Omega - is that another word for ohmigawd?

Here’s the thing…I’ve got my current KnS project almost completed on the LK150 – ‘almost’ being the operative word – it’s relative - the garment is almost complete (a gansey-style pullover for the April ’13 issue – more about this at another time, I promise), but the pattern writing is another story – 5 sizes and all those stitch charts, what was I thinking?…it’s due next week and I have to factor in postal time...I’ve got to finish up the pattern writing for the October POM (Rectangles, see last post) and add the last details to the techniques article for that one. And I was starting to feel the crunch of what the heck am I doing for the third garment for the Fall ’12 POM???
In the back of my mind, I want a hoodie – a nice one, mind you and I’ve got all sorts of conflicting things to think about and consider – what yarn to use? I want something special – what style? I’ve been favouring a raglan. Are people going to say, what, another hoodie (maybe that was just for kids)? But then I haven’t done one for the standard gauge for a while and not in the ‘Serial Stuff’ stuff…
While I was doing my Jillian workout this morning, it hit me (I had a hard time finishing up and to be honest, I blew through the cool-down--let me say, I’m doing my workout, staring at my shelves of yarn, between the huffing and puffing…)…
I’ve seen virtually everyone in town wearing a ‘Lululemon’ (google it if you have to) hoodie – I feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t have one – on girls and women of all ages, and my friends tell me of people they know who have several – I’ve only looked at them on the ‘net – they start at $125 and I can’t justify that
You may know I do have this affinity for WCD (wool crepe deluxe) – a hoodie will take a considerable amount – most WCD  cones currently are in the 18-19 oz/550g range and I feel that is probably not enough (get real, MA, you KNOW it’s not enough!) and that's when it hit me – I have a bunch of part cones that aren’t enough for too much of anything – how many camis can I think I’ll need/knit? One of my pet peeves is a two-colour garment that looks like they ran out of yarn or were trying to use up leftovers, so I don’t want that effect and I’m not totally sold on the ‘new’ colour-blocking thing…
So,  I’m not trying to duplicate the ‘omega’ symbol that is the ‘Lululemon’ motif, but by making the raglan sleeve into a type of saddle-shoulder…well, you’ll just have to check back soon for developments!
I’m going to Germantown, WI  to do a one-day workshop on October 20 – OMG!!

breaking news...

Got finished with the final details of proofing and correcting the pattern for ‘ Two Way’ – if you’ve subscribed to the new POM (Pattern of the Month, if you haven’t been following me) I’ll be emailing the zip file of the pdfs & DAK stitch patterns before the end of the week.

Knit’nStyle has the newest issue, #182 on their website – check it out! My mid gauge pattern, Lace Medley is a tunic (see blog post June ’12) with border lace and motif patterns, hand-transferred, of course, because it’s done on the LK150 and my techniques article for that issue is dealing with seaming on the machine – hope you find it helpful!
Here’s the first preview of the next pattern for POM for October. I call it ‘Rectangles’ because the back and fronts are simply that - rectangles, so no shaping - most of the edges are finished as you go, with longstitch that knits automatically on the front side using a few stitches on the rib bed, while the main bed is knitting One-Row-Tuck. I think this is a really  quick knit, even though it looks like a lot of fabric! The finished garment is totally fun to wear – I made two versions – the ivory was the first one, made with Silk Bourette from Yeoman Yarns and could be called the  ‘budget’ style or the ‘tall-girl’ design and it has a collar. I loved it but wanted another one, a little shorter, a bit more casual-wearing, maybe with jeans or something simple – both of them look great over a dress – anyway, the green is Wool Crepe Deluxe and could be called the ‘upscale’ model – my girlfriends loved both of them! I’m working on the patterns, almost ready for proofing and there will be the usual 5 size range in the two lengths with tips for choosing yarns, combining length size with widths and different finishing techniques.

good news...

I have a new standard gauge pattern-of-the-month.
The subscription means that you pay $25 in advance and then each month for the next 3 months (September, October, November) you will get the new pattern with the techniques article emailed to you in pdf format. The subscription can be purchased now and the first pattern will be emailed on the 15^th of the month or whenever you subscribe. It’s easy to get it from our website, (go to www.knitwords.com - refresh your browser if it doesn’t come up right after the opening page). You can use Paypal OR visa or mastercard through Paypal.
If that doesn’t work for you, you can send a check/cheque or money order, along with the order form (found at the bottom of the bookstore/back issues page - click on the appropriate icon and print out the order form, make sure to provide your correct email address, and write in NEW POM, please).
The pattern for September is called Two Way, a lace, swing cardy (A-line) with single button (actually hiding the snap) front closing. The accompanying article has lots of tips and techniques for completing the project and for future reference on lace carriage knitting. I’ve made mine using Silk City Fibers Mini Dina 1049 - check out www.knititnow.com  - Tamm Diamante or Yeoman’s Panama could be used as a substitute.
Hope you like it and keep checking back here for more updates!

We are also having a big SALE at the KNITWORDS website - see the link above – Buy 3, get 3 – there is a special button to pay $30 for 6 (North American postage included in that price) and then you need to email me and tell me which issues you want – I also have some others that are not listed in the bookstore - #15, 25, 29, 31, 32, 33, and 34.

I have a full set, #1 to 53 – that were on my ‘wall of fame’ in my office that I am willing to part with – email me if you are interested in that!

And, my ‘rainbow’ books, the techniques books with the coloured covers are on special, buy 3, get 1 free for $75 – there is a paypal button for that deal and again you need to email me with your choices.

Thanks to everyone for your support!

proof...

I really did finish that ‘antique lace’ cardigan – I finally got to wear it a few weeks back when I went out for dinner. It is really nice and I felt very feminine, comfortable, elegant and sophisticated all at the same time! It’s very lightweight and is really the perfect, warm weather cover-up – just what I was aiming for. When I did the sleeves, I was, at first going to do a short or elbow-length. After thinking about it, I decided that by making a 3/4 sleeve, I could still wear this  year round, especially for a holiday occasion and I’m glad I did.

I got my girlfriend to take some photos yesterday at our local Hillcrest Park, overlooking Lake Superior and the Sleeping Giant (although I’ve probably cropped out evidence in these photos, but we also photo-ed two of the garments for the upcoming Fall 2012 POM – I’ll show those off later in the week and make sure to leave in some of  our local landscape!

to clear my name...

Well, I’ve been thinking about this for a while and wondering how to handle it…still not sure, but I think I should say something…the October issue of Knit’nStyle (#181) is out and usually I try not to be too picky – you know, so long as they spell my name right, I don’t really take offense to too much else and even if they miss the ‘e’ off Ann occasionally, I’m not really upset. And the hyphen thing, I just have to look the other way…and sometimes when they hand-knit-ify something, I do grimace a bit.
But I gotta tell ya, I’ve NEVER used the term ‘bind off’. I know that’s a strong word – never- and I have learned that it can be shorter than you’d think so I use it rarely - never, I mean.  I must admit, I don’t always read word for word what they’ve done to my stuff ‘cuz it can make me crazy, but this time, it's hard to miss.
Let me explain…my techniques article in the current issue…oh, let me go back a bit further… I did start a new series of articles back in #178 which I titled W-5 (What? When? Where? Which? Why?) and explained that I would give three or four methods of some technique (the what), then explain when and where to use which one and why and/or why not. I guess they didn’t get my Canadian humour of the W5 thing and they left that out so the articles just ended up with sort of lame titles, like ‘single-bed machine cast on methods’ – oh wow!! That’s a real MAO title (heavy sarcasm)!
So, when I sent in this article (cast-off methods which they shanged to 'bind off methods for mking'), I never thought (there's that word again!) to make sure they didn’t change anything important – I don’t get a final proof copy and I only get to see it when I get my comp copy about 3 to 4 weeks after the subscribers. The reason I’m saying this now - I mostly use a rather specific CAST OFF method that is an important part of my finishing techniques and a very crucial part of a lot of the trims and edgings that I’ve developed. If this MAO-approved method of CHAIN CAST OFF is not used, I am not responsible for whether your trim or edging lays flat or not. I do describe it in each pattern – the last row must be knit loose enough so when those stitches are chained off, it does not restrict the width of the finished edge. Though I have given other methods in this article, here’s the important part and what it should have said:
Chain Cast off
With practice, this is the quickest method and produces the softest, least-bulk cast-off. Basically the final row is knit by the carriage, providing an even stitch size and those stitches are chained off to finish the piece. Knit last row at a much looser tension, 2 to 3 numbers higher (for mid gauge machines) than the main tension. This should give a loose enough row to chain off without making the cast-off row too tight. A looser row can be obtained by removing the yarn from the overhead tension, dialing the loosest stitch size and hand feeding the yarn for the final row. If the main knitting is at a large stitch size and there is not room for the carriage to make the looser row, hand knit the final row, bringing the needle butts back appropriately to achieve the required stitch size. After knitting the row, break the yarn. Push all needles out with the work behind the latches. Beginning at the side away from the tail, with the latch tool, grab the first stitch and remove from needle. Push this stitch behind the latch of the tool and pick up the second stitch from the next needle. Pull the second stitch through the stitch on the tool, casting off the first stitch. Pick up third stitch and pull through second stitch on tool. Repeat across row, being careful not to pull the work off before all stitches are chained off. At end, pull tail of yarn through last stitch to lock. The evenness and stretchiness of this cast off relies on the size of the last row which must be loose enough to prevent unnecessary restriction. It can be used in any application, providing the last row is made in a suitable size. The chain of the final row will lay on the knit side of the work. If it is necessary to unravel this, it is very quick to release last loop and rip out.

blame it on the weather?

It’s been too hot here for too long and I’m not used to that… Or do I just have too much time on my hands? Whatever… I have just finished my next KnS project for the third time…Third time? You say. Yeah, third time and I’m packaging it up right now and sending it off before I have time to change my mind again. Sheesh, this never used to happen. 
But I did learn a few things – the best way to make a buttonhole in a single layer fabric – you’ll see when the pattern comes out – I feel absolutely brilliant – no sewing, no pick-ups, no tails to darn in.
 – when you need to add a new ball of yarn, move the carriage to the other side and start it there so the tails are on opposite sides – if it’s a sleeve, this is like making yarn marks for aligning the seam (good stuff) and if it’s a cardigan front, having the tails at either side means weaving them in at either side instead of having two tails to get rid of in the same place.
I also learned that there is no point in trying to use the garter bar to make half a row of garter stitch – I won’t explain that because it’s just makes more work, trust me... and I learned there is no point trying to have straight hair in this weather…

Update (better late...)

Well, I didn’t fall off the face of the earth – actually I fell off my bike the other day, but that has nothing to do with this…
Guess I just didn’t have much to say – I have been knitting too!
I did finish the ‘Antique’ lace cardigan although it overlapped with my last KnS project. I did the split sleeve, buttoning it over the top of the arm and used another lace pattern – very open, lots of holes with the purl side as the outside. And no, it’s not going to be a pattern of the month – too much stuff happening to write that one up – it will be my own personal one-off. No photo yet, sorry.
For KnS #182 I did a hand-transferred lace tunic – I actually made a prototype for myself, experimenting as I went, of course, and then re-doing it for the magazine in the proper yarn. I used Forsell’s Touch of Silk DK for mine and then used Austermann Alpaca Silk DK in sienna for the magazine – it is a tunic/dress that I picture wearing with leggings or tights – I changed the length twice, re-designed the neckline twice – first had a cowl neck, decided it was too much, ripped it off and just made a roll neck – the mag version has a nice stockinette band finishing the neck - made the sleeves twice, again too much happening; re-designed them again for the magazine version – that one has cute little cap sleeves suitable for younger arms than mine. I was really pleased with both and it will be interesting to see how they photo/style the KnS one. It’s for the December issue which comes out in October I believe and we were supposed to have a bit of a holiday theme to the garment – I thought it would be a nice addition to a wintery wardrobe and have lots of possibilities for accessorizing for the holiday season. With the summer weather here now, it’s hard to imagine wearing either of them but it will be here soon enough!
Oh and KnS (Knit'nStyle in case you haven't been following) has renewed my contracts for another year – guess somebody likes me. And they've asked for small projects as well as the standard garment and article per issue, so, we'll (me and my LK) will be there!
Then I was rummaging through my stash and I found a big cone of cotton denim bouclé that was from the Bonnie Triola Yarn days – I loved that stuff and in fact, made a long, lace skirt (it was in the Sassy Skirts, 2005) that I still wear – in fact, it’s my favourite travelling skirt – I usually wear it when I’m driving long distance – it’s totally comfortable, good for any weather and still looks good when you arrive – what more could you want? It has faded nicely, just like denim should. I debated what to make – another skirt, maybe knee length? Or a summer cardigan of lace – that won out and I love it!! This will be a POM for sure – just need to come up with a suitable yarn…that one was discontinued long ago…