Spring, New on Ravelry, More Musings

Early this morning, Martha sent me the best photo: crocuses blooming in her yard. Spring has sprung! Yay! Jan came for lesson today and did the second of three intarsia Jemima Puddleducks on her baby blanket. I can see the technique is getting easier for her — always a feel good moment. Alicia came by for a visit — she has a baby to knit for — a girl, so it’s always fun to get our Pink On.
Mentioning Pink, there is a pattern on sale because the series of Game of Thrones is returning (ad below). Cheryl’s baby sweater is blocked, dry, and safely waiting for her at the studio. Charlotte’s sweater is next in line to get blocked tonight — so it should be dry by Saturday. Everyone is very busy with their Spring projects, and I am feeling the need for change as well, I just haven’t settled on what just yet. Any suggestions? Posted below are also the top ten states in terms of readership in the USA as well as the top ten Countries!

 

Beginner’s Intarsia Reversible Checkerboard Scarf — Part One

This scarf has been fun to work on. It is easy to pick up , put down, and always know where I am at when I come back to knit more. It seems like a great way to use up odds and ends of yarn, and stash bust — you need not feel like you have to stick to just two colors. Because this is K1P1 rib it is super easy to bury ends in an invisible manner, which I will demonstrate in another part of this pattern share. Today, go collect some yarn all the same weight — I used DK weight Cadenza by Colinette and US6 needles — but worsted yarns and size US8 needles would be fine too; resulting in a nice size scarf to add to a pile of future gift-giving items, or just for you!

Begin by casting on 44 stitches and working 4 to 6 rows of K1P1 rib all in one color. Do not cut yarn yet. Next row: Knit across all the stitches in a new color. Next three rows: return to K1P1 as previously set in your initial rows. Leaving 8″ of each color to bury ends invisibly, cut off both balls of yarn. Reattach/begin working with the first color again by knitting all the stitches (leave an 8″ tail) then in subsequent rows do the K1P1 rib as previously set — complete 20 rows in total.

The technique of knitting across in one row, and then returning to the K1P1 rib as previously set, is a standard technique (See June Hemmons Hiatt: The Principles of Knitting). This gives you one nice neat side, but not a reversible fabric, as there are bicolor purls on the opposite side of the fabric.

Second Installment: how to create a REVERSIBLE K1P1 multicolor fabric WITHOUT ANY bicolor purls.

Third Installment: how to do reversible checkerboard intarsia with two colors (it is easier than you think if you have never tried it before!).

Have a great day! xx M.E. and Summit Yarn Studio

 

Stephen West: You Sold Me On Intarsia

I thought I hated intarsia and I could not have been more wrong. Of course, I deviated from the pattern on the second clue but the fabric and play of color is mesmerizing me. I think I am spectating as much as I am knitting. To see lots of photos of the KAL go either to Ravelry amd the Spoiler page for this KAL or search for it on Flickr where there of tons of pics as well.

yours, newly obsessed with intarsia,
Mary Ellen

 

MORE AWESOME Customer Projects

Debbie Branning and I have been working together on the Stephen West Mystery KAL, which turns out to be intarsia…usually something I tend to avoid what with cats and dogs who steal balls of yarn and run with them.  Knitting a project with one ball of yarn is challenging enough, let alone three to four balls of yarn or more.  BUT, I had these four balls of beautiful Sundara sock yarn from her trip to Sonoma Wine Country just waiting for the perfect project and I believe this KAL to be just that project.  Of course, I am making it up a little as I go along, but so far I like the results.  If you are a member of Ravelry, you can see all the different ideas on the Earth and Sky Mystery KAL Spoiler Page…each one is more beautiful than the next.  If you are not a member of Ravelry…well, what are you waiting for?  You are really missing out on an amazing community of people and fiber artists.

Debbie's Mystery KAL through Clue #2 and just at the beginning of Clue #3, knit in Elsbeth Lavold's Silky Wool, which is currently on sale for $4 a skein.

 

this is my shawl with all four colors working their way through the knitting...Sundara Sock

 

Here is Lisa modeling her completed Peas Please! Vest, designed by yours truly using Orenberg lace technique.  Lisa knit hers from Picaboo, a Pima cotton and Bamboo blend by Frog Tree Yarns in a beautiful shade of Robin’s egg blue.

Picaboo Peas Please! Vest, pattern design and copyright by M. E. Langieri for Summit Yarn Studio

 

Martha and I have been hooked by Romi Hill’s Small Shawls, and here is the latest one completed, Merope:

This was knit from Abstract Fiber's sock yarn...both Martha and I feel that we would like to see the bottom lace edging worked across the top as well, so more yarn would need to be budgeted in for that.

 

I am working on a new shawl pattern for people who love working on straight needles only.  This will be knit on US13s with bulky weight yarn…chunky alpaca from Frog Tree Yarns.  However, until I have the sample done and the pattern typed up, you will have to come by the studio to see.  Soon enough I will be able to share.  It is long and just sits on the shoulders so nicely.  There is NO LACE involved and it only took me four days to knit the first one.  There will be an alternate with a lace edge, but first things first.

Debbie's Giovannina shawl is making great progress!

 

finally, here is the daily dose of cute:  the back story is that Daisy the Dog had the nerve to take up space on my husband’s lap…Sputters is trying to nudge her off his lap in this picture:

Sputters and Daisy trying to own Gary!

 

Take care!  Time to start plan your holiday gift knitting and there are tons of markdowns at Summit Yarn to help you!

with love, light and laughter always,

Mary Ellen aka TheHumanLoom

 

Jean Bellucci’s Intarsia Star Wars Blanky

Jean is in the assembly phase of the incredible project. For those of you who remember, she knit the Yoda blanket awhile ago as well. Between each of these “photo” squares is a black square done in seed stitch…