A Tale of a Pattern; OTN

I know I’m overdoing the writing of my patterns. Overdoing is my middle name.
But I would far rather try to give you more than you need than have anyone feel the way I did yesterday.

I’ve still not quite figured out what to do with my Berroco Seduce so I bought three more skeins. (all Charlotte Yarn had) I also bought a pattern from from a designer on Ravelry. It was a jacket/vest with a neat collar and ruffle; I was eager to see how she designed the collar.

I paid my $6 and downloaded the pdf. What I got was beautifully laid out–nice graphic design–but it was of less use than the raglan generator at knittingfool.com would have been. It was just a few basic directions for a generic raglan sweater with a ruffle picked up around the outside. Not even any guidance about how to successfully do that.

About the cute collar and the slope of the front edge that attracted me to it? Not a word. I can only assume both were the result of a clever and stylish drape done by the photographer.
Bummer.

Yes, Ravelry hosts many amateur/beginning designers (moi). That is one of its strengths. But this designer has a group of followers and has been published in reputable mags. I feel justified in expecting more than I got for my money.

Oh well–I’ll figure it out for myself and have fun doing just that. But I will also continue to overdo my own patterns and tell you tips and explain things you may already know and take honest, if not really great, photos. Otherwise, my protestant guilt would overcome me.

On My Needles:
1. My new hat pattern that I am excited about–This one is for me in purple.
2. The green linen skirt plods along and I’m fine with that.
3. Pink/purple socks.
4. A simple lace scarf with a few beads–destined to be a new free pattern.
5. A throw for my den made of a gazillion yarns from my stash anchored by some Collinette that I’ve had forever. Not sure I like it, but it is using up the stash.

Swatching:
Zephyr
Seduce
Provence–my favorite cotton

Planning:
1. Some fair isle pillows
2. Yoke sweater for me out of CE Provence
3. Sweaters for the grandsons for fall
4. Felted clogs??? mine are worn out

Wishing:
1. It were cool enough to sit outside.
2. Days had 30 hours.

3.  I could have 30 dogs.  This is Linda’s new Teacup Chihuahua she brought to the shop last week.  Not at all camera shy.

There’s always something—-and I like it like that.

More later–

Thank you, Charlotte Yarn Customers

I don’t really work for Charlotte Yarn—unless lots of staff goes out of town at the same time. Well, Harriet and Sandy were both off to vacation and play last week and I spent two days on staff. I had so much fun.

At the end of the day, when I sat down with a Boston Ale, I noticed that my feet hurt and my brain was fuzzy (before I drank the beer); but I never even thought of that during the day. I met a bunch of new people. Patsy was in Charlotte to visit her brand new granddaughter and I helped her assemble a sweater she had knit home in Minn. Pam arrived from Florida to visit her daughter; I greatly assisted her in spending large amounts of money on Blue Heron Yarns. One of Sandy’s neighbors dropped by and learned how to make fringe.

I never make it to the Wednesday morning knit-in for some reason–Can you say lazy? Working that day I got to catch up with Chris , Chris, and Renate. Renate is always a fount of knitting wisdom, especially about socks. That day she was knitting a shopping bag out ot some kinda fancy yarn from her stash. We teased her about knitting a bag for evening or cocktail shopping.

Thursday, my day off, I dropped in to knit some with Vicki and Linda, two of my intrepid test knitters. Stayed four hours! It was important to be there Thurs. because our faithful UPS man brought Remi’s order of Jaggerspun Zephyr–the Mother of All Lace Yarn. I grabbed two skeins of charcoal for the Sowerby shawl on display and one of Marine Blue for something. We called Chris to let her know the yarn had arrived and she drove over at record time and bought the rest of the Marine Blue. She’s worried about having enough for the Sowerby shawl, so I promosed to share if she needs it. I’ll start on the grey.

My knitting camp next month will feature Nancy Bush of Estonian Lace fame, among other things, so I ‘m sure I’ll come home with lots of ideas.

Friday also brought Gina in to work on a new shawl. I told her how I cheat on nupps. Maybe I’ll even learn to do those at camp. Purl 7 together still just seems plain wrong to me.

Anyway, thanks to all of you who came by and shared the time with us. I had a blast and am inspired to try several new things you suggested. Since it is Saturday, guess where I’m off to? Yep, I
have a class at 1:00 at Charlotte Yarn. Fun never ends if you knit!

When you go to the shop to see the Zephry, and of course you will at least look and touch, ask to see the color card. This 50-50 silk merino blend takes dye beautifully. B.J. was there Friday knitting
Jared Flood’s Juneberry shawl with Zephyr in the DK weight. This was my first time to touch it and it is very nice.

More later–

Wanted: Test Knitters

Wanted:  Test Knitters

Qualifications:  You can knit, purl, cast on and bind off.  You are willing to ask questions when you are uncertain.  You enjoy laughing.  That’s about it.  Beginners are welcome here.  If you often have problems reading patterns, then I need you, too.

Duties:  You will knit a project that you select, following the pattern.  You will point out errors you find, and you will look for wording that is not as clear as it could be.  You will call the attention of the designer to these problems as soon as you find them.  You will share your finished piece with the designer so it may be photographed.

Recompense:  Sorry, no money.  You may even have to supply your own yarn.  However—if you live in the area, you will be invited to do a Knit Along with other test knitters and the designer.  You may bring other projects to the KALs and the designer (that’s me) will help you with them.  I will also teach you any other techniques in which you are interested.  It’s like lots of free classes.  Your name will be listed on the pattern as a test knitter.

Currently I need test knitters for two projects.

Project one is a hat.  This will require about 250 yards of non-wool dk or sport weight yarn.  I can provide some yarn support here.  You would need to knit in the round from a beginning of only 4 sts.  You may use either dpn’s or magic loop.  The original has been knit in Rowan Revive, one of the recycled Purelife yarns, available through Charlotte Yarn.  Picture of finished hat will be shown when you express some interest.  If you don’t like it, you don’t have to knit it.

Project two is a gift that I don’t want to identify online yet.  I will tell you and show you a picture when you express interest.  You would need 400 yds of cotton and a size 6–8 needle  to get a gauge of 5.5 sts per inch.  The original was knit with 2 skeins of Ty-Dy cotton available through Charlotte Yarn.  I have some solid color yarns that might work for you.

Deadlines will be set for the test knitting, but they will be generous.

If you want to know more about this procedure, send me an email (jane@jpknits.com ) and ask your questions.  I’m not looking for experts here,  I need regular people who knit for fun and want the pattern to be accurate and make sense.

Yarn Review: Rowan Revive

I discovered this yarn while shelf scanning at Charlotte Yarn.  My first look didn’t excite me.  Then I realized that this was part of the “Green  Yarn” explosion currently underway.  You know, the label includes things like “organic,” “recycled,” “all natural.”   Steve loves food ads that say the product is made from all natural ingredients.  The scientist in him points out that everything on this planet is natural, from nature, even the man made products which will outlive the cockroaches.  Oops, back to the topic.

Anyway, I picked it up and read the label.  Oh, my favorite fibers.  Revive is made from 36% recycled silk, 36% recycled cotton, and 28% recycled viscose (Rayon, my favorite man-made fiber).  It isn’t that I don’t care about the planet, I do.  It’s that I care more that the yarn I knit and wear feels great.  Bingo.  This one does.

The only negatives I can find are that it isn’t machine washable and dryable—-and what great yarn is?  It also doesn’t have memory;  when stretched, it doesn’t fully recover like wool does.  Well, Jane, you say, it isn’t wool, so get over it.  And I did.

It feels luscious in my hands as I knit.  Like raw silk.  A bit of texture, but never rough.  The plies, all 5 of them, are solidly twisted for a drapeable, yet sturdy yarn.  This yarn wants to go outside on a cool fall day.  It does.  It told me so.  The colors are all tweedy.  I can even see an occasional dot of bright silk.  There are so many natural colors in the plies, that it makes it very versatile for using with neutral solids.

I have made a hat out of it using some eyelet (yarn0ver) stitches.  It seemed to need to be a slouch hat because it wanted to show off its drape.  I used some textured stitch patterns to enhance the look inherent in the yarn. (Pattern available soon.)

This yarn sells for $10.98 a 50 gr. skein which has 137 yds.  Rowan recommends a gauge of 5.5 sts per inch on a US 6, which is what I got when I designed the hat.  They say to hand wash it in cool water.  This is Pink Granite, color number 00463.  This and other colors are available at Charlotte Yarn.

I need to go back and get some of the purple.

More later–

How many times can you knit the same yarn?

This is Seduce from Berroco.  I love the way it looks and the bumpiness of its texture.  I want to wear it near my face.  I want to combine it with a solid color to bring out the purple in it.  I’m having trouble figuring out how to do all that.

It was going to be a vest

then a jacket

now a round yoke sweater.  Maybe.  I’ve never knit one before, so designing with one is iffy.

I read that bodies with narrow shoulder and big bottoms looked good in yoked sweaters with some color interest. The yoke draws the eye up and balances the bottom so the theory goes.  Okay, I’m in.

I got out my construction bibles and began to read.  Worked some of the formulas and began to plan. Started knitting without really doing a swatch.  Hey–I’ve knit this yarn twice already–three times including the swatch I did knit before the vest thing.  Surely I know it’s gauge.  (Words to eventually eat.)

The row gauge is a bit off, but I’ll just add some extra.  I’ll keep you posted.  Some of my students have commented that it is very motivating to know that more experienced knitters make mistakes.  I’m happy to oblige.

I want to make the body of the sweater in a solid color contrasting yarn.  I took some pictures to help me decide which to use.  or

I think I’ll go with the purple.  I already have a swatch.

More later–

Look What I Got

With only a bit of guilt,(I practically begged for it), I accepted a lovely gift from Casey and Michelle who went to Tokyo after some beginning knitting lessons.  Lookee!

It has crochet and knit patterns and uses one of my favorite stitches (PKOK) several times.  The crochet patterns really grabbed me.  They are so delicate, yet don’t seem to use cobweb weight yarn.  My biggest criticism of crocheted garments has always been that they seem clunky.  I have crocheted delicate doilies in my time, but that time was my teenage years when I had younger eyes.  It’s hard to believe now that I could even see those tiny hooks.

Maybe this first--and I don't even wear hats. But this . . .

Knit camisoles--Why not?

Here's another

This makes me want to try crochet again. Love the collar.

Definantly first--Must learn the fringe.

The patterns are all charts and numbers, so a knowledge of Japanese is not exactly required.

Pattern info on yarn and gauge

Large schematic and stitch instruction

Chart detail

Yoke chart--crochet

Sandy Harris, at Charlotte Yarn, is a crochet whiz, so I may have to set up a lesson to get some pattern reading help, but as a life-long learner, that’s no problem.

I am just blown away these two students would pick this up for me.  I also loved Casey’s  stories about knitting on the plane.  She needed a stitch holder and just cruised into the galley and asked for chopsticks.  A true knitter.  She also picked up some beautiful chained cotton yarn. I may have to cruise a few manufacturing sites just to see if I NEED any of their product.  Thanks again, Casey and Michelle; you’ve made me very happy. 

More later–

The Elbow Edited

For those of you interested in the Wizard’s recovery from the bike accident, he’s great.  Hopes to be back on the real bike in two weeks.  My breath is held.  I have to say that he has been remarkably cheerful through this whole experience.  No growling or temper tantrums from frustration.  His daughters and I are grateful from the unexpected surplus of good sense he has shown about not doing things he shouldn’t.

For those of you who aren’t interested, sorry about the creepy picture.

Square Project

I’ve always enjoyed modular knitting.  Lots of small projects equal lots of finishing lines.  These fluffy squares are adorable and fun to knit.  And the pattern is free.

Don’t stop with just this pattern though.  Look at all the ingenious things Frankie Brown has created and is sharing with us.  Much of it is kind of mindless and easy, but still very clever.

So what are these squares going to be?  Well, I don’t exactly know.  Maybe a pillow top.  Maybe the ends of a scarf or shawl.  I’ll decide when I finish knitting them.  I have one ball of Zauberball in the black, white, grey colorway.  I’m trying to get at least 3 shades in each square.  (After knitting a solid black one)  I have 5 knitted and lots of yarn left.  If I do a shawl or scarf, I’ll probably use a natural sock yarn as the body.

About the Zauberball.  I have every reason not to like it.  It’s a single ply, but is strong.  The wool in it must be a long wool because it is much stronger than I expected.  It has luster, like mohair, but isn’t fuzzy.  If I had to guess, I’d say Wensleydale, but I don’t know.  The color repeats are very long.  Much longer than Noro.  I may buy another to knit a shawl and just let the colors play.

It’s a size 4 needle—actually it’s 5 size 4 needles.  You can knit this square on magic loop, but it just seems more natural on dpns.  I haven’t knit on dpns in a long time and I am enjoying that also.

I’ll let you know what I do with the squares and how I decide to join them.  Those 10 st circular pieces she designed also look like fun.

More later–

Things I Want to Knit

Pavonia by Susanna IC–knit in Malabrigo Lace.  This is my favorite pattern from the Knitcircus Summer Issue.  You can find it here and the ravelry link is here.

Pull Raye by Bergère de France For one of the grandsons–Ravelry link.  This one is in fingering weight.  I just love the stripe spacing.  I will use a heavier yarn and just copy the stripe pattern.

Boomerang by MMario.  Free pattern on ravelry.  I’m thinking sock yarn, maybe even left overs.  Haven’t read the pattern yet, but I’m curious how the shaping is achieved.

Triad by Susan Pandorf.  I thought this looked like Art Deco.  I couldn’t figure out the pattern without risking brain eruption, so I bought the pattern.  She designed it in Koigu on size 4 needles.  I don’t have any dark Koigu, so I may use Hempathy or a nice sock yarn.

Notice they are all fairly quick projects.  I’ve been working on two new patterns–a vest and a jacket–and I am a bit sick of adult garments right now.  Won’t last.

Maybe some Home Dec stuff. Does anyone knit napkins? Linen? Hemp? Even cotton?

More later–

Bechtler

My friends Jennie and Donna and I went to the new Bechtler Museum last month for our regular monthly outing.  It was amazing.  Not least is this Firebird which is outside the main entrance.  Charlotte is blessed with so much good, public art, but this is absolutely my favorite.

If you haven’t been, go.  You will learn a lot about color, form, and texture; and that’s what we knitters are really all about.  Also know that the Bechtler’s first curator was Michael Godfrey, a very skilled knitter and fiber artist.  His stamp is upon this place and it is a gift to us all.