Fashionknitsta Thursday: 3/11/10

Hello and happy Thursday everyone! After all the excitement of the first ever Portland Yarn Crawl last weekend, this week at the store has seemed extra quiet. It was so great to meet so many locals that had never been in before and those coming in from out of town as well. If you didn't get the chance to visit us during the crawl you missed some great events! We were lucky enough to have both Julie Weisenberger of CocoKnits and Takako of Habu Textiles visit with us all weekend and bring along trunk shows. It was amazing to be able to see so many of their pieces in person and wonderfully enough a preview of many of the garments (all done in Habu yarns) from the soon-to-be released book by Olga Buraya-Kefelian & Vanessa Yap-Einbund Ori Ami Knits (now available for pre-order through our website).

This is Julie Weisenberger (modeling her pattern Yvonne) and myself in front of her garments.

Takako and myself in front of our Habu display.


Eva was kind enough to model a new CoCoKnits pattern, Lena, for me. It's done in Rowan Lima, a mostly alpaca with a touch of merino blend, and oh my goodnes, is it a dream. I think this one left us all drooling, I can't wait for the pattern to be published!

These pieces are all from Ori Ami Knits, from left to right are the Arcus Pullover in Habu A-32B silk mohair, the Duplicity Pullover in Habu Tsumugi Silk A-1 and Wool Stainless Steel A-148, and the Axonometric Top done in Habu A-174 Cotton Gima.

These beauties are on the far left the Puzzle Vest from Ori Ami Knits done in Tsumugi Silk A-1,. In the middle we have Tessa by CocoKnits done in Habu Shoshenshi Linen Paper A-60, and finally on the right another of my absolute favorites from Ori Ami Knits the Foldover Top , done in Habu Silk Stainless Steel A-20/21 and Tsumugi Silk A-1.

Thanks again to Eva for modeling the beautiful Rhombus Wrap from Ori Ami Knits. I think this one was a favorite for all of us. The gorgeous dress next to her is Concertino, also from Ori Ami Knits. This piece was by far my favorite, done in the Habu XS-21 linen held double it is absolutely the perfect weight for spring and just look at this detail:

So beautiful! I cannot wait for this book to come out! A big thanks to Julie and Takako for bringing all of their beautiful pieces to share with us and for letting me be a huge nerd and take photos with them. I hope we get to see you again soon!

Since I have so many super-secret-sock-club things to attend to I'll have to cut this a bit short today. Hope everyone has a great weekend, check back next week for another edition of Fashionknitsta. Until then, as always, stay chic blogfans!

-Lindsay

Three Needle Bind Off tutorial

Now here's a tutorial I wouldn't have immediately thought of, but it turns out that many knitters are not familiar with the Three Needle Bind Off and that just won't do. Sandy Kay and I borrowed Lindsay's (our resident Fashionknitsta) nearly finished Vintage Baby Cardigan to demonstrate this super-easy technique - both in the English and Continental styles.

First a little background, the Three Needle Bind Off is used as an alternative to seaming knit garments.  Two in-progress pieces (i.e. still on their needles) are worked together at the "seam" to create an effortless join that has a little extra elasticity.  Please note: this technique is traditionally worked with the two pieces held right side to right side - ensuring that the seam will be on the wrong side and hidden.  Be sure to check this before starting!

It is also important that both of the pieces being worked together have the same number of stitches.  If they do not, correct this before working the bind off.

The first half of the tutorial is shown in the English style, the second half is in Continental.  The technique is worked the same for both, only the working yarn is held in a different hand.





Text instructions:

1. Hold two pieces as if to knit in left hand, with the needles held parallel, making sure that the "right" sides of the garment are facing each other.
2. Using right hand needle, go through the first stitch on the front left needle as if to knit.  Continue through the first stitch on the back left needle as if to knit.  The right hand needle will be poking through two stitches at this point.
3. Knit the two stitches together by pulling the working yarn through both stitches.  Once both the stitches have been knit, slide these two stitches off the left needles.
4. Repeat Steps 2 & 3, you will now have two stitches on the right needle.
5. Using the back left needle, pull the first stitch on the right needle up and over the second stitch (as if to bind off).  This step may be a little uncomfortable at first.  We recommend that you hold the back left needle so that it sticks out an extra half inch, making it easier to manipulate the stitch being bound off.
6. Continue in this manner, i.e. knitting one stitch from the front left needle with one stitch on the back left needle, then binding off the previously worked stitch (on right needle) over this new stitch.
7. After you have worked across the row, the "seam" will look like a crocheted chain.  When you reach the last stitch, cut the yarn (leaving at least a 6 inch tail) and pull it through the remaining stitch.
8. On the opposite side, the seam will be almost invisible.
9. Congratulations, you've just completed one seam!

Next week?  Picking Up A Provisional Cast On!  And we have just the project for this.

Fashionknitsta Thursday: 3/4/10

Happy Thursday everyone! If you're in PDX I hope you're enjoying this beautiful day, it's really looking like Spring!

If you've been keeping up with the recent current events, i.e. the Olympics and Fall 2010 Fashion Week you may have noticed the same trend we have, a resurgence of Fair Isle and cozy knitwear! Sara has blogged a bit about it when she featured the Peruvian Alpine Skiing Team uniform and we've all been very excited to see it! With all this wonderful sunshine lately I've been trying to get into a Spring feeling and so far it's really not working out. Really, how could it with amazing patterns like this one by Helena Bristow based on the official US Olympic Hat designed by Ralph Lauren available (for free!) on Ravelry:


Love the moose motif! This little beauty is done with a worsted weight yarn so it would go super fast, I think because color is such an important part of this I'd stick with Cascade 220 Superwash (sadly not on our website, but available in the store) to get really clear reds and blues. Keeping in the Fair Isle spirit, one of my (and everyone else's it seems!) favorite pieces from this years Olympics was this great sweater for the Canadian Olympic team by the Hudson Bay Company:

I haven't stumbled upon a pattern based on this one yet (big surprise, right?) but I hope its on the way. Until then I suppose I'll have to be satisfied with this pattern for coordinating mittens.

Designed by Heather Desserud, this free Ravelry pattern is done with fingering weight yarn. Again, making color the first priority I'd use Jameison's Shetland Spindrift.

EDIT: Shortly after finishing this blog, on a whim I decided to take another look. This isn't exactly what I was looking for, but its pretty great. I'm not sure how I ended up at Canadian Living Magazine, but they had a beautiful pattern available for free by Paton's Design Studio for His and Her's Reindeer Sweaters!

Done originally in a chunky Shetland, I would love to see these in Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds Chunky or Shibui Highland Wool Alpaca.

Whoever was coming up with concepts for these Olympic looks was obviously on the right track as this knitwear and Fair Isle trend was present all over this years Autumn/Winter runways. In my opinion the D&G show at Milan Fashion Week was by far the stand out for this trend. Here are a few of my favorite looks:

I just love how they put the twist on the classic look of this traditional design. It was such an interesting move to incorporate the printed Fair Isle motifs on chiffon, but pair it with such a substantial knit leg warmer. In the third look I really love the juxtaposition of the leather with the little knit rib trim.

After a quick Ravelry search I found a couple of things that will I am hoping will get me started on the accessories I'll need for fall. The Oslo Legwarmers by Martha Mertzig is a step in the right direction, as well as the Cotton Reel Mittens pattern by Ysolda Teague that we just got in.

It was nice to see that there were options in this trend for men as well. Also at Milan Fashion Week Gucci showed a nice chunky Fair Isle Sweater:

I found a similar pattern on Ravelry (for free!) appropriately named The Dude by designer Andrea Rangel.

The pattern calls for bulky yarn so Rowan's Purelife British Sheep Breeds Chunky would be a gorgeous choice.

If you're looking for something a little more tailored, British designer Lou Dalton showed a more traditional approach at London's Fashion Week:

Just beautiful, I love the classic look of a Fair Isle Vest.

As far as knitwear goes, Fair Isle wasn't the only trend to be see on the runways. Everyone from Michael Kors to Lacoste to Pringle of Scotland were showing knits:

Michael Kors

Lacoste

Pringle of Scotland

These are all lovely, I'm especially interested in the big chunky scarf at Lacoste, but by far the stand out of this season in the knitwear world was Prada.

Absolutely beautiful, the entire collection is wonderful (so Mad Men!) so I suggest taking a peak at the rest of it if you're interested. These pieces were really standouts, the cabled dress in the second image is beyond words and I love the stockings and the chic headbands. I'm going to have to get started on a pair of Cookie A's Rhiannon Socks immediately (definitely in Isager Alpaca 2 to get the wooly look!):

And one of these babys. This pattern, Julia's Cabled Headband is a free Ravelry download by Paulina Chin. My search found that there are quite a few cabled headband patterns on Ravelry so if you like the look, there is a lot to choose from!


Before this post gets too out of hand (I really could go on for days!) I probably should get back to shipping. I hope everyone gets to enjoy the sun today (hope it stays through the weekend!), as always check back next week for another edition of Fashionknitsta. Until then, stay chic blogfans!

-Lindsay

Tips, Tricks, & Tutorials

So, by now, you may have seen our Provisional Cast On tutorial.  If not, check it out, since it seems that Sandy Kay and I are odd ducks (well, you knew that already) and we do it differently than anyone else.  And, as you never know when the odd technique will come in handy, we've decided to start documenting our own unique tips and tricks.  Expect to see about one a week - hopefully every week.

The first tip/ trick thing came about because I just started a Ruffled & Ruched Scarf and, in a pique of curiosity, checked other Provisional Cast On methods online.  And, d'ya know, I didn't find anything like ours.  Weird.  But, in any case, we'll be writing up tutorials as we come across techniques in our own staff projects that warrant attention. 

Shown above is my IP scarf.  Say 'hi' to Eva in the background.  Next week we're hoping I'll be along enough to demonstrate how to pick up a Provisional Cast On.  I'd better get knitting, eh?

Moving on.  We just have to share with you the cutest little baby sweater.  Several of us staffers here helped Lynne translate the British knitting terminology from the pattern (it's a Debbie Bliss) and all feel that it was completely worth the time and effort:

It's so schweeet!  The pattern is the Hooded Jacket from Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby book.  It's not a hard pattern, by any means, just a little different for American knitters.  Lynne certainly seemed to think it was worth the effort, too.

Next, I have two staff projects that will also feature into upcoming tutorials (so exciting!).  The first is Darcy's Thursday vest:

Being knit with Habu Textiles Superfine Merino A-177 in Charcoal/ #6 and Habu Textiles Ramie Cork A-166 in Black/ #10.  When Darcy finishes the knitting, we'll do a quick tutorial on handsewing handknits - i.e. creating the "dorsal fin" cowl on the front.

Then we have Sandy Kay's February shrug, which is actually a modified Skif June:

(It's the red-orange shrug on the pattern)

This one is going to be a doozy.  Sandy choose to combine Habu Textiles XS-55 Linen Lace (yum) and Tsumugi Fine N-76 in #39.  The hand is unbelievable, and the color?  Just magnificent. 

She's currently at the arm increases and making rapid progress.  This thing is going to be gorgeous.  And when Sandy finishes knitting, we'll do a quick tutorial on sewing handknits with a sewing machine!  Sandy Kay is planning to bring in her Bernina.  That'll be interesting.

Now, lastly, do you know about the upcoming Portland Yarn Crawl?  You probably do, since we've mentioned it twice in two newsletters and on the blog, on twitter, and on ravelry.  But, just in case this is the first you've heard of it...

• See the website.
• We'll be participating from March 5 - March 7th
• There will be a yarn crawl raffle - win a prize basket from the organizers, or one of many, many prizes from us!
• We will be hosting THREE amazing trunkshows this weekend - CoCo Knits, Ori Ami Knits, and Habu Textiles.
• There will be a Portland Yarn Crawl scavenger hunt and, yes, we have one of the pieces.
• Another session of Reading Japanese Patterns has been scheduled on Saturday, March 6th.
• We'd compiled a list of easy parking suggestions, just because:

• • We validate for ALL Smart Park garages with purchases over $25
  • Street parking is $1.60/ hr (free after 7pm and on Sunday)
  • Weekday parking at the nearby Presbyterian Church is $3/ hr in their secure, underground garage
  • Weekend parking at the nearby Presbyterian Church is $2.55/ all-day before 5 pm. After 5 pm, it’s $4.

  The Presbyterian Church is located on the corner of SW 12th and Alder - just 1 block from us (and the Streetcar) and 2 - 3 blocks from the MAX!

• There will be all sorts of prizes and other fun special events at the store - but you have to show up to find out!

We'll hope to see you here this weekend!

Provisional Cast On Tutorial

We've been having a lot of fun teaching our Happy Hour classes every week and one thing we've noticed, Sandy Kay and I, is that there are so many ways to do different techniques that you can always learn something new (especially from one another!). For instance, the way Sandy Kay and I perform a Provisional Cast On is completely different from what you'll find on KnittingHelp.com or Knitty.

Since so many of our customers are web customers, we thought it would be a good idea to create a tutorial once a week (or so, permitting) to share the many tips and tricks we've discovered. This week we're going to show you our own unique method for Provisionally Casting On.

A Provisional Cast On is used when the cast on edge will later be picked up or worked again, such as in the Ruffled & Ruched Scarf. As I was just about to start such a scarf (for a friend), Sandy Kay and I took the opportunity to shoot this tutorial.

When working a Provisional Cast On, always use a smooth and even waste yarn. Sandy Kay prefers a cotton yarns, I prefer superwash wool. The yarn shown is Cascade 220 Superwash. The main (or "working") yarn is Shibui Baby Alpaca DK.  The tutorial is embedded as a slideshow below.  If you would like to see each individual image, check out our Provisional Cast On set on Flickr.

Note: our method is a variation of the traditional Long-Tail, or left-handed, Cast On.

Text instructions:

1. Using both yarns held together, make a slip knot.
2. Place the slip knot on the right knitting needle.
3. Using thumb and forefinger, tighten slip knot.
4. Place working yarn over forefinger and waste yarn over thumb.  
5. Using the waste yarn as the "tail", twist waste yarn with thumb and place over the right needle.  Continue to hold the loop in place with thumb.
6. Using the right needle, catch the working yarn and pull it through the waste yarn loop.
7. Using thumb, pull waste yarn loop up and over working yarn.
8. Drop waste yarn from the right needle.
9. Tighten the stitch using thumb to snug the waste yarn up against the needle.
10. Repeat from Step 5, casting on as many sts as pattern calls for.  DO NOT count the waste yarn slip st from Step 1 as a stitch.
11. Note: when working the first row DO NOT knit the waste yarn slip knot on the first st, simply pull it off the needle at the end of the row.

Over the next couple months, we'd like to cover the following techniques:

• Picking up a Provisional Cast On (that's going to be really important for the next step in the scarf!)
• Sewing handknits with a sewing machine (for Skif sweaters, etc)
• Sewing handknits by hand - i.e. for the Thursday vest.
• Joining new yarn the quick and easy way
• A whole new jogless stripe method
• Casting On in the round seamlessly
• Stuffing a hand-knit toy without lumps

The whole point of this series is to provide knitters with new/ different methods to complete projects.  If you have a request for a tutorial, please let us know!  Leave a comment or send us an email at info(at)knit-purl(dot)com.  We're always glad to take suggestions and would love to know that someone out there found this useful :)

Fashionknitsta Thursday: 2/25/10

Hello and happy Thursday everyone! I had a great blog planned for this week and then this happened:

"This" is about 100 Haapsalu Shawl books that arrived ahead of schedule and now need to be shipped. If you ordered one, be excited! They will be arriving on your doorstep soon!

Just for fun, here is a video of Rachel John's 1000 Strands Extreme Knitting project.



I think "Extreme" is definitely the right word! More info about this project and more can be found here. I'll be back next week with another edition of Fashionknitsta (promise!) and until then, as always, stay chic, blogfans!

-Lindsay

Challenging ourselves.

The Knitting Olympics are more than halfway over (can you feel the pressure mounting?), but we refuse to be overwhelmed... yet.  Lindsay and I are making merry progress (as you shall soon see) and, well, everyone else are being very nice by not mocking.  Sandy Kay is almost participating in that she's trying to knit up a Skif sweater in record time (don't ask) and has been going a little swatching crazy.

Now, normally, we wouldn't share swatches (who'd care, right?), but these are special little squares of handknit curiosity.  They're each an experiment in the field of yarn chemistry.  If you, like so many of us, have been intrigued by assemblage's beauteous Thursday vest and Paper Crane cardigan patterns, this next bit might just interest you. 

Skif Swatches All together	Punta Yarns Montoya Beach Held single, knit on 4mm/ US 6's
Habu XS-55 Linen & A-177 Merino One strand each, knit on 5mm/ US 8's	Habu XS-55 Linen & N-76 Tsumugi Silk One strand each, knit on 5mm/ US 8's
Habu XS-55 Linen (double) Knit on 5mm/ US 8's	Habu XS-55 Linen (single) Knit on 5mm/ US 8's

If you want to drop by the store and feel them, we'll have them (and many more Habu swatches) on hand for fondling.  Not in Portland?  Well, each photo has a mini review attached.  Just click on it for more information!

Next, on our list of staff doings, we have Eva's cashmere/ silk mitts:

(or, well, mitt)

Yarn?  The delicious and decadent Swiss Mountain Cashmere & Silk by Handmaiden, in the color "Ocean".  Eva is following the Ayanna Mitts pattern but (be warned) had to go down two needle sizes (to US 1's) to get gauge - this yarn has got bounce.  It'll be worth it, though, as the finished mitts are going to be gorgeous. 

Now, onto the Olympian knitting!  While Lindsay and I might be the only staffers crazy enough to attempt the Games, we're at least making progress.  Lindsay's Vintage Baby Cardigan is actually starting to look like a cardigan!

She's certain that she'll be able to finish be the Feb 28th deadline and still manage to make a set of matching booties (Ysolda's Tiny Shoes) as well.  It's gonna be awesome.

I, myself, am not quite so far ahead as Lindsay, but am dutifully trucking along.  My Gansey Vest (self-designed pattern, sorry) is coming along:

Though I am not to the half-way point as I would like.  Soon, though.  This might turn into a slightly different project to make my deadline.  It was going to have a hood, but that's looking less likely right now...

And while I am on the subject of my Knitting Olympics project, I simply must share with you the best cable needle EVAH:

Lantern Moon's rosewood (or ebony) cable needle set.  I, in all honesty, didn't did not like using cable needles and would just go needle-less - until I tried these.  They are just perfect.  Smooth but not slippery.  And, to hold your stitches in place, there are these clever little grooves in the middle that make sure the cable needle doesn't slip out, even if it's smaller than the working needle.  They are just AWESOME and easily win a 10 out of 10 from me.

I had to share that.  Surely there are many knitters out there who have suffered from escapee cable needles (shudder) or from ones that are too sticky and stretch out your knitting (grr) and are either: a) constantly trying new cable needles and being disappointed or, b) trying to go needle-less (which doesn't really work when you get to cabling more than 2 sts).  These Lantern Moon cable needles are the solution and everyone should try them.

In other Knitting Olympics, or would it be Olympic Knitting?, news - have you seen this?  The Peruvian Alpine Skiing uniform:

 

Which features traditional knitting motifs (including Llamas!) in honor of Peru's rich knitting tradition.  Read the article (and see the close-up!) here.

Lastly, we have some Store News to share...

• Wanted: Sample Knitters.  See here for details.
• Finishing 101 is tomorrow night.  Taught by me.  I'll be covering picking up stitches along a straight seem (along both garter stitch and stockinette edges) and a curved seam.  Swatches are required.  See the class description for details.  It's only $15 and you get to learn several new techniques!

 And that is everything.  Check back on Thursday for another fantabulous issue of Fashionknitsta!

Fashionknitsta Thursday: 2/18/10

Hello everyone! Sorry for the unexpected mini-hiatus last week, the arrival of the remainder of the Shibui Sock really made for a crazy day.

Today I have some very exciting news, we are now carrying a line of patterns by a designer I bet a lot of you are familliar with, Ysolda Teague! If you haven't heard of this fantastic Scottish designer, I really recommend checking out her website for some great inspiration. A couple of my favorites are the Snapdragon Tam and Flip-tops set:



I'm always on the lookout for a good flip-top mitt pattern and these guys are perfect. The recommended yarn is Madelinetosh DK, which I like, but I'd love to do this set in Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK or Shibui Merino Kid.

The Tiny Shoes:

No matter how old you are, shoes really do make the outfit. Demonstrating that perfectly, these little Mary Jane style booties knit with fingering yarn would be such a special gift for the tiniest fashionista in your life. A pair of these Tiny Shoes could be knocked out in an evening, and I already have a recipient in mind (done in Shibui Sock in Honey, definitely) for the first pair.

Straun:

I can't even count the number of times people have come into the store looking for a pattern for a beanie with a brim. The perfect winter accessory for outdoor pursuits, Straun would make a great gift or be fun to make for yourself. The pattern calls for a DK or worsted weight yarn (depending on how cozy you'd like it to be) and I would love to do it in Shibui Merino Alpaca or Malabrigo Twist. This hat would be super warm around the ears because of the doubled hem, and the brim, which could be potentially intimidating, is surprisingly easy to add.

It was hard to keep it down to just a few choices, all of her pieces are so beautiful! You can see the rest of her line with everything from hats to lace wraps to adorable knit animals available at Knit Purl here.

Some of you may remember way back in November when I blogged about a great little sweater that could find it's way into anyone's wardrobe, Hannah Fettig's Lightweight Pullover.


I'm very excited that we now have this pattern in stock! I still would love to do it in Isager Alpaca 2 (color 13!) which would be the perfect weight for a transitional fall piece, but I'm kind of day dreaming about a springtime version done in Shibui's new Staccato yarn. A blend of Superwash Merino and Silk with just a touch of nylon for strength, it would be absolutely gorgeous in this pattern.

The next pattern I have to share today is the Tuesday Night Cowl by designer Susan Lawrence.

This lovely (and free!) pattern reminds me a lot of the Burberry Inspired Cowl (also free on Ravelry) I saw a few weeks ago, but this one has instructions for worsted, aran, and bulky weights. The Burberry Inspired version was written for bulky only, which I find can sometimes come out a bit stiffer and dense than I would like. This pattern would be gorgeous in Malabrigo Twist or Rowan Lima.

For your inspiration today I have an amazing blog to share with you from a Fashion Designer and Fiber Artist out of Minneapolis, Annie Larson. Her blog, Swank Dollar is full of her amazing machine (and some hand) knit creations. My roommate Sarah was kind enough to show this to me the other day and I've been thinking about it ever since.



I don't know very much about machine knitting, but this definitely inspires me to look into it. It's so interesting and fun. Her blog again is linked here if you want to check it out. Unfortunately I can't find that much info about her or the yarns she uses or anything, but its neat to see how much freedom you could have with a little imagination. Ok, just one more, but only because it's really just too precious!



And with that I will leave you for another week. Check back next week for another edition of Fashionknitsta and, until then, stay chic blogfans!

-Lindsay