Sierra Shrug

The Sierra Shrug is one of those knitting projects that can be of varying difficulty level. If you're wanting a less brain-intensive knit, the written pattern is set up for that, but if you want something with a little more finesse involved, the following techniques will help you out.

The first place you come to a choice when knitting this is-what type of cast on for the center back panel? Either long tail cast on, a provisional cast on, or another cast on. With a provisional cast on, the lps are available for picking up once the sleeves are knitted and its time for the ribbing all the way around the center opening. Here is a video resource on how to do the crochet provisional cast on: http://youtu.be/Nnu1kk8dUj0 You'll want to work one row before starting with row 1 of the pattern.

Another place that neatness can be added is the edges of the side panel. I slipped the last stitch of each knit row-yarn in back, slip purlwise. On the purl row-yarn in front, slip purlwise. On the next row knit the first stitch in the back, or purl it in the front to create a neat chained edge.


The measurements for the various parts of the shrug are as follows:

Vine panel: 10" tall, 11" wide 

Eyelet Rib: 7" long and 12" wide (The ribbing is slightly wider than the vine panel is tall, for fit.

Final Ribbings: 2.5"


I hope this clarifies and adds some interest to your knitting of this lovely shrug. It is a fabulously fun knit, great lace patterns that are easy to memorize create a stunning garment.

Crochet Cast On

I've recently been crocheting quite a lot, and am finding that my skills are growing into refinement. I'm the newest convert to foundation rows that there is! I've been using the single crochet foundation row for lacy projects, and the double crochet foundation row is great for most other things. The single crochet foundation row is just slightly stretchy, springy really, perfect for firm edges. I used it this morning for the bottom edge of a legwarmer and it turned out great! My mom, who owns Gourmet Crochet, also believes in foundation rows, she is where I first heard of them. But, being stubborn I wasn't a fan, but now I am!

Crochet Cast On:

I have another method that I enjoy to start projects, though. I use the knitting long tail cast on, onto the hook size indicated. This really only works for smallish numbers of stitches. Then, I work off by doing yo, pull through 1 lp on hook, *yo, pull through two lps on hook; rep from * across. This gives a good row to stitch into, as well. Incidentally, it is good for Tunisian crochet as well-as it is borrowing that technique for one row.



Well, my doggie Lily says hello in the form of barking wildly at just this moment! I better go see what she is upset about.

What are you working on? Links are welcome!

Who wants a design KAL?

We do! We do!

Suzanne's first swatch of the snowflake stitch pattern. Isn't it gorgeous?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

• Use the "Snowflake Lace" motif in any NEW design

• Finish stitching the design by the end of the year (2012 that is!)

• Take beautiful photos, far away and very close up to show the stitching (email to me by Jan 15)

• Suzanne and I plan to critique the other's item on this blog, and I'd be happy to give any hints I can on anyone else's (Publicly or privately)

I hope someone besides us decides to KAL and keep us posted in comments! I love to see other's design work.

My goal with this is to get both Suzanne and I to finish a lovely shawl design by the end of the year, Suzanne will be wrapping up her "12 in 2012" with the Snowflake Project.

Snowflake Stitch Pattern:

Multiple of 8+7

1st and every other row: Purl.
2: K5, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, *k3, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog; rep from * to last 5 sts, k5.
4: K6, yo, s2kp, yo, k5, yo, s2kp, yo, rep from * to last 6 sts, k6.
6: As for Row 2.
8: K1, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog *k3, skp, yo, k1, yo, k2tog; rep from * across to last st, k1.
10: K2, yo, sk2p, yo, *k5, yo, s2kp, yo; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.
12: As for Row 8.

Skp: Slip 1, knit 1, psso
S2kp: Slip 2 as to knit, knit 1, pass two slipped sts over.

Thoughts on Knitting Design Process

Today is shawl designing/swatching day, a continuation from yesterday's efforts, though on a different piece. Yesterday I worked on Arsenic and Anise, which will be lovely and straight forward, but with a big impact in the black and red colorway. The stitch patterns just fell into place, all flowing from one to another. Fabulous work. This is why I design-for the days when it all works out serendipitously.

Slightly less serendipitous is today's shawl. I've had it on the back burner for.... a couple months now, at least 6 weeks. It was the "Mermaid Shawl" but I used the Mermaid yarn on this, and I haven't dyed more for it yet. I'm thinking a different colorway, anyway. I've toiled and troubled on this, until I'm finally stitching it and not really LOVING the outcome. I think its just that I've put so much effort into it that even if it were the most beautiful knitting on earth, I'd still say "meh." Looking at what I have stash wise, it may become purple handspun from dear Suzanne. At least, I think it's handspun (correct me if I'm wrong!) The grippiness of this particular wool is well suited to this stitch pattern, I think. There isn't a lot of it but I can just go until nearly out of yarn, and play that game.

These are the thoughts in my head as I stitch, study the hand-drawn chart, and stitch some more. I think its important that both sides of knitting, and, well, any design/art process be shown. There are days and projects where it just falls together nicely:

The smallish quilt I'm making for my mother. One charm pack is all you need for interest!

And there are days and projects in which it doesn't:

A swimwear I made for a 9 y.o. pageant contestant (Before the days of Honey Boo-Boo)

What projects come to mind for your serendipitous and less-than designing moments?

Wedding Creations

Today my boyfriend and I will be attending a wedding. It will be with his extended family, and should be a lot of fun. Weddings always make me want to create!

For the wedding gift, we made great little air fresheners using little jars, filled with baking soda and a bit of scented oil. They turned out great! about $10 invested for a lot of impact. $4 for 4 jars (Bell 8oz Canning Jars) $1 for baking soda, and $5 for a charm pack of fabric. I already had the scented oils.

I have a couple of knitting patterns that would be great for a wedding day. My favorite three, in no particular order are:

Peter Pan Collar in Silk

A New Leaf Shrug

Sierra Shrug

All of these patterns are available on My Craftsy Store (http://www.craftsy.com/user/174704/pattern-store) and the knitted shrugs are available on my Etsy store.

What have I been up to?

I have been very busy lately, busy like a little bee. I have several "secret" projects going. Lace is happening! I also have made two scarves that I'm just getting ready to photo in the next few days. The first is a crochet scarf with an interesting, wavy, construction-and a beautiful border. The other scarflette is a lace leaf stitch, that has patterning on both the knit and the purl side. I plan to do a tutorial with that pattern.

I've also started writing more. I'm getting ready for NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. In November, writers across the US and the world band together to each write a novel in the 30 days of November. The only stipulation is it must be 50,000 words to "win" or complete the challenge. I plan to do it this year. I tried last year but had a lot of life changes going on, and didn't finish. I am looking forward to the craziness that is NaNo'ing, next month!

Do you plan to NaNo? I am whitneync on the site, if you want to add me as a friend!

Creativity Series: On Making Mistakes

There are several categories of "mistakes" we can make in art. Some are technical-IE. missing a stitch in a needle arts project. Some are artistic decisions gone awry. Both types of mistakes can turn into happy accidents, as I'm sure we have all had the experience of.

The point I want to make, with creativity in mind, is that generally, with artistic mistakes the best way to continue is to just... continue, work around it, work with it, work over it, but incorporate that "mistake" into the piece, as it is a part of the artistic journey that you have followed while making it.

With technical mistakes,  I generally have an internal battle. Sometimes, they are small enough that -really- no one will notice but me. Other times, they NEED to be fixed in order to preserve the integrity of the piece. But the hardest one to make decisions about are those that fall somewhere in the middle of that range. Something that might effect quality only superficially, something that may or may not be noticed by others, or something that could be better but is OK as it is.

I tend to notice these mistakes well after making them. Four rows later in a crochet project, for example. I really make the effort to go back and correct these mistakes, most of the time. Sometimes it is a gut wrenching decision -tinking 100 stitches in a knitting project- but it invariably makes the piece better as a whole. By better, I mean that I am happier with it, and isn't that what generally matters?

"Cast On Bind Off" By Leslie Ann Bestor

The cast on that you choose for a knitting project is the foundation for the whole piece. Many people know only one cast on-they may know others exist, but hey! The long-tail cast on is pretty useful. I was one of these people, I'm sad to admit. Long-tail, cable cast on and knitting on were my three go to's. Here at The Daily Artist, we have learned better!

Purchase from Amazon

For a complete dictionary on the subject, I highly recommend the book, "Cast on, Bind off" by Leslie Ann Bestor. 54 Step-by-Step methods. It is awesome. I saw there was another book out by the same title, with "over 200" starts and finishes, but I'm leery of that, 54 is a nice manageable number! Enough to meet every need, not so many that they are redundant (and you can't remember the one you want.) A clever feature of this book is the interior covers. At the front is a list of the cast ons, organized by use, and the back had bind offs. Very very nice idea!

Suzanne and I are loving the Channel Island Cast On at the moment.  It can be found on page 56 in the book. It is listed as useful in these cases: Ribbing (A lot of stretch), Super Stretchy (Socks, hats, mittens, lace) and Decorative. It is really lovely, with a sort of knotted, bumpy edge. Great to add interest and flair to anything really!

It is my pleasure to highly recommend this book to any knitter. From beginner to advanced, this is a subject that is vital for every project, and Cast On Bind Off is a quick reference (or study guide!) to learning the creme de la creme of starts and finishes!



More Information:
Book Title: Cast On Bind Off   
Author: Leslie Ann Bestor
ISBN: 978-1-60342-724-1
Publisher: Storey Publishing
Approximate Retail Price: $16.95 USD
Category: Crafts/Knitting
Techniques: 33 Cast Ons and 21 Bind Offs
Availability: Wire-Bound Paperback

Knitting in Public and Nerd Girl Yarns

I had the strangest experience a few weeks ago. Like a good knitter, I had my KIP (knitting in public) project in my bag as I entered a waiting room. Lo and behold: there was a girl, about 24, KNITTING. I encounter knitters a few times a year, and they generally want to chat. Nothing but hostility and defensiveness radiated from this girl. She knitted along with her orange novelty yarn on knitpicks harmony circs. I was afraid to get out my knitting at this point, she was getting a lot of attention! Finally, after half an hour I cautiously took out my knitting, of course it had to be a lace project! The attention transferred, those that were still interested anyway. I got quite a dirty look from the knitting girl, but she was soon called back and everyone quieted down.

Why is it that some knitters hold themselves above others? I guess it is a human trait, though the rift between knitting and crochet is one I just don't understand. Both crafts have pros and cons, times when one is better, or the other. Knitting does not reign supreme!

 With that being said, I have to announce a new project! I received an amazing skein from Christa at Nerd Girl Yarns, if you will recall from an earlier post. Here is a photo of the color way in case you missed it! This is The Wedding Job, and I have a skein of Exquisite lace weight, which is baby alpaca and silk. Let me tell ya, this is the nicest yarn I've used for crochet, and I am seriously enjoying it. Lace, a B hook, and determination will soon yield a beautiful shawl and pattern! Stay tuned for updates.

Here's how Kickstarter Works

Here's how it works: I set up the campaign (check) and you donate. If I get to or above my goal, you'll be charged at that time, if I don't get to goal, you won't be charged. The payment system is through Amazon so you know it's safe! 

This is an amazing project that I would love to complete-truly luxurious and beautiful knitting needles! How will they be different, you ask? They will be colorful and textural, with perfect tips for lace and beyond, the "base" needles will cost about half of the budget for each set, so that's where quite a lot of the money is going to. The remainder will go for embellishment-with a very small portion being set aside for advertising and sales fees.

These needles will be available in time for Christmas! 

Thanks for your donation-even small donations will help!

Click here to donate!

Crochet Addiction

Beware! I'm going over to the dark side! (JOKING! I love both knitting and crochet! Crochet is, in fact, my first love.)

<3 Crochet

I am fascinated by crochet the last few days. The structure of stitches and how they come together. I just sent off 3 design submissions to a yarn company, all are plays on straight forward rectangular crochet, none are quite what is expected! I thoroughly enjoyed the design process.

Playing with increases and decreases is one of my favorite things to do in knitting; it turns out I enjoy it in crochet, too. I like staggered stitches and transitions that you don't quite expect. One of my crochet victories lately is creating a stitch pattern blend. The stitch pattern starts off based on single crochet, and then I created a transition into a double crochet version-in one row. The swatch looks amazing! Unfortunately I can't show you that, either, so... I'll leave you with this:

Lia Mobius Wrap

Lia is a LOVELY wrap for this time of year! It drapes so beautifully and is very comfortable and secure on the shoulders. Mom (Carolyn Christmas-the designer/owner of Gourmet Crochet) just gave me the original a few days ago, and I'm looking for every chance to wear it! 

Just Ducky

It is officially the first of October, and what is more appropriate than starting the costume making early! Yesterday's project was this oh-so-cute set, a ducky hat and soaker for my boyfriend's little nephew. I think it came out great! It only sort of resembles a yellow snowman :P

It was a fun project, I got to use Red Heart With Love yarn for the yellow and black, and it is soft and squishy. I enjoyed working with it, for this project. It would make a great afghan too!

Acrylic is sometimes icky, sometimes great, really depends on the project. What is your favorite acrylic yarn?