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…
knitting
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…
List Three of Indie Designers GiftALong
I am giving you list three of Indie Designers GiftALong. You should definitely get busy because there is a lot of interesting design to see in this 2017, fifth anniversary, of the Indie Designers GAL. Yesterday I put up the second list and the first was in my newsletter that went out on Tuesday. I’m up…
Carmen Nuland of A Simple Homestead
This month I’m talking to Carmen Nuland of A Simple Homestead, a crochet and knitwear designer, homesteader, crafter, maker, and all around DIY enthusiast. 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…
When Your Assumptions are Wrong
Despite all my admonitions, and the knowledge I have, I still sometimes make the wrong assumptions. Such is the case with last week’s knitting project. I really just wanted to test my calculations, but I didn’t do a gauge swatch. I am reporting this to you because I think it is easy to get cocky….
Using the Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible
The stitch patterns in The Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible book are incredible, although mostly not completely unique. If you like charted knitting patterns I think this would be $16.95 you shouldn’t hesitate to spend. If you need written instructions, you are going to be challenged. This isn’t insurmountable. but you will need to fully digest…
Alterknit: Two-Color Knitting Updated
I am not a two-color knitting person. I like it fine, but I just don’t get my best knitting feelings from it. So I do it very, very seldom. When I was offered AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary by Andrea Rangel to review I jumped at it because it is outside my usual focus. AlterKnit: A New Look…
