Books

I’m impulsive. I started my new Oorik for the KAL with ribbing from a WIP that had languished. Just the right number of stitches, a gorgeous Moss Heath green from Uradale Yarn, a 100% organic Shetland wool. Since I only have a few colors, the challenge is to make them work in a pleasing manner.

I didn’t think I’d be able to just swap color for color to good effect. In the original there isn’t as much of a difference between darks and lights as my new group of colors. Three of my new colors are in the middle-dark range, with a big leap to the white. In the black and white image the red appears super dark, but we know by our eyes that it won’t just read as a neutral dark, it will pack a punch if knit in any great amount, just a single row of pattern stitches in the first border pattern illustrates this.

That first border pattern is what I love. It’s exactly what I was looking for. The little bursts of red in the center cheer me to no end. I like the zigzag peerie pattern with green as the background too.

What comes next? I didn’t want to think. I was LAZY. My only thought…I need an instagram post! STUPID. Well actually the knitting was fun. Mindless zipping away…I knew the second border pattern wouldn’t work, but I thought maybe I’d surprise myself. Um…no.

I think the red “cuts” the pattern, creating a red line, in large part because there are so many pattern stitches in that round. I also believe the lacy curves of the pattern don’t show up because they are only one stitch and they get lost. See the difference two stitches of the same color side by side makes in the first border pattern?

I also really dislike the wide white stripes between the border patterns and the peerie pattern, they become an annoying “feature” that does not occur in the original colorway.

So what have I learned? What do I teach my students? SWATCH FOR COLOR. You can wear your swatch as a wristlet! I could keep this swatch as a hat. It does not offend me that much…we’ll see…I’ve got the urge to rip. Ripping back can be cathartic.

I will indeed swatch on 48 stitches and go from there. Stay tuned!

Links

Oorik Pattern

From the book A Year of Techniques

Join the Oorik KAL

Steeking Tutorial on Mason Dixon Knitting

2017 is shaping up to be one of collaboration. I designed the heart motif on the sleeve of Alexa Ludeman’s colorwork pullover, one design featured in Heart on My Sleeve a new book by Tin Can Knits. 

The book includes designs by Tin Can Knits, Shannon Cook, Romi Hill, Bristol Ivy, Tanis Lavallee, Joji Locatelli, Jane Richmond, and Ysolda Teague. All proceeds of the book (after Ravelry and Paypal fees) go to Against Malaria Foundation.  So open your hearts and get a copy!

Visit Tin Can Knits Website for more information.

I contributed a design to A Year of Techniques by Arnall-Culliford Knitwear, my trusty tech-editors (and gifted designers in their own rights). The book offers 12 patterns, each accompanied by clear step-by-step tutorials and online videos, all designed to upgrade your knitting skills.

I can’t wait for you to see my project, I’m super proud of it, but remains a secret for now.

Besides me Jen and Jim (seen above), the nine other designers are, Bristol Ivy, Ella Austin, Ella Gordon, Martina Behm, Rachel Coopey, Romi Hill, Sarah Hatton, Tin Can Knits and Woolly Wormhead. Plus a foreword by Ann Shayne and Kay Gardiner of Mason-Dixon Knitting. Great fun, great learning opportunity!

Right now when you order you receive a welcome kit. Then, beginning in March through to August, on the first of the month you’ll get a new pattern plus it’s accompanying tutorial. In September, the entire print book, including the remaining 6 patterns and relevant tutorials, will be released to you.

Check out Arnall-Culliford Knitwear’s blog and website for all the deets.

I feel so lucky I was able to teach at Squam again this year. It was every wonderful thing that had I remembered and looked forward to. Relaxing and stimulating at the same time. It’s a time to hang out with colleagues I often get to see only in passing at other events. There’s a buzzing energy from many many makers. I made new friends – teachers, vendors and students alike! Squam is really what you make it, what you want it to be and what you need it to be at the moment. During the opening ceremony Elizabeth, the vital force behind Squam, encouraged us to honor our “yes” – do what we really want to do, and if that means lounging on the dock all day and skipping class fine, no worries.

Squam takes place at Deephaven Rockywood Camps on beautiful pristine Squam Lake in New Hampshire. Tempting as the dock is, and we had PERFECT weather, I love to teach and was eager to get to class each day. You can see the beautiful work my students produced.

I tailored the class so participants could assemble a “Squam Edition” mitt, with motifs of flora and fauna found around the idyllic setting, but charmingly everyone wanted to make the tried and true “class mitt”. I love that!

The cabin I shared with other fiber friends was rustic and wonderful. I come from a long line of “rusticators” who believe when you go away from the city you should stay in a shack with no electricity. We did have electricity and running water hot and cold, but the cabin was old New England Camp style. There were cut out silhouettes of fish that had been caught over the years with length, weight, bait used and the date. 1933 was the earliest I spotted.
At night we had a fire, roasted marshmallows and made smores!

Even cloudy mornings were lovely!
It was wonderful being in the woods again. I felt well enough to hike Rattlesnake Mt. with Gudrun Johnston …though not at my regular speed and I needed a nap afterward!

I worked on a “secret not so secret” Plöulopi sweater and a new pair of my Maritime Mitts for the KAL going on now.

First Prize revealed today!!!!
Congratulations Sue (aka breadwoman on Ravelry) ! You posted the first Finished Object! You get to choose any one of my pattern’s offered for sale in my Ravelry shop.

Join the Maritime Knit KAL! June 1- August 1.
Going forward every Wednesday through July 27 we’ll draw one lucky winner from those of you who sign up. Winners will get their choice of a pattern from my Ravelry shop for free.

A grand prize – my book Fair Isle Style – will be awarded by random drawing from the FO posted by August 1st, the final day of the KAL.
Sign-ups are ongoing, to sign up and find out all the deets go to the Maritime Mitts KAL: Info Only thread in my Ravelry group.

I’ll have some silly surprise prizes too so stay in touch!