Friday, December 16, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Website Changes
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Jared Flood
I love to go and look at the artist in the knitting world. Talk about Creative People. When you have time.....pick up one of the knitting books you have purchased and go online and research this person.....Ravelry.com is a great place to find these wonderful folks....Have fun and keep watching the blog for more info.....
brooklyntweed.net/blog/
Many of you may know Jared Flood from his blog, Brooklyn Tweed, or you may know him from his amazing designs that have been featured in publications like Vogue Knitting. If you don’t know his work you simply must get to know it. His designs are elegant and timeless and we’re about to see even more from this talented designer as he teams up with Classic Elite for his first book. A Yarn Tale was lucky enough to get an interview with Jared in advance of Made in Brooklyn’s publication, which is expected out soon.
brooklyntweed.net/blog/
Many of you may know Jared Flood from his blog, Brooklyn Tweed, or you may know him from his amazing designs that have been featured in publications like Vogue Knitting. If you don’t know his work you simply must get to know it. His designs are elegant and timeless and we’re about to see even more from this talented designer as he teams up with Classic Elite for his first book. A Yarn Tale was lucky enough to get an interview with Jared in advance of Made in Brooklyn’s publication, which is expected out soon.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I am going to try this. I found this on Knitting Daily! Perhaps I can make a sweater that fits.
Successful Knitting for Plus Sizes
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| Waltham Cabled Cardigan by Kathy Zimmerman | |
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| The Barton Cardigan by Marly Bird is a seamless yoke. | |
What makes one sweater different from the next? Besides surface designs, like colorwork or cables, besides design elements like a collar or wide buttonband, what are the meaningful differences? What key distinction between these two garments affects the fit, the pattern, and your ability to modify more than any other?
The sweater's construction type.
In Knitting Plus, I lay out the five standard construction types. For our purposes, construction refers to the sleeve/body join and the related shaping in both pieces.
I don't care if a sweater is worked bottom-up or top-down, in the round or flat, as a cardigan or a pullover—the rules that govern sleeve/body join are universal. The difference between the Banstead Pullover (above left) and the Waltham Cabled Cardigan (right) is that the firs t is a raglan and the second, a drop-shoulder.
If you make the sleeve of the Banstead wider, the neck opening will become larger. If you make the sleeve of the Waltham wider, you won't be able to seam the sleeve into the armhole.
Those are two very different effects, caused by the same modification to the sleeve. If you know that you generally need a wider sleeve, it will serve you greatly to know how that need integrates with all the construction types, and how to compensate for your modifications.
What if you haven't gotten that far yet? You don't know if you need wider sleeves; you don't know how to choose a size to knit if you have an unusual body shape. I have lots of tips in the book for these issues and others, but here's a quick exercise I recommend once you've chosen a design to knit.
Based on your bust size, decide which size in the pattern you would typically knit. Looking at the Banstead pattern and knowing I'd like a close fit, I' d choose the size 42" bust.
Find the schematic in the pattern. Highlight all the numbers that are relevant to your chosen size.
Get out your measuring tape and "try out" all these numbers on your actual body. For my size, the upper sleeve is 15" in circumference, so I loop a tape measure into a 15" circle and slide it up my arm to just below my armpit. How does the loop fit? Does it fit at all? Tweak the loop to a circumference that fits best and write this on the schematic.
The sweater's construction type.
In Knitting Plus, I lay out the five standard construction types. For our purposes, construction refers to the sleeve/body join and the related shaping in both pieces.
I don't care if a sweater is worked bottom-up or top-down, in the round or flat, as a cardigan or a pullover—the rules that govern sleeve/body join are universal. The difference between the Banstead Pullover (above left) and the Waltham Cabled Cardigan (right) is that the firs t is a raglan and the second, a drop-shoulder.
If you make the sleeve of the Banstead wider, the neck opening will become larger. If you make the sleeve of the Waltham wider, you won't be able to seam the sleeve into the armhole.
Those are two very different effects, caused by the same modification to the sleeve. If you know that you generally need a wider sleeve, it will serve you greatly to know how that need integrates with all the construction types, and how to compensate for your modifications.
What if you haven't gotten that far yet? You don't know if you need wider sleeves; you don't know how to choose a size to knit if you have an unusual body shape. I have lots of tips in the book for these issues and others, but here's a quick exercise I recommend once you've chosen a design to knit.
Based on your bust size, decide which size in the pattern you would typically knit. Looking at the Banstead pattern and knowing I'd like a close fit, I' d choose the size 42" bust.
Find the schematic in the pattern. Highlight all the numbers that are relevant to your chosen size.
Get out your measuring tape and "try out" all these numbers on your actual body. For my size, the upper sleeve is 15" in circumference, so I loop a tape measure into a 15" circle and slide it up my arm to just below my armpit. How does the loop fit? Does it fit at all? Tweak the loop to a circumference that fits best and write this on the schematic.
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|
| The Banstead Pullover schematic |
Do this for hips (remembering to multiply the hem width by two to get the circ), with body length, sleeve length, cuff width, and any other elements that you can measure on your own body. You can then see, at a glance, if your chosen size will fit you in places besides bust circumference.
If your numbers are ranging far from the pattern numbers, you will need to know how to modify those areas, while not disrupting the fit and structural integrity of your garment.
In that way, Knitting Plus contains info that's useful for all knitters, but in this case, it's specifically geared to plus-size women. As ample knitters, we're told all the time to "figure it out," "modify it," "customize the shaping," et cetera, and I hope this book will help you finally do so successfully.
If your numbers are ranging far from the pattern numbers, you will need to know how to modify those areas, while not disrupting the fit and structural integrity of your garment.
In that way, Knitting Plus contains info that's useful for all knitters, but in this case, it's specifically geared to plus-size women. As ample knitters, we're told all the time to "figure it out," "modify it," "customize the shaping," et cetera, and I hope this book will help you finally do so successfully.
 |
Pick up your copy of Knitting Plus today and get started knitting sweaters that fit and flatter you!
Happy knitting!
Happy knitting!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Raven Frog Fibers will be coming to Calla Lily in June
Bobbie Daniels will be joining us for classes here at Calla Lily. This will be her 3rd visit to Calla Lily. Bobbie has all kinds of tales to tell about Alaska. She is such a joy to be around. She is a very creative person. Please join us for a very fun filled 3 days. Bring you knitting and you questions. We will learning how to create our own sweater to be a perfect fit to our own body types. I can't wait to see her agian. She will arrive sometime in June. Check this post often for updates!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Kid in a Candy Store!!
Ok gals....this is funny....I needed to order some Noni patterns today. If any of you don't know what a Noni Felted handbag is...let me tell you they are fabulous. I have loved them since the day I started knitting. We carry the patterns at the shop.
So....this is my day today. Running around getting as much done in the shop as I could. I finally sat down to order my Noni bag for the class that is about to begin.
I went to http://www.nonipatterns.com/ found the bag I was looking for. I then searched for a phone number. To my surprise I called the number on the screen....The designer answered the phone ....her name is Nora.....I started to studder a bit...when I found I had contacted the designer herself. I bet you couldn't do that with a basketball star. Well....I was very thrilled to talk with her. She's a wonderful person to talk with. I could have asked a million questions. You have no idea how excited I was. I can't wait to get her book. She's getting ready to send it for copy.
So...I must say...I felt very much like a little child who had just met Santa for the first time! LOL I wanted to fill my hands with as much candy as I possibly could without sounding giddy. Thank you Nora for a wonderful day.
I do hope that the June date will work for you to join us all at Calla Lily Yarn & Gifts. Watch the blog and website for details on this little secret!
So....this is my day today. Running around getting as much done in the shop as I could. I finally sat down to order my Noni bag for the class that is about to begin.
I went to http://www.nonipatterns.com/ found the bag I was looking for. I then searched for a phone number. To my surprise I called the number on the screen....The designer answered the phone ....her name is Nora.....I started to studder a bit...when I found I had contacted the designer herself. I bet you couldn't do that with a basketball star. Well....I was very thrilled to talk with her. She's a wonderful person to talk with. I could have asked a million questions. You have no idea how excited I was. I can't wait to get her book. She's getting ready to send it for copy.
So...I must say...I felt very much like a little child who had just met Santa for the first time! LOL I wanted to fill my hands with as much candy as I possibly could without sounding giddy. Thank you Nora for a wonderful day.
I do hope that the June date will work for you to join us all at Calla Lily Yarn & Gifts. Watch the blog and website for details on this little secret!
Spring into Summer.....Here we go!!!
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Your Choice of One of Four Different Summer Tops
When: Mon, March 21, 6pm – 8pm
Description: These four tops you can view on the gallary page of the website. Swing Top - Pattern Booklet CEY Summer Book 1 Center Cable Tee - Pattern Booklet CEY Heron Island Cabled V-Neck Pullover - Pattern Booklet 9080 Summertime Knits Top down pullover - C2 Knits
Cost $ 60.00 Supplies not included in price.
Dates: March 21, 28, April 4, 11, 25,
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Soft Linen Sideways Lace Vest
When: Tue, March 22, 6pm – 8pm
Description: Knit this beautiful Lace Vest just in time for all those wonderful summer events you will be attending. Learn how to read a chart! stitches include knit 2 together, slip slip knit and yarn overs. This will challenge the mind a bit....
Cost $60.00 Materials are not included in class price.
Dates: March 22, 29, April 5, 12, skip one week and finish on April 26.
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Market Bag
When: Wed, March 23, 6pm – 8pm
Description: How about a fun summer project....you will enjoy having your very own market bag to carry your summer farmers market purchesses with.
Cost: 50.00 Supplies not included in cost.
Dates: March 23, 30, April 13, April 20
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Two choices in Felted Handbags
When: Thu, March 24, 6pm – 8pm
Where: Felted Handbag
Description: Have you always wanted to learn how to felt..would you like to make a handbag to carry next fall! Let’s get one going!
Cost: $40.00 Supplies not included.
Dates: March 17,24, 31
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