To say that we have been excited about this release would be something of an understatement…
I’m not entirely sure when I first started to talk to Gudrun Johnston (below) about working on her next print book, but from a trawl through my extensive email collection, it seems to have been around five years ago. From the start I knew that this collection was going to be something really special.
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When Jen mentioned she was thinking of doing some kits for Gudrun Johnston’s Yokey Dokey sweater (Ravelry link), I jumped at the chance to do some swatching! I, ahem, don’t always swatch for colourwork projects — but I always should! It’s important to not only check that those colours that you think are going to look ah-mazing together actually work in the pattern, but also, of course, to check your tension against that of the pattern. Read on for my tips on swatching for stranded colourwork…
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It’s a new month, so time to welcome the next Boost Your Knitting pattern, designer, and technique! Meet the Marangoni Hat, designed by colourwork aficionado Tori Seierstad! Are you ready to learn some really handy techniques for managing yarns this month?
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I can hardly believe it, but in just under 12 months I have knitted myself a 4ply cardigan!
I’m totally thrilled with how it turned out, and I’m already wearing it a great deal! I thought it would be helpful to talk through how I took Ella’s absolutely beautiful Ola Yoke sweater pattern and converted it to a cardigan, as it’s really not a difficult transformation to make. I should say of course that the sweater is fabulous, and doesn’t need modifying at all. I just know that I wear cardigans a lot more than sweaters, and wanted to get the most from this lovely knit.
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There is a great temptation sometimes to doubt one's own ability and for many, me included, this is often around design and use of colour. But fear not! Help is at hand.
You may have been lucky enough to have taken one of Felicity (Felix) Ford's classes, and if you have, you will undoubtedly have been filled with her boundless enthusiasm for the potential of just about anything as a source of inspiration for design. We love spending time with Felix (above) because she sees the world differently from us and can communicate how she sees things so clearly that we cannot help but have our eyes opened to the possibilities.
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Have you chosen your pattern? Found some yarn? Swatched? It must be time to kick off the final Year of Techniques knitalong, and this is a great one! I know SO many knitters who are fabulously accomplished, and yet haven't tried cutting a steek in their knitting. There's a fundamental feeling that taking your scissors to something you've spent so long knitting must be a bad idea, but honestly, with the right yarn (and this is KEY), it's a piece of cake.
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I'm popping in today, as I've been making great progress on my knitting projects. I've cast off a heap of things in the last few weeks, which means that I'm all set to be casting on for my Oorik tank top, bang on schedule, next week. I'm hoping that a few of you will be joining us in the final official monthly knitalong* for A Year of Techniques. Sobs. I can't believe we're there already!
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While we were away in Shetland I had some stretches of time entirely devoted to knitting. I can't tell you what a treat that was!
Before we left I was able to get the Hyacinthus armwarmers finished off, and into the grabby hands of their new owner. :D I literally wove in the ends just before we got in the car to drive to the airport!
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The fantabulous Mary Jane Mucklestone has created our final design for A Year of Techniques: the Oorik tank top.
Oorik (meaning small person in Shetland dialect) is a Fair Isle tank top (US vest) knitting completely in the round. The arm and neck openings are created with steeks, thus allowing you to always be working with the right side of the fabric facing you. This makes it easier to avoid mistakes in the colourwork, and there's no purling to do in the Fair Isle section.
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