Knit and Plenty

Do you believe in Magic??

Yesterday's Dunkin D Coffee Cozy ended up on double pointed needles because I just didn't feel the magic of the Magic Loop.

It was my first attempt at it, and having seen other do it, I was anxious to learn it myself. It sure looks fun, and using 4 DPNs always makes me feel like Edward Scissorhands.  Unfortunately, it didn't go well. It might have been because I was using #2 needles which I am not very acostumed to. (I've spent the summer on #15's making loopy shawls.) The problem was that I kept making an extra stitch or a hole at the beginning of each round because of holding the yarn like a yarn over.

If you want to learn how to do the Loop, I am sure someone at your local yarn shop can teach you. There are many resources online, too, although I have trouble learning unless someone shows me how to do it a few times up close and personal.

I know I'll try it again soon. Especially because it seems like a great way to knit socks. There's even a way to knit two socks on one magic loop. How loopy is that???

Making a case for new needles.

My Knit Picks Options Needles just arrived and they are very cool. I put off buying Denise Interchangeables for years even though they looked like fun and everyone said they were great for traveling. But those are plastic needles, which I just can't use. The Knit Pick's are nice stainless needles and they come in a nice binder. You can buy different length length cables, and there are these end caps which you can use to turn the circulars into straight flexible needles or to cap off the end of works-in-progress if you want to use the needles on another project.

Looks like I can start 9 new projects immediately.

A Knitter with an Opinion? How absurd!

I hate to impose again on my very kind readers to pose another focus group question for the Gettin Knit Together Kit,  but who knows better than you when it comes to what knitters want??
So, if you'll endulge me once again, I am trying to find out what would be best to add to the product package.
I am considering a great six inch magnifying ruler that would be used to follow along and enlarge patterns and charts: Lord knows, I can't see a thing. A really cute Knit and Plenty retractable tape measure, cuz I can never have enough of those.
Or really cute woven labels to sew into sweaters - because I'd never spring for those myself, but if I had some, I'd use 'em.
What do you think? Can you give me your choices in order of first, second or third preference?
I promise I'll try and be witty tomorrow. ;-)  Thanks!

Lord! Aint this kitchy?

And I thought it was hard to remember how to make a buttonhole?? Now I have looked into the belly of the beast, and its called the Kitchener Stitch. It seemed that this was the hands-down favorite among those amazingly wonderful, time-generous folks (you could be one,too) who commented on yesterday's post
I've never knit a pair of socks so I think that's why I've overlooked this kitchener thing. But I did a little investigation, and from what I can tell, it's a really cool way to make invisible seams that would also be great for joining shoulder on sweaters.

Now, I have no idea why its called the Kitchener stitch (so feel free to weigh in) but there was a British General called Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, and I guess he was known for his incredible determination and ability to plan and see things through to the end. Makes sense to me cuz you  better be determined to learn this one!

In truth, the instructions that you'll find in books and on the web are tough to read. My brain kinda shuts down whenever I read directions, But if you play along, with sticks in hand and take it step by step, it doesn't look that hard to learn.

If you take a close look at the photo (of the stitch, not the guy) [click to enlarge] you get a really good idea of what you're doing. And I hear from friends that there's a nice little chant that goes along with it.

Here are a few great links to visual lessons.
Stitch Diva
ABC's of Knitting
Socknitters

I'm off to try it myself.I plan to write a song about it. The Ballad of Kitchener Stitch. Let me know to what tune it should be written!

Purlfomercial

I am about to rock your world and you don't even know it yet.

Meet the Jiffy Steamer. It has changed my life. First, to "stick to the knitting", I use it for blocking my finished work. You just lay your garment pieces on a towel on a table, hit it with the steamer and you can get edges to lie flat in a jiffy. Now, if you are the type who completely soaks a garment and pins it to a board, etc. this might not be for you. But for the rest of us, you'll be amazed at the results.

But well beyond that usage, a steamer can almost totally rid your life of ironing! Anything that you can hand wash, you can steam.

Silk blouse with ruffles: steam 'em. 
T-shirts that get wrinked sitting in the drawer: steam 'em.
Something you've worn once, but needs a lift: steam it.
Jeans that get hung dry and stiff: steam 'em and they're soft and ready to go.
Silk scarves, shawls: steam 'em, steam 'em. 
Slips, silk teddies that get worn twice a year, nightgowns: steam 'em, steam 'em, steam 'em.
Table cloths, napkins, pillowcases, curtains, unworn pashminas since 2002: say it with me now: STEAM 'EM.

I keep mine right in my closet and it heats up in less than 2 minutes.
I bought the $189.00 one at jiffysteamer.com. Right now they are doing a fundraiser for breast cancer, with 10% going to the cause. You also have to pay for shipping - but I am telling you, if you hate to iron, you won't be sorry.

So, that's all from PSN (Purl Shopping Network) - Now let's take some callers:
Christine from Chicago - you are on the air!

Quick! Call Yarn-1-1

I had a knitting crisis today. You know how it goes: On my way to an appointment where I was going to be sitting for a few hours, I suddenly realized I HAD NO KNITTING WITH ME!!! I can't even described the emotions - although if you are reading this blog, I bet you absolutely can relate. I hate to admit it, but it really felt like sadness. Maybe even panic.

Luckily, not too far out of the way was a yarn shop, albeit the one I always swear I'll never enter again. But at this point, I would have bought yarn from Osama.

Knowing I was going to be late, I rushed in, pushing passed a clerk saying, "Can I help you.." I grabbed a skein of Filatura Portofino and a pair of size 7 Turbos, and shouted, "No, it's an emergency thing."

Then and there, I vowed never to be stranded (or should I say unstranded) again. At least not if I am in my car. That must be what glove compartments, back seats and trunks are for. Perhaps someone (who, me?) should invent the emergency knitting jump kit. What about a service like Triple A that you can call to bring needles and yarn to you wherever you are? Where do I sign up? All I know is I am putting together my roadside knitting trauma kit - and I won't leave home again without it.

Gettin' Knit Together

There are two things that most knitters have in common: we buy a lot of yarn and we save a lot of yarn -  which, in my case, gets thrown in plastic bins for the future. But the thing is, if I wanted to use that yarn again, I have no clue if it's wool, cashmere, acrylic or possum. I have no idea when I got it, or even what I made with it the first time. I always think I will remember, but (what a surprise) I never do. In fact, as soon as I start a project or wind a ball, I put the label somewhere "safe" but in no time, I have lost the band (again - no surprise). How any times have I been short a skein, and I have to bring the whole UFO into the store - and that's if I remember WHERE I bought it.
Well, I'm happy to report that I am going to solve this problem, for me and maybe for you,too.
I am going to turn my stash, from this:

INTO THIS:

This just might be the best organizational idea since Tupperware! I call it THE YARN MINDER. It's a high quality plastic sleeve where you can safely store the yarn label and a soft elastic that wraps around your yarn during and after a project. Finally,my crazy stash is becoming a resuable resource.

Yarn Minders will be available  in packs of 3 and 6, and also as a part of a "Gettin' Knit Together" - the quintessential organizational tools kit for the disorganized knitter.

The Kit contains 3 Yan Minders, an amazing Pocket Needle Inventory that small enough for your wallet, big enough to read and sturdy enough to last for years, as well as other tools for tracking the progress of a project.

Don't worry - I'm not going commerical on you (yet) - or auditioning for American Inventor! But I am excited about the idea, and I'd love to send you a sample and get your feedback.

Measure for measure.

You may have noticed that I haven't posted a picture of a clothing garment I've made in quite some time. I've been sticking to flowers and purses and scarves, because I have a real problem making anything that ends up fitting a normal-sized person. I would do great if I had a 50 inch waist and a 15 inch bust; or if my arms reached passed my knee caps - or if I had odd shaped friends to knit for.

It's not just about mis-gauging, although I could write a thing or two about that! It's about  knowing  your measurements before you begin and checking the work frequently along the way.

I thought a good way to make a renewed commitment to this practice would be to record detailed measurements of myself. I searched the Internet for a chart or something, but when I didn't find what I was looking for, I made one up. If you email me or send a comment, I'd be happy to send you a useable copy.  Of course, after you've taken your measurements, if you find you have extremely long arms or an extra wide torso, let me know. I have a few sweaters I could send along.