Check out the bead installations of Dutch artist, Suzan Drummen. Visit her website http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/08/suzan-drummen/
Knitting In The Round Is Not Flat
The weekend temperatures in Northern California were in the triple digits. Today, Monday should be the last gasp of hot summer heat. I took advantage of the heat over the weekend to block a lace cowl “hot” off the needles. September Circle designed by Melissa LaBarre ” is a seamless loop scarf that combines a self-striping sock yarn and larger needles for a perfect fall accessory.”
The patterns suggests Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy (100 g/459 yds 75% virgin wool, and 25% nylon), which I found tucked away with the rest of my sock yarn.
I’m a newbie to lace knitting, so I decided to use stitch markers after each 12 stitch repeat. This project is a perfect “in-between another” when you’re looking for instant gratification. For bind off, I (k2tog tbl, slip the st back to left needle) to end of round. I find this particular technique results in a looser BO, compared to (knit 2 stitches and with left needle, pass first stitch over and off needle).
Because of the characteristic of knitted lace, I needed to figure out how to block in the round. I browsed through a couple of books and looked online and came across an interesting technique using two knitting needles.
After following the steps of wet blocking, knitting needles are inserted and pinned at each end to the finished size measurement. Take a look at Lisagrace Alsbury’s blog http://thegoodlifeiniowa.blogspot.com/2012/01/crafty-christmas-herringbone-cowlhow-to.htm
I’m looking forward to an almost twenty degrees cooler Tuesday.
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Schedule Change
Almost two weeks ago, I was notified the Vogue Knitting Destination trip to Koigu Wool Designs was cancelled due to an unfortunate personal circumstance suffered by the Landra family. I wish Kersti Landra a speedy recovery.
With a last minute change of my schedule…We were able to celebrate my husband’s birthday with an impromptu trip to the coast for a couple of days. What we witnessed words cannot describe, we were part of something amazing. Due to the warmer waters of El Nino, an abundant food supply exists for the whales, dolphins, sea otters and sea lions, and birds. I have never experienced such an awesome show of marine life.
Pelicans, Cormorants, Sea Gulls and diving birds were everywhere.
Sea Otters and pods of Dolphins cruised by for the abundant supply of food.
Of course, the unique and unusual also appeared.
I’ve taken many pictures over the years, but this candid shot of my husband is one of my favorites.
The end of a beautiful day on the beach.
Time for the celebratory Happy Birthday dinner at Cafe Rio.
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A Wrong Does Make A Right
After knitting about eight inches on Design Mine, I measured for gauge and found the width of the back was not to measurement. Does a gauge swatch truly address the variability of yarn? A gauge swatch is definitely necessary, but until the yarn has been knitted outside the confines of a gauge swatch, does a true textile emerge.
Online Linie 79 Evita, consists of a wrapped woven inner core which creates an interesting “thick and thin” yarn. What makes Evita visually unique, also creates an inconsistent gauge. Revising the number of cast on stitches, provided an opportunity for me to really “look” at the effects of inconsistency.
The wrong side of the knitted piece has an interesting sculptural Ikat weave surface pattern. For me, the wrong side of the piece is visually more interesting, in comparison to the right side.
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Copyright Guidelines
For all creative, curious, artistic, and social media participants the following information provides food for thought when sharing your intellectual property.
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Design Mine
When I find beautiful yarn and a pattern, I jump right in with both knitting needles. After knitting a gauge swatch, I begin knitting line by line, increase by decrease reaching the final row of bind off. I give very little thought to the process of designing because I love to knit. Recently, I read an interview of “technical knitter” Catherine Lowe, conducted by Charles D. Gandy for Knit Purl, the Spring/Summer 2015 issue, in which she mentions,
“More often than not, the motivation for the new designer is “I love to knit, so I’ll become a designer and then I’ll knit all the time. Actually, the new designer ends up spending most of his/her time dealing with business and professional aspects of the industry.”
I’ve had fleeting moments of design grandeur. Practically every year I enroll in a design class at Stitches West, but when the instructor begins to discuss how to get the numbers for neck shaping and sleeve increases my eyes glaze over and my mind wanders. Catherine Lowe argues,
“One great regret is that here in America we have no history of formalized apprenticeship in the hand knitting industry. Technical skills can be transmitted through tradition and workshops-experience cannot.”
Who knew a trip to my local library would help solve some of my knitting woes of design. Debbie Stoller’s, Stitch “N’ Bitch Superstar Knitting, speaks loud and clear to me.
I’ve decided to start collecting experience by embracing Debbie Stoller’s “purls of wisdom.” The basic drop-sleeve cardigan from Superstar Knitting appeals to me and looks like a great start. Locked away in my yarn vault, I found Evita by Online Linie 79, 50% Wool, 15% Nylon, 35% Acrylic.
Using a Size 13 needle, I knitted a gauge swatch. As I worked through the design process, the relationship between a gauge swatch paired with accurate measurements became quite evident. The whole design is based on at least 4 inches of knitting.
Now, I need to write-up the pattern.
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Chris From Canberra
According to other news outlets, Chris’ fleece yielded enough for thirty sweaters.
Thirty sweaters worth of wool shorn from overgrown sheep found wandering the Australian wilderness
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Hot Stuff
This morning, my husband and I attended Mollie Stone’s Hatch Chile Roast in San Bruno, CA.
My husband was introduced to the Town of Hatch during a brief six month work-related visit in Las Cruces, NM. He tasted various local cuisine flavored with Hatch chiles and has remained a fan of this wonderful delicacy. The harvest season for Hatch Chile runs from August into early September.
As we exited our car, we were drawn to the roasting of the chiles.
The green chiles were placed in a rotating wire mesh bin heated with propane.
As the chiles roasted, some pods burst leaving seeds.
Roasting completed and chiles were immediately put in a large plastic bag enclosed in a box.
Here are free tasty mouth-watering samples prepared by Mollie Stone. The Mac ‘N Cheese, Cornbread, Meatloaf and Chile Relleno Casserole were yummy!
By the time we were finished taste testing, our 20 lb. order of medium and hot chiles were roasted and ready.
There are a few recipes we plan on cooking. I’m interested in baking Hatch Chocolate Chip Cookies.
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Does Yarn Color Have A Shelf Life?
I’ve decided it’s time to get in touch with my “inner yarn self” and make some important decisions regarding my collection. Instead of consuming, I want to use what I’ve collected over the last 20+ years. Do I find the yarn colors, fiber content and gauge still appealing?
I uncovered enough gold-colored Lana Gross Merino Big for a sweater and questioned why I purchased the particular color, because I don’t wear gold (jewelry is an exception). I soon remembered, the yarn was purchased for my daughter whose reddish-brown hair and green eyes definitely suit the color. But, what about all the rest? Are the many skeins, balls and hanks of color still relevant? Some may be considered vintage, but does yarn color have an expiration date? I collect vintage knitting patterns, e.g., Coats & Clark’s featuring Red Heart Books, Spinnerin, Woman’s Day, to name a few, but I don’t have an interest in knitting from the various collections. I’m interested in the recorded history of style and written directions, in order to compare and evaluate the patterns of today.
Now, I’m knitting “A casual classic from designer Calvin Klein” pullover in a broken-cable pattern from Vogue Knitting Very Easy Knits. The Broken-Cable Pullover first appeared in the Spring/Summer 1986 issue of Vogue Knitting and was originally knit using Joseph Galler Bamboo. I’m knitting with Berroco Zodiac 53% cotton, 47% nylon yarn which may be at least 10 years old.
Looking for answers, I decided to check-out the Pantone Colors for Fall 2015. Of course, these colors dominant the Fashion Industry, but what about the yarn industry?
The Burberry dress, “The Reflecting Pond” found on Harper’s Bazaar online http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/g5257/pantone-top-color-trends-fall-2015/?slide=4 definitely resembles Pantone’s Stormy Weather and Reflecting Pond.
Pantone’s Stormy Weather and Reflecting Pond along with Grey Skies Gradient from Koigu have common color attributes. Koigu and the designer dress from Burberry share the effects of color gradation.
Pantone’s forecasts are fun for Fashion Week and merely a suggestion. Color preference is literally in the “eye and mind” of the beholder. Yes, girls like pink and practically everyone likes blue, researched by neuroscientists, Anya Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling at Newcastle. The results from their color selection experiment, Study: Why Girls Like Pink appears in Time Magazine August 20, 2007.
I believe my color selection is based on my life experiences which reflects the various stages of my personal growth. So, I’ve decided to let my yarn color selections tell my story in bright, vivid, bold details.
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Reminiscent of Dadaist, Tristan Tzara and the avant-garde movement.
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