Marly Bird's Blog, page 194

Yarn Addict Anniken Allis

Yarn Addict Anniken Allis spoke with us from the UK to the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird. Can you sense we’re about YARN here?

Anniken (or ‘Anni’ for short) says she must have learned from her mom, but says her mom doesn’t remember teaching her. She was born in Norway and they moved to England when she was about 20, currently she lives in Cornwall.  Her mom was always knitting as both of her grandmothers, so it seems it was in her blood. As a teenager, she says she didn’t like to follow patterns ~ not really consider that designing but doing her own thing.

She says she took a break because trying to understand patterns and abbreviations was harder. When her kids were little, the internet helped her with understanding new things, and she subscribed to various knitting forums. Her first pattern was published in 2007 by a internet magazine and since she’s been published in various knitting magazines internationally. She began knitting and designing socks, even an online sock club, called Sockmania. She had to put that aside as her published patterns in magazines began to take off. (If you look at her designs listed in Ravelry, you’ll see a lot of her early designs were socks!) She does still design garments, but she says her love is lace shawls….

Anni loved the thought of writing book, but felt she was really too busy to put together a book proposal. In 2013, Stackpole books approached her, they liked the patterns of hers that had been published in American magazines and the designs listed in Ravelry. So, she whipped the proposal that she’d put off and they gave her a lot of freedom as far as what she wanted to do, the yarns had to be chosen by what’s available in the US where the book was published. She says some of the yarns she’d never used before, so that was a treat.

Some of the conversion of terms are confusing, like yarn weights, needle sizes…. she is reliant, as most of us are, on the internet for information to understanding and reminders. It’s the combination of fibers that make things interesting (she shared she is using cashmere and possum blend from New Zealand) and seeing how things drape and keep their shape. Choosing yarns for the book was doing a lot of investigation online.

Using BEADS, (she admits preferring adding them as knitted with a crochet hook) and keeping in mind the weight of the bead, the weight of the yarn…. Anni says in the book she’s become attached to seed beads and Miracle beads, which are lightweight. (I looked those up, it’s a bead that has been created to glow, check it out, this is an online store in Washington State that seems to have a wide variety, I don’t know where Anni orders hers from Cornwall.) She includes written patterns and charts, because she prefers both. The book is available (Amazon link) in paperback and kindle which makes enlarging things helpful, Marly reports that for her the patterns seem easy to read.

Anni still does clubs for knitters to participate, here is the link for Easy Lacy Club and Beads and Lace Club. She includes a yarn that makes up nicely, beads included in the Beads club, tools like the crochet hook for adding the beads, other helpful ‘little somethings’ and includes shipping. (Friday is the deadline for the Easy Lace Club…) She says the Beads club is for a knitter a little more experienced but not VERY difficult. Wouldn’t getting a package from Cornwall be fun? Anni is also putting together a knitting retreat, here is the link for those interested in attending in October.

As with all of us, she enjoys the variety of things that keep her busy. We love that she creates a variety of shapes and designs for us to enjoy!

If you missed getting to listen LIVE, you can still find this as an archived episode where it aired originally: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/07/07/yarn-addict-anniken-allis or in iTunes.http://www.marlybird.com/yarn-addict-...

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Social MEDUSA takes over….

First we begin with spotlight of the sponsors of the Yarn Thing podcast:

CREATIVEBUG
RED HEART YARNS
ERIN LANE BAGS
LO-LO BY BAR-MAIDS
BUFFALO WOOL CO
GREEN MOUNTAIN SPINNERY
CRAFTSY
KRISTIN OMDAHL
DREW EMBORSKY
BIJOU BASIN RANCH
XRX, KNITTING UNIVERSE AND STITCHES

Marly sent a message about half way through airtime ~ me and my buddies! She was thinking of us, too, I’m sure she was missing you guys!

Honorable mentions should also be listed (other companies of yarny goodness that we talked about together); like KnitCircus Yarns and their podcast, also Dark Matter Knits podcast and Fiber Hooligans, Seattle Mariners Stitch N Pitch, Traveling Ewe with JJ Foster, Steve Malcolm….

I’m grateful for Rachel and Kim, both from Kentucky, Renee from Michigan, Alison (she’s done contract knitting for Marly) Jenny ~ congrats on your Buffalo Wool Co win, those mitts sound wonderful, Caitlyn, from Pennsylvania, Laura in California and Liz in Washington State. Thank you for calling in and letting me chat with you! I appreciate those that listened live, THEY had ten minutes of silence, if you go and listen to the archive, YOU won’t have that. Thank you to those on the line and those in the chatroom for your patience.

If you missed getting to hear this live you can find it where it aired originally as an archived episode: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/06/30/social-medusa-takes-over or in iTunes.

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How to Seam a Crochet Sweater

Xanadu Crochet Pullover by Marly Bird  is just one of the many wonderful free patterns over at RedHeart.com. This is also one of the few patterns that were actually designed by ME

As you know, this sweater was one I crocheted for the magazine, Crochet Today, and is now a pattern that Red Heart posted on their website because they loved it as much as I do

Designing and making sweaters are my favorite things to do, but I also like to help fellow knitters and crocheters make sweaters that they will love as well. One of the things I hear from crocheters and knitters alike is sweaters is intimidating. My goal with the Xanadu Crochet Pullover video is to help you tackle this sweater without any hesitation. Let me hold your hand and tell you how to make the sweater crocheting process easy.

Last week, I offered you a mission to make all the pieces of the sweater and then join me later when I show you how to seam a crochet sweater and how to sew on ribbing to the body of the sweater.

By this point in the sweater making process you have made all 5 parts of the sweater, Front, Back, 2 Sleeves and the Ribbing. It is time to begin seaming!

In the Marly Bird YouTube video for the Xanadu sweater I approached the tutorial differently in that I don’t actually crochet along with you.

In the Marly Bird YouTube video for the Seaming of the sweater I show you how to do it.

I walk you through how to prepare the pieces before you seam them.
I offer suggestions to help you keep the pieces lined up for a better seam.
I show you the slip stitch join and the mattress stitch.

This video is part of my awesome new partnership with Red Heart and I am very excited to be able to show you how to crochet one of my own patterns!

Now, you are ready to seam your sweater together. 

*Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links**

Xanadu Crochet Pullover

Inspired by a sweater from the 1980s, this retro pullover has been redesigned in dreamy yarn! It’s sure to inspire you to get your crochet hook and try the Griddle stitch.

Pattern:

Here is the link for the FREE Xanadu Crochet Pullover

Supplies:

RED HEART® Boutique Treasure™: 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) balls 1901 Mosaic Susan Bates®

Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 6mm [US J-10]

Susan Bates® Bent Tip Steel Yarn Needle

Stitch Markers

Mini Knit Clips for seaming

GAUGE: 12 sts = 4” (10 cm); 12 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Griddle stitch pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Abbreviations Used:

ch = chain;

dc = double crochet;

hdc = half double crochet;

sc = single crochet;

st(s) = stitch(es);

[ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified;

* = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated. 

Special Stitches Used:

dc2tog = [Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops] 2 times, yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.

sc2tog = [Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

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Pattern Stitch Griddle Stitch Pattern (multiple of 2 sts)

Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook (beginning ch do not count as a st), *dc in next ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across to last ch, hdc in last ch, turn. Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), hdc in first st, *dc in next sc, sc in next dc; repeat from * across to last st, hdc in last st, turn. Repeat Row 2 for Griddle st pattern.

YouTube Video by Marly Bird:

YouTube Video Notes:

Seam the shoulders first by matching up the cooresponding front and back shoulders with Right Sides facing each other so the seam will be on the inside of the sweater. Remember that the shoulders are the hanger for your sweater so you want the shoulder seam to be strong so it can handle the weight of the garment. That is why I’ve chosen to use a slip stitch join.

Use the same yarn you used on your project to do the seam. I used a different color just to demonstrate on camera.
The slip stitch join will show through to the Right Side of your fabric but with the yarn I’ve chosen for this project that shouldn’t be a problem.
If you want to use a different way to seam the shoulder together you can do that.


Once the shoulders are joined, pin the sleeve into the armscye with the Right Side FACING YOU. This is different than how you seamed the shoulders but it is important when doing a crochet mattress stitch.
I like to use the mini knit clips to keep the sleeve in place. I highly recommend them!
Make sure you have a length of yarn long enough to seam the entire sleeve in place. Also, use the same yarn you used for the sweater to seam the sleeve.
I HIGHLY recommend using a BENT TIP Steel Yarn Needle for this process. The one I use on camera is not bent tip but is steel (which is so much easier than the plastic ones!). If you don’t have one GET ONE NOW!
Even though you are working on the Right Side of the sweater, if you have done the mattress stitch correctly the edges of the sleeve and armscye will join beautifully and invisibly. You can see that happen on camera as I am using a completely different colored yarn than the yarn I used for the sweater. Again, make sure you are using the same yarn you used for the sweater to seam it.
Once the shoulder seam and sleeves are seamed in place you are ready to seam the side of the sweater and the underarm of the sleeve!

Use the mattress stitch to seam the side seam and the sleeve.

Seam these two sections seperately. That way if you need to fudge any of the join you can do it in the armpit where it will never show

You can do this!

What about the ribbing? Well, that is another video all together Until next week!

Here are some pictures of my best friend Jenni in her very own Xanadu Crochet Pullover. This is the actual sweater I used in the video.

 

Looking for more? I love making quick projects and even wrote a leaflet with Leisure Arts on how to do some fun things! If you too are looking for fun and quick projects go and check out the I Can’t Believe I’m Entrelac Knitting by Marly Bird. 

Look at more patterns crocheted by my Best Friend Jenni

Check out Marly Bird Designs

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Firecracker Felted Crochet Bag

The Firecracker Felted Crochet Bag (or purse). Let me answer your questions…

Yes, that is eyelash yarn;
Yes, that is a felted crochet bag;
No, I do not live in Texas LOL.

The Firecracker Crochet Felted Bag is one of those patterns that I designed and turned out EXACTLY how I envision it.

I love the shape, I love the closure, I love the handles, I love, love, love the use of eyelash yarn with felted wool to create a lot of texture.

If you have never felted crochet before don’t be scared! It is super easy. Here are some fool proof instructions for how to do it.

 

 

(Disclaimer, Affiliate Links Used in this post so I can make some money and give you a pattern for FREE)

Because I want many of you to know how wonderful this bag is I am offering it to you as a FREE PATTERN! Please share this pattern page URL (  http://www.marlybird.com/firecracker-... ) with others who might like a bag like this

Firecracker Bag
Finished Size

Post-felt: 16” wide and 12” tall; base 13” wide

Materials

Yarn: Cascade Yarns, “220” (100% Peruvian Wool; 220 yds [200 m]/100 g): #9568 Twilight Blue (MC), 3 hanks; #8414 Bright Red (CA), 3 hanks. **NOTE: any 100% wool will work for this project**

Yarn Bee Yarn, “Gilt Eyelash” (65% Polyester, 35% Lurex Glitter; 125 yds [3 ounces]): #60 Tinsel Sky (CB), 1 ball; #30 Twinkle (CC), 1 ball; #50 Star Ruby (CD), 1 ball.

Hook: Size J/10 (6 mm)

Notions: Stitch markers(m), tapestry needle, sewing needle and matching thread, purse handles

Gauge

12 sts and 9 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in Half Double Crochet double stranded.

 Pattern Notes:

You don’t want the stitches to be too tight or the fabric will not felt as well as it should.
Bag is worked hold two strands of wool together throughout pattern, when the eyelash yarn is used hold is along with the two strands of 100% wool.
The bag is made inside out therefore, the inside of the bag will look like it has more eyelash but once it is flipped right side out it will look GREAT!
Work over the ends of all the yarn used (even the eyelash) as you work along. Doing this is fine for a felted bag, as the ends cannot work loose once the finished bag is felted.

Special Stitches

flp (front loop only): in stitch indicated, insert hook into front loop only and work stitch as indicated.

hdc (half double crochet): Yarn over hook, insert hook into indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop; yarn over and draw through all three loops on hook.

hdc2tog (half double crochet 2 stitches together): [Yarn over, insert hook in next st, yarn over and draw up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 5 loops on hook.

Color Sequence

MC 4 rnds

MC and CB 3 rnds

CA 2 rnds

CA and CD 3 rnds

CA 2 rnds

CA and CC 3 rnds

CA 2 rnds

CA and CD 3 rnds

CA 2 rnds

MC and CB 3 rnds

MC 2 rnds

CA 2 rnds

Pattern

Base

With MC, CH 52. hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across, ch 2, turn—50 hdc’s.

Row 1: Hdc in first hdc and in each hdc across, ch 2, turn—50 hdc’s. Repeat row 14 more times, do not finish off—16 rows.

Prepare for round

Row 1: *3 hdc in first st, hdc to last st, 3 hdc in last st. Turn work 90 degrees to work along the side of the base. Hdc 21 sts evenly along the side. Turn work 90 degrees* to work along the chain edge; rep from * to *. Join with a sl st to first hdc, ch 2. Do Not Turn—150 sts around.

Place a marker in the middle of each 3 hdc corners and move the marker up as you make the bag.

Body of Bag—in the round

Follow the color sequence

Rnd 1: Hdc in first hdc and in each around, join with a sl st to first hdc, ch 2. Do Not Turn.

Repeat rnd 1to the last rnd of the color sequence. Last Rnd: Hdc through the front loop only this rnd, finish off.

Top of Bag

Work each side separately on each row

Row 1: With the short edge facing, estimate the center and place a stitch marker. Now, fold the sides to the center marker so that all the markers match up at the center of the bag (forms a letter W or M).

With CB, join with a sl st to the outside edge and sctog two layers together to the marker, then sc the long side to the markers on other side and sctog two layers together to end, finish off.

Join yarn to opposite side of bag and repeat from * to end, Do Not Finish Off.

Row 2: Ch 2, sctog two layers together at the sides (these are what you just created) to the marker, then sc the long side to the marker on other side and sc tog two layers together, finish off.

Join yarn at markers edge and sc around opposite long side edge to opposite marker, finish off.

Turn the bag Right Side Out

Handle tabs: laying your bag out flat and place the purse handle you plan on using at the top of the bag so that you can see where the tabs need to be placed. Use removable stitch markers to mark specifically where you want your tab to begin and end so that the purse handle is centered.

Between your markers is where the tab will be made. Make sure the tab is long enough that when it is felted and folded it will still be good for the handles you plan on using.

At one marker, join MC with a sl st to the exposed loop of the row you did the front loop only hdc. Work a row of sc wide enough for your handles, turn. Working only on the stitches just created *Ch 1 and sc across, turn; repeat from * until tab is desired length, finish off.

Finishing

Weave in all loose ends.

Felting

Place the bag in a pillowcase or pillow cover and either zipper it shut or close it with a heavy duty elastic – this will help to prevent clogging your machine with fibers coming off in the washing process. Place the pillowcase in the washer and add a very small amount of detergent. Set the washer on hot water/cold rinse cycle, minimum size load, and wash garment. Check the felting process every 1-2 minutes depending on your machine, detergent, and local water conditions. If using spin cycle to remove excess water, set on lowest setting – folds caused by the spin cycle are hard to remove. After the piece has finished washing, shape to desired form. Then, let dry overnight.

Using sewing thread and needle sew the handles on to bag.

Really make your bag shine! Choosing the right handles can really take your bag from a craft item to a WOW, YOU MADE THAT?!? I like the handcrafted handles made of leather. You can find some really great handles here.

Looking for more? I love making quick projects and even wrote a leaflet with Leisure Arts on how to do some fun things! If you too are looking for fun and quick projects go and check out the some of Marly’s Books!

Like this pattern on Ravlery

Look at some other Marly Bird Designs

Please use the images below and link to this post for the Free Pattern.

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Cathy Carron and KnitCliks partner Carolyn Noyes

Cathy Carron and Knitcliks partner Carolyn Noyes stopped by the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird to share their project. Always lots of fun to be had when you bring a friend!

Cathy Carron is well-known for her books, Happy Feet and Cowl Girls. She began knitting very young, taught by a Latvian grandmother. She was creating hat patterns, and, with the help of the owner of Classic Elite yarns, found a publisher in 2005 Hip Knit Hats. Currently she has a pattern appearing in Noro Magazine.

Carolyn Noyes says she was taught to knit by an aunt when she was little, well, first to sew later came knitting. She worked in the magazine business as an adult (managing editor of Oprah Magazine) and when she had a baby, she took up her needles again. Carolyn found herself modifying patterns and realized she should be writing her patterns down. For the last 5 years, she’s been living in Maine and has this great friendship, long distance with Cathy…

They met at a shop in New York’s West Village, says Carolyn, attending a trunk show by Vogue Knitting, the little shop was packed and she was offered a chair by a designer of three of the projects in the featured grouping. They met again, a year later, at a book signing at another Vogue knitting event. So with Cathy’s designing background and Carolyn’s publishing experience, they eventually put together KnitCliks.

Cathy and Carolyn created KnitCliks to share what they find in the fiber world of interest. It’s a website aggregator (Google defines this as: a website or program that collects related items of content and displays them or links to them.) They are finding that people look to their website first thing in the day for the latest new information of patterns, products and events. They also publish their own patterns, including the Mesh Bag.

KnitCliks has been formulated around their schedules, Carolyn may start posts then go and tend to her family and come back to it later. Besides the website, they are active at Instagram, they can be found on Facebook, but they are not really using that, it does directs you back to the website.

If you would like to hear Cathy’s previous visit to Yarn Thing podcast, Here is the LINK to hear that.

If you missed hearing this live, you can catch it as an archived episode: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/06/23/designer-cathy-carron-and-knitcliks-partner-carolyn-noyes or in iTunes.

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Scarves in the Round author, Heather Walpole

Scarves in the Round author, Heather Walpole, came to visit the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird today. Heather Walpole is a first-time guest, so we have lots to learn!

Heather blames her sister, who owned a yarn store, and got her to crochet. She still has that swatch, which got tighter the more she worked on it. Later she taught Heather to knit, and the colors began to fascinate her. Heather went with her to attend TNNA and, with her background as a graphic designer, one day she got the idea to start her own line of yarns. This was the beginning of Ewe Ewe Yarns!

She began with offering 7 colors of worsted weight yarn. Heather finds worsted is most comfortable for her to knit, and designing with it, her best. Starting out, she ordered the minimum number of colors, and a couple of great yarn stores right from the beginning have carried her entire line. Wooly Worsted is now (after only three years!) available in 20 colors and she has another line, Ewe So Sporty. Click here to find a store near you, or where you can order online. Hope you’ll tell them you heard it on Yarn Thing!

Heather has great pattern support, herself. You can see from her Ravelry Designer profile that her take on knitting is wide and varied. You can also find her pattern lists at her website, grouped by topics, such as Babies & Kids or Hats & Mitts.

One day she was standing in line at the Post Office checking her phone, and she received an e-mail from Stackpole Books. They actually suggested a book of scarves in the round, Heather liked accessories so the fit felt good. They suggested 25 patterns, Heather divided it into sections, Basics, Lace, Textures and Colorwork. The yarns she’s chosen were based on it being the best the project could look, aside from her own from Ewe Ewe. She took a few friends and they modeled (herself included) in her little California beach town, which gave her the ability to portray the scarves the way she wanted them to appear.

Heather Walpole can be found at her website, her designer page Ravelry (and there is a group for fans of Ewe Ewe!) The book can be purchased at Amazon, so go and put it on your wishlist, like I did, at least! Marly says she’s off to a local yarn store, Find Your Stash in Castle Rock, Colorado, to check out the Ewe Ewe Yarns there!

If you missed getting to listen LIVE, you may hear it as an archived episode at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/06/18/scarves-in-the-round-author-heather-walpole or in iTunes.

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Xanadu Crochet Pullover

Xanadu Crochet Pullover by Marly Bird  is just one of the many wonderful free patterns over at RedHeart.com. This is also one of the few patterns that were actually designed by ME

This sweater was one I crocheted for the magazine, Crochet Today, and is now a pattern that Red Heart posted on their website because they loved it as much as I do When I made the Xanadu Crochet Pullover it was the first time that I had ever used Red Heart Boutique Treasures yarn and I thought it was just wonderful! The color changes were spectacular, the feel of it in my hands and on the body was lovely and the price point is one that won’t bust the bank!

Designing and making sweaters are my favorite things to do, but I also like to help fellow knitters and crocheters make sweaters that they will love as well. One of the things I hear from crocheters and knitters alike is sweaters is intimidating. My goal with the Xanadu Crochet Pullover video is to help you tackle this sweater without any hesitation. Let me hold your hand and tell you how to make the sweater crocheting process easy.

In the Marly Bird YouTube video, I approached the tutorial differently in that I don’t actually crochet along with you.

I walk you through how to prepare the pattern for you and the size you are making,
I offer suggestions to help you keep on track as you crochet,
I explain some of the shaping you are doing to make the sweater armholes,
I explain the shoulders and neck opening,
I walk you through the body of a sleeve and sleeve cap.

Then, I offer you a mission to make all the pieces of the sweater and join me later (actually, over the next few weeks) when I show you how to seam a sweater and how to sew on ribbing to the body of the sweater in future tutorials.

This video is part of my awesome new partnership with Red Heart and I am very excited to be able to show you how to crochet one of my own patterns!

Now, you too can make this cute crochet pullover with the free crochet pattern and the free video tutorial taught by me, Marly Bird you will have nothing but success.

*Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links**

Xanadu Crochet Pullover

Inspired by a sweater from the 1980s, this retro pullover has been redesigned in dreamy yarn! It’s sure to inspire you to get your crochet hook and try the Griddle stitch.

Pattern:

Here is the link for the FREE Xanadu Crochet Pullover

Supplies:

RED HEART® Boutique Treasure™: 6 (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) balls 1901 Mosaic Susan Bates®

Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 6mm [US J-10]

Susan Bates® Steel Yarn Needle

Stitch Markers

GAUGE: 12 sts = 4” (10 cm); 12 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Griddle stitch pattern. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Abbreviations Used:

ch = chain;

dc = double crochet;

hdc = half double crochet;

sc = single crochet;

st(s) = stitch(es);

[ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified;

* = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated. 

Special Stitches Used:

dc2tog = [Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops] 2 times, yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.

sc2tog = [Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

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Pattern Stitch Griddle Stitch Pattern (multiple of 2 sts)

Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook (beginning ch do not count as a st), *dc in next ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across to last ch, hdc in last ch, turn. Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), hdc in first st, *dc in next sc, sc in next dc; repeat from * across to last st, hdc in last st, turn. Repeat Row 2 for Griddle st pattern.

YouTube Video by Marly Bird:

YouTube Video Notes:

In this video I walk you through how to read the Xanadu pattern, how and why you shape for the armholes and the shoulders, and talk you through how to make the sleeves.

After you complete these parts of the sweater look for the How to Seam a Sweater Video (coming soon) and the How to Join Ribbing with a Whip Stitch Video (coming soon) to finish the entire sweater.

You can do this!

Here are some pictures of my best friend Jenni in her very own Xanadu Crochet Pullover. This is the actual sweater I used in the video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for more? I love making quick projects and even wrote a leaflet with Leisure Arts on how to do some fun things! If you too are looking for fun and quick projects go and check out the I Can’t Believe I’m Entrelac Knitting by Marly Bird. 

Look at more patterns crocheted by my Best Friend Jenni

Check out Marly Bird Designs

The post Xanadu Crochet Pullover appeared first on Marly Bird.

Sock Architecture author, Lara Neel

Sock Architecture author, Lara Neel shared the in and outs of her book on the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird.

Lara (pronounced as it was in Dr. Zhivago) says she found it interesting to be on the other side of the microphone, as she has a podcast, too. Look for Math4Knitters

Lara learned to knit in daycare at age 6 or 7, someone would cast on and she would knit, but that person left and so did her knitting. She taught herself to knit again in college, needing to create something physical while studying physics. Her local yarn store was WEBS! She worked in media as a journalist and moving every couple of years, knitting gave her a way to meet people.

She began a podcast, Math4Knitters, around 2006, which is currently being re-run in order to have them available through iTunes. By 2010, while she was working on it, she was writing a new pattern every three weeks. Trying to help someone with sock patterns that fit real feet, she began creating lists of techniques, some of them lost (citing Barbara Walker’s Unjustly Lost patterns) but resurfacing in books like Cat Bordhi’s Sock Soar on Two Needles. Her thoughts on this list became a book, she realizes now would have been hard to find a publisher for as knitting socks is considered a niche publication. Cooperative Press, Shannon Okey, was someone she’d interview on the podcast, and was agreeable to publishing Sock Architecture. A fellow member of her knitting group, Allison Van Zandt began Simply Sock Yarn Company and was very encouraging, provided the yarn for the socks shown in the book. She used solid colors which showed the techniques and patterns, unisex in style, and is enjoying seeing the various yarns and projects created from the book.

She has been a professional photographer, for which she has used a form, named Fra-Gee-Ley (from A Christmas Story, the phonetically miss-pronounced “fragile”) and posed pictures in the corner of the living room with white walls. Fra-Gee-Ley goes with her when she is teaching anatomy of feet. ‘After-thought heel’ is a term from ‘Ethnic Socks and Stockings’ that she thinks should be rephrased as pocket-heel, but finds that often doesn’t fit well because they are made too shallow, which becomes tight around the top of the foot. Some heel guidelines Lara mentioned, the thumb joint (after picking up, you knit straight for the length of the thumb of the wearer then decrease) and hat-top, which is decreasing eight every other round until you you run out of stitches. They look weird when the sock is laid flat but it’s a comfortable fit when worn. And then the hybrid, mentioned in Ethnic Socks, where you mash-up two heel designs… Short-row heels, Lara finds many don’t prefer them because they look machine-knit. (To which Marly’s response is, if her product looks machine knit, she’s a FINE knitter!) The ‘Toe-up’ or ‘Top-down’ preference depends on the project, she says, if she’s knitting in the car it’s Top-down, if she’s concerned about yardage, she will do Toe-up. Toe-up feels faster, because she doesn’t like doing the ribbing… Lara prefers double pointed needles (dpns) and putting stitches on hold with a spare needle.  Another personal preference is for her ‘not-thinking’ knittng right now is baby sweaters (last night watching a movie, she was working on one) because a friend is having a baby. As far as sock-knitting, there is so much more room to explore….

Her blog is math4knitters, she has a website with her teaching schedule and things,  designs are listed in Ravelry and she has a Craftsy class

If you missed getting to hear this LIVE you can still find it as an archive at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/06/16/sock-architecture-author-lara-neel or in iTunes.

I hope you will, because there was lots of great laughter between these two.

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Knit Booties Baby Jane

Baby Jane Booties by Linda Cyr  is just one of the many wonderful free patterns over at RedHeart.com. These knit booties will fly off your needles!

Like many of you, I am often scrambling to find that perfect little something to bring with me when I go to a baby shower, or visit the newborn at the hospital. Since my friends know I crochet and knit they expect to have a handmade item, and rightly so! Well, these precious knit booties are perfect for the last minute baby shower gift! I just LOVE THEM!

In the YouTube video I show you how to knit these cutie booties from start to finish with a few added tips along the way to make things easier. There are 7 parts to the video but you have the option to watch it all at once or work along with me and make your own booties. I also offer my preferred closure

This video is part of my awesome new partnership with Red Heart and I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed working on the step-outs for this video.

Now, you too can make these adorable knit booties with the free knit pattern and the free video tutorial taught by me, Marly Bird you will have nothing but success.

*Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links**

Baby Jane Booties 

These cutie knit booties are ones that every mom will love. The little buttoned Mary Jane style will keep them on even the wiggliest baby!

Pattern:

Here is the link for the FREE Baby Jane Booties Pattern

Supplies:

RED HEART® With Love®: 1 skein 1805 Bluebell. (Sample in video used 1704 Bubblegum)

Susan Bates® Knitting Needle: 4mm [US 6] double pointed needles and straights (I used circular knitting needles instead of straights because I find them easier to use)

Susan Bates® Steel Yarn Needle

Stitch Markers

Buttons, sewing thread and needle, OPTIONAL: sew on snaps.

Stitches Used:

Knit Stitch

M1 increase

K2tog

SSK

Yarn Over

Bind Off

 

YouTube Video by Marly Bird:

YouTube Video Notes:

In this video you will learn how to increase stitches with a M1 which is also known as a make one. The M1 is a virtually invisible increase which is great to use in this garter stitch patterns.

You will also learn how to bind off stitches mid row, cast on stitches at the end of the row and how to create a button hole.

Last but not least I talk to you about adding a sew on snap in place of an actual button that is functional to make it easier on the mom, IMHO.

Looking for more? I love making quick projects and even wrote a leaflet with Leisure Arts on how to do some fun things! If you too are looking for fun and quick projects go and check out the I Can’t Believe I’m Entrelac Knitting by Marly Bird. 

Look at more patterns by Linda Cyr

Check out Marly Bird Designs

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Warm Days Cool Knits author, Corrina Ferguson

Warm Days Cool Knits author Corrina Ferguson is today’s guest on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.

Corrina learned to knit about ten years ago, after a move to Florida and she says, once she learned she ‘wanted to learn all the things’. She also began teaching at her Local Yarn Store, realized that she needed to teach her own designs than those of others. Ravelry became big at about that time, and a couple of her designs were popular there. Designing then became a full-time career, as she was trying to support her boys, now in high school.

Her first design never was published there on Ravelry, is a toe-up sock. The next was a cable hat, the Snappy Hat, a Free Pattern that has over 5,00o projects linked to it. She followed the trends in Ravelry, became inspired by the cravings for shawls (see her Gaenor shawl pattern), the use of hand-dyed yarns and feels that her career was made by the sales of her patterns there.

Picnic Knits came from her thought that most of knitting designs are advanced beginner patterns, she believes ‘easy as a picnic’. Her friendship with Heather Zoppetti, began before founding Stitch Sprouts, but Corrina felt that she was not ready for that level of distribution at the beginning. However, Heather’s guidance was instrumental along the way and has been the map Corrina needed, even including her route to her new book. (Here is a link, for those interested and may have missed it, to hear Heather’s visit with Marly last year.)

Warm Days, Cool Knits: Light Knits for Every Season is a collection of garments and accessories that can be worn in warmer climates or in the summer season, is published through Interweave. The book includes the Lochlan Cardigan (a zippered hoodie) which was included in the Knitting Daily TV show, that Marly remembers seeing on the show. It’s a special favorite for Corrina, as with the yarn and the fabric created by the knit/purl chevron design creates a stretchy fabric, it was beloved by the show hosts for the way the chevrons meet up at the shoulder. The Mayella and Fayola shawl patterns are a wrap-you-up style of generous sizes.

You can follow Corrina Ferguson through her website,  in Ravelry, her designer page is HERE and she has a group there.

During this visit, Marly let Corrina know that there was a door prize from the Marly Bird Designer Dinner at TNNA, this Ottlite, great tool to help the handcrafter get a LITTLE more of their work done.

If you missed getting to hear this live, you can still catch as an archive  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/06/09/warm-days-cool-knits-author-corrina-ferguson or in iTunes.

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