Dec 072011
 
Crimp it up - WIP Wednesday

Well, not exactly a WIP in terms of the knitting, but then that’s the easy part. These need to be sized and then organized for test knitting, which takes more focus. I’m still loving that tuck stitch, and it’s been turning up in other places too, so it feels like the zeitgeist is right. And with winter setting in, some textural ribbing and ruckling will bring a bit of warmth with interest. Also, maybe it’s the season, but I cant get enough of rich, dark red lately; not my usual type of thing at all, but so engaging. It looks purpley here, but that’s my lighting, trying to get a good shot of the variegation. Malabrigo Rios in Cumparsita, by the way.

Ravenclaw Socks

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Oct 192011
 
Ravenclaw Socks

Knitting has been slightly stalled during The Visit From The InLaws, but fortunately I’m back on track for WIP Wednesday. As Harry Potter fans know, the game of Quidditch is essential wizard sport, as well as a chance to don House spirit regalia. And as knitting Harry Potter fans may know, the Ravelry Harry Potter Knitting & Crochet House Cup is a group of knitting, wizardly fans of all things HP. The House Cup, as we call it, is constantly evolving to provide more ways to knit stuff and be fanlike. This semester our lovely HeadMistress and tireless staff have introduced BROOMs as a new way to earn additional points for one’s house in the Cup; there are acronyms, secrecy and general role-play fun. And in my case, there are Ravenclaw Socks:   Maybe I can get the second one started at Stitches East this weekend.

GlitterBunny

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Oct 042011
 
GlitterBunny

My son’s third grade art teacher approached me to ask if I’d be interested in helping with a knitting unit later in the year. Of course I said yes; it’s great to see fiber arts being given some play in the elementary arts curriculum. Her idea is to take the kids to see shearing and spinning, learn about how yarn is made, then teach them basic knitting and have them each make something. I consulted with some knitterly, teacherly friends, who suggested making our own needles out of dowels with decorative fimo clay ends, and knitting a little animal.   I read several instructions, and my first prototype is the GlitterBunny, so named because she is knit from Wool-Ease Chunky shot with a glitter strand. It’s hard to avoid bling, sometimes. Anyway, this is probably the first time in I dont know when that I’ve knit a square on straight metal needles (my dowel needles desperately need sanding before I can let them touch yarn).     She needs some tweaking, and some eyes, but . . .

Ruckling On

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Oct 022011
 
Ruckling On

I admit that I tend to think in terms of collections, or variations on a theme. Maybe I’m even a little bit matchy-matchy. Once Ruckle was accepted for publication in Knitcircus, I immediately started to think about what else one might ruckle. Mitts? – check. The Ruckle Mitts are currently testing, and should be out soon. And this month I’ve decided to write up a ruckle cowl; what better way to use my favorite Malabrigo Merino Worsted than on a next-to-skin-friendly, textural cowl? The beginning looks promising.