I do love a knitting tip, don’t you? I am slowly emerging from hibernation, and definitely not yet ready for a full return to work, but I’ve been knitting, and I’ve been thinking about knitting, and today I’m going to share with you my latest knitting tip obsession: the clasped weft join.
Read morePostcards from Rhinebeck: Part 1
Not yet strictly Rhinebeck, but bear with me…
I’m trying out the app on my phone in the hope that I can write a few short blog posts while I am on the road. Fingers crossed I’m about to have the most knitting-filled week that I’ve had in a long time, so there should be plenty to talk about!
Tuesday
I’m starting my journey by train to London, and I have just the crown shaping remaining on my Marangoni Hat – this month’s Boost Your Knitting pattern. All things being equal, it will be finished before I catch my flight tomorrow.
wednesday
Boom! Hat is all done, save for the last couple of ends, with two minutes to spare before it’s time to leave for Heathrow.
This is the obligatory plane knitting shot. I cast on for the smallest size of Antler Cardigan by Tin Can Knits using our Something to Knit With Aran and knitted both sleeves and a good chunk of body during my flight from Heathrow to JFK in New York. It’s so satisfying to rattle through the pieces of a garment like that, especially when my last couple of garments have been 4ply epics. Note to self: Next adult garment should be in aran weight…
thursday
On Thursday, together with Kay and Ann of Mason-Dixon Knitting, we headed upstate to Red Hook, which is just a little way from Rhinebeck. I could write a whole blog post about what a joy it has been to spend time with these two! Ann is wearing her fabulous aran weight Dionne Shawl by Jeanette Sloan and I’ve borrowed Ann’s Parallelogram Scarf, which I need to immediately cast on when I get home. It is one of the designs in the Sequences MDK Field Guide, and unbelievably squishy and warm! This was just the start of a parade of incredible hand knits – many of them from MDK Field Guides…
Knitting has been almost non-stop – in the car, on the subway, on the plane, at restaurants and at home. I was really inspired by Kay’s gorgeous basketweave socks on her needles (in their Wanderlust Field Guide), as well as Ann’s Petula Sweater (Downtown) and the Corrugated Shawl (Sequences) that Ann was working on. Spending time enjoying the process of stitches and wool against a background of friendship is such a powerfully recharging thing.
My Antler Cardigan started to take shape!
Friday
Tivoli Bays was the perfect backdrop for some fresh air and a walk, and we were joined by MDK team member, Christina…
…for a photo shoot for our new album cover: Knitters on Tour.
And what do knitters do when they are on tour? Why, they head to the nearest town with a yarn shop of course! We went to Fabulous Yarn in Tivoli, NY which was PACKED with stunning yarns and notions. It took all my willpower not to dive in and buy everything.
I was very taken with this aptly named Oooh! cashmere chunky yarn. I held strong though, safe in the knowledge that the weekend would bring plenty to tempt me.
To be continued…
Joining in New Yarns, Method 2: Knitting in Ends
A few days ago, we brought you a video tutorial showing how to splice in a new yarn! Today, Jen shows you another fuss-free way to join in a new yarn which also leaves you with no ends to weave in: knitting in ends!
Read moreJoining in New Yarns, Method 1: How to Splice (A video tutorial)
Do you love colourwork knitting, but dread all the ends you have weave in? This month’s Boost Your Knitting technique is focused on two different ways to join in yarns in your projects … and as an added bonus, these methods eliminate the need to weave in ends! While this month’s featured pattern is the stunning colourwork Marangoni Hat, these techniques can be used any time you need to add in a new yarn, whether it’s a colour change or just time to add the next ball in a single colour project.
Read moreBoost Your Knitting: The Techniques
Have I mentioned recently how much I absolutely love enabling knitters to learn new techniques? That feeling of breaking it down into achievable chunks, leading people through the process, and watching them achieve more than they thought possible is almost as intoxicating as the thrill of learning something new. I can’t wait to help you to Boost Your Knitting!
Read moreCompleted Telja and a handy splicing tip
of being, but I think it’s been massively helped along by the super-speedy completion of our Telja Sweater in time for Yarndale. I have already shared the finished photo on Instagram and Ravelry, but today is the first time in ages that I’ve had the opportunity to sit down and blog about my knitting, so please forgive me for sharing it again. I’m still really pleased with it! Jim was a fabulous help to get the sleeves done, leaving me to complete the colourwork cuffs, body and then finally the yoke. Jim was so happy with the finished result that he has taken home some Something to Knit With Aran to make himself a Mountain Mist sweater from the brilliant new Tin Can Knits book, Strange Brew (it’s like a Something New to Learn About Yokes with a host of beautiful jumper and accessory designs as well as all the information you need to design your own yoke – we both really love it!).
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