Gauge Watchers for Dummies

Edie writes: "Handknit dk cotton and cotton glace are two of my favorite yarns, and I LOVE the colors you picked. do you have specific projects in mind, or do you instinctively know what to get and how much for future projects? at 40% off, i know I'd definately be adding to my stash."

And I certainly did last Sunday, Piggy that I am...

However, I've been wanting to make this little lacy top for a long time but have just been too Chicken! It wasn't until I saw Christine @S'n'B knitting a sweater with Cotton Glace that I knew I could do it too. (I'm going to use the Olive Glace - I bought it with this project in mind...) This is a fabulous cotton and the fabric it makes feels just luscious next to the skin. Made on #3 needles...

SuperGAAACK!!!

But check this out: in one short year I've slimmed down from the EverythingEverything ChubbClub on #9s to ALLofIt ThisSummer on #6s. That's one whole stitch per inch on hundreds of rows on the millions of sweaters I've made this season...

People, I'm as thin as a twig and maybe ready for those #1s and the Sock Yarn I bought. Somebody, talk me down...

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do WOmen have less RIbs than Men?

Not in the ChicKnits Household, it appears! I am making headway or should I say sleeveway on the cotton/linen Classic Elite Venture Pullover...

Not only am I obsessed with ribs, I seem to be obsessed with bell-bottom everythingEverthing.

I am making this sleeve up as I go (did start out with a pre-thought out design and count) but have adjusted according to length.

It will be 3/4 long with the flare starting right below the elbow...

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It's not a Glitch it's a Feature!

Such a geek saying for such an organic thing But I can't describe my happiness in any other way!

I was really bumming about this sweater (mainly because I wanted a sleevless one) but since the yarn was so unlikely to alchemize into what it was supposed to be, Sleeves were the order of the day.

AND it worked! I even made up a real scoop neck shaping for the first time. The lowest I'd gone before was 2".

This one is 4"!
Limbo Limbo...

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Monday Morning Mirth

I saw Jimmy Fallon, from SNL, doing stand-up a couple of weeks ago.He did an extended send-up of college life, the funniest bit to me was about

the Walk of Shame...

Perhaps this has happened to you. You go to a party on a Saturday night, end up drinking too much, find yourself walking home the morning after from a place where you don't live, WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES YOU WORE AT THE PARTY...

Except now it's around 9am and there is not a cloud in the sky and you might as well be painted blue. Possibly you are styling in some extreme Club Wear or at least Night Siders that looked great at 2am when you met that good lookin' guy/gal. Now you might as well be from Mars/Venus because as you walk you are a fine magnetic field to the stares and perhaps catcalls of your neighbors.

I live in the East Village neighborhood in Chicago. It is not too different from NY's East Village with it's what is hip trip people (not me - I'm a pretty early riser...)

I was stuck in traffic at one of our infamous 6-Way intersections around 9 Sunday morning and this poor young woman was walking home wearing what looked like a tricot strapless slip-dress with HIGH black boots. Her hair was in several little ponytails (GENUWINE Morning After Do) and she was in such a rush because of the attention she was getting.

Finally, She stopped, glared, then walked real slow all the way home...

I salute you my sister! How many of us have been there ourselves???

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It's Groovyliscious, Man

It's everywhere this Fall! Those loopy collars and cuffs! I actually think it's more fun than FUN FUR YARN itself because it will behave to the form and shape YOU want...

UHHMMMMmmm, how to do this crafty faux task? Look no further...

from the Mon Tricot Knitting Dictionary 1972

Loop Stitch

Row 1: wrong side of work. Knit.

Row 2: k1; *k1, but do not slip stitch off left needle; bring yarn to front between needles (NOT a YO), pass yarn over left thumb to make a loop (approx. 1.5"); bring yarn to back; and knit same stitch again, this time slipping stitch off left needle; bring yarn to front then back over needle to form a loop (YO); pass 2 sts just worked over this loop; k1*. Rep. from * to *.

Row 3: Knit.

Row 4: K2; the rep. from * to * of row 2. (you're making rows of alternating loops so they don't pile up on each other)

This is very easy once you get going and you can make cuffs, collars, button bands, hats, necklaces, scarves, removable collars that can travel to other clothing - get out there...

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Just a Slave to Fashion...

If I didn't need something to wear to Stitches Midwest this Saturday, this little demonic piece of string would be burning in ...

But, since I must also finish my summer knitting before becoming crazed with Fall Knitting, it is only fitting that this garment be blocked and sewn together and fufill it's destiny!

A most difficult but lovely project...

I already have a black Classic Elite Avignon Cotton/Silk one planned with a collar and front edged in black Berocco's Zap! American Idol indeedy...

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A girl can dream can't she...

Jaeger Handknits
JB14 Natural Fleece Brochure

My first ChicKnitsPick of the Season is this very becoming, fem, LOOPY, fitted cardigan from Jaeger.

I just ordered the book (and a couple of others) from Colourway where I usually get all of my British needs fufilled!!!

The service here is outstanding, good packaging, and very friendly! I was initially worrisome about ordering from the UK (or any where overseas), online (!) and getting something I didn't pick out myself.

But, everything I've gotten from this shoppe has been first rate! And it's just so easy...

I need some kind of device to put my wallet under house arrest

 

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The little lacy cardigan from
the August 16th entry is by
Rowan Knitting Magazine Number 19 Design Number 11 - PEACHES (!)

 

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Pheasant Run Resort
4051 East Main Street, St Charles, IL 60174
Phone: (630) 584-6300

Driving Directions

Take 290 West to I-88 West. Go west on I-88 to Route 59 North. Take Route 59 North to North Avenue (Route 64). Go west on North Avenue about 3 miles. The resort is ont the south side of the road.

Many people will be meeting at the doors to the Market at 11:30am. See you there!

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AprÏs Stitches



There's still time: Sunday Y 10:00 am è 4:00 pm
If I could walk, I'd give it another round!!!

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Monday Morning Mirth

This biggie yarn is the equivalent of about 4 Jello Shots!
It was hand-spun & dyed by Christine McKay from Tochay's Farm Fibers & Yarn Emporium located in Jonesville, Michigan!

All day yesterday it was like I had a huge hangover! Why you ask? Because I've attended one of the most amazing spectacles for a knitter possible - and have a big grin and crossed eyes to show for it...

Three of us left early Saturday morning (2 were going to workshops) and buzzed out west to the Pheasant Run Resort. Other folks were coming out around 10, so I grabbed some breakfast, knitted with a beautiful view of the golf course (ladies, you could bring your husbands and turn them loose!) AND then I noticed there was a Mario Triocci Salon there so I went and had them Do MY Make-up. Just for the H of it...

By the time my other partners got there, I'd scoped out the MarketPlace for a few minutes and could not believe my eyes! SO MUCH, almost 200 boothes, of incredible stuff from so many talented spinners, dyers, commercial companies, wool farms, designers. I'd say about 75% of the goods were things you couldn't buy in a store...

The excitement ramped upwards right off the bat when I got to interview Rick Mondragon, the editor of Knitter's Magazine, for an upcoming TV show. The entire time, he was knitting on a pink variegated vest front. He did not look down once (!) and was knitting at the speed of sound...

(to be continued...)

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Run Away from the Dark Side...

my picture does not do this justice!

Like many City Dwellers, I wear Black. Black slacks, dresses, jackets, coats, tshirts, shoes. That's it. Denim makes it's appearance frequently, but it's become so neutral, it is BLACK as well...

Last winter, the riders of the #66, who are the blackest of black hippest of hip, suddenly took to wearing red scarves. It was if the tropics had descended on Chicago - the effect was so uplifting hundreds of riders with SADD became almost chatty. Very unusual!

If it were not for my knitting passion, I would be just another member of Dull Nation. My sweaters have become a colorful focal point that levitates the wardrobe up where it belongs. (Also allowing me to still wear as much black as possible. One does not lose their pedigree easily, I sob...)

My fascination with handpainted yarns started last year with this cardie and this pullover, made from yarns I got from eBay so I was unable to see and touch the yarn (!!!youKNOW!!!) before buying but I'm a gambler and beat the odds.

Imagine my delight at Stitches Midwest to see things you can't find anywhere else in the land! I had the pleasure of meeting Traci Bunkers--the woman behind Bonkers Handmade Originals. I didn't know she'd been featured in a book called "Handpaint Country" or was considered one of the top 10 dyers in America.

Traci's Hat featured
in "Handpaint Country"
courtesy of XRX Inc.

I was just pulled to her booth as if stuck in a tracktor-beam. She had the best eye for color blending in this area I'd ever seen. Not only were there tons of hanks of yarn, but she had many knitted sweaters displayed. I really haven't grasped how you can use stitch pattern and design to accentuate the colorings of these jewels but they really don't have to be just plain Stockinette Stitch shapeless creatures.

I am going to attempt to make this with the wonderful yarn I bought:

courtesy of Karabella

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Been looking for the new Rebecca Magazine? I found this on the German side of their website and translated it:

"Longingly expects: Number 24 - reliably you wait already longingly for the new Rebecca, because we had designated 24 the 14.08.02 as erscheinungstermin for the number.

We must still stretch you a few weeks longer on the torture, until we can submit the new booklet to you. The Rebecca appears in the new Outfit to 11.09.02. The beautiful to it is that we extended the booklet substantially and you 80% more models to offer.

They have the complete overview of the autumn trends, those in a booklet to come and the classical authors, who remain.

Over because one should also see contentwise modifications, we changed the exterior of Rebecca also equal a little. Our layout became still more modern and for the first time a three photographer for us operated."

Still can't wait...

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Once is Not Enough

my picture does not do this justice!

I must say, I'm really kind of scared of the Big Wool trend! I thought it would last about a year and go quietly into the sale bins like all good fashion faux pas...

But it's BACK! And, I think, the designers are starting to grasp the possibilities...

At the Stitches Marketplace, I had to go back and visit Christine McKay from Tochay Farm Fibers one more time. There in her "Create a Rainbow" brand of hand-spuns was a batch of yarn that had been calling out to me for months. I'd seen her at the one other much smaller yarn show I'd been to earlier in the year and regretted not buying it then.

It is Bold. It is very Colorful. It is not for Everyone. The yarn is a combination of shades of olive - it reminded me of the Web Safe Palette Family of yellow-greens I love so well. What keeps it grounded is an injeciton of chesnut every once in awhile. But what I really love is what sends it into the stratosphere: the thick'n'thin bulky yarn is loosely wrapped with a very thin piece of boucle that is mainly clear true blue with a tiny shot of gold and olive every inch or so.

The result is breathtaking!

This is the intended garment - 10.5sts/15rows to 4" - #13 Needles..

courtesy of Jaeger Handknits

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Here are the binkiest babiest booties I've ever seen!

They were made by my friend Laura Adams to give a soon-to-be mommie...

The pattern is from Vogue Knitting: Vintage Knits...

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the Final Word

The Yarn Lady's 50% off High-End Delights...

If it hasn't been too obvious, I had a ball! From the minute I parked my car right next to Anne, both of us wearing the eyelet Rebecca sweater made from different yarns - to the fine new friends I made, Stitches Events are just an adult Knitter's Amusement Park.

It was a blast wandering around with my knitting buddies indulging our most extreme fantasies...

It was a blast watching hundreds of others do the same!

The only thing I regret is that I wasn't organized enough to sign up for some of the great workshops that are the Main Reasons Stitches attracts some of America's finest designers as teachers. Lucky beginners and some of the most advanced students you could find STILL want to push the envelope and here's an oppurtunity you can't find anywhere else.

I did get a schedule and decided that next year I might want to take these workshops:

• Measure, Modify, Knit
  
• Cast On Cornucopia
  
• Necklines Unbound
  
• Armhole Sucess

So maybe I'll see YOU same time next year. Squib and I will be roaming about...

 

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Here's a LINK for a partial list of the
vendors that were at Stitches Midwest.
Many of these have websites you can visit!

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Wrap it UP baby...

The summer's knitting draws
to a close with a bang!

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Have a wonderful Holiday!
I'm off to the Great North Woodlands once again...

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