Place Stitches on a Holder

I am working on another Joan Fuller, this time with no curves at the hems. I will add the modifications directly to the pattern as soon as I complete the sweater and take pictures (or make pictures as my Dad used to say).

Freshly joined sleeves and body

There are many tips for knitters out there that make me say to myself, "Why didn't I think of that?"

One of my most favorite tips ever comes from Bristol Ivy. When the directions say, "Place the next X stitches on a holder", bind off those stitches with a piece of cotton yarn or a scrap of yarn from the project.

Why? The piece of knitting remains flexible. It is tidy, not clumsy or cumbersome. But most importantly, the stitches that are temporarily bound off maintain their integrity: They are protected from stretching and distortion as the stitches around them are worked.

When the time comes to use the held stitches I can unravel the bind-off chain and slip the released stitches onto a needle. In this particular case I will probably first graft the stitches together and then unravel the bind-offs.

Neat, huh?

Happy Groundhog Day!

Punxatawny Phil made his prediction this morning -- it looks like there will be another six weeks of winter. But like any seasoned weather forecaster, he could be wrong. Or right.

Here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire it is snowing again. Hard to say if there are shadows in a snowstorm. Even harder to say if you're only willing to stand at the threshold of the door.

A Stitcher's Wardrobe:

So here we go, an outfit a day until you've seen it all. 

This is the horse dress. I sewed it last year, but found I was not wearing it. (See it on the sidebar, under Fannie Fouche?) There was something about the color or the print -- I wanted it mellower. I overdyed it pale green/brown, and the results were so sad it looked like a prison dress, or a dress to wear while gardening with my imaginary sister-wives. 

I overdyed it again. Less sad this time, more sophisticated. Sophisticated is not my bag, so I sewed a horse on it. The scarf is from earlier in the year, yarn dyed by me, worked on my knitting machine, and with crocheted felt ball trim.

Enjoy your day!

Knitting Weekend

New smock, Wingfeathers Shawls, and overdyed jeans

I like to start and end projects on Groundhog Day: The holidays are behind me, and come February 2, there is the possibility of another 6 weeks if necessary or desired. This year's project is coming to a close.

I was feeling discouraged about not yet silk-screening, not yet weaving, not yet designing fabric for Spoonflower. I have not spent enough time drawing. I have several unfinished pieces. Yet, I have only myself to answer to. I sometimes forget I am not being graded on self-directed projects.

I have been stationing my work to get it ready for display at Trad Arts Studio next weekend.

and there is a pile of hats and mittens too

I have had a change of heart. [One can generally count on me to look at the bright side, eventually.] My dampened attitude is gone upon looking at my big picture accomplishments. This collection represents risks taken and umpteen lessons learned, new obsessions ( c r o c h e t ), and a fresh perspective. 

In an effort to cover more ground, I will be sharing my undocumented work in outfits from here forward.

If you are registered for one of my classes at Knitting Weekend, here's the list of what you will need to bring:

A Dozen Ways to use Variegated Yarn

All yarn will be provided. Please bring a variety of needles appropriate for dk weight through heavy worsted. Also, if you are unfamiliar with how to work a wrap and turn, please try it out at home. I will gladly help you become more comfortable with it in class.

Suncook Scarf

We will be working a small sample that covers all the concepts in the scarf in worsted weight yarn. I will have yarn available, and you are welcome to bring your own as well. Please bring a 40” circular needle in your favorite size for worsted weight (I use an 8 or 9, I am a tight knitter). If you do not own a 40” circular you can use a 32” for the sample, but you’ll certainly need a 40” for your full sized project.

The scarf can be worked in any weight of yarn, so long as the weight is consistent throughout the project. You are welcome to bring other yarns on the chance you finish your sample and want to get started on your full sized scarf.

If you are unfamiliar with magic loop knitting, please look it up and try it at home. I will help make you comfortable with the method in class.

I look forward to our day together!

A New Knitting Pattern, Joan Fuller

Steadfast friends are jewels indeed.  Approachable, kind and witty,  Joan Fuller Brock was my Mom’s dear pal.  She was in the saddle for any manner of fun, or any not-fun.

Like Joan the person, Joan Fuller the sweater is a compatriot at the ready for a concert in the park or a cup of coffee and pajamas.  It is knit from the bottom up on circular needles, with short row shaping at the hem and the cuffs to create curved hemlines.

The front is cropped to feature a bit of one’s shirt, dress, or a spectacular belt buckle.

The sleeves and body are joined on a circular needle, and worked into a raglan yoke. There are no seams to sew.

The bust and sleeves are graded proportionally to each other, therefore ease can be determined by your own personal preference. Wear it loose or fitted, you know what works best.

Finished Bust
31½-34-36½-39---41½-44-46½-49---51½-54-56½-59 inches
Suggested Yarn
Green Mountain Spinnery’s Weekend Wool
2-ply worsted weight, 140 yards
6-6-6-7---8-8-8-9---10-10-11-11 skeins
or another robust and toothy yarn
710-770-840-900---990-1060-1120-1190---
1270-1360-1410-1490 yards required
Gauge
16 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette stitch on larger needles
18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches
in cable pattern on larger needles
Skills Used
Cabling, short rows, working a small
circumference in the round.
Materials
• Needle sizes: US 8 (4.5mm) & US 9 (5mm) suggested to obtain gauge. Needle styles: 32” (80cm) or longer circulars for the body, and your preferred needle style for working sleeves in the round (double points, two circulars, or one long circular).
• Stitch markers: 4 to indicate cable panel boundaries, plus 4 of a different color or style to indicate shaping, and 2 locking markers for row counting
• Cable needle
• Stitch holders: Spare circular needles or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• 5 excellent buttons, and 5 small flat buttons for inside the button band (optional)

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Another Fiber College has come and gone.  Per usual I have come home with not enough photos. I waffle between capturing the moment in pixels and experiencing the moment fully, like a big bite of delicious food. 

On Friday I met with thirteen brave knitters to explore how variegated yarn behaves. We played with stitch patterns and discussed the superpowers and pitfalls of this challenging yarn. I am stunned at what I come away with in teaching. Knitters are lovely people that are not afraid to communicate joy, enthusiasm, and good ideas. 

photo courtesy Sandy Cohen of Sandolini Buckwheat Crackers

On Saturday and Sunday I played Dyetender at the Dye Tent. We jammed wool and silk and dyes into Mason Jars and then steamed them like pickles. 

I ate lobster, lounged on the beach, woke up to lapping waves, and laughed deliriously with (and at) dear dear friends. Link here to reflections from Gale Zucker and Mary Lou Egan. Keep an eye on Kirsten Kapur, Jani Estell, Beverly Army Williams and Cal Patch as well -- they motivated each other to blog more.

I encourage you to peek at the Fiber College page on facebook as well as Astrig Tanguay's page-- there you will find videos and photos from many folks that better describe the whole event. The Missus of Gee's Bend bathed the week with heartfelt song and the true spirit of Make.

On a personal note, I am in the midst of having cataracts removed. My left eye was fixed yesterday, and my right eye will be fixed next week. In the meantime, I have bionic vision in my newly corrected eye, and super myopic and astigmatic vision in my right eye -- I'm an overachiever in crappy vision. I have resigned myself to having a dicey week. Also, I was the only gal asked to take a pregnancy test before surgery. I am feeling youthful and fortunate.

A Stitcher's Wardrobe: Scarf

While staying at Searsport Shores this summer I set up my knitting machine for demonstration. I cast on 120 stitches of stockinette in yarn that I knew would knit up easily.

It turns out having a knitting machine set up with good yarn and mindless knitting is about like having a jigsaw puzzle set up: I'm on my way to something else but ... just a few rows.  I knit four scarves in six days.

This yarn is a cashmere blend that I dyed last year.  The pin is another thrifted find from Thea. Did I tell you we went to see Madeleine Albright's pin collection? Check the tour dates, well worth a visit, and best done in good company.

The crochet trim was completed at home.  The felted balls are from Darn Good Yarn. I used a sharp darning needle to secure the balls as I went along.

I'll be back at Searsport Shores soon with a gaggle of friends for Fiber College.  Come join me for Mason Jar dyeing on Saturday, September 6th, 9 til 5 (arrive by 3:30), and Sunday, September 7th, 9 til 3 (arrive by 1:30).  I'll have plenty of wool for sale, plus premixed dyes and a streamlined set of instructions. And/or you can bring your own skeins of wool. The steampots will be chugging!

I Heart Machines, and I am Not Alone

Imagine the equipment you would have in your own dream textile studio. Now imagine more equipment: Think big, this is a fantasy. Next, dream up a large well lit space with jumbo tables, background music, and upbeat busy people, not too many, but enough to make your day. Throw in a well mannered dog.

A Gathering of Stitches in Portland, Maine is the place you just dreamed of. I went for the first time last weekend and was instantly smitten.

I took a Knitting Machine Restoration workshop at AGOS. We tore our machines down and became intimate with their innards, greasy fiber boogers and all.

We scrubbed out the crud with various tools, removed worn parts, wrote shopping lists for replacements, and oiled. And then we oiled some more.

Not only does the instructor have a wealth of experience with the machines (she was a product developer for Land's End and L.L.Bean), her love of the machines and calm and confident approach put us all at ease.

My Singer 360 was a gift from my parents when I was sixteen years old, and came with weekly lessons. It is all reassembled and working smoothly. I am pumped to know it well again. I want to know what every button can do. I am not certain what my parents' idea was, but I think it worked.

AGOS has is an industrial sewing machine for leather: I have intentions, a crush quite frankly.

And this secret little gem is on my short list for this year, all restored and ready for someone like me to master it. Socks are on my wardrobe list, and just between you and me, I have one hand knit sock finished ... and the other one will get done, but I will be distracted now that I have seen this.

A Stitcher's Wardrobe: Mittens

 Well, almost mittens.

I made these two at a time using my pattern for Fried Chicken Mittens (instructions included for the fingerless version).  The wool was dyed by me, including the embroidered detail around the palm.

Lots more happening around here, including five shirts cut and partially sewn, another denim skirt cut, a sweater underway, socks underway, a hat completed, two brooches thrifted, and not one, but two bathrobes thrifted, and bathrobes were not on the list.

And more!  The Common Cod Fiber Guild is holding their 5th annual FiberCamp Boston on March 14th through the 16th.  I will be there with a few of my designs.  From their website:

 As part of FiberCamp, on Saturday at 4PM, we will host

a Designer Fashion Show with classic and brand-new designs from

Julia Farwell-Clay, Misa Erder, Thea Coleman, Bristol Ivy,

Amy Christoffers, Ellen Mason, and Alison Green.
Location: MIT Tang Center, Building E51, register in 3rd floor lounge,

2 Amherst Street, Cambridge

Maybe you will be there too?  

Dress + Cardigan: Installment 12

Happy Groundhog Day!

Maybe you recognize dress no 12, it is my hiking dress from last June.  It has turned into a hard working smock, good for chores that require deep pockets and freedom of movement. The pockets are Cal Patch inspired, and I plan to make tons more of them.

This sweater is called Big Pappa after my Dad, and is a gift for our boy Sam.  It is worked in Briggs & Little Heritage yarn, purchased at the factory in New Brunswick on our way home from leaving Sam in an entirely different country.  Yarn shopping is a good pain killer.

The zipper is heavy duty with two pulls.  Normally when shortening a zipper I fold the top at a 90 degree angle and stitch it down, but this zipper is too stiff for that.  Wrapping the top in wool turned out to be the best solution.

Big P on his dozer

The back will be receiving the Mary Maxim treatment, a duplicate stitch rendition a John Deere 350C, my Dad's bulldozer.  I have a thing for heavy equipment -- it is apparently in my blood, and Sam's too.  I am tempted to make another one of these with his Case 580 Super K.  For me.

So there it is.  Twelve dresses (actually more) and twelve sweaters.  The patterns are not complete, so I will take the next six weeks to write three more.

I will lay out my goals for Groundhog Day 2015 this week, and I am giddy to get going.  Giddy, I tell you!