Wendy Bernard's Blog, page 16

Poor Doggie

I think I will stick with designing sweaters for humans.

 

The end.

Yarn Requirements: The Rub

I thought I had a new strategy: Knit the largest size hat I plan on offering, one that I *hope* will only take one skein of dear, dear yarn, and see what happens so that my pattern's yarn requirements are spot on.

See that in my hand? That wad is all I had left when I was done with this sucker. Now I wonder, if I do indeed write up the pattern in this gauge, should I warn those who want to knit the largest size to buy just one skein?  Or, buy two to be safe?

I have a problem.

I am damned if I do and I am damned if I don't. The last thing I need is an angry mob waving knitting needles at me.

If I warn that there was *this* much left on my version of the size large using the Madelinetosh Tosh Chunky and they go out and buy just one skein and end up needing another one to finish the size large . . . perish the thought (this isn't cheap yarn--and the dye lots vary quite a bit).

If I say they'll need two skeins, and they end up like me, you know, with just a little teeny tiny wad leftover and they purchased two. Oy. Perish the thought, again.

And if I say that they *might* need another skein and to check the return policy at their yarn source, will they decide to not knit it at all?

I don't need this kind of pressure.

Not needing this kind of pressure is the way I'm rolling these days. Hence, the lack of lots of posting. I am knitting for pleasure, however. Kate Davies came out with this gorgeous over-sized cowl pattern called Funchal Moebius. Since I don't really have the need for a large cowl like this, I decided to cut down on the number of pattern repeats to two. I'm using some of the sometimes controversial yet ever so gorgeous Wollmeise. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to see the patterning with this subtly variegated yarn, but it's actually working out. I highly recommend this pattern. She's a genius.

(The other reason I chose to cut back on the motifs is because, based on her yardage estimates, I wasn't sure I would have enough yarn. Ahhh: That's the rub all the time, isn't it? Having enough yarn.)

 

Slip Two. That is Still all I Want to Do -- and Milk

So here's the Slip Two Slouch. I have sat on the fence on this one--while slipping stitches in a frenzy, not really caring whether or not it turned out--but now, looking at it, I kind of like it. There are a few mistakes in it, slipping two stitches is pretty much the easiest thing to do, but when you get on a roll like I do, sometimes you slip three or slip one and next thing you know, you've gone too far and because it was on the list named "This One Doesn't Matter if it Is Perfect or Not Because I Don't Plan on Making a Pattern for it," I didn't go too crazy fixing the little problems. I only fixed the big ones.

Truth be told, this idea started as a herringbone cowl--remember those? But then, I finished them and wrote them out in TWO gauges and had them tech edited and discovered, to my horror, that a very similar pattern existed and I couldn't distribute the pattern knowing something else existed that looked so much the same. So, being the crazy-honest person that I am I decided to turn the idea of a herringbone stitch cowl into a cap. But, the problem was, how do I do top-down crown shaping so that the swirl/herringbone transition doesn't look too abrupt?

Anyway, this Slip Two Slouch. The jury is still out. If I do release it, I will have to make it in another gauge too. Not everyone will enjoy slipping two to the tune of practically fingering weight for hours on end like I do.

BTW and a Giveaway: I have been honored, over the years, to make lots and lots of blog friends. One of them is Lisa Shobhana. We share ideas. I like her style. I think she's beautiful and a wonderful designer. Anyway, she is having a giveaway on her blog of her new sweater pattern, Milk (shown left). She is giving five free patterns away to people who leave a comment and correctly guess why she named the pattern "Milk." I haven't told her this yet, but I will give one pattern download of their choice to each of her winners as well.

I will coordinate with her and once she's contacted the winners, I will follow suit! Contest ends 11 PM EST on Thursday.

Slip Two. That is all I want to do.

Have you ever knit something simply because it intrigues you and not because of any other reason? Have you knit something that you just *know* won't turn out but you're so entertained by the thing and you just keep going on and on and on like some sort of crazy knitter?

(BTW: I have heard from a major authority on the subject that out of all the crafty types that knitters are pretty much the craziest. Not that I agree with that sentiment or anything--although there are days I can say that I do--I always find it amusing that people who think knitters, simply because they are knitters, are instantly "knitterly" and therefore there is no way that they could ever do anything bad, nasty, snarky, etc.--or, horrors, steal. What a lark. In my mind, people are people no matter what their hobbies happen to be. . . unless, of course, their hobby is making gin in a bathtub each night. And if that is the case and you know anyone who does, I'd like their phone number.)

But seriously. This hat. It's top-down. I just can't stop knitting it. I know it'll be a loser. It was a b*it*h to figure out those crown increases so they line up like that, and it's on DK weight yarn with a slip stitch pattern (slip two! that's all I want to do!) that eats up yarn like that Japanese dude eats those hot dogs. And if you haven't heard of that Japanese dude who can eat a lot of hot dogs real fast, just know that he's awfully fast and eats a LOT of them. Like my hat here. It's eating a lot of yarn, too, and although I want to get to the end of it and actually try to wear it, I don't mind knitting two and slipping two all the live long day.

Which brings me to this: I think the reason I like knitting this hat so much is that I am under no pressure whatsoever to "make it work." No one is paying me for it, it's not for sale, and it's just me, enjoying slipping stitches.

P.S. That little "nipple" action at the top of the hat will be cinched up last. I had to mention it because I know that is what is on your mind right about now. So, get your minds out of the gutter.

Girlfriend's Swing Coat

Years ago, I designed a swing coat sweater for Girlfriend. I think she was about three or four years old at the time and for kicks I had her try it on. She's grown so much it now looks like a shrug.

Inspired, I completely re-designed the sweater and had it edited so I can re-release it in all it's spiffed up glory.

Knit from the top down, this swingy sweater is sized from 2 - 14 so it'll fit a large range of kids: from tots to tweens and even some teens. It is infinitely customizable so that if you want more or less swing you can do more or fewer increases as you work toward the hem. Same goes for the sleeves. Since they're knit from the top down, you can shorten them or even add a bell shape by working increases as you work toward the wrist instead of the decreases, as written. I used Spud & Chloe Sweater, which is a wool and organic cotton blend, but you can substitute pretty much any worsted weight yarn that knits up to the same gauge.

Sizes: 2 - 14

Finished Measurements: 22.75 (25, 26.75, 28.5, 30.75, 32.5, 35.75)" at chest

Yarn: Spud & Chloe Sweater (55% Superwash Wool, 45% Organic Cotton / 160 yards / 100 grams): 3 (4, 5, 5, 7, 8, 8) hanks #7519 Splash

Needles: One 30" long or longer circular needle size US 7 (4.5mm) & One set double point needles in the same size 

Notions: Stitch markers; scrap yarn, yarn needle, three .5" buttons and one set of three hook and eye closures

Gauge: 18 sts and 20 rows = 4" in St st

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner. Skills needed are knits and purls, knitting in the round and an easy attached i-cord.

Click on the button below to buy a copy. It will be sent to you in a zipped PDF file via email when payment is made or eCheck clears. Thanks!

$6.00

I'll Sew You Anything and Knit You Nothing.

Other than the fact that my office slash studio upstairs smells like chicken taquitos, things seem to be fine. I'm busy down here in the kitchen sewing oven mitts for people who don't yet know they need them or want them, and listening to KISS.

My office is in serious need of cleaning. The reason I'm eating chicken taquitos in it and sewing Christmas oven mitts down here is because I can't find the list of Knitting Things To Do under the not-so-stale wafting scent, the orphan Singer Dial-a-Size Dress Form (in red) or the pile of stitch dictionaries I left on the floor all around the deteriorating but-oh-so-cool black leather chaise (seriously; it IS cool but mine's all black) over there in the corner by the window I stare out of hour after hour while waiting for the crazy neighbor to cut down another tree without assistance.

I think that, about twice a year, I write a post like this. I tend to get lost in the Need to Do's and the Want to Do's for some reason. I wonder if part of it is that another year is passing and I'm not sure if I want to look forward or stall a little bit. You know, find a little bit more time to smell the roses instead of the taquitos and sew for people who don't really need oven mitts . . . or know that they want them. Yet.

Funny thing is, I don't mind sewing for people. With knitting, if they don't appreciate it or don't use it or lose one of the socks I knit them, I get stabby. But sewing? Heck, I'll even make you a quilt! I'll sew your doll a dress and make you a pillowcase to match! A new pair of pajamas? Oh, yes!

I wonder why that is. That my sewing is so guileless but my knitting is so personal.

My office smells like chicken taquitos, so I'm not going to think too hard on this one. I have other things to deal with.

So, I'll open a window a smidge and close the door to the office and hope that when I go in there tomorrow morning it'll be fresher and I will be inspired to clean up the spot around that fantastic deteriorating chaise. (And perhaps find a home for that red Dial-a-Size Dress Form.)

BTW: I am overdue setting up a KAL for Custom Knits 2 over at the Knit and Tonic Knitters Group at Ravelry. Honestly, I'm ready to get it started except for one thing. I don't know if it should be ongoing or if we should have a time limit so I'm not tethered to the computer day in and day out for months on end. What do you think?

Coastal Knits - Book Giveaway

Coastal Knits is a collaborative work between Alana Dakos and Hannah Fettig. They met online, like a lot of us have, and at one point got to meet in person and became forever friends.

I'd say BFF's, but heck, I'm nearly 50 and I think I'd sound strange if I said that they were BFF's because I clearly remember my mom saying once, "What a roll"! when she heard a funny joke and I nearly fell over with shame. Carry on...

So this is how the seed of the book was sown. Thing is, they lived on opposite coasts, Alana here in California and Hannah in Portland, Maine.

In terms of working on a book together, they were demographically challenged, but their particular design aesthetics--very much a product of their surroundings--makes this book extra special.

What's intriguing is, their designs, which range from sweaters of all kinds to shawls, neck warmers and hats, are totally cohesive in so many ways. I mean, you can tell whose is whose--especially if you're familiar with their work--but what makes this book and the designs in it so special is that each pattern is preceded by a description and pictures of scenery from a place near their homes (even notes about yarns produced in nearby towns!). So, in essence, not only is Coastal Knits a knitting book, it's almost like a wonderful travel book, the kind you read before a needed vacation where the pictures and text literally take you away to another place. 

One other thing I like about this book is that I can appreciate the amount of time and effort that went into it. This is a self-published book. Yes, there's professional photography and design work here. But, they had to do it/arrange it all. on. their. own. Imagine! See, I chose the publishing house route for my books and I never have to worry about sending out the books or distribution or paying anyone or anything at all. All I have to think about is writing/designing/writing/knitting/writing/answering emails. That's it. Alana and Hannah? They have done it all. That is a feat in of itself, and add to that it's a great book.

I'm going to pass on the love of this book to a lucky winner. I'm in the midst of writing a fourth (fourth!) book, and I cannot let Coastal Knits call me from the shelf.

Leave me a comment, this time telling me what's currently on your needles, and in a couple days I will randomly choose a name and send out the book. Oh, and be sure to go to Alana's blog, Never Not Knitting, and wish her well. She's having a baby any day now!

Why I Customize My Knits - Guest Blog Post at STC

I don't think I've ever written a guest post, but you can find one at my publisher's blog site. . . here!

BTW: This is the Staghorn Vest that appears in Custom Knits 2. In the book, I also show you how to convert the pattern to a simple, unisex v-neck.

Quilting Again

[image error]I made another quilt. I'm on a roll. Seriously. I'm on a total roll. Lately, all I've wanted to do is make these jelly roll quilts.

For this one, which is a little smaller than a twin-size, I used seven one-half yard pieces of fabric (and another half-yard for the binding) that I cut into 2 1/2 x 43" strips. I then sewed them all together into one very long strip. After that, I just folded the strip in half with right sides together lengthwise and sewed it together with a 1/4" seam. After that, I cut the end so it laid flat, and repeated the process four more times: I put right sides together lengthwise and then sewed it together with a 1/4" seam and then cut the end so that it laid flat (you have to do it or watch someone do it to actually understand how it works).

These jelly roll quilts are so fun to make and super easy. This one took just one afternoon. It sure beats trying to knit something this size, that's for sure.

Here is a link to a video that shows how to do it.

I know it has nothing to do with knitting but I make no bones about being multi-craftual. It's good for the soul.

More Knit Your Own Socks.

Speaking of socks, I'm wearing some that I knit for HWWV quite awhile ago. I'd wear a pair that I knit for myself but I'm so lousy at keeping track of socks that I can't manage to find a matching pair. I suppose I can wear non-matching socks but I keep thinking that their varying thickness might make me feel like I'm wearing shoes with two different heel heights or something.

I used to knit socks constantly. Now, I don't have the time that I used to, so the ones that I do knit are few and far between. That said, unless you are a beloved, don't dare ask me to knit you socks.

Or a cap.

Or anything else.

I have found that few people understand what goes into knitting a(n) insert item name here.

I'm not one of those selfish knitter types. I'm not. I think I have just figured out, over time, that it is better to really know if someone will use or appreciate what I make for them before I spend the time. And I say "make" because this is also true for sewing, quilting, crocheting, painting, sculpting, building, composing or, oh, Mod Podge-ing.

I wonder if non-crafting people think that because we enjoy the process of creating, that somehow that pleasure of crafting results in us just wanting to do it all the time, for hours on end, whether or not the recipient will ever use that item. Yeah, those socks may take me 49.75 hours of knitting, but I enjoy knitting!  Right? So . . . knit them even though you won't wear them? 

Crap. I'm sounding selfish now.

I take back what I wrote.

BTW: Here's a couple photos HWWV took of us. And guess what? I'm not wearing a stitch of make-up. Girlfriend, in her picture, isn't either. It's all computer magic. And no, I didn't ask him to do this for us. He wanted to.