Day 6: 3 Ways to be a Creative Knitter

You have knit one or many sweaters. Now its time for you to put all those hours of knitting into action and use your knowledge to make a new design by adding a little something of your own to a pattern you bought. Start small and see how it works. Then go to town. Use the written pattern as a jumping off point to create sweaters unique to you.

1.  Add a new element to the pattern. Add a stripe or work the borders in a different colour. Add a stitch pattern down the centre of the sleeve or down the sides of the Body. Work one of your favourite stitch patterns under the bust or vertically down the centre Front and Back.

2.  Turn something on it's side. Instead of working the Shirttail bottom border at the Front and Back of your sweater, work it at the sides of your Body to make the sides longer. Work a 3-button raglan opening in the Yoke at one of the Raglan lines for a diagonal button placket. Make the bottom of the sweater asymmetric in some way. Exaggerate the waist and hip shaping for a different look.

3.  Combine an element from 2 different patterns you've bought. Work the yoke from one and adjust the stitches to work the Body of a different pattern. Work your top down as a cardigan for the yoke with buttons, join it up and work the body as a pullover. Make your sweater into a capelet or shrug. Use the border patterns from another pattern. Work a collar onto a pattern that isn't written with one.

Have some fun,
Deb

Bust Shaping

Good question Brenda (from the comments). I continue to look for ideas for Bust Shaping of women's garments. The idea that the Front should be wider than the back seems to make soooo much sense.
In the Need A Plus Cardigan? book we worked Bust Increases on the Fronts below the Divide so that they look like this. The Bust Increases are worked every other row.

For the pullover I have found that I can increase every round and there is room for more increases since it is a flatter dart.

It's interesting to discover more ways to work for a better Fit.
-Deb
P.S. What do you think, Brenda?
T_A, thanks for your lovely comments. I hope there will be some more information for you in the upcoming book. It's really coming along and I'll be posting some more photos as we finish up some more knitting.

I'm working on my class for the YarnOver SleepOver Retreat, April 12-14. The idea is similar to the Challenge in the last post and the talk I did at the Kawartha knitting guild. There is a theme here that I've been working on.

A Basic pattern, and we all have some in our libraries, has a lot of possibilities that you can't see in the photo. If you can take a step away from the written pattern, just a tiny step, there are many options available to you from every Basic pattern you own. What do you see here?

Small projects with acres and acres of stockinette stitch. What could we do with all those stitches? Could we put a cable in there, a texture pattern, maybe some lace, how about a stitch pattern you make up yourself? We'll talk about what we might do, how we could do it and have some fun thinking up as many wild and crazy ways to decorate as we can. It's sounding like a good time to me.

-Deb

 

If you're interested in a weekend away and can join us, here's the info YarnOver SleepOver Retreat . I can't wait to see what we come up with.

Need A PLUS Cardigan? is now available!

Cabin Fever's newest book "Need A PLUS Cardigan?" is at the printer's as we speak. I hope to be picking it up towards the end of next week. If you'd like to pre-order a copy, just drop me (Lyn) an email and you'll get one of the first ones (I'll need to know if you're paying by Paypal or credit card and your mailing address and phone number).

If you'd like a digital download version (as a PDF) I've posted it on the Patternfish site. I'm also working on a "mobile" friendly version to work on mobile devices such as iPads*, phones and tablets and hope it will be available within a few days.
(* the current version does work fine on an iPad.)

If you've not been following Deb's blog entries over the past year (actually she's been hard at work on this for the past 18 months and Robin Hunter has been involved for nearly a year) this is a terrific book for knitting Plus sized cardigans from the Top Down. As one of the first people downloading the book from Patternfish said:

"At last..a much needed book/clear tutorial on raglan cardigans for the Ample Plus size community!
Very clear step by step instructions on how to make modifications for sleeve width/length,hems and ribbings,collars,waist/hip and bust shaping ... all the options are clearly presented.

OH! DID I MENTION THAT THE CHARTS ARE ALSO WRITTEN OUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE CHART CHALLENGED?????

Thanks Deb for another fine publication."

Cheers & have fun,
-Lyn

PS If you're a store interested in carrying the book - in Canada just email me, Gemini Fibres or Infiknit; in the US Barb from Up North Fiber Art Supply is our US distributor along with Unicorn & Royal Publications.

A-Line Cardigans

When Deb wrote "Morgan's Cardigan" for our Teens & Tweens book, we had no idea how popular that cardigan was going to be! Morgan (Deb's daughter) was more than pleased with her cropped sleeve version and I loved wearing the largest size to shows. However, at every show I wore it I kept on hearing "oh, love that cardigan but I'd need it in a larger size".

"Morgan's Cardigan" (largest size)
and the "A-Line" Cardigan (small).

So, after me repeating this to Deb several times, she re-wrote the cardigan in adult sizes - and it's lovely! It's called the A-Line Cardigan #624 and here it is on the left. It's in worsted weight yarn so a fairly quick knit and very versatile.
I can tell you, from personal wear, that this is a terrific cardigan and I wear it a lot! You can wear it with jeans, with nice pants or a skirt for a dressier look and it looks great over a dress as well.
I'm just starting a second one for me in a lime green merino from Abuelita Yarns (I like this yarn so much we're going to be carrying it ourselves).
The three-quarter length sleeves, as shown, work perfectly for me but you can have it as a cap sleeve or a long sleeve - whichever you prefer! The lengths are written as petite, average or tall but, again, you can knit whichever length suits.
It's on Patternfish for download.
But that is not the end! Deb got quite a number of emails asking about re-sizing the cardigan to Plus sizes.

Here is our friend Jennifer, in her cardigan
 that Deb knit for her.

After doing some research and talking to a number of interested knitters in the plus size range, she's re-written the cardigan to Plus sizes from 1X to 5X. The A-Line PLUS Cardigan #625 has the same sleeve and length options along with additional fitting options for the fuller figure.
You can download the pattern from Patternfish here.
I believe there's a KAL (Knit-A-Long) being organised for the A-Line PLUS but I'll let Deb fill you in on that.
Deb's been doing (as you know if you've been keeping up with the blog) a lot of research on plus sizing and has been getting a lot of input from Julie. It's been really interesting to hear her work through the fitting options and design challenges. Look out for the results next year in book form!
-Lyn

We're off to TNNA!

Deb and I are off to the TNNA show today with our new book: NEED A BABY CARDIGAN?

Super cute baby in a pretty cardigan! This new book is the third in the "Need A ... " series of books. The first two were Need A Hat? and Need A Sock? This series is a "multi-gauge" approach to each topic. So, for example, the new Need A Baby Cardigan? provides you with a range of cardigans (with colour, textures & lace) in 4 sizes (newborn to 18 months) in NINE (yes, 9!) gauges from sock yarn right up to chunky weight.
We'll be providing support and taking orders with Barb from Up North Fiber Arts Supply, our U.S. Distributor. Here's another shot of the cutie from the book:

-Lyn

A Snug Shrug!

Now that I'm back from the NENA (New England Needle Work Trade Show) in Sturbridge, MA, and Deb's back from doing the Knitters Frolic in Toronto, I thought I'd better get caught up on posting Deb's new pattern!
It's called #626 The Snug Shrug and it's a super cute little shrug just perfect for the evening over a summer dress or top or to cover up in cool air conditioning. You can download it from Patternfish and we also have it available on our site as a pattern or kit. There are two versions:

The version on the left is worked with two strands of superwash yarn. One strand is a hand-dyed fingering weight yarn in light and dark blues and the 2nd strand is Sterling (63% superwash, 20% silk, 15% merino & 2% silver) in a solid black (the silver adds a lovely, subtle, sparkle!). Kits are available in blue with black as shown and a lovely, rich, brown with black. 

The version on the right in white is a soft, fluffy merino superwash boucle which is worked on a larger needle than the ball band calls for to make it very soft and light (this kit is available in winter white as shown, grape heather & blue heather).  

-Lyn

Need A Sock?

Did you think our sock book had gone away? Nope! Here's the front cover as it stands today.

Deb and I are up at the cottage (camp) and we'll be working on edits and pictures this weekend. Still lots to do!

Want to see more pictures? 

Don't these look totally comfy?

Mmmm, don't you just want a pair?
The pumpkin pair are in our Cabin Fever Silk & Silver hand-dyed.

How about a manly pair?

OK, back to work on the pictures!

-Lynda

It's Here!

Yes! Teens & Tweens has arrived! Here are a couple of images from the book. I'll post all the colour pages on the gallery on the web site.

The Cabled Hoodie above, Kendra's Tunic below:

The Waffle Scarf & Mittlets, below left, Mirror Stripes Pullover, below right & bottom left, and the Tam & Zigag Scarf bottom right:

Now to update the web site!

-Lynda

Teens & Tweens

While Deb and I are working on the editing I thought I'd let you see the cover! It's a family affair, the girl on the left is Thomasin, daughter of Sophy, our Shipping Goddess and accessories designer. Michaela, top right, is the daughter of our photographer, Leanne, along with her girlfriend. The middle boy is Oscar, Sophy's nephew. The boy at the bottom right, is Leanne's son, Chris! 

The cover and inside colour pages went to the printer today and fingers crossed I got it all right. We actually print on two different presses - the colour pages on a huge offset printer that prints a gazillion pages a minute and the inside pattern pages on a smaller digital printer.


OK, now back to editing as Sophy found some changes I need to make!


- Lynda

Getting Ready for Stitches West

February is creeping ever closer and I'm trying to get ready for the Stitches West show. Karen, from SheepStrings Yarn Art Studio and I are again sharing a booth. We have to ship our goods early in February so time is getting short! I'm madly knitting away on some samples and doing a bit of shopping. I like to have some new items at each show, either our own or some cool things I've seen. So this year I'll have our new patterns (Last Minute Baby and Delicious Diamonds), some kits of the the terrific JJ Jacket and new Beaded Mittlets plus some new yarn I've dyed and am knitting the shawl right now, pictures to come. And I'll also have some new pretties, see below:

Adrianne, who does these, works with pewter and these are shaped like spools of yarn. Very beautiful and have matching earrings as well (I don't have quite the swan neck to wear the earrings myself, but am having trouble picking out only one of the necklaces to wear).

The "dog tags" are very funky.

And these ae sweater sticks/shawl pins. The top ones are coloured, wooden beads, pretty, simple and light. The stick on the right is absolutely stunning on a heavier stole or sweater that needs a closure. Very celtic looking as is the round pin below.

If anyone is going to the show and wants me to bring anything in particular - please let me know soon! 

-Lyn

New Year plans

So the new year is upon us. Happy New Year to you. Do you have any big plans for your knitting in the next year?

I have decided that every day I am going to spend some time on playing around with design ideas. Today I spent some time setting up for an idea I have for a better fitting raglan. I'm playing with the line of the raglan and seeing if changing it a bit makes it fit better.

Nothing new here so far, regular set-up for a raglan with short rows to make the V. I don't think the V-neck is going to work out as it is. But that's what exploring is for, to find out what does and, in this case, what doesn't work. I have started the raglan in the normal way, increasing 2 sts at every raglan line, and then I am going to change the degree of slant by changing where and how much I increase. In a day or two I should have the yoke to a point where you can see what I'm trying to do. I've started it and maybe by tomorrow it will show better.

Yesterday I worked on my Teen cardigan for the Teen booklet. One more buttonhole done.

I realized that there is no button on it so you'll have to take it on faith that there are now 4 buttonholes finished. Those are my milestones, the buttonholes and my goal is to knit to one more buttonhole every day. Long projects need some way of determining progress don't you think?

My swirl sock testknit, the prototype which Lynda got for her birthday, is nearly finished. I'm going to have real 'second sock syndrome' on this one since I've already knit one pair. I suppose it will actually be 'fourth sock syndrome'.

But I do need another pair of socks.

I'm not going to pull out everything I'm working on in one day, it's way too overwhelming. Over the week I'm going to see exactly what I have started and how I'm going to set myself up to get it all done. I guess this is what I have decided to do with my knitting for the new year, prioritize and organize. Hopefully it lasts more than one week. How about you, any plans?

-Deb

P.S. Comments
The blue shawl I knit is very similar to the Forest Canopy Shawl (you can find it on the internet) and based on Evelyn Clark's book "Knitting Lace Triangles". Triangle shawls are a lot of fun to do but they are way more fun when you get a stitch pattern which you like knitting. I really like the leaf patterns. I find them easy to follow so I can tell where I am whenever I pick up the shawl to knit a couple more rows. For me, that makes it much more likely that I will finish.

New Pattern Now Out

I've just posted Deb's new pattern #622 Last Minute Baby on our web site and in a downloadable format on PatternFish. Here's the final image ... but you've watched the work in progress the last little while! It's a top down, super fast knit using heavy worsted/aran weight yarn. You change the size by adjusting the needles. If you need a quick baby gift, this pattern is the one!

I've got some lovely yarn to dye and try it out myself!
-Lyn

Ravelry Group

Yesterday I set up a Cabin Fever Group in Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/cabin-fever). While I was still trying to get the group image to stop being totally squished two "threads" (I think that's the term) were already being added!

Bev was totally on top of the whole group thing and started a thread about Your Fav Cabin Fever Pattern and the knitter with the question was right there with her. It was very cool. So, Deb and I sat down yesterday afternoon and Deb answered the question and we tried to figure our way around the group.

I think you can set up rules and post them (need to learn where and how) but right now our initial thing is we'd like people to put their name in with their comments/questions/discussions. Or is this not done? I'm not totally sure of the protocol. However, Deb and I prefer to have names to respond to as it seems more personal. Like a real conversation.

So, please feel free to join in! If anyone has suggestions about set-up or things I need to know or should know to administer or moderate the group please drop me an email, either at our email in Ravelry or info@cabinfever.ca - I'd appreciate it. This is a big learning curve for us!

I just finished the test knit for the yet un-named beaded mittlets (which will likely BE the name) from Shirl the Purl. Have made a coupla changes and went over them with Deb yesterday before I sewed in the ends. They came out terrific but I'll pull off the cast-off edges and add a couple of decreases just to keep them snug. After you wear mittlets for a bit, if there's not a decrease there, they tend to stretch a bit around you fingers.

You may, as I did, think that these are a tad large for my hand. They fit but are not "snug". Both Deb and I have relatively small hands (and stubby fingers). I tried these on several other people, including Al, and they fit great. So I am planning to knit these again, in DK weight for smaller hands. The red version(which will be the Medium/Large size) was done in Shelridge Farm's W4 (worsted weight) in Cranberry (lovely red) and I think I'll do the DK version (Small/Medium) in their yarn in one of two green's that I have. Can't quite make up my mind which one.

I am going to finish the editing of the pattern today, then cast on with a pink pair (worsted weight) for the 2nd test knit and the 2nd Christmas present. After I do that, Deb will take a turn and then we'll have them out. Would be nice to get them done soon as they'll make great Christmas presents (the red version is already pegged for one of Al's girls) and they are fast! A really quick knit.

-Lynda

I'm in LOVE ...

Oh, oh, oh ... I'm so pleased. I've been working away at this shawl, two steps forward and four steps back ... or at least that's what it felt like at times. I could so easily keep the leaf pattern in my head but the medallion pattern, which I really like, not so much. And when I get more than 300 stitches on my needles ... well that's a long rip out when you notice a mistake that you can't fix.

So here it is off the needles:

And here it is, pinned on the spare bed (I had to stand on

the dresser to take this shot) but ... oh, I am SO pleased, it is sooo beautiful : )

Just for fun, I timed the knitting of the last row of the medallion pattern. Turns out it was an HOUR!! Wow. Mind you, that included working it, counting it twice, grumble, grumble, not the same numbers on each side, figuring out what the mistake was, fixing the mistake, counting 3 more times, each in a different way, just to be sure (can you tell I was getting very fixated by this point of the shawl?).

I decided then that it was time to do the transition row for the edging and a good thing I did. I actually skimped on the edge and skipped 2 rows (which I don't think you can really notice) as I was getting really worried about getting it finished with the yarn I had left. The last few rows really used up a lot of yarn. I ended the edging with 3 beads on each scalloped edge and I had a tiny butterfly worth of yarn left. Whew, that was close. I found myself knitting faster and faster as I was coming to the end. Like if I went faster I could get to the end before I ran out? I really wanted to get it done with 100g of the yarn - mainly because that's what I had. That's serious motivation.

Not sure you can actually see the beads in the photograph. I used clear glass beads as I didn't want them to draw too much attention but still have a subtle effect.

The "off the needle" size was 36" x 18" and the "wet, pinned out" size was 64" x 24". I'll be interested to see what the size is, once I take out the pins.

I feel an amazing sense of achievement as this is my first lace weight, lace shawl. I actually feel quite excited and want to immediately cast on for my next one. Mmmmm, I want to make one in a heavier weight yarn ... Buffy gave me some in DK that is a lovely, creamy, soft green ...

Tomorrow, some more dyeing.

- Lyn

PS - Here's the shawl all nicely blocked and done. The size hasn't changed, so I assume that it would be possible to block it a bit larger but I'm pretty pleased (OK, really, really, pleased) with how it looks now.

I love Wednesday's

On Monday, Deb and I drove up to Shelridge Farm to visit with Buffy & Don, to stock up with more yarn for the shop and to have further development talks with Buffy. We're working with Buffy to come up with a dye technique which she'll do just for us. It's great fun, sometimes frustrating and a very, very interesting exercise. While we were working with Buffy, Don was working in the kitchen and sent each of us home with an amazing, home-baked baguette. Al and I had ours with supper and I had the tiny leftover bit as toast the next morning. Wow, can Don bake bread!

I'm just testing knitting Shirl the Purl's new Beaded Mittlet in Shelridge Farm's W4 (worsted weight) in Cranberry. It's lookin' good!

If you're wondering why the title of this post is "I love Wednesday's" is because that's my day for working at home. Deb goes into the office and I get to sit quietly at home and work. It's hard to work (as in testing patterns or developing new patterns) in the office with customers coming in, the phone ringing, discussions with Sophy as she's packing up orders ... it's not really ideal. Naturally some days, like yesterday, I had to do work on the web site and answer emails but I also did get some work done (see above and below).

This is my progress on the lace shawl I'm doing in the Fibre-Isle's Lovit Cashmere (60% fine merino superwash, 30% Lyocell cellulose & 10% premium cashmere). It's lovely to work with.

I started the shawl with a leaf pattern (lower part) which is terrific to knit and easy to keep in your head. I used the first 50g ball doing the leaf, but I wanted to "open up" the pattern for the lower part of the shawl. So when I changed balls (and spliced the yarn so hopefully you won't see the join) I changed to the medallion pattern. Now this was just as I was going to bed, so I did the very clever transition pattern from Evelyn Clark and went to bed. This morning I had to get up at 6:00am just to sit and start the actual pattern. I am VERY pleased at how lovely it looks. Evelyn's transition means that one pattern actually flows into the next quite seamlessly. I am very impressed. I am going to get some of her books "Knitting Lace Triangles" for the shop as I think this is easily the best book I've seen for getting started.

OK, time to actually shower and get to work!

-Lynda

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving

Home from our long weekend at camp. This was a fairly typical, and enjoyable, Thanksgiving weekend for me (Lynda). It's the last weekend at camp which means we "close up" for the year. This means bringing in all the outdoor furniture and ... burrrr ... bringing in the water (and draining the water from the cottage, and pouring anti-freeze in, etc etc). Luckily I don't have to do the actual getting in the lake part myself. It's a "manly" job so a job for Al, with assistance from Dad (supervision) and brother-in-law Mark (laughing his head off). Lake Huron is pretty darn cool at this time of year. Happily the weather was brisk but dry, the sun was out during the day.

Saturday was the Gemmell dinner at our place (spaghetti) and I continue to be amazed at how much young men (early 20's) can eat!! Sunday was the BIG DINNER at Aunt Fran's cottage. Mom (now younger sister Heather) & Aunt Fran (now her kids) prepare two full turkey dinners and then set them out together for the family. We had 20 sitting down this year with the age range from 10 (ish) to 80 (ish). It was loud and crowded and great fun!

Al and I also did some last work on the kitchen and more insulation but I did get some knitting done. I'm the "helper" so I can sit and knit between helping measure and lift things or hold something while screws are being applied ...

I knit up a pair of Shirl's Mittlet's as a sample for the show I'm doing this coming weekend in Woodstock. They are, surprise! exactly my size. The colour is off a bit in my photograph I think, but they're a rich gold and the yarn is a lovely silk/wool blend. Perfect for keeping my hands warm while working on the computer.

The shrivelled little item on the right is the start of a shawl that I was knitting on the drive home. I've got Evelyn A. Clark's extremely excellent book Knitting Lace Triangles. Well worth adding to your collection. I'm using a soft bison, cashmere, fine merino blend from FibreIsles and it is going to make a wonderful shawl. I will have some of this beautiful yarn at Stitches East show in CT that I'm doing in two weeks (ie not this weekend coming, but the following weekend).

We won't be at the Creative Festival in Toronto this weekend (I'll be at the Fibre Festival in Woodstock) but Jennifer & Miko, owners of The Purple Purl in Toronto will be there, featuring our Northern Lights wool. Please stop by and say "hi" to them if you're there (the show is this weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre).

Here's the cupboards back up again, freshly painted, against the new panelling (the cutie in the background is Al). The cupboards were built by my Dad and his uncle over 50 years ago. They used to be in Grandma's cottage kitchen but when it was pulled down (before it fell down) some items were rescued and now reside in our place.

-Lynda

Now Available!

I spent a couple of hours yesterday posting the two new patterns on our web site and on Patternfish and was amazed this morning to discover that several people have purchased them already. Wow!

You've been following the blog for Bernice's "J.J. Jacket" and that's now available as a pattern or a kit:

And I finally finished the top down chunky pullover I was working on after being given some wonderful chunky alpaca from Catalina:

-Lynda

Kitchener - Waterloo Knitting Show

Back from the annual Kitchener Waterloo Knitting show which was terrific as it always is. This is a show that is completely run by the members of the KW Knitting Guild. We've been going for years - way back when, when the show was held at the highest level of bleechers in a hockey arena. We sold yarn, while the kids played hockey on the ice below us. Very appropriate we thought.

We see lots of old friends and meet many new ones too. I wanted to thank my two amazing helpers, Judith and Dana, who did a sterling job of helping me set up (and even more importantly, break down after the show!!) and worked hard during the day, along side Deb, answering questions and picking yarn colours. Yea! What a team!

Lynn stopped by to show off her beautiful Sarah, from our "Button Up Your Top Down" book, designed by Bernice Vollick. Here's the front view:

And the back view: (sorry I was a bit wobbly there)

Lynn knit this in Buffy's yarn (Shelridge Farm) and here's Buffy in her booth:

Lot's of old friends like Evie, in Karen's booth (SheepStrings)

Caroline of SweaterKits with her daughter Laura:

A great time was had by all and I've booked us to do it all again next year! See you then.

-Lynda

Happy New Year

Are you planning out your winter knitting? Do you have big plans for this year? I can't be the only one who feels that New Year's Eve is a lovely party in the middle of the winter and that everything really begins here, now, in September.

Plans:
1. I have sent in my curling registration. I have been asked to curl on a 'choose your own team' where you keep the same team the whole winter, exciting. I'm still draw master for the Day Ladies League and meetings have commenced already. It's going to be a busy year.
2. I have discussed a new booklet idea with the designers involved and am gathering stitch patterns and ideas in a file. We will have our first meeting in a couple of weeks. This will be my big winter project and the booklet will be published in May 2010. The beginning is very exciting and I can't wait to get going.
3. I'm teaching this fall: Unwind Yarn Store in Newmarker October 18, and November 8 in Collingwood. That will be fun.
4. I think I have agreed to be a drummer in a band for a performance in February. They caught me a weak moment. Yikes, practicing better start very, very soon.
5. I'm going to two retreats. Fun, fun, fun. September 26 weekend in Sudbury - a retreat celebrating charity knitting and all the good work knitters do; and a retreat in November with Sally Melville as the teacher for the weekend - Yay, this will be interesting and fun and I'm a student and . . . is it November yet?
6. I'm giving a workshop/talk at the Peterborough Knitting Guild on September 24. We're going to start a couple of hats with techniques used in the Need A Hat booklet. This is a terrific group and I'm looking forward to the visit. I'm also going to give a workshop/talk this fall to the Aurora Knitting Guild which I belong to. The idea for this talk was to show how I design. I thought that I would have them go through the 'what if I do this, what would happen?' process I go through and see what they think of it all.
7. There's a Stitches East show in October in there too, after the Kitchener-Waterloo show next weekend.

OK, now I'm exhausted. It's dangerous to write it all down. I'll be adding to all to the side board soon.

Time to pack up for the last folkfestival of the season, have a great weekend,
-Deb