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!

Announcing our Next KAL.

photo (c) shibui

Yes, it's official. We are going to knit Shibui Mix No. 9 for our next Knit-along. It's an infinity scarf, knit length-wise and then joined - after a single twist - with a 3-needle bind-off. The pattern stitch is a variation of seed stitch, which, in my book is the perfect social project. Really, it's the kind of project that demands company and conversation!

Listening to that cold north wind howl outside my kitchen window, reminds me this is also the perfect project to wear. ...long and loose, or doubled around your neck, or pulled up to create a hood.

The pattern suggests Shibui Staccato and Silk Cloud - one strand of each held together. You'll need 5 skeins of Staccato and 3 of Silk Cloud (or 1,000 yards of any DK-weight yarn).  One of the nice things about Shibui is that the different yarns come in the same colorways.

How about pink?

colorway nude

or green?

colorway apple

or teal?

colorway fjord

We'll be casting on (with a provisional cast-on - here's my favorite) two weeks from today. That's Friday, January 4, 2013 around 2pm.

Hope you'll join us!

I'm ready...once I spend some time with the ball-winder!

12 Lessons from the Yellow Table.

I heard an interesting bit on the latest Yarniacs podcast about "knitting lessons learned in 2012". It got me thinking about my knitting classes, and the lessons we've learned this year.

And then dear friend and former student Martha gave me this.

yes, there are even Starbucks mugs on the table!

That, my good readers, is how blog posts are born!

1. Any tools that help you get your knitting right are OK - in fact highly encouraged - to use. A few of my favorite tools include row counters (I still use the old fashioned kind that sits on my needle or on my knitting), locking stitch markers (for example to remember where you started waist shaping),  regular markers to keep your lace or cables or other patterned stitches on track, highlight tape to keep up with a chart, and a colored pen (see number 7 below).

2. If you're knitting with hand-dyed yarn, alternate skeins. Always. Hand-dyed yarns include everything from Madelinetosh, Malabrigo, Swan's Island, and quite a few others. Yes, it can be a pain, but it's the only way to ensure you don't end up with noticeable color differences in your finished project.

3. If you're knitting something that needs to fit, swatch! You should also swatch if you're worried about having enough yarn to finish the project. And if you're knitting with fibers that aren't super wash, you should wet-block that swatch to see what it will really look like. Most yarns change when they get wet and the only way to tell how your yarn will behave wet is to try it!

4. Substitute yarns based on the fiber content and gauge of the suggested yarn, not the pattern. We're seeing a lot of newer patterns knit at a very loose gauge (for example, a fingering weight yarn like Madelinetosh Light knit at a DK or sport-weight gauge) - if you substitute based on the pattern gauge, you won't get the same drape and "look". Ravelry's yarn database is a great tool to lookup the suggested yarn.

5. If you buy yarn before you're ready to knit the project, put a copy of the pattern into the bag or enter the project into Ravelry. It only seems like you couldn't possibly forget what you intended to  knit with that yarn!

6. If you're knitting from a pattern that was published in a book or a magazine or a stand-alone leaflet, be sure to check for errata before you start. You can google the pattern name and "errata" or you can look up the pattern on Ravelry. Typically, patterns that you purchase through Ravelry (that are delivered as pdf downloads to print) are corrected as the designer discovers issues and errata isn't a problem.

7. Make notes. I start each project with a fresh copy of the pattern (it is ok to copy a pattern for personal use) so I can write all over it. I make notes about row counts (for example, that I worked 12 rows of ribbing on the first sleeve so I can make the second sleeve match it), about where I am - this is especially important if I set the project aside for even a few days, and about modifications I make. When I finish the project, I file these notes for future reference.

8. When you make a copy of the pattern, be sure you get it all - top, bottom, left, right.

9. Read the pattern all the way through before you start. Keep reading as you go. Most of my ripping comes from not following the pattern because I didn't read it!

10. Finishing is a very important step to having a project that looks great. It's often overlooked because hey, the knitting is done. But really, weaving in ends, seaming, sewing on buttons, and blocking are key to fit and wearability. (and if you can't bear to do this step, we have a wonderful finisher, Betty Bahl - just ask the shop staff and we'll get you in touch with her).

11. If you don't like the project while you're knitting it, you probably won't like it any better once it's done. Cut your losses. Rip and move on. (really, it's ok).

12. Know your limits. Are you knitting a complicated lace pattern? maybe you shouldn't work on that while you're chatting with your friends or after a long hard day of work. This is one of the reasons I have multiple projects going at one time. There is always something social, something portable, something challenging (and something that goes with wine!).

What lessons have you learned this year? We'd love to hear!

the "real" yellow table... in action during my most recent class

Another New Addition.

This week, we're highlighting the newest addition to our Malabrigo wall, Rastita (say it out loud - it's fun! or maybe I've just had one too many cups of coffee already?!).

Think of it as the sassy younger sister of Rasta*. Same fabulous colors, same slightly felted single ply 100% merino wool construction, but a sport to dk-weight. The yarn suggests 20-22 stitches over four inches on a size 6-7 needle. And it comes in a generous 310 yard skein. That single ply knits up super soft and squishy and warm...and calls out for a hat or a cowl.

By now you can probably guess I'm going to suggest the Honey Cowl . Really, it's the best one I know to show off beautifully variegated colorways. Cast on 220 stitches on a size 6 needle for a cowl about 40"+ inches around and 7-8" wide... perfect for wrapping twice and keeping someone's neck toasty warm.

Or cast on half that many stitches and make a hat with the leftover yarn. The Madhu Hat is a free pattern on Ravelry specifically designed for Rastita; and it features that same honeycomb slipped stitch pattern as the Honey Cowl. A single skein would make a great matching set!

With the tone on tone colorways, we love the Wurm Hat , another free pattern on Ravelry. This one features alternating "stripes" of stockinette and reverse stockinette that is perfect for soft squishy yarns. Check out the finished projects from two of our favorite designers, Olga Jazzy and Assemblage (Kirsten Johnstone) to see what we mean.

If you're not tempted yet, how about one last photo!

*if you're not sure you've got time to tackle a 200-300 yard project right now, there is plenty of Rasta on that wall. I spotted at least a half dozen Rasta cowls on the needles Wednesday afternoon. This cowl takes just one 90-yard skein. Cast on 59-ish stitches (you need an odd number) on a size 15 or size 17 24" circular needle. Give the stitches a full twist before you join and work k1, p1 until you've got a few yards of yarn left. Bind off. Enjoy!

fino.

Happy Friday!! and guess what?!

We have pretty new yarn...just in time for Sunday's Open House!! It's fino, the fingering weight version of manos del uruguay's ever-so-popular silk blend yarn; a 70% merino/50% silk single and the put-up is a very generous 450 meters (about 490 yards) per 100 g skein (please note that this is like a double skein of the yarn described on Ravelry).

colorway 410

Of course the colors are beautiful. And with that much yardage per skein, I'd be tempted to grab just one and cast on a Honey Cowl (220 stitches on a size 8 needle for a finished cowl approximately 7-8" wide and 60" around).

colorway 407

Or maybe another Summer Flies?  (and I'd follow the modifications so nicely described by raveler thetanull to use up every last yard of the yarn).

colorway 404

Then again, maybe I'm feeling lucky about my chances for a nice discount on Sunday so I decide to grab two skeins... I could knit Veera Valimaki's (remember all the fun we had knitting Color Affection this past summer?) Line Break .  Or another Panoramic Stole .

colorway 409

Or maybe I'm just itching to knit a sweater. (which, if you know me, isn't really all that hard to imagine!) Any of the patterns that suggest Madelinetosh's Tosh Merino Light would work. My current favorite is Joji Locatelli's Boxy . But Hannah Fettig's Featherweight is a classic (and a lot less knitting).

colorway 403

Honestly, even if I didn't have plans to knit this right away, I'd still be tempted... how about you? What's tempting you for the Open House?