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KnitBits®
#53
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The free e-mail newsletter from Berroco
http://www.berroco.com
#53, December 19, 2003
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Dear Knitters,
As I wind down my office duties in preparation for a long awaited
holiday, I sit down to write the last KnitBits of 2003 and I wax
introspective. It has been a very good year for Berroco and for
knitting in general. All over the world people are caught up in
the hand knitting frenzy. Knitting terminology is creeping into
the vernacular and I delight in overhearing "knitting-centric"
conversations on the streets of Providence.
I recommend reading "Stitch
'N Bitch" by Debbie Stoller, published by Workman Publishing.
Over the years I have wrestled with many of the same issues that
she writes about regarding knitting and feminism. "I knit therefore
I am" also became my philosophy in 1985 when I entered into
uncharted waters as a woman, a mother, a wife and a painter, carving
out a career in hand knitting, design and publishing. Today I am
reaping what I have sown after 18 years of professional dedication
and sacrifice to this craft. And now there is finally a population
of knitters, mostly women, who embrace creativity in knitting as
never before. Knitters are exploring color and fiber in a far more
creative way. Not so locked into the written pattern and technical
pattern stitches, the knitter is more eager than ever to investigate
the possibilities of combining colors and textures while creating
knitted fabric in a more abstract way. At the same time, knitters
are hungry for information and inspiration about knitting so that
they can create their own fabrics. Their canvas of choice is without
a doubt a small project, such as a scarf or hat.
These little "masterpieces"
decorate and adorn like never before. Shopping in the mall, I find
that my favorite stores are in lock step with this hand knitting
trend in accessories. There are knitted and crocheted hats, scarves,
bags and socks that seem to be more important fashion items than
any other trends in ready to wear.
A couple of readers have requested
a knitted version of the Clara
hat from KnitBits #52. I really believe that this is a project
that is best crocheted. I have formed this cap in a three dimensional
way, much like creating a coil pot out of clay. This method has
a certain structural integrity that I feel might be compromised
by translating it into knit.
We are in the midst of a major
overhaul to Scarf Central.
In the coming months you will be able to click on Berroco's Scarf
Central to browse hundreds of new and exciting yarn combinations
and colorways for creating your own scarf. You might want to visit
Scarf Central for some last minute gift ideas. We offer a variety
of free online patterns
as well as a look at all
of our scarves in our current books. Why not knit a quick
people or pet Christmas
Stocking? We have a free pattern on the web. When we wrote
this pattern we knit it in a yarn called Bluefaced Leicester and
trimmed it with Zap. Bluefaced
Leicester has since been discontinued. I recommend that you substitute
our Softwist
#9455 Cool Red. The bright rayon sheen combined with the matte
wool will add a festive note. No time to knit a stocking? Why
not simply trim a ready made sock with Zap? You can do this with
a strand of Zap and a crochet hook.
In response to my last KnitBits,
several readers asked: "How do you determine whether your first
row after casting on is a right side or a wrong side row?"
It depends on the cast-on method you have used. If you work the
"long tail method", your first row will be a purl row
(wrong side row) in stockinette. If you "knit on", use
the "cable cast-on" or the "thumb method", your
first row will be a right side row. When working in ribbing I prefer
to have a horizontal bar on the bottom edge of my knitting. Again,
depending on what method of cast on you have used, the first row
will be either a right side or a wrong side as described above.
By the time you have completed several rows of ribbing, you can
clearly see whether there is a horizontal bar or a purl bump at
the bottom of each stitch. There is an advanced cast on method that
resembles a machine knit cast on that will have neither a bar nor
a bump at the bottom of the rib stitches. I like to use this method
for knit one, purl one ribbings and I can bind off with a tapestry
needle at the neck ribbing to echo the cast on edge. For an illustrated
description of the techniques mentioned above, I recommend that
you read the Vogue Knitting Book.
BEGINNER'S Q & A
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A new knitter, Laurin, asked the following question: "When
instructions say to "end on WS" - does that mean that
the last row I knit in that pattern should be on the wrong side,
or that when the rows of the pattern are done, the next row is to
be the wrong side?" Laurin, this is a very good question and
one that beginners frequently ask. Let me explain: When our instructions
read "end on WS" we mean, end having just completed a
wrong side row. Therefore, the next row you knit will be a right
side row. I would think that most pattern writers are in agreement,
but I can only vouch for those with which I have had experience.
I know that Vogue Knitting and Family Circle Easy Knitting are in
agreement.
In my next KnitBits on January
9th, I will be introducing our Spring '04 collection of yarns and
patterns. I can't wait to show you all the exciting new yarns and
designs for the warm weather to come. In February we will be traveling
to Europe to source new yarns for Spring '05 and during the upcoming
months we will be working on our Fall '04 collection and posting
new web exclusive patterns. Our agenda for the coming year is "jam
packed" with reasons for you to read KnitBits and to visit
our web site regularly. In 2004 we intend to post a new "Web
Exclusive Free Pattern " with every KnitBits.
THIS WEEK'S WINNER
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Congratulations to Mary Zeigler of Rome, NY, the winner of our Free
Sweater Kit for KnitBits #52. Mary has chosen to knit our lovely
cabled Quest sweater, Ashley,
which is featured in Book # 220.
Happy Holidays and Happy Knitting,
Margery Winter
Creative Director
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