Flint Knits

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.

We call her Crush for short.

 She’s a miniature dachshund puppy we adopted this week. Her former family couldn’t take care of her any longer, so she came home with us.

And immediately started wearing sweaters.

pattern: improvised
yarn: Fox Hop 2ply handspun mohair & wool
[raveled]

We love Crush bunches already, and there will obviously be many more sweaters and pictures here in the future. For now, if you like frolicking puppies, please enjoy these 24 seconds of AWESOME.

Meet Pickadilly.

Pickadilly’s tweedy appeal is saved from being too stuffy by her raglan seams, asymmetrical lines, and kicky (jaunty? saucy? cheeky?) crocheted edging.

And, because the sweater is knit in one piece from the top down, each knitter can adjust length, sleeve length, and waist shaping for a custom fit.

The pattern includes instructions for knitting the sweater, with waist shaping options for decreases ranging from 1 to 7 inches, instructions for crocheting the edging, and alternate instructions for a knitted edging. ETA: There is also a separate PDF that explains how to modify the sweater so that the button placket runs down the center front (my gratitude to the curvy friends who suggested that, gee, not everyone wants a big white line over her left breast).

The sweater pictured uses a simple crocheted edging that’s manageable even for novice hookers. I chose a crocheted edging because (1) I like the look of it, and (2) the pattern requires quite a lot of edging, and even the slowest crochet is faster than the fastest knitting. If you prefer to knit, rather than crochet, your edging, there’s a knitted option too.

MATERIALS:

• Rowan Felted Tweed (see yardage requirements below)
• 1 skein (220 yds) Morehouse Merino Lace, or other one-ply laceweight yarn
• US 3 (3.25mm) double-pointed needles and 24-inch circular needles
• US 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed needles and 24-inch circular needles, or size needed to get gauge
• 1 size D (3.25mm) crochet hook
• 10–12 ½-inch buttons
• 4 stitch markers
• tapestry needle
• scrap yarn for holding stitches

SIZES: Taking a page from Ysolda’s clever, clever book, I’ve divided the sizes into three separate files.

• Small size range: finished bust measures 28 (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) inches. Requires approximately 850 (900, 960, 1030, 1110, 1170) yards DK-weight yarn.
• Medium size range: finished bust measures 40 (42, 44, 46, 48, 50) inches. Requires approximately 1230 (1320, 1400, 1480, 1570, 1670) yards DK-weight yarn.
• Large size range: finished bust measures 52 (54, 56, 58, 60, 62) inches. Requires approximately 1770 (1840, 1930, 2000, 2090, 2160) yards DK-weight yarn.

(Please note that the yardage requirements are approximate, since each sweater will be custom-fit to the wearer’s specs. If you have a long-ish torso or arms, be sure to have extra yarn on hand.)

GAUGE: 6 sts and 8 rows per inch in stockinette stitch with larger needles, after blocking

All photos in this post © Caro Sheridan (otherwise known as splityarn).

It turns out nothing welcomes Fall like Rhinebeck. I went to my first New York Sheep and Wool Festival last week, and not only did I have a great time with good friends, but I also met some new folks, saw loads of lovely handknits, and got to hang out with Caro’s kitties.

I also got the chance to take advantage of Caro’s superior photo skills — along with the crisp New England weather, striking Fall scenery, and gorgeous afternoon light — to document Pickadilly, a sweater I designed and finished knitting just in time for Rhinebeck. (Literally. I made my carmates stop at WEBS on the way to the fairgrounds so I could buy buttons.)

Pickadilly will be for sale here, and on Ravelry, starting November 1.

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek:

 
[RAVELRY LINK]

All of which fun has lead up nicely to what is clearly the bestest thing about Fall: Halloween. And while I’ll be playing a music fest in Florida over Halloween weekend, I had a chance to get crafty all the same — on behalf of my niece, who (with no encourgement or intervention from me) has decided to dress up as a lamb this year.

Lamb Ears tutorial (Ravelry link)

MATERIALS:

• chunky boucle yarn
• approx 20 yards of pink sport or fingering weight yarn
• small amount of pink flannel fabric
• tapestry needle
• embroidery needle

STEP 1: KNIT AN EARFLAP HAT! (Use the chunky/bulky boucle yarn. Thorpe is a great pattern for adults; Sandi’s Ear Flap Hat is good for kids 2 and up.)

STEP 2: EARS (make 2)

Cast on 16 stitches.
Work 5 rows in stockinette stitch.
Row 6: k1, ssk, k 10, k2tog, k1 (14 sts)
Rows 7-13: stockinette stitch
Row 14: k1, ssk, k8, k2tog, k1 (12 sts)
Rows 15-21: stockinette stitch
Row 22: ssk, ssk, k4, k2tog, k2tog (8 sts)
Bind off all stitches purlwise.

STEP 3: FINISHING:

Cut 2 matching pieces of pink flannel large enough to cover the ears, with about 1/2 inch of white showing around the edges.

Using the embroidering needle and pink yarn, affix the flannel to the wrong (purl) side of the left ear with a blanket stitch or whip stitch.

Using a tapestry needle and an 18-inch length of the main yarn, tack together the two bottom corners of left ear. Sew the ear to the hat as pictured.

Repeat the two previous steps for the right ear.

Happy Halloween!

You know how some people are just good to knit for?

Well, maybe we should address first those people who aren’t. Those people who get a handmade gift and set it aside or stuff it in a drawer; who don’t recognize the love and labor that went into it. Or who grumble that it’s not as good — as perfectly symmetrical or as neatly pressed or as easily washable — as a machine-made store-bought version.

Fuck those people. Never make them anything else, ever again. They do not deserve it.

But then there’s the people who not only (1) recognize what it takes (the expense, the thoughtfulness, the hours of your labor creating hundreds of tiny stitches, or seams, or bits of glued macaroni) to make and share handmade gifts, but also (2) really, really appreciate it. Those are the people you just want to keep giving stuff to.

Do it. They deserve it.

Years ago, my fabulous friend Michelle was so excited when I made her a simple garter-stitch scarf that she blurted out, “Oh my god it looks like you got it at K-Mart!” Which was her hilarious way of saying that she was impressed. Okay, maybe you have to know Michelle to understand how that’s a compliment — she’s kind of a weirdo. But the point is that, since then, I’ve made her a bunch of stuff, and will continue to make her bunches of stuff until she tells me to knock it off. Because she’s just one of those people that it’s a joy to make stuff for.

And so is my brother-in-law, Nate. Two years ago, I made him a colorwork hat with a secret Star Wars-themed lining and, when I gave it to him, I swear to freaking Yoda that he was so jazzed that he teared up a little. And then wore it around the house all day. Seriously, dude? That wins you handknits for LIFE. So the following year, I gave him a photograph for Christmas.

This is hockey legend George Hay, who played Detroit hockey in the 1920s and 30s. He played for the Cougars before they became the Falcons, and the Falcons before they became the Red Wings. And — the important part for me — he and his teammates wore some seriously badass sweaters.

14 months later, I mailed this to Nate in Denver.

pattern: Seamless Hybrid, from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Without Tears
yarn: Louet Riverstone (from Hello Yarn), and Cascade 220
[raveled]

There’s not much I can say about the simplicity or perfectness of Zimmermann’s pattern that hasn’t already been said by Caro or Jared or — in a post that might make you cry — JulieFrick. I just added some stripes and block letters into the mix.

The Wings are headed to Denver soon to play the Avalanche. And Nate will be at the game wearing his sweater, even if, when it shows up at his door tomorrow, it turns out to be 3 sizes too big or too small, or the wool makes him break out in an itchy rash, or Mail Moths from outer space gnawed it to pieces in transit. Because that’s just the kind of dude he is. And why there’s loads of handmade prezzies in his future.

NOTE: Big, big thanks to Julia and Adrian for sharing their dye-setting wisdom — they two formed a thin woolly line between Nate and a blotchy pink sweater.

ANOTHER NOTE: ATTN: NATE! HAND WASH! COLD WATER! LAY FLAT TO DRY!