Natural Stitches: Knitting On

Silk hankies, or matawas, were “Harlotted” (in other words, made incredibly popular in the fiber world) by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee when she posted about knitting some absolutely beautiful mittens.

We are thrilled to have a stunning restock of the silk hankies that we carry from Frabjous Fibers. Available in both semi-solids and variegated colors, each one ounce hankie sells for $16.

These hankies can be used for knitting, felting, or spinning. If you don’t know how to use them, STAY TUNED! Nora and Yvonne are developing classes for April that will show you how to make the most of these stunners.

It’s that time again. For the third year in a row, the staff of Natural Stitches celebrated what we call an Epiphany Gift Exchange. Each of us puts yarn from stash into a sealed paper bag, with an optional note about what we’d like the yarn to be. Then we each pick a bag and knit or crochet in secret for the recipient. This way, holiday gifts become a labor of love and time, not money. It’s an Epiphany exchange because we do the big reveal in January, after the craziness of Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice crafting is over.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll share what we made for each other.

I had a skein of Socks that Rock in a “rare gem,” that I didn’t know what to do with. Karen drew my bag and made this absolutely gorgeous Simple Things shawlette. This simply lovely pattern is available to purchase in store through our partnership with Ravelry.

Kelli put two skeins of Madeline Tosh DK in the Earl Grey colorway in her bag. Zelda worked her magic and made two amazing projects. The first is an adaptation of Stephen West’s Herbivore (available as a print pattern in the store).

And then, here is the part where we all SCREAMED with joy and amazement when Kelli unwrapped the package. Zelda knit a bunny! A bunny wearing a teeny tiny Herbivore! A bunny wearing a knitted Natural Stitches apron! Zelda used The Well Dressed Bunny pattern on Ravelry and then improvised the accessories.

We will be back with more next week!

It’s been a week and a half since we cast on for our Cables Galore! KAL.

Zelda has pulled her Asymmetrical Cardigan knitted out of Malabrigo Twist out of hibernation for the occasion:

Kelli has also pulled out a hibernating project: her Mr. Greenjeans knit out of Dream in Color Classy.  Kelli HATES purling so much that she’s adapted the pattern to be knit in the round and then she is going to steek it. Yes, she really hates to purl.

Jack, Helen, and Monica took a group shot of their projects. From left to right, Helen’s Central Park Hoodie (from The Best of KnitScene) in Cascade Eco+, Jack’s Aidez in Cascade 128, and Monica’s Catriona Vest in Comfort DK.

Want to talk about your cabled project? Make sure to visit the KAL thread in our Ravelry Group!

Do we have snow days at Natural Stitches? It happens, rarely — remember SnOMG two years ago? — but it does happen. Our general policy is that we close only if the University of Pittsburgh and/or Carnegie Mellon close, or of course, the governor declares a state of emergency.

Rarely, we might close for the evening if the snow is coming down heavily and conditions are worsening. When in doubt at night, it’s best to call the store and check, but the odds are that we will be open.

Our experience 0ver the last four years has been that Penn Avenue is one of the first to be treated in bad weather conditions, and our parking lot provides ample places to park safely.

And hey, wouldn’t it be fun to be snowed in at the yarn store?

Stay safe this weekend as we finally get our first real taste of winter in 2012!

This weekend, we cast on our cabled projects for our Cables Galore Knit-A-Long. Details are here.

I’m proud to say that I actually did a proper gauge swatch, which means I WASHED my watch, let it dry, and then did the measurements.

Helen is off to a running start on her Central Park Hoodie in Eco+ in Grape.

We’re talking about what we’re making on Ravelry! Jump in the conversation here.

This is a reprint from the newsletter, but I wanted to make sure everyone knows about our first KAL of 2012. We are casting on this weekend, so get your gauge swatches ready!

We are thrilled to announce our first KAL of 2012: CABLES GALORE!

Our theme for 2012 is Back to Basics. Toward that end, we will tackle the iconic representation of knitting, the cable. This winter, we will knit simple wardrobe staples with basic cables. Instead of just one pattern, we are opening up this KAL to any cabled garment.

We all have those projects that we keep meaning to make but haven’t gotten around to it for one reason or another (i.e., distracted by the SHINY). For me, this was the Central Park Hoodie. Published in 2006 KnitScene, I’d planned this project and then tossed the magazine aside. When the book The Best of KnitScene arrived at the shop last fall, my interest in the project was renewed. I still need to swatch to make sure the yarn would work, but my plan is to use Malabrigo Twist in Ravelry Red. If that doesn’t work, my second choice is Cascade Eco Wool.

Karen plans to knit this sweater in Imperial Stock Ranch Columbia. Helen is going to make it in Cascade Eco+ in the Grape colorway.

Don’t want to make a Central Park Hoodie?

• Yvonne is knitting the Mondo Cable Pullover from Chic Knits out of Cascade 220. This elegant sweater is available at the store in hard copy or as an in-store Ravelry sale pattern. Chic Knits also offers many cabled cardigans and vests with this elegant cable.
• 
  David’s mom models the Chic Knits Mondo Cable Vest as a shell.
• Monica is planning a Catriona Vest, a free pattern, in Comfort DK.
• Zelda is making the Asymmetrical Cardigan from Norah Gauhan’s Knitting Nature in Malabrigo Twist in Lettuce. (Okay, maybe Zelda’s choice is not a simple piece.)
• Jack is knitting Aidez (another free pattern!) for his wife, Pam, using Cascade 128.
  
  Courtney’s Aidez that she knit using Cascade Eco Wool.
• And finally, Kelli is resurrecting her Mr. Greenjeans, a free pattern for a cabled cardigan from Knitty, in Dream in Color Classy.


Detail of Yvonne’s Mr. Greenjeans in DIC Classy.

If you’ve never Knit-A-Long with us before, know that we are very relaxed and informal. Our “Cast On” date is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend of January 13-15, and our completion date is “whenever we get it done.” You are welcome to jump in whenever is convenient for you! Along the way, we will be posting status updates and helpful hints on our blog.

If you’ve never cabled before, don’t be intimidated! It is really just knitting stitches out of order, and as long as you keep track of your rows, all will be well. Stop in and see us if you’d like a quick demo before embarking on your own Cables Galore project in 2012!

We are in the process of planning many fun events for 2012. While we can’t give specifics right now, here’s a hint of what’s to come this year.

We are looking at hosting two nationally — wait, internationally — known designers and teachers this year. I can’t say who they are right now, but trust me, they are both amazing and awesome people.

This winter, we are hosting a Knit-A-Long called Cables Galore in which we knit any simple cabled garment for ourselves. Whether it’s the iconic Central Park Hoodie, the simple lines of a Chic Knits pattern, or a stunning example of the free Aidez pattern, we hope you will enjoy stretching your skills and treating yourself to a garment made for yourself.  Look for details in our next newsletter!

The holiday crush and employee injuries have made us rethink our winding strategies. To that end, we have ordered an electric ballwinder!  The new winder should be arriving any day, and we appreciate your patience as we get up to speed using it.

David has a new class! His “Cast On — Cast Off” workshop will debut on Monday, February 27 from 6-8 PM. This two-hour workshop will explore various cast-on and cast-off methods. In addition to learning the various methods, we will discuss which method to use when you are starting or finishing a project. This is a hands-on workshop which does not lead into a specific knitting project. The cost of the class is $25 and as always, requires registration at least 48 hours in advance.

We look forward to a really exciting 2012! Stay tuned to this blog and our newsletter for details.

It’s that time! I asked the staff if they had made any fiber-related resolutions for 2012. Rather than think of these as a list of things we can and cannot do, let’s think of them as ways to guide our handiwork this year. For example, I am knitting the “Three S’s” this year: sweaters, socks, and shawls. After a foray into baby knitting, my child had the nerve to outgrow the things I made for him, so I want to concentrate more on me in 2012.

Amy: My goals are mostly about finishing and organization. And I probably have more on this list than I can accomplish in one year.

1 – Finish the Babette blanket. It is very close and I started it in 2008. It’s my only long term UFO (other than a sweater that lacks a zipper) and it’s time for it to be done.

2 – The downside of being a prolific knitter for 8 years is that I have a basket of items that need mending. I also have sweaters that need minor modifications (smaller collar, put in zipper, reinforce buttons, etc). I want to fix everything in the basket, as well as shaving my sweaters that are pilling.

3 –There are 2011 babies I still haven’t knit for and several close friends expecting in 2012. I love knitting and crocheting for babies and I want to make it a priority again.

4 – Following up on past project ideas. I have at least a dozen Ziplocs with yarn and project ideas. Each contains an index card with a description and/or sketch of what I want to do with said yarn. I have promised myself that I won’t submit any design ideas to books or magazines until I work through these designs and see if they work out for self-publishing.

5 – General organization of my designs for self-publishing. Finalizing my pattern layout template, publishing the patterns that are “almost done”, and taking stock of what (if any) goals I have for self-publishing patterns.

6 – Move my office out of my son’s room so that I don’t have to have a stockpile projects next to my bed…since I can’t access my stash and books while he’s sleeping.

7 – Somewhere in all of this I want to make another vest for myself. Preferably in a new-to-me yarn.

Courtney: My goals for 2012 are to spin more (and learn how to use a wheel!), and to make (or at least start) a traditional Shetland lace shawl.

David: I have the same goal every year: knit more for myself. But that never seems to happen. However, in 2011, I acquired much yarn destined to be projects for myself. I hope to get to those projects during 2012.

Yvonne’s class on the Discovery Sock re-awakened my interest in handmade socks. [Ed Note: Next Personal Footprints class will be scheduled for February.] My goal is to make myself at least 6 pairs and I think a sock a month is an attainable goal.

Finally, in 2011, I was outdone in the lace area. Jack, Karen and Courtney all knitted some beautiful projects. I am planning to participate in the “12 Shawls in 2012″ Ravelry Group.

Kelli: I need to get my knitting cleaned up. I need to organize my yarn and get everything back into place so I can finish my projects. I need to get everything into one spot so when I think “Oh, I should work on this!” I know where it is.

Monica:I have 50 some things in my ravelry queue. Compared to others not that much, but I have the yarn ready to go for, oh… all but maybe two of those 50+ projects. So maybe a good goal would be to work on things already in the queue?

Also I want to hopefully remember this coming year all the things I have in hibernation, so I can do the ‘finish or frog’ thing with them. Preferably the former, because I have some lovely stuff going (Kaw Valley Wrap, a Petrie top, among others).

Yvonne: My fiber goals in 2012 are to knit down some of my stash.  I’ve taken a hard look at my stash recently, and my queue, and have a plan to knock some things down in the coming year. My other goal is to knit at least 2 shawls from Victorian Lace Today and/or Folk Shawls.

Zelda: I wish to keep on puffing in the free world. I think a third sweater is about due. Oh, and I’m going to birth some sort of awesome fair isle vest by the end of May — hopefully eye-peeling and hilarious. (There is a party and drinking involved in this vest’s destiny.) On to GOALS: MORE SPINNING. and more making my own pattern FOR THE ANGRY YARNS IN BINS.

What goals and resolutions have you made for yourself this year?

Jenn wrote:

Hands down, it’s Icelandic Star, from the Winter 2009 issue of Interweave Knits. I adapted the pattern to make it into a pullover, made a horrendous mistake, cut it apart, and sewed it all back together. It’s an excellent reminder that I am always the boss of my knitting.

Icelandic Star, knit in Cascade 220

Jenn also made two other sweaters for herself this year, in addition to completing a Melia from Ysolda Teague’s Little Red in the City as a Christmas gift for her sister. We bow down to Jenn’s sweater prowess.

Jenn’s Lace Saddle Tee, knit in Euroflax, from the Summer 2010 issue of Interweave Knits:

Saddle Lace Tee

Jenn’s Leaflet Cardigan, from Knitty First Fall 2011 (a free pattern!), knit in Cascade Eco+:

Leaflet

And here is Jenn’s completed Melia, knit in Comfort:

Melia

Recently I asked the staff what their favorite projects of 2011 were.

Annette and I both had babies, so we had to make them our favorite projects.

David’s favorite projects were baby blankets.  He writes:

In 2011, my favorite projects were all baby related. Specifically, I knit four baby blankets and could have done more. Wow, this was the year of babies for me — not mine but friends’ babies. Nine of my friends had babies this year — most of the babies were boys too!

Anyway, the baby blanket frenzy began when I seamed and finished the Cot Blanket from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms [ed note: this is one of my favorite baby pattern books] that a friend started.

Cot Blanket

Then I adapted the Striped Blanket from 60 Quick Baby Knits using Cascade 220 Superwash (the adaption entailed knitting the blanket in the round and the steeking it!).

Striped Blanket

Then I knit two lace blankets back to back: the Baby Chalice Blanket [free Ravelry pattern!] and the Pine Forest Baby Blanket [another free pattern]. For both of those blankets, I used Dream in Color Classy which became my favorite yarn to use in 2011.

Detail of Baby Chalice Blanket

Detail of Pine Forest Blanket