Flint Knits

You’ve probably already seen this book. You’ve probably already ordered it, received it, and cast on for at least six patterns from its pages.

But in case you haven’t? Three cheers for Stitchy McYarnpants and Caro Sheridan’s Knitting it Old School: 43 Vintage-Inspired Patterns. (And read on for a CONTEST. Everyone loves a contest!)

Most vintage-update knitting books (and I own and love them all) are (1) full of understated, classy, mid-century white-lady housewifely styles; (2) quite limited in sizing, at both the smaller and larger ends; (3) short on designs for men; and (4) pretty.

With Stitchy and Caro at the helm, you’re probably unsurprised to hear that Old School is none of these things. There are loads of classic and classy garments, like Kirsten’s sweater featured on the cover and a number of other lovely, wearable sweaters and accessories (I’m wild about Diana’s and Cirilia’s designs).

But at least 50% this book is 100% bananas. Even the design I contributed — a houndstooth go-go dress – is one of its more reserved, staid garments. For example:

If you want a multicolor granny square dress to wear to your local community theatre production of Hair? Check.

A crocheted beach bag shaped like a pineapple? Check.

Peppermint-striped bonnet and woolen pompom skirt for tipping back hot toddies by the fire with Pat Boone? Check.

An entire chapter full of patterns inspired by classic mid-century science fiction cinema? Also check.

Me, I’m whipping up a pair of Marnie MacLean’s crocheted hot pants to wear all over Rhinebeck next month. Yeah, that’s what I said.

Another remarkable thing about the book is the sheer number of patterns it offers — FORTY THREE, people. 43 patterns (9 of which are crocheted, plus a few bonus sewing tutorials). This is about twice what you’d find in most pattern books and, at the current list price on amazon.com, that comes out to about 38 cents per pattern. AND most of the designs come in sizes ranging from at least XXS to XXL.

My dress design, Rally, is available in chest sizes from 29.5 - 53.5 inches, with optional waist shaping, and bust darts for cup sizes A-DD. Plus the pattern includes 3 different skirt options, to increase away from the body at a 5, 10, or 15-degree angle (pencil, a-line, or circle). (It’s pictured in a size 33, with A cups and a 5-degree skirt.)

Find it on Ravelry!

Or on amazon.com!

Or at a trunk show coming this fall to your local knitting shop!

Aaaaand now for the contest: Leave a comment on this post saying which design from Knitting it Old School you love the most. On October 12, I’ll choose two commenters at random to win copies of the book, signed by authors Stitchy McYarnpants and Caro Sheridan.

First, thanks for all the support during The Crushinator’s recovery! Willie pattern sales paid for all of her vet bills, and she’s nearly back to normal now. The surgery was a success and, after several weeks of keeping her virtually immobile, she’s free of the cast and back to her old self again. Hooray!

Let’s celebrate with a new pattern for sale, yes?

Ella Funt is a cardigan for babies, named in honor of Ramona Quimby’s stuffed elephant in Beverly Cleary’s beloved Ramona books.

The body and sleeves are knit separately from the bottom up, then joined in one piece for the yoke. If elephants aren’t your cup of tea, the pattern also includes blank yoke charts that can be customized with the creature or motif of your choice.

SIZES: Finished chest circumference = 19 (21.75, 24, 26.75) inches
to fit ages 3–6 (6–12, 12–18, 18–24) months

GAUGE: 25 sts and 34 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch

MATERIALS:

• 300 (400, 525, 625) yards of sport or heavy fingering-weight yarn in main color (MC)
• small amounts of coordinating yarn in 3 other colors (colors B, C, and D)
• US 4 (3.5mm) circular & double-pointed needles, or size to get gauge
• 6 (6, 7, 7) buttons, 3/8 inch in diameter
• 2 stitch markers
• scrap yarn

Big thanks to Minty, Ashley, Carrie, Julia, Kelly, and Sarah for test knitting and editing help!

Cost: $6 US

ETA: Shepherd Susie of Juniper Moon Farm has started an incredibly generous contest. If you buy the Willie pattern and comment on her blog, you’ll be entered to win a 2011 share in the farm’s yarn CSA.

Remember Crush? Also known as The Crushinator? My badass puppy and the muse who inspired the wurstwärmer pattern?

Well, on Thursday night, Crush’s favorite puppy sitter took her to the store and had her chillin in a shopping cart when, like a puppy, she jumped out.

And broke her leg.

Badly.

Today, Crush had some pretty complicated surgery to stabilize a pretty complicated fracture (it went through the growth plate, which on a 9 month old puppy, is still all squishy and vulnerable). Did I say the surgery was complicated? I meant to say it was EXPENSIVE.

And so while Crusher was grogged out on morphine waiting for her moment on the operating table, I spent the weekend working like a dog to whip up a wiener-themed pattern to put a drop in the Puppy Surgery Fund bucket.

I give you … Willie!

Willie is a round-yoked cardigan for babies and kids, with a lovable wiener dog that wraps around the lower body. The body and sleeves are knit separately, then joined in one piece for the yoke. If you don’t love dogs, Willie also looks fetching in stripes and solids. Worked up quickly in chunky yarn, this cardigan makes a handy last-minute gift, and a fun introduction to intarsia knitting.

SIZES:
Chest circumference 20 (21.5, 23, 24, 26, 28) inches, to fit ages 6m (12m, 18m, 2y, 4y, 6y)

MATERIALS:

• YARN: Louet Riverstone Chunky (100% wool, 165 yds) or other chunky weight yarn 1 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins main color (MC); 1 skein contrast color (CC); 1 skein Willie color (WC)
• US 9 (5.5mm) circular & double-pointed needles, or size to get gauge
• 6 (6, 6, 6, 7, 7) buttons, 1/2 inch in diameter
• 2 stitch markers
• scrap yarn for holding stitches and embroidering dog collar
• tapestry needle

The pattern includes instructions and charts for sizes from 6 months to 6 years. If you haven’t tried intarsia knitting before (that’s the kind of colorwork where you have large chunks of color — like argyle! or a wiener dog!), this is a great first intarsia project. KnittingHelp.com has an excellent video explaining the technique.

Cost: $6 US

Why yes, that IS German for sausage warmer!

The wiener dog body poses a number of challenges for handknitters—just ask any dachshund owner who’s watched her dog walk right out of a sweater. There’s the obvious length issue, of course–these are long, long dogs. Plus, the dachshund’s superwide chest means that most sweaters’ sleeves are too close together. Sweater necks are rarely long enough, and their sleeves are almost always too long (these two things are largely responsible for most dachshunds being able to escape their sweaters in the blink of an eye). And few dog sweaters are designed to cover that soft, hairless underbelly on a short-haired wiener.

Wurstwärmer is designed to address all of these issues. Short rows add extra material to accommodate a dachshund’s barrel chest. A long, ribbed, generously-sized turtleneck gently hugs the neck and allows for a wide range of neck and chest shapes and sizes. A long body covers the belly, and more short rows curve the sweater over the rump. Short, wide-set triangular sleeves will stay on even the wiggliest pups.

I strongly recommend taking a few measurements (listed in the pattern) and trying the sweater on as you go to make it truly custom-fit, but standard sizes are provided for gift-knitters and those whose dogs refuse to cooperate with measurings or fittings.

Wurstwärmer is knit in the round, with the exception of the short rows, which are knit back-and-forth. If you haven’t knit short rows before, don’t be intimidated. If you can knit and purl in the round, pick up stitches, increase, and decrease, you can knit this sweater.

Cost: $3 US.

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THIS PATTERN WILL BE DONATED TO THE MICHIGAN ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A DACHSHUND TO KNIT FOR, YOU MIGHT KNIT THE PATTERN AND DONATE IT TO A LOCAL DACHSHUND RESCUE ORGANIZATION. OR VISIT THE M.A.R.L. WEB SITE TO MAKE A DONATION ON YOUR OWN.

SIZING: XS (S, M, L, XL), to fit chest circumference of 11-13 (14-16, 17-19, 20-21, 22-23) inches.

MATERIALS: 
–  YARN:
• 2 (2, 2, 2, 3) skeins Hello Yarn Fat Sock (shown in Olive), OR
• 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) skeins Miss Babs Yummy Sport (shown in Teal), OR
• approximately 200-500 yards sport weight wool
–  4mm 16″ circular needle (or size to get gauge)
–  4mm double-pointed needles (or size to get gauge)
–  3 stitch markers
–  tapestry needle
–  scrap yarn

Hey, you know what babies love? Garter stitch, that’s what.

Now, you might be thinking, “Oh, Pam. Why would I listen to someone like yourself, a childless maiden aunt who doesn’t know crap about babies?” But take a moment to consider: garter stitch is squishy (like babies are); it’s simple (like babies are); and it stretches like mad as the baby grows bigger (as I’m told babies often do).

Plus, my opinion is backed up by a wealth of evidence, in the form of manymany patterns–most of which were designed by people who DO know crap about babies–for knitted babies’ things done up in garter stitch.

See, for instance:

pattern: Magic Slippers by Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer
yarn: Socks that Rock mediumweight, in Farmhouse
[raveled]

Or…

pattern: Mary Jane Booties by Lucie Sinkler
yarn: Hello Yarn Fat Sock, in Lorikeet
[raveled]

Or, my personal favorite:

pattern: Snug, by Hinke
yarn: Berroco Comfort chunky
[raveled]

This Snug? A vast improvement over the Snuggie (which my BFF tested and reviewed last year, with sexy/hilarious/gravy-stained results). Also, it occurs to me that the Adult Tomten might be a grown-up cousin to this garment. Also, the Berroco Comfort chunky is incredibly cozy. I’ve knit with the worsted-weight version before, and wasn’t impressed, but the chunky is totally snugglable. Would definitely not mind a Pam-sized Tomten in this yarn.

To sum up: You should probably knit some babies’ things in garter stitch. I did, and it’s pretty sweet.