Kiwi Knits

Sooo much Yarn! Soooo much Fun!!!!

2012-01-29T07:03:00.000-08:00

Take this photo of the Kiwi Knitting Shop from Christmas - multiply it by a thousand, add lots of people - shop owners, designers, vendors - and wonderful displays of garments and needlework tools and notions and you have The National Needlework Association Trade Show just held in Phoenix. Lynn describes this best:

"As I write this, the staff, teachers and I just returned from our winter trade show at the Phoenix Convention Center where we took classes by some of the best needlework teachers in the country and viewed all the new yarns, tools, and fun accoutrements for needle workers and fiber enthusiasts. Cat Bordhi, Gwen Bortner, Beth Brown-Reinsel were there to name just a few. This was a real treat since the show is usually held in California and only one or two of us can attend. Everyone came home EXCITED with new skills and projects to share with you. Although most of the staff attended only classes, Jill and Carolyn joined me on Sunday for a trip around the trade show floor. Let me warn you about shopping with these two!!! Jill and Desi had attended a “Sample It” event on Friday night so Jill was armed with new tools and yarn that I should investigate and ushered me to several great booths – of course I had to order. On the way across the floor there was eye-candy everywhere – resulting in several other orders. We had so much fun & hope that you will enjoy the new classes and products coming to Kiwi this spring!"

Carolyn and I are still jazzed about everything we saw and the samples we brought home with us. I am spinning the samples of fiber we collected - gorgeous colors: the yarns - fabulous - no time to "taste" these yet. We even have a notebook collection of one skein lace designs by The Fickle Knitter. There are three designs in there I want to knit now! Ask to see patterns the next time you are in the shop. So inspiring to see all of this and take classes too!

And speaking of classes:

One of our Kiwi regulars is going to Cat Bordhi's spring retreat this year. She wanted more after attending Cat's classes here. There are a few spaces still open. Here is the link if you are interested:

http://catbordhi.com/workshops-events/march18-23-25-30-and-april-1-6-2012-island-knitting-retreats-in-friday-harbor-wa/

Check this blog next week for details on Kiwi's very own Sock Summit the second week in February.

Comments, experiences with knitting conferences, retreats and classes are welcome.

Where does yarn come from?

2012-01-11T11:14:00.001-08:00

Sheep, of course! And alpaca, llama, cashmere goats, mohair goats, angora rabbits, musk ox, yak, and even buffalo. And those are just some of the sources of animal fiber. There is a similar litany of cellulose fibers with cotton and linen the most well-known. But sheep give us the wonderful wool so perfect for knitting - forgiving, resilient, soft, strong, absorbent and insulating. Don't you think that is what this sheep is saying?

This is a Churro sheep from the Canyon Wren Ranch in Arizona, photo courtesy of the Tucson Handweavers and Spinners Guild. The Dine (AKA Navajo) have used Churro wool for centuries to spin and weave their beautiful rugs. Churro wool yarn can be found in breed specific yarns.

Knitters are less likely to use Churro as it can be coarse. We gravitate to luscious Merino, lustrous Blue Faced Leister, soft Targhee, sturdy Corriedale. These are some of the breed specific yarns available now at wool festivals and online. Merino has led the way and has been in yarn stores for years where lace knitters seek it out as their preferred yarn. As knitters become even more discerning, we may choose Corriedale for sweaters, Romney for jackets, 3-ply Merino/silk blends for socks- tailoring the best features of the sheep breed to our knitting.

The National Needlework Association will be held later this week. It will be interesting to see if there are more breed specific yarns for the market this year. No doubt there will be new and even more beautiful yarns and goodies for knitters. Check out your local yarn shop in the coming weeks to see what is in store for us.

Book Signing at Kiwi Kniting with Antje Gillingham

Antje Gillingham will be in Tucson at Kiwi Knitting, Tuesday, January 24th from 3-4 pm to sign her book Knitting Circles Around Socks. It is always interesting and informative to meet and talk with authors. It is especially nice to have them in town with us. Going to conferences out of town is fun but they can be crowded and hectic. Our local shop allows us more time and conversation with visiting authors and designers. See you there.

Knitting Resolutions or Rules

2012-01-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

Resolution #1: Spend more time at Kiwi Knitting Company.

In case you are new to Tucson and/or have not been to Kiwi Knitting, the shop is located on the south side of 6th Street, a bit east of Tucson Blvd and across the street from the parking lot for Rincon Market. There are only three parking spaces in the front of Kiwi but much more in the back. There is a driveway beside the shop on the east side to the back. The back door is usually open so you don't have to walk around to the front. There are lots of ways to spend time - shop, take classes, come for Monday Knit Night or Second Saturday Sock Group, or just hang out surrounded by yarn and knitters.

Kendra, a Kiwi teacher, suggests: How about recuperating from the holiday crush with some nice, soothing garter stitch. There are lots of patterns, starting with almost anything Elizabeth Zimmerman. The Stripe Study shawl was popular this year. A survey of Ravelry may give you more leads.

More Knitting Resolutions

I am not sure these are resolutions as much as rules. Either way I have resolved to stick to them this new year with an excuse clause that allows for flexibility and forgiveness if needed for health and sanity.

Resolution #2: No more than five knitting projects in progress at one time.
That means once there are five projects going one must be finished before starting a new one. This resolution usually works until seduced by a pattern or yarn or the need for a gift. Then it works to keep the projects at no more than six- usually.

Resolution #3: Evaluate any UFO i.e unfinished object that has been untouched for too long.
"Too long" is undetermined but can be assessed by a feeling of a long time. The evaluation determines if the UFO should be finished, unraveled or re-designed. One of these actions should be taken immediately once the decision is made.

Resolution #4: Buy quality yarn.
Staying within a budget is important in today's economy so shop sales. Knitting requires a lot of hands-on time with yarn. This time will be more enjoyable and the end product better if the yarn is lovely, appropriate for the project, great color or colores and a joy to handle while watching the project grow. This principle applies to knitting needles and knitting notions too.

Resolution #5: Get organized.
It is always nice to know what you have and where to find it. Re-organizing seems to be necessary at frequent intervals too. It almost seems like the yarn shuffles itself around and multiplies.

Resolution #6: Start with the stash first for patterns and yarns.
Then supplement with new yarns or a new pattern as needed. A good excuse for going shopping at the local yarn shop.

Resolution #7: Always have a mindless project in progress and one that is more challenging. Mindless projects are great for those times when the mind is not fresh or there is some distraction. Challenging projects keep the mind engaged and learning and are perfect for quiet focused time when less errors are made.

Resolution #8: Take knitting classes.
There is always something new to learn - techniques, color combinations, designs, finishing, beginning, embellish, fitting and on and on. At the very least it might be what is not appealing or a better way.

Upcoming Classes at Kiwi Knitting

In keeping with the resolution on taking classes, here are some of the classes this month at Kiwi's. For more details see the classes in the newsletter on the Kiwi website.

1 Color Brioche - January 13th

Lace Elements - January 17th

Cast Ons- January 25th

Entrelac Hobo Bag- January 31st & February 7th

Lace Scarf- January 24th & 31st

Mariposa Shawlette-January 9th, 16th & 23rd

Socks Your Way-January 10th, 24th & 31st

Swirl Jacket-January 14th, 28th & February 11th

Lace Anyone?

Scarf to be knitted in the Lace Scarf class:

A Vintage Christmas and Knitting Dog Sweaters

2011-12-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here. We wish you peaceful knitting, joy in the season and time to enjoy friends and family.

Here are some very special vintage Christmas postcards from Carolyn Webb. Although this first one does not say "knitting" all knitters will know the sentiment.

For the dog lovers among us, here are some photos from the Dog Sweater classes at Kiwi Knitting by Brigid Connolly. These are very lucky dogs. They are most likely enjoying their new sweaters this holiday season. I love the way Brigid has captioned the pictures. See her thoughts about the class, dogs and dog fashion below.

Lynne instructs the dogs; Maddie approves the plan; Juan supervises.

Measuring reluctant puppy; Wrangling dogs & knitters; Darcy helping Lily knit

Bulldog or bulldozer; KC modeling his sweater; Darcy too sexy for his sweater

People always tell me that their dog doesn’t like to wear sweaters, even if it’s really cold. I ask them what kind of sweater and invariably it’s an off the rack, one size fits none, synthetic thing that is in whatever random color was available. Dogs like to look good, they know when they look silly or shabby. Don’t believe me? How does your dog act after grooming or a bath? Try telling your canine friend that he/she is ‘Oh so cute’ and see how your best friend reacts. Even a kerchief around his neck gets the ‘show off’ going in most dogs. There is no such thing as a ‘standard dog’ so those off the rack sweaters won’t do for the great variety of sizes and shapes that dogs come in.

My custom dog sweater class solves canine hypothermia and is great fun for dogs and their people. Dogs are required to attend the first class in the series of three. Their people learn to measure them, find appropriate fibers and weights for their canine comfort and discover the dog’s ‘power color’ in preparation for making a unique, well fitted and comfortable sweater for their four footed pals.

We, (knitters and dogs) have had great times, lots of laughs, yummy treats, puppy wrestling, bark attacks, endless sniffing during the classes. Incidentally, we have learned a lot about knitting techniques, design and dog preferences and everyone has ended up with a lovely bespoke dog sweater for their best buddy.

As you can see from the pictures, most dogs took the class seriously and reveled in the attention. It was hard to say who socialized more the humans or their pets, but all in all, it was a blast! I look forward to future chances to teach knitters and clothe our canine friends comfortably. Brigid Connolly

Knitting for the Holidays

2011-12-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Kiwi Knitting Shop

The holidays always bring memories of friends, family and past times. Knitting is usually part of the holidays too. We are either knitting for gifts, knitting decorations or knitting just to relax and enjoy the music and movies of the season. We would love to post any holiday knitting stories you are willing to share.

Here is one from Kendra, a Kiwi teacher:
My family, since we reached "adulthood", have gotten a little more relaxed about holiday deadlines. We often give a photo of an intended gift, cleverly disquised by being wrapped in a nice box with pretty paper and ribbons. Sometimes we even indulge in picture-grams. More particular to knitting projects, we have given a partially completed project with a certificate that promises to complete the project. The idea is that you can double your gift giving pleasure and your gift recipient's delight by letting them know you are working on a special project for them and delivering the project later. It may help to reduce that holiday angst that comes from having taken on too much. Even the Yarn Harlot doesn't finish everything on her list on time.

A Bit of History: Grace Coolidge and her Knitting by Carolyn Webb, Kiwi Staff

I have long been interested in the history of knitting (and other textiles), and over the past few years have developed a power point talk with several tables of vintage tools, knitted and crocheted vintage pieces, magazines and books, pictures, and other items. It is a fascinating history, one mixed with our own social history throughout. There are many interesting books on the history of knitting in America, especially Susan Strawn's excellent Knitting America, a wonderful collection of historical information, pictures, patterns, and much more. Another very interesting book is No Idle Hands, The Social History of American Knitting, by Anne L. Macdonald.

Piecework Magazine, published by Interweave Press, is another wonderful resource for interesting historical articles on knitting and other needlearts. One knitter Piecework has featured is Grace Coolidge, the wife of President Coolidge. (See: Piecework, issues July/August 1999 and January/February 2011).

Grace Coolidge was an excellent knitter and needleworker, including petit-point, needlepoint, and crochet. The Coolidges were from Vermont, and later lived in western Massachusetts, and Grace could be seen knitting on the porch. Like many knitters of her era, she entered her knitting in fairs, and won prizes for her beautiful work. Grace learned to knit and sew when she was five. To quote her autobiography: "In the sitting room my workbasket fitted with its tiny thimble and round-pointed scissors had a place beside my mother's. I have heard her say that I sewed on buttons before I could walk."

Grace graduated from the University of Vermont in 1902, and moved to Northampton, Massachusetts to teach at the Clarke School for the Deaf (now called Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech). It was in Northampton that she met Calvin Coolidge, who was then Mayor of Northampton. There is a funny story of Grace working outside in the yard, looking up at a boarding house window across the street. In the window she saw Calvin Coolidge in his long underwear and hat, shaving in front of a mirror. She laughed out loud, he noticed, and that was the beginning of their courtship. Grace and Calvin Coolidge married in 1905. Coolidge went on to be a Massachusetts state representative, lieutenant governor, governor, and Vice President, and then President of the U.S. from 1923 - 1929. Throughout her life, Grace continued to knit,crochet and create beautiful needlework. She also loved baseball, and even after she had a TV, she preferred to listen to games on the radio, using her imagination to see the game. And, she knit while listening! She knit while riding on trains, traveling with her husband, and, it seems, every chance she could.

The January/February 2011 issue of Piecework focuses on a beautiful knitted counterpane she made, after receiving a fragment of an earlier one. Grace wrote an article accompanying the pattern in the November 21, 1926 New York Harold Tribune, explaining how she happened upon the pattern. Another article accompanying Grace's stated "it was falling to pieces and only an expert like Mrs. Coolidge could copy its intricate design, for hers is no mechanical occupation, but the skill of an artist." The Piecework issue also has the counterpane pattern included. Grace's pattern called for needles that are no longer made. They would have been between a size 0000 and 00000.

The other Piecework article (July/August 1999) has other examples of Grace's work, including a petit-point pillow and a wonderful needlepointed carpetbag. It also shows the Official White house portrait of Grace Coolidge with her dog, a beautiful portrait of Grace in a red velvet dress. After retiring from the White House, she wrote: "Every girl should be taught to sew, not merely
for the sake of making something but as an accomplishment which may prove a stabilizer in time of perplexity or distress. Many a time when I have needed to hold myself firmly, I have taken my needle, it might be a sewing needle, some knitting needles, or a crochet hook; whatever its form or purpose it often proved to be as the needle of the compass, keeping me to the course."

"Grace's needlework undoubtedlyserved to keep her to the course’ in 1924 when her sixteen-year-old son, Calvin, Jr., died of blood poisoning from an infected blister sustained while playing tennis on the white House lawn. To distract herself, Grace undertook a new project: to design a filet crochet coverlet for the Lincoln bed in the White House. She experimented, crocheting bit by bit until she was satisfied with a motif." She finished the coverlet in 1927, and wrote, "This coverlet for the Lincoln bed has been made by the wife of the thirtieth President of the United States, stitch by stitch and square by square, with the hope that each mistress of the President's House will leave there some token which shall go down through the ages to serve as a definite and visible link connecting the present and the past."

Grace Coolidge was elegant and charming, and knew that "needlework was a valuable skill, not only for its practical purpose but also for its ability to beautify and soothe life." I know all of us knitters and needleworkers couldn't agree with her more.

Carolyn Webb

All of us knitters, no doubt, can relate to this. Knitting is always there, always a comfort at hand.

Knitting Classes Extraordinaire

2011-11-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

At Kiwi Knitting last weekend we were treated to some extraordinary knitting classes by Cat Bordhi Magical Moebius Knitting, Finding the Fountain of Fresh Knitting Ideas and New Pathways for Sock Knitters. I was delighted to be able to attend two of them.

Finding the Fountain of Fresh Knitting Ideas was a ton of fun. We combined design elements using random numbers and were challenged with planning a knittable garment. It was not only helpful to work together but increased the flow of ideas as we were inspired by each other's ideas and suggestions. The generation of ideas was in full flow when we invented the life story of an almost real person based on simple objects found in almost anyone's home. The stories were fascinating and poignant. Just goes to show what you can do with the mundane. Designs are everywhere.

New Pathways for Sock Knitters was all about the architectures of knitting socks that Cat Bordhi is known for - really amazing. There so many ways Cat has created to accomplish the same thing - a sock that is easier and more fun to knit and better fitting. She is also very generous. Check out her website for links to tutorials showing some of her wonderful heels and Cat's demonstration of Judy's Magic Cast-On - perfect for toe up socks.

All the photos were taken at the Fresh Ideas class by Linda McKittrick. Cat Bordhi shown teaching, smiling with Linda and Lynn, owner of Kiwi. The rest are students in a rare moment of seriousness.

I highly recommend all of her books and any of her classes. Now I have a host of projects ideas. Is there such a thing as a stash of ideas?

To all the Kiwi students to Cat Bordhi's classes - please post comments to the blog. We would love to hear from you.

Back Issues Anyone?
Did you know there back issues of magazines at Kiwi Knitting? Even better - they are 15% off until December 31st! Here is what is available:

Knitters: Fall 2005; Winter 2007; Spring 2008; Summer 2008; Fall 2009; Winter 2010; K#102 2011
Rebecca: NR 27, NR 42
Debbie Bliss: Fall 2010, Winter 2010
Knitting Traditions: Winter 2010
Knit 'n Style:October 2011, August 2011
Knit.1: Spring 2007
Knit Simple: Winter 2005; Winter 2007; Winter 2008; Fall 2009; Spring 2010; Summer 2010; Spring 2011; Winter 2011
Vogue: Fall 2006; Winter 2007; Holiday 2007; Winter 2008; Fall 2010; Winter 2010; Early Fall 2011; Winter 2011
SpinOff: Fall 2007; Winter 2007; Summer 2008; Fall 2008; Winter 2008; Spring 2009; Summer 2009; Fall 2010; Winter 2010; Summer 2011
Interweave Knits: Fall 2006; Summer 2008; Winter 2008; Summer 2009; Fall 2009; Winter 2009; Spring 2010; Summer 2010; Summer 2011
Interweave Felt: Special Issue 2008
Interweave Crochet: Spring 2008; Summer 2008; Fall 2008; Summer 2009; Fall 2009; Winter 2009; Summer 2010; Fall 2010; Winter 2010; Spring 2011; Summer 2011

Meet the Staff at Kiwi Knitting
Deborah Levine: Deborah has been beading since childhood and teaching since elementary school. She enjoys designing stitches, and improving her techniques to help students learn more easily. She especially enjoys watching students conquer new things and making beautiful jewelry that they had not previously imagined.

They're Here... the holidays that is. Are you knitting yet?

2011-11-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

It seems early, doesn't it. I feel a bit jarred when I hear a Christmas commercial since it is weeks away. But maybe the retailers have it right. Either that or time is in the fast lane. I have dreams of leisure time to knit for the holidays, watch Christmas movies, enjoy the Christmas lights and decorations and listen to holiday music. It never happens - or definitely not leisurely. It seems that they are here and gone in a blink of a eye and frantically at that.

Well, we can still wish. I wish you lots of knitting time while watching movies and enjoying friends and family. Some of us at Kiwi's will be working on what we learn in Cat Bordhi's classes this coming weekend. There are even more classes coming up. See the newsletter or come by the shop and pick one up. Stay for a relaxing moment or two.

Kiwi Knitting News:

Did you know that there are back issues of knitting magazines available at Kiwi Knitting? A list will be coming soon.

Owner, Lynn Davis, was surprised this week with a book called Knit One, Purl a Prayer: a Spirituality of Knitting". This book includes two Kiwi Klub patterns and comments from an interview with Brigid Connolly. It is dedicated to Lynn!! as well as the owner of the author's other favorite yarn store in Rochester, New York. Look for a book signing event soon when copies of the book arrive in the shop!

The yarn storming is still in progress on the bicycle at Kiwi's. Here are some of the new additions- Daisy Spokes and an R2D2 Banner. See if you can find the tiny gnome. There is still space for more if you are feeling a little rebellion coming on and want to join the yarn storm.

Meet the Staff and Teachers at Kiwi Knitting:

Desi Leotaud: Hi. I have worked at Kiwi for several years but have not been around much in the last two years due to life happening. I am a late thirty-something with two active young kids -three years old and 21 months- and a wonderful husband. We are all native to Tucson and southern Arizona. In the summer months I sit out by a pool and help a friend with private swim lessons by day and am a knitter by night. In the winter months I am a knitter every chance I get day and night. The best thing about working at Kiwi besides all the wonderful yarn? - All the wonderful knitters I get to meet and knit with. See you on Fridays.

Kendra McNally: I was raised in Tucson (in the house where I now live). I went to the Northwestern University and vowed I would never be that cold again. I went to law school at the University of Arizona, spent two years practicing law in Casa Grande, then moved to Los Angeles where I was a federal prosector for 30 years. When I retired, I moved back to Tucson as fast as my feet would carry me. I was taught knitting as a small child by my Great Aunt Mary who was originally from Ireland. I lost interest (acrylic socks in Tucson were not a hit.) Then I started knitting again when I wanted a portable hobby to fill all those communting hours in California. I started teaching after retirement when I showed Lynn one of the the eight Kousa Dogwood shawls I have knit. She asked me if I would teach a class on that. I gulped and said yes. When one of Lynn's teachers moved out of state I was asked to teach more classes. I gulped again and said yes again. After all, I'm still learning myself. The good people at Kiwi have been tolerant of my learning curve and I have found a great community of knitters in a friendly space created by Lynn. I go every year to the Knitter's Review Retreat, have been to both Sock Summits and two TKGA converntions. My two most used teaching phrases are: "Breathe" and "It's yarn, not blood".

Not So Scary Halloween Knitting

2011-10-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!
This is the fun side of Halloween - the decorating, the silly, funny parts, like a knitted Halloween scene. This scene was inspired by a book - Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi: More than 40 itty-bitty minis to knit, wear, and give by Anna Hrachovec. The teeny ghosts are great and the tiny cactus too. And then, it grew from there.

Maybe you would like to create your own little scene or vignettes - send photos, please. Or just give away the little guys for gifts, decorations, more inspiration. The books are available at Kiwi Knitting and the little ghosts and pumpkins will be there until Halloween.

Credits and Details:

The ghosts, cactus, pumpkin and cat were knit by Jill, the blog editor. The pumpkin is not in the book but based on many of the techniques there. The cat was an original design based on one of my cats.

The adobe house and the coyotes are from a group project created by The Spinning Study Group of the Tucson Handweavers and Spinners Guild, a Fiber Community, as a challenge to make a toy of handspun yarn. The "toy" grew to become a collection in an Arizona style late 1800s miniature ranch affectionately known as "The Ranch". Sharon Ewing designed, spun and knit the adobe house. Yani Gudenkauf created the two coyotes (hiding at the corner of the adobe house) from her handspun yarn, designing them on the knitting needles. Anne Fletcher handspun, designed, crafted and crocheted the vineyards just visible behind the house. There are many more items in The Ranch contributed by 25 members of the guild. For more information about The Ranch see the December 2009 issue of SpinOff magazine by Interweave Press. Also The Ranch is displayed at the County Fair and other venues when requested. Tucson Handweavers and Spinners Guild or Kiwi Knitting will have information when it is to be displayed again.

For some perspective, here are the teeny-tiny ghosts, pumpkin, etc with a quarter and a ruler. The gnome is not in the Halloween scene but is on the yarn stormed bicycle at Kiwi Knitting.

New Feature: Meet the Teachers and Staff at Kiwi Knitting

Carolyn Webb: "Although I'm an "equal opportunity fiber lover", knitting was my first love. My mother taught me how to knit when I was about 10. At about 19 I began knitting in earnest, and have been at it ever since. I enjoy knitting just about everything, but no longer make sweaters as I used to(no need out here!). Shawls, socks, vests, hats, mitts, neckwarmers, etc. And, like many knitters, there is an endless list of the items I hope to knit, including a large, fine, lace shawl. I have taught children to knit, which I think is very fun. Felting is another love. I like to nuno-felt especially, and teach felting. This past year, I acquired a beautiful, hand-made floor loom, so weaving is again in the picture. Another area I'm particularly interested in is the history of knitting and crochet, and vintage books and patterns. I've amassed quite a collection of vintage books, patterns, and knitted and crocheted items and tools over the years, and occasionally give a talk on this subject. And then there is spinning....well, there's just not enough time in life, but I do my best to try and fit it all in!! I'm happy to be spending a few hours a week at Kiwi, amongst all the fiber and color and friendly people!"

Jill Holbrook: "It has long been my dream to work in a yarn shop. I am thrilled to say I am working at Kiwi's! For now just a few hours every other week but I will be working a bit more and teaching starting in January. I love yarn and color and knitting. My favorite knitting is lace and Fair Isle, but I enjoy almost everything in knitting. I have been knitting since I was 13 years old and it felt like I always knew how. I also spin and weave and crochet and these did not come so easily. Weaving is hard to fit into a busy life as it is not so portable but spinning is my way to relax and something I do almost daily just like knitting. Teaching is another love as I enjoy passing along my passions to others. There are so many fiber journeys ahead!"

A Little Knitting Idea and a Few Hints

2011-10-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

Isn't there an expression that need is the mother of invention? Not that my idea is so grand as an invention but need (or desire) certainly spawned it.

I love the T shirts by Sabaku. They are truly artwork and lovely. I have more than several. The last few I bought were cropped T shirts. I wore them but I was never comfortable with how short they are. The idea of adding a knitted edge just popped into my mind. This is the second one I have done and by far the most successful. I have received numerous compliments on it so thought I would pass along the idea.

T

The edging is called Cockleshell from The Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker. I added a faggot stitch to the straight edge. The yarn is a handpainted silk yarn by Robin Pascal. I chose it more for the colors but it does have a wondeful drape. It is sewn on using sewing thread in a whip stitch on the very edge of the shirt.

If you decide to do something similar here are my hints. (1) Pick an edging like this one that is worked to the length - not one that you have to start with the length. That way you can start sewing the edging on the shirt and add to the knitting as needed. (2) Work in two pieces and leave the sides open. This drapes better and is easier then putting the edging all the way around and sewing or grafting the beginning to the end. (3) Choose a yarn that is compatible with the way you wash the T-shirt, that is, cotton, rayon, silk. bamboo since the T-shirt is cotton. You could probably use a silk/wool blend. I have been washing mine on the delicate cycle and drying it on gentle in the dryer.

We would love to see pictures of your edgings and how you use them. Also all ideas and hints are welcome too

Have fun.
Jill

Yarn Storming

Yarn bombing/storming/grafitti is a world wide phenonmenon. There have been various articles and even books written about the subject. A group of Kiwi customers have organized to beautify Tucson with the pictured bike now on display at Kiwi. Eventually you may see it around town. A Big Thanks to The Ordinary Bike Shop for donating the bicycle! (The Ordinary Bike Shop is on 7th St. one block west of 4th Avenue.) You can join in the fun by coming by Kiwi and signing up for a part to decorate. We have yarn available or pick something you would love to get rid of from your stash!

Lynn Davis

Kiwi Knitting Company. LCC

2540 E. 6th Street

Tucson, Arizona 85716

(520)881-1319

A New Beginning

2011-09-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

We're Back...Well, Kiwi Knits Blog is back. I'm Jill and I am new to the blog. Lynda was really great at this but she is now a full time student at the University of Arizona. I cannot replace her but will do my best to make this interactive and informative.

Fall is a good time for a beginning. Fall was when I learned to knit. I was 12 years old and I signed up for an elective afternoon knitting class. Knitting seemed very easy until I made my first mistake—a ridge across a field of ribbing. My neighbor helped me out in more ways than one. On my way to her house I dropped the ball of yarn I had tucked under my arm. It unrolled in the snow all the way from my front door to hers. She helped me gather up the yarn and dry it and fix the mistake all in one lovely afternoon. I think she is at least one of the reasons I love knitting.

Do you have a story about learning to knit you would like to share? I will post as many as I can.

Next up, Lynn!
All the best,
Jill

Welcome back to the Kiwi Blog!
It is exciting to be reopening this venue with a slightly new focus. Here is a place where we hope you will enjoy sharing expertise, inspiration & learning. We’ll document events and keep you informed. Jill Holbrook has signed on as the blog manager but won’t be the only expert.Kiwi teachers and employees will share their experiences. Jill & I invite you to participate, too. Tell us what you like or dislike, information you’d like to know, and celebrate your successes with us.

I know Jill has something planned to begin our journey but first I thought it would be fun to share pictures from some of the activities of the past couple years:

Christmas 2009 & 2010 – Make-A-Hat Days. This year, we’ll make hats, scarves and mittens for the homeless.

Carolyn’s Felted Bead Workshop

Cast of “Cats” takes classes.

Dyeing Class

Thanks for visiting Kiwi

A Few Announcements

2009-09-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

You will be as delighted as I was to hear that Lynn's latest grandson was born yesterday morning, Monday, the 31st of August. His name is Wesley Dirk Debbinks and he weighed in at 7 lb., 15 oz. He was born to Lynn's son Brian and his wife, after what sounds like a long process. I am so happy to hear of his safe delivery, and that the parents are doing just fine! Join me in congratulating the family!

This fall I'm taking four more credit hours than I did during the spring semester, and with just one week into the semester so far, I can already tell that it is going to be very busy. As I said to Lynn on the phone yesterday morning, the best time to yell for help is before the waves close over your head. Consequently, I'm going to be taking some time off of Knit Doctor for a few months. I will certainly miss everyone--getting to be part of your projects and your knitting journey for the last few years has meant a lot to me. It has been my privilege, and I've learned a lot in the process. Best wishes to all my regulars and not-as-regulars, and keep in touch!

In the same vein, I'll also be taking some time off from writing the blog. When school is so busy I find that I have very little time to knit, and my inspiration for blog topics has always come from the projects I have worked on. I may pop in from time to time, or Lynn may find someone to take up the reins--we left all of that open for the time being. Again, I'll miss being part of your knitting life, and I want to thank all of you for your support and your readership in the last two years.

Best wishes to you all, and goodbye--for now!

Lynda

New At Kiwi

2009-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Lynn tells me that the shop is getting boxes of new things in every day, getting ready for fall. Here is some of what I found when I was there last...

A big box of yarn all set for Knit A Hat Day.

Mini Mochi, a new sock yarn from Crystal Palace. It has a content of 80% merino and 20% nylon. It's machine washable, and one colorway is already sold out! Each ball is 50 grams, you will need two balls for the average pair of adult socks.

Wonderful little tool cases from Namaste, in gorgeous colors. Let's just say that there's one less green one at the shop.

The inside of the lid is magnetized. There is a lift-off layer, and then more space underneath, with a magnetized bottom.

Design It, Knit It by Debbie Bliss. Not only has wonderful patterns as you would expect form Debbie Bliss, but also several great design tips. A must for Debbie Bliss fans and those who want to play with sweater design for adults and children.

Knit One, Bead Too. I love beaded knits, and this is going on my wish list.

Booties, Blankets and Bears, also by Debbie Bliss.

Knitting From the North Sea. Gorgeous patterns, the lace shawl on the cover looks wonderful.

New Twists on Twinned Knitting. Another great way to use color in knitting.

Knitted Edges and Trims. The perfect way to add a custom finish to your garments.

Sensational Slippers. Now, haven't I been nagging you about starting your holiday knitting now?

Then there are two samples of some knitting by a couple of Knit Dr regulars, JoJo and Dee. They are making scarves using the Knit One Below technique. Dee's is a beautiful blend of neutrals. Note how pretty the back of the fabric is.

JoJo, who loves color, is using a combination of pinks.

Please pardon the lack of excessive prose this week, I've hurt my right wrist again from overuse, and am wearing a splint as we speak, and having to ice it twice a day!

Sock Summit

2009-08-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

As many of you may already know, this weekend is the first if what one hopes will be many years of an ongoing tradition: Sock Summit. Held in Portland, OR., Sock Summit is the equivalent of Shangri-la to legions of sock knitters.

It was/is organized by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, better known as the Yarn Harlot, and Tina Newton of Blue Moon Fiber Arts. It sounds like one of those casual ideas that you'd toss into conversation, which then turned into a monster on steroids. Tina and Stephanie expected a larger response than the people they were dealing with did. It sounded as though those who deal with the other end of conferences thought that they were crazy when the two of them said that they expected a good response. What they didn't expect, however, was that when they were finally open for online registration, there was such an overwhelming number of people trying to register all at the same time, that all the servers crashed. That's a lot of excited sock knitters!

They have AMAZING teachers at this conference, with equally astounding classes. Including Kiwi's Heather Ordover who is teaching three classes. Big names from Barbara Walker to Cat Bordhi. Cookie A, Nancy Bush, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, Sivia Harding, Lucy Neatby, Meg Swanson! Wow! To breathe THAT air!

One of my friends through the knitting lists and Facebook is Judy Sumner, whose new sock knitting book based on Japanese stitch patterns, Knitted Socks East and West has just been released. Judy wrote yesterday that she wished we could have been there to see all of the knitters stand up and applaud Barbara Walker when she came in. We all, as knitters, owe Barbara Walker more than we can ever possibly imagine.

And then there are the vendors! Geeze Louise! Everyone you can think of, and a lot you haven't come across yet.

There are events such as the opening night reception, the Sock Hop, the Luminary Panel. Have you ever heard of a conference with a swift and ball-winder area? Shipping from right there at the conference center? These ladies know how to shop! I'm getting light headed just thinking about it.

Check out the website, do some fantasy shopping and classes. Imagine yourself there next year. Hmmm... Maybe a Tucson contingent, traveling together?

New at Kiwi

2009-08-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Is she cute or what? And that sweet little cardi! Well, Kiwi has the greatest new yarn, and the idea is so wonderful that I found myself looking at it and trying to think of babies to knit for!

It's called Cotton Kisses and it's from Plymouth Yarns. A machine washable cotton/acrylic/nylon blend. Sound good so far?

Not only does it come with two free patterns--for a cardi and a pullover--but it also comes with three free buttons! All you need to add is the needles and a pair of knitting hands. I think this is a fantastic idea. There are times when you need a quick gift for a soon-to-be Mom, and this would be ideal. The knitted fabric is very soft and cuddly, and the yarn comes in several great baby colors. I'm thinking of picking one of these up to add to my stash, for quick gift-making in emergencies.

Also in the baby room, Lynn has added a charity sales corner. This area has many different odds and ends--yarns, needles, books--the sales of which will be donated to charity. Check it out when you are next in the store!

Two new books that are in and getting quite a buzz are Knitting in the Sun, by Kristi Porter, and Knitted Gifts, by Ann Budd. Last time I was at Kiwi several knitters where leafing through both books and really loving the patterns. And you know how I love to start gift knitting now so that I can actually enjoy the holidays without pressure? Uh-huh.

So come on in and enjoy the air-conditioned comfort and the company of lovely knitters. There's lots new at Kiwi Knitting!

Crochet Cast-On

2009-08-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

Let's go to the movies while I show you how to work the Crochet Cast-On.

The Crochet cast-on is wonderful for several reasons, all of which I know I have mentioned here before. It makes a great cast-on when you are knitting a project that will have all 4 edges visible. Because it matches the classic bind-off, if you also work a slipped stitch edge of both side edges, you will finish with a result that has all four edges matching. I also like to use it when I am going to leave the cast-on edge plain without adding any finishing later, or when I am going to add a finish to the edge later, but haven't yet decided what I'll do (it's very easy to do a crochet edging from later).

It also makes a perfect provisional cast-on. Provisional cast-ons are for those times when you will want to come back later and knit from your cast-on edge in the other direction. I've worked a couple of shawl patterns where the pattern starts at the center of the shawl, and is knitted from the center to the outer edge. After doing this, you then pick up sts from the provisional cast-on, and repeat the pattern to knit the remaining end. Or, as I showed you recently, when I wanted to make a smoother bottom edge to the 'Flow' pattern by Norah Gaughan.

You'll want a set of knitting needles, a crochet hook one size smaller than your needles, and yarn that suits your needle size.

Ready?

Click Here!

Introducing mac knits Knitting Bags!!

2009-07-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

I will admit that there are times, as I plow my way through returning to college at the age of nevermind, when I am lacking in inspiration for subjects to bring to you here on the blog. For the most part, I write about what I am doing. Unfortunately, when my brain is taken up with Italian verbs or English grammar or algebraic equations, there aren't many brain cells left over for knitting at the end of the day. I have found myself deliberately doing projects that don't challenge my brain--quite the reverse of my usual modus operandi.

So when I am at Kiwi on alternate Friday's to play Knit Doctor, I like to trawl the shop with my camera, looking at what's new, and what's inspiring. I always find something. This week's find, however, is especially exciting!

If you have spent more than five minutes at Kiwi Knitting in the last 4 years, you know Marianne. Teacher extraordinaire, designer, brilliant technician. Marianne and I first met when we worked together years ago at another shop that has long since closed. When I found Kiwi Knitting just after Lynn opened, I called Marianne and told her to come on down and talk to Lynn about working and teaching here. Marianne had been very generous to me and I wanted a way to pay her back for that great generosity. I also knew that future Kiwi-ers would benefit greatly from Marianne's font of knowledge and experience. She would have found Kiwi on her own, I know, but I like to think that in some way my phone call has repaid a little of that generosity. But what I write here and show you today has nothing to do with debt, and everything to do with delight.

You may already know that Marianne has been designing and teaching under the umbrella of her mac knits label. Now she brings wonderful knitting bags to the mix. I've sewn since the age of five so I appreciate great craftsmanship, and you wouldn't expect anything less from Marianne. "Good enough" is never good enough for her, she only turns out "perfect" products, no matter if it is knitting, sewing or designing, and these bags fall right in line with that philosophy.

First of all, who better to design knitting bags than a life-long knitter and seamstress? Take a look at this first bag here, the messenger bag.

Really pretty, right? Fresh-looking fabric, contemporary design. Then, as I always do, take a look inside. That is where you really see the quality of a product. These bags are not only lined, but the linings coordinate with the outer fabrics in a really lovely way. Marianne says, "I am...striving for function. There are pockets in all the bags and a piece of elastic tacked down to slip your needle tips into: no more poking needles thru the bag!" The pockets faces are thick and cushy. Instead of just a single layer of fabric as with most bags, these are not only double layered, but also have a layer of batting in between to make them very sturdy and solid. The insides of the bags are finished beautifully, I know I'd be showing them off to everyone who admired my bag.

I asked Marianne to tell me more about her bags and what inspired them. "One of the reasons I am doing this is because I see many great choices online for bags but not available locally. So, I thought I would make them myself."

mac knits bags come in a really nice variety of sizes and styles, and I suspect we are seeing just the tip of the iceberg. "I am focusing on lots of little sock bag types that are fun to carry. So far, every one that I've carried has gotten tons of compliments."

Marianne tells me, "I don't like bags that look like old sofa cushions!" [Lynda's note: I find that a really funny comment. I hadn't thought about it, but she's right!] "There are so many great fabric designers out there to choose from. I am trying for the middle of the road but I will definitely do quirky or kitschy such as the one with dogs or an upcoming design with pigs."

"I also know that I get bored quickly with my project bags (and sometimes my projects) and I just want a little something new," Marianne says. Personally, I think knitting bags should be like any other accessory--you should be able to change them out not only from project to project, but also depending on what you're wearing that day, if you want to. Why should they be non-fashion? Clearly, Marianne agrees.

"Additionally," Marianne says, "seasonal fabrics. We used to change our purses with the seasons when we lived in colder climates. No rattan in mid-December, so I will be offering styles in wool fabric and linen as an example. For interest, a little appliqué or hand embroidered design will appear!"

Marianne also tells me that "I really want these bags to function so am open to suggestions or wishes." She is also open to doing custom designs at her discretion.

In addition to styles found at Kiwi Knitting, mac knits bags will also be available at Marianne's etsy site.

It's hard for me not to be selfish when I look at wonderful bags like these, I want a fistful for myself! But I also know a few knitters that I buy birthday and holiday gifts for. And I know what they are getting this year!

Crochet Cast-On as a Provisional Cast-On

2009-07-25T17:41:00.000-07:00

There are any number of reasons why I like the Crochet Cast-on. It's wonderful when I am starting with an edge that is not going to be finished further later on in the project, or if I am not sure of how I want to finish my edge later and want to keep my options open. Excellent when I am making something like a scarf, shawl or blanket where all 4 edges are going to show in the finished piece, and I want them all to match. It is also pretty darned handy when I want to use it for a provisional cast-on.

I'm making the Flow tank top by Norah Gaughan, in Berroco Seduce. Because the style of the top is very simple, I wanted to keep my cast-on edge simple as well. Normally, if I were using wool, I would work this edge as a crochet cast-on, so that it would look just like a cast-off edge and look very clean. And 9 times out of 10, this would work perfectly. There's just one problem--because of its fiber content, Seduce has no elasticity. With a crochet cast-on, this results in a loose, sloppy looking edge. Not what I want here. Or ever.

I still want to use a crochet cast-on, but in this instance, I'm going to use it as a provisional cast-on, and go back and finish the edge later. I start by using the Crochet Cast-0n with waste yarn. Next, I start knitting right from my cast-on with my project yarn, but leave a very, very long tail. I measured it as three to four times the width of my piece, and tied it into a little bundle to keep it out of my way.

Now I knit a good few inches with the project yarn according to my pattern. When I have enough fabric to hang on to and work with easily, I am ready to go back and finish my edge off properly. Likewise, I could also wait until I finish knitting my piece entirely, and then go back and fix up the cast-on edge. It doesn't matter. It's just easier to work when you have a couple of inches of fabric knitted.

With a needle that is one size smaller than my project needle, on the bottom of my fabric, I pick up each stitch of my project yarn as it is held by the provisional cast-on (PCO). I like to start getting my PCO unraveled so that I can unravel the PCO stitches at the same time as I pick up the project yarn stitches from the PCO.

In essence, I am turning my project upside down, and getting ready to knit from the opposite (beginning) edge.

Once I have all of my cast-on edge stitches on a needle, I check to make sure that all of the stitches have the legs oriented to suit the way that I knit. For most of us, that means that the right leg of the stitch is on the front of the needle, the left leg is in back.

Now, remember that big bundle of yarn I left when I started knitting with my project yarn? Using that bundle, I loosely bind-off all the sts on my needle at the cast-on edge ONLY.

Voila! I now have a neat edge that looks like a crochet cast-on, but is really a cast-off!

I was pretty certain that I had already done a video on how to do the crochet cast-on, but checking my account on YouTube, I find that I'm wrong. I'll demo that for you asap!

How to Do Short-Rows

2009-07-11T23:05:00.000-07:00

This week we go to the movies! After two days of trying to figure out how to make this work (let's face it, I always have technical problems), here we are.

So without further ado, I bring you two videos on how to do short-rows three different ways: the classic wrap-and-turn, Japanese short-rows, and my own technique.

Get out your needles, cast on 25 sts, and work til you have enough fabric to hang onto.

Part One

Part Two

Enjoy!

Eddie Lizzard

2009-06-28T12:43:00.001-07:00

Lynn and I wanted to give you an idea of the size difference between our two lizards. Lynn hasn't finished decorating hers yet as of Friday morning when I took these photos. When she is finished with hers she is ending me a photo so that I can post it for you here. I made the worsted weight version with Noro Kureyon #217. Lynn made the DK weight version with Tussock from Naturally, which is the intended yarn for this pattern.

A closer view of our size differences.

As I said yesterday, I had fun decorating mine. I started by needle-felting rings on his tail. I used a copper novelty yarn from Kiwi, and some leftover needle-point yarns. Needle-felting is fun and easy to learn, and the needles and kit are available at Kiwi Knitting. I find that I use my felting needles all the time on various projects. As you can see with the copper yarn, it will felt non-wool yarns as well as wool yarns.

After I finished with the tail, I needle-felted an orange stripe up his back. Then I decided it was time for something new, and embroidered the blue outline with a chain stich. A book with some simple embroidery stitches is all you need to get started. I find it adds another dimension to my felted projects, whether I choose to use it before or after I felt.

I also used the copper thread again to add some beading to his back. These copper-lined beads that I had in my stash were perfect for this yarn colorway. Beads are always a good way to add some glitz. Check out the bead stash in the shop, next to the buttons in the book and needle nook.

Finally, I cut a circle of felt that was slightly larger than the diameter of the eyes. I folded it in half and cut it into two pieces, and then used craft glue to attach them as eyelids. One thing to note is that the felt just sucks up the glue like nothing you've ever seen before, so be sure to add lots more glue than you think you will need. Press the eyelid in place and hold it there for a few seconds while the glue starts to set. We decided to hang Eddie on the wall in our dining room. I've already bought more Noro to make more lizards. Everyone who lives in the desert Southwest needs one of these.

The Felted Gecko

2009-06-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

This was a project that, for someone who has no time to knit, went very, very quickly. I would suggest that unless you are a dyed-in-the-wool dpn user you should ignore the part of the pattern instructions that suggest using dpns for this project. Use whatever method for knitting in the round that suits you best. I usually knit with 2 circs but didn't have a second circ on hand in the right size and whipped out my trusty dpns. For the body it wasn't much trouble but when you get to the legs it can get pretty fiddly. Just an FYI on that.

However, it was an easy pattern to knit. Later this week I hope to show you one of my tweaks, which is my favorite way to work short rows. There are a lot of them in this pattern in order to make the lizard body seem to be moving, and so knowing my easy, invisible short row method makes those far easier to do.

After he was knitted I put him into a zippered pillowcase and threw him into the washer to felt. When he was finished felting I blocked him by stuffing the body and head with two plastic grocery bags until he was dry.

The next day it was time to put in his eyes. This toy isn't going to a child, so I felt comfortable using attachable eyes on him. In fact, the eyes attach very firmly and would be almost impossible to pull out but I leave that choice to your discretion--you can always needle-felt or embroider eyes on instead.

First, get an idea of where you want the eyes to go by placing them in the head.

Move them around until you feel like the placement is going to work for you. Because Noro Kureyon doesn't felt 'hard' for me like all other yarns do I was able to follow a column of sts on either side to place them equally, although it doesn't look like they are equal in this photo.

Once you have the eye in place turn the fabric inside out and push the plastic ring firmly down over the shank of the eye stem. The eye stem has ridges on it that ensure that the ring cannot be pulled off of the shank--so once it's there, it stays. Be sure you have the eyes where you want them before you do this as there is no going back. The ring has a greater diameter than the eye does, this is why I feel it would be near to impossible to pull out afterward.

Now it's time to stuff him! I have made many stuffed animals over the years and for the first half of my stuffed animal career I was never happy with the results of stuffing - the toys were always lumpy. Then I met Elizabeth Wells through our Old Pueblo Knitting Guild. Elizabeth is the expert of knitted and stuffed toys, trust me. She makes wonderful knitted dolls and stuffed animals. So I grilled her!

Elizabeth advises that you buy the most expensive toy stuffing that you can. Toy stuffing is not very expensive anyway and it comes in bags that may look smallish but hold enough for many, many toys and will last you for years. So it is worth doing it right the first time. Get the good stuff, there is a difference.

Next, Elizabeth told me, shred the stuffing before you use it. Pull it all apart rather than stuffing it in in great wads.

Here I stuffed the tail, legs and head before stuffing the body. Pack it in well, slightly over-stuffing. As you sew the seam shut you may find that you need to add more stuffing to the toy.

Here he is with his seam sewn shut. Because his stitches are still visible I was able to mattress stitch him together.

And here he is finished...

But wait! Is he really finished? I don't think so!

Next time - decorating the felted gecko...

Odds and Ends

2009-06-13T22:38:00.001-07:00

Am I a trendsetter, or what? Last week I talked about starting holiday knitting now, before the panic sets in. And then the summer issue of Knitty came out,and what do they feature? A whole host of Holiday Headstart patterns. Did I tell you or did I tell you?

One of the patterns that caught my eye especially was the Deadliest Crab. I'm a Cancer so I just really fell for this one, and I printed the pattern out right away. Then my husband came up with a great idea - knit it in Noro Kureyon. Hmmm... I was going to use stash yarns, and as we all know, any Noro in your stash is never without a preordained purpose, which meant that I had to buy some Kureyon in order to make the pattern. Gee whiz, what a shame.

But when I got to Kiwi and starting taking a look around at all the great new things in the shop (more on that later), I saw this great pattern from Fibertrends for Gotta Get A Gecko. I mean really, a match made in heaven. Felted lizards, and Tucson. We all need one, don't we?

I just have to make one. So the crab may be on the back burner for the moment, but the gecko is next on my list. Lynn was making one out of the yarn called for in the pattern, Tussock by Naturally. She tells me that it is a very fast project for her so far.

Lynn also wanted me to let you know that Berroco yarns are back. Unfortunately my camera battery decided to give up the ghost right after I started taking photos, so some of them will have to wait for another time. But one I leapt on right away was Berroco Sox Metallic. Each 100 gram ball has approximately 380 yards, enough to make an average pair of socks. The fiber content is 73% Superwash wool, 25% nylon, and 2% other - which I take to be the magical sparkly bits. Because boy, does this yarn sparkle! I'm looking forward to making these! Kiwi also has Comfort Sock, 447 yards with a 50/50 content of nylon and acrylic; and Sox, 440 yards with a fiber content of 75% Superwash wool, and 25% nylon.

Another great Berroco yarn in stock is Seduce. This stuff is gorgeous, and will make the most wonderful summer tops. Seduce has 40 grams per skein, and 100 yards. The fiber content is 47% rayon, 25% linen, 17% silk, and 11% nylon. It has a wonderful shimmer and the knitted fabric has wonderful drape.

Summer projects, holidays projects, great yarns and patterns. Life is good.

Knit Ahead

2009-06-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

Every year around the first of July I like to start my holiday knitting. This is a hold-over from the twenty-something years that I worked in the salon industry. The period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve was an unending madhouse of 10 hour days and no time to think. Because I actually prefer to enjoy the holidays rather than watch them rush past in a blur, I got into the habit of starting my shopping and preparations for the next year's holidays on January 2nd. If I see something that I know someone on my list would like, I buy it and tuck it away. By the time the holidays roll around I usually have 3/4ths of my holiday shopping done, I have as much of my food shopping for my holiday party finished as is possible before Thanksgiving. This is not to say that I don't add to it all at the last minute, just as any normal human does (ask my husband) but trust me, I am a lot less crazy before the holidays this way than I would be otherwise.

If I plan to do any holiday knitting - and let's face it, I always do - then I begin my plan at the start of June. Begin with your list of special people that you like to knit for. Make sure that these are people who are going to appreciate your handmade gift. We have all heard the horror stories of the intricate, painstakingly knitted lace tablecloth sold at a yard sale for 5 bucks, or the Christmas stockings Granny made for each of her grandchildren that were given to Goodwill by the daughter-in-law. If I give a knitted gift to someone who does not immediately genuflect before me, then I cross them off of my knitting list right away. No point in wasting my time, money and talents again on those who don't appreciate what I am really saying when I spend 30 hours making them a $25 pair of cabled alpaca socks. Their lives and mine are happier when I just give them money or buy something from the mall. These people cannot be converted.

Once you have your list, start to think objectively. Can you really knit pullovers for 15 people between now and the holidays and not make yourself crazy? Maybe not all of them need something as involved as a pullover? Maybe not all of them need to be on the list? Remember: Quality beats quantity any time. Be ruthless in paring your list - they'll never know that they were crossed off or downgraded to an easier project in consideration of your available time and desired level of sanity.

Next I like to come up with a theme. One year I knitted mittens for everyone - felted mittens, fair isle mittens - in rainbows of colors and neutrals so that everyone in each family could pick out their favorites. Pack them up in a beautiful little basket and you have an unbeatable gift. The last two years I have knitted socks for everyone, and last year I added sock monkeys for my two sisters from the sock yarn leftovers that resembled my sisters in uncanny ways. One of my sister has knitted beautiful hats and scarves for everyone.

Think small and portable. Something that you can keep in the car for those times when you have to wait at the doctor's office, in line at the PO, school Mom at the playground, car-pooling and waiting for kids. Even just a few rows at a time are a few rows more than you had, and you'll find that your projects will be finished before you know it. Another advantage of small projects is that you don't have time to get bored - before you know it, your project is finished. It also enables you to buy a luxury yarn for your project that is a splurge, which makes the project more special - and more fun for you to work on.

If you set yourself a reasonable schedule of so many gifts knitted or crocheted per month, you can keep on track and avoid getting too far behind. I try to concentrate on one person per month, making and/or buying for that person in their birthday month, for example.

Knitting ahead also allows you time to track down a special yarn, getting your local yarn shop to special order the right yarns in the right colors for you.

Do you know a really clever knitter or crocheter? Are you afraid that they will scorn your less-than-expert efforts at making them a gift? Take heart, no one loves a hand-knitted gift more than a knitter does. No one else knows exactly how much that says. They aren't going to be picking apart your technique, and if they are the type that you suspect actually will, then get them a gift certificate to their favorite local knitting shop. They'll be over the moon at your thoughtfulness. Want to make it more personal? Buy them a special yarn for the type of project that you know they love to make - colorful sock yarn or luxurious lace yarn. That way they not only have the pleasure of opening your gift, but also the added hours of enjoyment making up a project that still comes from you.

Don't wait until November rolls around before you get started on your gift making process. Trust me, the holidays will be so much more pleasurable for you if you can sit back, relax and enjoy them with a smug smile, knowing that your gift knitting is finished.

Have You Met the Veggie Room?

2009-05-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

There are many knitters today who - for various reasons - prefer to knit with yarns that are not based on animal proteins. If you are a vegetarian knitter, one who knits with strictly veggie-based yarns due to preference or even allergies, then you probably already know about the Veggie Room at Kiwi Knitting. If, however, you haven't wandered back to check out the Veggie Room and its treasures - or haven't done so recently - then you're in for a treat. Being a devoted wool knitter, I don't talk here on the blog as much about the vegetable-based fibers that are to be found in our wonderful room. But recently, for various reasons, I have been exploring the wonders of this Ali Baba's cave of non-protein yarns, and finding some gorgeous treats here.

The photo above shows just a fraction of what is to be found there - wonderfully dyed skeins of Cotton Stria from Manos de Uruguay. This is a delightfully soft and resilient cotton with a charming squiggle to the yarn. I have to admit that I don't know what gives it its squiggle, but I have used it in more than one project and it knits up smoothly and evenly, in a rainbow of beauty.

Diagonally across the room from the Stria are shelves full of King Tut Cotton, a classic stand-by of cotton yarns. Kiwi also stocks a sumptuous range of colors here. On the standing racks next to it are the lovely Louet Linen yarns. These are wonderful to work with, with a slightly stiffer hand as you begin kitting that softens up as you work, and then relaxes and drapes gorgeously after the first washing. If you have been part of the dishcloth/washcloth craze in knitting and crochet and have only been using cotton yarns for your creations, then you ought to indulge yourself with a bit of linen.

The shelves to the right of the King Tut cotton hold a melange of assorted yarns in a number of fibers, some conventional, some not so conventional. In addition to having some really pretty cotton or linen blends and natural, undyed cottons in an amazing range of soft colors, did you know that Kiwi carries yarns made from bamboo? Corn? Soy? Even milk! Bamboo yarn has a sheen reminiscent of silk, and an incredible drape. Corn and soy can resemble cotton. Kiwi even carries a sock yarn, Tofutsies, by Southwest Trading Company based here in Arizona, made with soy fibers. For you crocheters, Kiwi has a nice range of crochet yarns suited to delicate traditional lace work.

And if - even though some would say you would be spoiled with choice - you just can't find your perfect color among the King Tut Cotton, then just turn around and take a look through the Tahki Cotton Classic. Cotton Classic is another tried and true stand-by of a cotton yarn, also available in a multitude of colors.

Now, this is by no means a perfectly comprehensive list of all that is to be found in the Veggie Room. So come by, take a look and think about patterns such as baby clothing and blankets, washcloths and dishcloths, intricate lace doilies and cool summer garments for yourself.

On a personal note, last week I traded this view:

For this one:

If you and I have talked much, you probably know that I grew up in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York State, Hyde Park, to be exact. All my siblings and their families are still in the area, and two weeks ago my parents - who live here in Tucson and spend their summers up in Montana complaining about the cold weather - made one last car trip back east to spend time with the rest of the family. Everyone was there except me. So a week ago yesterday my husband surprised me with tickets for me to fly back and spend time with the whole family.

Oddly enough, while you here in Tucson were having cooler and rainy weather, we had gorgeous weather of the kind that you forgot summer could have. I spent most of my time with one of my sisters, and we visited several of my favorite spots (she is always very good to me that way) or sitting and knitting (me) or reading (both of us) in her back garden. There is something so charming about being in a village where the library is right across the street! My ideal situation.

I returned this past Monday, and started summer school classes on Tuesday morning. And I happily report that I have a 4.0 for my spring semester classes.

So I hope that whatever you may do this summer - going on a trip, relaxing at home, or spending time with your loved ones either way - that your summer brings you the kind of special moments and irreplaceably wonderful memories that my trip afforded me.

2009-05-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

As you know, I don't get to Kiwi Knitting as often as I used to, certainly not as often as I would like to. (The good news is that I can see the end of the semester from here.) So when I go in on alternate Friday mornings for Knit Dr, I make a point of bringing my camera along and searching for things in the shop that are new to me. It's always great fun to make a new discovery and get turned on by a new yarn, new tools or a new technique. My last trip to Kiwi uncovered so much exciting new stuff that I'm going to have to break it up into two entries.

In the main room I found new projects from the book, Knit One Below. Lynn tells me that the book is on order, I would imagine that it is back in the shop by now, and I'm looking forward to giving it a good perusal this coming Friday. I think I'm going to have to take it home with me.

I'm sure you remember that I showed you a scarf and a vest project using this technique a few weeks ago. Now look at these cute baby booties, and this adorable bonnet! What baby wouldn't stand out in a crowd wearing these? Don't these just say, 'Someone who knits loves me'? I'm going to have to search out a baby that needs a set of these.

I'm also really taken with this tank top. On my body it would have to be a bit longer, and have wider straps (okay, and be a bit wider, as well), but those would be easy tweaks to make. I really love the way that the stitch pattern shows off the color changes of the Noro yarn. This done in some Noro cotton would be just the thing for summer. The chevron pattern would be very flattering to a number of body types.

I also espied this new yarn from Linie 5, called Corafino. It is 50 gms and approximately 191 yds of superwash goodness, with a content of 60% merino and 40% polyacryl. Lynn has a ton of gorgeous colors on hand, and they are really soft and delicious. Also look for some new colors of the Cascade 200 Superwash.

The thing that struck me the most, however, was the bags. There are new knitting bags, project bags, tool bags, sock project bags, gorgeous baskets - everywhere you look! Starting with a beautiful knitting bag from Della Q, with a matching tool case.

Della Q for a knitting needle case, leaning against a Lantern Moon basket bag...

Namaste and Chica, with Della Q hiding in the background...

More Namaste - there's a messenger bag in light blue...

Silk bags from Lantern Moon...

And a basketweave bag, also from Lantern Moon.

Now I don't know about you, but I'm a firm believer that a girl can't have too many knitting bags. The very concept defies the laws of physics. In fact, I'm beginning to suspect that they are like purses - they need to change with the seasons and go with your shoes! :-D

Now if only I can make my husband see the wisdom of that...

Felted Beads with Carolyn Webb

2009-04-25T14:35:00.001-07:00

Recently, Carolyn Webb taught a class on making felted beads at Kiwi. If you've met Carolyn, you know what a wonderfully fun, creative and interesting person she is. Carolyn herself tells me that she had a lot of fun teaching the class.

The students learned how to make felted beads by wrapping roving around pencils to make a tube, which can then be cut down for shorter length beads. Using multiple colors of roving, and adding embellishments such as threads or seed beads or other beads makes the process - and the result, even more beautiful.

Carolyn tells me that the students also learned to make felt ropes to string their beads on, nd the students in the class wanted to learn to make round beads, so Carolyn taught that as well.

The results are gorgeous! Lynn referred to the class as 'outstanding' and Carolyn tells me that she would love to teach the class again. Lynn will also be carrying Carolyn's kits for making your own felted beads at home.

My Fiber Arts class has given me such great appreciation for the freedom and child-like fun of just diving in and making a happy mess with one's hands, and having the added bonus - the icing on the cake - of having something beautiful at the end that one has made with one's own hands. This sounds like just such a class!

Socks, Socks, and More Socks...

2009-04-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

The end to my Spring semester is getting near, and I must admit, at the moment I have the attention span of a teen-aged gnat. Today, Wednesday, is one of my two days off - if one can call them that. So far today I've picked up an apartment that looks as though a bomb has gone off and they ought to bring in the sniffer dogs to search for survivors. (How does that happen in a mere 24 hours, with only two adults living here? I ask you.) I've cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms, washed laundry, watered indoor plants and outdoor, wound the clock, made the bed and put away clothes. (My husband is convinced that the footboard of our bed is an alternate closet/cum towel rack. Nothing I do or say can convince him otherwise. He is perfectly content with this arrangement of things. I can ignore it and go quietly mad, or I can pick it up while muttering naughty words to myself.) I've rounded up the trash and organized it for a trip out to the great beyond. I've filled out forms, cleaned my purse, wallet and top of my desk, and filed things. I still have to take a shower to make myself fit for human companionship.

Now that my living space is livable, I finally have to face up to all that other stuff that hangs over my head on a day off - and no, this is not one of them, posting this is a pleasurable break from the tedium. I have a final project to start for one class - at least I have an idea where to begin that, and hope to post more on it later, as it does involve yarn, knitting and probably crochet. I have the first project in progress of a series of three that are the final project for another class. I need to study for a test on Saturday. The start of my father's felted vest which was to have been his Christmas vest, and which I know he will appreciate this summer up in Montana - provided it is ever done - mocks me over to my left, as it dangles from my knitting machine. To top it off, my Mom, who spent 3 days in the hospital last week, called me this morning and asked if I could come over and help her with a couple of things. I don't have time. I know I'll do it anyway, or be eaten alive with guilt. And if one more person asks when I will write up the pattern for that lace scarf, as much as I appreciate their interest, I'm going to cry.

So when people ask me what I'm knitting right now, I force out a hollow, mirthless laugh. I'm barking mad at the moment, it is probably best not to give me sharp, pointy sticks. Evenings were always my knitting time, when I would plug in a movie, plunk down on the couch, and pick up my knitting. I like to keep an complicated, challenging and involved project on the go at home, and then a simple sock to carry around with me. But at the moment I have a complicated, involved and challenging project or two languishing on the needles in various bags and baskets around the house. If I do manage to summon the wit and the energy to lean forward and pick up my knitting while I am gazing at the tv in a slack-jawed stupor, I pick up my socks.

You may remember a couple of weeks back when I suddenly realized that Lynn positions sock yarn right next to the classroom door simply to aid in my downfall. At the time I picked up a skein of the Kaffe Fassett sock yarn from Regia, attracted to its wonderful colors. Now I don't know about you, but I have something of a problem with striped sock yarn. Yes, I know that they are meant to make your knitting like easier by providing some visual interest while you knit plain old stockinette. Okay, fine in its intent, but doesn't that bore the socks off you, no pun intended? and you can't really use it for many textured patterns because all too often the color drowns out the pattern. So I have found a solution to this, one that is simple enough for my dazed mind, yet interesting enough to keep me going through two entire socks. Texture.

for the comfortable sock knitter: CO 64 sts using the size needle you usually need for a ribbed sock. You've knit enough of them, you know what you need. I usually use US2 with 1s for the heel. Your mileage may vary.

Knit a K2, P2 rib for an inch and a half. Switch to: K 2 rounds; K2, P2 for 2 rounds, and knit the length of the leg that you want. Go ahead and knit another half inch in pattern, ending after the first knit row. Using a piece of waste sock-weight yarn, K 32 sts for the heel and then drop the waste yarn. Go back and reknit those sts in your sock yarn, and continue with the foot of the sock, knitting in pattern on the instep, and stockinette on the sole of the foot.

I like to put in the heel after I have about 2-3 inches knitted after the waste yarn o that I can try the sock on for size. Do this by picking up the sts above and below the waste yarn with needles 1 size smaller than the ones used for the rest of the sock. Remove waste yarn. Begin knitting a toe! Alternate - Round 1- K all sts; R2- Note where your two side corners of the opening are and K to last 3 sts at the side corner, K2tog, K2, ssk at each corner. Repeat those two rounds until you have reduced down to 1/2 your original heel sts, then repeat the decrease round only down to 20 sts total. Kitchener off. Now you can try on your sock to determine the foot length needed.

When sock foot is about 2.5 inches short of the length of your foot, repeat the toe directions given above in the heel, except reduce down to 16 sts. Kitchener off.

I also had some Araucania sock yarn languishing in my stash, waiting for the right thing to come along. These are being knitted in the Gschnitztal pattern from Fiber Dreams, using twisted sts to make the cable crossings. I'm really enjoying this pattern and it looks wonderful in this yarn.

So remember, when all else fails, socks won't. Off to take a shower and then go help my Mom.

New Spring Yarns!

2009-04-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

I think you know how I feel about sock yarns. As I told someone the other day - with a heartfelt sigh - I could live on a strict diet of only sock yarn. Well, take a look at this! Kiwi now has Malabrigo Sock, a wonderful new sock yarn from the same people who make the beautiful Malabrigo kettle-dyed worsted weight yarns that we all love. Malabrigo Sock measures up at 440 yards per skein, plenty for your average pair of socks. This pure super-wash merino wool is sure to spoil you in the delicious Malabrigo colors for spring.

Also new in the shop is the Rowan Colourscape Chunky from their Kaffe Fassett line. Each 100 gm. skein of 100% wool is approximately 175 yds. Kaffe Fassett is known in the knitting and textiles world as a brilliant colorist. Put his talent together with the high quality of Rowan yarns, and you are sure to have a winner.

Finally, here is a picture of Kay Trondsen with her recently finished Lady Eleanor's Stole. I'm sure you've probably seen Kay around Kiwi Knitting, she is a very talented and avid knitter, and we enjoy her company. Kay was in my recent Lady E class (as we affectionately call her) and came in to show off her finished product. Made in the entrelac technique using Noro Silk Garden, I have seen probably 20 - 25 of these finished shawls after my classes, and each is gorgeous and unique. Kay, you will have many years of enjoyment from your shawl, wear it in good health, as we say in my family.

May all of you who celebrate this week have a wonderful Passover and Easter! Best wishes from Kiwi Knitting!

Knit One Below

2009-03-28T21:42:00.000-07:00

Knit One Below is the name of a wonderful new book by Elise Duvekot, that demonstrates an exciting new way to work with color in knitting. The book also offers several patterns using this unique technique. The appearance is somewhat similar to slipped stitch colorwork, but is worked entirely differently. The resulting fabric is warm and inviting, and when worked with yarns that have long color changes - such as Noro Kureyon or Silk Garden - the effects are really quite beautiful.

This wonderful method of doing colorwork is both easy and fun. I always enjoy learning something new and different to add to my knitting repertoire. I already know that I'll be making a few gifts for next winter using this technique. And the patterns in the book look like a lot of fun as well. I'm sure it will be no surprise to you if I say that I especially have my eyes on the socks. I'm thinking that I'm going to need some of those.

This is a featured technique at Kiwi at the moment, and if you stop into the shop you can see not only this gorgeous vest, but also a lovely scarf worked in the same technique. Lynn and staff have made up some quick scarf kits for those wanting to try their hands at this easy yet visually impressive method. Each kit includes 2 skeins of Noro yarn, as well as the pattern and an explanation of how to work the stitch.

Brigid recently attended The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) conference and took a class from Elise Duvekot. She then returned to Kiwi and taught a class on the technique. Another class is planned for next quarter, as well as a two-day class in the booties you see below, made with this same method.

So stop in and take a look at the vest and scarf on display. I promise that you are going to be intrigued by this new technique, and the beautiful fabric that it makes!

Some Great Links!

2009-03-19T14:42:00.001-07:00

I just thought I'd pop in with a couple of wonderful links for you all!

If you are part of our local knitting guild - Old Pueblo Knitters - then you know that last month we hosted Amy Singer, the founder and editor of Knitty, for a talk at our guild meeting as well as a few days of classes. I spoke with Amy briefly after her presentation at the guild, and I have to tell you, she is really a very lovely person.

Last week, the latest edition of Knitty came out, and guess what? There is a great article there about Kiwi Knitting, Jill Holbrook, and Heather Ordover, as well as the spinning group that meets at Kiwi, and the Tucson Handspinners and Weavers Guild. Take a look! It just confirms my thoughts about what a great person she is.

And just for a good, sheepish chuckle, check out this video... My husband comes from Wales, where this was filmed, and tells me it is fascinating to watch the dogs work the sheep, controlled completely by a series of whistles.

Enjoy!

Learning More Ways to Use Fiber!

2009-03-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

I usually get my blog fodder from being in the shop frequently, and from the project I am knitting at the time. But as you know I've been in school full-time since mid-January, and I have to admit that whole weeks go by where I don't manage to find the time or the energy to knit. However, it should be noted that I am a Fine Arts major in Fiber Arts. Just so you don't think that I haven't been playing with yarn in all this time. I've just been playing in different ways.

The first technique that we have covered in my Mixed Media Fibers class is coiling. This technique is most often seen in indigenous basket-making, both with several tribes of Native Americans and also from far flung places such as Africa. But what can you do if you take this fun and interesting technique and put a different twist on it? I started with the question: What would happen if a bird got loose in my studio and started building a nest? Trust me, there are days when it looks as though birds are already building nests in here. But here is my interpretation...

Upholstery cording was used to form the core, and is wrapped with luxurious yarns - a few from my stash, and many others from Kiwi. There is Bambool in a color called Petrol, Silk Garden with it's ever-changing color palette, here in blues and greens. Some Lantern Moon rayon yarn acquired back when Kiwi first opened (not as much fun to coil with due to it's uneven texture, but it looks great once you get it on there), some Silky Wool in a color called Woad. Flashes of Starlight in Copper. I added some recycled glass beads to the mix, and made some small totems of hammered copper wire.

Fashioning the interior of the nest as I went along, I wanted to have a 'feathered' effect. What would a bird find if they were hunting in a knitter's nest? I made thrums of some merino roving from the shop and wrapped them into the basket. Loops of Kid Merino in Pacific Blue, as well as some scraps of silk yarns. Some green boucle yarn pulled from my stash - also acquired from Kiwi so long ago that I no longer remember what it's called. All work together to form a warm, plush interior that is ready to welcome incubating eggs.

The bird started with a form that was needle-felted of wool roving from Kiwi Knitting. After I had a shape that worked, I wrapped it in left-over Kureyon Sock. In areas where the shape had angles too steep for the yarn to stay in place, I needle-felted the strands to the body form. Some feather scraps and a beak of coiled copper were added. The eyes are made of paillette sequins with seed beads. A little scrap of the rayon yarn is held in her beak as she finishes her nest. And the edges of the nest? Double-pointed needles, wrapped with the same rayon yarn.

Coiling is a technique that I will most certainly use in the future. I like the way in which the coiled piece can be shaped as well as the decorative stitching that can be added, and find it a wonderful way to use yarn without actually knitting or crocheting. Already I can imagine several ways that I can use this technique to enhance my knitted and/or felted pieces in future.

Also, a reminder from Lynn - Kiwi Knitting now has the book Estonian Lace, by Nancy Bush back in stock!

New Yarns and Books!

2009-03-08T08:42:00.001-07:00

Forgive me, please. I was just gazing out our windows at the view and breathed a deep sigh of, Ahhhhhhh! It's Sunday! When I suddenly realized that I hadn't posted yesterday as planned. So I'll be back again in a couple of days with another post...

In the meantime, I want to tell you about some new yarns at Kiwi! I love it when new yarns come in, it is such a pleasure to pet them all and ooh and ahh over the colors and textures. This yarn caught my eye right away as I went past it, and now of course in the back of my mind I am cooking up a pot of 'What can I do with that?' I know something will come out the other side, but not sure what it is just yet. That is half of the fun!

This new yarn is from Noro, as you may have already guessed by looking at it, and is called Furisode. The colors are as rich and as saturated as you would expect from Noro, beautiful blends that really look gorgeous! The fiber content is 45% silk, 40% cotton, and 15% wool. At 100 grams per skein it measures out at approximately 163.5 yds.

Also from Noro, we have Taiyo. Think of a cotton version of Kureyon or Silk Garden. The fiber content is 40% cotton, 30% silk, 15% wool and 15% nylon. The yardage is 218. As you can see, we have a whole bouquet of colors and they are really lovely.

Kiwi also has a book of patterns for the new Noro yarns, called Flowers. There are some gorgeous sweater patterns worked in different directions to show off Noro's characteristic long color changes and subtle transitions.

And lest you crocheters think that you are forgotten, Lynn has also gotten in a beautiful crochet cotton called Garden from Nazli Gelin. The colors are wonderful, very lush and lustrous. The fiber content of this yarn is 100% Giza cotton, and the yardage per ball is 306.2 yards per 50 grams. There is also a beautiful book of crochet patterns that goes with this yarn. The book (as well as the yarn) has been flying out of the shop, and as of Friday afternoon Lynn had one book left in stock, but I know she is planning to order more asap.

It occurred to me back there as I was figuring yardage for the Noro yarns, that a number of you might be scratching your collective heads and wondering why Noro comes up with such odd yardage numbers. Noro, like many non-American yarn companies, measure their yarns in meters rather than in yards. How can you know what kind of yardage to expect to get from a ball of yarn when only the meterage is noted on the ball band, and your pattern calls for yards, or vice versa? There is a very simple formula for that, and in these days when we all carry cell phones, and our phones can do everything short of packing our lunch, it is easy to whip out your phone and turn on the calculator function. To convert meters to yards, simply multiply meters by 1.09 to get your yardage. Therefore, Noro Furisode's 150 meters comes out to be 163.5 yards.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Mine is just starting...

The Sock Yarn Trap

2009-02-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

I have finally figured it out. All these years, it never occurred to me to wonder about the placement of the sock yarn shelves in relation to the door from the classroom at Kiwi into the rest of the shop. Never crossed my mind. And yet every time I teach at Kiwi, be it a project class or Knit Dr., I walk right past the sock yarn shelves. Only I don't walk right past them, if you follow my meaning.

Now, Lynn knows of my deep and abiding weakness for sock yarn. Do I require additional sock yarn? No. Does that stop me? HECK no! Yesterday, as I finished playing Knit Dr and walked up to the front of the shop I saw these...

These babies have to be petted to be believed. Called Socrates and made by Alpaca With A Twist, this yarn has a blend of 30% baby alpaca, 30% merino, 20% bamboo, 20% nylon and measures out to 400 yds per ball. All of the colors have a very subtle heathered look, and I can see myself making socks for me out of any of the colors, and for my husband out of that beautiful blue and the grey. Because this is a hand-wash yarn, you might use it for beautiful lace pieces, as well. This could become an amazing lace scarf. Of course the alpaca and merino contribute towards making this yarn very plush and soft with the merino also adding elasticity, bamboo gives a very pretty sheen, and the nylon makes it extra durable. One ball would be enough for most pairs of socks, or a lovely scarf.

No sooner had I finished oohing and aahing (and frankly, drooling) over those, than I saw these!

New colors from Regia in the Kaffe Fassett line! By the way, that is pronounced kafe, like cake with an 'f', as I am reliably told by an old friend of his sister. The fiber content is 75% superwash wool and 25% polyamide. I'm not a fan of handwashing socks, and usually will machine wash on gentle even my handwashable yarns, and lay them flat to dry. But when you have the ease and convenience of superwash, life becomes even easier. The yardage is approximately 229 yds per ball, and two balls will make most pairs of socks.

And that is when the penny dropped, as they say. Lynn puts those right next to the door because she knows I walk past the sock yarn shelves and give everything therein a thorough going-over every time I'm in the shop. Sometimes I buy, sometimes I don't, but I always look at the sock yarns. Very clever! Like a sock-knitter version of fly-paper.

Also, have you heard about the Sock Summit? This coming Aug 6-9 in Portland, OR, with classes, vendors and just plain wonderful sock overload. Our own Heather Ordover is one of the teachers! Sounds like a heck of a lot of fun. Details are still being worked out as far as fees and hotel info, you can sign up for email notifications on the Sock Summit website or just keep checking back at the website. There is also a Ravelry group all about it.

Finally, because of my classwork load, I am now playing Knit Dr on alternate Fridays. I was there yesterday, Feb 20th, and will be back in two weeks. When I'm not there, Marianne plays Knit Dr. I think it's a great opportunity for you to get more exposure to various ways to skin the proverbial knitted cat. Remember, Knit Dr happens every Friday from 10 - 12, and is a free service.

New Kits at Kiwi

2009-02-08T07:41:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of knitting kits. There is something pretty wonderful about having a little package that contains everything one needs to make a jewel of a project, except the needles. Pattern, yarn, accessories, it's all there. And right now at Kiwi you have some wonderful choices.

First up are a trio of wonderful little kits from own our Jill Holbrook and Brookmoore Creations. You can choose between the 'Arizona Barrel Cactus', which makes a whimsical barrel cactus complete with flower; the 'Lizard Tales Lace', a very pretty lace bookmark; and the 'Arizona Treasure Bag', a beautiful little beaded lace drawstring bag. The yarn included is a natural cotton handspun by Jill, and all that is required for any of the kits besides what is included is a pair of size US2 knitting needles. The Arizona Treasure Bag even includes all the beads, with a choice of either multi-colored or turquoise beads.

And they come in a great plastic case that would be perfect for a knitters tool case after the project is finished. If you are looking for a gift that says 'Tucson' to the giftee, these would be a delightful choice.

Also available at Kiwi Knitting is a new kit for the Cat Bordhi 'Blissful Baby Booties'. These cute little booties are miraculous in that when you are finished with the project, you're finished. There is nothing to be done once you set down your needles - all the construction and even the drawstring is completely finished on the needles. And there is a variety of sizes available in the kit.

There will be a class on this project at Kiwi in the afternoon of this coming Friday, the 13th. And Lynn is planning an Easter version of the kits, so keep your eyes open for seasonal variations on the theme.

Happy Spring Knitting, everyone, as we wait for our promised winter storms to come through!

An Ode to Self Indulgence

2009-01-31T22:28:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has been within whine range of me has heard me exclaim - once or twice maybe, or perhaps even as much as three or four times - that I have been knitting Christmas gifts ever since the beginning of last July. That's seven months now. Seven. Very. Long. Months. It started to get on my nerves back in September or so. But now I finch and utter a little mewl of terror whenever I clap eyes on my very last, unfinished, Christmas gift project.

Don't mistake me. I love every single thing I've knitted. I've loved the yarn I've worked with. I love the people I'm knitting for. I love seeing them appreciate the beauty and the utility of what I have made for them. But dang, I'm ready to be selfish again. I've got some grandiose knitting schemes cooking in the back of my brain, just dying to be let out into the light of day and onto my needles.

Luckily, I always need to have a small project to carry with me for those times when I had better have knitting on hand to keep myself sane (would have helped a LOT this morning when I showed up for my class an hour early). And so sometime back at the beginning of September or so when I ran out of gift socks to knit, I cast on for a pair of Mermaid Mitts for myself.

I only had rare flashes of opportunity to knit them - a bit in the doctor's waiting room here, a row or two while waiting in line at the PO. It took until somewhere in December, I think, when I decided one day in a fit of pique to just get it the heck over with that I finally finished the danged first mitt. And now I am within spitting distance of finishing the second.

Mermaid mitts have hit the Ravelry world like a debilitating winter snowstorm - everyone is affected, whether you think it is pretty or not. If you are familiar with the Pomatomus sock pattern from Knitty.com and designed by sock designing goddess Cookie A, you will recognize the origin of the Mermaids instantly.

And if you think about it, a fingerless mitt is just a sock without heel or toe. Oh, and throw in a thumb.

I'm making mine with some gorgeously dyed and lusciously squishy Lorna's Laces sock yarn in a colorway called Baltic Sea. This is my first time working with this yarn and I have to tell you how very much I like it. The firm twist in the yarn gives great definition to textured stitches and yet it has a wonderfully soft hand that I just know, from trying on the first mitt over and over again to admire it, is going to feel really good on my hands in just a few short days.

So if, like myself, you haven't done anything extravagant and selfish for yourself lately, I encourage you to indulge in a yarn you perhaps would not ordinarily buy yourself - perhaps a beautiful cashmere or an alpaca yarn that speaks to you every time you see it in the shop, and make yourself a lovely little something to chase the winter blues on their way.

Old Pueblo Knitting Guild

2009-01-24T21:57:00.000-08:00

I know that I have mentioned the wonders of our local knitting guild here on the Kiwi Knits blog in the past. But I see so many knitters at Kiwi that I do not see at the knitting guild meetings, that I think it bears a revisit.

I find that everyone's knitting guild experience depends on what one wants to take away from it. There are many in the guild who participate strongly in the many charity projects that our guild supports - Project Linus, preemie hats and blankets, Operation Gratitude, the Navajo Project - just to name a few. All very worthy causes, and I think it is wonderful that the guild is so heavily involved in giving back to our local and not-so-local community.

But I confess that I enjoy the guild meetings most for the educational opportunities that they offer. They can range from something so informal as one of your table mates giving you a quick demonstration of how to do a new cast-on, to sharing pattern ideas with other members and having the opportunity to pet unfamiliar yarns. I find that I always come away from a guild meeting filled with new ideas and inspiration for new projects. There is also a wide range of technique videos available to borrow for viewing at home.

The very best educational opportunity always comes from the speaker we have each month during the presentation portion of the meeting. Did you know that Amy Singer, creator and editor of Knitty.com and author of No Sheep For You will be speaking at our next guild meeting on February 19th? Our new Workshop co-chairs - Pat Wood, former owner of the Fiber Factory, and our own Jill Holbrook - have been organizing some wonderful workshops for this '08/09 season, along with our Vice-President, Judith Segel, who is responsible for bringing in a range of interesting presenters to talk with us each month. Now think about this - in the last few months alone, for the price of your $20 yearly guild membership, you get to hear people such as Amy Singer and Galina Khmelova speak to the guild about their journey as knitters, teachers and designers, as well hearing them share some wonderful info relating to their particular specialty.

At the January meeting of the Old Pueblo Knitting Guild our presenter was Clare Campbell Park, demonstrating the power of color and how the use of color theory can relate to our creative process as knitters. Clare is a teacher in the Fine Arts department at Pima College, and she gave a wonderful demonstration. We all got to play with packs of color cards and see for ourselves how simply arranging the same cards in various way gave a completely different effect each time. I can tell you that the differences were very dramatic, and we all had a lot of fun playing with colors, and going around the room to see what color combinations others had come up with.

In fact, Clare was so inspiring that I and another guild member are now taking her Color and Composition class at Pima, and I'm taking her Mixed Media in Fiber class as well. I am having a blast! I always joke that kindergarten was my favorite part of school, because we got to make projects all day long if we wanted to. But to be honest with you, I'm not sure how much I am actually joking. To give myself the opportunity to nourish my creative side and allow it room to grow is so incredibly rewarding. I can already appreciate how these two classes are going to influence me as a knitter, as a teacher, and as a designer.

I'm a firm believer that to be a good teacher one must first be a diligent student. The moment that I begin to believe that I have nothing left to learn is the moment that I have nothing left to teach. So I eagerly look forward to seeing how this opportunity for me is going to trickle down into my teaching experiences with all of you. As a result of that one presentation at our OPK guild meeting, my life has taken a completely different, unexpected and delightful turn. How's that for the cost of guild membership?

Now mark down on your calendars - our guild meets on the third Thursday of every month, from 9:30 am to 11:30, in the Murphy Room at St Philip's Church at River and Campbell. Visitors are not just more than welcome, they are set upon by eager knitters! Come and sit with us, see if you would like to join us, and open yourself up to new opportunities to expand your life as a knitter.

The Addi Clicks Are Here!

2009-01-10T22:24:00.000-08:00

Addi Turbos are the preferred knitting needles of many a knitter's dreams. They are smooth, the join between cord and needle is seamless, the cords are very flexible - they are wonderful to knit with. The company that makes Addi needles, Skacel, are well known for their attention to detail, the quality of their product, and the fact that they stand behind everything that they make. However, Addi Turbos, as you know if you have ever bought them, are not the least expensive circular needles that are out there in the knitting marketplace. For a knitter to stock up on a range of Addi Turbos in various sizes and cord lengths would cost a small fortune. Believe me, they would be well worth it, but wouldn't it be nice to have another way to make that work?

Well, Addi now produces the interchangeable needle version of Addi Turbos, called Addi Clicks. Here, in one neat set, Addi provides you with 10 sizes of needle tips, from size 4 to size 15. With them comes three different cords in 24", 32" and 40" lengths. There is also a connector that allows you to join two of the cords together to get an even longer circular needle length if you wish. This adds up to over 30 different needle sizes and length combinations - without even going into all the combinations of lengths one could get using the connector to lengthen the cords. Multiply that by the last pair of Addi Turbos you bought for a new project, and you can begin to get a sense of what an enormous savings one of these wonderful kits would be.

One of the biggest bugs for many knitters about various interchangeable needle sets is the way that the needles are joined to the cords. They are notorious for coming apart at crucial knitting moments. Not so with these needles. The two sections join together with a push and a turn and a click - and they are locked together and ready for business. Think of the way that you change the paddle on your Kitchen-Aide mixer. Same idea. The kit comes with a very detailed booklet explaining how it all works, but trust me, it is as easy as pie.

If you are a new knitter just starting to collect your needles as you go from project to project, this kit will save you a fortune over your knitting lifetime. If you are a more seasoned knitter, this is a wonderful gift to yourself - truly a gift that keeps on giving. As with everything that Skacel introduces in the Addi line, they are much in demand and that makes them scarce until the production can catch up with the demand. And I believe that the more knitters that see them, the more knitters that will want a set for their very own.

Taking Stock

2009-01-03T21:14:00.000-08:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I seem - in spite of all my best efforts to make things different from all previous years - to run through the holidays like a comet. Really breathlessly fast and with my backside trailing flames. It always feels as though I heave a giant sigh somewhere about the second of January, and feel all my limbs just to make sure everything is still there.

It's a great time, therefore, to take stock of my knitting life. For me, knitting is a major portion of my life: I'm either teaching knitting, writing or blogging about knitting, photographing knitting, or - knitting. Okay, sometimes I stop to eat.

First, and the most satisfying part that paves the way to make the difficult bits easier, I like to stop and take a few moments to look back over what I have produced in the preceding year. I make a point throughout the year of photographing every project that I make. Sometimes there are photos of the process, especially if there is a technique that I am using on the project that I want to blog about later. But I always take photos of the finished project. If I have been really good throughout my year, I have also been keeping a written knitting journal. Here I'll make notes about the pattern used, the needles used, I tape in the ball band and a small bit of the yarn I used. If I make any changes to the pattern, I note them here. It always amazes me at the end of a year to stop and inventory just how many projects I have done, and what I have learned that has helped me to grow as a knitter during the year. This is the 'Pat on the Back' section of the knitting inventory.

The flip side, of course, of all this self-congratulation is to take a good long honest look at my UFOs for the year. All those projects that for one reason or another, got started but never got finished. My photography professor, lo those many years ago, gave us a good bit of advice. He told us not to spend a lot of time analyzing the art we liked, but to spend lots and lots of time really picking through to the elements of the art pieces that we didn't like. Break them down into small facets and spend time figuring out why that piece didn't work for us. You learn more from analyzing the things that don't work, than you learn by analyzing the things that do. Because at one point, you were so excited about this project that you bought the yarn and the pattern, and you took the time to sit down and cast on. Take a good hard look at the UFO and analyze the basic elements. What went wrong? Was it the yarn? Does it split, did you decide that you hate the color, do you not like the feel of it? If so, think about starting again with a yarn that suits you and the project better than this one does. Maybe it's the pattern - is it too complicated or not explained well enough? Then go get some help from your friendly neighborhood professionals at Kiwi to get your project back on track. Did you decide that you don't really like the pattern after all? Frog the UFO and look for another project that will suit your yarn. Is it not coming out the way you had pictured? Spend some time learning new techniques that will help you to get the results you want. And either put those UFOs to rest, or put them back in the queue for finishing.

Now go over to your yarn stash and take a good honest look at what you have. Some of the yarn in your stash was probably purchased with very specific projects in mind. Bag that yarn together and label it with what it is meant to be. You can always change your mind later, but at least assign it a reason for being now. Put that project in your queue for the new year. Other yarns in your stash were probably purchased just because. Just because they are beautiful, just because they were on sale, just because you had some time on lunch break and were feeling a bit down and wanted to reward yourself. Take time with each bit of yarn and think about how you would want to use it - maybe for a lace scarf, perhaps for a sweater or even some wrist warmers. Now have some fun, pull out the pattern books, and find the pattern that works for your yarn and your needs. Put it in your queue. There are always going to be yarns in your stash that will make you wonder why you ever bought them, or where the heck they came from and why. If you bought a lot of acrylic when you started knitting and now only knit with wool, find a local knitting guild and donate it. Sell it on ebay or trade it on Ravelry or Craigslist. Drop it off at the local nursing home or community center. Get it out of your life so that you can move on.

Now sit down with all the knowledge you have just gained about yourself and your knitting, and make a list of projects that you want to make this year. Challenge yourself with your new projects, and make this the year that you finally make lace, or try cables, or fair isle, or entrelac, or intarsia, or socks, or... Expand your mind and your talents.

If you need help to learn new skills, remember that is what we are here for at Kiwi Knitting Co. - to support your growth in your craft. I think that I can speak for all the teachers when I say that we don't just teach for a living, we live for teaching. I absolutely LOVE helping people. Look through our class schedule, arrange a private lesson with one of our teachers, come in and take advantage of the Knit Dr. sessions on Friday mornings. We can provide you with every level and type of help - quick questions at Knit Dr., group classes from the class schedule, private classes for your own group geared to your needs, and private one-on-one lessons. We are here to teach you and to share our own deep love of our craft with you. We know what we know because we sought out knowledge, and others were generous enough to teach us. Come pick our brains.

Happy New Year!
Lynda

Kiwi Knitting End of the Year Sale

2008-12-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

Now that all your gift knitting is over (it is, isn't it?) you can turn your thoughts to long, cozy winter days of knitting for yourself. And just in time comes the Kiwi Knitting after Holidays sale!

25% off on ALL inventory!
50% off on sale table yarns!

From Dec 26th - 30th the shop is open from 10 am to 6 pm, on the 31st from 10 am to 4 pm. Closed Sunday.

Happy shopping! And I look forward to seeing you again at Knit Dr every Friday morning from 10 til 12 to see what new projects we have all started. I was gifted with some gorgeous hand-dyed sock yarn and the new book, Knitting Socks With Handpainted yarns. Sigh! I can't wait!

But first I have to finish my Mom's gift (today), start and finish my Dad's gift, and knit up the three bags of yarn I gave my husband for Christmas...

Last Minute Gift Ideas For The Knitter Who Has (Almost) Everything

2008-12-23T08:56:00.001-08:00

Two days to go before Christmas, Hanukkah is coming to an end before you know it, and you still need the perfect Wow! gift for the knitter in your life?

Or maybe you suspect that your significant other is stumped? If so, leave this page showing on your computer and give them some help!

A while back in the Kiwi newsletter I gave you a list of things that every knitter needs to have in their tool case, which I later revisited here on the blog. But what about the tools that go above and beyond?

So they have all the needles they want, you don't know what yarn or patterns to get them. Here are some ideas for thing that they might not buy for themselves, but will change their knitting life and make their projects easier and more professional. These items are life savers, and once a knitter has them, they will wonder how they ever lived without them.

Yarn Swift and Ball Winder
Every knitter needs one of these set-ups. Every Knitter. I bought mine early in my knitting career thanks to the generosity of our own Marianne, and I couldn't live without them. A yarn swift is that umbrella-like contraption that holds a hank of yarn taut and even while a yarn ball is wound from it. Sure, you can ask to have your yarn wound at the shop. Sure, you can put the hank on the back of a chair and wind a ball from it there. Yes, you can ask an obliging family member to hold the hank for you on two hands while you wind. But trust me, these things are worth their weight in gold. They twirl smoothly while the ball is wound, feeding the yarn to the ball winder with nary and tangle or a burst of frustrated language.

Now pair the yarn swift with the ball winder and you have a match made in heaven. You can get the basic ball winder, which I have, and it will last forever and serve you well. I cannot begin to imagine how many hundreds of balls of yarn I have wound on mine, and it is sill merrily winding yarn balls at my command. Or you can get my dream ball winder, which is the super-duper orbiting one that you have seen Lynn use at the shop. This one will wind a much larger hank of yarn into a ball, and while my regular size one serves perfectly for almost every hank of yarn there have been times when I have needed the big one. If you are buying a new ball winder, my advice is to go for the big one and be done with it.

Blocking Boards
A knitted or crocheted garment is made or broken by the finishing. And finishing includes blocking properly. Blocking makes all the difference between hand-made and home-made. And yes, we have all blocked things on layers of towels spread out on our dining table, or bed or floor until they dry. How much easier to use blocking boards with their gridded surfaces that can be pinned into. Although they are quite big, blocking boards fold away and can be tucked into a closet between uses. The grid makes it easy for you to line up edges and make sure that your project is even and straight as it dries.

Blocking Wires
And to make the blocking package complete - blocking wires. These are a handy set of wires that you use along the edges of your project as you block it, in order to make perfectly smooth and even lines on your edges. Think bottom hems that are no longer wavy, button bands that are straight and precise, pocket tops that don't sag, side edges that are straight. I got a set of these a couple of years ago for my birthday, and I do wonder how I thought I was blocking properly without them.

Pins!
Anytime you are sewing pieces of your project together, you need pins. Long shanked, large headed pins that are made especially for this purpose. They aren't expensive, pick up a couple of packages of them. Not small safety pins, not dress-maker pins, and not quilting pins, but the pins made by Clover for exactly this purpose - to hold your two pieces of knitted or crocheted fabric together firmly while you sew your seams. If you want your seaming process to go well and loo professional once you are finished, you need to pin your fabric.

Double Pointed Needles
Yes, you heard me. One set each of short double pointed needles in several sizes. Although I no longer knit in the round using dpns, I am always grateful that early in my knitting life I bought a set of these in each and every size. When I start a new project - especially anything with cables, I toss a matching size set into my knitting bag for emergencies. I use them for cable needles, and I also use them to fix mistakes. Suddenly spot that eight rows back you crossed that cable in the wrong direction? And you don't want to frog back all those eight rows either, do you? No problem. Ladder back just the offending stitches, and reknit them up on your dpns. Put the fixed sts back onto your regular needles, and you are good to go.

Needle and hook organizers.
If I never see another knitter whip out a large zip-lock bag containing tangles of circular needles in a massive disarray of sizes and lengths, it will be too soon. Do you have a size 7, I ask? I don't know, they reply. Does this look like a 7? Maybe this one is. Needle organizers are a very valuable investment for not a lot of money. It would meant that you know what you have and what you don't, and can get to it quickly and easily. It would mean that you are ready for anything. It would mean longer life for your no-longer-battered needles. And it will give you a little moment of beauty when you take one of these lovely things out of your knitting bag.

Sticky Notes
Get a couple of small pads of sticky notes and put them in your knitting bag. They are invaluable for marking pages in pattern books, for taking quick notes, for marking your spot in your pattern or chart when you put your knitting down. Worth their weight in gold.

Waste Yarn
I carry two small balls of waste yarn in my knitting bag - both white - in DK or worsted weight, and in fingering weight. Any time your pattern asks you to put your sts onto holders, you really want waste yarn instead. Thread your needle with a length of yarn, slip it through all the sts and slip them off the needles. Use it for emergency markers. Use it for provisional cast-ons. Waste yarn can be tossed out when it gets ragged from reuse.

I hope you are all enjoying this holiday season and that this gives you some ideas for gift giving - even to yourself! and if all else fails, a gift certificate to Kiwi Knitting Co is the gift that is perfect in every size!

Best wishes-
Lynda

Recalculating a Pattern

2008-12-21T19:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Hanukkah! I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and may all your projects be finished!

I ran into a small problem this week with a last-minute project, and I thought I could share some words of wisdom with all of you.

My husband, who never ever wants me to give him gifts, was finally, with much arm-twisting, persuaded to let me knit something for him. His request? A felted vest. I searched through some patterns and came across the Felted Vest pattern in Bev Galeska's wonderful book, Felted Knits. Just one problem. With only a week to go before the big gift-giving day, I realized that I really, really didn't want to spend hours and hours each day knitting nine miles of stockinette stitch, only to felt it later.

Now don't get me wrong - I love knitting. I love knitting gifts for my husband. I love felting. But to spend so much time knitting something the size of a long winter nightgown and then shrink it to the proper size would take a whole lot of knitting time. Time that I could spend doing really interesting knitting, like cables and lace and other fascinating things.

Not a problem though, because I have a basic knitting machine for just such an emergency. I like to do a lot of felted projects, and I have been playing with the knitting machine exclusively for this very purpose. My first job, then, in changing the pattern from hand-knitting to machine knitting was to knit up a swatch on my machine at the tension settings that I know from experience will give me a fabric that felts easily and well, and then measure the gauge of that un-felted swatch. The pattern calls for a gauge of 14 sts/4 inches and 21 rows/4 inches in an un-felted swatch. And my machine, wide open, only gives a gauge of 15 sts/4 inches and 21 rows/4 inches. That is as big as it gets, the machine won't make stitches any larger than that.

My husband piped up and asked the question that perhaps some of you are asking as well: It's only one stitch difference. What's the problem? Ah, but it's one stitch over four inches. Multiply that tiny little stitch by the total size of the unfelted vest, and you've got a project that doesn't fit when it's finished. At the stitch count that the pattern calls for, and knitting at my gauge, the vest would end up significantly smaller than intended.

Now say that like many of us, you see a pattern you love and there is a wonderful yarn at Kiwi that you have been just dying to use - but it doesn't quite fit. Or you are looking for a pattern to help you use up something that has been gathering dust in your stash. And your substitute yarn knits up at a different gauge than the yarn that the pattern calls for.

Or maybe you have the specified yarn, but you don't like the look of the fabric at the proper gauge. The swatch might feel too loose and open to you, or so tight that you could use it to scrub pots and pans. What do you do? Give up and move on to another project?

No. You recalculate your pattern, taking into account the gauge you are going to be using. The process is very, very simple, but it does contain several steps. Follow these simple steps and you are on your way to a successful project.

First of all, we know that gauge x size = stitch count. The number of stitches you get to the inch, times the size you want the project to be when finished, tells you how many stitches you need to cast on.

It wouldn't be appropriate for me to talk about the actual stitch count in the pattern that I used, so I am fudging that part a bit in my explanation, but all the rules are the same - no matter what the original gauge is, what your gauge is, or what the stitch count is.

1. Knit your gauge swatch and determine your new gauge.. Measure your stitch gauge and your row gauge. Write them down. Block your swatch. Measure the stitch gauge and row gauge again after blocking. Write them down. Why do I tell you to measure gauge before and after blocking? Your post-blocking gauge will guide you in getting the proper finished results. Your pre-blocking gauge provides you with a guideline to maintain as you are knitting, to ensure that you are staying on gauge and will get the results that you want. Because I am felting the finished project, that point is moot in my example, but it sure the heck won't be moot in your non-felted project. Take the time to take both before and after measurements and be a happier knitter.

My gauge = 15 sts/4 in. 21 rows/4 in.
Let's break that down into inches by dividing by four- 3.75 sts/in.

2. Find the pattern's original gauge requirement.
Original pattern (OP) gauge = 14 sts/4 in, or 3.5 sts/in. 21 rows/4 in.

My row gauge and the OP row gauge are the same, so we can ignore them, nothing needs to change there.

3. How many inches is the finished size of the OP?
In my example we will pretend that the original pattern for a 40-inch finished size is asking me to cast on 140 sts. If we do the math, we know that 140 sts divided by 3.5 sts/in = 40 inches. Or, 3.5/140=40.

4. Substitute your new gauge.40 inches x 3.75 sts/in = 150 sts to cast on.

This means that I have to cast on 150 stitches at my new gauge of 3.75sts/in in order to get a 40" chest measurement in my final garment.

Still with me? Good.

Okay, you cast on 150 stitches and knit up to where the armhole shaping starts. Now the original pattern asks you to bind off 9 stitches at the beginning of the next row. Divide nine stitches by the original gauge of 3.5sts/in and that is 2.57 inches to cast off in the OP. Let's multiply that 2.57 in. by my new gauge of 3.75sts/in, and I know that I have to cast off 9.64 sts in order to get the same decrease depth. Let's just call that 10 stitches and be done with it.

Next the pattern asks me to cast off 1 st at the armhole edge, every other row 6 times. That adds up, of course, to 6 more sts decreased. 3.5/6 = 1.71 inches. In order for me to achieve the closest equivalent, I then multiply that OP 1.71 inches by my 3.75sts/in and know that I have to cast off 6.42 sts. That can't happen, so I'll stick with 6 sts to cast off.

And so on. When the original pattern tells you to do something - bind off, cast on, whatever - for 'A' number of sts, divide 'A' by the OP sts/in in order to get the most basic unit. Next multiply the result of that by your new sts/in, and round the new result up or down accordingly. You'll get your desired fabric and size using your new gauge, and you'll be happy with the results.

Provisional Cast-on, Part Two

2008-12-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

Well, I don't know about you, but that was a much longer pause than I had planned on. My camera, which I assume is to take pictures and videos when and as I demand, does not hold the same supposition.

So, as previously planned, go fetch yarn, plus waste yarn, and appropriately-sized needles. And watch...

Holding the two yarns together and leaving a 6-8" tail, tie the two yarns into a slip knot. Do not use an over-hand knot as it will be harder to take your knot apart later.

Looking at the thumb side of your hand, hold the yarn in your left hand with the waste yarn coming off of your index finger, and the working yarn under your thumb. and controlling the tension of these two yarns by holding them into your palm with your other fingers, just as you do for a long-tail cast-on. Hold the slip knot in your right hand, and your needle in your right hand, pointing towards your left hand. The two yarns should form a triangle between the knot in your right hand, and the upper waste yarn and lower working yarn held in your left hand.

Begin the cast on by
1 - putting your needle in between the two yarns, from front to back. Bring the needle under the working yarn from behind, and catch the working yarn with your needle to form the first stitch.
2- Bring the needle up and over the top of the waste yarn towards the back, and down behind both yarns. Bring the needle under the working yarn to the front, and catch the working yarn with the needle to form the second stitch, pulling this stitch behind the waste yarn, over the top of the waste yarn, and back to the front.

Repeat those two motions until you have the required number of cast-on stitches. Cut the waste yarn from its ball, leaving a 6" tail so that it doesn't unravel from the knitting. Proceed to knit as usual.

If you look carefully at the cast-on stitches and the waste yarn on your needle,before you start knitting, you will see that they are exactly the same as the Italian Tubular cast on. That, too, could be worked with waste yarn in the same manner as this provisional cast-on, but working the first two rows by knitting the knits and slipping the purls wyif, before launching into the K1, P1 rib as previously described.

With the provisional cast-on, when it is time to go back to the cast-on edge and begin knitting in the opposite direction, simply thread a needle 1-2 sizes smaller than you used to cast on with through the stitches where they are held on the waste yarn. Untie the slip knot from the cast-on, and remove the waste yarn from the stitches. Using the correct sized needle for your pattern, knit off of the smaller needle and proceed with your pattern.

And so goes the second of our three identical cast-ons...

Provisional Cast-on

2008-12-06T17:42:00.000-08:00

Way back in mid-October, I promised to show you videos of three different cast-ons - that are all the exact same thing . Each of these cast-ons is used for a completely different purpose: the first, the Italian Tubular Cast-on, is used when starting a K1,P1 rib to give a nice, stretchy tubular cast-on. The second, which I will show you today, is one of several methods you can use to do a provisional cast-on.

What, you may well wonder, is a provisional cast-on used for? A provisional cast-on is used when you know that you will later want to go back to your cast-on edge, and have live stitches with which to begin working seamlessly in the opposite direction. Note that these stitches worked on the second half of your piece are then one-half stitch off sideways to the original knitting. Some examples of when I have used a provisional cast-on:

1. When working on a lace shawl that is knitted from the center out - work the provisional cast-on, knit one half of the shawl beginning at the center and working towards one side edge. The go back to the provisional cast-on, put live sts back onto the needle, and then knit a mirror image of the knitting just done on the other half. When finished with the shawl, there is no grafting to do to join the two halves of the shawl together.

2. On a fair isle vest that was knitted from the center back around to the fronts in two separate pieces, and then was meant to be seamed in the center back. Instead, I used a provisional cast-on, knitted one half of the vest, and repeated for the opposite side. I finished by grafting the two halves together in the back with Kitchener stitch. In retrospect, I would now instead knit the second half of the vest right off of the provisional cast-on for the first half.

3. On a toe-up sock that begins with a cast-on of half the total sock stitches at the base of the toe, under the foot. A short row toe is knitted that works from the cast-on, up over the end of the toe, and then to the base of the toes on the top of the sock foot. Here, the provisional cast-on stitches are then joined to the live stitches so that you are working in the round, and the rest of the sock is worked from there.

So a provisional cast-on or two is a handy technique to have under your belt, to pull out when called for in a pattern; and also to use as a substitute, as I did with my vest, when the occasion calls for it.

Now then, do me a favor, and for review go back and watch the first part of the Italian Tubular Cast-on video from the previous blog post. Then grab some yarn, some contrasting waste yarn, and needles in a size that is appropriate for your yarn. I'll meet you back here.

Knitter's Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

Although I try to remember to thank people and the universe at the time that good things come my way, there are a few special days in the year that I make a point of sitting down and listing the many good things in my life that I am grateful for - my birthday, our anniversary, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. So when thinking about this blog entry, I realized that I would like to list the knitterly things that I am grateful for this year...

1. Kiwi Knitting Co. & Lynn Davis: Well, this one is a given! Lynn and her shop came along at a time in my life where I really, really needed a knitting shop to go for work and fun to that had a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. Over the last 3 and a half years my association with Lynn and Kiwi has afforded me wonderful opportunities for learning, for teaching and for growth - both personal and professional. And I will always be grateful to Lynn for letting me work on this blog for the shop!

2. My students: I have the great good fortune of being able to meet wonderful people through my work. In addition to the occasional classes I teach at Kiwi, I also teach private lessons, and run the Friday morning Knit Doctor sessions at Kiwi. And I have to tell you this - what lovely people you all are! You are intelligent, humorous, eager to learn, and as infected by knitting as I am. It is such a deep pleasure to teach something you love to people who really, really appreciate what you have to share. To me, that 'Aha!' moment, that light bulb moment when it all suddenly clicks for a student, is what makes my teaching world go round. There is amazing camaraderie that develops between a group of knitters in a class that takes place over the several weeks it takes to complete a project. There is something cathartic to the soul about knitting, and I find that students in the classes not only open up their minds, but also their hearts, and bonds of friendship are formed between students and with me that you would never think about when pondering whether to take a group knitting class. My private lesson students and I get to know each other over the weeks that we work together, and I have the chance to tailor my teaching to an individual knitter's needs. Again, I have made wonderful friends this way, and I am grateful to have you in my life. The Knit Doctor regulars... what can I say to you women that you don't already know? I look forward each week to seeing each and every one of you. I love seeing new faces join us, as well. I love how everyone hangs out even after their own questions are answered, knowing that they can learn from other people's questions as well.

3. Old Pueblo Knitters Guild: I've been a member of Tucson's knitting guild for about five years. The guild, I find, is stuffed full of women of all ages and of all skill levels who simply share a great love of all things knitting. OPK sponsors several guild projects and charities, such as Project Linus, Operation Gratitude, Precious Pals, and the Navajo Sweater project. A number of our members are also involved in the community, teaching knitting to children in local schools and libraries. I find our monthly meetings - the 3rd Thursday of every month from 9:30 til 11:30 at the Murphy Room at St. Philip's in the Foothills Church - to be a wealth of information about knitting and what is going on in the Tucson knitting community. I've made good friends through the guild, and through their guest workshops I have attended classes taught by incredible teachers and learned an amazing wealth of techniques that have contributed towards making me a better knitter.

4. The person - probably named Kitchener - who discovered how to graft sock toes. Dang, you have made my life infinitely simpler and happier! And I thank you anew each and every time I finish off a sock with that seamless toe. You even convinced me, a year or so back, to use a provisional cast-on a center back seam so that I could Kitchener it invisibly together,when finished, instead of having a seam running down my back as the designer dictated. If I seemed not so grateful one-hundred-and-something black yarn stitches later, then I hope you understand that I do thank you each time I wear that vest and lean against a chair back.

5. Whoever invented crochet: And I suspect that your name is not Crochet. I may not be as devoted a follower of your craft as I was in my younger days of nimbler wrists, but you are the first one I turn to when I need an edge trim on any project. Without you I would be far less adept at fixing my dropped stitches. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Every knitter should know how to crochet! Whole new worlds of creative possibilities will open up before you.

6. And speaking of edges - Nicky Epstein: Your 'Over the Edge' books are a treasure, and every knitter or crocheter should have them in his or her library. If you want to personalize your projects with a different take on ribbing, or by adding ruffles, or by adding a unique fringe, or with a picot edge - you name it, Nicky can show you how to do it with knitting needles. Nicky Epstein is turning out to be American Knitting's answer to Debbie Bliss in that she churns out so many knitting books so often that you begin to suspect she never sleeps. But each of her books is of great value to knitters who want to explore what they can do with their craft. 'Knitted Embellishments' will always be one of my favorites, as is 'Knitting Never Felt Better'. Both are must haves!

7. Ravelry: This is an incredible source of info mixed with fun for knitters and crocheters alike. If I see a new pattern and I want to see it made up by a whole host of life-size crafters around the world in every possible permutation, I can see those pictures in Ravelry. If a pattern calls for a yarn that I'm not familiar with, I can look it up in Ravelry. If I want knitting or crochet information or to improve a certain set of skills, I can find it through a forum on Ravelry. This is what the world wide web can mean for needleworkers.

8. You Tube: Anytime I hear about a new technique, I look to You Tube as a source for videos that will show me what I want to know. There are millions of knitters world-wide who just want to share what they know with others. Want to learn a new cast-on? Go to You Tube. Want to learn about decreases from Cat Bordhi herself? Go to You Tube. Like Ravelry and Google, it is the connected crafter's knowledge resource.

9. Addi Lace Needles: Although Addi Turbos have long been thought to be the cat's meow of needles among knitters, I was never wild about their cold feeling or blunt point. Then came the Addi Lace needles and I am a fervent convert. The warm brass needles are invisibly joined to a very flexible cord, and the needle tip as sharp enough to allow you to work K3tog tbl without batting an eyelash. I LOVE these needles, and they are my go-to needles for every project. I am gradually building myself a stash of 2 pairs each of every size. As I told someone once, these are my work tools. It's worth the effort to get the best. But what the heck, it's no effort at all! Lynn carries them at Kiwi in every size and every length. I know that as a new knitter starting a project, you are probably hesitant to buy a more costly needle when there are several less expensive choices open to you. Take it from me, all those needles I bought when I first learned to knit are long since sold on ebay, and I hoard these Addi Lace beauties instead. I would have saved a fortune had they been available when I took up knitting again - and had I been as wise then as I am now.

10. Knitting: Knitting saved my sanity, and it continues to do so each and every day. When I first developed adult onset asthma, I had to give up my career of 24 years and close our shop. I spent four long months gasping on the couch before we found the combination of asthma medications that made something approaching normal life possible for me again. In that time, when I was experiencing the worst symptoms, knitting got me through. I would be too distracted to read, often finding myself re-reading a sentence or paragraph over and over again without absorbing a thing. Reading is my first great love, so this was alarming to say the least. But knitting was something I could do during those difficult attacks that was relaxing, soothing, and allowed my brain to wander as much as it wanted while I still could knit and knit and knit.

Since that day knitting has bought me a new career, allowed me to earn money from writing about knitting, allowed me to meet a world of wonderful people, allowed me an outlet for expressing creativity that seems to be endless. It has brought me great joy and some danged nice knitted items. If I am able to share with you at least some fraction of the joy and creativity that I am able to derive from this craft, then I have had a blessed day.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all!
Lynda

PS- The next two videos in the cast-on series are not forgotten! Somewhere in there we made a very sudden decision to move house, and I am just this week able to see large expanses of carpeting and table tops in our new home. Videos are now possible without cardboard boxes lurking in the background. And I now know where the camera and tri-pod are. Life is good.

Galina Khmeleva

2008-11-19T15:03:00.000-08:00

Tucson knitters have a rare and wonderful educational and cultural opportunity available to them this week. Old Pueblo Knitters Guild, with the help of Kiwi Knitting Company, is hosting Galina Khmeleva. Teacher, knitter and designer extraordinaire, Orenburg lace expert and cultural ambassador - would be just some of the titles that first spring to mind that could be applied to this amazing woman. Galina hails from Russia and has, over the years, become arguably the most knowledgeable source of information regarding traditional Orenburg lace knitting techniques, as well as the history of the lace knitting tradition of the Orenburg region.

At the foot of the Ural mountains, the Orenburg region has long been famed for the ethereal, gossamer lace shawls traditionally knitted by the women of the region from handspun fibers gleaned from a special breed of cashmir goats. In the early 1990s Galina became involved with helping the women of the region to sustain the craft by exporting the shawls for sale. She also had the opportunity to learn from the experts the traditional patterns and techniques that make the shawls of this region so costly, so coveted and so unique.

I had the incredible opportunity this past weekend to take part in a small 3-day workshop that Galina presented. In addition to the history of Orenburg, the history of her involvement with the knitters of the region, and the stories of her family history under the regime of the USSR - all of which makes for a fascinating running monologue as we knitted - we were taught the basic design elements of the Orenburg tradition.

We were also taught new cast-ons, bind-offs, and a very different and very easy method of grafting that is unique to the knitted textiles of the region. The incredible edgings that are part of the Orenburg lace shawls were great fun to learn and knit, as well as being amazingly beautiful. I think I can speak for us all if I say that Galina is an excellent teacher with a deep grounding in her material and a clear and precise teaching method that makes all that she teaches easily attainable. And let's face it, short of going to the expense and the trouble of traveling to the Orenburg region yourself, spending years establishing a rapport with the local knitters - not to mention learning to peak Russian so that you can communicate with them - taking a class with Galina is the only way to learn these techniques.

Galina is teaching three classes at Kiwi this week - new cast-on, bind-off and grafting methods; Russian Continental knitting; and knitting textured designs, or mooshky. These classes have been posted at the shop for some time now, and are all full except for Thursday afternoon's class on knitting mooshky. The cost is $40 per class, or $35 for Old Pueblo Knitters Guild members and Kiwi Klub members. If you are free on Thursday afternoon - even if knitting mooshky doesn't sound like your thing - I encourage you to give the shop a call at 881-1319 and sign up. I promise you that you will learn more than your money's worth.

Galina will also be speaking at the meeting of the Old Pueblo Knitters Guild on Thursday morning, November 20th at 9:30 at a.m. The guild meets at the Murphy Room at St. Philip's in the Foothills Church, located at the north-east corner of Campbell and River. Guests are always welcome and the meeting is free for guests, so do make a point of dropping in if you have the chance. There will be a short business meeting first.

To the great delight of the spinners in the group, Galina also taught an afternoon of traditional spinning techniques. Apparently, Asthma Woman here has an allergy to the raw fleeces used, although I had no such problems with the finished shawls, and trust me, she has many stunning examples for you to pet and try on, and I did!

Nonetheless, I had to duck out when the itchy face spread to include itchy lips, so I was sorry to miss even a second of what this wonderful woman had to offer. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to seeing her again at the guild meeting on Thursday. I hope to see you there, too.

Warning, she has gorgeous Russian crafts to sell, as well...

Pattern of the Month

2008-11-09T13:23:00.001-08:00

If you frequent Kiwi Knitting as we hope you do, then you will have heard of our Kiwi Klub,and the wonderful benefits it gives members. In addition to a free Tech Class of your choice as well as other fun monthly benefits, members of the Kiwi Klub get a free Pattern of the Month. These patterns are exclusive to Kiwi Klub members, and every month there is something completely different, fun and challenging. This month, for the November Pattern of the Month, there is the Cozy Baby Cozy pattern.

The Pattern of the Month for July 2008 is called Catharine's Cap, designed by Lynn Davis, Kiwi's owner. Intended as a chemo cap, it is lined with a smooth stockinette stitch lining that is meant to be worked in a very soft yarn to comfort those sensitive scalps.

One of our favorite shop customers, Virginia Levinson made the version you see here using Silky Tweed from Elsebeth Lavold for the lace patterned outer cap, and a soft silk blend for the inner lining.

Virginia is a great fan of the Pattern of the Month feature of the Kiwi Klub. She tells me that this is one of the most challenging patterns she has tried, and also one of the most unusual patterns. It seems that no matter where she was working on the hat, lots of people had questions about how it was worked and compliments on her progress. Her daughter is now the proud owner of the hat and loves it.

Virginia tells me that she learns something new from all of the patterns of the month, and she finds the projects patterns to be very sophisticated. I know that speaking for myself, when choosing my next project I most often look for a pattern that is going to challenge me and teach me new tricks, as I firmly believe that this is one of the best ways to expand my skills as a needle-worker. This past summer and fall I have been knitting socks as holiday gifts for everyone in my family, and while you may think that there are only so many ways to make a sock, you'd be astounded at what you can learn from working a toe-up instead of a top-down, a different heel, or a new stitch pattern.

One of the other wonderful perks of Kiwi Klub membership at the moment is that it gets you the guild rate for classes sponsored by Old Pueblo Knitters guild. These classes are coming up next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and are taught by Galina Khemeleva, one of the premier lace knitters in the world today. It seems that the Thursday class is full, the Wednesday class has one opening left, and there are still openings in the Friday class.

Next time you stop into Kiwi Knitting, take a moment to talk to Lynn about the wonderful benefits of Kiwi Klub membership. You will probably find that it is ideal for you!

Southwest Fiber Festival

2008-11-08T16:22:00.000-08:00

Well, my fellow fiberholics. Right now my house looks like a bomb has gone off and they just need to bring the dogs in to search for survivors. This is entirely due to the fact my house is in a different place than it was last time we talked. The good news is that the chaos cannot possibly last forever. The bad news is that it sure feels that way. The other good news is that now I have taken over the second bedroom as my studio. We'll talk more about that when it is all put together and ready for public viewing.

First, let's catch up by chatting about the Southwest Fiber Festival. I have to say, for a first time event of what I hope will be many more to come, it was really well organized. Setting up seemed to run smoothly and all the vendors seemed happy with how things were going. Having done booths at farmers markets longer than I care to think about, I just knew that I could sail down to Amado that morning and get all set up in half an hour. Piece of cake. Unless, of course, one forgets to bring one's table. I thought someone else was bringing it, she knew she wasn't and knew that I was bringing the table. But thanks to the kindness of another vendor I managed to locate a sub and my very panicked start to the morning went smoothly.

My friend Monica and I were right next to Lynn's booth for Kiwi Knitting. Lynn brought lots of roving, some hand-dyed yarns, baskets from Lantern Moon, and some great books. We saw a lot of our shop regulars there, as well as new faces that were excited to hear about Kiwi.

And, of course, her knitting bag. During down times I would look across to Lynn in her chair as we both sat in the shade and worked on Christmas gifts for family.

I had the great fun of sharing a booth with my friend and knitting student, Monica Durazo. Monica, I'm delighted to say, was a huge hit with her nuno-felted silk organza blouses. Some where all white, others started with her hand-dyed rovings and/or hand-dyed silks. They were just gorgeous, and it was great fun to see her hard work so appreciated by the festival goers.

My side of the booth was all about my knitted and fulled pieces, which were then embellished with some combination of hand-worked embroidery, beading, crochet or needle-felting.

Because of the heat, I didn't explore the other vendor booths as much as I would have liked, but here is one that I really loved. The business is called Bags by Coral Lou. They had wonderful hand-made felted bags. The bags themselves are knitted by Coral Lou, and her husband does the needle-felted embellishments. I think the man is an incredible artist.

They had a number of bags at their booth, in a wide variety of styles. Once her husband finishes embellishing the outside of the bag, he hand paints the fabrics for the lining. Next Cora Lou sews the painted fabrics into the most meticulous, detailed linings.

As you can tell, I was really inspired by their pieces.

This design, of bamboo, really caught my eye with the wonderful detail.

Then she flipped the bag over and I saw that the other side of the bag has another panel of needle-felted bamboo.

And I just had to get another picture of both of them together with their wonderful art piece.

The dates are already set for next year's show with vendors and classes, and I hope that you will keep an eye out for it. I'd love to see more people from Tucson make the trip down. Amado is only a very easy half-hour trip once you are on I-19, and it would be nigh unto impossible for you to miss seeing it from the freeway. You just couldn't get lost. This year I was a vendor, next year I'm planning to take the classes that I drooled over enviously this time around.

The Italian Tubular Cast-on

2008-10-19T10:07:00.001-07:00

Last time I mentioned that I will show you a few cast-ons that are exactly the same - but done in different ways, and used for different purposes. I stumbled on this while hunting down various knitting technique videos last week. I was watching one of a cast-on and thought, Wait! that's the same thing as the Italian Tubular cast-on! Then during the week as I was pondering the wonder of all that, I realized that a certain designer's supposedly 'magical' cast-on was yet another slight variation of the exact same technique. I don't know which came first, the chicken or the egg, but you watch and see what you think.

I first found the ITCO about a year ago and immediately loved it. Like many other knitters, I really like the effect that a traditional tubular cast-on gives but find doing it very fiddly and a pain in the neck. Consequently, I was overjoyed to find a way to get the same result without all the fuss and bother. I use this whenever I am working on a project that requires a 1x1 rib (K1, P1). Socks, sleeves, sweater hems, hats... Once you give this simple and fun cast-on a try, you'll find yourself using it every chance you get.

Because my camera will only record short videos I have broken this up into two steps - the actual cast-on itself and working the first two rows are in the first video. Go grab some light-colored yarn in a weight you're comfortable with and a set of needles in the appropriate size for your yarn, and follow along with me.

The original directions I found said a couple of things that I'd like to touch on. One was that this cast-on can only be used with a even number of stitches. I've tried it with an odd number of stitches as well and found that it works just fine.

Those directions also said that you can work either 2 rows or 4 rows of the K1, slip one as if to purl wyif. I've always worked just two rows of this pattern before diving into the 1x1 rib and been happy with the result. Try it both ways and decide which you like the look of best.

Finally, the demo that I saw of this cast-on showed the knitter holding her needle between her knees while she did the cast-on with both hands. It may feel awkward to you at first, but with a tiny bit of practice it is perfectly comfortable to do this cast-on while holding the needle in your hands as you work, and I think this is far less awkward than trying to hold the needle steady between your knees.

After filming the first video, and before filming the second, I next worked about 4 rows of the 1x1 ribbing before finishing off the cast-on. You may do as many or as few of these rows as you like before taking the bottom of the cast-on apart, but do work at least a couple of rows of the ribbing before doing this next stage.

And there you have it, the Italian Tubular Cast-on.

Next time I'll show you the second of these three cast-ons.

Lynda

PS- It apparently rouses the ire of the techno gods when you are smug enough to announce publicly that you have mastered any form of technology. Just so you can learn from my mistakes...

More New Yarns

2008-10-14T18:44:00.001-07:00

You know, I don't generally think of myself as being technically incompetent. But with the computer problems that I have had over the last month, I am beginning to question that self-assessment. However, I do believe that at last I have everything sorted out - with many grateful thanks to my very-patient husband - and all my auxiliary bits are talking to the computer as they should, and the computer is listening. Witness the fact that I was finally able to download these photos to the blog.

You might also take note that once again, I have some delicious things to show you from the parade of new yarns that are making their way into the shop. Lynn assures me that there is even more to come, so you will be seeing more new yarns here as we go along, as well as some old favorites in new colors.

First up, I want to show you the new Malabrigo Lace. I know you are familiar with the Malabrigo worsted weight, a beautiful kettle-dyed yarn in the smooshiest merino wool you could ever hope to meet. Now we have the laceweight, and I can tell you, this stuff is gorgeous. The fiber is a baby merino with 470 yds to 50 grams. The colors are very pretty and well-saturated, just as you'd expect from Malabrigo. I'll admit that my camera phone didn't do justice to the purple at the top, especially.

These would make the prettiest lace scarves for a quick, easy and luxurious gift for someone you know - or even for yourself. I've been knee-deep in my holiday gift knitting since June, so I must admit that that is where my mind is at right now. My preference is to do my gift knitting now, and sit back and smugly enjoy the approach to the holidays without a care. while selfishly knitting for myself. You are welcome to join me.

As I was laying the Malabrigo Lace out on the front table to photograph and turning to talk with Lynn, I espied these beauties hanging on the wall by the register as you come into the shop. Also by Malabrigo, this is a beautiful blend of 30% silk and 70% merino wool, with 150 yds/50 grams. I never used to be a fan of silk, I'll admit it here. My experience with woven or knitted silk fabrics in commercial clothing is that more often than not they have had a musty smell to them that is very off-putting to me, to the point where I just cannot keep that garment on my body because the smell is so overwhelming and unpleasant.

Imagine my delight in discovering that this isn't at all true of silk blend yarns! Now I am in love with the stuff, with it's texture - sometimes matte and light-absorbing, at other times adding a lovely sheen to a yarn that no other fiber can give. To me, the idea of blending silk and merino wool is just a match made in heaven. It has a softness and a vibrancy that is just a joy to work with. Lynn assures me that she has been carrying this delightful yarn for some time now. I replied that when one is as absent-minded as I am, every day is a new adventure.

Kiwi also has a couple of new yarns from Noro! (To me, this is like saying that someone has figured out a new form to put chocolate into.) The multi that you see at the top and bottom of this photo is called Yuzen. It is a 56% wool, 34% silk, and 10% kid mohair. It has a nice hand and it feels as though the drape would be wonderful. The colors blend together in a tweedy sort of way, and next to chocolate, tweed yarn - and especially yarn from Noro - would have to be one of my favorite things in life.

It is a good weight and fiber content to use with another new Noro yarn pictured here, Maiko. Maiko is 35% wool, 30% kid mohair and 35% silk at 130 yds/40 grams, in several very nice 'solid' colors that again have an almost tweedy feel to them. The colors Lynn chose to carry in the shop are really very pretty, and you should be seeing those hit the shelves sometime this week.

Next time I'm going to post more of my amateur videos, this time showing you two different very handy cast-ons for very specific purposes, that I accidentally discovered are the exact same thing! Riveting stuff. Have your yarn and needles handy.

September Sock-Mania

2008-10-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

I hope you had the chance to take part in one of the many classes that were offered during the last month in celebration of September Sock-Mania at Kiwi. The shop offered wonderful classes in various sock patterns and sock-knitting techniques, as well as several different sock heels, and Marianne's own wonderful sock design. I got to teach my modified version of the Sherman Heel and had a great time. You should be beginning October with at least some of these incredible projects and techniques under your belt, ready to take on any sock pattern that happens to catch your fancy.

My inner two-year old, I must confess, quite often looms larger than the not-inconsiderable bulk of my outer 50-year old, and my idea of a great time is when I can regress to my mud-pie-making days in the process of creating something both beautiful and practical. And the Paint Your Own Sock Yarn class on Saturday, September 27th with Heather Ordover looks like it was my kind of fun.

Armed with various flavors of Kool-Aid, glass canning jars, rolls of plastic, sock yarn and sock blanks, everyone had a fun, creative afternoon and walked away with their very own custom-dyed sock blanks and sock yarns. For those unfamiliar with sock blanks, they are a large piece of knitted fabric made up with a doubled strand of sock yarn. I've seen some that are pre-dyed but in my mind that takes half the fun out of it. How much better to dye your own and have custom socks! Once you have dyed your sock blank, you knit your new socks straight from the knitted fabric, unraveling it as you go. When I talked to Lynn on Tuesday she was showing off her beautiful green and blue sock blank and looking forward to tackling knitting two socks at once.

They began by mixing the Kool-Aid dyes in jars of water, with labels left near them to remind them which was which. Don a pair of gloves, an apron or an old shirt, and you are ready to dive in.

Here you see Judith playing with the dyes while Heather takes notes about their choices as they go. The table gave them plenty of room to spread out the dyes, yarn and blanks.

Judith paints her blank with yellow Kool-Aid.

It looks like Linda is having great fun working on her very colorful sock blank.

Lynn gets into the act, using my favorite colors on a blank of her own.

Judith with another blank.

When the painting is finished, the dyed blanks are rolled up in plastic wrap, ready to heat up and set the dyes.

They also dyed some sock yarn.

The blanks and yarns, dyed and cooling down after setting.

Some of the finished yarns and blanks, laid out to dry.

All in all it looked like everyone had a great time and I can't wait to see the finished socks that will come from these beautiful custom-dyed yarns. I hope they will allow me to share them with you here.

Many thanks go out to Linda McKittrick for the use of these photos!

New Fall Yarns

2008-09-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

I am finally able to get back online. A week and a half ago my computer decided that it didn't want to play with the internet anymore. Kaput! My beloved husband, who serves as my tech support, has spent the last 11 or 12 days taking things apart, putting in new things, putting things back together again, re-loading all the software, taking things apart, putting in new things, putting things back together again, reloading all the soft-ware, taking things apart... I could keep up with emails here on his computer, but his computer wouldn't let me into Blogger, or vice versa. Now we have that working and I'll be playing catch-up this week.

The tricky thing is that his computer has all sorts of bells and whistles that mine didn't, and I am having trouble negotiating the whole mess. But I'll get there... I've always maintained that one of the little-known secrets to a happy marriage is seperate bathrooms (and not telling him how much yarn you own), but I'm starting to suspect that seperate computers might play a role as well.

Well, if you've been in the shop in the last few weeks and peeked into the back store-room, you have noticed that it is stuffed sky-high with large cardboard boxes, all filled with gorgeous yarns for fall. Some old favorites, some old faves with a new twist, and some brand-spanking new wonderful stuff. Not being one for slinging boxes around myself, I go in now and then and see what's on top.

These are the new Pagewood Farms Sock yarns. The yarns are hand-dyed in small batches and come from San Pedro, California. Yukon is a lovely, soft blend of merino superwash, bamboo, and nylon (70/20/10). The merino makes this sock yarn soft and warm, the bamboo adds a silky sheen which is really nice, and the nylon reinforces for those hard-wearing areas. At approximately 450 yards per skein, one skein should make a wonderful pair of socks.

Also from Pagewood Farms is Alyeska, a luscious blend of merino superwash, cashmere and nylon (80/10/10). This stuff is bite-your-knuckles delicious! I really had to restrain myself until Lynn gets it into the computer system and priced. You wouldn't think that just 10% cashmere could make that much difference in a yarn, and their just plain merino superwash/nylon sock yarn, Denali, is like knitting with and wearing clouds. But Alyeska is just that much more soft, cushy and smooshy.

As I said, I've used the Pagewood Farms Denali in socks and was very happy with the softness, colors and the knitability. So I can already tell you that you're going to love these yarns! Not a sock knitter? (GASP!) Think of these for lace shawls, too, and baby sweaters!

Bringing back a yarn that Lynn had when she first opened the shop, Kiwi now has several colorways of the Montage Collection Handpaints. This 8-ply yarn is spun from New Zealand wool, and as the name might tell you is hand-painted in a gorgeous array of colors. This yarn weighs out at approximately 450 yds per 200 gms. The colors are bright and vivid and I can see this turning into beautiful sweaters, slippers, hats and scarves as well as mittens and all kinds of felting projects.

Well, fellow yarnies, I have mastered getting photos from my phone to the computer and into the blog, next to conquer getting photos from my camera into this computer so that I can post about techniques. I think my husband is starting to cringe everytime I call his name...

Kaffe Fassett yarns for Fall

2008-09-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

Lynn is starting to get in yarns from her fall orders, so I can begin to show what's going to be new for this coming fall at Kiwi! The back room is stuffed with boxes, so keep tuned as I show you what will be appearing on the shelves in the coming weeks.

First off, the wonderful Kaffe (pronounced like 'cape', but with an 'f') Fassett has come out with new colors in his popular sock yarn for Regia. This is a sampling of the colors that are new, and I have to tell you that they are very vivid and rich. Very pretty. As with the other Regia sock yarns, one ball is sufficient for the average pair of socks. I like the way that these don't pattern into very defined, solid lines. Yarns like these are a wonderful chance to work short-row heels.

Regia is also producing a sport-weight sock yarn by Kaffe Fassett, known as the 6-fadig (6 ply, as opposed to the regular sock-weight, which is 4 ply). I knitted socks last winter with another Regia 6-fadig and can tell you that it is a dream to knit with, and makes nice, comfy, bouncy socks. These should be very nice for those of you who, like me, knit for people in colder climes, or who always have cold toes - also like me!

These new fall sock yarns probably won't be hitting the shelves before early October, but keep them in mind as you plan your fall and winter knitting.

We are also carrying the Kaffe Fassett Colourscape Chunky by Regia. These yarns are %100 Lambswool, with long color changes that make it ideal for entrelac patterns, and also for felting. The 100 gm. skeins have approximately 175 yards per skein and knit up at about 3.5 sts/inch. This single-ply yarn has a spin that is very similar to Noro Kureyon, and comes in some luscious colors.

I always love to know what the new yarns are, and I'll enjoy sharing what I find out with you. Check back!

The Latvian Cast-on

2008-09-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

I know I'm a day late for posting for this last week, but once I mentioned the Latvian cast-on in the previous blog post, I realized that I really had to show you how to do it.

The tricky thing with that idea is this - how do you take a video of yourself knitting? You really need both hands for knitting, and then two spare hands for working the camera. I spent the week puzzling over how to make that work, and then last night as I was knitting I remembered my old tri-pod from my photography days. I took a few minutes of digging to find it in the back of my closet, and then I was in business! By then, of course, it was really too dark in the house to get a good video, so here we are this morning. So this week will be a double-feature!

Pardon the scratchy asthma voice, and the camera that would really rather focus on the carpet than on my hands and my knitting. I think it works pretty well, though, for my film debut!

Now for the written out instructions-

Latvian cast-on:

Very much resembles a Long-Tail cast-on in the set-up and execution. You should be able to pick this up easily!

Leaving yourself a 6-8 inch tail for weaving in later, measure out the length of yarn you need for the number of stitches you would like to cast on. Figure another 6-8 inches into that length for use later.

Now double that whole length (so that you have 2x as much yarn) except for the original 6-8 inch tail, still hanging onto your original tail in your right hand. The doubled length of yarn becomes your thumb yarn, the single strand of yarn going to the yarn ball is your finger yarn, and the 6-8 inch tail is held against your needle. Set yourself up for a regular Long-Tail cast-on.

Instead of starting with a slip knot as many people do with Long-Tail and its variations, begin by pointing your needle straight down in the space between the yarn arranged in your left hand going from thumb to finger and the inner curve of your hand between your thumb and index finger. Bring the needle firmly back against the yarn, and turn it so that it is pointing towards the finger, twisting it in the yarn as you continue to turn the needle to the upright position. See how much neater that is than a slip-knot?

Now, cast on your first (next) stitch by using the normal Long-Tail method, remembering that the doubled yarn serves as your thumb yarn in this cast on.

For the second stitch, instead of putting your thumb down through the middle of the two yarn strands and then pulling up the way your normally would, reach your thumb outside of the yarn strands and over the thumb yarn pointing downwards. Scoop your thumb under the thumb yarn and up through the middle of your thumb and finger strands.

Notice that in a normal Long-Tail, the loop around your thumb is twisted at its base. With this second, altered stitch, the thumb loop is open at its base.

Now take your needle, go over the top of the doubled thumb strand, down under the single strand thumb yarn, grab your finger yarn and bring the new stitch through the thumb loop.

Alternate the normal, more familiar stitch with the altered stitch for the number of required cast-on sts.

See how the stitches arrange themselves on your needle in pairs?

Finish Before You Begin

2008-08-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

I'm doing something that I never, ever do. You all know by now that I've been working like a dutiful knitter on Christmas presents since June. And I'm going along pretty well, I'm proud of how far ahead of the game I am and how much I've gotten finished so far, with months yet to go before the holidays.

Until I got to my eldest sister's socks. She is a browns and rusts and oranges person, and so these socks are knitted from stash yarn in a pattern called Oak Leaf. This is a fairly easy, textured stitch pattern combining cables and lace, and it is looking gorgeous in her colors. I know she'll love these socks. But it is not in the least intuitive. Typically, lace and cable patterns become instinctive after a repeat or two. You just know in each row where the cables or the K2tog, SSKs and yo's go next. Until this one. So, in a nod to my hormones and in a bid for sanity, after finishing the first sock I have put the project into 'time out', and cast on something for myself.

The February Lady sweater. This cardigan pattern, available free through Ravelry, is based on a baby sweater pattern by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Pamela Wynne up-sized it for women, and this particular cardigan is the hottest thing since sliced bread right now. And I just happened to have enough worsted weight Cascade 220 Heather in my stash from a going-out-of-business sale a couple of years ago. I don't think the photos show the color off properly, but it is a heathered mixture of pine green and navy blue, with an odd red haze over it that is truly gorgeous.

When one even begins a sweater there are a few things to think about, and decisions to make. It is important that you consider all the various stages and their options so that you can plan the finished result before casting on the first stitch.

First, Cast-on and Bind-off. Are they going to show? In this case - a top-down raglan - the answer is yes. The cast-on is the neckline, and the bind-off is the bottom hem and the sleeve edges. This sweater begins and ends with garter stitch, so I opted to use a Latvian Cast-on (not to be confused with the Latvian Braid Cast-on), as I like the way it imitates garter stitch. I'll end with the Latvian Bind-off and have the same effect at hem and sleeve edges.

Next, I need to think about my opening edges of the cardigan. Are they going to show just as they are knitted, or will a button-band be added later? In this case, the selvedge edges will be used as is, and the button band is knitted as you go. I opted to slip my edge stitches in my favorite way - K1tbl in the first stitch in every row, work to the last stitch, yarn forward as if to purl, slip the last stitch as if to purl.

Now, there are raglan increase lines - how do I want to treat them? I have several options: I can work them according to the pattern by working them as - M1,K1,M1. This leaves a less defined and more subtle raglan line. I could work them with eyelets - yo,K1,yo. Or I can make them with a defined line by following the M1,K1,M1, but purling that center stitch on the wrong side rows. This makes the raglan lines stand out against the garter stitch background - as in mitred corners. I went with the last choice.

With a top-down raglan, after you knit the yoke of the sweater with the raglan increases, you separate the sleeves stitches from the rest of the body stitches, and put the sleeve stitches onto waste yarn. Next, you will typically cast on a small number of stitches at the underarm area that become part of the lower body stitches. Later, after the body is finished and it is time to pick the sleeve stitches up from the waste yarn and begin to knit the sleeves, you will pick up stitches at the top of those cast-on stitches at the underarm. These become part of the sleeve stitches. Because the body and the sleeves below the division point in this cardigan are knitted in a lace pattern, there isn't a secure edge to pick up sleeve stitches from later. Considering this, I cast on the underarm stitches using a Crochet Cast-on with waste yarn, then slipped these waste yarn stitches back to the right needle and knitted across them with my working yarn. Later, when it is time to work the sleeves, I can pick out the waste yarn and have live stitches to work from.

Because I have thought through the various stages of the project before beginning, I am better prepared for what happens next, have more control over the finished product, and am happier with the more finished results. Planning ahead also give you time to practice any new techniques on a swatch before incorporating them into your project.

Speaking of Knitting Bags

2008-08-18T15:58:00.001-07:00

Well, no matter that I try my best to be an independent woman, sometimes it takes my husband to simply walk past and ask, Did you try to upload those photos one at a time? And so it seems that Blogger, at the moment, can't take big bites of photography, only little nibbles.

Sticking with my promise to show you some of the wonderful new project bags that Lynn has in the shop, I want to show you what I have been lusting after. I don't know about you, but I have always had this mental image of a knitting bag that I'm sure is a left-over from my parents knitting back in the 60s. And I'm not into vintage. I've long been convinced that in everything there should be beauty as well as function, and these bags have both qualities, in spades.

First, Kiwi has several really cute little tool bags for knitters and crocheters, just the sort of thing you need to tuck all your much-needed tools in (I'm going to go get one of those quilter's needle-grabbers, Marianne!). And they make it very easy to transfer a project from one bag to another.

Want a project bag that doesn't scream 'old lady' every time you use it? Or are you a guy knitter or crocheter who wants to be able to carry a project along? Then the Messenger Bag from Namaste is for you. The Messenger Bag has a durable corduroy exterior and lots of pockets. It measures 16"w x 12"h x 5"d at the top, 6" at the bottom. A special zipper allows you to expand the depth of the bag to a roomy 8.5".

Namaste is known for their animal-friendly materials, but even a leather bag fan such as myself would never spot these for anything but the real thing. That is the kind of compromise I really like. The Malibu Bag is spacious with an interior divider and lots of pockets. What I admire about this bag is its camouflage. No one would look at this and say knitting bag! It looks like a top line purse and you could easily use it for one when it isn't carrying around your latest project. The Malibu measures 20"w x 13"h x 8"d.

The Laguna is a bag with a slightly larger feel. It measures 17.5"w x 16"h x 7.5"d. It is chock-full of pockets, both inner and outer, with a zippered interior divider, and handles as well as a detachable shoulder strap. Also made with that buttery soft animal-friendly 'leather'.

Also in the shop but not pictured is Namaste's Knit Tube. Think of that tubular sling that you use to carry your yoga mat to class. Make it out of Namaste's durable 'leather' and divide it into two compartments for easy use. The Knit Tube measures 26"l x 6"d.

If you are planning any travel and want a small, light project bag to take on the plane, then the Airplane bag is for you. It opens into a roomy interior so that you can root around and find just what you need.

And then closes into a little silk reticule for easy carrying.

Isn't it time you treated yourself to a new project bag? Stop in and see all of our bags from Della Q and Lantern Moon as well!

Southwest Fiber Festival

2008-08-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

Well, I had planned today to follow up last week's post by showing you some of the wonderful new knitting bags that we have in at Kiwi. However, Blogger doesn't want to play nice with my photos this week. So until I can figure out what its problem is, or until it should miraculously recover from its snit of its own accord, I thought we could talk about an upcoming event.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25th. The Southwest Fiber Arts Guild will present the Southwest Fiber Festival from 10-5 at the Amado Territory Ranch, about 30 minutes south of Tucson off of I-19 and Arrivaca Rd., exit #48.

The event will appeal to knitters, crocheters, spinners and weavers of all skill levels. Classes will be presented on subjects ranging from making yarn from fabrics, wet-felting classes on flowers and treasure brooches, broadening your spinning techniques and lace-yarn spinning, wire crochet and Kumihimo, hand-painting yarns or warp, hand-painting rovings, needle-felt landscapes and basket weaving.

There will be a skein competition judged in categories such as Fine Singles, Medium to Thick Singles, Fine Plied, Medium Plied, Novelty & Novice Spinner.

Animal exhibits, a fleece competition, shearing demonstrations, door prizes and more should entertain the whole family.

A variety of vendors from the Southern Arizona are as well as from as far away as Colorado and New Mexico will be on hand selling fibers, yarns, buttons, beads, spinning supplies, felting supplies, finished items and more. A great time to start your holiday shopping! Lynn and Kiwi Knitting Co. will be one of the vendors on hand with a variety of fibers for spinners, and I will be selling my felted and embellished items, with my friend and Kiwi customer Monica who will be selling her hand-dyed pre-felts for nuno felters.

This promises to be a very fun day in a gorgeous setting. October in Southern Arizona is a lovely time of year for an outdoor festival centered on our favorite obsessions. So plan to come down and visit the Kiwi booth as well as take advantage of the wonderful classes. I hope to see you there, and please stop by my table as well and introduce yourself!

What a Knitter Needs

2008-08-09T16:57:00.000-07:00

Congratulations go out to Ellen Fischler, who won our Kiwi Blog Anniversary Contest! Ellen won a gorgeous Della Q knitting bag, a $30 gift certificate for a project to fill the bag with, and a one-hour private lesson with yours truly.

I love, love, love bags of all sorts, and knitting bags especially. For me, one of the best things about buying a new bag is the process of moving in to it. You know, deciding which things will go where for maximum convenience, and just how much you can carry around with you on a daily basis.

As well as the ever-beautiful Della Q bags, we have some of the gorgeous Namaste knitting bags in the shop now, which I lust after strongly. As soon as I have one in my possession, the following is what I would be putting into it. Call it my list of things that every knitter needs, at one time or another.

1- A bag should be big enough to have a suitable spot to stick a copy of your pattern so that you don't have to fold it to get it into the bag. It should be within easy reach when you need it, and easy to put away when you don't.

2- A small tool case that will fit all the small odds and ends that we need so often. We have some very cute ones in the shop right now, or if you like to show off your talents, mine is one of my Knitter's Felted Tool Cases, (pattern also available at Kiwi Knitting) and it fits everything I need, including:
-A small compartmented box with small stitch markers perfect for separating repeats in patterns, coilless pins for marking particular rows, and fancy beaded markers for when I want to be wild.
-Another small compartmented box holding Chibi bent-tip needles for weaving in ends and sewing knitted pieces together, yarn darning needles for yarn embroidery, cable needles, a needle threader, needle holders and point protectors.
-A small glass dropper bottle with water for wet-splicing yarns.
-A packet of knitting marking pins to use when sewing up sweater parts.
-One of several measuring tapes which I have stashed all through my bag and around the house.
-A small calculator for figuring yardage for yarn requirements, and calculating increases and decreases.
-A 6" calibrated metal ruler for measuring gauge.

3- A set of crochet hooks from sizes 1.25, 1.5 and 1.75 mm for beading, through size B up to K. Excellent for rescuing lost stitches, repairing stitches gone wrong, and working great crocheted trims on knitted pieces or crocheted chains for those times when you just can't face I-cord.

4- A yarn cutting disc for quick cuts.
5- A small, very sharp pair of scissors for detail work.
6- An electronic row counter to help me to keep track of where I am in a pattern.
7- An interchangeable needle set for emergencies.
8- The package for the needles I'm currently working with, along with any needles I might need later in the project.
9- A sticky note pad for making notes to myself about any changes I might want to make in the pattern, as well as a small spiral notebook for writing down ideas or reminders for myself, or info to share with other knitters.
10- A package of Thimble-Its for those times when I have been working too long with small needles and have punched a sore hole in the pad of my right index finger, but can't stop knitting anyway.
11- A pen for marking changes in a pattern, and a highlighter to highlight the sizes and stitch counts I'm using in a multi-size pattern.
12- Personal things like waterless hand cleaner for cold and flu season, a spare asthma inhaler, mints and eyeglass cleaner.
13- A ball of waste yarn, and a ball of white worsted yarn for quickly demonstrating techniques or trying something out before applying it to my project.
14- A pair of elastic hand mitts for wrist support because I knit too darned much - according to non-believers, and according to my wrists.
15- My MP3 player with earphones loaded with audio books that I've downloaded from the library website.

Now some of these things I need only once in a while, but they are very convenient to have on hand - because when you need them, you really, really need them. Others I use every day, both in my own knitting and when teaching other knitters.

I'd love to hear what all of you carry around in your knitting bags! Send a comment and give us some new ideas by clicking below on the word 'COMMENTS' that you see following this post.

Also, do you have a question about knitting or crochet, or want me to write about something that you want to know more about? Leave a message in the comments, or email me at Lynda at Kiwiknitting dot com

Thanks!

The Doctor is In!

2008-08-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

No matter what else I may have planned or scheduled for the rest of my week, every Friday morning from 10 til 12 I get to go play Knit Doctor at Kiwi Knitting Co. In the morning I pack up my knitting bag - which invariably spends all of Thursday afternoon and evening vomiting it's contents all over the house. My set of crochet hooks on top of the knitting machine in the yarn room (referred to, by non-believers, as the dining room). Which is where they were last evening when I was watching a movie in the next room and picking up stitches on the gusset sides of the second sock, wanting to do that tricky pick-up st in either corner that prevents holes. The yarn darning needles by the chair in the yarn room where I was working a contrasting blanket stitch border on a felted scarf yesterday morning. My socks-in-progress (SIPs) from the coffee table. Stuff it all in, put the bag on the table by the front door where even someone senile from birth such as myself is much less likely to walk out the front door without it. Grab my bottle of water and go.

Playing Knit Doctor is one of my favorite ways of teaching, for a reason that would make many knitting teachers dread it, shuddering in fear. I never know what's going to come through the door. I have no idea what I'll be asked to solve. I can't prep for it! I love that. For someone who was never able to envision a traditional career for myself because I hate doing static, repetitive jobs, this is the ideal. I drive down the alley and park in the back, put the sun shade up in the front window of the car, and open the back door to my surprise for the day.

Opening that door is akin to having the privilege of unwrapping an incredible gift at the same time every week. Who's going to be there today, and what will they have?

This morning there was one woman who wanted to learn how to do an applied I-cord edge with buttonholes, and brought in her garter stitch swatch with contrasting yarn and needles all ready to go. She also brought a friend of hers for the first time, a newish knitter who had knitted a hat flat and needed to learn how to do mattress stitch. I got to see an array spread out over the table in the back room of things the second woman had knitted in the last week, proudly displayed and presented by her excited friend, with commentary. I was able to show one woman how to start a Twisted German cast-on without a slip knot, and how to space her stitches on the needle as she cast them on. For a fourth woman, I had the fun of talking about purl decreases and what makes a decrease lean the way you want it to lean. Yet another woman who is knitting a beautiful ribbon yarn jacket wanted to learn how to do an M1 increase. And I could talk about slipped stitch edges and their beauty and value on shawl edges with a fifth knitter. Last week included how to fix knitting stitches with a crochet hook, how to read your knitting, and how to give neck edges and shoulder seams support in a very stretchy sweater knitted with bamboo tape, by working a crochet chain invisibly into the fabric from the wrong side.

This is nectar and ambrosia to me. I love to help people. I love to talk about knitting. I love the challenge of not knowing what to expect. I live to see what I call the 'lightbulb moment' that dawns when a knitter who has come into the shop frustrated and confused suddenly gets it.

As our every Friday morning Knit Doctor sessions have become better-known and more popular, it isn't unheard of for me to walk in and see a table full of knitters all sitting and waiting for me, chatting away, and each one knowing just what her place is in the queue. Or others who might not have something they need help with today, who just want to sit and knit with a wonderfully welcoming group of women and learn by listening to the knitting issues of others and the solutions offered. Such an amazing sense of community has developed over these mornings as we sit together and knit and talk about our lives. We've seen wedding pictures, baby pictures, heard stories of what this person's children are doing, and who has had their baby already, and how another woman's husband is feeling after surgery. They are working on socks, shawls, sweaters, hats, dishcloths, scarves - you name it.

When I was a kid living in the mid-Hudson Valley, we used to get a few televisions stations out of New York City that would play nothing but old movies. One of my favorites - for odd reasons - will always be The Body Snatchers. The story is set in a small town in the California hills, and the premise is that aliens have come to earth in the form of 7-foot long pods. These alien pods would replicate particular people by producing an identical physical copy of that person inside the pod. As soon as the intended went to sleep, this perfect-in-every-way-but-one copy would come to life, and the real person would cease to exist. The one fatal flaw the alien copy had is that they felt no emotions at all. Nothing. And they were completely convinced that all humans should embrace this person/pod conversion because life was patently so much easier without being troubled by those pesky emotions. My favorite scene shows the local doctor and his fiance trying to escape an entire town turned pods by pretending to be pods themselves. All worked well with their plan until a little dog ran in front of a car, and Becky just couldn't help but scream.

While a double Cancer like myself will never tell you that the world would be a better place without emotions, I do feel as though I am creating pods, one person at a time. I watch formerly frustrated people relax and laugh, I see knitters with incredible stress in other areas of their lives sit and knit and talk with strangers-become-friends. I've seen tense newbies become relaxed old hands. I love creating knitting pods. Watch out for me, you might be next. And I thank you for the privilege.

Recipe for a Knitting Morning

2008-07-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

I will apologize right from the start and admit that I forgot to take pictures yesterday, in spite of my best intentions, and in spite of the camera sitting right here on the desk.

Yesterday morning I had a house full of knitting friends, and I wondered why I don't do this more often. Other than the fact that I seem to spend the rest of the day recovering on the couch!

First, start with good company! I invited Lynn, who has never been to our house before, Desi with Elizabeth Rose and her husband, Dave, who was the designated driver. Tia and her baby, Leia, who is the cutest thing on two legs and incredibly alert. Linda, one of my students. She is knitting a very funky, very colorful sweater that we are designing as we go along. Last week we steeked her sweater into a cardi - actually, I cut while she sweat bullets - and yesterday she got to show her project off to admiring knitters. I also invited Marianne, who is always great fun at a knitting party, but unfortunately she wasn't feeling well and decided to opt out for this time. My own DH hung out with us to keep Dave company and chat with the girls. Normally he would have made a beeline for Starbucks and stayed there til he got the all-clear from me, but he seemed to have a great time along with the rest of us. He is also absolutely indispensable for entertaining as he is always great about carting in chairs, making the coffee, and generally making sure people have what they would like. (Who knew we were out of sugar?)

Next, have some light food on hand. Desi and Dave brought some wonderful iced shortbread cookies, and I had on hand lots of cut fruit and assorted beverages, and in my own classy style, served it all up on paper plates!

Thirdly, make sure you have something easy to knit, because with two babies on hand and lots of excited adults who were delirious to talk knitting with a room full of people all at once, you can't handle distractions. I think Lynn cast on for her second sock over and over again pretty much the entire morning, and I found that even though I was witty enough to cast on my second sock the evening before, yesterday I was sitting facing our big windows and couldn't see the stitch pattern in the dark sock yarn for beans! So instead, I did the next best thing, put my knitting down and held Elizabeth Rose while she napped. DH was dandling Leia at the same time.

The conversation, as always, takes care of itself. We talked about everything from various patterns, to yarn stashes and knitting books and favorite customers. I gave the tour of my beloved new needle-felting machine and knitting machine, and showed off my first project from both, a fulled and needle-felted, embroidered and beaded pillow. I might knit up another base for one on the knitting machine this morning. My husband also loves to give the tour of the wonderfully colorful dish collection we have hanging on every available wall, thanks to the artistry of my friend Berry of Berryware.

Lynn, Marianne and Desi and I all work together at Kiwi, and although we talk about knitting a lot of the time when we see each other, having a knitting morning is a great way to get to know each other better. And it is a given that all of our co-workers know how to knit and crochet. Tia was working on a wonderful crocheted baby blanket, Desi can't knit right now because of having carpal tunnel surgery last week, with the other hand due in six weeks' time. Lynn cast on like Sisyphus pushing his rock up the hill, and I surrendered knitting - which I do every day - in favor of babies, which I see too seldom. It was wonderful to watch Dave carrying his daughter around, she looked like an ant on the side of a mountain.

So I encourage you, who all must know some other knitters and crocheters, to set aside a morning or evening and have a pile of raucous knitters over. You'll all have a great time.

Noro SIlk Garden Sock Yarn

2008-07-19T17:02:00.001-07:00

The much anticipated Silk Garden Sock yarn from Noro has arrived at Kiwi! You may remember that last fall Noro brought out a sock version of their much-loved Kureyon. There were some people who felt that it was a rougher yarn that they liked to knit socks with. Lynn and I both found that it blooms beautifully and becomes kitten-soft once it is blocked, and I wore my entrelac Kureyon socks all winter long to many compliments. But if you are one of those who is still looking for a softer yarn with the beautiful color changes that Noro is known for, then the Silk Garden Sock will make you very, very happy. I can't wait to get my hands on a ball of this and start knitting!

The fiber content varies slightly from the traditional Silk Garden. Silk Garden Sock has 40% Lambs wool, 25% silk - for gorgeous sheen and tensile strength, 25% nylon to add to the strength and bounce of the yarn, and 10% mohair for bloom. The texture is slightly thick and thin - like the Kureyon Sock - but I think the difference isn't as noticeable in Silk Garden Sock. Remember that these are hand-spun yarns, not machine-spun, and so some variation in thickness would be expected. To me, this is a great part of the beauty of Noro yarns.

Other than the cream-toned yarn, which stays gently neutral with tones of cream and sand, the other seven colorways that are in the shop vary greatly with the colors that one can find in each ball. As always with any Noro yarn, the colors that show on the surface of the ball are just the tip of the iceberg. I always like to look at the end of the ball, and to gently open it up like a flower, to see what other colors that have been blended into the mix. Noro yarns remind me of a good book - you simply can't put it down, you have to keep knitting to see what color comes next in the sequence.

The cream colorway will be gorgeous for lace patterns, and indeed, one of our Knit Doctor clients came in with a lace sock pattern on Friday morning and pounced on a ball of the cream as soon as she saw it. I can also see shawls and lace cardigans knitted up in these gorgeous yarns.

At nearly 330 yds per ball, just one ball is enough for the average pair of socks. This yarn is getting fantastic reviews on the internet, come in and see why!

Holiday Knitting

2008-07-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, you did read that correctly. And you're thinking I'm crazy right now, aren't you? But how many years will it take of knitting franticly all December long before we all realize two things - A- The holidays come at just about the same time every year, and B- Maybe we should prepare ourselves in advance.

July starts the second half of the year - my favorite half, I have to confess, and ever since childhood I have started thinking ahead to the holidays while it is still warm outside (I used to drive my mother nuts when I was a kid, singing Christmas Carols in August!) This year I am planning something like four to six pairs of gift socks. I could wait until late November, realize that this is unrealistic, and cut the number in half, or I can knit one pair a month, starting now.

Consequently, I am about 24 hours away from finishing the first pair. By early August at the latest I'll start another. I may even be wild, and make the next pair be a pair of gift socks, too. Get the holiday knitting over and done with, so that I can knit some fun things for the house, for myself, and just enjoy the holiday season knowing that I'm all finished and my gifts are already mailed. My early knitting did backfire one year when I sent a basket of mittens to my sister's house, only to have her put them away until the holidays just to be safe, and then forget them entirely. It wasn't until she was putting all the decorations away in January that she came across the box again and found the gift. I did wonder why she hadn't mentioned them!

I like to give socks for Christmas, and they are handy not only for relatives who live in cooler climes, but also for loved ones here in Tucson who forget in the dead of summer that we do get cold in the winter, even without snow. I love all the new sock yarns and my bias is towards sock patterns with texture - lots of cables and crosses and twists. If I were to knit a pair of plain vanilla socks I would die of boredom. Nope, give me something interesting happening in the pattern, and I'm perfectly content. For me that is texture, for you that might be fair isle or intarsia, or even lace patterns. Nothing says Love like a pair of hand-knitted socks.

Scarves and hats and mittens make good gifts as well. I've recently become more and more fascinated with patterned tams and selbuvotter mittens. I know that before the winter is out I'm going to have to make some of these. Last year I found a beautiful lace scarf pattern and made it for my sister's winter birthday with Lamb's Pride worsted yarn. I actually had to talk myself into putting that one into the mail instead of around my own neck!

And toys! Can there be anything more fun than knitting or crocheting toys? Lynn has several pattern books and loose patterns in the shop for toys that you will love to make. I plan to make a sock monkey using leftover sock yarn for everyone who gets a pair of socks this year. Who do you know that is too old to enjoy a personalized sock monkey?

The advantage of all these things is that they are small projects, and so they are perfect for hot-weather knitting, and easy to grab and take with you everywhere you go. Knit on your lunch break, knit while waiting at the post office or the doctor's office. Even if your days are very busy, there are a few spare 15 minute intervals here and there that you can use to relax and yet be productive at the same time.

So if you are sitting there with summer doldrums and completely uninspired to start anything new, make up your list of people you would like to give knitted or crocheted gifts to this year. Drop into Kiwi and spend some time selecting the right pattern for each gift, and get started. You'll thank me for this in December!

Also - a reminder about our Kiwi Knits Blogiversary Quiz! Go read all the details and see the lovely prizes. Get into Kiwi now with your entries and get your 10% discount on yarn purchases when you bring your entry in.

Purl Decreases

2008-07-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

Heres hoping you all had a wonderful 4th, filled with friends, family, fun, food and fireworks. And no, I didn't start out intending to be alliterative. I'm resisting the urge to change that to 'fabulous Fourth'. One has to draw the line somewhere.

Well, here we are embarking on our second year with the blog. As ever, if you have any questions about techniques, problems to solve, and curiosities, please email me at Lynda at Kiwiknitting dot com. I can always use extra blog fodder and suggestions of topics. Otherwise you are all at the mercy of my whims.

So it seems ages ago that I promised to show you purl decreases. The first one you know, it's easy-peasy and you do it all the time - the Purl Two Together (P2tog). And it is just as it sounds. Your right needle goes straight into the next two stitches on your left needle, and you purl them together as one stitch.

Now, if we remember our rule about decreases - whichever stitch the right needle enters first is the stitch that ends up on top of the pile when the decrease is finished - then we know that with a P2tog, the right needle first enters the rightmost of the two stitches to be decreased, so that is the one that ends up on top of the pile, and therefore the decrease leans away from that stitch. That makes the P2tog a left-leaning decrease. It is the flip side of the coin to a K2tog. In other words, if you had finished the previous row with a K2tog, and wanted right away to work a decrease on the other side of the fabric at the beginning of the new row, P2tog would be your choice, as they will both lean into the center of your fabric.

However, say you want a left-leaning decrease? SSP - Slip, Slip, Purl - is your answer, and it is the backside of an SSK. But the name 'SSP' doesn't tell you the whole story. This one is just slightly tricky. You start by slipping two stitches knitwise - one at a time - to your right needle, just as you do with an SSK. As we know, this slipping changes the orientation of the stitches, and for conventional knitters, now the left leg of the stitches will be in front.

Now take those two stitches from the right needle, and slip them as is back to the left needle, keeping that changed orientation.

Now, if you were to purl them in the normal way by putting your right needle right down their little throats, your right needle would be entering the right stitch first, and make a left-leaning decrease, and that is not what we want in an SSP. Instead, you are going to P2tog tbl - Purl Two Together Through The Back of the Loop. Get your right needle behind the left needle, both pointing towards the right. Go into the second stitch first, heading towards the point of the left needle, and entering the first stitch as well. Now turn your right needle so that it crosses the left needle, just as usual. Purl the two stitches together as one stitch from this position.

I have on rare occasion seen P2tog tbl all by itself to make a right-leaning purl decrease with a twist to the base of the stitches. In fact, I've been seeing this more often with short-row heel patterns. You know how I love short-row heels!

Working double decreases with purl stitches follows the same rules - P3tog is just as it sounds, SSSP, ditto. My centered double decrease for purl is to slip two stitches together knitwise, purl the next stitch, and then pass those two slipped stitches over the stitch just worked.

On another note, I've had a couple of people mention that they have stopped by the shop this week to find that we are not only closed, but that there is nothing in the shop! If you didn't get a chance to read the blog post saying that we were closed this week for vacation, then you will have been quite puzzled. Lynn told me that she is hoping that the floors will have been redone while the shop was closed, so I'm sure she had to take everything out so that the floors were clear to be worked on. Kiwi Knitting Co. should be open and ready for business at 10 on Monday morning.

In the meantime, hope you all have a great weekend and are enjoying the monsoon storms as much as I am!

Kiwi Knits Blog Contest

2008-06-23T12:43:00.001-07:00

The first of July is the official one-year anniversary of this blog! For me the year has passed really quickly. There have been times when I have had to scratch my head a bit to think of what to post about next, and many more times when I've had too much to say to fit it all into one post. I've posted about things that I have encountered in the projects I'm working on, about questions on techniques that I am hearing from my private lesson students, and things that are new to the shop. In the end, what I hope to provide you with in this blog is not only information about what is happening at Kiwi Knitting Co., but also hints to help you become better and more confident knitters. There are some rules in knitting that are 'What ever works for you and gets the job done', and some rules that are carved in stone in order to make a certain thing happen in a certain way. I hope I have helped you to understand the process better, and to grow as a knitter.

In turn, Lynn and I want to thank you for making the first year of the blog so successful! Last I looked, we had over 8000 hits on the blog in the last year. One of the blog posts (on The Afterthought Pocket) was used as a reference by the Mistress of knitting blogs, the Yarn Harlot herself. I thank you all for being such faithful and devoted readers, and for all the great feedback you give Lynn and myself on what you see here.

So, how do we thank you, and make it fun at the same time? We're having a contest! A little quiz, if you like. Here is all you need to do- Download and print out the quiz sheet by following the link at the bottom of this blog post. Answer the quiz questions - remember, this is an open-blog test! Some of the questions are a piece of cake, some you can find the answers to in previous blog posts. Fill out the answer sheet, and bring it into Kiwi anytime between July 7th & 31st. Be sure to add your name and phone number on your answer sheet. All entries must be handed in to Kiwi Knitting by close of business on Thursday, July 31st.

On Saturday, August 2nd, Lynn will draw a prize winner from among the entries that had all the questions answered correctly. You don't need to be present in order to win the prize, but you are welcome to stop into the shop and see who wins!

And what do you win? Do you see that gorgeous Della Q knitting bag up at the top of the page? That could be yours. Along with the $30.00 gift certificate to spend on a project to fill the bag with, and a one-hour private lesson with me, Lynda Sorenson, on anything knitting or crochet related that you care to bring to the table. Altogether, this package is worth $98.00! That's how much we appreciate you!(Actually, we appreciate you a whole lot more than that, even!)

Now the neat thing, is that everyone who enters gets a little something, whether you win the big prize or not. On the day that you bring in your completed entry form, you can get a 10% discount on any yarn purchase made that day. Now that is certainly worth going out during the daytime in Tucson's summer!

Keep in mind that Kiwi Knitting Co. will be closed for July 4th week, from Monday, June 30th through Sunday, July 6th, and will re-open on Monday, July 7th.

Here's a link to the quiz page. Thanks so much! And good luck!

Double Decreases

2008-06-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

Just as a single-stitch decrease starts out with two stitches and ends up with one, a double decrease starts out with three stitches and ends up with one. I was trying to think of examples of when you might see these, such as lace patterns, garment shaping, etc, but really, they can be used just about anywhere in anything you knit. The first one, the Central Double Decrease (CDD) is used quite often in lace patterns to bring a set of stitches to a peak. In such a case it is usually preceded and followed by a yarn over, so that the pattern for that area might read, 'yo, cdd, yo' Also, if the pattern is trying to create a flow of stitches that work towards the center of a motif, this increase would not be covered on either side with a yo, and would result in a ridge or design line in the fabric. I also like to use this when working mitred or modular pieces, such as in the squares of my Stained Glass Bag design.

To work a CDD, slip two stitches together knitwise (remember my rule about slipping stitches when they are part of a decrease) and knit the third stitch.

With the tip of your left needle, grab the two slipped sts on your right needle, lift them up and over the knitted stitch, and drop them off of the needle.

The result is a decrease where the central stitch lies on top, as you can see just above and to the right of my thumb. Look just below my thumb, and see what happens when you stack these on top of each other for several rows.

Sometimes you want your double decreases to lean in one direction or the other. This is pretty simple, and the right leaning double decrease and the left leaning double decrease are worked almost exactly the same, except for the order in which you pass the slipped stitches over. They both start with a slip one, knit one. To make the stitch lean towards the right, you next pick up that slipped stitch, and bring it up and over the knit stitch and drop it off of the needle.

Now take the knit stitch, put it over onto the left needle, and take the next unworked left stitch and pass it up and over the knitted stitch, and drop it off.

To have a double decrease that leans towards the left, start the same way, Sl1, K1. But you will immediately put the knitted stitch over to the left needle, and pass the next unworked stitch on the left needle up and over the knitted stitch.

Put the knit stitch with its slipped stitch collar over to the right needle, and bring that first slipped stitch up and over the knitted stitch, dropping it off of the needle.

Here you can see the right leaning decrease as the rightmost of the two shown, and the left-leaning double decrease as the leftmost of the two double decreases shown.

Just a heads up for you all, but tantalizingly without any details yet! The beginning of July will be the one year anniversary for this blog! Lynn and I have some fun and surprises planned around this, and I'll be revealing them to you sometime before the end of June. Trust me, you will NOT want to miss this. I had the germ of an idea, but it is Lynn who has put all the trimmings on the turkey, as it were. Keep your eyes glued here...

Knit Side Decreases

2008-06-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

Well, what better way to follow increases than with decreases? Today I'll show you knit-side, single stitch decreases. Next time we'll talk about knit-side double decreases, and then later I'll show you purl side decreases.

Okay, now get your yarn and needles in hand, and pay attention. I'm going to give you some Decrease Rules.

Rule #1- The principal thing to remember about decreases of any kind is - and you can tattoo this on your forehead - Whichever stitch the right needle enters first when you are doing a decrease, is the stitch that ends up on top of the pile when the decrease is finished. Think about it - you are taking 2 or 3 stitches and making them into one. Only one stitch of those 2 or three can be on top, the others have to be in the middle or on the bottom. The stitch that the right needle enters first is the stitch that ends up on top. This decides which way the decrease leans.

Rule #2 - When slipping stitches as part of a decrease, the stitches are ALWAYS slipped as if to knit. Otherwise there is just no darned point in slipping them. You want to change the orientation of the stitch legs before you work the decrease in order to have the stitches not be twisted when the decrease is finished. Take a look back at the slipped stitches post here to see in detail why and how that looks.

Now, I am also going to tell you this- NO MATTER what your pattern says, if you are doing a knit decrease on the right hand edge of your fabric, do an SSK. I've seen many patterns that tell you to do a K2tog (Wrong!) or a K2tog tbl (not pretty unless you are working a twisted stitch pattern!). What you want is a decrease that will cause the stitches to lean from the outer right edge towards the center of your fabric, and SSK is the best way to make it happen.

Many times, pattern writers and editors will do what I call 'dumbing a pattern down'. In other words, they want to make it as simple as possible for as many knitters as possible. I don't ever hold with that theory. If you don't ever challenge knitters to learn something new by putting the proper technique into the pattern, then they will never learn something new. So tattoo this on your right hand - SSK - Slip, Slip, Knit

Slip one stitch as if to knit, slip a second stitch as if to knit

Put your left needle straight down their little throats and have it come out in the front. See how this puts your needles into knitting position? See how putting your right needle into the right stitch first will make that one land on top? Knit the two stitches together from this position.

On the left edge of your fabric, to get a decrease stitch that will lean towards the right - into the center of your fabric, simply knit two stitches together as if they were one stitch - K2tog. You could tattoo this on your left hand, if you are so inclined.

Here is how the finished SSK looks. Notice that the right stitch is on top, making the pair lean towards the left, away from the right edge. (second stitch in from the edge, 4th row down)

And here is how the K2tog looks. Notice that the left stitch - the one the right needle entered first - is on top and the stitch leans towards the right. (second stitch in from the edge, 3rd row down)

Now there are a couple of other ways to get a left-leaning decrease aside from the SSK. The first one here is a bit more old-fashioned, you'll see it more in older patterns. This is a Sl1, K1, psso. Slip one stitch as if to knit, knit the next stitch.

With the tip of your left needle, pick up the slipped stitch - the second one in - on your right needle, lift it up and over the knitted stitch, and drop it off the needle, just as you do when you are binding off. Slip 1, Knit 1, Pass Slipped Stitch Over. Because that dropped off stitch was slipped without being worked, it is slightly longer than the stitches around it, and so the result is less elegant.

The other left leaning decrease is a K2tog tbl, or Knit 2 Together Through the Back of the Loop. Stick your right needle straight down the throats of the next two sts on your left needle, as if you were starting to purl two together - but have the tip of the right needle come out in the back. Knit the two stitches together from this position.

In untwisted knitting, this is your least desirable option, because the base of the two stitches that you just worked together will be twisted, and will stand out from all your other stitches. If, however, you are working a twisted stitch pattern, then this is the ideal left-leaning decrease for that, as it maintains the stitch pattern.

There you go, single decrease stitches worked from the knit side. Enjoy!

Just When You Thought the Increases Were Over

2008-06-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

You probably thought I had run the gamut with increases for knitting. But as in the old saying, 'There is more than one way to skin a cat', there are probably more ways to do increases even that I will have shown you here. I'll finish up talking about increases with two that are not commonly seen or used, but handy to know, nonetheless.

The first of these is called a Median increase. To work it on the right edge of the fabric, knit as usual into the stitch to be increased, but don't remove the original stitch from the left needle. Then take the tip of your right needle, poke it into the stitch one row below that stitch on your left needle from front to back. Knit into it, and drop the stitch on your left needle off. It will look something like this-

To work the same increase on the left edge of your fabric, put th etip of your right needle into the stitch one row below the next stitch on your left needle, and knit into it. Now knit into the stitch that is on the left needle, and drop it off.

The results on the right leave a tiny hole.

The results on the left look beautiful.

The next increases are worked right on the edge of the fabric. To work a Right Edge increase, knit the first stitch on the needle.

Then take the tip of the left needle, and coming from back to front, pick up the left leg of the stitch one row below the stitch on your right needle that you have just knitted. Knit this loop through the back of the stitch.

To work the increase on the left edge, work until you have just one stitch left on the left needle. Put the left needle into the stitch one row below this last stitch. It's a little tricky, but can be done. Now knit that loop through the front leg as normal, and then knit the last stitch on the needle.

Here are the results on the right, you can see the little jut out where the increase was made.

And on the left...

I was a bit under the weather last week, and was doing more reading that knitting - in one day I finished one book and read two others! But today I sent off my second pair of death socks in the Sock Wars contest. After killing my first target, she sent me the socks-in-progress she had been working on for her target. My task was then to finish that pair and kill her target as well. But when her SIPs arrived they were scented, and I wasn't able to work on them. Luckily I was allowed to substitute another yarn, and so I had to start all over with that pair. Lynn was kind enough to donate to me another ball of the Online Supersocke 100 sock yarn, this time in a beautiful orange color. I'm not normally an orange person, but I really loved this color, it reminded me of sweet potatoes! So here is the evidence of my second kill, winging their way to my next target even as we speak. I understand that Bridget is also taking part in Sock Wars, and I look forward to hearing how she is faring.

More Increases

2008-05-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

But Lynda, you pipe up, What if I have to do increases on both sides of my piece? How do I do that and make them look nice? I'm so glad you asked that question, because now we get into the realm of paired increases. Paired increases are done so that they are mirror images of each other, on either side of your fabric.

The first one that comes to mind - the most commonly used one - and one that bridges the gap between paired increases and the K1f&b and the YO, is the M1, or Make 1. A M1 can be done three ways. The first way to make a M1 is not directional, and I call it the 'Afterthought Yarn-Over'. Mostly because that is how I use it, when I am working a lace pattern, realize that I have left out a yo on a previous row, and need to suddenly slap that yo into place. With all versions of M1, you start by using your right needle to pick up the bar of yarn that runs in between the stitches on your right needle, and the next stitch on your left needle, like so..

Knit that one wide open, just as you would do for a yo. If you compare it to the yo's that were worked on the swatch earlier, you can see that it looks just the same.

But what if you don't want a hole where you worked your increase? Well, there are the paired M1s. These are worked twisted so that they don't leave a hole...

The first one is made by putting your left needle under that same strand of yarn, from back to front, so that the left leg of the loop is on the front of your left needle.

Knit that front leg as usual, so that the new stitch is twisted. This one is worked at the beginning of a knit row, on the right edge.

To work its twin, on the left edge, you will insert your left needle under that same strand of yarn, this time from front to back. See how it leaves the right leg on the front of the needle?

Knit this one through the back of the loop, in order to twist the stitch and close up the hole.

M1 on the left edge, after working three more rows. You can just see the twisted stitch about 3 rows below the needle, and four stitches in from the edge.

M1 on the right edge, after working three more rows. See the twisted stitch about 3 rows down, and four stitches in from the edge? The M1 can also be called a Raised increase, NOT to be confused with a Lifted increase, which I am about to show you.

To work a Lifted increase, we are going to work into the purl bump from previous rows. This increase can be used on either a knit or a purl row, but I will show it to you from the purl side first, because I think this will make it more obvious what you are doing. Here I am working one on the right edge, by inserting the tip of my left needle into the second purl bump down, on the last stitch worked on the right needle. Lift this purl bump up, and purl into it.

On the left edge, you will poke the tip of your right needle into the first purl bump down of the next stitch to be worked on your left needle. Purl into that loop.

So, to do the same thing from the knit side, on the right edge you are going to go behind the knitting and poke the tip of your left needle into the second purl bump down of the stitch you have just worked on your right needle. See how the left leg of the stitch is to the front of your left needle? Knit into the back loop (the right leg) so that the stitch does not become twisted.

On the left edge, you will take your right needle, go behind your knitting, and pick up the first purl bump below the next stitch on your left needle. Knit into it.

If you look at the after photos, you can barely see where the Lifted increase comes from. Of all the increases we have looked at so far, this is the least obvious of them all, the one that leaves the smallest footprint. That makes the Lifted increase my favorite go-to, all-round increase for all occasions.

I have more increases for you next time...

Increases

2008-05-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

If you have been playing Sock Wars this week, you may have been one of the many who were confused by the increase directions. So I thought that it would be a great idea if we talked about increases and their variations and particular uses.

Many beginning knitters are frustrated by the fact that a lot of pattern writers take for granted that the knitter has a certain knowledge base. And indeed, the average pattern would have to turn into a book in order to accommodate all the skills that any knitter would have to have under their belt in order to complete the project. As a new knitter - or even a more experienced one - this is where a good knitting reference is worth its weight in gold. Vogue Knitting produces an excellent big, hardcover knitting reference, and Interweave Knits has a small pocket guide that is handy to keep with you in your knitting bag. Another of my favorites is published by Reader's Digest and is called the Knitter's Handbook, by Montse Stanley. There is also June Hiatt's Principals of Knitting, which, if you can find one, is nearly literally worth it's weight in gold bars. Any one of these will serve the average knitter very well.

So, let's play a little with some basic increases. Get out some yarn and needles, and cast on 20 sts. Work in stockinette stitch for about an inch.

To begin with, when a pattern tells you to increase a stitch at the beginning of a row, or at the end of a row, you almost never, ever increase right at the beginning or end, unless you are specifically told in the pattern to do so. I always work one or two stitches in the established pattern before increasing at the beginning of a row, and do the increase at the end of the row one or two stitches before the end. Here in the demo sample, I am working 3 sts at the beginning of the row before working the increase. This is done to make a cleaner edge and a nicer finished piece, and also makes seaming easier and neater.

Probably the most basic increase of all is the K1f&b. This is also called a bar increase. K1f&b (knit 1 front and back) tells you how it is done, and is usually the way you will see this written in a pattern. Bar increase tells you what the result looks like. Remember that the terms are interchangeable.

To work this increase, you first knit into the next stitch on your left needle as usual, but do not remove the original stitch from the left needle in the normal manner - leave it on the left needle. Now, take your right needle that is still holding onto the new stitch, and swoop the right needle around behind the point of the left needle. Knit the stitch on the left needle - that you have already knit into from the front - through the back leg of the stitch. The result is two stitches knitted from one stitch. Now slide the original stitch off of the left needle as you would normally do. Viola! A k1f&b increase has been worked. The result will be a little bar where the stitch was worked. This can be very obvious in stockinette stitch, but a lot less obvious in ribbing.

The second basic increase is a yarn-over, or yo. This is used quite a bit in lace for two reasons - One- to increase in order to compensate for a decrease worked elsewhere. Two- to create a hole. Work to where you want to place the increase, bring the yarn to the front of your work between the needles, and then up and over the top of the right needle. Knit the next stitch as usual. You will hear of knit yo's and purl yo's, but the basic idea is the same, just bring the yarn forward, over the top of the right needle, and then back to the proper position for the next stitch to be worked.

Notice that as you look at the yo on the needles, before it is worked into on the next row, the yo looks like a diagonal stitch on the needle, with a hole below it.

You then work the yarn-over on the next row as a knit or as a purl, depending on the stitch pattern. Note that the lower hole in the picture is a single yo worked as a purl on the WS row, and that the large hole just above it is a double yo (loop the yarn over the needle one extra time) with the first part of the yo worked as a purl, the second part of the yo worked as a knit.

Some lace patterns may ask you to do a yo at the beginning of a row. This is to create a stretchy side edge on the lace. In a similar way, a lace cast-off includes a yo in between each stitch cast off for the same reason. You would K2, pass 1st st over, *yo, pass st over the yo, K1, pass yo over the stitch* to the end of your CO row. Also, a short-row sock heel may have you do a yo at the beginning of a row after a turn. The yo is later worked along with the next st to be worked in order to avoid holes.

You can also work a yo so that it doesn't leave a hole. On the WS, work the yo through the back of the loop.

This leaves a twisted stitch on the RS, but no holes.

Next time we'll talk about paired increases...

Sock Wars III

2008-05-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when I was at Kiwi, aside from playing Knit Dr. for the morning (which I love), I was also arming myself for Sock Wars 3.

For those of you not familiar with the Sock Wars concept - There are, so far, over 1,000 Sock Warriors signed up to do battle. Today is the last day to sign up, so hurry over there if you enjoy knitting socks and are ready for a bit of silly fun.

On May 9th, each Sock Warrior will be emailed a dossier with their target's nom de guerre, shoe size, and address, along with the top secret Sock Wars 3 pattern. You must knit the socks as quickly as possible and mail them out to your target - as soon as they receive the socks you have knitted for them they are assassinated, and your defeated target must mail the socks that they were working on - along with the information about their target - back to you, the assassin. You would then finish the socks your now-deceased target was working on, and send them on to their intended target. Keep in mind, however, that somewhere out there, someone is knitting socks with your name on them with the intention if assassinating you! Once those socks arrive in your mail, you, in turn, are assassinated and must send the socks you were working on to your assassin. And it goes on like that, with socks flying all over the globe, until one knitter is left standing.

Admit it! Doesn't that sound like a heck of a lot of fun? This year, Sock Wars 3 is being sponsored by Southwest Trading Company, and the sock yarn of choice is Tofutsies, their machine wash and dryable self-patterning sock yarn blend of 50% Superwash Wool, 25% SOYSILK brand fiber, 22.5% Cotton, 2.5% Chitin. Being the rebel that I am, I have chosen Online's Supersocke 100 in a bright, screaming lime green blend that was calling my name. Supersocke is a blend of 75% superwash wool and 25% polyamid. I should be finished with the pair of socks I am currently working on by Monday, and then plan to work up my gauge swatch and sit back and get ready to dive into war next Saturday.

Now, mind you, I don't have any illusions that I will be that last knitter standing. But I plan to have a lot of fun, and what the heck, you get a pair of socks out of the deal, so what's to lose? I'm already planning to hit the Post Office on Monday morning and picking up a few of their smallest Priority Mail boxes so that I can send out my socks right from my computer using the USPS website. Just go to the website, click on the click-and-ship link, put in the shipping info, pay online and leave the package for your mail-person to pick up. We assassins have to have our methods, you know!

If you are a member of Ravelry - and if you aren't why aren't you? - you can follow the Sock Wars forum here.

Keep in mind, too that the new Kiwi Knitting Newsletter is out, so if you are not on our snail- or e-mail list, be sure to grab one next time you are in the shop to find out what's new at Kiwi, and see all the new classes for summer!

Look Ma! No Holes! Part Two

2008-04-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

Used to be, way back in the Dark Ages when I first learned to crochet, that the way you worked decreases was simple: You just skipped the next stitch and worked your next stitch in the one after. This resulted in the tiniest of holes, but that was no matter, because crochet is about the holes, sometimes, and that was the way it was and everyone was used to it.

OLD WAY-

Ready to begin a decrease row:

Work the first stitch, skip the second:

How the fabric looks with the 3rd and 4th stitches then worked:

A bit of a hole there, huh, between the first and second sts worked?

So with the recent proliferation of new crochet books and magazines, I have been seeing a wealth of new techniques for conquering the same old tasks. I love this one for making a decrease but keeping a nice, evenly textured fabric. It couldn't be more easy!

NEW WAY-

To work a single crochet decrease, draw up a loop in the stitch to be decreased:

Draw a loop up in the stitch to be worked:

Yarn over, and draw through all loops on the hook:

Decrease accomplished, and a neat fabric results:

That one stitch where the decrease was worked is a tiny bit thicker looking that the others, but we know that because we're looking for it. Otherwise, it is absolutely perfect!

Well, as I write this, I imagine things are absolute pandemonium at Kiwi right now. Today is the last day of the Anniversary sale, and if yesterday was any indication while I was there for Knit Doctor, then I cannot imagine how busy today is! Mind you, I and everyone else even remotely associated with Kiwi LOVE this! My selfish reason is that I get to have a yarn shop that I love to both shop and work in. My selfless reason is that I think Lynn is wonderful and I wish her all the best. As anyone who has had a small business can tell you, making it through those first three years is critical, and now Kiwi has done that, and more.

I've told you that when Lynn first opened Kiwi I was working at another yarn shop that has now closed. I heard about Kiwi, and didn't even pass Go, let alone wait to collect $200. I called my husband up on the cell phone, swung by the house to pick him up, and we went straight down to Kiwi. I really loved the feel of the shop, and Lynn was so friendly, that I found myself offering to hold the fort and keep the shop open when she went to her daughter's wedding (I think it was her daughter... was it her son? Hmmm...) up in the cold northern reaches.

One of the three days I was there, a few women came in - all separately - and at some point in their wanderings around, they started a conversation in the front room in front of the register. It turned out that they had children's ages in common, schools in common, and who knows what else! They stayed and chatted for over an hour, and I just knew right then and there that Kiwi Knitting would be a great success. I've worked in a lot of retail and service business in my time, and I know that a place that creates a sense of community is rare, and that anytime you make people feel at home in your space, you've got a winner.

So, speaking for myself - but I have no doubt Lynn would agree - I thank you all for being part of making Kiwi what it is. It is such a pleasure to meet so many wonderful people as part of my work experience, it is so much fun and so darned interesting to be part of your projects and processes, and it is such a privilege to teach you, and an honor to turn more of you into fiberholics every day. I also thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such faithful readers of the Kiwi blog.

If you have any questions for the Kiwi blog, or suggestions for topics, please drop me a line at Lynda@Kiwiknitting.com

Look, Ma! No Holes!

2008-04-16T10:41:00.000-07:00

My Beloved Crochet Hook Set

No matter what your favorite method is to use up lots of nice yarn, everyone needs a set of crochet hooks in their bag. If I'm working on a crochet project, I have everything I need right here. The small, silver hooks over on the left are for adding beads to a project. If I'm knitting and want to do a crochet cast-on, or I need to correct a mistake in a st several rows below or if I have a dropped st, then no matter what needle size I am using, I have a crochet hook that will work perfectly with my fabric. The other neat thing about crochet hooks is that once you have a set - unlike with knitting - you really don't need others. You don't need a size D hook in several lengths, or in several different materials to work with different yarns. Personally, I like metal hooks because I feel that hooks should be really slick and slippery in order to make the hand movements of crochet easier. Some people prefer wooden hooks and there are some really gorgeous wooden hooks out there now. Try some out, find what material works best for you, and invest in a whole set - you'll be surprised how often you need them, even if you aren't crocheting.

But I've said it before and I'll say it again, every knitter should know how to crochet. If you already know how to crochet you've got it made! Personally, I think crochet is easier to learn than knitting, and easier to do. You can work in three dimensions, you can attach to fabric anywhere - on an edge, in the middle of the fabric - and embellish till your eyeballs fall out! Crocheted lace edges are one of my favorite touches to finish a garment.

Because our beloved Marianne teaches two wonderful crochet classes at Kiwi for beginners - Crochet 101 and 102 - I'm not planning to attempt to teach crochet in this blog, but I'd like to pass on a couple of techniques you might like.

If you remember the first era of Granny Squares - which are making a comeback - then you started your squares and circles by crocheting a small chain of sts...

Use a slip stitch (sl st) to join them into a ring...

Chain two, and then work 7 dc into the ring.

Work a sl st to join the end of the round with the beginning of the round...

And you've got a hole in the center. This looks fine with Granny squares because the holes work with the way the rest of the fabric looks. But if you want a solid fabric, this is not the best way to go.

Enter the Magic Circle...
Just form a double loop with your yarn (I like a single loop better, experiment and see what works best for you), with the tail to the right and the working yarn to your left...

Get ready to work the first round.

Use your hook to pull up a loop in the center of the circle.

Chain two...

Work 7 dc in your circle and then sl st last st to first st in the round.

Pull the Magic Circle tight

HA! No holes! Isn't that brilliant?

Karla the Kiwi and Happy Anniversary!

2008-04-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, it seemed that everyone I knew was a knitter. Both of my parents knitted, my oldest sister knitted, both of the moms across the street from us knitted, my godmother knitted. It was the same with sewing - everyone did it. So I started to learn to sew when I was about 5, taught by my Mom and my oldest sister, and when, at age 7 I wanted to learn to knit, my left-handed Mom sent me across the street to learn from one of our neighbors. When my husband and I went back east to my hometown three years ago this summer, I wanted to thank the woman who had taught me to knit all those years ago. We stopped at the house where I grew up - which my Dad built - and got the most gracious reception and tour of our old house from the woman now living there, married to one of my high school classmates, who was so excited to meet someone from the original family in their obviously much-loved home. But when we went across the street to thank my knitting teacher, no one was home. She died in the hospital less than a week later, and I never did get a chance to thank her, it has been one of my biggest regrets.

When I wanted to learn crochet at age 11, I had no gurus to turn to - I didn't know anyone who knew how to crochet. And so I sat down with an issue of one of the women's magazines my Mom subscribed to, and with yarn and hook in hand, illustrations in front of me, and taught myself to crochet. I took to it like a duck to water, somehow it just made perfect sense to me.

I abandoned knitting for many years, and crocheted anything that would stand still long enough, scarves, sweaters, hats, slippers, granny squares! It was the late 60s, early 70s, so people either thought I was cool because I was creative, or that I was a freak for doing something so incredibly 'old-fashioned' in the early days of what we called Women's Lib. Nonetheless I ignored the critics and crocheted a lot. Every one around me got crocheted gifts (all my gifts were always homemade - either sewn, crocheted, embroidered, macramed, photographed, drawn, written... and now knitted). All pregnant women got baby blankets, later on nieces and nephews got afghans when they graduated from high school.

If I crocheted at the salon between clients I was well and truly mocked. Oh, well, I crocheted anyway. Yet somehow, for the last several years of my life in the salon industry I got too busy to do anything creative other than photography.

My husband and I got married four days before 9/11, and I took him back east for the first time just a month later in mid-October, to see where I grew up . We stayed with one of my sisters, and every dark fall evening as we were going back to her house after our day of travels, we would pass right by a yarn shop with big picture windows, all lit up inside against the October gloom looking like the inside of a jewel box, just filled with so many gorgeous colors. It only took a few days before my husband and I couldn't stand it any longer and stopped into the shop, and I was a goner. The shop was Sheep's Clothing, the now-closed retail shop for Morehouse Merino. Because they concentrated on knitting, it was knitting that I took up again - had they been mostly a crochet shop I would most likely have done that instead. Before I left I had a sock kit, a set of dpns, and Mary Thomas's Knitting Book, and I sat cross-legged on the bed that evening and started my first pair of socks .

When I developed asthma a year later and we had to close our shop because of it, I spent about 4 months on the couch at home, gasping like a fish before we found the right combination of meds to make it possible for me to function. I found it hard to concentrate enough to read when I had an asthma attack, and that just added to my distress, so I picked up needles and yarn and knitted. That is what I did for 4 months straight. I fell - and still am - totally in love with knitting.

There seems to be a generally accepted concept that there is a line drawn in the sand - knitters don't crochet, and crocheters don't knit. It's like the Hatfields and McCoys, the Montagues and the Capulets! When I started working in a yarn shop for the first time, I taught classes in both knitting and crochet, but never did students from one class drift over into the other. Now I will admit to you that because of wrist issues, I do knit more than I crochet. Ans so you will undoubtedly have noticed that the Kiwi blog posts have been all about knitting. But if you have met me, you know that I firmly believe that every knitter should know how to crochet. And yet, if I think about it, I really don't feel that crocheters all need to learn how to knit - there is something about crochet that is complete unto itself.

Like knitting since the time just before Elizabeth Zimmerman, crochet techniques have changed and improved quite a bit over the years since I had last crocheted, and I have enjoyed learning and incorporating these new techniques, although the essential elements of the craft remain the same. When designing Karla the Kiwi for the April Kiwi Klub Pattern of the Month, I incorporated several of these techniques into the pattern. Over the next few posts, I'll explore these and other advents in crochet with you. I'm hoping to get some of you knitters to try crochet for the first time, and humbly hope to show some new things to you crocheters out there.

And did you know that April is the anniversary month of Kiwi Knitting? It was just three years ago that Lynn opened the shop. I was working and teaching at another yarn shop at the time, and when I heard about Kiwi at the knitting guild, I dragged my husband down there with me one day to check it out. Two weeks later I was holding down the fort for three days while Lynn went to her daughter's wedding, and I've been teaching there ever since she returned.

So Happy Anniversary, Lynn! I thank you for letting me be part of your wonderful shop, and for all the good things and opportunities that have come into my life since then, all because of Kiwi. Three great years, and hopes for many, many more!