I’ve done some other sewing in the past 12 months, but this is my first sewing project for me, so really it is the one that counts! I pulled out my sewing machine in my determination to create a pair of jeans that would fit Mitch. That was a project that I did on Sundays…
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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;…
Yarn and Stitch Pattern, and You
We had to get to yarn and stitch pattern eventually! This pairing is what we want to solve most, but is actually a fairly difficult topic to address. I’ve been looking at the make up of yarn to better identify why some yarns work and some don’t. I’ve introduced fiber content, fiber processing, ply, twist,…
Will This Yarn Work for This Project?
The question most of us have when we pick up a yarn, or pick a project we want to make is “Will this yarn work for this”? I love to swatch, so I am always trying things out and have come up with a formula for getting a sense of a yarn, but quite honestly,…
Relationship Formula for Non-Math-y Knitters
The relationship formula is called other things, but I think if you aren’t a math person, it is better to describe what it is doing. I use it a lot: figuring new stitch counts, finding size relationship numbers, calculating yardage, weight, or other measurements. I use it so much I should have a spreadsheet for…
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…
Pattern Preferences, the Survey!
Pattern Preferences, the survey, closed yesterday. As always, I learned interesting things, some of which I thought you might be interested in knowing as well. I recognized a lot of the people who took the survey, and not surprisingly, some were other designers and tech editors who are taking or have taken courses from me….
Double Decreases and Increases Distort Fabric
Double decreases and increases and how they distort fabric sounds pretty ominous, doesn’t it? These decreases and increases are often used in knitting for texture and surface interest. They are used to create the undulations in lace, and they can do other wonderful shaping things as well. I’ve been working on a Eventide, a sweater…
Pattern Writing for Knit Designers
Kate Atherley generously sent me a copy of her book Pattern Writing for Knit Designers. I had thought about buying it when it came out in 2014, but I wasn’t quite ready to dive into redoing my patterns. Also, since I have a slightly different viewpoint than many designer on what should be included in…
Challenge Yourself To Try New Things
How often do you challenge yourself to try new things? This week I decided that I would try a different method for making the toe of a sock. I’m not completely satisfied with what I’ve done—and I can always tell when I’m not because I quit working on something, even though I want to—but by…
