Pendulum | Tips and Suggested Modifications.

Word around the shop is that we have quite a few knitters joining us for the Pendulum KAL. And if you're on the fence about joining us or maybe just haven't decided which yarn to use, we just shelved a big order of Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20 (including a few of the "one of a kind" color ways). This yarn is a merino/cashmere/nylon blend with 400 yards per skein.  Two skeins would make a lovely Pendulum!  ...but I already bought my yarn. Yep, I went with the Panama in blue and cream!

the blue is my main color and the cream is my contrast

As promised, I've reviewed the completed projects on Ravelry to gather up tips and suggested modifications.

The good news is that many have knit the project as written, with stunning results. So if you simply want to follow Amy's instructions, you are good to go! Please note that I found a lot of variation in yardage and needle sizes (many knitters used 400 yards plus of the main color...on size 5, 6 and 7 needles). If you are close to the specified 340/230 yards, you should definitely swatch. You'll be adding two stitches on every row... so the shawl grows quickly and the last few repeats will be on several hundred stitches (which means those rows use a lot of yarn!)

However, many knitters have made modifications. Most of these are to the cast-on and edge treatment to help block the edge straight, so you can wear the piece more like a scarf than a shawl (similar to Color Affection). Before I dive into more detail on those modifications, I thought it might help to see what the cast-on and first bit of edge looks like...as written.  Honestly, I'd be fine with it!

as written, after working seven increase rows

But I've knit both my Color Affections by starting the increases on the very first row and with an added YO at the beginning of each row (which I dropped on the subsequent row to create loose edge stitches, but no additional holes); I was planning similar modifications for Pendulum, but then I read what Knitloon did with hers. She added YO's at both ends (K1, YO, M1L, .... , M1R, YO, K1) and then used those YOs on the next row as the basis for her M1s. Pretty great idea. Here's what it looks like after a few rows. The edge is flat and stretchy; I'm going to use this method.

working increase rows right away (I did not knit the plain row after the cast-on) and YOs at both ends

...and in case you'd like to use it too, here's what it looks like in more detail (you should be able to click the photos to see them bigger).

I've worked K1, YO and the next stitch is the YO from the row before.

then....

Note that we could be elegant and do the first YO on each row backwards...which would eliminate having to re-position the bar before we work the M1R...but that just seems like a lot to remember and this project is supposed to be social knitting. 

Many knitters also substituted a garter tab cast-on. Frankly, I don't see the point since there is no garter edge on the shawl (and Color Affection doesn't use one either and it turns out beautifully). But if you want to try it, here's a great tutorial from Stephen West.

The important thing to remember is that this is YOUR project and YOU get to decide what - if any - modifications you make.

Our group cast-on is tomorrow afternoon at the shop (2pm-ish on Friday, April 5); hope you're planning to join us in person or virtually in our Ravelry thread!

Pendulum.

No, I haven't finished the Color Affection shawl I'm knitting for our Redux KAL. But that never stops a knitter from planning the next project and it almost never stops a knitter from casting on a next project. #amIright?!

pattern pictured with a combo of Shibui Staccato

And that brings me to the next project we're planning to cast on. It's Pendulum, designed by Amy Wright. Because we are loving stripes and fingering weight scarf-like shawls for spring and summer. This piece is knit from the top-down (meaning you start with just a few stitches at the top edge and increase toward the bottom edge) in garter stitch and the stripes are shaped with short rows so the main color stripes are "fat" at one end and the contrast color stripes are "fat" at the other end.

The pattern calls for approximately 340 yards of the main color and 230 yards of the contrast, knit on a size 6 needle (swatching isn't critical, but a looser gauge will use more yarn, and a tighter gauge will result in a smaller piece - you decide how much risk you're willing to take!). We had a quick run on the pattern a few weeks ago, but they are back in stock and of course we have plenty of options for the yarn. Here are a few of my favorites:

First, Shibui Staccato - a blend of superwash merino and silk. At 191 yards per skein, you'll need two of each color.

yes that's black, but doesn't it POP the light pink?... and garter stitch wouldn't be too hard to see.

Then Rowan Panama - a blend of viscose, linen and cotton, that you can wash (on delicate) and dry (low heat until it's just damp, then dried flat) - this is one of my favorite spring/summer yarns. Rowan has added new colors this season and we have a great selection. I'm loving the neutrals...but that blue would be stunning with either one, too.

And if you think you might want to make two - how about the lovely Swan's Island Fingering. It's 100% organic merino and the colors are gorgeous. Each skein has 525 yards, so you'll have a good bit of yarn left over...but if you had a third skein, you could easily make a second shawl.

Other options not pictured include Spud&Chloe Fine, a superwash wool/silk blend that gives 248 hards per skein. If you're close on gauge, you should be able to get by with only one skein of the contrast color, but you'll still need two of the main color. And Canopy Fingering, a blend of alpaca, wool and bamboo that comes in 200 yard skeins.

We are going to cast on next Friday, April 5 at 2pm. I'm still reviewing the projects in Ravelry for helpful tips; I'll be back next week with suggested modifications and a quick tutorial on short rows in garter stitch (I promise - they're really easy!) If you have any other questions about the project or the Knit Along, please leave a comment here or on our Ravelry forum.

No Lack of Inspiration.

The latest issue of Knitters Review landed in my in-box this morning: 10 Tips for Kickstarting Your Inspiration. I adore Clara Parkes and I look forward to her newsletters (if you aren't a subscriber you should be...go here!), but inspiration is not a problem for me right now.

Maybe because I'm lucky enough to see this view at least three days a week.

Yes Shibui... taking up even more of that back wall! We've stocked more yarn and new colors and the latest collection of Mix patterns for Spring/Summer 2013.

They've added new colors across all the yarns and filled in a few of the most popular (for example, Silk Cloud is now available in the very popular Caffeine color way). Here are a few of my newest favorites:

Heichi in Grounds (yes, those are flecks of bright green on a dark brown background) and Cascade (photos from the Shibui website)

Silk Cloud in Caffeine and Clay (photos from the Shibui website)

The six new patterns include four sweaters (a tank, two pullovers and a cardigan), a scarf and a shawl. My two favorite patterns are sweaters (of course?!), but the shawl (Mix No. 18) has been popular, too (everyone loves choosing colors for a two-color project).

from the Shibui website

Mix No. 13 is a bottom-up seamless pullover with an all-over lace pattern, knit with Shibui Linen held double. Love the lace. Love the texture with the linen. I've wanted to knit with the linen since it arrived last year and I think this is the project I'll cast on (as soon as I finish Garance!)

from the Shibui website

Mix No. 16 is also knit seamlessly from the bottom up; it's a cardigan with color block detail and textured trim for the hems, neckline and button bands. It calls for Cima (laceweight alpaca merino blend) and Silk Cloud (laceweight silk mohair blend) held together and that mix is stunning, but Nuna would also work if you'd prefer knitting with just one strand of yarn. The pattern also shows the cardigan worn with the buttons in the back - adorable! It's a versatile wardrobe staple knit in neutrals like the pattern shows, but wouldn't it be fun in a bright green or coral, too?

Putting this post together, I also visited Shibui's Pinterest boards. If you're on Pinterest, I highly recommend you follow Shibui. Their Mix board is pure eye-candy, but I especially love the Clay board. I just bought a pair of cropped pants in that color and it's my new-favorite for spring...(you should follow us on Pinterest too!)

There are plenty of other things inspiring us at the shop right now, including the Bias 'Before & After' Scarf , which gets very fun when you knit it with Euroflax Sportweight Linen and another contrasting yarn/fiber and a Picardi cowl sample knit by the designer herself, Nell Ziroli (did you see in our latest newsletter that she's joined our teaching staff? very exciting!), that I'm seeing for spring and summer in Cascade Venezia or Maggiknits Maggie's Linen. I'll get photos and more ideas up here shortly.

What's inspiring your knitting right now?

Redux!

I love this word. It's fun to say...and in the context of a KAL, it's very fun to contemplate the possibilities.

If you follow our forum on Ravelry (and if you don't, you should), you might've seen this post from Wednesday, when I informally announced our next knit-along:

this time, we’re going to offer the opportunity to revisit all the previous KALs. we’re calling it Redux. 

along the lines of “which KAL did you skip and wish you hadn’t, or which KAL project did you love so much you want to do again, or which KAL project(s - yes, I have multiple of them!) is still languishing unfinished…. this is your chance to make it up”. 

I’ll share more ideas on the blog this week - along with a summary of all the KALs (can you believe we’ve been doing this for three years now…around a dozen different projects).

So this is that promised blog post, and I've spent the past 30 minutes looking back over three years of blog posts... and TWENTY ONE!!!! knit-alongs. Yes, friends, we've shared 21 projects since we starting knitting along back in March 2010. Here's the whole list, complete with Ravelry pattern links and (of course!) my thoughts on the good, the bad, and the ... frogged.

1. Traveling Woman, March 2010 .  One of my favorite lace shawls. ever. especially now that Liz Abinante (the designer) has released a for-pay pattern that includes detailed charts, stitch counts and tips for four yarn weights (from lace to worsted) and more than a dozen different sizes.
2. Selbu Modern, April 2010 . A beret with stranded colorwork. We suggested Fresco for the main color and a skein of Koigu's KPPPM for the contrast. Now we carry the Canopy Fingering that the pattern calls for and I think that's an even better suggestion.
3. Springtime Bandit, May 2010 . Another free pattern from Kelbourne Woolens. It's a triangular shawl with all-over patterning and a very pretty lace border. I've knit this twice and enjoyed the knitting...and the FO's.
4. Annis, June 2010 . I think this is one of Susannah IC's first patterns and it was the first time I'd tried a "bottom-up" shawl. It starts with the lace edge (yes, that's a lot of stitches to cast on!) and then there are short-rows in the stockinette portion to create the crescent shape. We knit this with Madelinetosh and Malabrigo sock...all lovely. And now I'd also suggest Canopy Fingering, Shibui's Cima (lace-weight) or Staccato (fingering), Swans Island Lace or Fingering and Juniper Moon Farm's Findlay (lace-weight).
5. Double Eyelet Rib Socks, August 2010 . Our first attempt at socks, and not a huge success (mine got frogged...and I'm not sure I recall a single finished sock, let alone a pair). Sally has since started a "sock club" that meets on the third Sunday of each month. It's a lot more fun!
6. Susie's Reading Mitts, October 2010 . Pretty fingerless mitts with an eyelet edge at the cuff and finger edge. The pattern calls for a worsted weight yarn, so they knit up quickly (great for gifts). Also, we found the perfect matching hat pattern . Mitt number one is still on my needles (and I have extra yarn to make the matching hat...someday).
7. Turkish Bed Socks, November 2010 . These aren't a traditional toe-up or cuff down sock, but the construction is pretty cool and of course very well explained since it's a Churchmouse pattern. And yep, sock #1 is still on my needles, waiting to have the toe kitchenered.
8. Colchicaceae, February 2011 . Another bottom-up shawl, but in a DK or worsted weight. We had some lovely FOs from this one and I'd highly recommend Venezia Worsted for a spring/summer look.
9. Clapotis, March 2011 (apparently the button doesn't work to show 20,000+ projects!). Whoa, I saw on Twitter this week that the pattern just passed the 20,000 project mark. I've contributed three to that count and would knit it again in a heartbeat. It's fun, and very wearable.
10. Summer Flies, May 2011 . Yes, 2011 was the Summer of Summer Flies. I'm guessing this is probably our most popular KAL ever. The pattern is fun and goes fast and you can use just about any yarn. It's especially fun to mix and match the Claudia Handpaints (you'll need three skeins) for the different sections.
11. Nantucket Vest, September 2011 . Not many of us participated, but those that did...we have a great layering piece. A few of us used Maggiknits Maggie's Linen and it works beautifully if the suggested Tahki Ripple doesn't appeal.
12. Creature Comforts Cardi, September 2011 . Not so much a cardi as a shrug (it's a big rectangle that you fold in half and seam to make armholes)...and not so much a knit-along as "here are some helpful hints if you decide to knit it". I knit mine out of Cascade Eco Cloud and it's like a warm hug. Definitely check out our tips if you decide to knit it.
13. Rustling Leaves Beret, November 2011 . Our first of three KALs from the lovely Coastal Knits book. This is a quick project and makes a great gift. One skein of Spud&Chloe fine makes one, and a skein of Madelinetosh or Malabrigo sock would make two.
14. Ella Coat, January 2012 . Noni herself picked up on what we doing and started a nation-wide KAL on her blog and on Ravelry; it was a lot of fun to be knitting along with the designer. Most of us used Stonehedge Mill's Shepherd's Worsted for the coat body and we chose all different yarns for the ruffled trim. For a coat, the knitting goes pretty fast and the finishing is minimal. ...I think I'm going to wear mine today!
15. Panoramic Stole, January 2012 . Our 2nd Coastal Knits project and my favorite FO for 2012. It's an epic knit (just about 1,000 yards of fingering weight) but not hard so it goes great with friends and conversation.
16. Rill Scarf, February 2012 . We chose this to show off the gorgeous Findlay Dappled yarn that arrived in the shop last winter. I didn't get very far with it, but the few that I saw finished are so pretty. (I'm going to repurpose my Findlay Dappled to make another Panoramic Stole).
17. Sand and Sea Shawlette, May 2012 . Our 3rd Coastal Knits project and a very wearable scarf-y shawl. Most of us knit a solid background and used a variegated yarn for the lace edge, but it also looks great in two solids...and two variegated.
18. Bandit, June 2012 . LOTS and LOTS of straight stockinette, first knit flat, and then in the round. This project cries out for conversation! Most of us used Euroflax Linen (either solid or tonal) and it works great.
19. Color Affection, July 2012 . Not quite the summer runaway we had with Summer Flies, but close. Choosing the colors is really the only hard part. After that, it's a lot of garter stitch (knit flat...so...just knitting!) and a little bit of paying attention to changing colors. Last summer, most of us chose Madelinetosh Sock and Tosh Merino Light and Malabrigo Sock. For Redux, a few of us are using Habu Tsumugi Silk. This project is my Redux!
20. Measure for Measure, August 2012 . The brioche stitch is a challenge, but the two FOs I've seen are stunning. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but boy is there payoff. (I briefly started with that Findlay Dappled but decided I didn't have the patience...frogged!)
21. and last but certainly not least, Mix No. 9, January 2013 . Inspired by the Shibui trunk show last fall, and the rich colors and fibers of the Shibui Staccato and Silk Cloud. I know two of these have been finished, but I have yet to see them. and I'm knitting like mad on mine to finish it...

...by next Friday, March 1, when we are going to Redux!  We hope you'll join us...and share what you're going to Redux. And if you're on Ravelry, please tag your project cottageredux2013 so we can follow along.

and in case you're interested, here's how those 21 projects played out for me:
In progress - one (Mix No. 9)
Finished - fourteen (Wow!!), including nine scarves/shawls, one beret, one coat, one vest, one shrug and one bandit
Frogged - four (Selbu Modern, Double Eyelet Socks, Rill Scarf, Measure for Measure)
Languishing - two (Susie's Reading Mitts, Turkish Bed Socks)

Touching a Unicorn.

I saw this tweet a few days ago and instantly thought "yes, that's it exactly!"

Like many of you, I'm knitting Shibui's Mix No. 9 for the current shop KAL and that's my first experience with the absolutely stunning Silk Cloud. I joined my second ball (of three) last weekend and I am in love. It's soft and shimmery just like a unicorn should be. and it's surprisingly easy to knit with (as long as I have enough light :-) even though it's a laceweight yarn. The mohair makes it not-so-slippery and the silk that runs through the core gives it strength so it's not so easy to break.

That same morning, I also saw a blog post featuring Julie Hoover's Garance .  This sweater is a bottom-up seamless pullover that combines another Shibui favorite, Heichi, with Silk Cloud. Yep, two Silk Cloud mentions just a few hours apart.


I'm sure no one's surprised that a few seconds later my thoughts shifted to "I need to knit more of it. now."

I have the Heichi in the pattern-suggested Caffeine colorway in my stash. Oh yes, this must be a sign; I need to knit that sweater.

I now have three skeins of the pattern-suggested Camel...

and Garance is next up in my sweater queue.

The neutral color is what fits into my wardrobe, but the sweater would also be great in a color...like purple. or blue.

L-R: Peony SC, Graffiti Heichi, Velvet SC, Fjord SC, Canal Heichi, Caffeine Heichi, Camel SC

If the Heichi sweater seems a bit heavy, why not consider the Silk Cloud Pullover . This is a top-down seamless pullover knit with the Silk Cloud held double. It's light as air and would be perfect to layer over a long-sleeved tee or a camisole to wear year-round. Right now, though, I'm loving that Apple colorway...just in time for spring!

So...have you touched the unicorn (yet)?

Welcome 2013!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday... hopefully not too stressful, especially on the stitching front (because surely y'all planned better than I did and you weren't hurriedly sewing the seam on your daughter's braided headband at 9pm on Christmas Eve, right?!)

28 cards filled with resolutions

In any event, 2013 is now well-underway and over the past 18 days, we've been talking about resolutions for this year. In addition to my own, I managed to get 27 of you to write down what you're resolving, planning and/or hoping to accomplish. We cover a lot of bases! and I wanted to share a few of the themes (and a specific one or two).

First up, finishing what we've already started (12 cards). Knitting with others is great encouragement for this. Or if you're stuck on a technique, consider taking a class or a private lesson. I can't wait to see what Theresa finishes!

let's hold her to this!

Next, learning something new (14 cards). Ideas include learning how to recognize - and then fix! - mistakes, knitting with double pointed needles and/or magic loop, making cables (without a cable needle), colorwork (fair isle and intarsia), steeking, double knitting, backwards knitting, first socks, first sweaters and blocking. whew! that's a lot of new techniques! personally, I want to knit a fair isle cardigan and steek it. I've helped a few of my students cut their knitting, but I haven't done it on my own project...until this year. The lovely Trefoil Cardigan from November Knits is the sweater I'm planning to knit. I'll definitely keep you posted!

my card (click to see it bigger)

Then knitting for others (6 cards), either for gifts or for charity. Our Tuesday afternoon group has been knitting hats to give away to the homeless and to cancer patients. They have patterns and yarn; call the shop or stop by on a Tuesday afternoon if you're interested. This year, we are also going to knit Mother Bears to give to Childrens' Healthcare. Stay tuned; we'll have more information to share next month.

and finally, knitting the yarn we already have (8 cards). If you purchased yarn from the shop and need help choosing a project, bring it in; our staff is happy to help you find a pattern! One knitter is allowing herself to buy yarn only for our knit-alongs (the rest of her projects will be knit from her stash). That's great incentive to participate!

Looks like we're going to have a busy year! Happy knitting!