. Most of the time, though, we headed for the country. We’d sometimes stop at a creek we called “The Crawdad Hole,” because–now wait for it–it was chockablock with crawdads. It was one of our favorite places to go fishing, too, but on these heat-fighting drives, we’d just stop for a while and dip our feet in the cool water. There was also a large smooth rock, just perfect for sitting, that never seemed to get too hot.

Our drives often ended with ice cream. We’d stop at a Dairy Queen-type place or, better yet, at Williams Dairy. They had the best ice cream, and I can remember the sound of the door slamming behind us and the smell of the dairy as we entered.

Those memories came to me tonight as, having decided I could not survive the night without a Diet Cherry Limeaid, I drove to Sonic. Sadly, the days of aimless drives to cool off are long gone, at least for me. They just don’t seem quite so attractive when I know that I’m the one who’ll have to fill the gas tank and that I have a ton of work back in the office to do. And there’s no Williams Dairy to end the foray. Though I can’t relive the moments, they do make me smile, and sometimes, that’s just what one needs.

So why was I desperate for a Limeaid? It’s bleeding hot. And most of you around the country can relate to that. I really need to move somewhere cold, and I may have found the perfect spot: Homer, Alaska. Unfortunately, such a move is way out of my price range right now. Still . . .

Are people surprised that you knit in the summer–or in summer-like weather? Several people I know are surprised that I do. I must admit that I’m not sure I’ll ever do much sweater knitting in the summer (though I did just order a sweater’s worth of yarn from Knit Picks). It’s a good thing I knit socks. And I’ve finished one.

This is the Lacy Wedge anklet pattern that’s in the May issue of Creative Knitting. The yarn is from Highland Handmades. The real-life color is much darker and very pretty. For those keeping track of my progress on knitting 100 socks (see The Evolving Sock Knitter), this is sock 5. As for sock 6, I’m almost to the heel turn.

Speaking of Creative Knitting

My digital subscription is almost up, and I won’t be renewing. For some bizarre reason, I just can’t get into reading it online and downloading the patterns. Even though there are bonus patterns. I usually forgot when it was available, so I “missed” several issues. In fact, I even bought a couple of the issues in their traditional magazine form, including the May issue.

I like the idea of digital books; I love my Kindle. And I read knitting-related fiction on my Kindle. But I just can’t make the leap to reading Creative Knitting digitally. That’s sad, as I also like the idea of saving paper. But alas, I guess I’m still a bit old fashioned when it comes to some things.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged sock knitting, sock yarn | 2 Comments

And We Have Winners

By Ida | Published: May 18, 2010

Thanks to everyone who posted a comment to win a copy of Comfort Knitting and Crochet Afghans. I ran the random number generator, and the winner is

Dana in Germany South Africa!

She is our first international winner. Congratulations! Dana, I sent you an e-mail through your shop site.

I’ve been getting a lot of knitting books lately, so keep your eyes open for another contest.

And There’s Another Winner

And that would be ME. I’ve often whined that I never win anything. Well, I can’t do that anymore. In yesterday’s mail, I received my prize from a drawing on the blog Holly Marie Knits. Isn’t it pretty?

It’s my first shawlette, and I love it.

Well, I’m keeping this short so I can get some work done before it gets hot in the office.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

A Comfort Contest

By Ida | Published: May 10, 2010

I don’t know about where you are, but for the past few days, Mother Nature seems to have forgotten that we’re closer to summer than to winter. Yesterday, we didn’t even hit the 40s, and yes, there were snow flurries. At least we didn’t get the inches of snow some places in Minnesota got.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a contest, and since it’s been on the airish side, it seems appropriate that I review one of the most recent books I’ve received from publishers: Comfort Knitting & Crochet Afghans (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2010).

The 50 patterns were designed by Norah Gaughan, Margery Winter, and the Design Team at Berroco yarns. Each project is created using that company’s Comfort line of yarns.

Each project is beautifully photographed. The instructions are clearly written and easy to follow. For many, they take up only 1 page. Charts are easy to follow, and schematics are helpful. For those unfamiliar with knitting or with crocheting, the special techniques section will be helpful, but keep in mind that it is assumed you already know how to knit or crochet. Though there are projects for all skill levels, this is definitely not a “teach yourself how” to knit or crochet book.

Projects in this book range from the traditional to the more unusual. Among the traditional are patterns for a crocheted chevron afghan and an knitted afghan in garter stitch stripes. If you like granny squares but long for something that doesn’t scream out ’60s or ’70s, be sure to check out “Stella,” which uses granny-like triangles to create hexagons. Knitted patterns “Still Life” and “Westchester Winter” will look as good (or perhaps better) on the wall as on a bed. There is a pattern using Tunisian crochet and one using broomstick lace. And if you love colorwork knitting, check out “Gypsy Patchwork.”

I’m not sure what–if anything–this means, but most of the patterns I was drawn to were the ones for crocheted afghans. I may have to hunt down my crochet hooks and try some of these.

If you’re a knitter or crocheter who loves making afghans, Comfort Knitting & Crochet Afghans is worth a look.

And Now for the Contest Part

Post a comment on this entry by 11:00 pm EDT, Monday, May 17, and you will be entered into a random drawing for a copy of Comfort Knitting & Crochet Afghans. Remember: only comments to this post will be eligible for the drawing.

Good luck!

Posted in Reviews, contest | 47 Comments

A Tour to Make You Jealous

By Ida | Published: May 7, 2010

When I was in college and graduate school, I always got a thrill when I was able to do an interview with people I was writing about. Oh heck, I still get a shiver when I interview someone. Back during my educational days, the interviews were generally conducted by telephone. While the computer had been invented, it was not nearly as widely used as it is today.

I would have loved to do what Daniella Cortez is doing during the Craft Culture Summer Tour. Dani will be traveling from coast to coast to interview people for her writing project on the sociological significance of handcrafting in the United States. This is a popular topic and timely. She’ll also have the opportunity to knit with people at each stop. Her tour begins in Anchorage, Alaska, and she’ll visit 8 other cities, including Las Vegas, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; Chicago, Illinois; and Cleveland, Ohio. She will have a chockablock 24 days.

As you can imagine, a quest like this isn’t cheap. With a down economy, finding grant support is difficult if not impossible. So, Dani is giving you the chance to help her in her research. Just visit her blog, and she’ll tell you how you can become a part of this project. And if you’re a business, there are special incentives for you to help.

There are several projects on my writing desk that would benefit greatly from personal, face-to-face interviews. For now, however, I’ll have to live vicariously through Dani.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments