Deb

Elizabeth Zimmerman is great, as Sarvi says, and fun to read! Even if you are not keen on what she knits she is an education! I’ve got two of her books and although the only thing I’ve knitted is the baby surprise jacket, I really enjoyed reading her words. And the jacket was interesting to knit too. You sound to me as if you are feeling very…[Read more]

Actually I can show you all four of those elements in EZ’s work — but as I noted, she can be a bit of an acquired taste, and really, there’s no need to push her onto anybody who’s said they’re not interested. Her legacy’s rock solid and not going anywhere.

But! It sounds like you have a good sense of what you want and perhaps just needed a bit…[Read more]

I’d like to point out that all the qualities you listed are exactly the opposite of Elizabeth Zimmerman. 😉

But I agree, I look for all those things. In fact, it takes hours of research to even begin to buy yarn and cast on, which is another of the problems with knitting. Problems with the pattern are not only harder to fix, they’re harder to…[Read more]

I feel like I’m running an ad agency for Brooklyn Tweed at this point, but it’s just something I know well and can use for a further example; I’m sure many other designers have a lot of these fantastic features.

When looking at a knitting pattern, you might be happier if:

1. It has a lot of makes on Ravelry. You can look at modeled photos of…[Read more]

I was thinking about this thread this morning while I was blocking something. It’s this pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/arlo

and it asks you to block to a schematic. I was thinking that there are only a few ways for a garment to not fit. One, it’s poorly designed. Same as with sewing patterns — it asks for too few inches for a…[Read more]

Oh yes, I love embroidery and cross stitch too. Nothing can go wrong, you just unpick the stitch if you don’t like it. And simple looks good too. In fact, I liked a cross stitch I did so much I had it framed and hung it in our newly renovated vestibule. I’m working on a Christmas red work one, but I I end up putting it away out of season so it may…[Read more]

Which pattern are you knitting? Mostly so I can go stalk lol.

Well I started the pattern part of the dress yesterday and after two rows have already stuffed it up. I “yarn forward” ed the wrong way! So I will start again I guess. For some reason I ended up with five stitches at the end instead of three so I will use something as counters when I cast on to make sure the number of stitches is correct. Then it…[Read more]

Tamara, that is exciting – and the answer of course is, “it depends.” In my most prolific (pre-kids) knitting days I could finish a hat in two days, and an adult sweater in two weeks. But I spent hours per day doing it. Now it takes me forever to finish anything – I may knit up to an hour a day when I am very smitten with a project (but I’ve…[Read more]

For someone who doesn’t usually knit and doesn’t consider herself a knitter, I have embarked on a project I hope to finish rather fast. Time will tell. But I have always wanted to have a knitted baby dress so I am making one for Chloe. I actually signed up to ravelry and that has inspired me to knit also. There is this beautiful dress I’d love to…[Read more]

That’s such a fun and pretty yarn!

Sarvi is right- I should have mentioned that. You should always block a tension square and THEN count stitches and rows. Row count is often harder to achieve to match the required gauge, so if you can’t get the row tension then go with whichever gauge gives you the correct stitch count. From your post it sounds like you know how to block, but if…[Read more]

Oh, and I always take my swatch and measure in 3 different manners: 1: Unblocked
2: Steam Blocked
3: Washed/Dried (however I plan to care for it)

I always cast on 50 stitches and do 5 garter stitches on each end, and a few garter rows to begin with. When I cast off, it keeps my swatch from curling. Especially in Stockinette. I recently learned the value in swatching…usually I don’t mind, as I knit stuff for DD so if it’s bigger, well she can wear it longer or next season. But this…[Read more]

Did I mention math is one of the things wrong with knitting? Too much math.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been knitting for years, just a lot less once the kids got bigger. Because sewing is more practical, useful and faster too. I mean, people just don’t wear hand knits. Even when it all works out perfectly, I never end up wanting to wear…[Read more]

Did I mention math is one of the things wrong with knitting? Too much math.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been knitting for years, just a lot less once the kids got bigger. Because sewing is more practical, useful and faster too. I mean, people just don’t wear hand knits. Even when it all works out perfectly, I never end up wanting to wear…[Read more]

Linda is spot on. The only thing I would add is that some yarns are inherently very firm and some grow/bloom in counterintuitive way so also block your swatch. Even a half or a third of a stitch off (in width — row gauge is better handled in inches, I think) can add up so much more quickly than it seems it should.

Thanks Linda! This is helpful. I usually do a smaller swatch (varies in width, but probably closer to 4 inches in length) and then count stitches for an inch and multiply. It sounds like that may not be the most accurate way of doing thing. 🙂 I am entirely self taught (via internet and a stitch book that I have) so I am often guessing and doing…[Read more]