In the Works

Recently someone asked me about my design process. Do I plan everything out in advance, or do I launch right into the knitting? The answer is somewhere in between. I like to start with a sketch, inexpert artist that I am. My current project started with this a couple of days ago.                                            

 

I did a little experimenting with a small stitch pattern built into the yoke increases and then, because I'm working in a yarn I'm familiar with and know my gauge, I simply cast on. I played around a little with some short row shaping at the base of the collar, but then after trying it on, decided to nix it. I want everything simple.

Next, I plotted out the yoke shaping and did the calculations. You can catch a glimpse of those at the side of my sketch. I like to work in notebooks and I try to avoid the temptation to skip writing everything up, even the failures. It's a huge time saver, because sometimes I'll go back to a "fail" and take it in a different direction. That's how Harriet's Jacket was born.

This current pullover has been in my mind for a while, but it took the weekend away, talking to other knitters and designers, to get it going. On Monday, I took a good look around my work space,

and felt re-energized. Are you noticing more colour in my work?

 This is my teal triple whammy. Everything made by me!

Old Friends

In my previous post there was a suggestion that I was going to use my ram's head buttons (purchased about 15 years ago from Philosopher's Wool at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival) on my new coat. I actually intended to do that, and got as far as sewing the first button on. Then I realized that I didn't like the look of a shank button. So, I poked around in my buttonbox until I located exactly six (phew!) old Mission Falls black buttons with crosshatches on top. Mission Falls made the BEST buttons. When the company went out of business, I visited Mags Kandis on a studio open house day in Prince Edward County and bought a big batch of her remaining buttons in different styles. They're always just right.

Then, I donned my new coat and headed out to rake leaves and give the lawn a last mowing. By Friday the daytime high is predicted to be below zero. Winter really is coming.

BTW, these are Sonya Philip's Pants #1 in navy Essex, a linen/cotton blend. Perfect year round.

Wash Day

Yesterday I finally got around to doing something I had vowed to do a long time ago. I got around to posting, on the laundry room wall, instructions for how to wash wool. Why? I'm tired of various family members asking me to talk them through the steps involved in washing their woollies. (At least they've got as far as not expecting me to do the washing for them.) I guess they don't do this often enough to remember own their own. So, in case anyone else out there is interested, here's my poster.
NOTE: these instructions apply only if you have an old-fashioned top-loading NOT HIGH EFFICIENCY washer. I had an old Whirlpool model re-built just for me. There is enough movement of the laundry load in the newer high efficiency models, even on their "soak" cycles to felt wool. Unfortunately, I learnt this the hard way.

To Wash Woollens

1. Set the washer temp to “WARM”.

2. Set the water level to “SMALL” or “MEDIUM”.

3. Pour a capful (at most) of Eucalan into the washer.

4. Fill the washer with water by setting the dial at “Regular”, then just as it starts to agitate turn the dial to OFF and push the dial in so that the machine is completely turned off.

5. Submerge your garment in the sudsy water, gently squeezing out the air.

6. Allow the garment to soak for 30 min or longer, leaving the lid of the machine up.

7. Turn the dial and set it anywhere that says, “Spin”, then pull it out to activate the machine. The machine will not spin until you close the lid.

8. Let the machine finish the cycle. Remove the garment, supporting it with your hands to prevent stretching, and lay it flat to dry on a towel, moulding and patting it into the desired shape.

     Note: Eucalan is a “no-rinse” wool wash.

What's In a Name?

Quite a lot, in fact, when knitters are trying to look up a design on Ravelry. With the proliferation of indie designers, e-publishing, and Ravelry, it's becoming increasingly difficult to avoid duplication in the naming of patterns. Add to that the fact that magazine editors have a preference for one-word names, as well as names that are easy to pronounce from their spelling (I have personal experience with this, having once tried to name a pattern "Strachan"), the problem is even more vexing. There are definite trends in names. I can't help but notice an unusual number of designs with made-up feminine-sounding names ending in the letter "a". It all makes me want to go the route of Sonya Philips with her sewing patterns named by number, i.e. Dress #1, Dress #2, etc.
All this is merely a preface to letting you know that, as of a few minutes ago, I have decided to re-name my favourite fall garment. Back in the spring, when I first chose a name, I performed the usual Ravelry search to check that the name had not been taken, and at that time nothing showed up. However, since then a pattern company has posted onto Ravelry a pattern leaflet from almost a decade ago with the same name. Wanting to avoid confusion, while at the same time retaining the obvious reference to the actress in question, I have simply altered the name of my own design to "Audrey's Coat". An apostrophe makes all the difference. You can find it here. Now, back to sewing the buttons onto my new plum version, which I intend to wear next weekend at the Wool and Wine Retreat in Prince Edward County. Maybe I'll see you there.