Tips for Better Lace Knitting

September 1, 2014
Knit lace is worth the effort. I can say that
now, after learning some tips and tricks
from some great lace knitters! Here are the
tips that allow me to enjoy knitting lace.
Use very pointy needles. It's so much
easier to work the increases and
decreases that are innate to knit lace if you
have sharp tipped needles. In my
experience, it's almost impossile to work a
purl ! together with lunt"tipped needles.
#e're lucky, ecause there are so many
$uality, sharp needles on the market now.
%heck out our Guide to Knitting Needles to
see some of the options that are availale.
Use a sticky note with your chart. I
always place a sticky note aove the row
I'm currently working. It helps my eye from
wandering, and I can see what I've already
knit.
Enlarge your
chart on a copy machine. &ometimes those charts are so
tiny! I always enlarge my charts on a photocopier'it's okay to
photocopy from a pulication you own if the copy is for your
own use. (arger charts are so much easier to use. Read
more . . .
A Nod to a lassic
September 3, 2014
%owichan sweaters are heavy, wool garments that are worn
as outerwear. )he patterns evoke the wildlife of the knitter's
environment* deer, snowflakes, irds, native symols, and so
forth.
I was first introduced to %owichan knitwear tradition y a
college roommate, who had the most eautiful handknit
%owichan sweater. &he ought it while visiting +ancouver
Island in %anada.
Here's a little aout the %owichan sweater and its history. ,s my reference, I used an
article excerpted from Working wit Wool! " #oast Salis $ega%& ' te #owi%an
Sweater -#inlaw, .ritish %olumia* &ononis /ress, 01213. )he article appeared in the
&pring 0124 issue of Knitting (raditions.
)hese sweaters are knit y the %oast &alish %owichan people, an indigenous people of
the coastal and island areas off of .ritish %olumia, %anada. )here's a rich history of
%owichan sweater knitters5 like so many handknitting stories through history, women
started knitting sweaters from necessity and ended up knitting them to make money to
feed their families. Read more . . .
A !it of !rioche" please
September ), 2014
I've taken several classes on rioche knitting -one that started out with a reakfast of
Kathleen Cubley
is the editor of
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Blue *ahlia" !y Andrea 'urgrau"
from New Vintage Lace


+etro (pirit 'acket

cappuccinos, rioche, and jam!3, ut I haven't used
my skills to make a garment yet. I made a cowl and
a hat in classes, and now I need to make
something on my own.

&ince my classes were several years ago, I need to
rush up on my techni$ue, and 6ercedes
)arasovich"%lark's wonderful new ook, *rio%e
#i%, is my ticket to a wonderful rioche sweater!
Here's 6ercedes to tell us aout rioche knitting
and to show us how to work the stitch*

Knitting Brioche

.rioche knitting creates an unusual stitch structure,
$uite unlike anything you may run across in an
average knitted faric. .rioche is sort of a hyrid of
k2, p2 riing and doule knitting, in which you
work each row or round in two passes and slip the
unworked stitches to create one finished row.
7nlike doule knitting's techni$ue of simply slipping
the unworked stitches on each pass, rioche relies
on an unusual stitch called the sl2yo, or slip one,
yarnover. Read more . . .
Bonus Blog from Inside Knitscene,
Katie-s Love Braid ardigan
September 2, 2014
8ur incredile stylist, Katie Himmelerg, is a pretty smashing knitter as well'she's appeared on this log with some of her
finished projects efore, and has designed projects for Knitscene. #hen we were working on the Knits%ene &ummer 012!
issue, she fell in love with the (ove .raid %ardigan designed y 6elissa #ehrle. Read more . . .
Bonus Blog from Traditions Today,
.en and the Art of /ren!urg Lace Knitting
September 2, 2014
Knitting an 8renurg piece is much like walking a layrinth'not the kind where you get lost, the older kind, where the walls
guide your feet -or the chart guides your needles3 and your mind is free to wander other paths. It9s a meditative experience
and one every knitter should try. It9s an exercise in alance and symmetry that is every it as relaxing as it is engaging.
Read more . . .
Bonus Blog from Inside Knitscene,
0ow1to &ick Up (titches for East Neuk
"ugust 2+, 2014
2-m so close to finishing my East Neuk 0oodie 3the cover pro4ect from Knitscene %all56and as an added !onus" the
weather here has !een hinting at fall" so 2-m even more e7cited that 2 could pro!a!ly wear it in a few weeks8
Even if 2-m only wearing it for may!e half an hour. Read more . . . How-to Pick Up
Stitches for East Neuk
08-29-2014 by AmyPalmer
hevron *eep +i! 9 &ullover

I'm so close to fnishing my East Neuk Hoodie (the cover project from Knitscene Fall)and
as an added !onus" the #eather here has !een hinting at fall" so I'm even more e$cited
that I could pro!a!ly #ear it in a fe# #eeks% Even if I'm only #earing it for may!e half an
hour&

'his is a warm s#eater& (y gauge came out a !it looser than the pattern gaugeon si)e *
needles" I knit a si)e smaller" !ut I #as pretty adamant a!out not knitting a s#eater on
si)e +s& I just don't think I'm that cra)y yet& ,!viously there's still ends to !e #oven" a
hood to complete" !utton placket and hood edging to knit" and then I have to decide #hat
to do a!out the el!o# patchesthe pattern calls for knitting them in the same color" !ut
may!e I'll go for a medium !ro#n tone to simulate leather- ,r go !uy fau$.leather
patches- I have some time to decide" !ut I'd love your thoughtsshare them in the
comments%
'he pattern is really straight for#ard and also easy to adapt to gauge variancesI
pro!a!ly didn't #ork the seed stitch patterning as much as /risten did" for e$ample& 0ut
there's one part that I thought might !e helpful to illustrate& 1fter knitting the !ottom hem
in garter stitch" stitches are placed on a holder and then picked up to #ork the !ottom of
the !ody" !ehind the pocket 2ap&
'o do that" I frst moved my held stitches to a spare ca!le& Interchangea!le needles are
perfect for this" !ut you could just a spare circular needle or #aste yarn& In the photos
!elo#" I hadn't yet taken o3 the needle tip that I'd used to slip the stitches so there's a
seemingly random third needle tipsorry a!out that&

'he easiest #ay I found to pick up the stitches #as to lift the purl !ump from the #rong
side and place on the needle& In the photo a!ove" I'm just a!out to pick up that !umpit's
the last ro# of the garter stitch edge and pretty easy to gra!& 4our held stitches #ill not
get distorted !y picking up the purl !umps&
4ou can just lift that !ump up #ith your left needle&&&
&&&and then #ork the stitch from there" inserting your right needle into the purl !ump" then
knitting& 0e mindful of ho# the stitch is positioned" so you don't accidentally t#ist it&
,nce you've picked up all the stitches you need" you'll have these parallel ro# of stitches"
and you can just start knitting the !ody" no pro!lem%
5o you have a favorite #ay to pick up stitches- 6et me kno#% (1nd seriously" #eigh in
a!out the el!o# patches" I'm so torn%) 7ntil ne$t time" happy knitting%
Bonus Blog from Knitting Daily,
:in )arn and #ore from +ed 0eart8
September 1, 2014
8ur friends at :ed Heart are offering a fantastic :ed Heart ;all <arn =iveaway just for Knitting ,ail& memers. #in an
exclusive :ed Heart yarn packaged filled with our favorite yarns that is sure to make anyone envious of your new stash.
Read more . . .
*iscover how you can take intricate lace techni;ues
and knit them into fashiona!le garments8

;ind inspiration in vintage knitting with a modern twist in the video workshop, Knitting New -intage $a%e!
Instructor, designer, and author ,ndrea >urgrau takes you from the very asics of reading a chart and starting
a center"out doily to adding eads and creating an elegant feather"and"fan shawlette.
:ith Andrea-s guidance" you will learn,
How to egin doilies of different si?es and patterns.
)wo different ways of attaching eads to your knitting.
How to work the popular garter ta cast"on for shawls.
, special vintage crochet ind"off.
How to lock, finish, and even starch your completed lace projects.
)urn treasured motifs into wearale accessories with this complete video workshop. ,lso included are a
varitey of projects for you to knit! ,ndrea9s passion for knitting lace will jumpstart you into creating projects
that have vintage flair with a modern twist.

/rder or *ownload )our opy of Knitting New Vintage Lace Today8

%heck out these other knitting resources and patterns y designer ,ndrea >urgrau!

New -intage $a%e!
Knits .nspired b& te /ast

;iligreen &hawl

@atalie 6itts
order now

download pattern

download pattern
download now

&hop more knitting workshops at the Knitting ,ail& &hop!
Knitting $ifts, < /ne (kein Knitting &atterns
plus = !onus 0oliday &ro4ects

Inside this free e.ook you'll find last minute knitted gifts you can whip up in an afternoon, plus
a few gorgeous holiday projects. Ao you have a gift package that doesn't feel $uite finishedB
)ry one of the four small knitting projects for ornaments to add in place of a ow for the perfect
finishing touch 8r, give one of the three holiday knitting patterns a try to find the perfect gift for
the loved ones in your life. Aownload this week's recommended e.ook to get all seven free
projects!