Let the Weaving Wednesday Fun Begin!

Knitters and crocheters, I’m not going to lie: this new section of our blog is here purely to enable you to use more yarn. Well, and to make pretty things and entertain you, of course!

I first started weaving about 5 years ago after already knowing how to knit and crochet. After some struggles character building with a homemade frame loom, I scored a 4 harness floor loom on Craig’s List. I happily used it for a year or two, weaving up rugs and towels and other assorted goodies. Weaving can be very freeing and meditative, and it’s a great way to use up leftover odds and ends from other projects. But I moved 2 years ago and had to pack up the loom. It sat neglected and unassembled for this entire time until I moved again a couple of months ago. My significant other was kind enough to put her back together again and I am once again able to bask in the glory of all her harnesses, treadles, and heddles.

But there is still the problem of time. Warping a large loom takes a fair amount of it. Between work and all my knitting and crochet projects, I have little time for other kinds of craftery. Which is sad! But, this story has a happy ending. After TNNA in Indianapolis earlier this month, I was lucky enough to get my hands on a Schacht 15″ Cricket rigid heddle loom.   I had been lusting after a small tabletop loom for some time, and am so happy I finally acquired the Cricket!

Not 24 hours after returning from my trip, I got to work warping my new loom. Because it’s been so long since I’ve woven anything, I wanted to start simple. I decided to use a single yarn for both warp and weft, and to do just a plain weave scarf.

SequinsWarp_1SequinsWarp_2

(Pardon the cell phone quality pictures here)

For my yarn, I chose the very colorful, very sequiny Classic Shades Sequins Lite color #408 Jubilant – so sparkly! The awesome thing about the Cricket is the ability to direct-warp, which is super duper speedy. It took me about 15 minutes to attach my warp.  As I mentioned, I’m using the 15″ Cricket. I decided I wanted a scarf about 10″ wide. I figured the fabric would draw in somewhat, maybe 10% or so. I used an 8 dent reed (which means there are 8 ends per inch), and attached 88 ends (11 inches). I knew I wanted a long scarf, so I measured the warp at about 90″, which as you can see, is the length from the back of the loom to the doorknob!

I began weaving and soon realized my error: sequined yarn does not make the best warp yarn. Oops. Because the warp yarn must pass through the reed constantly, yarn with stuff on it doesn’t work so well. The sequins kept getting caught up, and I was getting frustrated. Rather than  power through it (weaving is supposed to be relaxing!), I cut off my warp and started again. A 5 dent reed would probably have worked fine, but I just had the 8 dent at the time I was doing this scarf.

After taking a quick survey of my stash, I decided upon 2 different colors of Saki Bamboo Solids , colors 204 Violet and 209 Denim Blue. Just for kicks, I did one side in Violet and the other in Denim Blue. A sock weight yarn such as this will typically fare better in a tighter sett (more ends per inch), but I decided to stick with the 8 dent anyway since it was what I had. Because it really does take 15 minutes or less to warp this loom, I was back to weaving in almost no time!

SakiWarpedLoom_retouch ArcedWeft_retouch

It took me several inches to really find my weaving “rhythm”. As with most beginning weavers, my edges were less than perfect. I remembered a trick I had learned with my floor loom as to how to deal with the weft yarn. As shown above, I aim the yarn in a 45 degree (approximate) angle, and then beat the weft down. With a little practice at being as consistent as I could, those edges improved immensely! I’ll be sharing other tips as I learn them over the coming months, so stay tuned for more edging advice!

I wove my colorful scarf over the course of just a couple of days. It took me around 3 1/2 hours to weave, and took 1 ball each of the Saki Bamboo Solids and just 1 ball of the Classic Shades Sequins Lite. I decided to stick with simple fringe for the ends.

TyingFringe

The scarf did draw in about 10% as I’d estimated (yay!), and I ended up with a 10″ wide x 76″ long, not including fringe. That’s another awesome benefit to the Cricket – there’s hardly any loom waste.

And here are a few glamour shots:

CS Sequins Lite Scarf 1_blog CS Sequins Lite Scarf 2_blog CS Sequins Lite Scarf 3_blog

When weaving my header, I forgot how many rows I wove when I got to the end. I guessed, and I guessed wrong, so one header is taller than the other. Oops! The edges aren’t perfect, but they’re charming, right? All in all, I’d call this a win!

Stay tuned for next time, I’ve got something yummy brewing for new colors of Flax!

 

Sunday Swatch – Classic Shades

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Classic Shades (197yds/100g).

Sunday Swatch - Classic Shades

Above, the start of a basic multi-directional scarf on size 8 needles in the founding member of our Classic Shades family of yarns.  Classic Shades is a wildly popular yarn, and it’s not hard to see why.  It’s got a very affordable price for its generous 197 yards – three balls easily makes Yumiko Alexander’s stunning Arizona Sunset cowl, double-wrapped in the picture at right.

Classic Shades is an acrylic/wool blend in a silky soft single.  Durable and machine washable, it’s a great choice for those wanting a self-shading yarn with knockout color.

Free Pattern Friday – Dockside Pullover in Flax

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Dockside Striped Pullover in Flax

Today, it’s the Dockside Striped Pullover in Flax.

Ah, summer.  It hits us here in the South a little sooner than the rest of y’all.  But make no mistake, it’s on its way.  With that in mind, we bring you something light and airy for the move to warmer weather.

Dockside Striped Pullover in Flax - detailThe Dockside Striped Pullover uses a basic four row stitch pattern to create a breezy fabric.  It’s an easy-to-memorize fabric stitch, great for porch knitting.  Our Flax 100% linen is the perfect fiber for this, becoming more relaxed and comfortable with each washing – or accidental splash by the lake.

Stay cool – and keep on knitting!

Afghan Knitalong – Block Five

Square Five "Check It"

Block Five is called “Check It” (link here).

How’d we do with lace?  I have to say, that last square went pretty quickly for us in the office, with no major malfunctions.  I feel like we’ve mastered that technique.  Good thing, too, since we’re on to something new!

Block Five is called “Check It” for obvious reasons – it uses slipped stitches to create a colorful checkerboard.  It’s a clever way to create blocks of color without a lot of picking up and dropping of yarn as you go.  As usual, Amy Gunderson has provided us with a video to demonstrate.

Block Five "Check It" back sideHere’s a view of the back side that shows the stitches slipped across the wrong side of the work.

I’m very excited about this block.  Slip stitch is such an easy way to create a colorful design!

We’d love to see what you’ve done – share it here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group.  We’ll see you in two weeks with another great block!

Sunday Swatch – Superwool

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Superwool.

Sunday Swatch Superwool_blog

Superwool is one of those yarns that you touch, then you pause and squeeze because you can’t quite believe what you’re feeling.  Superwool is super stretchy!  It’s an acrylic/nylon blend that’s specially spun to provide a lot of give.  Frankly, as, shall we say, a “substantial” knitter I am delighted to find a yarn that’s going to be kind to my curves – especially a super bulky one that knits up quickly.

Quick Cowls Lava Flow Cowl Superwool_blogThis swatch is a cable taken from the Lava Flow Cowl pictured at right, a one ball pattern that’s part of our free Quick Cowls e-book.  It works up very quickly on size 17 needles.  I knitted this swatch in a coffee shop and foolishly left my cable needle at home, so I wound up using a Sharpie magic marker to hold my stitches.  I felt quite resourceful.

If I hadn’t had my tools, I still could have made a quick project – this yarn works great for arm-knitting.  It’s simple to make this 50″ long “Supercowl” using just your hands and one skein.  Superwool’s elasticity makes it a natural fit for arm-knitting.  It’s very easy to move the yarn over your wrists.

I just might unravel this swatch and use it to teach my daughter how to arm-knit.  What a fun project in a fun yarn!

Free Pattern Friday – Jest Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Jest Scarf

Today, it’s the Jest Scarf in Jubilation Kettle Dye and Deluxe Worsted Superwash.

Amy Gunderson brings us this whimsical design.  Colorful petals in Jubilation Kettle Dye Worsted are set against a neutral background of Deluxe Worsted Superwash.  There’s no purling in this pattern, just straight knitting back and forth with the curves created by short rows.

I love this unique design.  I can envision this in Jubilation color 108, yellows and reds and oranges, to create a cascade of falling leaves.  Regardless of color choice, this is definitely a design that tells people you’ve got a light spirit.  Surrounded by petals of yarn, how could you not smile?

Jest Scarf Wrapped

 

Sunday Swatch – Little Bird Colors

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Little Bird Colors.

Little Bird Colors

This is color 203.  With a name like “Grass Stain” it just had to come outdoors to play.

Little Bird Colors, like its sibling Little Bird, is a smooth machine-washable 100% acrylic with a cottony feel.  This yarn  glided along my needles with ease.  Little Bird Colors comes 344 yards per 100g, so this swatch barely made a dent in the ball.

Little Dreamer PulloverThe stitch used is the same as in the free pattern Little Dreamer Pullover at right.  This baby and toddler sweater was designed for Little Bird solids, and I was curious as to how it would look with the stripes of Little Bird Color.  Answer – great!  The swatch was knitted to the same dimensions as the smallest size of the sweater – 61 stitches wide, with five rows of twisted rib on a US Size 3 needle and the body knitted on a slightly larger US Size 4.  I’m tempted to keep going, since baby shower season is upon us and it’s always a good idea to have a spare gift on hand.

For those curious as to what the back side of this slip stitch rib looks like, it’s even and smooth, as you can see.

Little Bird Colors Swatch back side_blog

This was also excellent practice in slip stitch – the next Afghan Knitalong block releases on May 12th and features this technique, so it was a good time to brush up.

We hope you spend a little time outdoors among green and growing things today.  Happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Day Trip Tote

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Day Trip Tote in Good Earth

Today’s Free Pattern Friday is the crocheted Day Trip Tote in Good Earth.  Can’t you feel yourself relaxing just looking at it?  I can’t decide – should I take it down to the beach, or sling it over a shoulder and bring it to the farmer’s market?

Southwest SunsGood Earth is a cotton/linen blend that’s perfect for cool and breezy projects.  Available in solids and multis, it’s a popular choice for crochet, as in the Southwest Suns shawl  at right from our Contrarian Shawls e-book.  Works great in knits too – the free pattern Lakeside Tee is in my queue.

We love this yarn.  In fact, we’re adding a new member to the Good Earth Family – Good Earth Adorn uses a spray-dyeing technique to give it interesting color without pooling.

We hope your weekend is filled with relaxation, and plenty of time to enjoy whatever craft you choose.

Good Earth group_blog

 

Afghan Knitalong – Block Four

4 lace block Tree Family_blog

Block Four is called “Tree Family” (link here).

How did your first lace square go?  Feel like you have a handle on the basics?

Yonca Square Three_blog Heather Square 3_Blog

We had a good time with the last square in the office.  Once the chart reading “clicks” it really does make knitting lace easier.

Our new block is also lace with a good helping of stockinette, but it introduces one new stitch – the center double decrease.  You’ll slip two as if to knit, then knit a stitch, then pass those two slipped stitches over the stitch you just knit.  This is a way of reducing three stitches into just one.  If you saw yesterday’s Sunday Swatch in Classic Shades Big Time, the mitered square used a centered double decrease to create the line of V-stitches running diagonally up the center of the block.

If this is your first time with this stitch, no worries!  Amy has put together a video on the center double decrease, as well as a handy tip on creating some decidedly low-tech stitch markers.

Amy also reveals the technique featured in our next block.  It will be… drumroll… slip stitch colorwork!

As always, you’re welcome to share what you’ve done here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group.  We can’t wait to see what you do!

Happy knitting!

Sunday Swatch – Classic Shades Big Time

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Classic Shades Big Time.

Sunday Swatch Classic Shades Big Time_blog

Classic Shades Big Time is part of our popular Classic Shades family of yarns.  As the name implies, it’s the same wool/acrylic blend as Classic Shades, but BIG.  These were knit on a US size 11(8mm) needle, and you could easily go up to a US13.

Although this is a bulky yarn, the pattern is actually taken from the scrap sock yarn blanket at Luann’s Loose Threads.  Cast on 31 and follow the instructions for a single mitered square.

Sunday Swatch Classic Shades Big Time single square_blogI had planned to do just one, but it went so fast I wanted to keep going!

To hook two squares together as in the larger picture above, I finished one square and left my last stitch (upper right purple corner in the picture at right) on the needle, then did an e-loop cast on of an additional 15 stitches.  I knitted back across the stitches I had cast on, then picked up and knitted 15 stitches along the edge of the square I had just finished.  With 31 stitches on the needle I followed the directions for another square.  It would have been just as easy to line up the direction that the rows went by binding off that final stitch, then picking up along a different edge and starting a new square.

There are a lot of applications for these mitered squares.  Can’t you imagine a row of these for a scarf, or several strips or blocks for an afghan?  The color changes would be striking!  One 150g ball of Classic Shades Big Time will make five 6 1/2″ square blocks on a size 11 needle.

If you’re looking for something on even bigger needles, how about the free Skyscraper Shawl at right?  Two balls of Classic Shades Big Time on a size 15 needle – instant gratification!

We hope your week is filled with big, beautiful things!