Taken from Knitting Daily Blog, October 10, 2011
Measuring yourself is never super fun (unless you've recently lost weight!), but knowing your measurements is essential to knitting sweaters that fit.
My knitting group got together a couple of years ago and had a measuring party—we buddied up and took each others' measurements and wrote them all down. We need to do that again since it's been awhile. Here's hoping my measurements have stayed the same or even gotten a tiny bit smaller!
After seeing episode 703 of Knitting Daily TV, I'm armed with lots of great information and tips to make the measurements more exact. Designers and authors Laura Bryant
and Barry Klein join host Shay Pendray to share their tricks for taking accurate measurements, along with lots of info about that mysterious element: ease.
Laura measures and tries on several sweaters and demonstrates how positive ease (a garment that measures a little larger than a person's measurements) and negative ease (a garment that measures a little smaller than a person's measurements) affect how the garment looks.
It might be counter-intuitive, but the garment with negative ease is much more flattering. I love this visual evidence—so many of us make our sweaters too big! Once when my knitting group was trying on sweaters for one of the the Interweave Knits galleries, almost everyone thought a certain sweater wasn't going to fit them. When it did I could see the light bulbs go on—"I think I've been making my sweaters too big" was the quote of the evening.
Laura and Barry have made a handy chart available for download, too. It's from their book The New Knitter's Template, and it provides blank spaces for every measurement you'll ever need. Here's the clip from episode 703:
Kathleen Cubley is the editor of Knitting Daily.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Caps For Good
Twenty-four infant caps were mailed off in February to be distributed to third world countries. Thanks to all who contributed their time and talent.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Queen - a Celebrity Among Us!
Mayor Ernie Eldridge of Willimantic honors Steve & Faith Kenton at Windam Town Hall during a Cupid Crowning Ceremony. The 29-year tradition, which recognizes residents who have contributed to the community during the year, was conferred upon the Kentons for their year-round volunteer work for programs like the Willimantic Wildlife Initiative and the Victorian House Tour.
Congratulations Faith & Steve
Photo Caption taken from the Courant - February 14, 2011 page B6 (Unfortunately I could not find the photo online.)
Congratulations Faith & Steve
Photo Caption taken from the Courant - February 14, 2011 page B6 (Unfortunately I could not find the photo online.)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
10 Sock Knitting Tips
10 Tips for Longer-Lasting Socks
Owning Simply Socks Yarn Company, a store that specializes in sock yarn, is a very particular niche. Over the past six years, the most common questions I get from my customers involve making hand knit socks last a long time. So I've compiled "10 Tips for Longer Lasting Socks."
1. Don't wind your yarn into a cake until you're ready to knit. Winding a skein into a cake pulls fibers taught and over months the yarn could lose its ability to spring back into shape.
2. Choose the right yarn for the project; 100% cotton yarn isn't necessarily appropriate for socks because they will quickly bag and lose their shape when worn. Wool and wool/nylon blends are popular for socks because of their innate elasticity.
3. Choose high-quality sock yarn—inexpensive sock yarn tends have short fibers, which pill and wear out more quickly than longer fibers. If your budget is tight, you can find great deals in sale sections.
4. Go down one needle size (or more) when knitting the feet. If a label calls for a US 2 needle, knit the foot of the sock on a US 1, or even a US 0 so you get a dense fabric that holds up to wear.
5. Knit the right size socks. Too-big socks slip around more on the foot and cause more wear as they move around in your shoes.
6. Rinse socks separately before washing with other items. While dye shouldn't run, super-saturated colors might and you don't want your other socks to be affected.
7. Turn socks inside-out when washing. That way the inside of the sock gets a fuzzy halo over time, and not the outside.
8. Consider washing your finished socks in a small mesh bag in the machine so they don't catch on zippers.
9. Don't wash socks in hot water. Even socks labeled "superwash" could felt or shrink a bit.
10. Lay socks flat to dry. Over time, machine drying will lessen stitch definition and make socks look worn. The intense heat of drying might also break down fibers.
—Allison Van Zandt, Simply Socks Yarn Company
Owning Simply Socks Yarn Company, a store that specializes in sock yarn, is a very particular niche. Over the past six years, the most common questions I get from my customers involve making hand knit socks last a long time. So I've compiled "10 Tips for Longer Lasting Socks."
1. Don't wind your yarn into a cake until you're ready to knit. Winding a skein into a cake pulls fibers taught and over months the yarn could lose its ability to spring back into shape.
2. Choose the right yarn for the project; 100% cotton yarn isn't necessarily appropriate for socks because they will quickly bag and lose their shape when worn. Wool and wool/nylon blends are popular for socks because of their innate elasticity.
3. Choose high-quality sock yarn—inexpensive sock yarn tends have short fibers, which pill and wear out more quickly than longer fibers. If your budget is tight, you can find great deals in sale sections.
4. Go down one needle size (or more) when knitting the feet. If a label calls for a US 2 needle, knit the foot of the sock on a US 1, or even a US 0 so you get a dense fabric that holds up to wear.
5. Knit the right size socks. Too-big socks slip around more on the foot and cause more wear as they move around in your shoes.
6. Rinse socks separately before washing with other items. While dye shouldn't run, super-saturated colors might and you don't want your other socks to be affected.
7. Turn socks inside-out when washing. That way the inside of the sock gets a fuzzy halo over time, and not the outside.
8. Consider washing your finished socks in a small mesh bag in the machine so they don't catch on zippers.
9. Don't wash socks in hot water. Even socks labeled "superwash" could felt or shrink a bit.
10. Lay socks flat to dry. Over time, machine drying will lessen stitch definition and make socks look worn. The intense heat of drying might also break down fibers.
—Allison Van Zandt, Simply Socks Yarn Company
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Knit for Charity
Got extra yarn? Consider making needed items for global and local charities.
Warm Up America is accepting knitted infant hats for third world countries. If interested, click here for cap directions. Nancy A. will be collecting these caps at the December & January meetings and will mail the caps to NYC for shipment abroad.
The Interfaith Sewing & Knitting Service Group of Willimantic is looking for knitted children's hat & mittens for needed families as well as adult caps for the homeless. Yarn and patterns can be provided. Ask Sue Schmerl for details.
Warm Up America is accepting knitted infant hats for third world countries. If interested, click here for cap directions. Nancy A. will be collecting these caps at the December & January meetings and will mail the caps to NYC for shipment abroad.
The Interfaith Sewing & Knitting Service Group of Willimantic is looking for knitted children's hat & mittens for needed families as well as adult caps for the homeless. Yarn and patterns can be provided. Ask Sue Schmerl for details.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Stitches EAST Hartford
Six Knitsies attended Stiches EAST on October 31st to be inspired by designs and fabulous yarns.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)