LB collection swatches.

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Stefanie

Around the time of my podcast chat with Zontee of Lion Brand Yarns, I received a sampler of some of the new LB Collection yarns.

I had a chance to play with a few over the weekend. Lion doesn’t have a special page just for this collection, so I’m adding links to the individual info pages.

Here’s my swatch of the Superwash Merino:

I knit the swatch in stockinette, then in seed stitch, then a ribbed cable. I used a 5 instead of the recommended 6. Superwash yarns can sometimes feel sort of over-treated or almost like an acrylic. The LB superwash, though, is soft and lofty. As I was knitting it, it felt thin as it ran through my fingers, but it really sproinged up when knit. I think this would be great as a DK sock yarn, and also for baby stuff! The stitch definition is really nice, as you can see, so would do well with any textured pattern.

This is the Cotton Bamboo.

You know how some cotton (or bamboo or hemp) yarns can feel like string and hurt your hands as you use it? At first, this one LOOKED to me like it would, but once I cast on and started working with it, I really liked it. It has a really nice loft, so it creates a drapey, soft fabric. (I started a reclamation scarf with it, of course!) It has a subtle sheen and a really nice texture.

The next one that I’m going to try out is the LB collection wool stainless steel. My friend Cindy gave me a partial cone of habu wool that I’m going to carry along with this. See how well the colors coordinate? I can’t wait to try it! (have to meet a couple deadlines, then I can play!)

Oh, and here’s the Organic Wool. I think that the circle shrug from Glam Knits: 25 Designs For Luxe Yarns would look GREAT in this!

Last of the Bamboo is posted!

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Stefanie

I’m posting the last batch of my inauguration day dyeing, “Color of Hope” bamboo on Etsy today…

And that’s the last you’ll hear about bamboo yarn from me for a while (whew!)

In case you’re not on her mailing list, I have a new Stitch Diva pattern out:

So far, it’s just a preview, and should be available soon.

In other news, things are really busy right now! I’ve got a book deadline on Sunday, and am working away on my Fall 09 Mission Falls stuff. Also lots of things percolating, of course.

In Mazie news, she has so many new teeth! She’s worked hard for them. We are all very, very tired.

One designer's process

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Stefanie

OK, so you know I’ve coordinated a couple of the newer Mission Falls knitting pattern books? I’ll show you how I go about submitting a design, and then working up the sample garment.

This is just MY method…others will do this differently.

SO, it all starts with a sketch and a swatch:
sample sketch

Since it’s my job to coordinate this booklet, I wait to decide on my own yarn colors until I plan the color palette, and see what the other designers submit. Then I determine which colors everyone else’s designs will use, and fill in my own colors last. I usually try to work with the designers on their color choices, and not use too heavy a hand in choosing things for them.

Since this is a booklet for one yarn company, I need to look at fashion sites, determine what “the” fall color palette is, and then interpret that in the company’s existing colors. Here’s an example of what that looks like:

sample palette

I chose a few main colors, some neutrals, and then what I call “pop” colors…brights that will “pop” against the main colors when used as accents. I use this palette to assign colors to the designers, using their sketches and swatches as I go. Then, I use my own design sketches to fill in the color ‘gaps.’ Deciding ahead of time on a color palette ensures that the booklet will present a coordinated “line” of patterns even though we are four designers with four very different viewpoints. Assigning colors myself ensures that one color isn’t over-represented, and that there’s a nice overall theme and feel to things.

Once I decide which color(s) my sweater(s) will use, I do a swatch for each in stitch pattern to double-check my gauge, then do a big swatch for each at the raglan increase, to make sure that my stitch pattern will work with the increases that I want to do. Here are the (unblocked) swatches for the above sketch:

sample swatch Sorry that pic is awful! It’s night-time. I also don’t want to reveal too much before the pattern is officially published.

Once I have those swatches, I finish my pattern and either knit the garment myself or send it to a sample knitter like my good friend Cathi. I also just found a wonderful LOCAL sample / test knitter (hi Michelle)!! I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have a local sample knitter. We can meet periodically and make sure everything is working out…online that’s so tough!

I’ve got three designs in the Fall ’09 Mission Falls booklet, and I have two sample knitters…I’m still deciding which one to knit myself. I’m tempted to keep the worsted one and send out the two DK ones, but in reality I know that I should actually keep the more difficult one, and send out the ones I know will be trouble-free from the beginning.

Bring back the Zen: Q&A / Short Rows in Crisp Rectangle Tunic

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Stefanie

Remember when Knitting was the New Yoga? And new knitters were learning in order to relax and the rest of us were like, “hey, I guess knitting is relaxing…?”

We seem to have moved away from that notion in the last few years…whether because the new knitters are now trying more difficult patterns, or what, I don’t know…but I’ve decided to TRY to bring a little of that relaxation back.

At least for a few people.

I’ve added a Q&A category to the blog called “Bring Back the Zen,” which you’ll find by clicking on the category link at left. Every so often, I’ll blog the answer one of the questions that has made its way into my email inbox.

A warning: People can sometimes be pretty worked up by the time they write these. Often, they’ve already asked these questions at knitting group or taken their knitting and the pattern to the LYS and either gotten confusing answers or no answers at all.

I’ll post the questions exactly as they appear, so that you can get the whole gist…the full effect of what I see when I first read them. Because these are questions that people want to ask me personally, most of them will relate to my own patterns, but the questions that I receive really do run the knitting gamut…so look for some tips-and-tricks-type questions, too.

I hope that (at least for some of these questions) I’m able to de-fuse the situation, help knitters to take a deep breath, take a step back, look at the problem from a new perspective, let go of the anger and frustration, and relax once again into the “zen” that is knitting.

OK, here’s the first question, in its entirety, directly from my inbox:

Hello,

I am writing about your pattern for the Crisp Rectangle Tunic Top on page 37 of fitted knits.

My understanding of a short row is that upon completion of the row, you are back where you started.

If this is correct, isn’t it impossible to have a short hip row and a short neckline row consecutively such as on page 38, rows 21 (hip short row), and 22 (neckline short row)?

I took this to the shop where I bought the yarn and was told to e-mail you as they didn’t understand either.

Thanks for your explanation.

Ann K

Ann’s question is about the Crisp Rectangle Tunic in my book Fitted Knits: 25 Projects for the Fashionable Knitter.

Dear Ann,
You’re right, in the traditional sense, a short row is a little row inserted into the knitting in order to create fullness. The most common usages of short row shaping are in bust darts and sock heels and toes. They create a little pocket for the bust (in the case of bust darts) or the heel or toe (in the case of socks.)

In this case, the knitting is turned on its side, so that the darts are adding fullness at neckline and at hip. I hadn’t seen this technique used in garment construction before, so I had to invent my own terminology for the shaping that I used. This may be why you are unsure what to do, and why your LYS also was not able help.

The instructions are worded as, “Work X sts, wrap and turn, work to end.” And then the next row is similarly worded.

Here’s how I intended for this to be interpreted:

Basically, you are zigzagging across the fabric, working a short row at one edge, working all the way across, then working one at the other edge. Once you try a few rows, you’ll get the hang of it.

I hope that helps,

Stefanie.

For more help with other Fitted Knits patterns, look at the errata, check out the Fitted Knits-Along, and the Japel Knits group on Ravelry.

Double Dealing and an Online Glasses update!

Posted on February 12, 2009 by Stefanie

I should probably find this picture too embarrassing to post…

Nathan caught me double dealing last night. See the look on my face? Pure embarrassment.

Wearing one of my new scarves while knitting a FOURTH one. This, my friends, is the ultimate in double dealing. A phrase coined by Sarah C’s ex-husband Sam when he caught her watching the PBS version of Pride and Prejudice while reading the book to see how closely the dialogue matched up. Often a double dealing accusation is yelled aloud, as in, “I can’t believe you’re double dealing P&P!!” or expressed with quiet sympathy and a slow shake of the head, as in, “You’re totally double dealing on that scarf.”

The one in my hands / lap is the fabulous Alchemy Bamboo one I was talking about in Kai’s Goldfish…I have 3 gorgeous hanks of pure gorgeousness. I bought these (half off!!!!) at Unravel, not knowing what I was going to make with them, but knowing that I had to have them.

And LOOK!

Please don’t think I’m knitting all these just to try to sell you on the pattern…it’s $2. Buy it or not, I’ll be fine either way, believe me! I’m just truly truly addicted. I have SO MANY single skeins of yarn that it’s ridiculous!

I am on #5:

This one I knit using a hank of the DK bamboo that I dyed.

OK, I realized today after answering two questions about online glasses shopping that I kind of left you all hanging on this one…

Both of my online glasses purchases turned out great!

LBWeyewear.com had the best customer service. I had to send their pair back for a little problem with the lenses, and they didn’t even make me send the bad pair back in…they just made up a new pair and sent it out to me within a week!

The other company I used was 39dollarglasses.com. Their lenses also had a problem and had to be sent back. I think that 39dollarglasses must get more traffic, because they have a real time chat help area. I was sitting in that chat for 5 minutes and nobody even acknowledged me. Then I called on the phone (they keep banker’s hours on the East coast, which made it hard for me to get a hold of them.) and someone said they’d send me the instructions to return my glasses, which would then be inspected, and IF they were determined t o be flawed, they’d replace them. I included a note saying that I had photographed the flaws, documented the whole thing on my website, etc., and they did replace the glasses in about a week.

SO…after an initial slow start and bout of stress, both pairs ended up to be satisfactory, and I do receive compliments on both every time I wear them.

I think that because I have such a high prescription (I’m really nearsighted, been a glasses girl since I was 7 years old) I am more likely to have issues with the lenses. If I had gotten them from a shop I might even have issues. If you have a low prescription, you’re probably less likely to run into any problems.

I also think that since they’re online, they are aware of the fact that they will be held accountable for service and quality. There are blogs, flickr groups, and web forums devoted to just that.

I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to save a little cash. Even with my expensive prescription (I had to upgrade to the high-index lenses) I got both pairs for half of what I usually pay for just one pair. I feel very happy with these purchases, and like I really did get a deal.

…Stefanie Japel Knits…

Monthly Archives: February 2009

LB collection swatches.

Last of the Bamboo is posted!

One designer's process

Bring back the Zen: Q&A / Short Rows in Crisp Rectangle Tunic

Double Dealing and an Online Glasses update!