Le Tissier Designs

Of Larks and Linnets and Flying Fingers

Tag: knit

  • Crafting Exquisite Beaded Knits: Tips and Inspiration

    Crafting Exquisite Beaded Knits: Tips and Inspiration

    I love working with beads in my knitting. I try to add them to lace knitting at every opportunity. These are a few of my favourite pieces. They each have a story.

    Some, like the beaded lace hat, Galadriel’s Gift, I have knit multiple times. The painted circular shawl is the Garden Gate Shawl, showing my favourite pictures of one of my painted pieces. The Shetland Fascinator, the little lace shawl, has the prettiest little beaded tassels.

    Rhiannon’s Wrap, the purple shawl, is the most beautiful thing that I ever knit, that never won a prize. A story for another day. I never wrote a pattern for this large version. But there is a pattern for a smaller version, the link is attached to the beaded tassel photo in another gallery in this post.

    And Covid Be Damned – The Impulsive Shawl – rainbow, bees, butterfly’s and beads – there are so many ways to add beads.

    If you want to know more about the pictures below click on the picture. Some of them are linked to patterns.

    But when I discovered bead knitting (beads knit into every stitch) I thought that here was a pinnacle of achievement. I have been working towards that pinnacle every since. My inspiration and resolution just got a big boost.

    Treasure

    I was in Victoria not too long ago, spending some quality granny time looking after my Grandson. As he is in school I had some time to wander around during the day. I visited family, met up with a friend and got myself into trouble of the best kind.

    My daughter lives close to a wonderful little second hand store. I have been there a few times but this last time I found something I had never seen in real life, not outside of a museum. I have seen pictures in books or magazine articles – I found a small, exquisite, circular knit, beaded bag!

    I did not buy it immediately. I went back to my daughter’s and slept on it, as it was not cheap. It was not useful and I wanted it. So I didn’t do much sleeping! I kept thinking and thinking and in the morning rushed back to the store and looked at it again. Who was I kidding – it was mine!

    It is tiny, only 3 inches across and about 2 and 1/2 inches high, maybe three inches high if you include the closure. But it is perfect. A perfect little coin purse.

    Kid Leather lined, designed to sit upright on a table, lavender cotton lace top and a beautiful, twisted silk cord… And the BEAD work!

    Micro Bead Knit bag with Pink and Yellow and roses, deep green leaves and the bottom is a beautiful spiraling bottom, in a leaf and bud pattern. There is just 1 loose bead, you can see it resting in the center of the bottom of the bag. For its age it is in great shape!

    This bag is roughly dated to the 1920’s and 30’s and unlike most beaded bags, which were designed only to hang this bag was designed to sit on the table and hold a few essentials, a bit of “mad” money, a compact perhaps, just the necessities necessary for a evening on the town.

    These bags were mostly knit in Europe at this time. I can see a woman in a garret apartment in Paris madly knitting away and creating a bag for her month’s wages. I have knit with beads, a lot. But knitting circularly with such fine thread and micro beads… it boggles the mind.

    My other beaded treasure was a gift from a customer, someone who wanted the bag saved and appreciated. I call it the Napier-Hemy bag to reflect the name of the original owners. This bag came to me in pretty rough shape. It is losing beads and had started to fall apart. But it is still beautiful. The work that went into such creations. The beads are smaller in this bag than in my new treasure. That allows for greater detail in the design. The colours are stronger too – less light exposure perhaps.

    You might have noticed that I have been creating a few things with a tiny circular cast-on. lately I am playing with a crazy idea – I think I want to try knitting a small bag like this one.

    I won’t knit my bag with such tiny beads, I am thinking of size 8/0’s and then of course what kind of pattern do I want to tackle with my beads? It can’t be too complex – I am not totally insane.

    So Many Styles of Working with Beads

    I am not without some experience in working with beads. I have tried a great many different beading techniques over the years. I have knit quite a few other beaded bags. Or shawls and tassels with beaded details. Beaded bracelets as well. I could incorporate aspects of these into a circular bead knit bag.

    Beaded Mesh – Knitting with Beads

    The yarn is BC Garn Tussah Tweed Silk

    This is the Victorian Beaded Mesh Bag. It is a lot of beads and not quite so much knitting. But is was the start of my fascination with beads and beaded bags in particular.

    I also designed a scarf, Victorian Beaded Mesh Scarf to co-ordinate with the bag. It is a little short scarf with beads at both ends. I have just started knitting myself a new version.

    Being a small piece, knit in two pieces and grafted – it knits up relatively quickly and gives a great finish! It is also fun to wear!

    I am making myself a new version just long enough to tie around my neck. You can see it’s progress in the pictures above.

    You can use beads in so many ways in your knits! Below are just a few. Some of these are just pretty pictures of my work (well, I think they are pretty). If you want to know more about the pictures below click on the picture. Some of them are linked to patterns.

    Just in case you want to be crazy too! Here is some information on different styles of working with beads in your knitting.

    Beading Techniques:

    Placed while Knitting – knitting with beads – beads are placed in pattern, but not creating a solid beaded surface

    This technique is the most commonly used technique in modern knitting. A bead is carefully placed on a stitch as your knit. It can be placed before or after the stitch has been worked. When you place the bead determines which row it sits on.

    The bead is placed with a small crochet hook or beading tool. The size of the hook is determined by the weight of the yarn and the size of the hole in the bead. I have a small collection of hooks from a .60mm to a 1.25mm. I always try to use the biggest hook possible, but some beads, especially the ones with the beautiful finishes have smaller holes.

    .60mm hook with 8/0 bead – hook is ready to pick-up the stitch
    picking up the stitch
    bead has been slipped onto the st
    stitch is ready to be worked

    This technique allows you to place beads exactly where you want them as you knit.  It requires a very small crochet hook – 0.6mm – 0.75mm most commonly (bead holes can vary, sometimes a bigger hook will work).  Pick up a bead with the tip of your crochet hook, use the crochet hook to remove the next stitch from the left hand needle and then slide the bead down the hook and onto the stitch, return the stitch to the left hand needle and then work the stitch. 

    Beading Techniques: Pre-Strung Beads

    Three beading techniques requiring pre-strung beads that I use; beaded long-tail cast-on, beads between purl stitches and knitted in beads.  These are all pre-strung beads, easiest in one colour, more complicated with several colours.

    Notes on Pre-stringing beads:  All three of these techniques require that the beads be strung onto your yarn before you start knitting.  The first time that you try knitting a pattern with beads I recommend that you work a pattern with knitted in beads, keep the pattern simple. A small repeat something that mistakes won’t show as much or will be easily fixed.  That way as long as you have enough beads there won’t be any problem with beads not being strung in the right order.  This is the simplest way of learning. 

    After the first time you will be able to decide if you want to knit in a coloured pattern.  When working a coloured pattern the beads must be strung in the correct order.  In order to do this you string the beads in the reverse order that they are being knit.  The first bead knit is the last bead strung.  Flip your chart upside down and use the reverse chart for the bead stringing order. 

    Pre-stringing Fixes:  If the beads are out of order you will need to cut your yarn and fix the problem.  An extra bead can be crushed with pliers.  Work very carefully if crushing a bead the sharp edges can cut the yarn.

    Beaded long-tail cast-on – beads are pre-strung and I usually bead every stitch or every other stitch, but for special beads, a different shape or size, the beads might be added less frequently. These beads are on the the tail (the length of yarn over your thumb).  Start with your slip knot and immediately pull up 1 bead to rest close to the slip knot.  *Cast on 1 (2 ) or desired number of stitches and then pull-up another bead.* Repeat from * to * until you have run out of beads and then finish your cast-on – this should give you the right number of stitches for your cast-on, if you had the right number of beads.  Always check your count.

    Beads between purl stitches – This is the easiest of the pre-strung  beading techniques.  The beads are pulled up and placed between your purl stitches  The purl stitches hold them in place.  This technique does not work well between knit stitches as they will fall to the purl side.

    Fretwork mitten cuff – beads on the cast-on and beads between stitches in the ribbing.

    Bead Knitting – creates a solid beaded surface

    Method and rules:  Knitted in Beads –

    1) When knitting in your bead you will always knit into the back of the stitch on which you wish to place your bead. The twisting of the stitch by knitting through the back of the loop insures that the bead will be locked into place.  

    2) When the needle is in place in the back of the stitch, pull up the bead up to approx ¼ of an inch away from your knitting.  As you knit the stitch, pull the bead through to rest on the front arm of your stitch. 

    3) The bead will be furthered anchored when the stitch on top of it is also knitted through the back of the loop.  This is done when knitting the next row of beads in place.  If beading the next row you will automatically twist the stitch with your current bead.  If no bead is being knit into place simply knit into the back of the stitch above the bead to finish the anchoring process.

    The beads have been knit in and are sitting on twisted stitches. You can see the twist below the beads. The bead have just been pulled through the stitch and the stitch is about to be removed from the LH needle.

    If you are looking for more information on Knitting with Beads or Bead Knitting the Mary Thomas Knitting Book is still one of the best. It was originally published in 1936 and most of the modern writing on the topic references back to this book.

    A New Project in the Planning Stage

    I have collected so many colours of beads over my years of knitting. More than enough to create a completely bead knit bag. I would work it in Handmaiden Lace Silk. I have a good quantity of that to hand. It would certainly be easier to work with than a linen thread – if I could find some of this thread strong and long enough. The yarn for bead work like this has to be strong and long with no knots if I plan on stringing thousands of beads. And I am. Am I crazy?

    So am I crazy? Or what? Are you crazy too?

    If you are interested in more – I have just been looking at beads for the background. I usually order from Bead F/X in Toronto when I need a larger quantity of beads. They offer design size pkg of beads – approx 9000 beads per 250 grs of 8/0’s. These are the three possible colours that I am considering. Maybe you might want to check our some options for beading your knits.

    Crystal Ab
    Sparkle Pewter
    Light Steel Blue

    I will probably only order two colours, but first I have to decide on my pattern colours and then pick the background! This may require some swatching. I dusted off my swatch instructions for bead knitting. If you are interested in giving it a try, this swatch is a fairly inoffensive way to begin.

    Bead Knit Swatch updateDownload

    I am going to start playing with some swatching – I will keep you updated.

    Happy Knitting and Planning

    Lynette

  • Get Your Knit ON – The Rain Shadow Shawl is LIVE

    Get Your Knit ON – The Rain Shadow Shawl is LIVE

    Find Rain Shadow on Ravelry or on Etsy, whichever you prefer to shop!

    I have been working on a year long Blanket Square project.  Threads of Colour – a Year in Squares, each month a different square in a different stitch pattern and each month a “fancy”, a little extra something.

    The April Square featured this stitch and once knit, I couldn’t stop thinking about making it up as a shawl.  This is the result.

    Rain Shadow shawl is a classic top-down triangular shawl with a twist.  The Rain Shadow pattern is a ribbing pattern, with YO and bead details.  The ribbing pattern and garter st details make the shawl totally reversible.  As well, the pattern is mirrored from one side to the other giving extra movement to the lines of the rib.  The shawl as shown has been beaded with size 6/0 beads.  The beads are optional.

    Almost classic – the increases along the sides and center line are a little faster than the average triangle shaping.  There are six increases in every 10 rows of pattern.

    Rain Shadow is both written and charted.

    The yarn is Soft Silk, by BC Garn. A gorgeously blue bourette silk. And the beads are 6/0 beads by Miyuki.

    The Wool Room …

    … needs organization!

    This is where it started, beautiful, clean, and empty!

    A lot of organization.

    On the up side to all of this – the storage locker is empty!

    What kind of organization do you use for your stash – yarn, fabric, any kind of needle craft! Are you a neat and tidy type – or more on the disorganization side of thing. Right now I am strictly disorganized!

    I am working on changing that. It is a slow process because knitting is still my priority. I will keep you up to date on my successes and failures!

    Like the small stacks of boxes in every room that I am slowly going through! Now that I have time to open and check them. We have taken stacks of boxes to recycle places, the dump and book sales. I have donated some yarn to my daughters stash. So the cull is ongoing and closer to almost complete as opposed to just starting.

    We love our new space already. I will show pictures as we clear and tidy each space!

    And I am knitting up a storm or two!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

    PS – Remember – there is a code included in the June Square download to purchase Rain Shadow from Ravelry at 50% off.

    Gorgeous Roses in the Old City Quarter Neighbourhood!

  • Create a Colorful Knitted Blanket: Tips & Patterns – a year long exploration of squares

    Create a Colorful Knitted Blanket: Tips & Patterns – a year long exploration of squares

    Make-A-Blanket – January Square

    This month is set-up for the Blanket. Pick your colours, decide on the style and knit your first square. The instructions for each square will be both charted and written.

    I am working with Cascade 220 wool. So my basic gauge is 20 sts in 4inches worked with a 4.5mm US #7 needle. After knitting my first square I think that these (my) squares will be about 10 inches wide, approx. 22.5 cm. My current plan is to make 20 squares and lay them out in blanket form and attach them together (no plan for this yet).

    There are two styles of blanket options that I have considered. I will lay them both out for you so that you can think about it as you knit your first square. Within these two styles there are other considerations. Do you want your blanket to be a solid colour? Or do you want lots of colour? Do you want your squares to be random or laid out in a quilt style of pattern. I bet you can guess which way I am going! Yup, lots of colour and random squares!

    Blanket 1 – knit in strips, biggest advantage, less seams and less to connect. This blanket could be knit in 1 colour, or in strips of colours with a different colour connecting them. The strips could still consist of squares that change colour with each pattern, or each strip could be knit in one pattern that repeats up each strip. How you put your Blanket Squares together is all up to you.

    I do like the stripes and diamonds on this Jester! His motley costume hits all the fun notes.

    Blanket 2 – knit in squares, no advantage, more seams, more connections! But I like the look better. This blanket was my original idea, Lots of patterns and many differing colours; it has been pointed out to me that I am sometimes alone in my love of the motley. But how could that be – there are so many examples of it all around us!

    My sloth’s intarsia coat was a fun example of a motley coat.

    I did a little sketching with Samsung Note and AI. These are the possibilities my sketches suggested.

    This month the Square is a Diagonal Rib pattern. It is totally reversable. And I am really liking that feature. This may be the square that I knit the most. It could act almost like a back drop for the other squares. We will see what tickles my fancy as the year progresses. This square took me approx. 36 grs yarn to knit. With that information I am figuring that I will need at least 7 skeins of the Cascade plus more for the finishing.

    Notes on working with the Squares. I will try to provide both written and charted patterns for each square. When working with charts every square represents 1 st or if the square is grey the absence of a stitch. That square can be regarded as a space to be ignored on that row.

    • Read all flat chart odd rows – 1, 3, 5 etc from right to left and all flat chart even rows – 2, 4, 6 etc from left to right.
    • Read every round from a circular chart from right to left.
    January SquareDownload

    Also included in this months download is the Starfish pattern. I am going to knit a few of these to sprinkle randomly over my blanket. These Starfish will each take about 6 grs of yarn. I can see quite a few colourful starfish on my blanket.

    Blanket Sea StarDownload

    I hope that you will share your pictures and progress with me! I am trying to decide the best way. A group on Facebook and/or a thread on Ravelry. Have you got any other suggestions?

    I am having a lot of fun knitting up Sea Stars, this month’s add on! But I think that next month’s add on will be just as much fun! Now what could they be?

    Hint – what is the famous day in February that is celebrated with “?”‘s and flowers!

    Happy New Year!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Off the Cuff

    Off the Cuff

    Gloves

    Gloves are sexy.  Gloves are demure.

    Gloves are practical. 

    Gloves are glamorous.  Gloves are prim.

    Gloves have been a fashion statement for centuries.

    Gloves have been designed to reveal and conceal.  Jewelry was designed and sized to wear over them.  Gloves are what we wear to be “seen”!

    Gloves for a knitter are a perfect project.  They are small projects and therefore very portable, much like socks, the common choice for an easy to travel with project.  Best of all, unlike socks, gloves are seen immediately when worn.  They can showcase a knitter’s skills and interests.

    There are not many garments that we wear that can be said to reflect such diverse aspects of our individual psyches’.

    Once you learn how to knit the glove hand – the back, palm, thumb and fingers – then there is the cuff.

    When you start to knit gloves, the cuff is kept simple, after all learning all the small points of glove construction are the main points of difference between gloves and mittens. That is where to focus needs to be. There are bridges and forchettes (french for small gusset) in gloves! And fingers, they appear small and fiddly – but a finger only takes about 20min to knit!

    I started to knit gloves because, well, I couldn’t find a commercial glove to fit my non standard hand. I have broad palms and short fingers. Gloves that worked for my fingers would never go over my palm, and gloves that fit my palm would leave me with an inch of extra fingers. I always wanted gloves that fit me, therefor I learned to knit gloves.

    Once I learned to knit gloves – I started to play with the cuffs of gloves!

    What wonderful small places to add so many interesting details! And for a while there was no stopping the experimentation! There were many more ideas tried and quite often ripped out because the idea didn’t work. You can see that beads played a prominent role in my glove designs. Gloves were meant to showcase jewelry and the hands of the people that wore them! And why not knit in our own bling!

    Above is a selection of glove possibilities….  A couple of which you will see below as finished designs. The others are waiting to be redesigned or finished.

    Below is a selection of Glove patterns that I have designed and either published myself or had published by others.

    Chihuly Chevron Gloves, Turtle Flower Gauntlets, Ronas Hill Heathers, Tiny Bubbles, #27 Gloves (Cabled and Ruffled Cuffs), Basic 4-ply Gloves, Entrelac Gauntlets, Classic Argyle Beaded Gloves, Viking Gauntlets, Wisteria Beaded Cuffs for Gloves or Socks, Skye Gloves

    It has been a while since I designed any gloves. I think that needs to change. I have this new coat, maybe it needs some gloves. I do have two designs that I am working on. One a classic fair-isle and the other a long beaded cuff in lace… They might work! LOL!

    I do design a lot of fingerless mittens with fancy cuffs as well. They are generally more popular than full gloves, quicker to knit for sure…. but there is something about a pair of fancy gloves…

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette

  • Looking Forward – a Personal Reflection on Being Older

    Looking Forward – a Personal Reflection on Being Older

    2025 is fast approaching and I am looking forward towards a calmer year, with less sadness and more joy, with more opportunities looked for and more chances taken.

    1/4 inch tall this small treasure caught my eye as I walked past a trunk with a large opening at the bottom was this flash of white. Turned out it was this tiny mushroom, glowing white in the shadows.

    Now sure where this month went. It has flown on by since my last post, which was the first of the month and now it is close to the end of the month.

    I turned 65 this month. Not sure what that means to others, but for me it is a reminder that life is getting shorter. (I have been told that it means I am old! LOL!) So, If I want to try something new I should do it sooner, seek it out, rather than waiting for it to show up! It also doesn’t mean quitting working, it does mean changing how I work. I am lucky to have a job I love. The same job I have been working for the last 24 – 25 years. Working at Mad About Ewe Fine Yarns in Nanaimo, helping, teaching other knitters to stretch their skills and take the chance to create what they want. Teaching, sharing my knowledge and experience of working with different yarns, to help others chose the best yarns for their projects. And always playing, there are always new tools, needles and yarn to try.

    Perhaps this is my knitting Motto!

    Working at Mad About Ewe has brought so much joy and so many opportunities. While working, I was encouraged by my customers to try new things as well. I joined Ravelry thanks to Liz who thought that my teaching patterns would work well on Ravelry! She had to suggest it more than once, and she brought in her friends to add their support of the idea, as I was reluctant.

    Liz and company were correct. Through posting my patterns on Ravelry and the feedback garnered there, I gained confidence and continued to expand my designing reach.

    I entered competitions and expanded my reach in that way. One competition lead me to designing for Vogue Knitting and another started me designing for the Buffalo Wool Co. Others offered up only experience – sometimes the best of the options.

    I want to do more, try more, and work with more yarns. I need to reach out more, take more chances. I started in a small way this year – next year I will try more.

    I have been asked if I will retire, not yet, perhaps never! Retirement – who needs retirement – by some standards, doing the job you have always wanted when you retire – I have been retired for the last 25 years! One change to the job is that I only work 4 days a week instead of 5. That was supposed to give me more time to knit! But life this last year had other plans!

    I will never stop knitting – so working in a vanguard store – one that brings me new yarn and opportunities is not something to give up.

    Next year – I will add more things, more ideas, more plans!

    I didn’t walk much this year – that will change. I will make the time. I found I really missed the walking and the grounding it gave me.

    Next Year, it is waiting for everyone! Change is waiting! Joy and hope are waiting! What are we waiting for!?

    This morning Tom and I went for a walk around parts of Bowen Park, mostly around the Millstream River. We wanted to see how the heavy rains had affected the flow! And had they ever!.

    I have wonderful friends, many made through my work. One friend, Angie, did this fabulous sketch of Sophie, from one of my photographs. I had it framed. Thank-you Angie. Such a wonderful gift.

    There has been a lot of knitting this month, mostly gifts.

    December is the month that I devote to the gift making part of knitting life. Not everyone gets the gift I want to give, sometimes, most times, I have to pick and choose who gets a knitted gift. I make many hats and small accessories, and I love to make Christmas ornaments. This year I am making Shetland Stars.

    It is a lovely little lace pattern by Elizabeth Williamson. The yarn is Shetland Ultra.

    I wanted to make a garland for my daughter, but I have only made a few. So I will make a few more next year.

    Stars before and after blocking.

    Have you noticed that there is never enough time to acknowledge to ones you care for in a way that means something to you both?

    I think that the best gift is time. It is the hardest to find and the most expensive to give. It is also the gift most treasured by both the recipient and giver! Oh for more time!

    I hope that you have had a great year. I wish a wonderful year ahead. I wish you the time you need. I wish you nothing but happiness!

    Be Well.

    Lynette

    The bench – for when I am ready LOL!

  • Jingle Gnome Chapeau Part Two

    Jingle Gnome Chapeau Part Two

    Now that the class has started there has been a request for a mitten pattern to co-ordinate with the hat! So…

    I am knitting a pair. The first mitten is complete and the second it started! There will be two sizes of mittens, small/medium (for me) and a medium/large. I am knitting the small/medium as the sample pair. UPDATE – the second mitten is finished! They practically knit themselves!

    I decided to knit the loopy cuff with two colours, grey and white. I knew that there wasn’t enough grey for a solid cuff on both mittens, and I am still not sure that even with mixing the colours that I will have enough grey to finish the mittens. I am loving the colour mix, sometimes need is the best teacher! We will see if I have saved enough of the grey to finish the mitten without purchasing more yarn.

    The pattern for both hat and mittens is basically complete – it just needs some pictures and a photo tutorial for the afterthought thumb – my favourite thumb for most colourwork mittens. This thumb is easy to knit and does not interfere with the colourwork pattern.

    The inserted sts. The guideline for the thumb placement
    Using two dpn’s pick-up 1 arm of each st above and below the inserted waste yarn.
    Starting at the center arefully cut and remove the waste yarn.
    Waste yarn is removed and the sts are ready to be knit.
    First round has been created.
    Mitten with completed thumb.

    The pattern is available on Ravelry as the Jingle Gnome Chapeau with Bonus Mittens.

    I love the vintage filter on my computer photo editing program, it really suits the mood of the Jingle Gnome Chapeau!

    Happy Knitting!

    Lynette

  • Jingle Gnome Chapeau

    Jingle Gnome Chapeau

    Sometimes when you spend a lot of time designing “serious” knits, you know, practical but attractive, maybe someone will think that they could knit and wear it items, sometimes you just need to break out of the mold and play!

    I love Christmas – I love Gnomes – so here is a little nod to both!

    Meet the Jingle Gnome Chapeau, designed for warmth, but with a little “fun” added! This is a sample for a class happening at Mad About Ewe Fine Yarns. It starts next week, Tues Oct 8 and runs over the next couple of weeks. Three classes in total.

    Class # 1 – How to knit loops – link to video – did you know that the loops can be cut and brushed to make a really soft “fur”?

    Class # 2 – Basic Stranding – simpler than fair-isle, much more repetitive, but great practice.

    Class #3 – How to make the perfect pompom, and some basic finishing – how to deal with ends.

    Jingle is knit with Eco Shetland Worsted, which is a light worsted, almost a dk, but I have knit it a few time at the worsted gauge and been very happy with the results. It has great yardage, 1 skein of each colour is all that is necessary. Plus a few jingle bells and the regular notions!

    How about that pompom, surrounded by bells? Isn’t just a dream of a finish?

    I know you want one!

    Happy Gnome “ing”

    Lynette

    PS. The pattern will be available in about 3 weeks and will include a mitten pattern to go with the Chapeau!

  • Mending 101 – Part 2

    Mending 101 – Part 2

    Mending a Ribbed Cuff – replacing the rib

    Yesterday I mended the blue sweater cuff. It took about two and a half hours, including the knitting time. Why did I wait so long? I’ve had the yarn for close to three years! Other things kept getting in the way. And I would rather knit than mend! Wouldn’t you?

    I am working on changing that attitude within myself.

    This sweater was knit in the round. Bottom up for the body, but top down for the sleeves.

    At the time, I knew my yardage was limited and I wanted to make sure that each sleeve was the same and that the yardage went as far as possible. Top-down knitting is the best way to make that happen. It worked well for this project. I finished the sweater with only a little of the main shade of blue to spare.

    The original yarn was a dk, so I decided to work the cuff with a set of 3.5mm US #4 dpn’s.

    Top-down knitting also makes it easier to mend/replace the bits that wear out, like the sleeve cuffs. Had I knit the sleeves from the cuff up I would have had to cut the knitting at the join of the cuff and very carefully retrieve my live stitches above the cuff. That will be a demonstration for another day and a different sweater!

    When working with an older sweater, the stitches will not usually run down the knitting in the same way as a garment that you are working. After a certain amount of time the yarn itself has been almost pressed into shape with folds and bends. You can see in the unraveled yarn and stitches at the end of the cuff (4th picture in the sequence) that the shape is set and unwilling to move. A bonus, one that makes the work you are trying to achieve a little easier.

    The wrist is frayed right at the beginning/end of the round. Which makes it slightly more complicated to pull back as the end has been woven in down towards the cuff.
    Scissors will be needed to cut the yarn every time it hits the woven in tail, Once the end of the knitting is found the knitting will pull back easily, except where the tail yarn has been woven into the fabric. Scissors were used to cut the knotted area and the wrist kept on unravelling.
    The end is gone and the unravelling speeds along.
    Once the knitting is pulled back to the sleeve, pull the next round out carefully, As you pull catch each stitch revealed with a dpn. Continue to pull back the last round, switching dpn’s as they are filled. Use 3 or 4 dpn’s to hold the stitches depending upon your comfort level with dpn use.
    Once all of the stitches have been picked up, cut off the old yarn leaving an 8 inch tail. Weave in the tail as you knit the first round of the new ribbed cuff.
    I had 68 sts on the needles but the cuff had been 48 sts. The sleeve had been reduced by 20 sts in the cuff. So I worked an extra round, reducing as I knit, to match the 48 sts, before starting the ribbing.

    I am very happy with the results. The new blue cuff is not perfect, but perfect enough for a sweater that was knit in 1990, 34 years ago. The neck may be the next piece that needs replacing, I noticed some wear along the back, but that is a problem for another day!

    Happy Mending

    Lynette

  • Mending 101

    Mending 101

    This Fall and Winter and I am undertaking a self taught mending course. I started it yesterday by mending a few moth holes in my favourite vest and what I call my weekend sweater!

    I had hoped to work on these things in the summer for a Winter Class but the best laid plans….. So better now than not at all! See On the Mend.

    Needle Felting

    Small holes in our knits can be repaired with a few basic needle felting tools and some fibre. I did not realize how easy this would be or I would have tried it years ago! There are some other methods of dealing with small holes, embroidery stitches offer many options! But this is easy and fast!

    All you need is holes, a needle felting needle, fibre and a sponge (which is underneath the hole). I started in the back to give the hole backing. I did not need to do this. Just felting from the front works fine.
    Back is finished.
    Front after the back was done, You can see the shading of the fibre after has been needle felted through the knit. So I felted again on top of this fibre. My hole is a little on the stiff side with two sides needle felted.
    One dot looked foolish, so I added a few more spots.
    You can see that this has been folded for quite a while! Needs a wash and then it will be ready to be worn again!

    The second sweater with a hole was a much simpler project. This sweater is what I call my weekend sweater. I throw it on over when I just need a little more warmth. It was knit with sock yarn when the patterning sock first came out, so about 24 years ago. There was only 1 hole in the back, So I filled it up with fibre and called it done!. I did play around with it a little, added a little bit of an edge and curlicue!

    I had hoped to get another sweater mend underway, this one needs a new ribbing at the wrist. The sweater is over 30 years old but still looks great, no pilling and the colours are still vibrant! Well worth repairing, especially as it’s big, boxy style is coming back.

    Several years ago I had to replace the ribbing on the other wrist, I had caught it on something sharp and that had broken the bind-off (the sleeves had been knit from the top down – best way when yardage was short). I had used up all of my remaining yarn with that repair. So finding a close colour took a while, then the yarn I found got put away in my stash, so this sweater has been waiting for about three years. You can see in the photo the colour is not perfect, but it will make the sweater wearable again, not bad for a 30+ year old sweater!

    Yesterday I put the work in and found the yarn! That took a little time, you know, the needle in the haystack approach! So after looking for the yarn, I did not have time to do the work – but this weekend it will happen!

    The original yarn was a wool from New Zealand, gorgeous blues in 4 tones. The pattern was an early Kaffe Fassett pattern in about 36 colours, so I simplified it a little!

    I have quite a few other pieces to mend and I want to try many different techniques! So my Fall knitting projects are booking up fast!

    How is your Fall planning coming along?

    Happy Knitting and Mending

    Lynette

  • Just Another Day….

    Just Another Day….

    … In Paradise

    I woke up to the most glorious sunrise. The living room was glowing orange as the light poured in the windows. When I went out onto the deck – the run was rising in front of me and there was a rainbow forming behind me. So awe inspiring.

    The Mini Rose also produced a new bloom this morning that is absolutely perfect. The Hibiscus plant has several new buds, so many beautiful flowers. Just an amazing start to the day.

    Knitting et al.

    The GreenMan Shawl is progressing nicely. I am about 20% into the Oakleaf and Acorn insert and I am very pleased with the effect of the beads on the knitting.

    I have started another shawl for myself. I didn’t really intend on this one. I am not even designing it. If you are old enough you will remember or will have knit a Clapotis shawl. I am more than old enough.

    Clapotis can be considered one of the first viral patterns on Ravelry and has over 24000 projects listed. It was designed to be knit with some of the glorious hand dyed yarns that were appearing at that time. It has just been re-released on Ravelry as Clapotis 24. There is an accompanying KAL that features lots of yarny prizes.

    I didn’t knit it the first time around, so I am giving it a go with some yarn from my stash. Not hand dyed, but striping and lively, and I was not having any luck designing a sweater for myself with it. I had already ripped back a couple of attempts. The yarn is Lang Cloud Tweed.

    Clapotis is designed for a worsted/aran weight yarn (I keep seeing it in some Rios), but is very easy to adjust for almost any weight! The knitting is basic, stockinette on a diagonal, but the addition of the dropped line of stitches keeps it interesting.

    Have you knit a Clapotis?

    I am also working on another class project. Remember the loopy st? Meet the Jingle Gnome Chapeau. Still under construction, but already looking like a little bit of rustic “happy”! The class will feature the loop stitch, basic stranded knitting and how to make the perfect pompom! I am working with the Eco Shetland Worsted by Estelle. It is yarn that I really like to work with and gives me great results.

    Boho Cozy
    Boho Mitts
    Boho Crown

    I hope that you have a wonderful day. Mine is off to a great start!

    Happy Knitting

    Lynette