Knitting efficiencies surpass shortcuts as a strategy because they really work! Your efficiencies might differ from mine, but let me walk you through a pattern, then see if you see ways to make your process more efficient in ways that work for you. I don’t know, but I love thinking about what I’m going to…
knitting
There Are No Shortcuts in Knitting
In my therapy session recently, I said, “there are no shortcuts in knitting. You have to make every stitch.” Of course that is basically true of everything in life, but it seemed something I should explore more deeply — which means I’ve been thinking about it in my free time. What? No Shortcuts? Can you…
It is a Journey, Not a Destination
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about this journey. I know it is a journey because I am always moving — not always ahead as planned but man, there is always momentum! When Mitch and I go out to walk together he is always slowing me down, reminding me that we left in plenty of…
Welcome Back, Jill!
This is a Welcome Back to me since I’ve not blogged in ages. I got so involved in writing patterns that I just didn’t have time to do much writing elsewhere. Plus, whenever I go silent, things are changing in my head, but I don’t quite know where they are going, so I don’t say…
Muscle Memory, Batching, Processes, & Focus
Did you know that batching and working through processes allow you to develop muscle memory around tasks or other things? It is why it is often suggested that you do like things at the same time. I’ve been putting together my Color of the Day posts for June. Yep, I do them all at once!…
Kitchen Scale as a Knitting Tool: Weigh the Options
Using a kitchen scale can save you from “do I have enough yarn” syndrome. I have two scales, both digital, one about 10 years sold, and another that I bought this year. The older one is about to be retired because it has become fairly unreliable and so I find myself doing all my weighing…
Sue McCain, knitwear designer
This month I’m talking to Sue McCain, the designer behind Vermont Fiber Designs, Sue’s original knitwear line and Basix, which focuses exclusively on patterns that are top-down set-in-sleeve sweaters are worked in Stockinette stitch. These monthly features of other creative businesses are a way for all of us to get to know these wonderful makers;…
Laura Patterson of Fiber Dreams
This month I’m talking to Laura Patterson, the designer behind Fiber Dreams. Fiber Dreams also sells blocking wires! These monthly features of other creative businesses are a way for all of us to get to know these wonderful makers; it has been a long-time interest of mine to explore how other creative people make their…
Tabitha of Tabitha’s Heart
This month I’m talking to Tabitha of Tabitha’s Heart. Tabitha is an adventurous knitwear designer as well as a technical editor. These monthly features of other creative businesses are a way for all of us to get to know these wonderful makers; it has been a long-time interest of mine to explore how other creative…
Tips and Techniques for Meeting Knitting Goals
I thought tips and techniques to get you to your 2017 knitting goals was in order today. I’ve got a lot of content available to you and anyone else, so here are some things I’ve written that you might be able to use now. Work in Ends (weave in ends). If you’ve been knitting,…
Unorthodox Approach to Blocking
Today Mitch caught me employing an unorthodox approach to wet blocking. I put a swatch I’ve been working on into a bath this morning, and then moved on to working on projects in my office. A while later (the water was still warm-ish), Mitch commented that he didn’t think he’d ever seen the needles go…
Arriving at the Gift-Giving Finish Line
Do you have gift-giving finish line goals? I know many of you make things for gifts, and it can get pretty stressful trying to get the finish line and the deadline to match. There is nothing worse than having to finish up after the climax is reached. Talk about anti-climactic. This is why I don’t…
