SPUNDONE

Secret Yarn Source

spundone — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:02:00 +0000

My aunt tipped me off to a secret yarn source: Tuesday Morning. Some yarns are there for obvious reasons (metallic eyelash yarn, semi-solid sun-faded yarn) but for a shot at a good deal it’s worth the trip. The yarn above is enough for a pair of socks and cost seven dollars.

I also spotted Creative Couture products (something I had no knowledge of before this trip), which I later saw at Michaels for twice the price. Creative Couture makes organizers and carriers for yarn, and collectively is not my style at all, but I had to have this polka dot bag. I adore polka dots, and I really appreciate being able to see inside the bag. How else will people start conversations with me? (“Oh, you knit?”) Unlike a ditty bag, it has a sturdy flat base that keeps my wound yarn neat. Another feature I like is the carabiner, so when my purse is too full for a knitting bag I can clip this onto the handle.

Knitting coincidences.

spundone — Mon, 10 May 2010 06:10:00 +0000

I just realized that the designer of the Pulsation Socks is Amy King, the designer of the Oatmeal sweater I was admiring in the Winter 2009 issue of Spin-Off. This kind of thing has been happening to me more frequently. Am I too obsessed with knitting?

Learning by duplication.

spundone — Mon, 10 May 2010 05:31:00 +0000

In an effort to become more familiar with lace designs, I’m making this sock for an appreciative aunt:

Pulsation Socks from Spunky Eclectic (click for free pattern)

I have a good intuition for sizing, gauge, and yarn substitutions, but I haven’t done much lace knitting. Practicing with other people’s designs will help me understand what is actually happening when I YO, SSK, and K2TOG.

Fabric to covet.

spundone — Sun, 09 May 2010 00:56:00 +0000

Echino Ni-co by Etsuko Furuya available at Purl

Congo Sweater

spundone — Sat, 08 May 2010 20:18:16 +0000

by Danish knitwear designer Marianne Isager

2320 S St. NW

spundone — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:37:34 +0000

Textile Museum for the afternoon

Browsing Barneys is always a treat.

spundone — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:10:00 +0000

My goodness how I love knitted toys.

Kinderware Rattle. Darling, and at $12 it’s even cheaper than doing it yourself. Made by a women’s cooperative in Lima, Peru. (Should I be skeptical? They’re $12.)

In the 1500s, no self-respecting man was without at least two pairs of hand knitted stockings in his wardrobe.

spundone — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:02:48 +0000

(I learned that at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.) In fact, stocking knitting is what democratized knitting. Everybody needs socks! And knitting is especially perfect for socks because it is uniquely stretchy in comparison to other fabrics. Read this Knitty article. I believe knitting at least one pair of socks is a knitter-ly duty.

Below is a fine pair of stockings from the collection at the Heinz History Center. I love everything about this design. The fancy, scalloped cuff; the rich white and red; the way the pattern converts into stripes at the heel and toe (sock knitters will see why this is a necessity); the mismatched decreases at the toes (I keep telling people the mismatched socks and mittens I give them are super custom!). The obvious care the owner took with these stockings shows how special they were. The body appears to be knitted in entrelac, a technique I have not yet tried. I would love to knit a pair like this.

On second thought, LOOK AT THAT GAUGE!!!

I don’t think I could find yarn and needles to match this gauge. Knitters certainly have it easier today!

When doing two successive decreases (like for mitten tops or sock toes)

spundone — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:48:00 +0000

Make the first decrease a “slip, slip, knit” (SSK) – this makes the stitch lean to the left.
Follow it with a “knit two together” (K2TOG) – this makes the stitch lean to the right.

Thus, the stitches will lean against each other and help close the gap that can appear between successive decreases.

Adapt the order of the decreases if you are decreasing at the beginning and end of a round:

K2TOG the first stitch (leans to the right)
SSK the last stitch (leans to the left)

Basically, when looking at the piece you want the left side stitch to lean right and the right side stitch to lean left.

This technique can be used to create a scallop pattern:

Chevron Towel (click through for pattern) I made one a few months back. This is a great way to use up odd ends.

Knittinghelp.com is a great source for learning about decreases and increases.

Plastic beading needles would make perfect darning needles

spundone — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:52:00 +0000

- and are cheap enough to share with friends.