When do you decide it is time to try something new?

When you see another knitter tackling a new project that simply looks fabulous? Or you find a pattern that is “calling to you” to want to try it? A yarn is the inspiration?

At this time, I am trying something new. Designing with novelty yarn. And not only with novelty yarn – but BULKY novelty yarn!

Did I hear a gasp?!

I know! Me? Bulky and novelty?!

Well to be honest, I have incorporated novelty yarn into some of my designs. I used novelty yarn from Feza Yarns in both my Peace Wrap and Creme Brulee.

This time, however, it is all about the novelty yarn. Feza Yarns Alp Oriental, their bulky weight novelty yarn.

Feza Yarns specializes in novelty. Their Alp series takes different novelty yarns and puts them together to create fabulous fun. And the colors! I love color and Feza’s Alp series has fabulous color!

Back to the project – I am almost complete in finishing my first design with Alp Oriental. Well, the design is complete, I am now at the end of knitting the sample and I find myself pleased with the outcome.

Sorry, I cannot share much more than that right now. But I can tell you that next up is a design with Feza Yarns, Alp Premier. The colors on this skein are my colors! I am excited to wind the skein to see all the different novelty yarns that are within the skein!

Too much Fun!

I encourage you to decide to try something new in your knitting. It can bring excitement to your day!

Happy Excitement in your Knitting,

Nancy

Island Knitting. Are you thinking of sand, ocean and swaying palm trees? Hmmmm, that is a fantastic type of Island Knitting.

But, the type of Island Knitting that I am thinking of is being a lone knitter.

I had a woman see me knitting and comment that knitting was a lost art and that not too many people “do that” any more. You should have seen the shocked look on her face when I told her about Ravelry having over a million users! And, of course, I told her there were plenty of knitters that didn’t belong to Ravelry.

We all know that knitters are everywhere. They are young and old and live everywhere from the snow and cold to the tropical warm climates.

Back to Island Knitting and being a lone knitter. I was a lone knitter for many years. Learning only from books and magazines.

Even though I now knit with a group on Friday mornings I sometimes feel like a lone knitter. Am I the only crazy person knitting on 3′s a lace jacket that has 8 different pattern stitches?

No, I know I am not. There are many knitters out there that tackle the crazy tough knitting. They usually don’t post or say much about what they are knitting. OK, I know if I spent some time I could find their posts – I don’t – I am usually knitting.

To my wandering point – It must be the “Island thing” on my brain. I would like to encourage you to Island Knit.

Island Knitting is to tackle something you have not tried before.

Choose a different pattern stitch, choose a pattern with smaller needles. Choose something no one else in your knitting circle has knitted before. Be that lone knitter on your own Island and Knit!

There is no fear in Island Knitting. You have the advantage of being to connect with countless knitters out there! And knitters love to help other knitters!

Happy Island Knitting,

Nancy

Frequently, I change the way I knit.

What I mean is the techniques I use. Knitting a sweater in a different way than the last time, sometimes, makes the sweater better. Or, sometimes, it leads me to design the next sweater differently. Changing the way a sweater is knitted, for me, is a continual process that, I hope, makes my designs fresh and innovative.

My Blue Skies sleeveless design tackles a different way to knit something sleeveless from the top down. 

I have also worked with short rows. Working short rows at the front top of the neck allows the neckline to drop down instead of rising up. Women have breasts and need to allow more room for this. Men – especially muscular men – need more in the back shoulders to allow for their larger muscles.

I also have switched to adding stitches at the underarms to create more room for our round arms. My next try will be to add stitches to the back at the underarm area. The only hold back on this is: the pattern stitch. If you knit extra rows at the back area before your join, you need to have a pattern stitch that will line up with the front when you join the back with the front.

The most fun, for me, is a design that starts with working the back neck area first, as I have in my Annabelle Jacket and my Walking Vest designs. Changing direction of knitting but still working top-down without the need to seam pieces together is fantastic!

Knitting continually captivates me. I wish the same for you….

Happy Knitting,

Nancy

It is a New Year for your knitting!

People make New Year Resolutions all the time…..Some years I do – quietly to myself……

I am a list maker. So really, I make resolutions or goals all the time. Especially with my knitting.

Projects on my needles. Well, I do always have that. Even though to finish and not start new projects was one of my “quietly to myself” goals last New Years. I really only have two projects left to complete, so that has worked well.

One is my BaaBaa Looey bag. The other is a simple top-down sweater for those cold chore days. Enough to keep me warm, but three quarter sleeves and short body so the sweater wont get in my way while cleaning or doing other household chores.

Oh my, I forgot about the leftover yarn sweater! It has been sitting without the sleeves for well over a year! Maybe I should make it a short sleeved sweater. That way I can just finish the sleeves with a rib…..

And socks. Do socks count as an unfinished project?

I don’t think so. I always try and have my “sock bag” handy to grab for an easy knitting-on-the-go.

Okay. So it looks like I need to continue to work on the finishing of projects.

Should we talk about knitting from my stash? Or is that just setting myself up to fail? I think so. I must embrace my love of yarn and not worry about that one.

Well, at least not this New Year of Knitting……..

Happy New Year of Knitting,

Nancy

I have decided to post a technical post on Short Rows.

I have been contacted several times about the Short Rows on my Chambord design for Cascade Yarns. They are not necessary for this sweater – but read on and hopefully they will make sense and you will think of incorporating them in more of your knitting.

Short Rows are easy – once you get the hang of it. Adding Short Rows to the front of a female’s sweater allows the sweater  neck to lower for a more comfortable wear.

I have not always used short rows – but they can be easily added to most top down designs. I also recommend them to be worked after the rib of the neck.

When working wraps and turns, you knit across on the right side of your pattern, wrap a stitch then turn your work and work on the wrong side of the pattern, then wrap a stitch – turn and work back on the right side of your pattern. Each Short row adds two rows of knitting across your front section. (You work in between the front section markers until it says to work to the end of the row, then you knit, slipping the markers as you go to your starting marker.)

When wrapping a stitch, slip the stitch as if to purl. Bring the yarn to the right side of work and slip the stitch back to the left needle. Turn your work, return the yarn to wrong side and work to other  turn point, and repeat the wrapping process. You will see that the stitch is “wrapped” with your yarn.

When you come to a wrap on the following round (or row), make it less visible by knitting or purling the wrap together with the stitch it wraps. To make the section even smoother make sure when you lift the wrap to your needle to knit or purl it together with the stitch it wrapped, make sure the “wrap” is behind the “real stitch”. This can be tricky, especially with the 2nd wrap, but again with practice and not being afraid to tink and try again all knitting can be accomplished. (I have even been know to drop a stitch down to the area and make it smoother by placing the wrap together with the stitch with my crochet needle.)

Working a Short Row is trickier (at first) when going back and forth from knitting and purling in a design. But once you figure out (and see) how to “wrap” a stitch you will not have a problem. (Don’t be afraid to tink back and work your wrap again, to get your stitch wrapped.)

Knitting a new technique takes Patience, Time and Practice. Working a new technique or pushing your knitting skill to a new level is exciting and rewarding.

Knitting is a life long learning experience.

Happy Knitting throughout your long life, Nancy

My niece is tall, slim and very photogenic. So naturally I like to have her model.

Holidays and school breaks allow me to save up projects and put her in front of the camera. I am grateful that she is always a willing model.

The last time in town for a holiday break we gathered up some small projects and left the family to head out to take some pictures. My daughter came along for support, ideas and to hold the projects waiting to be put on.

The “photo shoot” went smoothly, I got great photos and the girls had fun. I think the most fun for them was at the end when they put on all the projects and posed for silly photos.

The girls are almost six years apart and do not get to spend a lot of time together. I am grateful they have a fun time when together.

This time Knitting gave them some fun and laughs!

My nephew, once we were back, even let himself be in on their fun……..

Happy Fun with Knitting!

Nancy

The Art of Knitting Sweaters is not for everyone.

Patience, Time and Practice are not qualities every knitter has. But, it is something every knitter can learn to accomplish no matter the skill level.

Patience
Patience is needed first of all because it takes many hours to knit even a basic sweater. A garter stitch sweater can be accomplished for the beginning sweater knitter as well as one in stockinette. It takes patience to wait for the outcome of a sweater and patience to improve your skill.

Time 
Time is needed to knit a sweater a second and a third time to figure out how it fits YOU the best. That silly tape measure is your sweater’s friend! Why spend all that time knitting a sleeve that is 13 inches wide when your arm is 14 inches around? Many knitters knit without taking the time to measure their own body or measure a garment you already own and love to wear to make sure it will fit well.Thinking you are a 36 does not mean that a 36 inch sweater will fit you. It may be too big. Most knitters knit their sweaters too big. Knitting is a waste of time if you are not aware of what you are knitting or how you need to do to accomplish best results. (See my article on Gauge.)

Practice 
Practice makes perfect. It also gives you knowledge. Smaller stitches make sweaters that stretch and sag less. Lighter weight yarn in those smaller stitches gives a lighter sweater with drape. Add weight to the yarn and you will add warmth to the sweater. Practice with different yarn and different stitch counts.Put everything you learn together for fantastic sweaters. Continue with these qualities again and again to move on to cables, lace, fair isle, and combinations of techniques.

Work with more Patience, Time and Practice in your knitting and your wardrobe will be blessed with wonderful works of Wearable Art.

Happy Knitting your Art!
Nancy

I have always been one of the crazy people who tackle large projects. But, the small ones fill in the gap of very useful items.

Hats, scarves, mittens and bags fill in that gap. 

Hats do take some sizing – so that intrigues me. People’s heads come in small, medium and large. I have a small head, my 12 year old daughter’s head is medium and my friend, Sharon, who knits and wears a lot of hats, is large. After knitting a hat I like to have Sharon put it on so I can see what needs to be done for a large sized wearer.

Scarves are very useful. They keep you warm, but they also are fabulous accents. I have just completed 2 triangle shaped scarves. They are both one skein scarves that incorporate interesting patterns using lace. The challenge for me was to design one skein scarves that can be turned into shawls for those wanting more. Their patterns can easily be repeated when a second skein is added to make a larger scarf or be turned into a lovely shawl with a third skein. (Options are always great.)

Oooo, I almost forgot! I designed a one skein cowl to keep you warm and extra fabulous looking! It is knit with bulky weight yarn. It is a fast and fun project.

Bags. Well, bags are just too much fun! Adding color and embellishments is adding fun! It also gives individuality to your project. A group of knitters can all knit the same bag and because of the addition of color and embellishments, they all will end up with different looking bags.

Keep an eye out under my miscellaneous tag for different items that are on their way! Misc link

Mittens – I never seem to get to mittens – after a hat and scarf I am always back to a large project before I get to the mittens. Wait until you see what is on my needles now!

Happy Small Project Knitting, Nancy

BaaBaa Black Sheep, do you have any wool? Yes, sir! Yes, sir, three bags full!

Well, if you are a knitter, you probably have more than three bags!

So grab some yarn and knit up BaaBaa Sheep.

Shown in Lambs Pride Bulky, he is Fast and Fun. You can knit this little guy flat to put on a bag, scarf or sweater.

Or ad another side to make him 3-dimensional. Hang him on your tree, lamp, or bag.

The Sheep Stitch gives this little guy some furry fun. Beads give him eyes and little bit of embroidery yarn adds an easy nose and mouth. Some quick I-cord and his legs and tail are complete!

Add him to your tree this year to show off that you are a knitter. Give him to your knitter friends for a gift that will give a little joy.

You can download your pattern here to start this small fun project.

Happy Knitting,

Nancy

I love when the air is cold – especially when sitting by a fire.

At night I sit mesmerized by the flames and with darkness all around I become spellbound – which many times puts me to sleep!

The daytime is a different story. I sit in front of the fire and knit!

Somehow, I seem to be more content knitting for hours in front of a fire. A cup of tea, the wind whirling outside and the clicking of my needles. Yes, a perfect time that I like to repeat as often as possible!

Knitting quietly in my own little world……ahhhhh…..

We are heading into the holiday season. Most of us find ourselves extra busy. So, this is what I am recommending: Take time out to sit by a fire and knit!

Okay, you may not have a fire to knit by. But, taking time out to be quiet and escape the hustle bustle of life is good for your soul – and mostly your mind!

Knitting is a perfect way to put you in another place, to relax, to enjoy time with yourself by Sitting by the Fire.

Happy Knitting, Nancy