Wyvernfriend Knits

Podcast update

2012-01-24T21:54:00.001Z

So this is what I'm currently listening to. My pattern is to download a podcast as I listen to the last one I loaded, IIRC I'm at a rotation of about 21 days at this stage. I'm always kinda behind which is why I'm willing to listen to older stuff. Anything with * are podcasts I really look forward to when they come up on rotation. The Links are mostly to whatever way my MP3 RSS feed works from my spreadsheet (why yes I'm a librarian), I accidentally posted this before finishing, I should get this done shortly

Knitting/Craft podcasts to be honest Knitting Podcast is the best list of current/podfaded knitting and crochet podcasts.
Current
AJ Knits
Bell of the Ball
Brass Needles * a sci-fi fan who knits, this would appear to be made for me
Caithness Craft Collective * a scottish woman podcasts with humour
Cast On * she's a US journalist living in Wales and while occasionally intermittent it's interesting
Cloudy with a chance of fiber *
Counting Sheep
Craft Lit - while this is current I'm ages behind because I'm listening to Pride and Prejudice...
CraftSanity
Doubleknit
Electric Sheep * the adventures of the sheep are simply hilarious and she's entertaining
Fiber Beat - a bit intermittent but can be very entertaining
fluffy fibers - a French sewer and knitter who podcasts in English, very good English
Geek Girl Crafts - geeky women crafters talk geekery and crafts.
iMake - a Guernsey crafter talks about a lot of crafts
Just one More Row
Knit Knit Cafe - a mother and son knitting podcast
Knit Naturally
Knit Obsession
Knit One, Crochet too
Knit Picks' Podcast
Knitajourney
Kniting Pipeline
Knitmoregirls - currently on a minor hiatus due to pregnancy
Must Stash Yo - very few episodes this Canadian podcast can be very funny
Ready Set Knit - a lot of this is advertising for stock at Webs but some interesting interviews and comments about what's current
She Knits small talk podcast
Subway Knits

Ceased
It's a purl man
Never Not Knitting
Stash and Burn
Sticks and String - Australian man who knits
The High Fiber Diet - Coggie and the Sarge can be hilarious
The Manic Purl
The Pagan Knitter
The Savvy Girls* - two sisters who talk and some hamsters who occasionally interrupt and sing
Treacle and Ink

Yarn Thing - some of her verbal tics can take some getting used to and assumes all listeners are regular listeners
YarnCraft - Lion Brand podcast so can be lion-brand biased

yarns from the plain

Ceased and I've run out of episodes
Arie Thornbird Knits
Avocado Knits
Emerald Stitch and Knit
Knit Misadventures
Knit Wit
KnitCast
Knitting History - well it's been a while since the last episode but I'm holding out for more!
Stitch It podcast

Knitters Uncensored - 2 Canadians and a Thai man knitting in Germany, when they meet alcohol is involved and a lot of giggling.
Pointy Sticks
Revenge of the Knits
Sidders Knits
Stitchstud
Sweaters for Dragons Podcast
The Knitting Librarian Podcast
Whiskers in a Twisted Stitch
Y Knit

Deleted for other reasons
KnitKnacks - the Knit Doctor changed format and I deleted it from the previous phone, I have no impulse to add it to the new one
KnitPurlGirl - has moved to video.
Knits Up - has moved to video
Stringchronicity - moved to video
Elegant Economy Designs - I just couldn't keep going with it when she insisted that babies had to be colour-coded.

Non-Knitting Podcasts

Current
A Way with words * - two word lovers talk about words and phrases
Adventures in SciFI Publishing - often has interviews with SF writers
Between the Earth and the Stars * - a thoughtful Pagan podcast
Celiac Disease & Gluten Free... - largely an ad but some info very useful and honestly I like the podcasters voice
Coverville * - music covers some amazing some terrible, largely interesting
Dear Bitches Smart authors the blogs Dear Authors and Smart Bitches Trashy Books join forces to talk about reading Romance, only recently started to listen so can't really judge.
Documentary on One * there are hundreds of them, RTE's Doccumentaries on Radio 1 (for authors, full of backgrounds on Ireland, Irish People and a variety of Irish accents)
Dragon Page - fantasy writing comments
Frenetic Friday - great for getting me up and moving. Music podcast.
Ghost in the Machine - Gail Martin, an author interviews other authors, fairly short
I should be writing Mur Lafferty talks about writing and getting up and doing, interesting
If you're just joining us - deep interviews, interesting podcast
Irish History Podcast - quite intermittent but good Irish History Podcast by an Irishman
Medieval Archives - interesting but oh good gods pronounciation....
Mystic Lit Paranormal Lounge - book group talking about mostly young adult paranormal books
Pagan FM weekly pagan radio show
Pagan Hooligans
Renaissance Festival Podcast - can be quite good but OMG the Irish pronunciation with some of the singers makes me twitchy. (yes this is one of the podcasts liable to have me ranting on Twitter)

RTE Best of Lyric FM - Lyric FM is RTE's classical music station
RTE Drivetime * - news snippets occasionally attract my attention and Olivia O'Leary and Joseph O'Connor comment occasionally on the news or whatever occurs to them.
RTE History Show * - History mostly Irish, a lot of academics talking entertainingly
RTE Mooney Show - variety of information, has a fair amount of science done light.
RTE Playback * - snippets of Irish news that entertained a commenter and made headlines.
RTE Sunday Miscellany - the radio show also has music and some poetry that isn't included in these short stories and tales of life
Savage Love - sex advice column
Scibernia - Irish Science podcast
SF Squeecast* - multiple SF/Fantasy Authors skype and talk and are very entertaining
Slice of SciFi * this often has me doubled up giggling, I love these guys, they talk about Scifi mostly media
Spilled Milk * - they cook, record themselves eating it and commenting and it isn't recommended if you want to diet.
Standing Stone and Garden Gate - some interesting commentary about paganism and pagan philososophy.
Tech Radio - technology quick commentary by an Irish Team of techno-savvy types
The Adventuring Party a bunch of Irish Gamers talk role-playing and board games
The Alternative Kitchen Garden * a short podcast about one woman and her kitchen garden
The Babylon Podcast * - you needed more proof of nerd-dom?

The FuMP comic songs refreshed regularly
The History of Rome
The Mitch Benn Podcast - comic songs
The Rosie View - two Irish women talk about Irish TV, mostly.

The Signal * - a Serenity/Firefly podcast
The Skiffy and Fanty Show
Wander Radio
Witches Brew HAHA - another pagan podcast

Finished/ceased
A history of the world in 100 Objects * - while finished this is an excellent series done by BBC Radio 4
DragonHearth - Tracy Hickman talks about writing and roleplaying
Medieval Podcast - old podcast a more academic look
View from the Quad - Irish Geek Podcast with a SF flair
tor.com geeks guide

Audiobook Podcasts
Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword - I finished listening to this and don't have the link at the moment, a dwarf from a fantasy world enters Al Capone era Chicago.
Guild of the Cowry Catchers - fantasy story with anthropomorphic animals, I got caught up in it.
Morevi: The chronicles
Nova Star Hunters
The Dreamer's Thread
The Gearheart
The Metamor City Podcast * Fantasy short stories and serial fiction
The Secret World Chronicles * Superhero serial fiction
Tor.com Tor.stories
Dark Matter Audiobook - a slow start but it's starting to get interesting
Calfkiller Old Time Radio - shows like The Shadow, The Saint and The Green Hornet from the past. Starring a lot of interesting people

Slow Knitting

2012-01-17T12:56:00.001Z

Recently there's been a plethora of whittering about the growth in handknitting and how it's a product of the recession.
Please stop writing this!
Seriously. Please look at the numbers here.
Apart from the pleasure and value for money aspect of the hours spent, in no way, shape, or form is knitting a garment cheaper than what you can buy in an average supermarket. It is cheaper than couture but that's not the cheap end of the market anyway.
Let's pose an example. I knit socks, usually in wool or a wool blend. I pay, on average, €10 per 100g of yarn, which will make a pair for myself or my husband, with some leftovers. If I push myself I can knit a plain set of socks in about 2 weeks, and this is hours of my life. Now go to a camping store. That €10-€15 pair of wool socks? Cheap in comparison. Those very cheap pair in Dunnes/Penney's/wherever? That's what people with no money wear.
And yes, I could knit for cheaper, and I occasionally do, there's enough yarn in my stash that I'm slowly knitting through. And I think that's the key.
Slow Knitting.
It's from the same root as slow food, a want to get back in touch with how things are made, a yearning to get involved. An understanding that the cheap clothes actually are produced in conditions we find appaling and that we want to think about it. I also think that there's an element of people for whom work is a largely virtual experience wanting to have something tangable at the end of the day. For whom sitting in front of another box at the end of the day isn't restful. Our sense of touch is largely relegated these days to keys on a keyboard but there is something about the feel of a yarn as it slides through our fingers... or as we rub it on our skin.
And you hear knitters and crocheters talking in those tactile and other sensory terms. People talk about the squish factor of a yarn, yarn fumes, fondling yarns and stash diving. They also use it to comfort themselves and others and feel both agreeved and annoyed that people dismiss their efforts as 'cheap gifts' not getting that often every stitch, particularly for children, contains well-wishes for that childl sometimes subconsciously, or rate them against others who sell below genuine costs. We rate crafters in this country against commercial sales, not against enjoyment or the creative effort.
And to those who dismiss crafts as useless in education I say feh! Well taught Clothing Crafts teach people about how their clothes come about, how there's actual effort involved, how to spot good quality from bad, how to size something properly to you and how not to accept imposed fashion, but to look to yourself and suit you. But all of this is often dismissed and not seen as useful.

Written from my phone with no spellchecking and just from the top of my head. It's been building though.

Colour Trends

2012-01-01T14:43:00.000Z

Every year a set of colour trends are published. Interweave links to it and on a knitting list someone linked to it, thinking that people would be interested. And they came in for a hailstorm of criticism and people talking about other people being sheepish.

And I wondered what they were thinking. I mean, I largely ignore the colours of the season. Criticising people for wanting to know or wanting to work with the colours of the season ignores the reality of the market. I usually look at what's available and try to see if it's a colour I like or a neutral that would compliment what I like. Then I buy a few items in colours I like, clothing gets rotated out of my wardrobe when they're too stained, aged, worn, torn etc. not because they aren't fashionable. There are a few which should probably be got rid of but I'm not bothered, stuff comes in and out of fashion. Occasionally what I wear coincides with fashion but I'm honestly not bothered.

That orange that's the colour of the year would be bad on me. The '70's Appliance' range only has one colour I'd touch with a bargepole, the almond colour, still it's marginal.

Now the 'Layered neutrals' do represent a chunk of my wardrobe, I'm now looking forward to more dark brown trousers, also that dark reddish brown (or that's what I see on my monitor) looks like it could have potential. The oatmeal and tans will be nice neutral tops.

The Pastels have two that might work as neutrals in my wardrobe, the blush pink and duck's egg blue, which I would expect to have some green undertones could be an interesting shade.

Lastly the graphic black and white, nope, not touching this, my skin tone doesn't work with black and white.

So I let the colours guide me when I'm shopping, I use it when I'm hunting for something, informing me about what's around, what I could hope to find to go with other things. If I fish in the stash for colours what I have a hope of getting contrasts for, yeah, many companies don't really change their colour palette but some follow these trends closely and that's what you can expect from some of these companies. Also some vendors also follow these trends and only really stock these colours, or colours that compliment this range. It's business and it's how things go.

So no, I don't let the year's colours dictate to me how or what I dress in that year but it does inform me of colours to watch for or to think about and also to consider when the sales come around.

WIP's of 2011

2011-12-31T13:07:00.000Z

So I have a number of projects that are languishing in the Work in Progress/ Unfinished Object Pile

UFO's that just need some finishing
The Pixie Socks - these only need a bit of crochet along the edging.
The Purple Biker - needs the zip putting in.
Purple Versatility - needs the buttons putting in
Sherwood needs Blocking.

WIP's Long-term
Purple Serenity is a knit for when I need something to keep me occupied, it's a banket worked in the round. To use up some of the purple acrylic lurking in my stash.
Springfield Memories - worked in motifs this is proving to be a on-and-off project, currently off
Victoria is a doll pattern, who was stalled when the book was left in the rain and I had to try it out properly, so my momentum was lost, this is a complex pattern with a lot of clothes.
Multicoloured Square, an experimental project done with some test yarn. Plan to make it into a cushion cover.
Using up some Plain yarn - using up the Art of Knitting leftovers doing the curve of Pursuit, I had more of this knit until I needed to finish the second Art of Knitting throw and discovered that I was missing yarn.
Sock Yarn Quilt- I have plans to change how this is made as I like modular where you connect the squares to minimise sewing up. I think I'll do an outer edge of the centre out squares and then do mitered squares for the rest.
Leaf or Stay - this has to come to Dublin with me some day, I keep forgetting to knit it when visiting the folks
Carmel Knotty - needs to have another project rotated in, this languishes in work

Nearly there, some more knitting required
Purple Leap - only one strap left to go but it's tedious repetitive work now.

Ripping needed/done, restarting taking time
Blue Inara - I swear, I was done with back and side one, then discovered I was missing almost 40 stitches for the first, ripped, want to restart, it will be pretty when done.
Brown Cardigan, I was getting there with this until I discovered that the armholes aren't designed for me. Sleeves need to be ripped and restarted. Yes, this is knit in an interesting modular way and I liked the fun of it.

I started a test knit yesterday, it's ploughing along.

The last project on my WIP pile is the Turquoise Drip Drop Cowl. As I only started it 2 days ago I don't think it really counts as a long-term WIP

There are a few projects that are officially snoozing and need finishing but the projects above are first.

Gentle Art of Knitting Review

2011-11-23T20:51:00.001Z

Book Depository Link: Ravelry Link

Impressions: Apparently her blog Yarnstorm (the posts about yarn/knitting) is quite popular, it now appears to be more about photography and food than knitting. Her philosophy of Gentle knitting is mostly mindless knitting, the kind of knitting that you can put your brain in idle for. And sometimes that's perfect knitting. It's the knitting you do when your brain is working overtime and needs to focus on what it's thinking of rather than knitting but the knitting helps keep you distracted. On the other hand, it's also an easy place to stay and not stretch your wings occasionally. She talks about unfinished objects sitting in black plastic bags in her attic that are wrong, this can happen and I've sometimes thought in despair about never knitting another garment but if you don't learn from your mistakes then they're wasted energy, learning is what's important.

This is a 102 book, or maybe a 201 book (101 being basic starter stuff); some of these patterns would be some challenge for a beginner but many of them are pretty basic. The bibliography, though is quite good. It's scattered throughout the book and often related to the text. Also note that measurments throughout are in cm.

Types of patterns: mostly accessories

Colour/Black & White: Colour photographs, colour charts, no charting for anything else.

Schematics: no

Target Audience: Intermediate to almost intermediate knitters

How to knit guide: No

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Fairly classical.

Comments on patterns:

Red Wine and port socks are socks with cables running down the leg and along the top of the foot, the heel is a plain knit heel. They're not bad socks. Knit in Madeline Tosh "Tosh Sock" on 2.75mm needles

Plaited Bread Cables - 3 pieces a Blanket knit in a chunky yarn with blanket stitch edging this is a nice piece and fairly fun. Knit in Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky with a contrast edging, with 15mm needles. A Rug knit in Cascade Magnum with a 15mm needle and lastly a cushion, knit in Cascade Magnum too with 12mm needles.

Big Woolly Jumper is a ragland shaped jumper knit in pieces with a reverse stocking stitch bottom edge and cuffs and a floppy neck. Knit in Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky and not worn in the book. I'm not sure about the Collar, I'd knit it in the round, actually I'd knit the whole thing in the round, possibly from the top down. Seams? Who needs them for this sort of thing. This has a lot of ease. A friend pointed out that in fact this isn't designed by her, it's designed by an unnamed friend.

Simple Squishy slouchy hats two hats, knit flat with seams, one with a single reverse stocking stitch detail the other with 10 rows each of stocking stich and reverse stocking stitch. Both in Blue Sky Alpacas Melange with 3.75mm needles.

Literary Hotties Inspired by vintage Penguin Paperbacks these are hot-water bottle covers. Knit in Aran (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran) with 6mm needles.

Buttercup and mustardseed fluted rib scarves The scarves are basically the same scarf but with a minor variation, using a small amount of contrast yarn to edge and then a double sided pattern one with 35 stitches and another with 43 stitches. Knit with 5mm or 6mm needles.

Simple, plain dishcloth - a garter stitch dishcloth started and finished with a contrast yarn. DK cotton yarn with 4mm needles.

Soft facecloths - 5mm needles and garter stitch with stripes make this up, originals knit in Blue Sky ALpacas Worsted Cotton in two colours.

Natural Linen Aprons:Striped Apron Checked Apron Using linen yarn for the striped apron (Euroflax Linen) with 3.25mm needles with a moss stitch border for stability, this is pretty nice. The Checked Apron is in Rowan Cotton Glace in 3.25mm with a broken checkered stripe. Could be adapted. I'd make sure it's in washable yarn.

Toothpaste and toothbrush washbag with Blusher and Mascara Bag. Small bags for holding whatever, knit in DK Cotton (Debbie Bliss Cotton DK) with 3.75mm needles in a variety of sizes, seamed along the side.

Floral Tea Cosy and Tea Cosy hat - The Tea cosy is knit in Aran-weight yarn, with 4.5mm needles. The hat is a Brioche Stitch hat that almost looks like a tea cosy but is knit with only one seam to be fully closed. I would be inclined to knit the hat in the round.

Five stripy Tea Cosies the traditional style of the three-d ribbed style with dark contrast, the smaller ones are done with just a garter stitch stripe.

Faberge Egg Cosies - decorated with beads, this is a ribbed cosy, and could be used for the Innocent Smoothies! DK or 4ply weight yarn with 3.25 or 4mm needles.

Green and blue finger gloves - the only real difference is the decoration. Knit with Cashmerino with 3mm and 3.25mm needles.

Wheel of colour cushion - using short rows to create wedges and with a contrast yarn between each wedge this is a DK yarn and knit with 3.25 and 3.75mm needles. You could use a variety of yarns to make it.

Covered clothes hangers - two diferent covers, one in garter stitch and another with a fancier pattern that would be nice with lingerie. Knit in DK yarn with 4mm needles.

Bunting pennants made and connected with a ric-rac ribbon. Dk yarn with 4mm needles.

Stripy socks Using self-striped yarn, back of heel knitted plain, top down, with tapered toe and three-needle bind-off. Knit in sock weight yarn with 2.5mm needles. To be honest this isn't really colourwork, this is using already coloured yarn in a plain pattern, nothing wrong with this, but nothing earthshaking and readily available online.

Sea Glass Chevron scarf (she has another Sea Glass Scarf on Ravelry that isn't this pattern) - knit a chevron pattern with DK yarn with 4 rows of a neutral yarn and 2 of a different colour, the original is in shades of blue for the stripes and cream background.

Planets cushion uses hand-painted yarn against a contrasting yarn to create splashes of colour, based on her earlier jelly-bean cushion pattern. This is knit in DK yarn with 4mm needles.

Crochet starburst flower square Crochet squares with a variety of colours, aran weight yarn and a 5mm hook, you could probably use left-overs and build it over time, provided you got a lot of the edge colour

School colours scarf and blanket, by knitting scarves, you would eventually knit enough of them to knit a blanket worth. Knit in Double Moss Stitch in Aran weight or DK weight with 4.5 or 4mm needles. Has a bobble edging.

Art deco crochet blanket - chevron patterned, aran weight with 4.5mm needles. You could make it with different widths but you could vary this depending on your yarn.

String of purls cushion using ususual pattern to create some unusual patterning without having any yarn carrying over. Buttoned in the back.

Life on the open wave scarves using an openwork pattern to create an interesting pattern. Drapy yarns suggested. Using a 4.5mm needle or 5mm needle depending on the yarn used, original yarns were Habu Lamb/Linen or Tilli Thomas Disco Lights.

Moss stitch scarf a moss stitch and stripes biased scarf. in Aran Weight yarn with 5mm needles or DK with 4mm

Chanel-Style Bag a moss stich aran (used double) or chunky yarn used together with Kidsilk Haze with 6.5mm needles and a moss sitch pattern. Small bag using plastic needles

Buy/Borrow: It's a particular aesthetic, and not a bad book for beginners or intermediate knitters, nothing is all that complicated but I have other books that have pretty much the same patterns, so it wouldn't be a useful addition to my library, your mileage may vary.

I've been talking about it with some friends, there are a few issues that I didn't really think about when I was reviewing it. Thinking back part of my "not for me" was her lifestyle assumptions. Needled's review struck a nerve and I have to say that yes, sometimes reading books like this make me break out in a feeling of being not quite female/womanly/domestic/content enough.

I suppose it's an attitude of mind that leads to this. I'm an advocate of sometimes allowing yourself to read/knit/cook where your brain is mostly in idle. But sometimes you also need to break yourself out of the comfort zone and try something that makes you twitch, swear and break complacency. You should be asking yourself why your knitted garments don't fit instead of allowing yourself to ignore it as a problem.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has copies.

I have updated this post, please see the bold and italicised text as updated text today 27th November 2011.

2011-11-12T21:08:00.001Z

Now I've read a lot of books about knitting, many of them are the 101 types. They often talk about essential equipment.

Here's my list of the essentials

Yarn: before you start knitting you will need at least a little bit of this. Why do I start here? Well what yarn you choose will depend on the needles you need for it. Fine yarn can be fiddly and you won't see much progress but a very thick yarn can be clumbsy and the needles feel big in your fingers. Most people in Ireland started on Aran weight or DK weight yarns. Don't start with black yarn. Experienced knitters swear at black yarn, don't weigh the odds against you. Find a yarn that you like the texture of and is cheap, but not the cheapest acrylic you can find, you will want to like doing this, texture can be important. However, try to use a smooth yarn for your first moment out. You will want to be able to see what the knitting looks like. Try not to fill your bag with yarn, trust me, you mightn't like knitting.

Next up you'll need needles. Look at the yarn, there should be a symbol with a grid on it with a pair of needles underneath, or needles and crochet hook, it will have various numbers on it, usually one has mm after and one will have US after it, that's the needle size. If the needlsize is a range, pick something in the middle of the range. If 4mm falls somewhere in your range pick that one. You can get kids 4mm needles in metal for very cheap, they're short like pencils, and they're a bit rough but I use them regularly for knitting facecloths.

Things that would be useful at this stage: tape measure, well a ruler will do too, the tape measure is useful when you move to making garments, so you can check your measurments, but when you're first out a ruler will do, and if you can get a short one, even better! They fit nicely in knitting bags.

A blunt-ended yarn needle is probably a good investment too, you'll need it to finish off a piece, even if it is a washcloth.

A reasonably good scissors - actually the kids craft scissors is really useful for a carry around, you won't get poke-through on your project bag. You will eventually need more scissors than you think. They're up there with tape measures for getting lost and forgotten.

Now you can knit: Washcloths, plain scarves and many other things.

Next up:
first I'd get: Pins (when you start doing gauge or pinning out stuff these are essential) knitters pins can make counting gauge easier but they're not essential.

A Cable needle (or 3, they often come in sets of 3) will be useful if you start doing cables, I've also used the blunt ended needle, paperclips and other things to do this job. There are folks who can do cables without needles, I can, I still prefer using the tool.

Needle Gauge. Oh yeah, the needles will say something, DON'T trust them. There are folks who use micrometers to fine tune their gauge, my tip? Once you get gauge, check what size you're using and if you break a needle or the sofa eats it double check that the needle you're replacing it with matches as closely as possible. Note the size down somewhere, ravelry, on the pattern, on a postit stuck to the pattern, somewhere!

If you're working with metal needles you now need to go out and buy some plastic and some wooden needles. Compare and contrast these, seriously, they do make a difference. I have some of all of the above. There are advantages and disadvantages to them all. If your lips start tingling that could be the finish, I have some older aluminium needles that I have no problem with and the knitpicks metal dpns make my lips tingle every time. Speaking of knitpicks they have a entry-level set of their inter-changables that feature a metal, wood (laminate) and plastic needle in different sizes, useful for this.

Circular needles and double pointed needles are essential when you start into knitting more stuff. Many folks with hand issues use circular needles for everything, back and forth. They're also used for knitting in the round. Socks, jumpers, gloves etc. And Medalion knitting.

Bobbins- only if you get into colourwork, and then they can be made from cereal boxes if you're stuck.

Ring Stitch Markers - can also be made from a knotted loop of contrast yarn, or a straw. They're useful, come in a lot of varieties and you'll probably collect a nice collection over time, which make pretty ornaments... You can also get some that are like little coilless safety pins. These are amazing little things - that dropped stitch, put it into this until you get to it to fix it; use it to count stitches when you're casting on; mark the front of a project; pretty much anywhere you need a mobile marker.

Stitch Stoppers. Essential if you have too many stitches on a needle or putting something away for a while, and when I say essential, I mean I have some I rarely use. I've pulled needles out of projects more often than I want to think about, I probably should use these, you can live without them.

Row Counter - there are several variants on this theme, this can also be replicated with a notepad or postits (postits can be useful for sticking to the right place in a pattern) and a pencil or pen.

Crochet Hook - well you might want to try crochet too and this can be essential for helping you pick up stitches. When picking up stitches it can be useful to use a hook a size (or two) smaller than the needle size you're working with.

This is a selection of my knitting gadgets. Many of which are complete garnish.

Garnish: Not necessary but can be so good.

Posh dressmaking scissors and or embroidery scissors. Yeah, these can be useful later. Steeking may happen, buttonholes may be needed, felt may need to be cut, good quality scissors will make this easier.

Safety snips - for travelling on airplanes, they're quite useful to put into your project bag so you don't forget and then lose a good scissors to the airport security. Some folks have suggested unwaxed dental floss holders. The cutter on it is useful and the unwaxed floss can be used for lifelines or provisional cast-ons.

Knitting Bag - I have one, I also use a tonne of cloth bags I got over time buying stuff in Ireland (we have a plastic bag tax and almost everywhere has these bags) and I have a cosmetics bag that is a perfect portable socks project bag (though failing these days)

A large white lint-free towel - for blocking purposes, and for drying woolens. To be carefully cleaned and kept for this. It won't transfer colour to elsewhere.

A sweater dryer/rack - I have one that goes on the bath, it's really useful for drying socks too!

Blocking boards - something you can pin your finished job to, I have some large padded floor tiles that I use. Many friends use children's play tiles, damp a white/pale cloth, pin it to the tiles when you get them and check that they won't run.

A folder for storing patterns, you'll probably start with only one.

You'll need an ironing board and iron. Sometimes things need to be pressed before moving on, a good ironing board can be used to block small items too, or even to block something in stages.

How to Knit book review

2011-11-12T20:40:00.001Z

Book Depository Link
Ravelry Link

Author:

other info:

Impressions: This books starts with fiber and works it's way up from there. Though I would wonder how anyone would really recognise different yarns from the pictures. While tweed, or worsted is a visible style, yarns do come in different weights for different uses. All pure merino isn't superfine for example, but I'm kinda nitpicking with that one. They then move onto equipment.

Now there may be some people who argue the point, but to start knitting you need a hank of yarn, a suitable set of needles, and scissors. Everything after that is garnish.

It goes into the basics, a few methods of casting on. Then it goes into some details about different techniques.

Sadly the first pattern you encounter is a baby blanket, with a lacey pattern. Now it is a pretty straightforward pattern, but as a beginners pattern book starting with an intermediate pattern isn't good and it's not until you pass a few patterns that you find an easy pattern. I think that patterns should be ordered in books like this in order of difficulty, and I'm not sure that there are really enough basic patterns that would make someone feel accomplished. The patterns are pretty simple but I'd get this book for the how-to, which is clear and well-explained. The patterns have a techniques list, possibly using a few postits would help a beginner here.

Types of patterns: babies, children, adult and accessories.

Number of Patterns: 20

Split of patterns: Blanket (1); booties (1)

Size Range: adult jumper to fit 38-46" (97cm-117cm)

Colour/Black & White:

Schematics: no, and no charts, there's a terse two pages on following charts with an emphasis on colourwork and no obvious mention

Target Audience: Beginners or people needing a refresher.

How to knit guide: most of the book

Experimental/Classical/Modern: pretty classical patterns

Comments on patterns:
The book starts with a section on Baby patterns.
First up is a baby blanket that's rated as intermediate, though there really isn't that much complications here, knit in colour strips, all you would have to do at the end is darn in the ends. The other advantage to this pattern is while gauge is useful to know what size it will be at the end it won't be the worst thing that happened. Downside for a beginner is that it's the same thing for several strips. The original yarn is a aran to bulky weight (all seasons cotton knit with 5mm needles)

Next up are baby slippers or booties, another rated as intermediate, but this would be a good way to try out the techniques. Original yarn is DK (Rowan Kid Classic with 4mm needles)

Snuggle Cardigan is next a one-piece cardigan, with some srtipes along the edges. There are suggestions for other colourways, another intermediate pattern, knit in a dk yarn (rown wool cotton with 4mm needles)

Baby's hat and mittens: a basic pattern, knit flat hat with a barely visible striping pattern on the rib of the first photograph, the pink and cream is more visible with the striping. The hat is seamed as are the gloves, however the gloves are made in two pieces each and then seamed. There are easier and better patterns made in the round. Knit in 4 ply yarn (Rowan 4-ply with 3.25mm needles)

Cute for kids

Rugged Hoodie - an interemediate striped cotton cover-up. Rugged doesn't come in white. I'd use the white as one of the stripes and use one of the darker yarns for the body, knit in DK (Rowan Handknit Cotton with 4mm needles)

Heart Sweater - a jumper in three shades with a heart intarsia and stripy sleeves. Rated as intermediate, knit in DK (Rowan Handknit Cotton with 4mm needles) a very chunky jumper, the photographs don't convince me it's a good make

Winter scarf and mittens are a great introduction to colourwork and mitten making. Rated as challenging. DK weight (Rowan Wool Cotton with 4mm needles)

Tassel Hat - rated as easy, knit a rectangle, sew it up, put tassels on the ends... not complicated. Knit in Sportweight (Jaeger Matchmaker Merino DK with 3.75mm needles)

Gorgeous for Grown-ups

Starting with a single cable pullover in a chunky wool yarn (Rowan Scottish Tweed Chunky on 8mm needles) with a contrast yarn colour on the cuffs. Rated as Intermediate.

They don't bother to put the Slouchy Sweater on anyone, which always rings a certain amount of alarm bells with me. I like books to have the patterns on people so I have an idea what they look like. It's knit in DK (Rowan Scottish Tweed DK with 4mm needles). It's a drop shoulder jumper, with a slightly high neck. Rated as intermediate)

Toasty Warm Gloves should be done in one colour as well as two colours, rated as challenging. Gloves are a bit challenging but they're not bad, they also mention fingerless gloves but don't bother to show a photograph, and they're single coloured. Knit in Dk (Rowan Cashsoft DK with 3.75mm needles)

The Headturning Hat and Scarf are seamed hat and plain scarf (no mention of scarf curling and the photographs don't bother lining up the garter ridges. For a beginner this would be a little fiddly, but not bad. Knit in Bulky (Roawn Little Big Wool with 9mm needles)

Super socks are a bundle of fail for me for a beginner book. Knit with DK weigh (Rowan Calmer and 3.75mm needles), cotton yarn is pretty unforgiving, with or without acrylic. The fact that there's a not saying that the heel turning is slightly different from the text is not enough really, this is lazy. Adding in the embroidery is a nice addition to the pretty plain socks but this is a starter book. Rated as Challenging.

Last chapter of knitted patterns are accessories.

Now the author started off badly here by talking about how "All women love bags", she presents a "fab felted bag" knit in DK (Rowan Scottish Tweed DK with 4mm needles) looking at the pictures I had a certain suspicion, judging by the seams. I was right. The Pieces are felted first and then pieced together. Sewing felted stuff can be difficult and the seams won't be as strong as those felted in place. Other books have techniques for ensuring that a felted bag doesn't felt closed.

Chequered Cushion is an intermediate piece, probably for the lace edging. If you're doing this check out techniques for not bringing colour up a row (techknitter's useful tutorial on this) for a more professional finish. The Edging is knit in bulky weight yarn (Rowan Cotton Rope with 6mm needles)

Big Blanket is a pieced piece with various inners. While an intermediate piece you might want to make some tweaks here. The sewing is good practice, you could knit each strip and then sew those strips together, this would give you a straighter edge on two sides. It's knit in chunky wool (Rowan Big Wool with 12mm needles)

Tote bag is an easy project, something to make in cheaper yarn than the Jaeger Matchmaker Merino Dk to be honest and if you want to use it to actually tote things around with (rather than use as a knitting bag) I'd suggest it should be felted, if knit in wool, with slightly longer straps. Yes it's knit in DK with 3.75mm needles.

The book finishes with a stitch gallery, the pieces are well photographed, again no charts but written out.

Buy/Borrow: If you're looking to start it's a good book, could do better. It's not a bad book but the patterns let it down, the text and teaching is better, however many of today's patterns do use charts so I would suggest a beginner book that handles that. It does, though, say something about a book that it only has four patterns knit from it on Ravelry.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has copies.

Knits that Fit - Review

2011-11-03T23:57:00.002Z

Ravelry Link

Impressions: I saw this book and the cover garment looked familiar, and then I looked at the back of the book. "Portions of this work were originally published in the following" Big Girl Knits (the advice on big girl sizing); Knits Three Ways; More Big Girl Knits; Mother-Daughter Knits; Romantic Hand Knits and Runway Knits. Yes, indeed, the garments are mostly recycled. Now if you don't have the books, that's grand but if you already have some you might want to check it out. (all links to the books are to Ravelry)

Types of patterns: Jumper (8); Cardigan (4); shrug (3); shirt (1); top (7)

Number of Patterns: 23

Split of patterns: Women's patterns only

Size Range: 32-52 (not across all patterns, several only go to 38")

Colour/Black & White: Colour photographs, black and white charts

Schematics: yes

Target Audience: Intermediate to advanced

How to knit guide: no, there is a glossary that explains some of the more non-standard techniques but this isn't really one for beginners.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: A lot of the patterns are pretty classical.

Comments on patterns:
Marbled Top by Berta Karapetyan (originally from Runway Knits). Not filling me with glee, horizontal stripes formed by the pleats above your bust would probably be unflattering to some along with the high neck. Not for folks with big boobs really, like me. Knit in a medium/worsted weight yarn.

Roman Candle Pullover by Berta Karapetan (originally from Runway Knits) again high-necked but the basket weave cabling would be figure-hugging. Knit in a light/DK weight yarn.

Dark Victory Sweater by Annie Modesitt (from Romantic Hand Knits) - this has ribbing to the side and an interesting neckline with a small amount of colourwork, this would be a project for a very luxe yarn. It's designed to be skin tight. Knit in a medium/worsted weight yarn

Cecilia's Sweater by Melissa Matthay (from Knits Three Ways) - this has ribs that run vertically and then taper to the neck, you'd have to be careful about placement because if you weren't careful they could form boob frames. knit in a medium/worsted weight

Hourglass Pullover by Lily Chin - it looks like a buttoned cardigan but it's a jumper. Has some reverse stocking stitch to create an hourglass illusion, and also uses the same trick (not quite to the same effect) on the sleeves. Also has shaping. Knit in Light/DK weight yarn.

Flirty Top by Sally Melville (from Mother-Daughter Knits) - I am not a fan of ruffles... this has ruffles on the bottom and sleeves. Knit in Medium/Worsted weight this is definitely one I won't be knitting for me.

Corded Sweater by Berta Karapetyan (originally from Runway Knits). - flares at the waist ans has vertical lines running down the front of the sweater. The sleeves look a little long on the model so you might want to take some care here, also the high neck isn't exciting me. Knit in a bulky weight yarn.

Vintage "Sweater Girl" Cropped Sweater by Lily Chin (also available from the Lily Chin Signature Collection)- it's a fairly plain v-necked jumper where the v is quite wide and it stops on the hips. Not particularly cropped to me, it could be lengthened to taste. Knit in a bulky/chunky weight.

Seashell Cardi by Berta Karapetyan (originally from Runway Knits) - this is an unusual shape, interesting construction but the sleeves look a little off. Knit in Medium/worsted weight

Mrs Darcy Cardigan by Mary Weaver (previously a free pattern but resized and some corrections for this book) - this has a deep v or scoop neck with ribs along the waist and raglan shoulders. Knit in a medium/worsted weight wool in one piece to the armholes.

Cosy Moss Shrug by Berta Karapetyan (originally from Runway Knits) - this is knit in super bulky yarn so a quick knit; ribbed. The photos don't really show the front of the garment well. For me this would be too much weight.

Two-way shrug by Caddy Melville Ledbetter (from Mother-Daughter Knits) - not exactly sure how this is a two-way shrug, I'm sure it's because it can be worn either way up, this is a very short, short-sleeved shrug knit in medium/worsted weight and might be ideal if you have a dress with a special top that you don't want to obscure.

Classic Shirt by Sally Melville (from Mother-Daughter Knits) - the photographs have it pretty much as a see-through shirt. It's a button down shirt knit with fine/sport weight yarn with 3.5mm (US 4) needles One of the variations is more dense. You'd need to play with fabric and gauge to get this one right for you.

Springtime in Paris Shrug by Berta Karapetyan (originally from Runway Knits) - knit in Light-dk weight with two strands of yarn held together in a brioche stitch this looks dense and bulky on the model. The sleeves are done using a single strand and the upper back likewise. Interesting construction.

Sophisticated Hoodie by Sally Melville (from Mother-Daughter Knits) - knit in a light/dk weight yarn this is a light shaped hoodie. Not my thing but not a bad design.

Ruffled Cardigan by Berta Karapetyan (originally from Runway Knits), some minor shaping on the body with a ruffled curved edge and ruffled (optional) edge on the sleeves, This looks like it would be complicated to finish off and I have to say I'm not terribly impressed with the finish on the photographed piece.

Sea Foam Top by Berta Karapetyan (originally from Runway Knits) A summery top that needs lining and has a ruffle along the necline and a partial cap sleeve

Ninotchka Spaghetti-strap Tank by Annie Modesitt (from Romantic Hand Knits) Spaghetti-strap top with a shelf-bra inside. I have Romantic Hand Knits and I do plan to knit this at some stage myself as I spend warmer summer days in tops like this. Lace on the bottom and solid topped.

Sheila's Tank Top by Melissa Mattay (from Knits Three Ways) I'm not really sure where this fails to please me, perhaps it's the way your eye is drawn to the bottom of the bust and you start to see sag lines where there are none due to the chevron patterning. Cleverly there are quite wide straps but this one is a pass.

Notorious low-cut top by Annie Modesitt (from Romantic Hand Knits) Fitted top, which needs a strapless bra for a good fit. I'd invest in one first and organise some of the details of this top around the bra.

Rebecca's Top by Melissa Matthay (from Knits Three Ways) Somehow this lacks balance, I think the model for this has a deeper armscrye than the pattern allows for so a bit of bunching going on at the shoulder and underarm. If I knit this I would leave out the ribbon and perhaps the eyelets for the ribbon. I would also examine the armholes and make sure it fit right. A piece designed to be worn over something or possibly on it's own it deserves a little more tweaking.

Mini Dress by Caddy Melville Ledbetter (from Mother-Daughter Knits). Honestly I wouldn't regard this as a dress, a tunic top maybe. This is one for people whose waist lacks definition, as the horizontal stripe adds this definition. However the placement of this would be all, it needs to be at the waistline. This is knit from the bottom up.

Audrey Pullover by Mary Weaver is a shoulder-fastening piece with a round yoke neckline. A lot of shaping in this one.

Buy/Borrow: If you've fancied the patterns and don't own the books (or fancy the few that aren't in books) this is a useful book. The advice about fitting is comprehensive and overall it's not a bad one.

Where found: Cork County Libraries have copies in stock, I got mine via Borrowbooks.

Knit Now Magazine Issue 1

2011-10-22T00:10:00.003+01:00

I heard online about a new magazine, and I wasn't sure if it was available here, so after I finished visiting my doctor recently I dropped into Easons on O'Connell Street. Knit Now Magazine

I decided to pick up a copy, now granted the exchange rate of E7.10 (my keyboard won't do Euros at the moment) to £4.99 is pretty poor (a quick calculation thanks to xe.com tells me that £4.99=E5.73 +9% VAT = E6.25, and Easons is apparently losing money??), it's not a bad magazine.

There's a free 4.5mm needle with the magazine, they're the pretty cheap aluminium, not the best joins needles. Would be okay but nothing special.

Also with the magazine is a clever Beginner's Guide to Knitting, that is almost worth the price of admission.

The magazine itself isn't bad. Ravelry Link. It has the usual suspects, book reviews, yarn reviews etc. A lure for UK subscribers is a Free Moulin Roty Knitting & Sewing Suitcase. Starting with about what's new in Knitting, review a few books (Contemporary Irish Knits, Simple Knitting, 55 Christmas Balls to Knit, Sock Knitting Masterclass and Weekend Hats. The reviews are quite short but pithy. They have a letters page, an interview with Debbie Bliss.

They have a yarn pile, with a jewellery box theme. A look at current commercial fashions. A finding inspiration online section (entertainingly it assumes knowledge of Ravelry, recommending a group on Ravelry!) Also a blog/diary piece. They have a review of some British Yarns at a yarn roundtable at Baa Ram Ewe and apparently plan to continue getting knit groups to review yarns. Some covetables are listed. Debbie Tomkies answers some questions and there's a guide to the basics. Lastly there's a teaser for the next episode. There's a limited to UK only competition but the provided web address doesn't work and the site doesn't have an obvious link to the competition.

The projects have an approximate price, a rough time to complete and a complexity rating.

Patterns:

Ribbon Tied Belt - what it says, 1 skein of Debbie Bliss's Bella (or two for a longer belt) a dk weight yarn which is from Debbie Bliss' Knits to Give/ Debbie Bliss' link

Tahquamenon Falls Hat and Fingerless gloves are up next, a sock yarn pair, 100g of sock yarn needed.

A made to measure Beanie allows you to work with a yarn you have and calculate a hat from it. The original is in a dk yarn. It's a simple rectangle gathered, with a pompom closure.

Sea Shanty hat is a hat designed for self-striping sock yarns with earflaps an interesting construction.

Diamond of the first water uses one skein of lace-weight yarn to create a triangular shawl. (hint, weigh before starting so you know when the half-way mark is reached, yarn weight isn't always what it says on the label)

Brick by Brick is a unisex top-down sock pattern, using sockweight yarn.

Then they have their Manos Silk Bend Challenge. Three designers take a hank of silk blend (one of the 100g skeins) and make something out of it. The Little Gem Dress is the first; a dress for a little girl. The Dropped off Snood is a largeish neckwarmer with ornamental buttons; to be honest the Pom Pom Necklace isn't what I'd do with a hank of Manos. There's 270m here, more than enough to make a hat and handwarmers but no-one did. Here is a search on Ravelry for free projects under 270m of DK yarn, some great ideas there. I don't have kids so the Gem dress is academic, I'd consider the snood though.

Comfort Throw is a large throw and the first project to use more than one skein/lot of yarn. Knit in Aran in two colours, it divides down the panels with a contrast yarn.

The Aria Cowl is an oversized cowl using a fairly basic lace pattern in a chunky yarn.

Bramble Picker is a big tote bag, you probably should line this one, though it doesn't mention that.

Little Snowflake is a trio of pieces for a baby. Another one that will need more than one hank, Hat Mittens and cardigan in this with a fairly simple colourwork.

Merry Little Christmas is a trio of Christmas baubles, Lightbulb, Ball and Garlic Bulb shaped.

Winter Wonderland is a pair of Christmas Stockings.

Countdown to Christmas is an advent calendar in colourwork.

Cosy covers are a pair of hot-water bottle covers Jelly Bean and Mount Royal

Autumn Forest are a pair of long lacy gloves,with cables. I'm not sure of the utility of gloves with holes but they're pretty. I'd be almost tempted to make the leaves without the holes using directional increases.

Dainty Anklets are a pair of socks for a girl from Toe-Up sock for Everybody

It's not a bad magazine, it does show promise and I'd keep an eye on it.

The Beginners Guide to Knitting by David & Charles is just that. Starting with casting on and Garter Stitch, purl stitch and casting off, it then has a Garter Stitch scarf (which looks like it's knit in Noro), then a striped bag (lined) and a rib stitch scarf. Then it talks about increasing and decreasing stitches. and then a bedwarmer.
Next up there's a section on reading knitting patterns and tension and finishing techniques, with a kit guide, general yarn guide, shopping guide, circular knitting guide. Back to projects we have Children's mittens .
The next piece is on cables and then cable stitch wristwarmers.
A Piece on Lace Knitting and then a Lace Baby Set with mittens, hat and bootees.

Additional Projects include a Striped or Plain Beret; So Stripy Jumper - a garter stitch and stripes baby jumper - Happy Bunny- a stuffed bunny with lined ears; Seed Stitch Set is a scarf and hat in seed stitch with a corsage to match. Ribbed Tube socks are a pair of socks with no heel fitting. The magazine finishes with a troubleshooting section.

This entire part is clear and concise with very good illustrations. It would be a good refresher or teaching tool!

Contemporary Irish Knits Review

2011-10-15T15:30:00.000+01:00

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

(as usual all pattern links are to Ravelry)

Author Interview:

What surprised you about the Irish Yarn Industry?

When I wrote an article about Kerry Woollen Mills for Yarn Forward several years ago, I knew nothing about the Irish yarn industry. I learned a lot preparing that article, both about yarn production in general and the Irish industry in particular, and it sparked a curiosity about the other mills producing hand knitting yarn in Ireland. While travelling around researching the book, I suppose one major surprise for me was how much imported fleece needs to be blended with Irish fleece to produce the wool. It never occured to me that the thriving (lamb) meat industry here in Ireland would mean that sheep were bred for quality of meat rather than fleece, although it makes sense once you think about it! In some cases, the cost of sheering the sheep is not covered by the price you get for it – which really doesn’t encourage sheep farmers to breed sheep for their fleece quality.

Is there a difference between Irish Likes/dislikes in yarn and patterns to the US?

I don’t think there is a huge difference in the Irish and American markets; I suspect we are now such a global community thanks to the Internet that very strong national preferences are no longer as obvious (in knitting at least). I do suspect that Irish knitters would have a little more tolerance for rustic wool, as the durable/rainproof qualities it has are of more advantage to us over here!

Have you been surprised about the ideas about Irish Knitting in the US?

I lived in the US for several years, and have many friends and family still in the US. My general experience is that there is frequently a very romantic, nostalgic vision of Ireland; both Ireland in general and of Irish knitwear (which is generally assumed to mean Aran knitwear) in particular. Aran stitches are beautiful, and are an important part of the knitting repetoire, but I think that it can narrow how knitters view the work of Irish designers. Just as contemporary Ireland is much more than pints of Guinness by a peat fire, I wanted this book to help create a new face for Irish knit design – building on the beauty of Aran stitches but moving them forward for today’s knitter. Hopefully as more Irish designers get their work out in the global market, knitters will develop a broader vision of both Ireland and Irish design.

What would you like to see happening in the Irish Market?

As I discussed in the book and other interviews on the blog tour, there are only a few mills producing yarn for hand knitters, and another handful of hand dyers who have emerged recently. They are all producing a interesting and unique range of yarns, and one thing I’d love to see is more pattern support for these yarns. I really want to keep producing patterns for Irish yarn and I hope that other designers (whether Irish or not) will come join me! New and innovative patterns available for yarns really help rejuvenate how they are viewed by knitters. When knitters get ideas from patterns about what they can do with a yarn, it inspires knitters to use it (whether or not they use the pattern itself).

I would also love if there was a way for Irish farmers to be encouraged (and financially rewarded) for breeding more sheep in Ireland that have fleece suitable for spinning. I’ve heard talk of co-ops and sponsoring so maybe this is something we’ll see in the next few years.

Have you come across any surprises in your research?

To be honest, until I started researching the whole subject of Aran knitwear I knew nothing about the history of the Aran and how relatively recently it came into being! This was a real eye-opener for me. I’d encourage anyone who wants to read further on this subject to take a look at ‘The Aran Sweater’ by Deirdre McQuillan which is a small book with lots of information.

Have you been surprised about reaction to any of the patterns? Positive or negative?

I’ve been really blown away by the (positive) reaction to the book so far! I’m very grateful that knitters are enjoying it so much. The biggest surprise for me is how popular the men’s and girl’s patterns have been, in particular Straboy and Rossbeg. Often women’s garments dominate but I think the full range is holding its own in the book!

Which pattern was the hardest to design?

I think one of the longest pieces to design was the Bundoran hat. I had finished the Killybegs cardigan and wanted to do a hat with the same stitch pattern. I thought it would just fly as I already had the basic concept in mind. It took three hats before it was right! The first one was too cable heavy and dense. The next one was too short and then, the third one was ‘just right’. Sometimes it can take a few run throughs before you get a design to work from concept to reality.

Which one flew off the needles?

The first that comes to mind is the Rathcooney set. While working with the cocoon stitch I started playing around with how it flowed into ribbing. When I went to test the idea in the mittens and hat it worked perfectly first time round and was finished really fast!

Any Surprises in the Blog Tour ?

There have been a couple of book giveaways on the tour and I’ve been amazed at how popular they have been. At last count the comments on the Knitspot giveaway were in the hundreds! I was also very pleasantly surprised at how much fun doing a podcast was with Marly Bird. It was my first time doing a podcast so I was fairly nervous. Fortunately Marly made the whole process a lot of fun. I’d really love to thank everyone who has taken part in the blog tour for doing such a great job, and This Is Knit in Dublin for hosting an amazing launch party last month!

Impressions: Carol talks about Aran Knitting and it's origins (see my post as well on the topic) Starting with reviews and comments about the three remaining working Woollen Mills in Ireland with patterns using the yarns the book finishes with some Irish dyers.

To the left you can see some of the yarn I have accumulated over the years, much of it is used in this book, all either spun or dyed in Ireland! There is some that's a bit rarer that isn't mentioned (like the Kerry Alpaca I picked up on holidays, which is only done in very small batches) Some of this is quite modern yarn, some of it older but this book would allow me to use up some of it!

I found the patterns to be modern but not without respect to the past. There are some great Aran inspired patterns here with some deft modern touches. Entertainingly the names are places from the areas the yarns come from.

There's some helpful advice on sizing and adapting patterns, many of the patterns are in the round or flat with minimal seaming.

Types of patterns: Cardigans (3); Skirt (1); Children's cardigan (2); child sleeveless top (1); Jumper (3); Hat (3); Blanket (1); Shawl/wrap (2); children's jumper (1); bag (1); cowl (1); Fingerless Mittens (2)

Number of Patterns: 20 (the blanket is a variation on one of the shawls)

Split of patterns: mostly adult with some children's.

Size Range: Women's patterns are 27-51"; men's 37.5-53.5" and she does include the actual sizes the pattern is supposed to come to so that you can adjust for your own style.

Colour/Black & White: Colour photographs; black and white charts

Schematics: yes

Target Audience: Intermediate to advanced, there are no projects without at least a little cabling.

How to knit guide: not really, there are some guides to some of the extra techniques but not the very basics, the book assumes a certain competence with knitting

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Classical with a modern twist.

Comments on patterns (all links to patterns are from Ravelry):

Kerry Woollen Mills:

Killorglin (pictured right) is the cardigan that features on the front of the book, knit in Aran weight yarn, this is the one cardigan that my husband requested I knit him.... I'm sure it would be fine without the shaping!

Tralee is knit in a DK yarn, this is a skirt mostly knit plain with a cable hiding in the kick pleat. I do like how this looks, not sure it would work for me but it's interesting!

Listowel is a shrug with a heart-motif on the back. This would probably be a great item as a wedding shrug or communion shrug. Knit in Aran weight yarn this would be a pretty quick knit.

Caherciveen hooded sleeveless, children's top, knit in Aran weight yarn.

Cushendale Woollen Mills:
Knockmore is a nice compromise of a man's jumper with enough patterning using twisted stitches to break up the monotonous acres of knitting without offending male sensibility, the only objection my husband had to it was the original colour. Knit in a dk weight.

Ballyragget is an interesting hat knit in DK using the twisted stiches from Knockmore

Dangan is either a baby blanket or a shawl. Knit in a sportweight yarn.

Belville uses the tweediness of the yarn to create a nicely shaped jumper with some colourwork on the yoke, knit in dk weight yarn.

Ballinagree is a sleeveless jumper designed for boys in a DK weight yarn, looks pretty unisex to me!

Kilmanagh uses some colourwork on the flap (a bag with a flap! I'm planning for this one!) and sides. It's interesting and knit in DK weight.

Donegal Yarns
Killybegs is an interesting cardigan with the cables providing some help with shaping. Interesting work. Using Aran weight yarn.

Bundoran
I liked this one enough I started it (progress pic to the left)! Though I couldn't help messing with it and adding in colourwork. It's not finished because I have to get more of the pale turquoise yarn. I like how the cables interact with the yarn. Knit in Aran weight yarn, using some of the features of the cables from Killybegs.

Ardara is a nice sleeveless cardigan, one on my would like to knit shortlist. Knit in Aran weight yarn.

Glengesh is a wrap in an Aran weight yarn; worked from the bottom up with some shaping provided by short-row shaping.

Straboy is another one that makes my husband mutter noises about wanting one! Knit in an Aran yarn I've seen this in action and it looks well.

Rossbeg is an interesting design, knitting in Aran weight this starts with a yoke and works down, it's an interesting piece.

Hand Dyers:

Dalkey Cowl (pictured right) and Mitts combine cables and lace in a fingering weight yarn I have the yarn all wound up to start this one! I love how this looks.

Rathcooney Hat and Fingerless Mitts simple elegance, this is an interesting piece the cocoon stitch changes to ribs. It's a worsted weight yarn that has some silk in it. Hence the name!

Buy/Borrow: I have to admit that if I hadn't got a copy, and I had borrowed it from the Libraries I would have bought it. I like it and want to make too many patterns from the book not to want it.

Where found: I got a copy to review from Wiley, Dublin City Public Libraries has some copies in stock

The Blog tour:
15/9/2011 Stephen West
17/9/2011 Hoxton Handmade
21/9/2011 Shannon Okey
23/9/2011 Rosemary Hill
25/9/2011 Ann Kingstone
27/9/2011 Marly Bird
29/9/2011 JC Briar
1/10/2011 Woolly Wormhead
3/10/2011 Anne Hanson
7/10/2011 Stephannie Tallent
11/10/2011 Alice Yu
13/10/2011 Michelle Miller
15/10/2011 Deirdre Thornton
17/10/2011 Ilga Leja

Startitis

2011-09-24T23:52:00.000+01:00

Listening to a podcast earlier today, if I remember correctly it was Just One More Row, they were talking about a month of casting on, where you would cast on a project every day of one month and I gasped and thought that it was a strange thing to do.

And then I thought about it again.

Maybe doing a swatch when you bring the yarn planned for a project the week you get it and casting on the project within a set number of days? I tend to have issues finishing, buttons are my nemesis, so I'm thinking using a lure of allowing myself to cast on only if I sew on a few buttons on an almost finished item.

Why shouldn't I start a tonne of projects? What is my problem? Not enough yarn? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Not enough needles? Not the issue. Not enough project bags, nope, I have a glut of fabric bags due to Ireland's Plastic Bag tax. I'm starting to think that I should maybe have a project on the go for every category I have in my queue.

Is this madness? Could this work?

entreKnits review

2011-09-23T19:13:00.000+01:00

EntreKnits from Interweave Knits

PC Version
Mac Version

Ravelry Link

Impressions: This is an enhanced ebook. Well designed. You can flick through the book page by page or use the index to go to what you're looking for. There are portions of the pages that are interactive, videos, and some horizontal scrolling on some pages so if basically it's like chapters that you then can go down rather than having to flick through something you're not quite interested in to get to a more interesting chapter. Also usefully, if you're navigating by arrow, when you go left or right it brings you to the top of the next page. You can resize the pages, useful when I was looking at my small screen netbook for this review.

It starts with a section on storage, where you can open the items to see what they're like, and click through to the company's website, usefully using the default browser on your machine.

Next up is a yarn review, the initial page is the swatches, done in diamonds, and you can scroll through or click whichever one catches your fancy, the quick reviews talks about usefulness for entrelac knitting.

Now a Book review, where they look at some books, patterns and dvds with some modular/entrelac designs

Now the meat starts; Annie Modesitt talks about maths and kniting and about befriending maths, this will probably be a chapter I return to again.

next up is a pattern, the Turn About Wrap

The next section is Entrelac - Meg Swansen gives a guide to blemish-free blocks; and talks about knitting backward, while Eunny Jang shows in a video how it's done. A pattern called Cochin Shrug is next (photograph to left)

Then they have some links to some Interweave Knits entrelac and other modular knitting

Quilt Inspired is the next section; starting with the Sweet Hexagon Cowl, an oversized pieced cowl where they're all linked as you go. The Lancaster Blanket is a blanket inspired by quilts, made modular.

Modular is the next section where Jenna Wilson (the Girl from Auntie) looks at the history of modular knitting and patents
Soap Bubble hat by Norah Gaughan comes next, an oversized hat
Vivian Hoxbro looks at 3D Domino knitting and provides a pattern for a folded domino bracelet

The penultimate page has resources where you can find all the websites in one place.
To finish (and I almost overlooked it! due to the last page) Knitter and photographer Maryse Roudier takes some images and knits them, a very interesting section of inspiration

Overall I think it's an interesting magazine with a lot of samples of the kind of different modular and entrelac forms, it's a good introduction to the methods and some of the big-name designers in the field.

Colour/Black & White: All colour

Target Audience: Intermediate to advanced knitters

Comments on patterns:
The Turn about Wrap creates a square wrap out of three triangular units with an two-colour iCord edging

Cochin Shrug is an interesting shrug made from various sized blocks.

The Sweet Hexagon Cowl is an interesting draped cowl, not really what I need in a cowl (I need something a little tighter for under my motorbike jacket), tempting though!

Lancaster Blanket (pictured right) is a patchwork-style piece, it would be a good introduction to the concept of constructing a patchwork style blanket using patchwork patterns.

Soap Bubble Hat is an oversized hat using bubbleshapes and designed by Norah Gaughan. Very oversized, if you're fond of that style it might appeal but it's not my type of thing.

Vivian Hoxbro provides a Folded domino bracelet. A different pattern, not really my style but an interesting method of design.

Buy/Borrow: it's a bit of an ARGH! Because my primary machine is Ubuntu this is a little awkward to access, and part of the reason it took me a while to get around to reviewing it, which would probably be a barrier to my actually considering buying it, but I do like it and would have bought it if I could have easily accessed it. (It requires Adobe Air to be installed - if you can get it working on your machine you should be able to get the Windows version to work, my computer is just not playing ball.)

Where found: Interweave Knits gave me a free copy for review, weeks ago.

The Cover Photograph is from Interweave Knits Website and the two pattern photographs are from Ravely and copyright their originators.

Review of Crocheted Wraps & Throws

2011-09-16T21:27:00.000+01:00

Ravelry Link

Published in the UK as Crocheted Throws and Wraps and the US as Crocheted Afghans

Impressions: Meh overall. Some of the pieces aren't bad but they're really not making me want to crochet them. Soem of them look rather insubstantial and wouldn't appeal to me for throws or shawls. Overall it didn't speak to me. I think part of the problem may have been the photography and settings.

Types of patterns: Piecework in crochet.

Number of Patterns: 25

Colour/Black & White: Colour

Schematics: no

Target Audience: it all looks like pretty basic stuff, the advantage with this sort of thing is that once you get the single blocks or the length roughly correct you can just make it bigger or smaller to suit.

How to crochet guide: yes, but the difference between UK and US terms isn't explained

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Pretty classical pieces

Comments on patterns: The first chapter is Vintage Style and they start with a Cream Comforter, pictured on a table, not what I'd use for a table is a piece with raised pieces. Made in Debbie Bliss Rialto DK (11 balls).

The Pale Green Textured Blanket is pretty simple, crocheted in one piece, with puff stitches, made in Debbie Bliss Como (22 balls).

The Circular Coverlet is first show as a shawl on a model, inspired by a vintage Doily. Made in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (19 balls).

The Shetland-Style Shawl uses the shetland idea and makes a shawl with it in crochet. You could probably knit the center and crochet the outside, it's an interesting take on the Shetland blanket style. Knit in Baby Alpaca or Pure Wool DK (7x50g)

Puffs Baby Blanket - many, many puffs joined to make a blanket, the baby blanket requires 35g of colour A; 60g of colour B & C; 45g of colour D, E & F and 50g of G in 4ply. It notes that for every 10 puffs you will need 20g of yarn.

Argyll Afghan - worked initially like a parge colourwork granny square style affair from side to side with applied overchecks. This needs 9x 50g balls of Sirdar balmoral in 4 colours.

Gingham Blanket - a dense baby blanket worked in three colours and then edged, 8 x50g balls of Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK

Chapter 2: American Dream

Shaker-Style Throw - now the yarn isn't identified but it's a Silk Mohair and Wool Mix Aran weight in Random Shaded Grey (7x50g balls) and my mind is suggesting Noro. While this is an interesting homespun look, it doesn't say quaker to me, it isn't dense or practical enough. Also the squares aren't joined as you go but joined at the end.

Navajo Blanket center star and radiating saw-tooth borders. Inspired by Navajo design this one needs 18 balls of pure aran wool weight yarn in 6 different colours, done in pieces that are fastened together.

Seminole-Style Blanket - two strips that are then joined together; needs 14 balls of pure wool dk.

Sunshine & Shadow Throw, working in alternative squares of bright dark and light colours in a diamond pattern and then a plain border this usess dk yarn (wool rich); 270g of a, 65g of b, h; 50g c, e, g; 100g d, f; 200g I it would be aproximate though you could work with scraps of yarn depending on how much you had and work with filling in with approximate colours.

Log Cabin Coverlet - an interesting lesson in colour use and how to change colours in a round uses DK cotton yarn, 100g of A; 30g of B & C; 40g in D & E; 50g in F&G

Crazy Patchwork throw. Flowers are made square - about 170g of dk yarn in a mix of colours, this one could use up a lot of leftovers.

Chapter 3: Outside Inside
Rainbow Baby Blanket - strips joined and then with a rainbow sequence edging. - dk yarn 60g of A&B (red & Orange); 40g of (C, D, F) Yellow; Green & Violet; 90g in shades of blue (E) and 100g in Navy which is used as the edging.

Flower Garden Throw - Aran yarn made in hexagonal flowers and then joined - 11 x 50g balls in a variety of colours

Wild Flower Throw - flowers made from triangles and then set into squares and then worked together. Done in DK weight yarn with a single background colour and could be used to use up almost matching reds and pinks.

Roses and Daisies Throw - this one could be used to use up scraps with a solid background. 400g of a mix of dk yarn and 8x50g of background yarn.

Seascape Wall Hanging - this is a brown and blue hanging that echoes a seascape, as it's a hanging you could use any sort of yarn for this.

Landscape Play Blanket - a patchwork blanket
making fields, hills and sky for children to play with animals with. Done in a variety of dk greens with some yellow and blue scattered in.

Chapter 4 is Around the World
Tartan Blanket - bands of colour with grids of holes to weave contrast colours through. Done in DK yarn with 11 balls of dk yarn this could be one to for those who follow their clan tartan

African Beads Circular throw - inspired by tribal circular beadwork patterns. USing a contrast background to highlight the pseudo-beads, done in aran weight yarn, you would need 10 balls of yarn for this.

Scandinavian Sampler Throw - a red and white throw is cross stitched with red; 7 balls of 50g dk yarn

Aran-style throw - all in cream this is actually done in Aran Weight yarn - you will need 7x100g balls. There is a mock fringing which is quite effective.

Kelim Carpet runner - this makes me think more of New Mexican designs rather than more Turkish designs but we have here eight pointed stars in octagons joined in a strip. Aran yarn and you would need 7x100g balls for this, split over 5 colours

Indigo Ikat Throw - diamonds in the centre with chevrons coming off them in strips. a variety of blues, whites and creams dk weights

Buy/Borrow: I was a little underwhelmed; but this would be a great stashbusting book. Several of the designs look more ornamental than warming to me, I'd borrow to see what you think.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has copies.

Irish Patchwork

2011-09-15T20:22:00.000+01:00

Impressions: This is a book that accompanied an exhibition of Irish Patchwork. A useful place to start if you want to look at the traditions of Irish Patchwork. It's an interesting peek into times gone by. There were three main methods. Mosaic, Log Cabin and Applique. Applique seems to be in the majority. She defines Mosaic as small pieces of cloth sewn together, while log cabin is where strips are sewn to a square. This shows how some women took what they had available and made something out of it. Patchwork was never, apparently, seen as commercial so this was a domestic task only, so people made them as gifts or for themselves.

Colour/Black & White: All colour

Target Audience: visitors to the exhibition

Comments on patterns: This would be useful if you're doing Log Cabin or other forms of pieced knitting, in making you look again at the concept and perhaps finding a different sequence you could take the piece in. The Cover map of Ireland is also interesting as a concept piece.

Buy/Borrow: I'd borrow, finding copies could be interesting as the exhibit was in 1979. I've seen copies pop up

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has copies in stock

Knitting & Crochet Bible

2011-09-14T22:17:00.001+01:00

Impressions: Take the Knitting Bible add the Crochet Bible, bind for cheaper than the two seperately, et voila. I'm not really going to review this one as I have both and plan to review them sepearately. I didn't see any new patterns and the copyright information didn't mention any revision details only published and dates.

Buy/Borrow: If you want both books but didn't get them seperately

Where found: Dublin City Public Library has copies in stock

some wardrobe advice

2011-08-14T14:12:00.001+01:00

(I'm going to cross post this to my blog, but I think it will get a better variety of comment here!)
So I've been looking at some of the advice presented about knitting to fit and choosing patterns that suit and I thought that they missed on a few details. Using your own wardrobe to see what suits you.

To start you will need some paint chips, those strips of colour available free; and a notebook or camera.

Now you root around in your wardrobe.

First you need to take an overall look at your wardrobe. Split it into the basic four themes. Work; Leisure; formal and other. Look at what they're composed of, how do the garments flow? More flowing garments are better complemented by finer gauge yarns. You also need to look at the gaps in your wardrobe, where would there be space for knits and what would add usefulness to things? Make notes as you go.

You need to examine the garments and see what it is about the garment you like, put it on and see what you think about it and why you like it. Is it the colour? The shape? The fabric? Use the paint chips in your notes to colour match things that you like the colour of and that you get compliments about. You will probably see that there are themes running through your wardrobe. The colour chips also come in useful, particularly if you get a good variety, in seeing complimentary colours, colours that would suit what is there already.

Now look at the items you don't wear. Why not? Ill fitting? note what's bad about them, note what attracted you in the first place to them. Colour? A single detail? Sketch or photograph them and be honest with yourself, do you really need them? If they're all bad, note it, note what doesn't suit it's often as important as what does suit and get rid of them. I have one main rule about outfits, if you have to tug on it beyond the Picard Manoeuvre to rearrange your garment after sitting, then there is something wrong about it. Examine what makes your uncomfortable about it. You may be able to change the garment a little to fix it, all those pretty knitted and crocheted edgings might come into use.

I know folks have rules about how long since you wore something that suggests when you should get rid of something. However you should remember that there are some things you may want to hold on to, beyond the regular spacings. A good interview outfit that fits is important but ensure it still fits well and is complete.

Now what you need to do is get a measuring tape and either use someone else to help and measure yourself or conduct a cheats method; take some items you like the look of on you and measure them flat. Note good lengths on you, note what makes you comfortable again.
How deep is good for v-necks, how deep do you like round necks, do you like collars?
Where does waist shaping look good on you, do you need it?
Do you like crop tops? Where should they hit? They are often the same length as shrugs. How low looks good on you? Don’t dismiss them, just because you don’t wear cropped tops, Boleros are another short length.
Waist length tops are another length that can look good and bad on people. Decide if you want it and where is good. Some jackets work at this length.
Next length is the hip length on you, for most if not all people this is a point below the widest part of the waist, often just below crotch length
The last usual length is a long tunic length. Usually this is where the end of your fingers come when you put your hands straight down by your side.

Now there is also the consideration of lifestyle. A lot of top lengths for me are dictated by the fact that many of them have to fit under a biker jacket, so while the length mightn’t be ideal as a look on me it’s more important for me to be warm on the bike!

This is only the start of some thoughts about this topic, here's hoping someone will find use from it.

Working on versus in progress

2011-07-17T14:41:00.000+01:00

I've been looking at my blog and playing a little with it. I do know that it's not the most exciting look but I prefer the background to the others offered.

One of the things I got rid of was the Blog Roll. I don't use it honestly and found myself a little upset recently when someone else didn't list me on their blog roll, so realised that I didn't list folks I read because they link to their blog posts on their twitter feed or I get them through the Irish Knitting Blogs list. So it's gone.

I also took a look at What's on my Needles and realised that while yes, those projects are technically not finished, and I do want to finish them there's something in the way. I think it was all precipitated by a project that I've been working on, the Roundabout Leaf Tank. I finished the main body yesterday and pulled it on.

Oh dear. It's too tight on the bottom, too loose at the top and I don't think that working on it any more will make it any better. I will rip it, but I'm holding on to it for the moment, I'm not through the mourning period for it yet.

What I am working on is Ivory, Copper & Gold; a cotton t-shirt in the same yarn as failed me before, I have a lot of this and will probably be able to finish it before needing to rip the Roundabout Leaf Tank.

I'm working on a pair of Eagle's Flight Socks for my husband, I wasn't sure how he would take them when I had got a little bit in, but he likes them, which is good.

I'm also occasionally working on Sagrantino Shawl these three form the bulk of my knitting these days.

I really have to get the zip into my pseudo-Biker Jacket but I have zip fear. I also have to add a lot of buttons onto my Purple Versatility and the sleeves need to be ripped out wholesale from the cardigan I've been working on.

What would be a good first moment would be to get some measurements of ME and use them to fix some pieces. That or bribe someone to do the finishing for me!

Some finished socks

2011-07-13T22:08:00.000+01:00

I've been a bad blogger and forgot to update my finished objects so I'm going to do a cluster of them spaced over a few days. Hopefully I won't leave so long between updates next time. The Last Item I finished was the Canal de Midi Socks.

I made some Bartholomew's Tantalising Socks from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Socks Knitters

I also made some Fawkes a free pattern from ravelry

I currently have a pair of socks for Mac on the needles. A pair of Eagle's Flight in Regia 4-ply Line Steps Colour

I also abandoned a pair of Widdershins I had them almost finished when I realised that they were too tight and weren't going to work, so another knitter took them off my hands and plans to finish them. They were going to be my pair of knee socks for this year but every inch I knit it seemed to get shorter.

Ethnic Knitting: Exploration Lithuania, Iceland & Ireland

2011-06-22T21:30:00.001+01:00

BookDepository Link; Ravelry Link

Impressions: It's a slightly different book. Photographs are there to inspire, the garments are sketches, and it requires you to do some maths. It and it's companion Ethnic Knitting Discovery are more an exploration of how you would go about using yarn, patterns and styles to create a basic jumper. It's really not a book for absolute beginners but a book for intermediate to advanced knitters. Though, if in doubt try, what's the worst that can happen? You have to rip it? It's not the worst thing that could happen.
The initial garments are mostly jumpers but there are instructions for adapting for cardigans in a couple of different ways. There's also a capelet that's basically a practice piece without sleeves or a body for a yoked sweater.

She starts with an introduction to some techniques, some useful charts about yardage, guage and a few others and then explores the knitting traditions of Lithuania, Iceland and Ireland. The Lithuanian Chapter has some colourwork patterns, a fingerless mitten pattern; a Ragland Pullover with a Border pattern; a Raglan Pullover with Multiple Patterns and the chapter ends with suggested ways of working with Large Motifs.

Iceland is the next chapter. Another country where the "traditional" is modern, the icelandic yoke-style is a 20th Century innovation, she talks about how to knit with the unspun Loki Yarn and gives some traditional patterns. Then we have the Caplet, a pullover with horizontal bands on Yoke and a steeked Cardigan with horizontal bands

Ireland is the next chapter where she walks about Aran designs (though Baineen is probably more correctly White-ish, from the word Ba/n meaning white and een meaning little, or small; natural is close). She goes through knitting a swatch and how to make a swatch with cables more square! Her samples show, not only a photograph of what's going on but the photograph has an outline showing where the repeat is. The first pattern in this chapter is a poncho. As it's basically two rectangles sewn together you could probably change it to a wrap or throw. Then there's Aran Pullovers with Saddle Shoulders. There's a note about the Aran-style cardigan for an adult on the cover. She admits herself that she prefers working arans in the flat due to the pleasure she gets from the rest rows, but she does include instructions for knitting in the round.

The last chapter is about cardigans with three techniques, all for round-necked cardigans.

It's an interesting book, it requires some work from the reader but overall if you're looking for some designs from these countries it's a good place to start.

Types of patterns: Clothing

Number of Patterns: 9

Split of patterns: mostly jumpers with a pair of fingerless gloves and a capelet thrown in

Size Range: It's based on your numbers so technically any size

Colour/Black & White: Black & White

Schematics: yes

Target Audience: more for intermediate to advanced knitters than beginners.

How to knit guide: no, but a fair number of tips and tricks.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Pretty Classical

Buy/Borrow: it's not a book for someone who wants quick and easy work, this one needs work. It's packed with good advice though and would be invaluable for someone on the path to learning to design.

Where found: Found in Cork County Library via Borrowbooks, I also bought my own copy.

Knitting Sweaters from the Top Down - review

2011-05-21T22:32:00.002+01:00

The first cover is for the hardback and has the Hyacinth Jumper on the cover

BookDepository Link; Ravelry Link

Author: Cathy Carron

other info: 1600595545

Impressions: Ill-fitting and ugly. I'm sorry, I wanted to like this book, I actually did. I like the concept of knitting from the top down and in the round, where I can concentrate on getting the fiddly bit done first and then moving on to the fairly straightforward bits, where I can work something in the round so there's minimal seaming, but this isn't the book I'd recommend to get into this technique. This book draws my eye for all the wrong reasons, novelty yarn, very bulky yarn, awkward angles and poses and what looks like kill-me-now expressions on the models faces. Add to that design elements that appear to hit on the wrong place and overlarge arm holes and you get a pattern book that has me looking at one garment and saying "well with some changes I'd knit that" (Coast for the record). The necklines are quite limited and don't The book also uses variegated yarn and ther's a lot of interesting pooling and flashing going on, if you don't like that effect, you might try alternating two balls.

This book fails for me on a few levels, it's completely not my style, it's going to date badly and I see nothing that I can't get better online. Now the initial advice isn't bad, the patterns just made me squirm, though the touch of having the yarn weight along the edge of the first page of the pattern is a nice touch.

Types of patterns: women's garments, though the general instructions could be used for any age or gender

Number of Patterns:

Split of patterns: Jumper (1)

Size Range: 36-48" (91-122cm)

Colour/Black & White: colour

Schematics: yes

Target Audience: Intermediate knitters.

How to knit guide: Basic knitting knowledge is assumed, this expands it to add a fair bit of information about this technique.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: the stuff is going to date, but under some of the dated yarns there is a potential for classic styles.

Comments on patterns:

The book opens with Cocoon, a fun-fur bulky bracelet length sleeved jumper. Shudder. (Pictured in Karbella's Barbados)

Aspen is a Belted cardigan, where the belt hits below the waist and with trim on the collar. In a bulky yarn. (Pictured in Karabella's Puffy)

Sparks is knit in bulky weight yarn again, with novely yarn on the cuffs and collars. Original knitted in Classic Elite's Rave and Bernat's Boa... a very plain jumper

Verandah is a boxy cardigan/jacket with some contrast yarn on the cuffs, which is stitched in. Knit in Bulky weight yarn the original was in Blue Sky Alpacas' Bulky.

Nest is a bulky weight v-notch jumper with wide sleeves. The author made me laugh with her advice to be careful about eliminating excess bulk and streamiline the shape, this thing is a bulky jumper that larger people should be careful about wearing, it will add a lot of bulk, the model is enlarged in it. Original knit in Rowan's Big Wool.

Birch knit in a bulky weight yarn with a turtleneck, relies on the yarn to make it different, the original is knit in Classic Elite's Tigress which is a thick and thin yarn.

New Leaf has a long rib that starts under the bust, again knit in chunky weight yarn, the original was knit in Classic Elite's Paintbox

Indian Summer has an extended cowl collar, knit in Chunky weight yarn, the original was in Muench's Vamos, apart from the extended cowl it's pretty plain

Evergreen just made me twitch, very wide collar that sits quite far back in a contrast yarn, matching the cuffs, the ties have pompoms, it's in chunky weight yarn. The original was knit in Lion Brand's Moonlight Mohair and Reynolds Lopi. The model is depicted with her arms folded in front, careful reading suggests taht the only fastening involves the pompom decorated neckties.

Hyacinth is the depicted jumper on the front of the hardback copy, yes the one with bobbles... knit in chunky weight yarn with stripes and bobbles in different colours it's knit in Reynold's Lopi

Flora this is a chunky weight yarn, polo collar, the sleeves in this just looked a bit too wide at the armhole. 3/4 length sleeves, original knit in Muench's Ocean.

Dewdrop is a v-necked cardigan with fun-fur edging and rounded ends. The original was knit in Artful Yarn's Legend and Reynold's Scandal, the sleeves are just below the elbow, the yarn is chunky.

Peony tied at the neck, knit in heavy worsted yarn, cardigan. Originally knit in Classic Elite's Minnie. The 3/4 length sleeves are also fastened by ties.

Cherry Blossom is the top featured on the cover of the book, it's knit in Heavy Worsted Weight Yarn, to me the armholes are too wide. Overall not too bad. Originally knit in Karabella's Empire Silk

Flame is originally knit in Classic Elite's Montera this is a hooded sloppy heavy worsted weight yarn with a textured stitch pattern

Ember round-necked with horizontal knitted tubing on the neck, waist and sleeve ends. This requires a particular body shape, one I don't have, oroginally knit in Artful Yarns/JCA's Cinema which is a heavy worsted weight yarn.

Snowberry has an off-to-one-side collar in a contrast yarn and uses the yarn to create interest, the yarn is Berocco's Softy, a heavy worsted weight yarn.

Wild Plum I think it's trying to be kinda kimono-ish but it just doesn't seem to work. A contrast belt with a ribbon tie which hits mid-waist might work bettwe if it was on the waist. The ruffled sleeve edge also just didn't really work for me. It's in Heavy Worsted Weight yarn. Original knit in Muench's Touch Me.

Coast is a polo-necked top, split in front, knit in DK weight yarn, some shaping could help here, and I'm not sure how it sits because the model is standing a bit strangely. Original knit in Reynold's Saucy. My favourite of all patterns.

Breeze is a widenecked top with beads, with reverse stitch horizontal stripes. In Dk weight. Classic Elite's Bamboo

Bloom is a boxy cardigan with a contrast collar and a flower on the shoulder, originally knit in Rowan Classic Yarns' Soft Lux and Lurex Shimmer. the cuffs are wide with contrast stitching.

Stardust is a sleeveless top using a sequin strung yarn knit in with the basic yarn. It's knit in Blue Sky Alpacas' Sport Weight and Berocco's Lazer FX a dk and polyester sequin thread. polo neck.

Verbena has a ruffle neck, with beads and textured stitches, a dk weight short-sleeved top. I would kinda like to see this without the ruffle, it might be okay. Original in Karabella's Zodiac

Violet horizontal wide stripes in DK weight yarns, original in Berroco's Glace, a wide-ish neck, ribbed along the sides to help with shaping.

The end of the book has a number of basic patterns in different guages, cardigans and pullovers Basic DK Pullover is one. Ignore the 10 st guage and 8 stitch guage in the titles and check out the yarn weights and actual guage in the text.

Buy/Borrow: I would be more inclined to get Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top or Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard, Wendy Bernard more for the patterns and Barbara Walker for the how-to.

Where found: South Dublin County Libraries, borrowed through Borrowbooks.ie

New Socks - Canal du Midi

2011-05-18T23:46:00.001+01:00

My latest pair of socks

They're Canal du Midi socks from Knitting on the Road (Amazon US) Amazon UK Book Depository

They're knit in Zitron Trekking that I got in Woll-Boutique Elflein

when we were in Frankfurt last year. I knit the flap with a slip 1 knit 1 rather than the plain knitted flap the pattern called for, if I was knitting it again I'd change the U shaped heel cup to a more V-shaped one.

2011-05-08T13:09:00.000+01:00

Book Depository Link; Dover UK Links

Impressions: This is a companion book to Co Spindoven's Celtic Charted Designs, while Co has more geometric shapes and abstracts this is animals. Yes it's square designs would distort somewhat if knit (it's really designed for embroidery) it's still a good starting point for celtic animal designs should you want to use some. It's charted in black and white so I'd photocopy from my copy and colour in the different colours to keep me on the right path. I've used Co's book in a knit and purl pattern to some success. If you wanted to use some celtica in a pattern you're doing yourself, if you were using them for commercial purposes you would have to get permission from the copyright holders. This 48 page book is available quite cheaply and easily found in Easons.

Colour/Black & White: Black & White

Target Audience: Advanced users would get the most use out of this

How to knit guide: no

Experimental/Classical/Modern: experimental really

Buy/Borrow: At E6.60 from Easons and E4.21 from the Book Depository this is one you should buy if you're interested in using it.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries have copies and I have one of my own.

The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting Review

2011-05-07T22:53:00.000+01:00

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

Impressions:
It's not a bad introduction to knitting with lots of photographs and guides, it fails to use contrast yarns to make things a bit clearer and apart from cable patterns doesn't use charts. It doesn't have a bibliography for further reading and honestly the garments don't make me anyway excited. It's not a bad beginner or improving beginner book but wouldn't add to my library. It's a US publication so many of the stitch pattern names may be different to the originals. It misses out on more photographs in the Brioche pattern section, the aforementioned charts; a bibliography (apart from in the historical section which references No Idle Hand (sic) by Anne L Macdonald; Wikipedia History of Knitting & A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker) and a bibliogrphy would have been useful for the last few sections where really they only had the space to bounce off them rather than go into detail. Edited by Margaret Hubert with contributions from Carrie Hammett; Sasha Kagan; Debbie New; Judy Pascale; Beth Brown-Reinsel and Myra Wood; the back of the book has biographies and partial bibliographies of these writers.

Starting with a short history of knitting, where the modern part concentrates on the US experience of knitting, the book then moves to the basics and then some stiches. Once it gets a few past a few knit stitch patterns it gives a pattern, for a simple one-piece garter stitch tunic jumper. Then it moves to light texture stitches; then suggests ornamenting the garter stitch jumper at the neck and sleeve ends, next we move to a sock pattern. Then medium to heavy texture stitch patterns; then a seed checks baby sweater which is worked in one piece to the armholes. Then the stitch patterns move to lace and a lacy sweater. Then it moves to Ribs pattern stitches, then ribbed leg warmers. Next up is the honeycomb and brioche stitches; which explains the how pretty well but doesn't have pictures this section finishes with a honeycomb washcloths. The next section is eyelets, followed by an Eyelet Cloche - which is an open-work hat with a flower and leaf knit motif. The next section is ripples and Chevrons followed by a Parasol Ripples Scarf. Next up are slip stitches, followed by a slip stitch card case.
Next up are Color Combos followed by a two-color toddler hat; then we have motifs which includes a flower, a heart in moss stitch, a mitered square, small fan, large fan, large fan with trinity border, small leaf, large leaf and finishes with leaf coasters which are lined. Cables are up next with clear photographs how to do cables and stitch legends, this is the first chapter that charts make an appearance. The pattern in this section is Double Cables Hat.

Then it moves on to Speciality Knitting Methods - one-piece knitting, starting with the top-down toddler cardigan that goes with the toddler hat; a top-down mock cable pullover. Then moves to simple entrelac, using a bag pattern to introduce the technique. Next up is Freeform knitting; using a freeform knitting bag, fastened to a handbag form, a freeform vest. Then there's Crazy Lace Knitting using a scarf as an example; Knitting with Beads again with a bag as example. Intarsia knitting with an oversized beret; twinned knitting with a pair of mittens and Ouroubous Knitting with a tree-rings jumper

Types of patterns: mostly accessories with a few jumpers and cardigans, quite basic stuff

Number of Patterns: 22

Size Range: 33"-45"

Colour/Black & White: Colour photographs, black and white charts

Schematics: for some garments, not put together but exploded.

Target Audience: Beginners and beginners looking to expand skills

How to knit guide: yes, this is most of what the book is about

Experimental/Classical/Modern: pretty classical.

Comments on patterns:
Garter Stitch Tunic Jumper - one-piece done side-to-side this is quite a simple but effective garment, done in a medium weight yarn on 6mm needles

Garter Stitch tunic sweater with detail - as the first garment but with some stitch detail on the cuffs and neckline.

Spiny Ridges Socks - basic socks with some lacy detail, slip one heel, knit in super fine yarn with 2.75mm needles.

Seed Checks Baby Sweater - knit in one piece to the armholes with stitch details on the bottom; dk yarn on 4mm needles

Lacy Sweater - it's a short-sleeved lacy cardigan, done in pieces and sewn, could probably be knit in one piece to the underarms. dk on 4mm needles.

Legwarmers - using a variety of stitches and stripes, in medium weight yarn using 4mm, 5mm & 5.5mm needles

Honeycomb Washcloth - a washcloth knit in dk weight cotton yarn with 4mm needles.

Eyelet Cloche is a hat that's quite open with a decorative large flower and leaf. Medium weight yarn on 5 & 6mm needles.

The Parasol Ripples Scarf is knit in silk-bamboo lightweight yarn knit (patons Silkn Bamboo is the recommended yarn) with 4mm & 5.5mm needles.

Slip-stitch card case is made in a medium weight yarn on 5mm needles.

The Two-color toddler Hat in medium weight yarn and 4mm & 5mm needles. It has a plain top and a slip-stitch colour pattern on the bottom.

Leaf Coasters - leaf shapes with lining and interrfacing.

Double Cables Hat - it's a hat with cables and a bobble, knit in medium weight yarn with 4mm and 5.5mm needles

Top-down Toddler Cardigan is designed to go with the toddler hat, again in two colours and worked from the top down; knit in medium weight yarn in 4mm & 5mm needles

Top-down Mock Cable Pullover has a drswstring through the neckline and mock cable on the neckline; cuffs and waist. Knit in a dk weight yarn in 4 & 5mm needles

An Entrelac Handbag is used as an intro to Entrelac knitting - knit in two colours of yarn (Patons Decor) with 3.5 & 5mm needles, a simple bag that has bamboo handles

Freeform Knitted bag are shapes sewn to a plastic backing; using 4 & 5mm needles and a variety of yarns.

The Freeform Vest is worked in one piece to armhole in an open mesh with applied motifs on the shoulders, knit in wool ease with 5mm & 6mm needles

Crazy Lace Sampler scarf uses fingering or sock yarn and 4.5mm needles, a variety of yarns and variety of patterns used throughout

Beaded Slip Stich Bag uses the crochet hook method of adding beads (which allows you to add beads without stringing them on beforehand). Knit in Koigu with 2.75mm needles

Queen of Hearts Beret is the introduction to intarsia using in part a self-striping yarn to give it more dimensions. This is knit flat in DK yarn using 3.25 & 4mm needles

Twinned Mittens for Kids - using a light-coloured worsted weight yarn using 4mm needles

Ouroborus knitting - using a tree rings sweater this works in rings from the centre out, getting larger and larger and eventually creating a full garment, this notes that it can be added to to make it bigger. Using Classic Wool and 4.5mm needless

Buy/Borrow: If you're a beginner this one might be a good place for reference. There are some stitches

Where found: Kilkenny County Library via Borrowbooks.ie

Crocheting for Dummies (2nd Edition)

2011-04-29T13:57:00.000+01:00

Ravelry Link (actually for the first edition but the patterns look the same); Book Depository Link

Impressions: While it uses US terms it does note the difference between US and UK terms. This book concentrates on the basics, there aren't very many garments here but there are a lot of other patterns, the basics and this is where this book is quite good. The diagrams are clear and I would think that this would be a valuable basic knowledge book for Crochet. There's a guide to crochet stitch diagrams as well, that takes you through simple to more complicated.

Types of patterns: hats, bags, scarves, dishcloths, jumpers, amigurumi, cushions, blankets, towel and accessories to name a few. It has several basic patterns that would lend themselves to experimentation. Sadly while it does list a few variations on crochet it lacks a bibliography that would allow you to move on. The back lists ravelry, Crochetme and Crochetville and lists Crochet! magazine and Interweave Crochet and the Crochet Guild of America but lists very few non-US sources.

Colour/Black & White: mostly black and white with a colour insert with most of the patterns.

Schematics: yes for the garments

Target Audience: beginners and I could also see it being a useful as a reference work. I have several others that would do the same job but I was starting out again this would be high on my to buy list.

How to Crochet guide: yes

Experimental/Classical/Modern: mostly classical stuff.

Comments on patterns: The book teaches you some basics and then offers up some projects, like dishcloths, that would be pretty easy as starters and then works it's way up to garments, which are worked in one piece

Buy/Borrow: It would be a useful reference work for most folks, particularly if you plan to design for the US market. It's pretty basic though, so if you already have a work that fills this gap, I'd borrow first before buying. It's biased towards the US so don't rely on it for Yarn sources, magazines or associations.

Where found: Dublin City Public libraries has a few copies.

Country Weekend Socks Review

2011-04-28T23:42:00.001+01:00

Book Depository Link Ravelry Link

Impressions: This is a book of fairly heavy weight socks, there are a few in 4ply but most of the patterns are in DK or heavier, these are for heavy-weight use and several would be good stashbusters. They look pretty slouchy and several of them don't look well-fitting but that could be styling. I'm not queueing up to buy this though a few of the patterns did attract my attention. Many of the patterns are knee highs but there's no real suggestions of how to adapt for different sized legs or length of leg.

Types of patterns: Socks

Number of Patterns: 25

Size Range: Adult socks

Colour/Black & White: Colour mostly, colour charts but written lace.

Schematics: no

Target Audience: Some are pretty advanced but most are intermediate to advanced.

How to knit guide: Some basic guides and advice included.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: mostly classical but I have a feeling a lot of it will date.

Comments on patterns: Divided into six chapters, the first is Cables; then Stipes and Multicolour; Gansey Stitch Patterns; Fair Isle and Sanquhar; Argyle and Lace Knitting. The Content list also has pictures of the patterns numbered which is useful. The Gansey Stitch with gusset heel; the Traditional shetland pattern socks; the over the knee lacy stockings and the argyle over-the-knee socks caught my eye but really didn't make me want to add them to my queue. Many of them are knit in the flat.

Buy/Borrow: I'm glad I borrowed it first, this will not be added to my library at this time.

Where found: Got via Borrowbooks from Longford Library.

Aran FAQ

2011-03-13T22:27:00.003Z

This is a Work in Progress. I probably will update this over time as I find more information and books.

Aran Knitters FAQ

Do Irish People still knit Aran Jumpers?

Yes, many of them for entertainment rather than money, there isn't a lot of money to be made from knitting and when you mention payment and the time it takes to knit a garment people. Because most Aran jumpers were done as piece work and during people's evenings etc., people didn't regard it as real work therefore there are several issues associated with it.

Ireland has been a more prosperous nation and many things associated with old harder times were rejected.

Many tourists have an idea that Ireland is a land still in the early 20th Century and while aspects of Ireland are sadly behind, one of Ireland’s largest “exports” is software

From the Irish Central Statistics Office here in 2006 57% of households had a computer, 2% didn’t state and 41% didn’t. 35% of computer owners have broadband, 47% had another internet access, leaving only 18% of computer users in 2006 without Internet access.

When were Aran Jumpers invented?

There is no evidence for Aran Jumpers, despite a lot of photographs of the Aran Islands (at the turn of the century the Aran Islands were popular due to a widespread resurgence in interest in national

1893: the only items knitted on the islands were socks, according to a report which surveyed cottage industries.

1907: Synge reported that some of the islanders were beginning to adopt the fishing costumes common to the British and Scottish coastline (i.e. the dark coloured gansey).

early 1930’s: white aran sweaters (as we know them today) began to become the fashion for young boys to wear at their communion; still a child-only garment at this stage, and a male one.

later 1930s: Muriel Gahan (a knitwear designer in Dublin) develops the idea of turning these items into adult size and marketing them in Dublin in a tourist shop. Paddy O Síocháin gets in on the act and creates the company. They are encouraged by funding from the Congested Districts Board.

here’s an interesting history

Here’s a photo from Mairead’s blog which shows the actual traditional costumes worn.

Here’s a video featuring the Man of Aran film from the 30s no white cabled jumpers in sight.

Why have Irish knitters abandoned the Aran tradition?

The Aran Tradition only dates to the 1930s so it’s relatively modern. It’s also very associated with a twee Irishness that many Irish people find quite embarrassing and hard to swallow. The traditional Aran Jumpers tend to be very bulky and unflattering and many people would like a more flattering style, adapting them can be quite complicated and often regarded as not “really arans” and there is no way to really win. Even if you pick modern designs that are influenced by Aran designs they are often not felt to be true Arans. There may be more designs influenced by Arans in the future and hopefully the dialogue between the past and the future will continue.

Why are the Irish Knitters so angry about Aran Knitting?

Many Irish Knitters are uncomfortable with regular castigation about not respecting the Aran Knitting Tradition and about allowing it to die out, while the commentators have no idea what their history or experiences around Aran Knitting is. There may have been stories of complete dependence on Aran Knitting to keep food on people’s tables. Many people have worked in Tourist Traps and had to tell tall tales to keep the tourists happy. It is difficult to research the truth of a traditional Irish Knitting because there has been so many stories built up around it.

Why do Irish-Americans respect the Aran Traditions more than people who live in Ireland?

There are traditions that have build up around Irish-America that are actually Irish American and are not actually Irish. For a long time Ireland was very dependent on Irish Americans for money and maintaining some illusions were in many ways more important than the truth and while both cultures have roots in the same source there have been different growth and in ways it has been quite different. The influences and experiences are different and the things that people find important can be quite different. Many Irish people regard Aran Knitting as interesting but quite outdated. At the same time Irish Knitting and Aran Knitting has the same relationship that Fantasy has to Tolkien, there always will be an influence whether or not people acknowledge it.

Do only people from the Aran Islands knit Aran Jumpers?

No, Aran jumpers are and have been knit by people from all over Ireland and all over the world. Commercial Aran Jumpers are made all over the world.

What is a real Aran Jumper?

What many people regard as a real Aran Jumper is often a garment with drop sleeves, with three sections of patterning, a central section (sometimes relatively plain) two mirrored or the same panels that usually are designed to go up to the shoulders and plain side panels. The advantage of this style of pattern is that it’s relatively easy to size up.

Where are the Aran Islands?

The Aran Islands are mid-way down the western seaboard of Ireland, geologically they’re part of Clare, the part that sticks out below them, whereas administratively they’re part of Galway, the part inland and above.

What is my Clan Aran?

Clan Arans are a marketing gimic dreamt up by a compan called Clan Aran, you can find them here they are based in Killarney. (see map here for distance from Aran Islands to Killarney as opposed to Galway or Shannon)

Where can I buy real Aran Jumpers?

One of the shops is O'Maille's

What’s the difference between hand made, hand loomed and machine made?

Hand made are made by hand by a knitter, hand loomed is supervised by a knitter but made on a machine, sometimes with some stitch manipulation by a person and machine made is where a machine is programmed with the pattern and created. Hand loomed and machine made tend to be more regular with fewer errors and much flatter than hand made. Hand made also tends to smell more like sheep and have a slightly oilier feel due to the natural oils being unsuited to use with machines.

But my jumper says Irish Made, why are you saying it’s made in China?

Irish Made and made in Ireland aren’t always the same thing. Irish Made can mean made for an Irish company. Made in Ireland is still a bit slippery as so long as somewhere in the process there was Irish involvement it still can be legitimately called Irish Made.

Why are some Aran Knitwear items made in China?

Expense, Chinese manufacturing costs are much lower than Ireland.

What do the stitches mean?

That all depends on who you talk to. People have attached certain meanings but I think stitches are like dreams, you can attach any meaning to the stitches and some of them will only make real sense to the stitcher, no matter what anyone else says. Sometimes the stories make enough sense to other people that they were adopted by others. Stories have been built around some of the stitches and have become more rigidly adopted.

Who is Heinz Keiwe and why is there steam coming out of Several People's ears at the mention of his name?

This is the man solely responsible for the respect given to the myth of the Aran Jumper, a romantic idea brought about, not by a visit to the islands but by a visit to Dublin. He took the garments found in a tourist shop and took a look at Celtic knotwork and possibly the Book of Kells and combined all of these into a magical story that got a lot of people's imaginations. Many people who have done research and looked for actual historical evidence have failed to find any. If Aran jumpers were as prevalent as is suggested there would have been photographic evidence before the 1930's. There is none. There is evidence for jumpers that resemble English coastal fishermans jumpers, garments that would have been practical and wouldn't have interfered with the job of fishing. Several Irish People are historians and like accuracy and he made stuff up.

Who has written about Aran Knitting?

Deirdre McQuillan - The Aran Sweater

Alice Starmore - Aran Knitting

Margot Cullen - Knot Sure

Shelagh Hollingsworth - Traditional Aran Knitting

Traditional Aran Island Knitting by Pam Dawson

Traditional Knitting - Gwyn Morgan

Aran & Celtics the best of Knitter's Magazine

Elizabeth Zimmerman has some Aran Patterns in both Opinionated Knitter and Knitter's Almanac

http://needled.wordpress.com/2009/12/09/cable/

Irish Knitting - Rohanna Darlington

History of Handknitting - Richard Rutt

200 Aran Stitches the Harmony Guide

Deeds not words the Life and Work of Muriel Gahan - Geraldine Mitchell

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/734788/Grail-trail-Aran-sweaters.html

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2010/0821/1224277251806.html

http://www.knittinghaven.com/thenewgrannychic.html
Irish Time article about an exhibit on Inis Oirr
Contemporary Irish Knits by Carol Feller

But what about the poor lost Aran Fisherman?

Actually, the fisherman story comes from a JM Synge 1904 play Riders to the Sea where the fisherman was identified by a sock with dropped stitches.

Where can I find good Aran Patterns?

Now that's a loaded question. This depends on what you want from an Aran Jumper. The Harmony Guide is quite good for the drop shoulder version of the Aran Jumper with advice on how to make one to fit.

What designers have used Aran Patterns?

Gertrude Sampson

Glynis Robins

Cyril Cullen

Have Aran Patterns been used in other mediums?

Pottery!

What do you think of the books written about Aran Knitting?

Deirdre McQuillan - The Aran Sweater - generally quite well respected

Alice Starmore - Aran Knitting - she examines four garments in the National Museum and comments on the development of the Aran style. Her patterns respect the Aran Tradition but take it forward and are knit in finer yarn in general.

Margot Cullen - Knot Sure - this is a biography of Cyril Cullen and has some photographs of some of his designs. He wrote some patterns for the RTE Guide which were popular and would have influenced Irish Knitters in the 60’s and 70’s, as this TV guide was quite popular.

Shelagh Hollingsworth - Traditional Aran Knitting - her intro was written by Kiewe, however the patterns are pretty traditional, it is widely available as it was reprinted by Dover

Pam Dawson - Traditional Aran Island Knitting

Paddy Ó Síocháin - Aran: Islands of Legend [this one I haven’t read, I think I may have to hunt it up - Deirdre]

Rohanna Darlington - Irish Knitting

Richard Rutt - History of Handknitting

Ethnic Knitting: exploration (also unread, another one to hunt up)

Carol Feller - Contemporary Irish Knits does some contemporary versions of Aran patterns and visits Irish Mills that are still spinning.

Can I buy real Irish Yarn?

Unfortunately it can be hard to source true Irish grown and harvested yarn. For a long time there has been greater demand for sheep for food rather than sheep for yarn. We have sadly neglected many native breeds, in favour of breeds that produce more meat quickly.

Wicklow and Kerry Hill Sheep are actually listed as extinct breeds; Roscommon and Galway Sheep are still listed as surviving (see PDF here)

Sheep site with some policies here

There are only a small few yarn producers in Ireland

Black Water Abbey Yarns imports Irish Yarn

Cushendale Mill

Kilcarra/Donegal Yarns

Kerry Woollen Mills

Can I help Irish Native Breeds?

Adopt a sheep

What shop first sold Aran Jumpers?

O'Maille's in Galway claim to be first

History of Aran Patterns

Patons were the first to produce commercial patterns Vogue magazine also printed them. Tivoli continue to design Aran style jumpers like this they also have other patterns, some of which use a lot of different yarns

How much were the Knitters Paid?

According to Weaving Tapestry in Rural Ireland by Meghan Nuttall Sayres Tapeis Gael Mentor Mary McKellis says (p 10) “‘These projects kept a pound in your pocket where they would otherwise be none’... recalling the days in the 1950s and 1960s when she hand-knitted sweaters for Gaeltarra Eireann for four shillings and six pence each.”

What weight is Aran Wool?

Aran Weight wool falls between double knitting and worsted. It's often worked with either 4.5 to 5.5mm needles.

Has this happened in other countries?

see Invention of Tradition; Celtic Geographies: Old Culture, new times;

Narrative, Agency, and Mood: On the Social Construction of National History in Scotland

Staged Authenticity and Heritage Tourism in Science Direct.

How does Ravelry define Aran or Irish?

Aran = a style of knitting that includes intricate designs using cables, bobbles and other decorative elements that originated in the Aran Islands of Ireland. Please use this attribute only for patterns that are specifically made in the Aran regional style - this attribute will not apply to all cabled patterns. Lace and colorwork patterns should not be marked with this attribute.

Irish = knitting or crochet created with techniques traditionally from Ireland. Often includes richly cabled garments (knitting) or floral lace motifs (crochet). Please note that this attribute is specifically for traditional Irish crochet and knitting and should not be used on “Saint Patrick’s Day” themed items. Not all patterns with cables, shamrocks, or crocheted flowers should be marked with this attribute.

Are there bees on the Aran Islands?

Yes, not only are there bees on the island, there’s a sub-species of bee.

Irish People talk about County Colours what are they talking about?

County colours are related to both Hurling (the fastest field sport in the world) and Gaelic Football and is from the GAA county colours which can be found here please note that both London & New York are treated as Irish counties as well, there are several other GAA associations worldwide see here: if you’re wondering about Provinces there are four, Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught and these correspond roughly to Northern Ireland (Ulster has 3 more counties than the part of Ireland referred to as The North); Southern Ireland, Eastern Ireland and Western Ireland. More information can be found on the websites of the individual provinces. Many Irish people will wear county colours during finals and will usually know what their county colours are.

What are you talking about with the People’s Republic of Cork?

Cork is Ireland’s second largest city. It is the most prominent city in Munster. Related to the county colours, the counties also have nicknames, Cork is the Rebel County. The county Colours are red and white and you can see the t-shirts and more about it here

Do Irish People wear Green on St Patricks Day?

Not all of them and seriously they don’t care, it’s usually a day off and yes there’s parades and overdrinking but there’s no pinching and no St Patty’s either, to Irish people it’s St Patrick or St Paddy’s.

NB Congested districts board. see sections 8 and 10 also where WWI and a demand for Knitwear for frontline troops gave business where a decline in demand for lace started, a suggestion of drift from lace to knitting. Big demand for Machine Knit Arans even in the 1930s. note “training in machine knitting” From this pg 148 of the text and 20 of the PDF “Not the least difficult part of the Board’s duties is the developing of home and cottage industry. These comprise Basketmaking, carpentry, kelp-making, lace-making, knitting and the manufacturing of carpets and woolens.”

NB Maltese knitting partic Gozo

NB Newfoundland Aran Knitting - newfoundland pattern fusion of nordic and cables

Project Ideas

2011-03-10T00:48:00.001Z

So I see the question regularly online, what's the best project to start doing a certain type of knitting. I think I'd get shot down regularly for my answer but it would be "whatever makes your heart sing"

Yes. Forget easy, forget what techniques you don't know how to do. If a project makes your heart sing you will work out what needs to be done to make it happen.

What is making you scared of a project?

You don't have the skills? If you know how to knit and purl you know most of knitting. You can use a swatch to try out some of the other issues, to work out if you're happy with the combination of stitch and yarn and needle. If it isn't working out there is nothing wrong with ripping it out and re-purposing it. If you don't get the result the first time you knit something you've still learned something from it. Maybe that you need more practice at it, making it again maybe. Maybe when you're done with the pattern it no longer sings to you and another one speaks out. It's a continuous forward journey this knitting.

I know that sometimes what looks complicated isn't. Sometimes the pattern that makes people gasp and wonder at your mad skillz is in fact pretty easy and the wonder is caused by clever manipulation of stitches. Stitch by stitch it builds. Stitch by stitch it comes together. It sometimes reminds me of Cross Stitch. You start, you stitch and stitch and there comes a moment when it moves from being a mess of stitches to a something. That often happens with a lace pattern too, it starts off being yarn overs and knit stitch togethers and then suddenly it becomes something.

Never feel you can't. You can. You just have to believe in you. Believe that it's possible. And you know if your heart isn't made to sing by jumpers/cardigans/sweaters/large projects then DON'T DO THEM. Always follow your heart with craft, particularly if it isn't your job, because then it will always be something that fills your heart, not something that brings it down. Never feel you should do something. If you really want to know what it's like to knit a particular kind of garment and you're not sure, make it baby sized and give it away as a gift. It won't take long and if it doesn't interest you it will be over soon. Some of my best projects have come from a moment where I've wondered how it was done and my curiosity got the better of me. Allowing a childlike glee loose is sometimes the best thing you can do with craft.

Not-too Brainless

2011-03-04T23:01:00.000Z

I started knitting this thinking it was going to be a pair of socks for me. As I was knitting them the chevrons and the fairly camouflaged colouring suggested that Mac was a better recipient. They're called Brainless yeah, right, mostly okay, but there are aspects that really require a lot of thinking. It also was supposed to stop where the front needle is but he requested more length, and then more, and more, until I could have done twice the number of cables but as I already had finished one sock and he didn't seem to want much more and by the time I realised how much more he wanted I was already done with this pattern.

The yarn is GB Inka 100 which was a bit fuzzier than I expected.

Vintage Knits Review

2011-02-25T01:07:00.003Z

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link (all pattern links are to Ravelry

Impressions: The descriptions about the garments just made me laugh. It's written like a vogue fashion guidebook, describing the accessories and garments with the knitted items, and occasionally the locations, rather than concentrating on how the garment is made and what the details are. Once you get past this attempt to be a fashion book and you realise that many of the patterns are in fact pretty classic pieces and quite nice really. This was first published as Vintage Style by Rowan Yarns in 2004; this is a 2010 reprint by Search Press. The designers are Kaffe Fassett; Sarah Dallas; Kim Hargreaves; Martin Storey; Sharon Peake; Louisa Harding; Brandon Mably and Lucinda Guy. This is a book of designs inspired by the 40's, 50's and 60's designed for a more modern sensibility. The sizing for women's doesn't really go above 40" but wwith a range of sizes sizing up shouldn't be too hard.

Translated for the american audience the US needle size takes precidence. Kim Hargreaves has the majority of patterns here so if you like her style this might be the book for you.

I though most of the patterns were pretty classic or adaptable to be more classic with changes of colour or leaving off some of the ornamentation.

Types of patterns: Men and women's Jumpers, cardigans and some scarves

Number of Patterns: 30

Split of patterns: cardigan/Jacket (13); Men's Waistcoat (1); Men's Jumper (6); Jumper (5); Shawl/stole (1); scarf (1); short-sleeved top (3); Coat (1); men's cardigan (1)

Size Range: Men: 38"-46" (s-xxl); Women's 32"-40" (xs-xl)

Colour/Black & White: Colour with some colour-enhanced charts

Schematics: Yes

Target Audience: Intermediate to advanced for most a few are pretty easy, provided you have some exposure to the UK way of knit patterns.

How to knit guide: No

Experimental/Classical/Modern: fairly classical

Comments on patterns:

Laurent a belted cardigan with a shawl style collar this has floral intarsia and some embroidery, enough of the colour to add interest but not too much to swamp the garment, if I was making this I would seriously consider the placement of the lowest flower where the neck starts to split, it might be more flattering a little higher up. Sharon Peake is the designer of this one

Chinese Basket by Kaffe Fassett; a man's jumper and tank top. This ids relatively subdued for a Kaffe Fassett piece but you'd need to be pretty confident of your colourwork to tackle this one

Suzette is a v-necked cardigan with a small patterned stripe. Could be loud, could be subtle, the stripes are quite obvious in the model but they're small so they might suit some more than others. You would want to be happy working with colourwork charts as this is how it's done. Designed by Kim Hargreaves

Fleur is also by Kim Hargreaves, a bolero style jacket with a high fastening neck. Sleeves are knit at the same time and it's bead-edged.

Bridget by Martin Storey is a black and white highnecked cardigan. The pattern concentrates on the yoke with only "lice" patterning on the main body

Clark is a pretty plain men's jumper with faux-seams to add some interest and a turtleneck. Designed by Kim Hargreaves

Aimee using stripes of two strands and a smaller needle and one strand and a bigger needle this creates a fine and airy garment, the original is knit in kidsilk haze. An interesting idea. Another Kim Hargreaves design

Elise more of a jacket or formal cardigan than relaxed garment this has curved fronts "and a ruffled edge, the front wrap would make this a warm garment, and another by Kim Hargreaves

Tyrolean CardiganThis is designed by Sarah Dallas and is a waistlength cardigan that looks from the pictures that you might need to make some adjustments if you wanted it to meet for the top few buttons. Some embroidery detail adds to the cardigan.

Faye is a cardigan with a belt, designed by Kim Hargreaves, deep v-neck with a i-chord belt just above the ribbing. The styling of the pictures really doesn't give you a lot of detail about the piece.

Mason is another Kim Hargreaves pattern with cabling lost to the darkness of the original yarn and a turtle neck, also features reverse stocking stitch

Jolie is also by Kim Hargreaves, a slip stitch deep v-necked cardigan with button detailing on the wrists. Commentary on Ravelry lead me to suspect that the sleeves may need to be longer or the v-neck stopped earlier, it sits a bit wide.

Collette designed by Louisa Harding this uses stripes of lace vertically rather than horizontally and the original was knit in 4-ply, so possibly a use for singleton balls of covetable sock yarn.

Chantel by Kim Hargreaves is a crochet pattern, take multiple colours at random, crochet motif, 100 motifs later you crochet them together and create a stole/shawl.

Magnolia plain jumper (made with Kid Silk Haze and Kid Classic together) with collar and button detail. Pretty classic piece from Kim Hargreaves

Joy straight knitting produces a collar on this Kim Hargreaves designed cardigan that has beading (approximately 5,300 of them!) The Peplum is unbuttoned and could possibly do with being bigger.

Piers designed for men by Martin Storey, this jumper has tree and snowflake desiges in roundels and a fairly tight wrap-over neck.

Monettedesigned by Lucinda Guy, knit in Kid Silk Haze and 3.25mm needles the scarf has stripes and lace to the bottom

Cherie this is a jumper with an almost boat neck, knit in DK (Rowan Yorkshire Tweed) and otherwise is quite plain. It does have some shaping. Designed by Kim Hargreaves

Oriel An Asymmetrically fastened jacket, I would like to see it open, knit in 4ply and kidsilk haze held together.

Salina a polo-shirt collar with shaping on this relatively plain jumper knit in Felted Tweed. A basic pattern designed by Kim Hargreaves

Beau; a man's jumper with a polo-shirt neckline and some stitch detail to break up the monotony. Yet another by Kim Hargreaves, knit in Aran weight yarn.

Agnes a t-shirt style top, fitted and with an open detail on the sleeve, knit in 4-ply and designed by Kim Hargreaves

Demi Another Kim Hargreaves, knit in Aran weight yarn this is an Aran inspired jumper with shoulder buttons and a round neck.

Touscon Scape is designed by Brandon Mably, knit in yorkshire tweed Aran and DK throughout, fitted colourwork cardigan.

Charlot is a Martin Storey design, patterned and embroidered, knit in 4-ply yarn, I've seen variations without the embroidery and it just didn't seem as nice as those with. Your mileage may vary.

Riva long coat, designed by Kim Hargreaves, knit in chunky weight yarn this is relatively plain but enlivened by a corsage, which could probably be replaced by a brooch.

Jarrett a man's cardigan knit in Dk with shoulder patches and elbow patches. Could be a good design for someone who often wears out their elbows!

Origami is a Kaffe Fassett pattern, triangles abound in this colourwork jumper knit in 4-ply and designed for men.

Mili is a t-shirt with an interesting neckline, knit in 4-ply and decorated with touches of colourwork and designed by Lucinda Guy

Alouette is designed by Sarah Dallas, knit in 4-ply this has a lace pattern and stripes of colour. Tapers to the bottom as it's designed to be waist length so lengthening could need some work.

Buy/Borrow: I plan to get a copy, while the puff-pices on each pattern is maddening, I've read much worse. Behind those are quite good patterns, while they don't have a really good range of sizing overall I found it pretty interesting and worth my while.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has a few copies in stock.

Pattern Mocking

2011-02-20T14:32:00.000Z

Honestly I think that mocking patterns falls into two basic camps. The "what is that and why did you need to do that?" and then there's the one where it's a mocking of the Aesthetic of a different era. I hope never to be a fan of fun-fur in garments.

Now I'm all for picking on modern patterns I often have issues with picking on older ones. Particularly those older ones that were of utilitarian bent. I think some of that comes from being a biker chick. Yes I am a pillion on a motorbike all too often, and this has taught me a few lessons.

Tuck it in. Oh yes, if it's loose it will provide an access point for the biting wind to nip you in places you never knew breezes could get into.

Wear Layers - multiple layers are a godsend. Layers up front, particularly around the neck and front seams, layers near your back... oh yes. I now truly understand dickeys, I need to knit some!

Buy the jacket that's a little too big - those layers need to go somewhere!

Low waist trousers may be cute but you will freeze. My trousers aren't low-waist, I still get cold above them. I couldn't believe it when my kevlar trousers were offered in low-rise...

So I do understand why many men depicted in early 20th Century pictures are shown wearing tight-fitting jumpers that tucked in. If I was in an army with a fairly strict dress code I'd want a jumper that could be worn as a relatively invisible layer. Colourwork also adds layers particularly Fair-isle (inartasia not so much) as you're using both yarns at the same time. Also if I worked in a place with a pretty strict dress code that was very cold I'd be inclined to have a jumper on under my formal jacket. Fashion and perceived right or wrong of a look has a lot to do with what we're told looks right rather than what actually makes sense for the person on the street. Who hasn't mocked the young girls who seem to keep warm in winter only from the looks they get? Only last night Mac and I went around to the shops and saw a guy walk past us quickly only in a shirt on his upper half while I shivered because I forgot my gloves. Oh boy did we mock him!

Looking at modern men's fashions I'm actually sometimes surprised at the snark about tight-fitting mens jumpers that is from only a few years ago. Yes I look at men's jumpers, I'm broad-shouldered and they look better on me than some of the alternatives!

I mean I mocked the knitted sleeves and leg-warmers, there are days I fantasise about having some! You still will never see me (unless for a very good charitable cause) in some of the designs I've seen on Yarn Yuck (though some of the snark is more about the models than the garments)

Natural Nursery Knits by Erika Knight

2011-02-20T00:32:00.005Z

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

Impressions: It's beautifully shot. However to me it does come across as trying a little too hard. Interspersed among the beautifully shot photographs of the garments are some shots of nature which seem to be there purely to enforce the green theme while ignoring some aspects of the production of some of the yarns involved (Cotton is often quite water hungry and while the growing of Bamboo is sustainable the processing to form the yarn isn't always that clean); there is a mention of using organic but no discussions of why. The one-page piece on plant and herb dyes includes some info on some medicinal uses for the dyes, which makes me a little uneasy as it's in very general way with no ideas of proportions or dilutions, and no warnings about possible interactions with other drugs.

This book is laid out in a pictures first pattern next format. I'm always a little wary about this layout, it sometimes comes across as padding and in this case I did feel that it was. It's full of the usual suspects for babies, mittens, blankets, toys, booties, etc. I would have been happier with more action shots. Most of the items are depicted in fairly neutral colours.

And then I passed it around at the Fibre Fun Friday. Oh man did the photographs come in for criticism. Many of them were questioned for their usefulness for portraying the garment, and in several there were questions about suitability at all, then again some of the people looking at the photographs are photographers themselves and can be quite critical about the thinking behind photographs. The general impression was underwhelmed. Many folks also questioned the usefulness of many of the patterns

Types of patterns: Baby patterns

Number of Patterns: 20

Split of patterns: blankets, toys, garments, ornaments

Size Range: 0-3/9-12 months

Colour/Black & White: all colour

Schematics: no, charts are only for colourwork

Target Audience: Fashionably green or folks looking for fairly classic mostly cotton baby-wear.

How to knit guide: no

Experimental/Classical/Modern: fairly classic design here.

Comments on patterns:
Cellular Blanket is knit in Milk Cotton and is described as both insulating and breathable, the yarn is DK

Teddy Bear - knit in Aran Weight yarn from British Wool and with gingham cotton paw pads and ears "can easily be customised to coordinate with baby's nursery"

Initialled Washcloth - knit in hemp yarn, DK weight, from comments I've seen about hemp I'd be inclined to wash this one a few times before use and testing on an adult first might be advisable. Has a useful alphabet of capital letters that could be used in other projects.

The Classic Cardigan is not depicted anywhere on a child. Looks good but I'd like proof.

Hare Doorstop is stuffed with Rice and Cotton and with that mix you would need to ensure it keeps dry! Knit in DK yarn (the sample is knit in hemp), lined with muslin, this would be good practice for learning how to create a lining for an item.

Scented Cushion - knit in 4ply Cotton this is more a scented sachet than cushion as it's 14cm x 14 cm; lined and stuffed

Rabbit Rattle - the introduction mentions baby alpaca yarn but the materials list talks about Organic Cotton... a circular rattle with a rabbit head attached.

Hat and Boots - again not photographed on a baby, these look well, striped hat and boots with a ribbon loop attached on the inside.

Fairisle Papoose - not for a beginner really if knit in the cotton suggested - cotton can be hard to get not to look uneven when you're not familiar with the technique. This is knit in DK. The Fairisle is nicely understated and only two-colour, so if you're willing to put a bit of concentration into this it could be good.

First Blanket - made in Bamboo dk weight yarn, worked in garter stitch with a saw tooth edging, which is sew in afterwards.

Dress and Pants - the dress reminds me somewhat of hospital gowns. Actually modelled, but not from the front! Worked in 4ply milk cotton

Recycled Rag Basket, small and large - using rags construct a moss stitch basket, sew together.

Sweater and Trousers - jumper with a pocket and shoulder buttoning and trousers with a pocket as well, unmodelled. Knit in DK weight cotton

Bootees and Bonnet - cute bootees with a lacy pattern that look like summer shoes. The "bonnet" is the hat depicted on the cover of my edition.

Lace Cushion - knit in Dk cashmere-cotton with a lot of texture and lace this would possibly be a great present for the mother!

Bird Mobile - knit in dk organic cotton "these are assembled with shiny natural buttons,

Review of Itty Bitty Nursery by Susan B Anderson

2011-02-17T23:25:00.000Z

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

Impressions: Spiral bound inside a cover; the author encourages readers to leap right in and knit what inspired them. However the chapters are actually arranged thematically. Starting with Squares and Rectangles you're looking at relatively simple garter stitch squares sewn together to make items and while a little rough and ready. Then it moves to baby sets where more complicated stitches get involved. There's also some embroidery. The chapter on Nursery items has some very sweet bits and pieces that could be made quite quickly but I'd say a few are quite fiddly. On the Go baby has some pacifier clips and other items for out and about. Playtime has bigger toys than the nursery items.

Overall it's sweet, the photographs are cute and do show the items fairly well, the instructions appear clear and fairly straightforward, most appear to be well laid out (not having knit any of the patterns myself I can't really comment on the ease or non-ease of use!) and while some don't fall into my aesthetic many of them are cute. This book got a lot of people quite gushy about it, words like "sweet" and "cute" were scattered about with abandon! While some of the items may date, the photographs look pretty classic with minimalistic settings in relatively neutral backgrounds. If you were looking for something a little different from the usual this would be a good book to get.

The texts is a little small and the two-coloumn layout can break the flow of the pattern. Some of the headings are a little faint. While the information about the embroidery isn't bad the layout of lettering isn't really entered into (an issue with the hanging sachet with bebe written on it, particularly if you want to change the lettering). Published in the US this does occasionally use US terms and the crochet would be US terms as well. Double check before launching into the edging!

Types of patterns: Stuff, including clothers, for babies

Number of Patterns: 40, however some of these are slight variations on themes.

Split of patterns: mostly accessories and toys there are also a fair number of baby clothes here too.

Size Range: newborn to 24 months

Colour/Black & White: colour photographs; mostly black text with some colour enhancement.

Schematics: For the garments

Target Audience: Parents and people looking for baby gifts

How to knit guide: yes, broken into two pieces, the basics; near the front; and some more advanced techniques after the patterns.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: I'd rate them as pretty classical.

Comments on patterns: The squares and rectangles chapter isn't a bad place for a beginner knitter, though you would need to know how to sew for this one. The Squares and rectangles baby set are pretty doable within the abilities of most and could possibly cure some of their fear of full garments. Basically you knit several garter stitch scarves and sew them together. What could be simpler? There's a Cardigan, a hat and booties.

A Hanging sachet uses some embroidery detail but that's really up to the maker

Grumpy Old bear is made of multiple garter stitch squares. yarn leftovers make him a scarf; and a cardigan finishes off his ensemble.

Patches is a patchwork blanket that can be made by a group, decorated by pompoms, the designer changed direction of the squares. Throwing in a few corner to corner ones would also add in some interesting texture and be good practice.

The next chapter is Baby Sets: Circles and stripes stroller blanket begins the chapter. Crocheted on and embroidered on circles add to the interest. There's also a matching Stroller Jacket and Mittens. To finish out the piece there's a Chubby Bunny, using leftovers!

The Flower Cardigan and Hat set uses applique to add in the piece and i-cord for an interesting stem that forms loops for the buttons. A matching hat also uses playful i-cord.

Baby's Texture Blanket - using tonnes of colour and a variety of stitches this is a very varied piece.

A cozy book pillow (cushion) and slippers are quite cute, the cushion has a pocket in the back for a favourite book) a boatneck striped jumper rounds out the piece, with some surface embroidery that echoes embroidery on the cushion.

Pure and Sweet layette, with cardigan, hat, booties and blanket this is intended for newborns, add in a bunny rattle and your're set

Nursery Goodies is the next chapter: Opening with a Garden Mice Mobile this has a set of five mice playing around a purchased unit, it has flowers and mice in all sorts of strange contortions.

The ubiquitous Baby box covers make an appearance, a wipe cover with pompoms and a tall tissue box cover ditto.

The Clothesline is clever with two jumpers, a t-shirt, jeans and umbrella decorating it.

Peas and Carrots are a pair meant to be cushiony.

On the Go, Baby has a variety of pacifier clips: flower, Elephant and Frog

Fruit Loops Bag is a felted bag for carrying all the essentials, with embroidered flowers, it has several pockets and would probably be a useful bag for a lot of other purposes.

Quick Knit Mini-tote. Cliched pink bag with sequins because "little girls love sequins and love pink"

Cupcake Baby set, made in cream, white and with a cherry on top of the hat and cream and white stripes on the scarf this is a rather cute Hat, Scarf and Mitten set.

Frenchie - a hat with a fair bit of colourwork, mostly due to knitting in rows, some surface embroidery.

The Last chapter is Playtime with a Cupcake Tea set, Cake Plate, saucers, serving plate, mini-cupcakes, sugar bowl, sugar cubes, teacups, teaspoons, creamer (milk jug); Tea Pot and Tea Bags

Dotted Chickens - stuffed spotty chickens.

Three Pigs and a Wolf - cute three huts too and a black pot.

Buy/Borrow: I do admit to liking some of the patterns, they have enough quirkyness to appeal to me but really it would need to be a very special baby to get that much work out of me

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has copies in stock.

Aran Knitting by Alice Starmore review

2011-02-12T20:02:00.000Z

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: mostly garments, a few accessories

Number of Patterns: 15

Split of patterns: Jumper (6); Jumper Child (2); Hat (2); Cardigan (3); shawl (2)

Size Range: 32-48" (81-122cm); Children 23-28"(58-71cm)

Colour/Black & White: Colour

Schematics: yes

Target Audience: Intermediate to advanced.

How to knit guide: no, some information but it does assume that you have knitting experience

Experimental/Classical/Modern: classical

Comments: This is a reprint of the out of print book that was quite popular online. Alice takes a look at the historical truth behind the garments and presents it quite well in an introduction that is only missing a bibliography. The second part is Aran Patterns, taking both traditional and her versions.

The third portion are the "Classic Aran Designs"

(all links are to Ravelry)

Starting with Aranmor, knit in aran weight bainin yarn this has a saddle shoulder and ornamental rib, photographed with both male and female models.

Killeany - designed for children, another saddle shoulder pattern worked in Aran wool

Galway is a gansey yarn hat, to fit children age 4-8

Na Craga - is in a 3ply yarn, again saddle shouldered, the cables on the front of this run both directions.

Fulmar is in an even finer yarn, saddle shouldered, ornate ribs.

Kittywake is a hat knit in a fine yarn with fairly complicated cables.

Irish Moss is in a 3ply yarn with ornate cabling, while ornate it isn't too busy. Pictured on both Male and female models.

Maidenhair is a round-necked collared cardigan knit in Gansey yarn, aran and openwork

Maidenhair shawl uses the patterning from the jumper in a shawl.

The Fourth Chapter is "Celtic Designs"

First is St Enda, a ornate saddle shouldered cabled unisex jumper, knit in aran yarn

St Brigid, ornately cabled with a braid around the neck, knit in 3-ply

Sigil uses a simple knotwork and some decorative details for a childs aran weight jumper

St Ciaran is an ornately cabled shawl knit in 3-ply yarn

Boudicca's Braid uses contrasting colour yarns to create an interesting cardigan. Remastered in 2-ply yarn for this edition

Eala Bhan is an ornate cardigan with tapered cables and body shaping, knit in 2-ply yarn, I would really like to knit this one for myself some day.

The last chapter is about designing your own Aran Jumper.

The patterns are designed to be knit in Alice Starmores' own yarn and by all accounts this would produce the best results. Substitution should be done with care and results won't be the same as the originals. The back describes it as a definitive guide and while it is quite extensive I would say that there are other ideas that could be got from other books. I like many of the patterns but some of the necklines look somewhat like afterthoughts. I also have to admit that I would be sorely tempted to use some of the elements of some patterns to make into cardigans for myself rather than jumpers, that way I would be more likely to wear them.

Overall this is an amazing book, the patterns are inspirational, with an interesting twist that takes them out of the tourist set and into classic design. It demands an eye for detail and you would need to be determined to put in a lot of work to finish one of these pieces.

Buy/Borrow: This is a book for fairly advanced intermediate and advanced knitters. It's inspirational and the patterns are complicated but I would say rewarding. If you're interested in Aran patterns or the history of Aran Knitting I would say that this is one of the better books out there on this topic. The various different patterns are charted and it would be pretty simple to adapt or change some of the patterns to suit various people.

Where found: I bought a copy for myself when I saw that it was coming back into print, Dover publications have it available directly. Once my copy was in and I saw the extensive history of Aran Knitting I recommended that Dublin City Public Libraries invest in a few and there are some copies in stock now.

Review of Special Knits by Debbie Bliss

2011-02-10T22:59:00.000Z

BookDepository Link; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: Baby and toddler clothing

Number of Patterns: 22 patterns

Split of patterns: tank top (2); blanket (2); jacket/cardigan (9); jumper (4); toy (1); dress (2); shawl (1); bag (2)

Size Range: 6-36 months

Colour/Black & White: Colour photographs throughout

Schematics: no

Target Audience: some are pretty simple but the ornamentation would require a lot of care and attention to detail.

How to knit guide: no

Experimental/Classical/Modern: pretty classic stuff

Comments: This stuff is really for the person with a lot of time or the parent planning to bring a baby or toddler to a special event. Theres a lot of ribbon, embroidery, ties and other fiddly work in these.

Eyelet Vest - a tank top with eyelets and a ribbon running through. Knit in Baby Cashmerino

Garter Stitch Blanket - cast on multiple stitches in Aran weight yarn, keep knitting.

Ribbed Jacket - this is a pretty basic wide-collared jacket, with an optional ornamentation on the fastener, knit in Aran weight yarn

Hooded Sweater - pretty basic, knit in aran yarn

Embroidered Kimono, knit in Debbie Bliss Prima this has contrasting edging and ribbon ties and floral embroidery all over

Ribbon Edged cardigan - knit in baby Cashmerino this has a ruffle-edged ribbon sewn into the edge. some nice stitch detail but the photographs don't really show the garment clearly

Rabbit - a toy rabbit knit in Cashmerino aran

Alphabet Sweater - aran weight yarn, cables and an embroidered letter in the front

Check and Cross stitch Jacket - knit in Debbie Bliss Prima (a dk yarn), this looks cute but the book doesn't show a full frontal shot of the garment. Some nice detail in what I can see, embroidery adds to the colourwork.

Ribbon-tied dress, knit in baby cashmerino with a ribbon tie, faux wraparound front.

Shawl knit in baby cashmerino, with a subtle body pattern and border that's slip stitched on, this is a nice piece.

Picot Dress and bag - a tunic really rather than a dress with Debbie Bliss' almost trademark moss stitch on the bodice, knit in Baby Cashmerino, the bag is worked in the flat and seamed up with a ribbon tie, would also be good for lavender or herbs, it would be pretty easy to work this in the round

Velvet-edged jacket, a fairly plain jacket edged with narrow piped ribbon, knit in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

Fair Isle Top- decorated with bands of fair isle and beads (which are sewn on afterwards!) this has a slightly square neckline and would be a good introduction to fair-isle for someone looking to try it. Knit in Baby Cashmerino

Bow-tied Bolero is knit in baby cashmerino and would be ideal for a wedding.

Beaded Cardigan - knit in baby cashmerino, the beads are sewn in afterwards.

Sampler Blanket - knit in Baby Cashmerino is is a sampler style baby blanket with cross stitch on completion

Organza-edged cardigan, a fairly simple cardigan is edged in organza ribbon, knit in Debbie Bliss Prima

Hooded Kaftan - a kaftan has some embroidery highlights, knit in Debbie Bliss Prima

Carrying Bag - knit yards of moss stitch sew with a lining. Knit in Cashmerino Aran.

Argyle cardigan - argyle motifs decorate the bottom of this cardigan knit in baby Cashmerino

Argyle Slipover - a tank top with the argyle motifs decorating the bottom, both together would make a baby-sized twin-set, also knit in Baby Cashmerino.

Overall it's not bad, however Debbie Bliss seems to be terribly allergic to knitting things in the round, where it would eliminate some of the seaming. I would also question the sewn-on beads, you would have to be extremely careful sewing them on! It's not a bad book but not my favourite.

Buy/Borrow: If I had a child and was going to be going to a special occasion I'd be tempted by this book, the knits are pretty simple but the additions add a lot to the pattern. A quick look at the Ravelry projects showed me that many of the projects with ornamentation had it left off. It could make some very pretty gifts but I'm not sure that it would be for everyone. I'd borrow it first to see if it's for you. I'd say that most people would knit one or two patterns out of this and a second project would probably be the rabbit or sampler blanket.

Where found: Dublin City Public libraries has recently got some copies in. (old copy)

Baby Knits for Beginners review

2011-02-05T17:12:00.000Z

BookDepository Link; Ravelry Link (all pattern links are to Ravelry)

Types of patterns: Baby Patterns: Clothing & Accessories

Number of Patterns: 15

Split of patterns: scarf (2); Blanket (1); Sachet (1); Jumper (3); Hat (1); Cushion (1); Cardigan (4); Slippers (1); Dress (1); Socks (1)

Size Range: 3 months to 36 months for some but not all patterns

Colour/Black & White: Colour

Schematics: Surprisingly no.

Target Audience: Beginners

How to knit guide: Yes

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Classical

Comments: This book would be ideal for beginner knitters. Particularly someone who has decided to learn to knit because a family member (or they) are having a baby. The patterns range from very very simple (the Garter Stitch Scarf for example) to more complicated (the V-Necked Sweater with Pockets) but they're all pretty much within the grasp of a relatively new knitter (or a more experienced knitter looking for something quick and simple to make!). All of the patterns use her yarn (to be expected honestly)

The first pattern is the Garter stitch scarf, your basic, learning to knit scarf, but as it's for a baby, fortunately quick. Knit in Aran this uses one ball of her Cashmerino.

Garter Stitch Blanket would be a way of practicing sewing up, she does suggest turning every alternate square through right angles which adds interest to the piece. Knit in garter stitch this could also be a good piece to practice picking up and knitting on, if you wanted to, again knit in her cashmerino Aran.

Sachets: These could be made bigger or smaller and are intended for lavender or small notions. DK Cotton used here. Stocking stitch.

Boat Neck Sweater introduces some minor shaping but it's largely square, knit in Cashmerino Aran

Simple hat - a good practice for learning decreases, this is knit in the flat and seamed (changing it to in the round would be fairly simple, dk in cotton.

Cushions with Buttonholes is pretty simple and making first buttonholes in something like a cushion would mean minor mistakes would be easily glossed over. There are actually two cushions done in chunky yarn. One is in moss stitch, the other in a wide broken rib

Jacket with Moss Stitch Bands. the Button and buttonhole bands are done at the same time. Stitches do need to be picked up for the neck, but it's only a little amount. Knit in Baby cashmerino

V-Neck Cardigan with Contrast Ribs, the buttonbands are worked afterwards for this in a different colour. Stitches are picked up, knit in cotton DK

Moss Stitch shoes are baby booties worked in moss stitch. worked flat and sewn up later knit in wool/cotton

Sweater with Square Set-in Sleeves. This teaches how to work a set in sleeve. A plain and purl effect diamonds decorate it, knit in cotton Dk, I've knit this one myself and it worked quite well in a different DK yarn

Raglan cardigan with fully fashioned shaping. The decreases match along the side. Knit in DK yarn

Dress with eyelets is a sleeveless dress with eyelet detail around the waist knit in wool/cotton

Shawl Collared Jacket uses short rows for the collar, worked in Aran weight yarn

Two-needle socks are worked in the flat and then seamed, magic loop learning potential here! Uses Baby Cashmerino.

Scarf with Pocket - the original uses a contrast colour lining, which is a nice detail. Knit in Aran weight yarn.

V-Neck sweater with pockets is a baby cashmerino jumper with contrast edging.

Overall if you knit each piece as it came you would probably end up with quite a good grounding in knitting. Each piece adds to the skills learned, in a fairly linear manner and makes this quite a good beginners book. My only problem would be the issue with lack of schematics as this would be also a good time to teach someone about how schematics work.

Buy/Borrow: It would be useful if you knit a lot of things for babies. Fairly simple stuff that offers occasional details that make the garments more interesting.

Where found: This is part of a second buy of this book, the first buy got us one copy, there's now 8 copies in stock in Dublin City Council.

Purls of Wisdom

2011-02-02T18:44:00.000Z

Book Depository Link ; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: accessories and household items

Number of Patterns: Scarf (4); cowl (1); wristwarmers (1); Hat (2); booties (1); baby hat (1); baby blanket (1); Baby Bib (1); Cushion (1); Hot Water bottle cover (1); Tea Cosy (1); Cafetiere cosy (1); Bracelet cover (1); cuff (1); i-pod cosy (1); Laptop cover (1)

Split of patterns:

Size Range:

Colour/Black & White: Colour photos, black and white text with some red enhancement

Schematics: no, then again none of the patterns really need it, there's also no charts for stitch patterns)

Target Audience:

How to knit guide: This book is mostly about how to knit with a few simple projects to get you started.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: classic with some modern twists. I'm not sure some of the cute is going to survive long

Comments: The cover quote from India Knight suggesting that it's "the only book about knitting you'll ever need." made me laugh "Gorgeous and essential" is the other half of the quote, which I would disagree with in part. The author herself nominates Barbara Walkers treasury of Knitting Patterns as her Desert Island Book! Pattern links are to Ravelry

It's one of those hip new knitting books that seem to be proliferating as publishers discover that there's a demand for knitting books. And yes, it's well illustrated (they use three colour printing with red as well as black and white) and several of the projects are challenging, however I would disagree with the ratings given to projects. Seriously, a plain pair of straightforward socks merit an intermediate, not a complicated rating with lots of don't worry's and panic nots in the instructions. I think people often overestimate complicatons and make things much more complicated than they really are. My best instructions to a first-time sock knitter, is to relax, find someone to point you at a simple sock pattern, preferably one that has plenty of people who have knit it and very little or no errata and just follow the pattern. What's the worst that can happen? That you have to rip it? So what. That it turns out with holes? Features I say, features. Trust in the power of the yarn and just knit it.

Deep Breath

The patterns are pretty basic but poorly sorted; "gifts for girls"; "gifts for boys"; "gifts for babies"; "gifts for the home" and "novelty gifts" are the various topics; she does talk about how to adapt the pattern to make it different.

Starting with Gifts for Girls you have a bramble stitch scarf. To my mind a scarf that's more unisex than gendered, the only way to gender it is with colour (and actually the photographs are of a neutral cream)
Lacy Scarf - a fairly regular scarf pattern in this (btw the pattern is written not charted)
Chunky Cowl, knit on 12 mm needles this is a pretty classic piece
Wristwarmers both with and without thumbholes
Classic Beret - actually without blocking on a plate you pretty much get a tam rather than a beret...
Cloud-nine socks - socks with a lacy pattern, she does suggest trying the plain socks first before these but rates them equally hard!

Gifts for boys:
Moss Stitch Scarf - knit on 12mm needles this is pretty unisex
Moss Stitch Tie
Diagonal Knot Stitch Scarf - knit on 5mm needles it's also fairly unisex
Twisted rib Beanie - a basic unisex beanie
Basic Boy Socks - basic anyone plain socks, knit with 3mm needles so pretty useful for any number of elaborate sock yarns.

Gifts for babies:
Mary Jane Booties: cute
Simple Baby Hat - knit in dk on smaller than usual needles (3.5mm)
Born under a star Blanket - knit in bulky yarn (6.5mm needles) this is a fairly repeditive but fairly spectacuar blanket
Bib - knit in dk cotton
Mortimer the Dog - cute but you'd need to make sure that the sewn parts are well anchored

For the Home:
Honeycomb Cable Cushion - good cable practice
Hot water bottle cover - knit in aran with 4.5mm needles
Tea Cosy - bulky knit, a modern take on a classic design
Cafetiere Cosy - again a bulky knit this fits between the top and bottom of the handles of the cafetiere and therefore fails my requirements for a Cafetiere Cosy.

Novelty Gifts - Covered Bangles - belongs with the "gifts for girls" really here. Indeed. Actually the virtue of this one is where the author suggests using a tension swatch and working out how many stitches you need, so a good pattern to start learning about adaptions

Lacy Bracelets - again "girls", these are often referred to as cuffs around the world

I-pod sock - a container for an i-pod

Laptop Case - knit with 10mm needles this is a big bulky cover.

Buy/Borrow: It's aimed at the late teen, early 20's market. If you have mastered the basics it's nothing new (perhaps the resources pages have some more details but apart from that there's really nothing new here) and the patterns aren't a real challenge. The cutesy girl and boy titles and I don't think that a lot of the patterns are as gendered as they are presented. It might be good for a beginner looking to try something new or refresh their mind about the techniques from school. It won't be joining my library.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has copies.

Complicated projects

2011-01-31T23:07:00.002Z

I swear you'd never know that the Craft Council of America did a difficulty/skills rating for projects with some pattern books.

"1: Beginner Projects for first-time knitters using basic knit and purl stitches.
Minimal shaping.

2; Easy Projects using basic stitches, repetitive stitch patterns, simple
color changes, and simple shaping and finishing.

3. Intermediate Projects with a variety of stitches, such as basic cables and lace,
simple intarsia, double-pointed needles and knitting in the round needle
techniques, mid-level shaping and finishing.

4. Experienced Projects using advanced techniques and stitches, such as short rows,
fair isle, more intricate intarsia, cables, lace patterns, and numerous
color changes."

Now what surprises me is that socks are actually experienced. (I don't know if you read my minor rant about the rug pattern in the Jane Austen Sewing Box, but that's a beginner pattern) Short row shaping for the heel, throws it into experienced. However a sock can be so simple. No really. The heel is really the only complex bit and even then with a well written sock pattern if you follow the pattern it will happen. There are socks that require more brain power.

Now while I don't agree with them on a lot of this I do think that there are projects that fall into complicated that aren't. There are very few patterns that can't be made easier by a well written pattern.

The way I rate projects would be

1. Beginner, the kind of project that can be picked up and a subtitled movie watched by a relatively experienced knitter. Repetitive, simple, very little surprises. If an error is made a lifeline would really make no difference, probably a crochet hook could solve most problems (except knitting too much).

2. Easy. Something that could be knit on a commute without dropping too many things underfoot. May require you to put it aside if you're doing something that requires attention, but nothing that makes you scratch your head too much. A movie in your language could be watched but not with the lights out. A lifeline could possibly be useful for a less experienced knitter but a more experienced knitter would probably be able to rip and pick up without sweating too hard. I would actually put a plain pair of socks with a rib and plain leg here.

3. Intermediate. Some fussing will be necessary and there will be swearing if an error happens, more if a lifeline has been forgotten. You might be able to bring it on a commute but you would probably need a book or alternate distraction for moments that require some head scratching. You could probably watch a well-loved series, but may have to pause either the knitting or the TV occasionally. Socks would have complex patterning but toe and heel pretty straightforward

4. Experienced. Requires concentration. Swearing may require children to be kept well away. May require test yarn and needles to see where it's going wrong. Knitters may retreat to an alternate location to concentrate. A lifeline is essential if you don't want to rip the whole way to the beginning. Extra yarn should be factored in for the yarn ruined by repeated ripping. The item produced is somewhat of an art piece and other knitters will ooh and ah over the piece. Socks wouldn't be made with regular shaping or methods.

So anyone got any ideas? Comments?

Traditional Aran Knitting

2011-01-31T13:49:00.003Z

Traditional Aran Knitting

Book Depository; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: mostly garments, some cushions as well

Number of Patterns: 23

Split of patterns: Jumper (6); Cardigan/Jacket (3); Waistcoat (2); Child's Coat (1); Hat (2); Mittens (1); Coat (1); Tabard (1); scarf (1); Cushion (3)

Size Range: 28-42"

Colour/Black & White: black & White

Schematics: no

Target Audience: intermediate to experienced

How to knit guide: No

Experimental/Classical/Modern: fairly classical

Comments:
The foreword is written by Heinz Edgar Kiewe. His theories about the Aran Islanders is largely discredited. He also contradicts himself, talking first about the islanders meeting "strangers on the ocean and exchanged their catches of fish for spices, as I disovered, as far away as Maroc" and then he talks about the "seclusion of Ireland and Aran". Kiewe's history of Aran Knitting is held by many historians of the craft as being as trustworthy and founded in truth as Baignet and Leigh about the Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. His claim that Daniel in the Book of Kells wore Aran-patterned knitted Stockings, breeches and sweater is intersting but the figure is quite small, and we know very little about the period garments and their construction, a raised pattern can be created by padding or by embedding cords within a fabric. Having done Calligraphy myself the urge to decorate largely blank items with some sort of patterning is quite strong.

Rant over, let's return to the book. The author talks about the lack of history and then about the meaning of some of the stitches. Like everything else this is quite subjective but with the wealth of carving on the island it would be difficult not to be inspired and people are prone towards creating stories about shapes and designs, by investing them with a story it makes the sequence more memorable and rooted in a person's consciousness. In all likeliness sequences were passed from woman to woman; and probably as much of the knitting was piecework the ability to clearly identify a piece as your own was of vital importance to these women. Subtle variations would have identified different women in a family.

Shelagh then explains the essentails of Aran knitting and then talks about designing your own (she uses a saddle shoulder for some of the illustrations) She does a run-through of some basic stitch patterns, starting from fairly simple and moving onto more and more complicated and involved patterns (this is where some updating and charts could be incredibly useful).

Patterns start with Pattern 1 the Traditional Fishing Shirt, an ornamental rib and saddle shoulders. (where the top of the sleeve continues to form part of the shoulders)

Pattern 2 is also a traditional Fishing shirt with different cables, again with an ornamental rib and saddle shoulders.

Patter 3 is different, pattern taken from one of the first Aran Jumpers to be recorded, again with saddle shoulders

Pattern 4: Family Sweater Round Neck; (5)Family Sweater, V-Neck and (6) Family Sweater Polo Neck, drop shouldered jumper made for men, women and children.

Pattern 7: v-neck raglan shaped cardigan.

Pattern 8: Cable-Patterned waistcoats - child and adult sized waistcoat

Pattern 9: Easy Knit Jackets - multi sized jacket with a single panel ("making it ideal for a beginner to knit") - this is the cover jacket, it's a Starsky and Hutch style cardigan, with a drop shoulder.

Pattern 10: Man's zip-fronted jacket - this is relatively plain, all over trinity stitch with a wide rib along the front that has cables, this is fairly modern, if I was to knit it I would consider doing something with the collar, it doesn't really add enough to the garment.

Child's Aran Patterned Coat also has a matching patterned hat and mitts (patterns 11, 12, 13)

Pattern 14: Child's Sweater with Crossover Shawl Collar, raglan shoulder

Pattern 15: Lady's Full Length Aran Patterned Coat - Bobble fan, trinity and moss stitch coat with drop shoulders, slits to the bottom and a high yoke, this isn't a bad design and could possibly be great with some work.

Pattern 16: Lady's Evening Waistcoat, knit in finer yarn (twilley Goldfingering to be exact) this would probably be quite good in a unsubtle yarn as the patterning is quite low, honeycomb and trinity stitch mostly.

Pattern 17: Lady's Tabard. This is a long-line sleeveless tank top with bobbles running down it with some other patterns. It would probably be vastly improved by losing the bobbles.

Pattern 18: Lady's Hat - a pretty basic pull-on hat with a tassel.

Pattern 19: Lady's Mitts - mitts to match the hat

Pattern 20: Lady's Scarf to match hat and mitts

Pattern 21: Square Cushion Cover - 8 squares joined together to make a cushion, designer suggests you could use a number of cable patterns, a good way to see how the aran patterns can pull in the yarn.

Pattern 22: Oblong Cushion Cover - this is 92 stitches wide which could be close to an actual garment, this would be a useful swatch as many aran patterns are best measured across the whole pattern.

Pattern 23: Bolster-shaped cushion cover, a woven basket stitch makes this a sumptious cover and the basket stitch gives it a great texture.

Yes some of the patterns are dated and it completely lacks charts and schematics but overall it's not a bad book if you want to make an Aran Jumper as is found in many a tourist shop. The patterns may not be entirely to modern sensibilities but overall it's not bad, you just need to take the history with a pinch of salt.

Buy/Borrow: for what it is it isn't a bad book, the patterns are pretty standard with some tweaks in some places to make it a little more than just a guide to the standard arans as are found in tourist shops. I own a copy and doing this review I found myself thinking about knitting at least one or two of the waistcoats, with possible revisions. You just need to remember that the history is in the realm of myth rather than fact.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has got a copy in. Dover sell it in reprint.

Fashion Crochet by Caroline Horne

2011-01-30T13:40:00.001Z

Book Depository Link there's no Ravelry Link for this one.

other info: Mills & Boon, 1969, 263707369

Types of patterns: Mostly clothing

Number of Patterns: Bag (1); Hat(2); Stockings (1); Suit (2); Coat (2) Dress (2); shawl(1)

Split of patterns: women

Size Range: 34-40"; most patterns only offer 1-2 sizes

Colour/Black & White: Black and white

Schematics: No

Target Audience: Beginner Crocheters

How to Crochet guide: Yes

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Fairly Clasiscal

Comments:

The book opens with a guide on how to crochet, illustrated, then a how to read a pattern section and then on to the patterns

First is how to make a handbag, lined.

A crochet beret

A crochet hat

Stockings! Using Nylon thread

A Tailored suit with raglan sleeves - this is very Chanel.

3/4 length coat with raglan sleeves

Car Coat

Two-coloured Dress

Classic Teenagers dress

Cape Suit

Evening Shawl

The book finishes with suggested colour uses in the patterns; lengthening advice, and lining advice along with an announcement that from July 1st 1969 mm were coming in as standard and while the patterns are offered with old imperial crochet hook sizing, there is a conversion chart to mm sizing.

This is not a modern book and the sizing is very limited but it is an interesting book, not only is it part of the history of crochet but it's also published by Mills & Boon when they weren't just a romance novel production house. You would have to do a certain amount of research on the yarns cited to discover what the originals would have looked like and there's a lack of colour photographs (excepting the front cover); all the patterns are presented in fashion style sketches featuring a Twiggy-esque sketch wearing the garment.

Buy/Borrow: It belongs more as an historical book than a modern pattern book, though some of the principles would remain the same. However with the limited sizing and lack of schematics it's not too helpful, a book originally intended for a beginner or intermedite crocheter, it's now really a book for an intermediate or advanced worker.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has a copy.

Knitting Experience Book 3: Color the power and the glory

2011-01-29T23:36:00.002Z

Book Depository link; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: mostly clothing

Number of Patterns:44: Tea Cosy (1); Baby Jacket (1); Wrap (2); Jacket/cardigan (8); Jumper (12); Cuff (1); coat (1); scarf (2); Afghan (2); Tie (1); Top (3); waistcoat (2); Bag (1); Runner(1); Placemats(1); Skirt (3); Poncho (2)

Split of patterns: Men/women/children; mostly women some men and children and unisex

Size Range: Child 2-14 (21"-31.5"); Women (28-54"); Men (34-52") not all patterns in all sizes

Colour/Black & White: both

Schematics: yes, for pretty much everything

Target Audience: All levels really, most are pretty simple, probably mostly around the intermediate rate.

How to knit guide: there is a small reminder of some techniques at the back, but this is a continuation of the Knit & Purl books from the same series so some basic skills required.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: mostly classical with some more experimental patterns in there, some are quite blockly and oversized

Comments: As I said about Styles the patterns may not be for everyone, however the inspiration I have got from flicking through this book more than makes up for the boxy shapes and general shapelessness of the garments. However, there are some pieces that make me think about knitting them albeit with some modifications. The standout piece for me is the Panel-Party Tunic/Pullover/Dress, I want to make one nowish. This could be quite good for that slightly off yarn or those oddments that are close but not good enough of a match for a full garment. The information of how to combine yarns to make a particular weight is useful.
(2 superfine = 1 light
3 superfine = 1 medium
1 superfine + 1 light = 1 medium
2 fine = 1 medium
3 fine = 1 bulky
2 superfine + 1 light = 1 bulky
2 light = bulky
1 medium +1 fine = bulky)

The first chapter is about letting the yarn do the work. The Yarn-party poncho is basically 8 scarves sewn/crocheted together and made into a poncho

Summer breeze is a shapeless top buttoned to the side.

Faith Jacket is 15 strips sewn and then a shapeless jacket created

Blanket Jacket is a big bulky jacket that resembles many, it's not a bad style.

Jeremy's Jacket is a jumper soemwhat like the blanket jacket but more styled for men.

Choker Cuff started off as a minimal scarf that the model wrapped around her wrist and they liked it

Nancy's Skirt is a wool a-line shortish skirt with a lace patterning

Second Chapter is Stripes Simple and Not

First pattern is Skinny Stripes: a funnel or v-neck jumper, not for me with horizontal stripes.

Broad Stripes is a jumper with two different necks and a top with a broad stripe in the middle and other sized stripes along the body

Wobbly Stripes is a jumper with stripes made wavy by a lace pattern

Graduated stripes is a man and child jumper with graduated stripes

Collar-closing cardigan, using a variety of yarns for the body and collar, the collar is quite wide

The third chapter is Stripes that aren't.

Cynthia's Scarf/Afghan is a log-cabin pattern that can be made into a scarf or worked into an afghan, squares are worked and sewn together

Nod to Mod Pullover is a modular jumper that could be a great way to use up a variety of colours.

Big Bang Wrap is a a stripy wrap knit in a variety of colours, houndstooth pattern with a bit of a ruffle

Linen Stitch wrap is a 4 contrast colour wrap

Linen-stitch runner and placemats are what they say they are

Baby Rainbow Jacket uses the contrast yarn well and plays with the reverse side of the fabric because it looked interesting.

Slip-into-color pullover. Tweed stitch using a variaget yarn to create interest. Could also be a good use of leftovers.

Faux check Pullover - with a slip stitch and some stitching into a lower row it makes a houndstooth pattern.

Little Squares is an oversized jacket worked in the reverse of the faux check pullover, for a different look, the sample is knit in a heavy and light yarn for a different look.

Wrong-side sweater is again using the back of the faux check pullover and with a long tail on the back

Eds Tie uses three colours and a fairly simple stitch to create a fairly solid tie.

The 2-colour tradition is the next chapter, starting with the KISS purse that looks as good inside-out as outside in, it's fulled so useful for learning

North-Inspired cardigan is inspired by Icelandic patterns, the use of colour is interesting. Designed for infants or women, infant copies are always good for trying out techniques.

In Praise of Doodling is a zipped waistcoat for men and a toggled cardigan for women. The cardigan has saddle shoulders to add interest and the cuffs are done in the same colourway as the body, while the arms are done in a contrast colour

The Seventies is a vintage style poncho sized for a child or adult.

Not-Mrs-D's-Suit is a two parter, a skirt bordered with a two-colour snowflake design, the second part is a funnel neck pullover, done in a single colour yarn.

Panels, pictures and plaids is the last chapter.
Boyfriend Sweater is a large-scale jumper with vertical stripes, with dental moulding style detail

Princess Pullover is a jumper that can have a lot or a little colourwork, there's princess seams, decorated with button details.

Colour Party Parka is an oversized parka with many, many colours.

Annalee's Tea Cozy is a argyle fulled tea cozy.

Shared Border Cardigan is a riff off the Boyfriend Sweater with an asymmetrical hem.

Panel Party skirt is done in pieces that are sewn together, a short skirt with lace and ribbing.

Panel Party tunic/pullover/dress using the same principle as the skirt this is an interesting piece, funnel necked, this would be a great piece for using almost identical yarns. The designer used a variagated yarn for the lace part and plain yarns for the ribbed sections, the sleeves are ribbed and plain. You could probably use more colour, or odd balls that are similar colours that co-ordinate with the plain yarn. Also odd yarn lots would be broken up by the co-ordinating yarn and covered up.

Knitting Bag Jacket uses the pattern from a knitting bag, a round-necked cardigan this highlights multiple odments of yarn

Fishes is an oversized top or jumper, with simple blocky fish shapes decorated with either buttons or duplicate stitch.

Simple Plaid Scarf/Afghan using slip stitch, stripes and intarsia to create the plaid effect

Simple Plaid Top, it's slightly asymmetrical, it's a sleeveless top in a similar stitch to the scarf/afthan

Simple Plaid Vest - designed for men

Several of the pieces are just not me, but it's more the information and the ideas that sparkled through my head as I flicked through this book that make me want to order a copy for me! The portions about colour theory and how to knit with colour are well done and extensive. They're also attached to the chapters that deal with the concepts, so minimising the flicking through the book!

Buy/Borrow: well I intend to shell out for a copy. It's a good accompaniment to the rest of the series and if you're looking for ideas this one does supply, and also talks about colour theory, with a lot of ideas and examples. Some of the patterns

Where found: Cork County Library supplied this via Borrowbooks.

Jane Austen's Sewing Box

2011-01-17T13:18:00.006Z

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: Domestic patterns mostly

Number of Patterns: 18

Split of patterns: mostly sewn

Colour/Black & White: COlour

Schematics: yes

Target Audience: multi-crafting Jane Austen fans

How to knit guide: no

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Classical

Comments: Despite the picture of a woman knitting a pair of socks on the front there are only two knitting patterns in this book. The book opens with an introduction to craft in Jane Austen's books and then to things like materials and tools. Each project has a list of novels it appears in and some commentary about the uses at the period.

Letter Case: Sewn - Intermediate, a lined lettercase

Linen: sewn, intermediate, lace trimmed pillowcases, you could make this an easy project by decorating existing pillowcases

Cravat: Sewn fairly simple, also provides period images of tied cravats but no real details

Workbag: Sewing and embroidery: Intermediate, an embroidered project bag

Paper Flowers: Beginner made from rice, silk or firm tissue paper

Purses: Knitting, Sewing & Netting : intermediate/Advanced. Our first knitting project, a Misers Purse a knit flat pattern sewn with minor increasing. Rings keep the coins in the purse, the ends are decorated with Beads and tassels. The Netted Coin Purse is small enough to learn how to do netting, lined with a contrast fabric, with a clasp.

Huswife: Sewing rated as beginner, this is a small fabric case with pockets to hold needlework and sewing tools. Scissors, needles, tape measure, thread, pins and pin cushion are contained in this item. It has contrast fabric on the outside

Carpetwork: Needlework and sewing rated as intermediate, canvaswork, not charted, I have needlework experience and would find this a frustrating design.

Muff and tippet: Sewing, intermediate, using fake fur and contrasting cotton fabric.

Pin cushion and thread case: Sewing, rated beginner

Transparency: Painting rated intermediate/advanced. Using glass paint and a rectangle of glass they're painted. The hardest bit is the outliner from personal experience.

Bonnet: sewing intermediate level, gathered bonnet, this uses a straw bonnet to get the bowl

Reticule: Sewing, knotting and embroidery rated as intermediate/advanced. "using a knotting shuttle make a series of evenly spaced knots in the thread" are part of the instructions

Knitted Rug: Knitting, she says advanced, I say beginner. if you can cast on, knit, purl, can follow basic instructions, and can cast off, you're able to make this rug. There was mirth at the Fiber Fun Friday about this. The worst part is the poorly done chart. (In fact according to the Yarn Standards Council it ranks as Beginner and maybe at a push Easy)

Muslin Cap: Sewing beginner rated, a lacetrimmed muslin cap.

This didn't impress me, I was underwhelmed by the patterns and thought that there was a lot of missed opportunities and I wouldn't trust the ratings for the patterns. For a knitter the patterns are very basic and pretty mundane. If I was interested in Regency period costuming or dressing I would be interested in this. It's well illustrated with a lot of period details but I wasn't impressed overall.

Buy/Borrow: Borrow, you might be more impressed than me but it didn't fill me with an urge to break out needles of any sort.

Where found: Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Libraries via Borrowbooks

Styles - Sally Melville

2011-01-16T13:56:00.010Z

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: Garments, mostly

Number of Patterns: 27

Split of patterns: Jacket/Cardigan (6); Dog Coat (1); Vest (7); Children's Cardigan (2); Child's Jumper (1); Jumper (6); purse (1); coat (2); dress (1)

Size Range: 40-54 inches for adults

Colour/Black & White: Colour

Schematics: yes

Target Audience: impulse stashers. More intermediate or advanced knitters.

How to knit guide: Not the basics but some more specialist techniques are put forward

Experimental/Classical/Modern:

Comments: This book has dated a bit but some of the information is invaluable. She explores colour theory quite well in the beginning of the book and also shows where the colours come on a colour-wheel

The first chapter uses mostly Garter Stitch

Jessica's Jacket - blocky children's drop-shouldered jacket with a rainbow of stripes. Knit in Chunky weight yarns

Homer's Vest is a pretty simple Dog jumper with a very dark or black yarn twinned with a rainbow yarn in aran weight yarn.

Uncle Jeremey's Vest is a blocky waistcoat designed for men, in dk weight yarn. Subtle squares decorate this blocky garment.

Gander Blips Vest - an interesting surface use of a contrast yarn. Would be good for small amounts of an expensive or interesting contrast yarn, while the main colour is worsted weight the contrast can be in dk to chunky. A blocky waistcoat

Gander Blips Jacket uses the same technique for a cropped blocky jacket. This time the main colour is in an Aran Weight yarn and the contrasts in worsted to chunky weights.

Inspired-by-the-Log-Cabin Jacket. Knit in different directions this uses a worsted weight main colour (the original in a dark gray) while DK to aran Light to medium intensity colours. this is knit ina modular fashion, round necked jacket

The second chapter is Simple Fairisle

Caddy's Cardigan is done in both childrens (dk weight yarn) and adult (worsted with dk to aran weight contrasts). The children's is in brighter colours while the adult is more muted. Blocky garments.

The third chapter is Not-Your-Usual Intarsia

Standing-in-a-pile-of-leaves Pullover is a childrens garment that looks like a pile of leaves with leaves cascading down, the colours are autumnal, the background dark. The main colour is DK, the contrast colours are sport to worsted weights. There's also an Adult version, where the main colour is Aran weight and the Contrast colours DK to aran weights.

Standing-in-a-pile-of-leaves vest is a pointed front waistcoat, knit with the main colour in Aran weight and the contrast DK to Aran Weight.

Laurel's Jacket is a patchwork of squares in different colours. The sleeves are knit in one colour, with saddle shoulders, pointed front, sleeves can be knit plain or with a lace pattern. The sleeves are chunky weight, the body chunky to aran, she suggests textured yarns. As the sleeve colours can be used in the body I would be inclined to knit the sleeves first and then use as much of the remaining yarn in the body.

The fourth Chapter is Tweed Stitch Squares

Topher's Pullover is offered in a DK (with dk to aran contrasts) or Worsted weight (with DK to Aran contrasts too); square blocky jumper with squares that can be subtle or highly contrasting. Done in Childrens and adult versions

The Whistler Vest is a similar garment to the Topher Pullover, again subtle colour contrasts. Main colour DK, contrasts DK to Aran weight

Kenneth's Classic Vest is a pointed front waistcoat, again with squares, main colour worsted weight, contrasts DK to aran weight.

Ski Suit Cardigan has ribbed plain sleeves, it's a cropped cardigan, main colour worsted, contrasts DK to Aran weight yarns.

Tweed Stitch with Cables is the fifth chapter

Randy's Pullover was knit in quite bright colours and then overdyed and is quite subtle, again a blocky garment, it's knit in DK with DK to worsted contrasts.

Dress-Up Vest is a long-line waistcoat knit in dk with dk to aran contrasts, knit in subtle colours with either a round or v-neck

Annalee's Jacket is designed to be knit in a short range of colours, main colour DK, contrast DK to Aran weights. She suggests looking at stash and using a range of one colour. One of the sample garments is knit in very close shades and looks interesting.

The last chapter is Knitting as Warp, where you knit a garment loosely and then weave in contrast yarns

She starts this chapter with a bag that's basically a how-to for this technique. If this technique appeals you can then move on to the other patterns in the chapter

Shannon's Pullover has squares of contrast yarn in DK to Aran, main colour in Aran.

Tricia's Coat has diagonal stripes, the main colour is chunky, with diagonal colour and contrast colour in Chunky or doubled dk/worsted

Shadow Box Coat is a boxy coat, knit in chunky with Contrast as chunky or doubled dk/worsted.

Riley's "Jeans" pullover is made for children, main colour DK, contrasts in sport, dk or worsted.

Kilim Coat Dress is a dress inspired by kilim fabric, main colour DK, contrasts in DK to worsted. A short length button fronted dress with long sleeves.

Kilim vest is similar to the Kilim Dress but v-necked and long-line. Knit in Aran weight with DK to Aran contrast yarns.

The book also has a chapter on basic pattern drafting.

The garments aren't very fitted and in fact are very blocky but this book caught my eye more for inspiration than for the garments themselves. To fit todays sensibilities you would need to do some work on some of the pieces but it does show some great ways to use up impulse buys.

Buy/Borrow: I'd borrow it to see what you think, I borrowed it and it went straight on my wishlist. The patterns do show age but I found them inspirational. I have a lot of small quantities of yarn in my stash and this could be great to help me reduce the amount of excess yarn with a small outlay for some base yarns.

Where found: I got it via Borrowbooks from Cork County Libraries.

New Year, New Ambitions

2011-01-15T23:50:00.000Z

I've been a bit behind in updating this blog recently, *sigh*, the damned PC apparently picked up some sort of infection and decided that a go-slow was the only way, then when I changed to Ubuntu there was issues with Firefox, now I'm working with Chromium and things appear to be fine. Some minor tweaks needed and a minor learning curve and hopefully things will continue well.

I have some ambitions for 2011.

1. To publish a pattern, one of my patterns is in the hands of a test knitter.

2. To knit several patterns from my queue, at least 11

3. To knit 11 pairs of socks

4. to knit at least 2 adult garments.

5. to knit more from my stash than I buy (this should be easy, the government has gutted my wages)

6. To finish at least half the works in progress currently on my projects page, either finish or rip.

7. to knit at least one pair of knee socks for me

8. To knit Kilt Hose for Mac

9. To review at least 20 books

10. To knit at least 4 patterns from books I own

11. to keep the Irish Knitters updates going.

Knitters Almanac Review

2011-01-15T23:08:00.001Z

Book Depository Link; Dover Publications Link; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: Jumpers, cardigans, mittens, socks, hats, shawls

Number of Patterns: Jumper (3); Hat (2); pot-holder (1); Shawl (2); Blanket (1); Baby Cardigan (1); Baby longies(1); mittens (2); tights (1); top (1); christmas ornaments (1); socks (1)

Split of patterns: Patterns cover a wide range of sizing and tend towards the genderless

Size Range: Elizabeth encourages using guage to determine how many stitches to cast on and really only shows a guide rather than concrete patterns

Colour/Black & White: colour photographs black and white illustrations, hand-drawn charts

Schematics: no

Target Audience: I think to get the most out of this book you would need to have at least tackled a few patterns in her Knitting without Tears, a beginner would probably be a little lost with her assumption that you know how to knit, but a lot of patterns are really quite simple, they do need reading a few times to check what needs to be done (buttonholes can be a sticking point here)

How to knit guide: There is an appendix that goes into detail about some techniques but the actual guides to knitting are embedded in the text, the book rewards reading, and her style makes the book quite readable!

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Classical

Comments: This is the Commemorative Edition of a book that hasn't been out of print for a long time. It commemorates her 100th Birthday and the 50th year of the company she founded. Elizabeth Zimmermann is an author who is cited by a lot of authors as someone who made them think about their knitting instead of being a blind follower of knitting (though I do find myself that being a blind follower can be restful, sometimes). The book is laid out in months. The author has a unique style that reads almost like she's talking to you. She talks about her own knitting history and her own life as she talks about the knitting. Her role in the knitting world cannot be underestimated (and she is one of the proponents of the myth of Aran Jumpers, which makes it hard to unhook it from some knitter's psyches!)

The new edition includes a preface by her daughter Meg Swansen; an introduction by Stephanie Pearl McPhee; a frontispiece by Andrew Wyeth; a facsimile of a letter by Barbara Walker and the February Ladies Sweater, an adaptation of the baby sweater from February. It's hardback and the paper quality is quite high. The patterns are in stitches per inch, if you're looking for a more regular guage you should multiply the guage by four.

January: An Aran Jumper, a discussion of Guage, a suggestion to use a hat to check guage when you need (about half the number of stitches for a hat than a sweater), she admits to steeking cardigans.

February: Some Babies things. Where she advocates wool for babies and bright colours, her sneaky way of adding wool in makes me twitch though, there are people who genuinely can't wear wool and it's disingenuous to try to "convert" them. Also if you give a gift, the irritation factor may not be mentioned for politeness sake! This chapter has a double-knit pot-handler; with suggestions how to increase it to make a blanket, a square shawl; a baby sweater on two needles; baby leggings. There is also a suggestion for an adaptation of a baby bonnet.

March talks about buying yarn for a jumper; what to do if you run out of yarn. discusses colour changing, suggests making a sample hat and gives pithy directions for the jumper, which is worked in the round.

April: The Mystery Blanket, a pretty plain knit in the round in modules blanket, where she discusses grafting, and how to create a sampler to practice.

May has mittens for next winter. She believes in making them interchangable and suggests providing three at a time to accomodate losses. She suggests using gloves to experiment with colour, I or Idiot cord is mentioned, as is the thumb trick. There are two patterns, norwegian and mitred patterns.

June: Borders and Hats. She introduces a knitted garter stitch border. The hats are the Maltese Fisherman's Hat; the Ganomy hat and the three-cornered hat.

July has a shawl, with a one-row buttonhole. This is a circular shawl with very regular increases, something she suggests for travel knitting as the pattern is predicable. She talks about unventing and about knitting while travelling. There are a number of suggested laces she has for the shawl.

August has some Christmas Fiddle-Faddle or ornaments, designs a sock-heel and canoes her way through a holiday.

September has Nether Garments, or long-johns. She talks about getting kids into knitting. She talks about how to adjust the pattern for the person they're intended for, knits both footed and unfooted style, she also discusses making them into more trousers than tights, talks about her filming and mistakes, including rowing.

October has an open-collared pullover, which is a short-sleeved top, a polo shirt style design, worked from both the top and the bottom

Novemeber has the Moccasin Socks, where the sole is replacable

December: the Hurry-up last-minute sweater, a jumper knitted in the round with hems. She also talks about adjusting an already-made garment

The book also has an index and a conversion chart between US and metric needle sizes.

Buy/Borrow: It's a good edition of this book, I found her an engaging writer and while you may not like her she is very influential and has jostled a lot of the current generation out of conventional thinking and made them think about their knitting and take charge of it, instead of your knitting being in charge of you. She's regularly cited by people, so knowing a little about her could be useful if you're planning to get into design. Her conversational style doesn't suit everyone, so I'd be inclined to borrow it first and see if it suits you. I would encourage people to read her, even if you're only skimming the actual patterns as she has been so influential to an entire generation of knitters.

Where found: I have my own copy (of both editions! Which I bought out of my own money, direct from Dover Publications) and Dublin City Public Libraries has got a few copies in recently.

Irish Knitting History: cottages and clothing

2010-12-06T12:56:00.072Z

In an article on Cottages and Farmhouses by Rosemary ffolliott mentions that "In pre-Famine days almost every house had a spinning wheel for making yarn, but this practice was largely discontinued (except in flax-growing areas) after 1850.

In Irish Ancestor Vol III No 2 (1971) in an article on Women's Dress in Ireland 1680-1880 by Rosemary ffolliott she discusses an engraving of a Girl of the County of Wicklow engraved in the 1780's she is portrayed "busily engaged knitting a sock: this was an endless female occupation, although strangely knitting was not used as a means of making other garments." (p88) the sock appears to be knit in the round and has just turned the heel, the colour seems to have changed from the foot to the heel, possibly indicating a different wool used, possibly coarser or thicker wool at that stress point.

In an article about Emigrating from the Limerick Workhouse 1848-1869 by Dr S C O'Mahony (Irish Ancestor Vol XIV no 2, 1982) discusses the fact that in 1848 some 750 inmates of Limerick Workhouse, largely girls, emigrated to several countries. There were three work schemes. One to New York (103 people, 10 male adults, 75 female adults and 18 children, where adults were anybody aged 15 or older), one to Van Diemen's Land (50 girls) and Quebec (112 girls under 25); they were bought an "outfit" having to take their own bedding and cooking utensils) this outfit consisted of "2 night caps, 1 pair of shoes, 1 gown, 2 combs, pins, needles and thread for sewing, needles and 1/2 lb cotton for knitting, 1 flannel petticoat, 2 aprons, 1 bonnet, 2 shifts, 1 wrapper, 1 shawl, 1 brush, 2 towels, 1 neck kerchief, 2 pairs of stockings, 2lbs of soap, 1 prayer book, 2yds of calico, 1 scissors, 1 canvas bag." I would say that the quantity, and the fact that this is only about 220g of yarn that this was probably fine yarn and fine needles.

In an article "Shall these Bones Live" by Rosemary ffolliott she talks about a famers wife "She too often spun yarn for sale, or got her elder daughters to do it, and she and they would knit all the socks for their menfolk, as well as turning a useful hand to the making of clothes."

In the article by Ms ffolliott Men's Clothes in Ireland 1660-1850 she briefly mentions knit stockings worn by men with knee breeches in 1783 "doubtless kntted by his wife".

From much of this it would appear that woven cloth was common and used in the main for clothing. Alice Starmores point that the Aran Knitter was a seamstress may have been as much that the woman who designed the garments was familiar with cutting and sewing garments and not that familiar with the potential of knitted garments. All of this points to Knitting being a relatively new and relatively underused skill in Ireland. A person familiar with how woven garments were put together would be inclined to think of garments as something which was designed and created in pieces and then sewn together.

The evidence also says that wool, cotton and linen thread was available fairly readily (silk would also have been available as Huguenot weavers brought in silk weaving and would have had silk thread, but this would have been beyond the price range of most people, and probably to fine for most knitters. The evidence also points at fine knitting, and while the knitted garments would only have been socks, there may have been domestic knitting as well in the form of doileys, bedspreads, and other such items.

This is an interesting topic to pursue, I would like to find more.

(edited for a minor correction)

Irish Knitting History - 17th and 18th Century

2010-12-05T12:09:00.030Z

There were also some more Quaker Inventories
Thomas Rushworth of Athy in Co Kildare in 1675 had in his shop (among other things)
Item, for wool, tips of horn and one hide

From a farmer and merchant, William Collins from 1750. He was apparently farming and trading in wool in Shinrone in Co Offaly (then King's County) with his brother.

There was a considerable list of items which included

Wool in the house in value and salt £9 15s 6d
Combed wool part in the house and part in the hands of spinners worth if to be got in £17
Spun worsted in the house worth £28 10s
Combing rings, hutch and press and wool Tub, wheel and lossett 10s
Combers Wool Tubb 4d

(his total in goods he had were £181 14s)

this indicates that he outsourced the spinning and that there only appeared to be one listing for a type of yarn suggests that there was a single weight of yarn.

In none of the listings are mentioned knitting needles, which may not have been considered of any value or may have been considered a woman's property and perhaps handed over to a daughter or friend.

Irish Knitting History - 17th Century Quaker Merchants evidence

2010-12-04T21:53:00.001Z

My day job is a Inter-Library Loan Librarian, dispatching books hither, thither and yon. I recently got a request for an article from the Irish Ancestor Magazine (1). While we do have it in paper form, we also have the CD. So while I was doing work today I put the CD in the computer and did some searches while I worked. The search terms were "knit"; "crochet"; "yarn" and "wool". The magazine was twice a year and Rosemary ffolliott says in her introduction that it suffered from the rise of the internet, so she folded it up. She was preparing a book on Irish Costumes which was never published but alas died last March

Wool threw up the most results. After all wool merchants and woolworkers did throw up a number of results rather than anything about wool itself.

One of the articles is from Vol X No 1 from 1978, entitled "Inventories of Five Dublin Quaker Merchants in the Late Seventeenth Century" contributed by Olive C. Goodbody (Google doesn't give me much beyond the fact that she wrote a lot about Quakers). In it she lists wsome of the wills and deeds preserved in the Quaker Archives in Eustace Street. Abstracts of the Wills to which they are attached were printed in Quaker Records, Dublin. Abstracts of Wills in the possession of the Dublin and Wexford Monthly Meetings of the Society of Friends. Edited by P. Beryl Eustace and Olive C. Goodbody

One of these people was William Barnard of Dublin, clothier, 1684
Among the stock were:
Item: Wool 70s 1b Fustick and lumber make £3-10-00
Item. One coper, one pan one iron furnace and lead 7£ and combs and lumber in the shop 4£ make £11-00-00
Item. In worsted wool and worsted yarns and twelve stockins 272 pounds weight and 195 yarn in Spinners hands £047-07-00

John Inglefield of Dame Street, Dublin, chandler 1693 had some cotton yarn, cut, one presumes for wicks.

John Johnston of Chapelizod, Co. Dublin, weaver, 1694, had (among many other items):
Two whole packs of white Linnen yarn at 26£. pr pack £52
More Linnen Yarne 203 vallued to £15 4s 26l ditto 75l ditto broune 90l ditto 74l ditto Bobing Wolsteed Calinder & warping frame & bobing beam & scales 94l tapes 80p.l £20-5-4

However the one that caught my eye was Isachar Wilcocks of Dublin, Grocer, 1694

20 reams of paper £9
52 doz of pins £22-18-00
76 peeces Girt web £13-04-00 (not sure what this is, anyone know?)
36 pounds knitting needles at 8d p pound £1-04-00
17 doz of Wool cards at 15d per doz £12-15-00
A parcell of dye stuff val £157
A parcell of linen yarn value £25

What I find interesting is that the Knitting Needles aren't divided by size, did this indicate that there was only one size used? I also find it interesting that Linen yarn and cotton could have been used if people were so inclined. It does point out that knitting was known in 1694 in Ireland, and judging by the quantity and fact that the needles are available in a general store, indicates to me that it's relatively popular.

(1)Irish Ancestor

Needlecraft Book Review

2010-12-04T20:06:00.000Z

Bookdepository Link

Types of patterns: Guide to rather than pattern book

Colour/Black & White: Colour throughout

Target Audience: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced/mixed: more towards beginner but some guides to other methods

How to knit guide: yes, and how to crochet too. (as well as Embroidery, Needlepoint, Patchwork, Applique and Quilting)

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Pretty classical stuff

Comment: this is a manual book rather than a pattern book, it starts with a section on Knitting and then Crochet and then the other mentioned techniques (which it covers pretty much the same as the knitting and crochet, this is a knitting blog so I'm skipping the other three sections). Both sections start with tools and materials, and some of the details are almost identical. The photographs are large and clear. This is written in UK english with UK terms (i.e. stocking stitch for Stockingette, there may be differences in the US edition). After showing a few ways to cast on, it shows a few plain stitch patterns and then more complex. All are clearly photographed in a low-fuzz yarn and very clear. Then it has a few flower patterns, then cables and twists (twists it works without a cable needle) Then they give some cable stitch examples. Next up is lace with some examples of yarns for lace and some samples, both written out and charted. Then colourwork, with colourwork slip stitch patterns, and some examples. Then there's advice on following patterns and hoow to read them. Embelishment is next, embroidery, bead knitting and edging. Then circular knitting. There's a chapter on knitting toys with a knitted monkey, which is worked in the round. Felting is the next chapter and then knitting with unusual yarns.

The section on crochet is largely the same, this book is in UK terms and it's not until you're into the stitch techniques portion of the section that you find this out and find the difference! There are some minor differences in the chapters, Wire crochet is included.

The end of the book has a chapter on needlework care, the patterns for the knitted monkey and crocheted dog are included on pages 388-389 at the back of the book, while I understand why this is I think it would have been better to include the patterns nearer the projects. Ravelry and some other useful sites are included as well under useful websites.

Sally Harding provides the text for the Knitting and Crochet chapters.

Buy/Borrow: for me I have everything in it but it would be a good book for someone looking to get into various needlework, the pictures are clear and well done.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has several copies.

A Close-Knit Family

2010-11-15T18:00:00.222Z

Ravelry Link Book Depository Link

Types of patterns: Garments

Number of Patterns

Split of patterns: Each chapter has one women's pattern, most have a man's pattern as well and they all have a child or baby pattern. 36: Jumper women (5); Jumper Men (8); Baby Jumper (2); Baby Pants (2); Jumper Child (4); Waistcoat Women (1); Cardigan Children (1); Cardigan Women (4); Dress Girl (1); Baby All in one (1); Cardigan Men (2); Waistcoat Men (1); top women(2); tank top (1); Coat Children (1)

Size Range:Women: 36-49" (101.5-124.5cm); Men 44-54" (120.5-137cm);

Colour/Black & White: Colour photographs, pretty good but sometimes details of the garments aren't clear from the photographs.

Schematics: yes, with multiple point details, particularly if shaping is involved

Target Audience: a mixture of difficulties

How to knit guide: No, has a suggested references listing.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Most fairly classical but some are not currently fashionable

Comments: Many of the patterns are quite boxy but many could be adapted. Sleeves may need a lot of attention to adapt them. Skill levels are from the book itself.

Entwined Hearts:
Women's High-Neck Pullover, complex heart cables cover this boxy jumper. No real shot of the front but it looks interesting. Knit in worsted weight yarn. Skill level intermediate

Man's V-Neck Pullover - more heart like cables adorn this man's jumper Knit in Worsted yarn. Skill level intermediate

Baby's Pullover and Pants set - again cabled hearts cover this baby jumper. Knit in worsted weight yarn. Skill level Intermediate

Spicy Fair Isles
Women's Rolled-neck pullover: Knit in autumnal colours, this is a relatively short boxy jumper with fair isle bands, knit in heavy worsted yarn. Long plain bands that roll out on the neck, bottom and cuffs. Skill level intermediate

Men's Crew-Neck Pullover Another autumnal jumper with fairisle in a heavy worsted. Skill level intermediate

Child's Zippered Pullover: body child's jumper with a zip opening at the neck. Knit in heavy worsted with fair isle. Skill level intermediate.

Toasty Trio:
Woman's Cardigan Vest: Long-line waistcoat knit in worsted weight wool with v-neck. Listed as advanced beginner.

Man's Rugby Stripe Pullover: Worsted weight jumper with stripe and textured knit. Skill: Advanced Beginner

Child's Cardigan: Striped cardigan with fairly high v-neck, boxy, worsted weight. Listed as intermediate knit.

Pastoral Pastels
Women's Cropped CardiganLace-covered cardigan with some bobbles along cuff, hem and collar, knit in light worsted weight yarn. Shaping, length and lack of bobbles would probably make me want to knit it. Skill listed as intermediate

Child's Dress: Empire waisted dress with lace in the bodice and bobbles along hem, sleeve edge, bottom of bodice and neckline, knit in a light worsted. Skill listed as intermediate

Baby's All-in-one: lace to the waist and on the sleeves with bobbles along the cuffs and neckline. Knit in light worsted. Skill listed as intermediate

Riot of Ribs
Women's Mock Turtleneck Pullover; raglan sleeved jumper with ribbed body, short and boxy. Knit in light worsted yarn. Skill listed as intermediate

Man's V-Neck Pullover: Raglan sleeved jumper with ribbed body, v-necked. Knit in light worsted yarn. Skill listed as intermediate

Bird's-Eye Bulkies
Woman's Cardigan, round necked cardigan, knit in a bulky weight yarn, slipstitch pattern. Skill listed as intermediate

Man's Cardigan: v-necked cardigan with pockets, bulky weight yarn, slipstitch pattern, Skill listed as intermediate

Child's Crew-Neck Pullover: Bulky weight boxy jumper, slipstitch pattern. Skill listed as advanced beginner.

Harbor View Guernseys
Woman's Rolled-Neck Pullover: knit in worsted weight yarn with patterns all over the piece, bobbles along the hem and cuffs and a boxy, short look, the horizontal stripes mightn't suit everyone. Skill listed as intermediate

Man's Cardigan Vest Knit in worsted weight yarn with pockets and horizontal patterning all over the garment. boxy with dropped shoulders. Skill listed as intermediate

Child's Rolled-Neck Pullover: Knit in worsted weight yarn, patterning in the yoke, boxy. Skill listed as intermediate

Argyle Antics
Woman's Crew-Neck Pullover An interesting use of a band of argyle patterning along the top to this short-sleeved top. Knit in DK weight yarn. Skill listed as intermediate

Man's V-Neck Vest Band of argyle down the middle of this tank-top, knit in dk weight yarn. Skill listed as intermediate

Child's Color-Block Pullover same band of argyle as the man's tank-top but jumper divided in two with separate colours on each side. Skill listed as intermediate

Quick and Cozy

Woman's Shawl-Collar Cardigan Big jacket-style cardigan with pockets, knit in a bulky weight yarn. Skill listed as advanced beginner.

Man's Crew-Neck Pullover: Another bulky weight jumper with a round neck and some contrast around the hem, cuffs and neck. Skill listed as beginner

Girl's Swing Coat again in a bulky weight wool, this is an a-line coat. Poor photography doesn't show much detail. Skill listed as beginner

Seaside Stripes
Woman's Sleeveless Pullover Two-colour blue with white horizontal stripes buttoned to the back. Skill listed as intermediate

Man's Crew-Neck Pullover: knit in sport weight yarn, horizontally striped, blocky. Skill listed as advanced beginner.

Infant's Pullover: knit in sport weight yarn, horizontally striped, blocky. Skill listed as intermediate.

Nordic Warmth
Woman's Zippered High-Neck All-over, horizontal striped, knit in heavy worsted pattern. knit in sport weight yarn, horizontally striped, blocky. Skill listed as intermediate

Man's Turtleneck: Same as the woman's only with a turtleneck, slightly different patterning.

Child's Crew-neck Pullover: Childs jumper with band of patterning along the bottom of the sleeves and body, with "lice" patterning over remainder of body. Skill listed as intermediate

The South Hadley Tweeds
Woman's Shaped Cardigan A cardigan with a round neck, shaping, cables and pockets. Knit in heavy worsted weight. Skill listed as expert.

Man's CardiganHeavy worsted weight v-necked cardigan with a cable running down the sleeve. Skill listed as intermediate

Cabled Elegance
Woman's Tunic - Complex cabled pattern tunic with a rounded neck and side slits, somewhat blocky with quite wide sleeves. Knit in a DK weight yarn. Skill listed as intermediate

Man's Crew-Neck Pullover Cabled hem and cuffs on this man's version of the woman's garment, aslo knit in a DK weight yarn. Skill listed as intermediate

Child's Medallion Crew-Neck Pullover: childrens pattern with central diamond piece and seed stitch, blocky with very wide sleeves. Knit in DK weight. Skill listed as expert

Casual Comfort
Woman's High-Neck Pullover: broad cable down the centre, knit in worsted weight, seed stitch background. Skill listed as intermediate

Man's Zippered Pullover: two cables run down the body of this one knit in worsted weight. Skill listed as intermediate

Baby's Cardigan and Pants set: cardigan has cables similar to the men's cardigan, the pants is all in seed stitch, knit in worsted weight yarn. Skill listed as intermediate

Buy/Borrow: Borrow and see if the patterns are to your taste.

Where found: Purchased, remaindered in Charlie Byrne's Bookshop

Tweed by Nancy J. Thomas

2010-11-14T19:45:00.001Z

Book Depository Link Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: mostly garments with some accessories and two throws.

Number of Patterns: Hat (3); Scarf (4); Bag (2); pullover (4); Cushion (1); Waistcoat (2); Cardigan (3); Jacket (2); throw (2)

Split of patterns: men, women and unisex patterns

Size Range: women 34-54" (86-137cm) men 37.5-52.5" (95-133.5cm)

Colour/Black & White: Plenty of colour photos, black and white charts with colour highlights.

Schematics: for the garments

Target Audience: Chapters divided into Beginners, Advanced Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced

How to knit guide: Not really, a discussion of tweed yarns and most of the information comes from a spinner in Kilcar. There's also a brief piece on some tweed suitable patterns.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Classical with some modern twists.

Comments: While the listed yarns aren't readily available in Ireland the yarn is spun in Donegal in Kilcar, so careful substitution should be possible with Irish available yarns. There is an interesting article about Tweed yarn,

From the Beginners Chapter:

North Sea Hat & Scarf Set the scarf is in a double broken rib and the hat can be knit flat or in the round. Each end of the scarf has contrast colours and the hat has three broad stripes of colour too. This is a good beginners piece. Knit in a Superbulky weight yarn.

Lichen Ribbed Garter Scarf - knit in an aran weight yarn with a random stripe this has wide ends and ribbed middle, calls for 100g of the yarn and as most of the visible part is garter stitch this could be useful for busy yarns.

Kilt Knitting Bag a bag using 1 skein (or less) for each colour this could be useful for aran weight pure wool leftovers, it has a bit pocket on the front, uses webbing for the strap but old belts could be also useful.

Highlands felted bag and Beret - using a bulky pure wool this has an stylised almost paisley pattern on the bag and dots on the hat, the patterning is appliqued after knitting.

Gaelic Hat - big stocking hat, knit in bulky yarn, with a big pom-pom this is kinda rasta style.

Tweed River Pullover A pretty basic, knit in bulky yarn, jumper with a round neck. The original yarn is quite busy. Pretty unisex pattern, though most men would probably like a little more length.

Advanced Beginners Chapter

Coastal Cabled Scarf Moss stitch on the edges and a plaited cable down the middle, knit in a bulky yarn.

Kilcar Felted Pillow - this takes a Kilim style pattern and puts it in the centre of the piece, this would be a good introduction to inartasia, most mistakes would be ironed out with the felting. Knit in Aran weight yarn, again one skien of most colours it might be good for leftovers, two of the colours use very little of the yarn.

Carrick PulloverA ribbed jumper with a roll neck knit in a bulky yarn, this is again a unisex pattern. Length should possibly be revised for most as it comes just to mid-stomach on the model.

Stornaway Vest the rib of this is in a different colour and the body in another, the edging is also in another colour. It's knit in an Aran weight yarn. (and yes, I just added this pattern to Ravelry as I'm knitting it on commission for an aunt. I'm knitting it in one colour)

Galway Tie-Front Cardigan Knit in an aran weight yarn, this is a v-necked cardigan that I hope to knit some day with buttons or toggle closure instead of ties. The sleeves are knit in a slightly different shade to the body but I didn't notice until I was reading the promo. It also has pockets.

Intermedite Knitter Chapter

Moss Cabled Cardigan The moss is in reference to the colour this was knit in rather than the stitch. Knit in aran weight yarn this attracted some commentary at the Fiber Fun Friday because the rib looks a bit wrong. Possibly needs picking up fewer stitches for a less gathered look. A button front cardigan that has a high neck.

Scottish Isles Pullover a collared jumper knit in Aran weight yarn with shaping and cables, this is a fairly classic piece.

Ulst Mitered Scarf Knit in Aran yarn this again uses 1 ball of five colours for a fairly large scarf that's almost a stole.

Dublin Cabled Vest interesting cabled v-necked waistcoat this would probably suit a woman with a bit of shaping added, which should probably be easy enough after the lower set of cables.

Harris-Style Sampler Cardigan - with a mixture of stitches and horizontal colours in Aran weight yarn, along with fringing along the buttonband this doesn't appeal, I would like to see it without fringing and in a single colour.

Advanced Knitter Chapter

Isle of Skye Jacket an oversized jacket knit with a complex cable (it's 26 rows long) it's pretty unisex, knit in an aran weight yarn.

Chanel Style Tweed Jacket - knit in an aran weight yarn with the body in a slipstitch pattern and with contrast edging along the bottom, edges, pockets and cuffs, this is very dependent on careful colour choice.

Northern Ireland Peplum Pullover there was some disagreement about the bottom of this one, it might not be flattering to all. Knit in Aran weight yarn with some nice detailing around the neck but the photograph has hair in the way of a lot of the detail.

Outer Hebredies Sampler Throw - a sampler with 8 different single skeins of aran weight yarn, this could have more or less colours worked into it, it's worked in number of blocks and stripes.

Lake District Throw - Five skiens of one aran weight yarn and 1 skein of 17 more colours, this is a complex piece with a lot of flowers.

Overall not a bad book with a variety of uses of tweed style yarns without being too twee.

Buy/Borrow: the Libraries got copies and based on my viewing of it I bought my own copy, there are some pieces that I would be inclined to adapt a little but a few that I liked on first look.

Where found: I originally borrowed a copy from Dublin City Public Libraries.

Productive week

2010-11-07T22:21:00.000Z

Holey Moley Gloves (via Web Archive) (Ravelry Link)
A hat (Ravelry Link)
9 Patch Dishcloth Ravelry Link
Grandmothers Favourite (Ravelry Link)

I feel I had a rather productive week sick.

Coffee Press Quest

2010-11-03T14:43:00.000Z

I got me a new coffee press from Lidl and thought idly of making a coffee press cover, so that in times like this, I could make a batch and drink it over several hours.

Now I have to wonder about these (ravelry Link, login required) now yes, I'm searching for a french press cosy, but several of these lack something in the practicality aspect.
Lets' eliminate the Fleur de Lys "cozy"; scarves belong on people not as useful beverage warming items, I'd say the spillage aspect for this one is high. I could imagine it would be easy to put down on the trailing edges of this scarf. Very "Tish" making, shattered glass mixed with coffee is not a good beverage.
In my mind a French press cosy should have a number of useful aspects, the ability to keep pot warm while brewing, so the ones with the top with no space for the press mechanism are out immediately, vide: Midnightsky's Ribbed French Press Cozy and the felted press cozy; and the Oo la la French press cozy, no matter how pretty and the felted eggplant cozy.
Spout space is also good, along with handle space, eliminating the cozy by Adrian Bazilla.
Heat rises, and maximising coverage is good. Thus eliminating the ones by Lynne Anne Banks, Gillie Parsons; Jen Price; and Jane D
Larissa Brown's one is cute but lacing the damned thing up in a half-awake state? No!
There's fluffy yarn involved in this one

I think I need to go make myself a cup of coffee and swear a little before doing anything else. I may have to design something myself. Looking at some of the ones charging for their designs, I have no qualm about charging if I do design something!

Gods but theres a space for a well-designed caffietiere cozy. The project pages are also a "how not to shoot" an item. There's a few with no action shots, or where you can't see the full caffietiere.

Mental Health Knitting

2010-11-01T23:03:00.001Z

I've been working on some complicated pieces recently and decided I needed something easy, simple, quick. I'm off sick at the moment and my current projects are going very sloooooooly. Also when I'm ill I tend to be a little scattered, antibiotics do not help me to be completely compos mentis. (thank you Firefox for the spellcheck that's saving my blushes)

I decided first that I'd try to knit a waistcoat or tank top, in the US both seem to be termed vests, a term that doesn't distinguish enough about the two types of garment. Entertainingly Vest is an older term while waistcoat is newer. Another example of UK/Irish English and American English being divided by more than an ocean. It even goes deeper, as tanks in the US can be tops on their own, while in my mind a tank top is a closed waistcoat, often with a deep U or V neck. A vest to me is a garment you wear under a blouse, shirt or t-shirt as a warming layer.

I found a yarn I wanted to knit in and a pattern I liked and cast on, an realised that the yarn and the pattern were maybe a missmatch.

The yarn is proving to be a bit splitty and not helping my antibiotics addled brain. So I'm not sure if I should stop and try again when I come off or abandon this pattern with this yarn. I'm not sure it's crisp enough for the pattern.

So I decided that it would be a good thing to do some simple projects, to somewhat cleanse the palette and to make me feel a bit productive.
So I took some of the yarn from the socks I just finished and made this
this is the Cabled Coffee Cuff (Ravelry Link)

Patterns

2010-10-31T23:31:00.000Z

Or my likes and dislikes.

Okay, I'm opinionated about what I like and dislike in pattern books, and sometimes I get a little sarky, this being said I do try to be as balanced as I can. I try to point out good points in books, and often when I re-read posts I try to clarify that maybe it wasn't that bad, that maybe it was an overwhelming ugh that got to me. There are some things that will always get to me.

Lack of detailed pictures. I'm am guaranteed to get a little snippy if the model is more in focus than the knitted object, it's also guaranteed to make me a little sceptical about the garment. Lack of front views when there's details there? Garment unworn, particularly if other garments in the book are worn? Collar covered by a scarf? Closure not clearly shown? Repeated photographs, just with a little more focus on a random portion, or the worst sin of all, repeated photograph flipped? Oh yeah, colour me sceptical.

Lack of Schematics that actually tell you something. If the details in the introduction piece tell me that the garment is x inches or cm long and the sleeves are y inches long, I don't see why your schematics shouldn't tell me more. Useful details often include depth of neckline, width of waist, depth to waist if you have a fitted waist, the details that can help a person change things for the better. Your pattern will never be perfect for everyone, live with it.

Repeating patterns within the same book with no more a significant change than yarn or colour.

Online patterns, go to our website to get this pattern often means a year later it's gone and I have no hope of getting it.

The words funky or edgy fill me with dread. They usually actually mean this is an unholy mess.

I have to admit to a dislike of fun fur and other novelty yarns of most sorts, particularly when they're used for a whole garment, writers who insist that this style suits all women and other such absolutes. I also admit to a certain impatience with books that don't include mm needle sizes, or at least a quick guide to mm, but thats a bit of a personal preference.

What do I like? Well written patterns that allow me to adapt them to my 40" chest, 5'1" stature, I like classically styled pieces with some slightly unusual or different quirks. Yarns that aren't difficult to source or extremely expensive. Books that also make me think or inspire me will get my vote.

Another Pair of socks

2010-10-31T18:10:00.001Z

My eleventh pair of socks this year! I am on track to knit 12 this year, particularly as I've cast on for the twelfth already and am into the first repeat of the ankle.

These are my George R R Martin socks

Why George R R Martin? The first sock was completed while listening to George R R Martin's Guest of Honour Speech at Octocon this year. Yes I'm a geek.

I love how Autumnal this colourway is, I think it may have originally been bought to make a pair of socks for my husband but they're mine now. They're quite apt for wearing today, which I am doing.

ETA: These are Hermoine's Everyday Socks which definitely lok more complicated than they are, a nice pattern that breaks up possible pooling on the yarn.