Kate knitting at 3,000ft

Knitting news from p2tog.com for January 2013

Happy New Year and Welcome to the first PurlTwo Together and thank you so much to thosewho have taken the plunge and subscribedalready. I hope it will live up to the promise!

If you already read PTT's spinning sister, HandSpinning News, then you'll recognise the formatbut I expect it'll take on a life of its own as timegoes on.

So without more ado, read on for this month'sselection of knitting news, notions and nonsense.

Contents

News and articles from around the webFrom the BlogosphereTips and techniquesDIY corner - ideas for you or the handy person in your lifeFree patterns - a selection of free knit and crochet patterns that I'vebookmarked this month.Problem page - can you help or comment on a problem of the month?Events - some 2013 dates for your diary

News and articles from around the web

Five tips for better knit-to-felt projects

Have you knit to felt? If not, it's simple; knit it big andthen put it in the washer.

In this post, Kathleen from Knitting Daily passes on sometips for making those project even more special.

http://nls.interweave.com/track?t=v&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXN...

K is for Knitting

This amazing sculpture featuring knitting and needles in abasket was made by artist Lusi Klimenko entirely frompaper and glue.

http://www.lusiklimenko.com/Paper-Sculpture

Online shop Search Delivery and policies Needle conversion chart About Blog News

Not for the faint-hearted

This series of nine very creative but greusome monstermasks was knitted by Tracy Widdess of Brutal Knitting.

(It was surprising to find a knitting story on one of myfavourite non-knitting websites, many thanks to GW andGeekologie)

http://www.obviouswinner.com/obvwin/2012/12/27/brutally-knitted-creature-winter-helmets-masks.html

Pudify's Large Squid

While we're on extraordinary knitted creatures, this giantsquid was made by pudify and shared on Knitting Projectof the Day by Lynette.

Lynette asks "How could you NOT want to knit a giantcephalopod?"

If you agree with her, then there's a link to a round-up of squid and octopusknitting patterns.

http://kpotd.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/pudifys-large-squid.html

Knit Pro chart maker

Not the needle manufacturer in this case; this Knit Pro is afree web application that translates digital images intoknit, crochet, needlepoint and cross-stitch patterns. Simplyupload jpeg, gif or png images and knitPro will generate agraph.

http://www.microrevolt.org/knitPro/

From the blogosphere

12 Shawls in 2012

There have been many posts recently looking back at2012 projects and planning 2013.

This is one of my favourite; rebecca from Chemknits hasfinished '12 shawls in 2012'

It's a nice varied selection, she's made a lovely montage and gives us details.

http://www.chemknits.com/2013/01/12-shawls-in-2012.html

knitting at 3000 feet

I love outdoor and public knitting, and have a collectionof photos here (feel free to join the group and add yourown).

Thanks to Kate Davies for this amazing photo. On WorldWide Knit in Public day (9 June 2012) she decided to knit

atop Ben Lomond.

She found it "strangely exhilarating" and is hatching a plan to try knitting on all284 Munros (hills over 3000ft).

http://katedaviesdesigns.com/2007/06/10/knitting-in-public-day/

Araignee's Knitting Year in Review

I hinted earlier that I like photo montages - they are greatfor showing off the stages of a project, and especiallygood for reviewing a year's projects.

This is one of my favourites, showing Araignee's KnittingYear, no less than 20 projects including shawls and

sweaters. It makes a slow knitter such as me wonder where she finds the time!

http://araigneestangledweb.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/knitting-year-in-review.html

Knitting in the dark

Here's a warning for us all.

It may not be obvious from this little image, but clickthrough to the larger version and you'll see the horrifyingtruth. GlennaC had been knitting in a darker room and it itwas only later that she saw the 'dye lot' line running across

both sleeves of this sweater.

On a lighter note, but also on the subject of knitting in the dark, I like hercomment that she discovered The Hobbit to be long enough to knit the entirefoot of a sock!

http://crazyknittinglady.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/pause-button/

Oscar The Grouch Socks

I do enjoy following the Men Who Knit blog, it's reallygood to see that knitting's not just for the girls.

In this post, KenInMaine shows off his Hidden TreasureSocks which he's nicknamed Oscar the Grouch socksbecause of the colour!

They're particularly interesting because of the Sweet Tomato Heel (follow hislink to find out more about that) which he enjoyed knitting, and that each sockhas a little pocket.

Ken says "All in all I had a lot of fun making these and I must say that the fit isexcellent!"

http://www.menwhoknit.com/community/?q=node/13112

It takes balls to knit!

Again on the subject of men with pointy sticks, It TakesBalls to Knit is designer Steve Malcolm's blog. If thathasn't grabbed your attention, then this might; one of hisideas is a calendar featuring male models wearing hisknitwear and not much else. If that's not enough, it alsoincludes 11 scarf patterns. Proceeds to prostate and breast

cancer charities.

Unfortunately the slideshow only contains one image from the calendar (whichseems to be Steve himself - I can't be sure despite examining it very thoroughly -all in the name of bringing this news to you...).

The calendar is available at his blog here, and a slideshow of images includingseveral pictures of his products are at the link below.

(And if you're reading, Steve then you'll find my details elsewhere on this page ;-) )

http://www.examiner.com/article/it-takes-balls-to-knit-entrepreneur-steve-malcolm-proves-it

Tips and techniques

Portuguese Knitting

Portugese style involves less movement of the hands.knitmd says that she tried it when she broke her wrist. Ithelped with that, but she also says that her tension is moreconsistent.

In this video Andrea Wong adds that the Portugese-stylepurl stitch is easier than the more regular purl stitch. So easy, in fact, that sheknits her garter stitch all in purl, and when knitting in the round she knits inside-out and all purl.

http://asheepinwoolsclothing.typepad.com/a_sheep_in_wools_clothing/2012/11/portuguese-knitting.html

How to Incorporate a Stitch Pattern into aProject

There are many stitch bibles or stitch dictionaries givingsome wonderful stitch patterns, but how to work these intoan existing pattern or your own design?

Here Lion Brand give tips for doing just that.

http://blog.lionbrand.com/2012/12/27/how-to-incorporate-a-stitch-pattern-into-a-project/

Knitting with beads

Part of a series of four posts about placing a bead in yourknitting, this method uses a very small crochet hook.

Jane Crowfoot does admit that the method is a little bitfiddly, but unlike the other three methods in her series,you don't need to thread the beads onto the yarn before

you knit.

The link takes you through to the crochet hook method, but if you explore TheKnitter blog you should find the other three.

http://theknitter.themakingspot.com/blog/knitting-with-beads5

3 Tips for Yarn Substitution

I'm not sure that I've ever used the exact yarn suggestedby a pattern. And I don't often finish a pattern withoutchanging it somehow. It makes the outcome a little bit of alottery, but a more pleasant surprise when something turnsout well!

Here on Lion Brand's site, Jess says that substituting a different yarn is one wayto make your finished item unique.

She gives three solid tips for making sure that you'll be happy with the result.

http://blog.lionbrand.com/2012/04/03/3-tips-for-yarn-substitution/

Tiny knitting ornament

And now for something completely different.

Can you guess what this tiny piece is made of (the 'needle'is a cocktail stick)?

It's polymer clay, and I bet you're now thinking 'how onearth...?'

Click through for the tutorial. There's a clever twist....

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=367662.0

DIY corner

Instructable - bamboo yarn bowl

Thank you to makezine for sharing this great Instructable.

If you have a light wooden bowl (or a certain Swedishflat-pack furniture warehouse nearby) and a Dremel, thenthis instructable shows you or the handy person in yourlife how to make the bowl into a far more useful

accessory!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bamboo-Yarn-Bowl/

Patterns

A selection of free knit and crochet patterns that I've bookmarked this month

Chic Easy Shrug

This shrug looks beautiful and is much easier to knit thanyou'd think.

It uses a long circular needle and worsted / aran yarn.

The pattern requires a free sign-up for fine craft guild'snewsletter.

http://www.finecraftguild.com/chic-easy-shrug-free-knitting-pattern/

Vintage crochet pattern: Tomboy Cap

I've knitted a hat similar to this, I think it was called'Newsboy Hat'. The style is very cute and I like this oneeven more. Being a vintage pattern makes it even morespecial.

It should work with a worsted weight yarn. I've queuedthe pattern and think I have just the yarn for it!

katknit at Dances with Wools gives us a scan of the original 1960's pattern, and atranscription kindly made by knotrune.

https://danceswithwool.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/tomboy-hat-free-vintage-crochet-pattern/

Van Ness Scarf

Even if you're not visiting San Francisco, this looks like auseful accessory to keep nearby at any time of the year.

Kathryn Nunes says that her Van Ness Scarf is "perfectfor the "the City's" notorious microclimates - whetheryou're shopping in Union Square, playing tourist at

Fisherman's Wharf, or catching a Giants game in SoMa keep this scarf in yourbag and you won't be cold when the fog rolls in on a summer evening"

http://crochetuncut.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=106

Buttercup by Heidi Kirrmaier

Since finishing my first Opulent Raglan I've been lookingfor another close-fitting scoop-necked short-sleeve longjumper, with lace this time rather than cables.

I've bought a pattern and started Dixie Lace Sweater,which I will continue, but as a free alternative (which I

have queued as well!) how about Buttercup? It fits the bill and has a lovelyneckline.

thanks to picperfic for the suggestion.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/buttercup-6

Crofter's Cowl by Gudrun Johnston

Another one I've started myself. I love the lace patternworked in a thicker yarn which certainly looks comfy.

Designer Gudrun Johnston says "Easy stuff!"

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crofters-cowl

Problem page

I've had a question this month which I've answered(question and answer below). But can you add anything(or maybe have a better answer)? I'll publish an updatenext month along with another question.

Q: Please could you tell me what the abbreviations ytband ytf mean on a knitting pattern?

A: This is an interesting one. My first thought was 'yarn to back' and 'yarn tofront', simply letting you know where the yarn needs to be in order to make thenext stitch. (I've also seen wyb and wyf for 'with yarn at the back' and 'with yarnat the front')

But I've done a little reading, and it seems that some older patterns used to usethese terms instead of yarn over or yarn forward, to create a stitch (and a hole) inlace knitting. For example, if your yarn is at the front and the next stitch is apurl, you can't do ytb without creating a new stitch and this is what your patternmaker may have had in mind.

You should be able to tell which of these is correct for you by whether you endup with the right number of stitches in your row.

Email me if you'd like to comment

Events 2013

Wonderwool Wales

27 & 28 April 2013, Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells

Promoting wool and natural fibre production and its use.

Exhibitors and trade stands covering all aspects of felting, knitting, weaving,spinning, crochet and textile art with raw materials, equipment, books andfinished products for sale. Competitions and a range of hands-on workshops.

A list of accommodation and camping in the surrounding area is available on theWonderwool website.

www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk

Woolfest

Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June, Cockermouth, Cumbria

A celebration of the best wool and wool crafts.

From fleecy animals and rare breeds, through fleece, tops, craft equipment andmaterials, to finished clothing, accessories and unique hand-crafted woollengoods.

Also workshops and masterclasses.

www.woolfest.co.uk

Fibre East

20 and 21 July 2013, Thurleigh, Bedfordshire

The third Fibre East, we'll be hoping for drier weather thisyear! Those in the Eastern, Midlands and SouthernRegions an opportunity to join in an event which aims toencourage and promote British wool and natural fibres.

http://www.fibre-east.co.uk/

And finally

If you like this newsletter and you're also interested in spinning your own yarn,you will enjoy hand-spinning-news.com.

I'll be compiling and sending out Purl Two Together every month. If you'd liketo jump on board and sign up for the free monthly email, then please use theform below.

Shiela Dixon - Editor / curator

shiela@p2tog.com

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