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by Knit Picks Staff on October 29, 2012
Ok, are we all ready to start swatching? Last week we discussed yarn choices and design dreaming, and this week we are going to solidify our yarn choices (if you haven't already!) and find the right needle to get the fabric that your design requires! I've done some extensive swatching (the results of which I share in the videos below) and have settled on knitting my Swish Worsted on US 6 Zephyr needles. Swatching can seem boring when you're itching to cast on a project, but it is one of the most essential parts of the design process, so it deserves a lot of time and attention! In this lesson, I'll be giving tips on how to swatch for the fabric your design needs, and then covering the measuring of gauge from your swatch, and the measurements needed for a succesful knit. All this information ins contained in the pdf linked below, which also has diagrams and blanks for you to fill in with your personal gauge and measurments. Don't worry if you're math-phobic; I've done my nest to keep it simple and to walk you through all the claculations step-by-step! Lesson 1: Swatching and Measuring Read on for more info and Videos... |
Category Archives: Knit Picks Designers
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by Knit Picks Staff on October 29, 2012
When I think of taking a Snow Day this winter, I imagine myself cozied up on the couch, watching fireplace videos, and knitting happily on all of the tiny treasures in our new Snow Day Ornament pattern! |
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by Knit Picks Staff on October 29, 2012
Hi there! As you'll see in this week's video, my sweater is coming along swimmingly! Now that I am deep in the process of working the waist shaping, I am remembering why my row counter is my best friend! This week, we'll be discussing how to calculate the increases and decreases that will shape the torso of your sweater to the finished dimensions you desire. It may be helpful for you to look over and print out this week's handout so that you can follow along with the video lesson, in which I'll be walking you through all the math required in this step. I promise, it's not terribly hard :) Click the link below to get the handout: Lesson 3 - Shaping the Torso And check out the videos below! |
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by Knit Picks Staff on October 29, 2012
I raced through the body of my sweater in order to stay ahead of the class, but even if you haven't finished that sections, you can always start on a sleeve! Knitting sleeeves can be a welcome break from working the torso of a sweater--they are more portable, and smaller, so each round goes much faster and the length gows perceptibly, for a real feeling of accomplishment! In this lesson, we'll go over the math behind sleeve shaping, and discuss some potential modifications that allow you to get custom sleeves! Click the link below for the handout: Lesson 4: Sleeves And check out our videos, where I (somewhat tiredly--apologies! I should maybe not shoot these lessons on Monday!) walk you through the math and show how the formulas in the handout gave me the sleeve I want! |
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by Knit Picks Staff on October 29, 2012
I am not usually a monogamous knitter, and the recent heat has made my wosted-wool sweater project even less appealing. So I am a little behind myself and I suspect some of you are, too! In the next phase of our sweater designing, we will work the yoke and neckline, which means two sets of calculations that must be worked at the same time! To make that a little easier on everyone,and to give you all some time to catch up, I've divided this section into two lessons. This week's video covers the basic shaping and construction o fthe neckline, and gives ideas for how to decide what knid of neckline you want. Watch the videos below: |
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by Knit Picks Staff on October 29, 2012
The yoke is the most complicated part of a raglan sweater, but I think you’ll find that if you take it slow and workcarefully, it is not very hard at all! The trickiest thing is that the raglan decreases and neckline shaping will be workedat the same time.This is also the most exciting part of the sweater--we arenearing the finish line and for the first time, you’ll get to see your work really start to come together. Pun intended.Let’s get started! Read on for the videos and worksheet: |
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by Knit Picks Staff on October 16, 2012
Here at Knit Picks headquarters, there are a lot of talented folks. Between us, Connecting Threads (our quilting division) and Artist's Club (our painting division), there are lots of different skills represented. Recently we started having some lunchtime classes to share these skills, and over the past two weeks I've been learning to crochet! Now, this isn't the first time I've learned to crochet. I believe this is actually the fourth. Each time I try to learn, I inevitably do something really wonky, and give up the failed attempt. But this time, I'm determined to make it stick. I grabbed one of our Harmony Crochet Hooks and some Brava Bulky, and set to making quite a mess of things. But after two lessons and a lot of "no, no, through that loop," and "you're going the wrong way!" from Jenny K and Kim, I managed to make my first granny squares! They're not stellar, but it is the first time I've ever crocheted something that looked like the thing it was supposed to be... |
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by Knit Picks Staff on September 21, 2012
A very common question I get is, "how do I pick colors for my colorwork project?" The short answer is that that's a really personal decision. You know what colors you like or that you like to wear, and there's no set aesthetic regarding what colors 'should' go together. (believe me, since art school, my personal color palette includes all of them!) Generally, a safe bet for a 2-color sweater is to go with a light and dark version of the same color. So, that means a dark red and light red, dark blue and light blue, and so on. These colors can be interchangeable, so it can be a light or dark background. This is great if you have a favorite color in mind, or want to be completely sure that the colors will look good together. If you want to use two colors that you know go well together, be sure to use a light version of one and a dark version of the other. That said, choosing a basic palette for a garment starts with a few basic steps. |
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by Knit Picks Staff on September 20, 2012
Bohus sweaters are known for their subtle gradients of color and the fuzzy halo that gives them an almost ethereal glow. The tradition of Bohus sweater knitting is a recent and colorful one, inspired by many other European knitting styles and the fashions of the mid 20th century. The most recognizeable Bohus item is the yoked sweater. Though the typical elements of a Bohus-style sweater can be applied to lots of items like gloves and hats, a colorful stranded yoke really shows off the techniques used. Careful planning of increases, multiple colors in each row, knit and purl stitches and slipped stitches create a texture unique to Bohus knitting. This texture can make even the simplest motif, like stripes or dots, look exotic and unexpected. When I began thinking about Tuva, I wanted color to become the real focus, and let the stitches help to show them off. I didn't want this to be subtle - and immediately jumped for a vivid rainbow. With so many elements to balance, designing a Bohus-style yoked sweater presents some interesting challenges. |
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by Knit Picks Podcast on September 19, 2012
This week, take a tour of Scandinavia as you hear all about Kerin’s inspiration for Northern Lights, a new collection of patterns inspired by the region and its cultures that are steeped in a rich history of knitting. Featuring six stunning patterns, Kerin walks you through the traditions of Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Sweden as she shares the stories and ideas behind each of the patterns. Naturally, Kerin put her special twist on each of the patterns by melding the traditions, color, and motifs of Scandinavia with updated shaping and elegant, modern details. If you enjoy hearing about the design process and how ideas are transformed from sketches and swatches into finished patterns and pullovers – you’ll love hearing Kerin’s stories behind each of the six designs of Northern Lights. History buffs will also love hearing more about the cultures and traditions of these six Scandinavian ... |
