Vogue - Knit Simple Holiday Issue

A hat and mittens set which I knitted in alpaca silk, then accidentally fulled in the washing machine, has come back to life. Well half of it has. Vogue Knitting ordered the hat for their holiday issue 2007 of Knit Simple and so the pattern is in there. It isn't modelled, but photographed flat, so I have put my own pic above just to show what it it is like when it is on. it is a very simple pattern because the cables are kept within a panel and the decreases take place afterwards on a plain stockng stitch section. This is the original in DB alpaca silk Rose




I did knit it with cables going right up to the crown and worked out decreases, then I realised I was overcomplicating the pattern, so kept it as it was on the original.

The tweed yarn that Vogue chose, showed off the cables but I preferred the feel of the alpaca silk yarn on my head (despite the fact that when it rained , I smelt like a barnyard!)

The hat is featured in the company of a dozen hats, all simple and quick knit. Buy the issue if you'd like the patterns.

Pirate Gal Hat

This hat was a bit of a nightmare to make with the Cotton Silk. There is no flexibility in this yarn and it can look really crinkly. This put me off knitting another version, and I decided to leave it as an XL chart with the briefest of notes. However, some people have acquired this 'pattern' and had some succss with it, so that is good!

I would only find out these things though because of Ravelry. I bet people who are not on the beta test site are sick of hearing about Ravelry, that is all people are talking about at the moment!

I do love Ravelry, but it is addicitive, espcially the way people link to you so quickly and you can check progress of those using your patterns. However, it takes up a lot of knitting time.

I'm not sure what the red Bee hat and Bootees is doing on a doll though!

Erssie is on Ravelry!
My username is: erssie

Everyone is raving about this database. I had been on the list for about 2 weeks, but got my invitation today. As soon as I started to try to load my personal projects, I was quite excited to find out that 'Erssie' was already

on there, in that other people had loaded up theie projects made to my patterns.


Beltane Flame
Here is my original design














And here are some other versions that people knitted up from my free pattern

.......and even a Beltane Ashes version, I like this one


And a round version on circulars




A Maiden's Glory
Here is my original

And here is someone else's version













Bee hat and Bootees
Here is my original











And here are other people's versions











It is quite an exciting database. Now I wish I had thought of that first, Stevie and I should have got together to do this years ago.

I suppose there is always room for a UK venture in the future. I like it to be worldwide, but the UK sometimes gets a bit dwarfed and we are a bit behind on being 'users' of this sort of facility. I still meet a lot of crafters who just don't see the need to be involved as they are too busy crafting.

So now, I have got yet another 'website' for which I need to do regular updating and data input! Never mind, at least Ravelry does link to this blog and to Flickr to save having to cross post.

Free Knitting Classes...Coming to a Sofa Near Me

Anyone wanna come??????

I have finally cleared up my 'knitting room' (corner of it above) and in this organising mood, I have an idea of starting a new venture.

For a while I have been giving the odd knitting class here and there, but have not been able to get a large group at one time in one place and have had a lot of other commitments and I don't like to give lessons without a great deal of preparation and something to give away. Because of my publishing commitments, I decided to stop booking students.

However, I do enjoy meeting people and seeing the first sparks of enthusiasm for something I love. I enjoy the chat and gossip. I strongly believe that knitting has therapeutic values and I like to share my knitting skills.

I have also been missing my knitting group AngelKnitsLondon
as it is on a Tues night, same as dog training night and even before the dogs, it is a bit of hit and miss journey to get there and the last few times I went there were two of us, or just one of us.

So, I have decided to make a move towards starting a club local to me, which would be more than a club as I would be willing to teach within it for FREE. I don;t want to tread on the toes of any professionals who need to teach for their bread and butter, but my group would be open to people with special needs of any kind and people on low incomes. The aim would be therapy but in an informal atmosphere and driven by members who choose what they want to learn at their own speed. These are the details, so spread the word.

Knitting For Therapy (group)

What is it?
It is a fee free knitting group session, to meet for discussions, learn new techniques and enjoy the therapeutic qualities of knitting or crochet.

Who is it for?
Anyone suffering from: Bi polar disorder, depression or other mental illnesses, chronic illnesses, fatigue, chronic pain, joint problems,
To include Deaf or Hard of Hearing people (I can sign BSL)
For people on a low income (including students)
Also for anyone who has problems with loneliness or confidence

What is it's aim?
For people to be able to drop in to knit and chat, and offload their problems in a caring atmosphere (I suffer from most of above 'labels'...yeah OK all of them at one time or other in my life) whilst at the same time, learn new techniques from beginners to intermediates levels taught by myself or other members. I will pass on tips for knitting as therapy and create an atmosphere where people can talk or just sit quietly with like minded people without fear of embarrassment. Members can choose a topic of their own they wish to learn and I will do my best to help them and share my resources.

What it is not
It is not a club that requires a membership fee nor does it have a requirement that members attend every session.
Although knitting is well known for its therapeutic effects this is not a medical course of treatment with a promise or guarantee of improvement in any symptoms or problems.
It is not a formal course of lessons, techniques are learnt as and when a member wishes to learn them.
It is not a place to stitch and bitch i.e. not a place where any form of bitching, bullying,belittling including offensive remarks with regards to people's knitting skills,projects, lifestyle or culture will be tolerated.
It is not funded by any charity or organisation, it will be provided for solely by Erssie, although she will do her best to encourage outsiders to donate free yarn or tools, or a venue.
It is not a place for the knitting industry to carry out marketing, although any donations or support from them would be welcome without prejudice

What is included:
I will provide needles (to borrow) and odd balls of yarns and leftovers.
Photocopies on request from my 100 or so textiles book for teaching purposes (that is allowed)
Help and advice on techniques and design
Some occasional handouts
Links to other clubs and activities
A chance to work on group projects and help others and feel useful again
A listening ear and a sympathetic shoulder
Some tea and coffee (members to bring their own biscuits/snacks)

Cost
All FREE of charge to members falling into any of the above categories, donations to charities or a tea,coffee and milk kitty welcome.
Bring biscuits,cakes,snacks

Venue
To start with, we can meet in my home, but if we end up spilling onto the streets due to vast numbers, I would look for a local venue.

When?
Not yet fixed a time, this will depend on demand, but preferably stick to once per month (or more frequently if there is demand) on a drop in basis (no pressure for people whose problems might get in the way of commitment)
During the day would be good, but not necessarily if enough members still work and fall into above categories

Where?
I live in Enfield,North London so to start with here in my own home.
Later, if numbers rise, I would find a venue within this area at a pub, coffee bar or other.

How to join
Email erssiemajor@yahoo.co.uk
and she will email an info sheet and short questionnaire (about preferred dates and times etc)
Once demand has been assessed, you will receive an invitation with a firm date
Places may be limited, depending on venue.

Happy Birthday To Me.................

Yes, it is my birthday, or was last week and above is one of my pressies, the Vogue Knitting book which contains the best of articles and features that have appeared in the magazines over the last 25yrs. So it contains gems by Meg Swanson, Elizabeth Zimmerman, Nicky Epstein and others. I love it. I do like the fact it contains some tables of standard sizes with measurements on that you don't normally find in dressmaking tables and are just perfect for sweater knitting.

It doesn't contain many glossy pics of designs, or any patterns as such, which actually is a welcome change. Just good old fashioned advice and tips and tricks.

I had hoped to make it to the V & A fashion couture exhibition for some vintage inspiration and a birthday treat, however, I just was not well. I had a few days in bed, and kept being sick and inhaling it...horrid! Probably reflux and need to go back on the drugs that make my food travel in the right direction.

I also got some much needed dpns for my birthday.




And I went to see the film Atonement. I greatly enjoyed the treatment of this novel by Ian McEwan. I had enjoyed the novel but it can leave you with a feeling of emptiness, there is such intensity at the beginning of the story and detail, and it all seems to be leading somewhere....and then? See it for yourself.

I have always enjoyed the writing of Ian McEwan, I remember back in the 1980's when I read his short stories his writing was generally thought shocking in the circles I was moving in. If you haven't read any of his books, try Enduring Love, which is a brilliant analysis of relationships with an absolutely thrilling opening involving a hot air balloon.

And Clara is born

Clara Kathleen Thorp was born last week, and I had already knitted the Ice Baby Beanie (pattern available with Hip Knits silk).




I also knitted this babyset, I know I rarely knit in pastels preferring to knit in brights or black for little babies whose parents just prefer more alternative clothes. However, Clara is such a traditional name and her parents love classical styles so I used Debbie Bliss baby Cashmerino in pink and Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino in off white, but knitted on 4mm dpns and 3.5mm dpns giving a very stretchy knit.

The colours are very antique and far better than the Barbie type of pink.
It is a very straightforward pattern, however, if any beginner knitters contact me and want the pattern, I am prepared to write one up for hat and socks and put it up as a free download.

I also made this which is a very very easy ribbed beanie in DB Cotton Angora. Once again, I would write up the pattern and donate if anyone was interested. I tend to think though, that most people can manage to knit a beanie without a pattern.

My Holiday Pics

I have finally got around to copying the photos from holiday. Here they are. I feel homesick for Cornwall already. Needless to say quality time with the pooches and relaxing knitting time were the best ever. Will I ever be able to move back home to my beloved West Country?

Above is the cottage we stayed in and our 2 relaxed hounds. See more of their holiday antics here

Also, we visited Bodmin jail,
and there was a rather ropy historical
installation of two women
in the stocks, one of who
knitted the hoursaway
(a true story)

We didn't get onto the beach much, with one of the hounds having an ulcer in his paw the sand was not such a good idea. There was a lot of lounging around on the bed reading. I read The Other Boleyn Girl Phillipa Gregory, and I am ashamed to say, I had avoided this book expecting a trashy historical romance and yet I was absolutely riveted and in awe of the detail, I didn't care how innacurate it might have been, I just got swept away with the story. I then went on to read The Sixth Wife Suzannah Dunn and enjoyed that too. Staying in an old blacksmith's cottage in the private valley made me come over all historical. My mother read a historical novel by someone called Victoria Holt, and I wondered if Phillipa Gregory was the same person with another nom de plume.


As I get older, and have fewer friends I can discuss books wth, I am finding myself less cynical about reading a good story without the need to learn something or save concepts for discussion. Oh dear! what next? Mills and Boon? What are your guilty pleasures (books I mean)?

There is a lot of socking going on...

I can't really show the whole thing or offer any kind of description or explanation, but here is a little bit of a tease, some bits and pieces of socky stuff going on. I am not idle, far from it!


I have spent such a long time on this project, mainly because of the self striping yarn which I wanted to work in a particular way and would only do so on a very specific no of stitches and needle sizes.

However, I am now on the sock proper and the swatches have paid off.

Short Row Heel, Short Row Heaven...At Last!

After knitting many mini heels, I have finally perfected my short row heel technique so that there are no spaces, no holes and no unsightly bits of twisted wrap on the right side of the work. So this my preferred method although no pics yet, the above is someone else's short row heel, not mine.

1. Knit to last stitch, yfwd, slip 1 p- wise, yb, slip stitch back on to LH needle and turn.

2. Instead of purling across, pull tight and slip 1 p-wise then purl to last stitch

3. yb, slip 1 p-wise yfwd, slip stitch back onto LH needle and turn,

4. Instead of knitting across, slip 1st st p-wise, then knit to last st unwrapped.

Continue like this until desired number of sts wrapped, i.e. unwrapped sts in centre are the correct width for the back of heel.

Then to lengthen rows again

1. Knit to first wrapped stitch. Use RH needle point, pick up wrap with tip on wrong side, and twist at back of work then K wrap and stitch together, turn

2. Sl 1 p-wise, purl across to first wrapped stitch and this time use tip of RH needle down to pick up wrap on front, still the wrong side of the work and twist and purl wrap and stitch together, turn

3. Sl 1 pwise then knit to next wrapped stitch....etc

Continue until all wrapped stitches are knitted again, but on the last knit row, pick up wrap and knit across to join back into round, then pick up the purl wrap as you come around again, this avoids any nasty little holes but you can put a couple of extra stitches to avoid a little hole or gap, then decrease these stitches away on next rounds if you wish.

Being consistent in how you pick up your wraps, and twisting them tightly makes sure no unsightly blobs occur and make sure you do this on the wrong side of the work, you will find a little line shows on the right side but no gaps. The gaps which I don't like on a non lacy sock, are avoided if each row knitting or purling back, the first stitch is pulled tight and slipped thus minimising the 'step that occurs between worked and unworked stitches.

Right, I am off to knit a full size heel (instead of my little dolly mini samples)............

Holiday Socks, Knitting in Stocks

And a Museum that Rocks!

I had a fantastic two week holiday in Cornwall in a relaxing Blacksmith's Cottage in a private valley, I could have lived there forever and forever. I wasn't idle though, I managed to knit some socks for my Sister in Law in a Lorna's Laces Sheperd Sock shade Devon. I used a variation on a mock cable rib and a standard Dutch type heel with a flap. I also knitted a pair of socks for myself in Lorna's Laces sportsweight shade Flames, and although you can't really see it here, it is knitted in a wide rib.



I don't often put up WIP as I prefer to show the finished blocked item, but here is an enormous sock for my partner. This is a standard ribbed sock in Artesano Hummingbird DK in shade Pheasant and is designed to be a close fitting high legged boot sock to be worn inside waterproof biker's boots. I did finish the first sock, but put this aside to work on some Tofutsie socks which has caused me some grief over the strange pooling that has occured. I am so happy knitting socks, I can understand why people keep going and specialise in these accessories.

As well as getting invloved in my own knitting, I also met a knitstrologist who writes the horoscopes for Knit 1 (Vogue) under the name of Pearl Wise (get it?) and I saw some cute little bags knitted by a local textiles artist.

I absolutely loved the knitted poppets I saw in the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle and read about the significance of knitting in casting spells. I am determined to knit some of my own poppets and supply a pattern to the Anticraft. We need a basic quick knit doll we can adapt for various uses. These uses being for binding and protection and not for malicious uses.

We also visited Bodmin Jail and were most amused to find an installation of a woman knitting in the stocks. she was sentenced to sit in the double stocks for a period of days, but passed the time pleasantly by knitting whilst her neighbour who had a bad leg screamed and cried the whole time. I will post some pics of the stocks when my holiday mate has finally got around to giving me the JPEGS (I stupidly forgot to take my own camera).


All in all I had a very relaxing and knitty kind of holiday. You would love the cottages hidden in a private valley with the sounds of Buzzards, Falcons and owls and the gentle watery sounds of a little stream whilst sitting in a private garden knitting like mad. I felt so happy there, I shed a tear or two when I came back to London and discovered chore after chore that needed doing, as well as the stress of my pro projects that need to get done.

Holidays!

Lily, Dizzy and Stevie and I are away. We will be staying here, near the sea. Plenty of knitting of socks and gloves will be going on, but NO blogging or emailing so see you all in 2nd week of September. If you read this first, then try not to email me until then, I am dreading the opening of the mail when I get back.

Vogue Knitting Fall/Anniversary Issue

I have just received the Fall issue of Vogue Knitting. It has loads of cover designs inside the one above, all knits are in greys and silver yarns to celebrate this magazine's 25th year. I was really excited as I flicked through. I do love this magazine and I know that when I am looking at it, I am not browsing for something to wear or something practical to knit, I am looking for innovation and inspiration and simple touches that make me green with envy I didn't do it first. And I am rarely disappointed. Even if something is not practical or a garment I would wear, I can admire the photography and think about what I would have done with a particular story.


This magazine does have class, even if it is criticised as being far too couture and not enough practical designs for real shapes. That is the idea though, that there should be a standard of knitting that rivals catwalk shows we see in other areas of the Fashion Industry and that these sorts of presentations should be wild and exaggerated and that the techniques or effects can be filtered down or watered down and act as inspiration for our own designs at street level.

We should celebrate as well, that somehow, a team of people who have worked their socks off have achieved looks that are far from lumpiness people associate with knitting. Quite often my non knitting acquaintances remark that they wouldn't want something hand knitted, that they don't like 'knitting', but are then totally surprised to find that they do indeed own knitting but wouldn't have defined it in that way.

I picked out some of my fave designs that have FREE patterns on the VK website and here they are. A 60's style shift dress, I love the simple A-line and the layout of Fair Isle lozenges. This sort of clothing is the sort I would have worn in the 80's being a follower of retro fashion of the 50's and 60's.

I also like this sweater dress. I can see this being worn over jeans, this is such a simple but striking design. Nothing too fussy or overcomplicated and proving that Vogue can be easy and does provide patterns for the beginner to intermediate knitters.

Who would have thought grey could be silver and yarns of this shade could be so interesting?

And lastly, a Debbie Bliss classic, I love the use of cables that decrease to make the flare on the lower bottom of the jacket, and the sideways cable seprating the yoke from the skirt of the jacket.

Vogue also welcome designs from new or young designers as well as the usual well known Debbie Bliss and Kaffe Fasset types. Vogue have a number of publications all looking for striking designs of all levels of intricacy. Their magazine Knit 1 is for urban and high street type fashion designs and their Magazine Knit Simple was laucnhed especially to encourage 'scarf knitters' to go onto the next stage. I have a hat, the most simple hat you could knit really with a bit of texture work, coming out in the Holiday issue of this magazine.

I can also say, that my dealings with the Vogue team, and the respect I was shown (along with the speed of the payment and contracts) was the best I have received from any magazine but now accepting anything less than that is difficult. I am having a hard time coping with magazine/book publishers who drag their feet about payment, don't provide proper contracts, don't provide copies of the publication, don't provide yarns in time and generally treat you as if you are the least important thing in their very busy lives (despite being manically busy yourself) and trying to remain calm. I design for fun, and perhaps when it ceases to be fun or I can see a long stretch of negotiating, emails and paperwork just to get what is standard, I am now avoiding getting involved in the first place and feel more comfortable turning the work down.

Not everyone is like that though, and people who have dealt with me and are reading this, the very fact your are taking time to read my blog probably indicates that you don't fall into one of these categories of bad publishers, so don't worry.

The Anticraft

Lughnasadh

How rude of me. How remiss not to have mentioned the latest issue of the Anticraft. What am I getting like! My only excuse is that burying my head in my own massive list of designs to be completed, I am missing what is out there and not realising how fast it all moves by, hence the tendency for things to come and go without comment. Apologies. I suppose one of the reasons I am getting behind on crafty news on this blog, is that I know that I haven't gone around giving many people this address hoping to use it as more of a personal diary to look back on in years to come. So, basically, I am assuming nobody reads the blog, and I don't invite comments if they do, so sometimes I drag my feet when making a note of what I have seen and surfed.

Well, I just love the Painted Lady cropped sweater with built in mitts. Beautiful. And I also love all the other designs on the Blue Alavarez Designs website, you can find the knitting patterns here.

I especially like this this orange sweater and this shrug. I do wish I had a figure to show it off though. Sadly, I rarely knit for myself as the lines and tailoring I would prefer to wear just don't look good on me and I look so lumpy. Maybe that is because I am with all that scar tissue and thrombophlebitis I have more dips, craters and mountains than the Moon.
















I feel a collection of patterns in plus sizes coming on! Yeah I know, bigger sizes means more yarn and extra time and obviously more expense. I must make it my goal though to make knits that truly glamourise the fuller figure. Did anyone see Cape Wrath recently? The character Jezebel was so beautiful and glamourous, I would aspire to have her style, just look at her, she would look fantastic in some 50's inspired knitwear wouldn't she?