Knitcircus

Luxury Yarn Giveaway

Seems like it's time to perk things up; it's been cold and snowy long enough!

Today we're lucky to have some beautiful independent yarns and a shawl pin for you, to make this stretch of the calendar a little more fun.

We have two great prize pairs:

A skein of All for Love of Yarn's Eloquence Fingering, and a Foofaraw shawl pin for one lucky winner...

...And a skein of Juniper Moon Farm's Findley Lace, in the color Byzantine, and a mini-skein of Pico Accuardi fingering for a second happy knitter!

To join the giveaway, please leave a comment here letting us know which kind(s) of things you like to read or learn about knitting. Interviews with designers, indy yarn makers, techniques tutorials, funny personal stories, book and yarn reviews...what pops your toast? Or, visit Juniper Moon, Foofaraw, Pico Accuardi Dyeworks or All for Love of Yarn and tell us what else you like there! Make sure to leave your email info, ravelry or twitter handle so we can contact you if you win.Retweeting contest announcements/updates will also earn you a chance to win.

The giveaway runs through Sunday evening, January 29th, and the winners will be chosen by Random Number generation and announced Monday.

Can't wait to hear what you have to say, and good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Stephannie Tallent patterns!

We're excited to offer more of designer Stephannie Tallent's patterns in the Knitcircus Pattern Store!

Blue Lupine Mitts

One of the most popular classes at the Knitcircus Spring retreat was the Blue Lupine Mitts class; worked using just one skin of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, designer Stephannie Tallent's pattern features an unusual cabled cuff construction with button closure.

Blue Lupine Mitts: $6.00

 Cinnamon Bay

Spring is coming!

Worked in Blue Sky Alpacas skinny cotton, the Cinnamon Bay sleeveless shell will have you ready for balmy days ahead. Stephannie's trademark feminine details make this design both flattering to wear and fun to knit.

Cinnamon Bay, $7.00

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Jaala

Knitting Sideways

Okay, this is something I've always wondered; it seems like there's got to be a way to get away with something by knitting something, say a scarf, horizontally rather than vertically. You're making so many fewer rows, and stitches are wider than they are tall, so it's got to be fewer stitches, right?

Let's take a test example: the It's So Fluffy scarf.

 I cast on 120 stitches, at 2.25 stitches/inch, and worked 20 rows, for a vertical rise of 5 inches. That means each row was .25 inches tall. Taking cast-on and bind-off into account, the scarf contains 22 rows. The horizontal version of the scarf then took a total of 2640 stitches. (Wow, that's a lot for such a quick-knit project! We really do make a lot of stitches, don't we?)

If the scarf had been worked vertically, it would need 22.5 stitches per row to be five inches wide. My inclination would be to round that up to 23, because that's what it would be in real life, but I don't want to be biased toward my desire for the horizontal to be less, so let's say for the sake of sceince that we have 22.5 stitches per row.

So with 22.5 stitches per row, and each row being .25 inches tall, we'd need 4 rows per inch, so 90 stitches total per inch of scarf.

The finished length is 53 inches, so 53x90=4770 stitches. 

Wow, that is a lot more, way more than I'd anticipated. I checked my math again, with the same result.

So it is less stitches to knit something horizontally?!?! Help me out here, because I'm just about to launch into trying to knit everything sideways. Were my calculations off, or is it really less stitches? Have any of you tried this experiment?

Aha, Brandi and Kitten with a Whiplash have checked my math, which was flawed (no huge surprise there):

Brandi says:

I think if I am understanding this correctly your 2.25 titches per inch is your stitch gauge and for 5 inches wide that would only be 11.25 stitches, your row gauge with a row being .25 per row meaning 4 rows = 1 in you would need 390 rows. 
2.25*5=11.25 stitches per row
.25*4*90=390 number of rows
11.25*390=4050 total stitches

So it still appears as if sideways is winning, but not by as much as I'd originally said. 

And now, revised from Kitten and Susan, it appears that my math was way off, so we end up with quite a different number and different verdict!

Actually, I think Kitten With a Whiplash is right: 2.25 st/in x 5 inch wide = 11.25 stitches per row 53in finished length x 4 rows/inch = 212 rows 11.25 st/row x 212 rows = 2358 total stitches which is actually a little bit less than the lengthwise-knitted version. That surprised me.

So, it looks like there's no big shortcut to be had in knitting, might as well plan on enjoying every stitch ;)

How about it, anyone else have a take on this?

 Yours knitting sideways (or not),

Jaala

Stephannie Tallent's Sweet Cicely

Stephannie Tallent is one of our favorite designers (we were so impressed with her work that we brought her on board as a Knitcircus tech editor, too!).  We're pleased to be able to release some of her Knitcircus patterns to the Individual Pattern Store, starting with the gorgeous Sweet Cicely cabled pullover. Watch for more of Stephannie's patterns in the Pattern Store soon.

Purchase the Sweet Cicely pullover, $7.00 US.

The cover sweater form Winter last year, the Sweet Cicely sweater works for any climate, with its feminine scooped neckline and three-quarter sleeves. The Blue Sky Alpacas  Melange yarn drapes beautifully.

 More of Stephannie's feminine, flattering patterns can be found on her own site, Sunset Cat; pre-order her new book, California Revival Knits, to support this excellent designer.

 

Sandrilene Cardi Knitalong!

With its appealing, sleek shape and cabled edging and neckline, designer Jesh's Sandrilene cardigan is the most popular Winter Knitcircus design on Ravelry. Now that holiday knitting's safely over, join us in heaving a sigh or frelief and casting on a well-deserved sweater for yourself. The KAL starts now, and runs through February 6th.

This simple, yet fitted shape flatters lots of figure types.

Jesh will be popping in to the Knitcircus Ravelry group to answer your questions and help guide us along; everyone who finishes will get a prize!

I'm really excited to knit Sandrilene myself and one of my holiday presents was the yarn for this sweater; Malabrigo Rios in Damask.

Ooh, so happy! I've got it ready to wind into balls on my desk right now.

Please do stop by the Ravelry Group and join us in this fun sweater KAL! One of the first things we'll do is confab about worsted yarns which would make a good substitute for the unfortunately no longer available Kitchen Sink Dyeworks yarn used in the magazine.

 

 

Stash organized!

In between hosting family events, making batches of fudge and planning birthday parties, I actually managed to get my stash ready for the New Year! With the help of a bunch of new shelving (Target), I followed Melissa Leapman's advice in Stashbuster Knits and organized by weight.

Now, you may want to use some kind of eye protection to view this next picture. Remember, this is only the Before (shown in untidy basement lair). Disclaimer: it doesn't look like this all the time, Everyone Who Has Ever Sent Me Yarn. But I went through all the drawers, bags and baskets of my yarn squirrelled throughout the house, and assembled them here for the great organizing.

A few days, and a number of Phillips-top screws  later:

The sewing form is a new-to-me aquisition from my grandma. I think she needs a little cheering-up, maybe with mod podge...So that's the dk-to-chunky weight area. The lace and fingering get a little place of their own:

Sorry it's so dark, DH also did a computer upgrade and my photo software isn't re-installed yet. Imagine these are beautiful, rainbow colors.

Sweaters-worth of yarn got their own special containers, and open baskets for special leftovers:

(Malabrigo worsted)

It's such a relief to be able to see all of my beautiful stash yarns and know exactly where they are. Now I don't have to hide special ones around so that they don't get lost in the boxes I was using before. They were pretty hatboxes, but I couldn't see anything beyond the top layer. I know it's taking a bit of a risk courting moths, but I really like having my skeins visible, not encased in plastic bags any more. We won't have to buy ziplocs for a while, I can tell you!

A few loose organizing rules:

• First, I took everything out and sorted it into piles by weight, so I could scope out how much of everything there was.
• Everything had to pass the test of being a yarn I'd really like to knit with now, not something I bought on super-sale just because. Those went into the Charity giveaway basket.
• When sorting to their final destination, I tried to do them somewhat by color, but fell short of doing the whole thing in rainbow order (inner geek still not ruling it out)
• When I had a lot of one yarn, like Dale Freestyle,  Debbis Bliss Baby Cashmerino or Cascade 220, I put all of them together in one compartment, regardless of color. 
• My rule was that everything going into shelving had to be ready to knit. No falling-apart skeins, no dangling swatches...I first sat down with my realistic self and decided which projects were never going to get done, and put them aside to be taken apart.
• The bonus: In frogging and re-winding projects, I reclaimed a handful of needles and good amount of stitch markers given up for lost. :)

So now my stash is ready for the New year. Hope I am, too!

 

Knit in the New Year

What a year! Knitcircus published over 100 new patterns, five magazines, all bigger than they've ever been, launched our Podcast and You Tube channels.

Knitters had more yarns and books to choose from than ever, and made so many projects to inspire, warm and cheer.

Next year will bring big changes to Knitcircus, and I hope will bring new opportunities to all of you. Stay tuned for more!

Gifts Issue Last Hurrah

The Gifts 2011 issue will only stay one day of the new year!

 

It's your last chance to purchase Linda Browning's Poinsettia Doily

Susan B. Anderson's adorable Milk Cow

and Jane Prater's Shapely Shawl, as well as 10 more patterns in the Gift Collection for one affordable price.

 Happy 2012!

Jaala

 

 

Knitcircus Podcast #6

Another podcast so soon! Thanks so much to Webmistress Cindy for wrangling the audio and uploads for the podcast.

In this episode: Amy and I discuss all kinds of family holiday traditions, knitting, food and otherwise, and talk about which yarns we'd take to a desert island (especially if that island was, you know, in kind of a cold tropical area requiring knitwear).

Listen to Episode #6 on Libsyn or Itunes.

Mentioned this episode:

• Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi 
• Adorn collection, by Laura Nelkin of  Nelkin Designs 
• Wintertide cowl 
• Geodesic Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio 
• Textured Stitches by Connie Chang Chinchio 
• Knitted Dinosaurs by Tina Barrett 
• Mandie Harrington's Speshul Snowflake Yarn Club
• Interweave Knitting Lab
• Knitting with Two Colors by Meg Swansen and Amy Detjen 
• 200 Fair Isle Motifs by Mary Jane Mucklestone 
• Fair Isle Basics and Beyond by House of White Birches
• Feral Knitter 
• Cascade 220 
• Ella Rae Classic Wool 
• Jamison & Smith Shetland Jumper Weight
• Berroco Vintage 
• Berroco Ultra Alpaca 
• Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride 

 

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark (recipe on podcast)

Box of 40 mini candy canes

2 12-oz bags of dark chocolate chips (we use Ghirardelli)

1/2 t peppermint extract

Cover two cookie sheets (preferebly with side walls) with parchment paper or waxed paper.

Crushing the candy canes: kids are great for this!

• unwrap candy canes and place in double-bagged zip-top plastic bag.
• using a hammer, on a hard surface (I recommend the garage or basement floor) hit repeatedly until there is a mixture of powder and small chunks in the bag

Melt the chocolate:

• in medium or large thick-bottomed saucepan, on low heat, melt the chocolate chips, stirring constantly. When mostly melted, add the peppermint extract.
• holding a strainer over the pan, pour about 2/3 of the crushed candy canes out of the bag, allowing the poweder to fall into the pan. Stir well.
• when all of the chips have dissolved, remove from heat immediately.

Pour chocolate mixture into the two pans.
Sprinkle remaining candy powder and chunks over the top. and chill for about 20 minutes until hard.

Break by lifting the wholde thing above the pan and throwing it back down with some force. Use clean hands to break the big pieces into one-or-two-bite pieces.

Keep refrigerated; will last up to a week in a covered container.

Happy Holidays!

It's So Fluffy! Free Scarf Pattern

My mom has an eye for style, and this year, she requested a chunky scarf. Well, she exclaimed over things we saw in magazines that were knit with bulky yarn, which in my mind means asking for a handknit scarf. :)

This pattern is one of the easiest you'll ever find! Worked on US Size 13 needles, you can start this project the afternoon before the holiday, and still have it wrapped and ready the next morning without breaking a sweat. 

It's So Fluffy!

by Jaala Spiro

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky,50% Alpaca/50% Wool, 100g/45 yds, 3 skeins

Needles: Us 13/9mm, 24" or longer circular needle

Gauge: approximately 2.25 st/inch

Note: I knit loosely, so if you work tight, use a Size 15/10mm Needle.

Finished measurements: 53"x5"

Instructions:

CO 120 sts.

Do NOT join for working in the round.

Next 19 rows: knit all stitches.

Row 20: Bind off all stitches loosely.

Finishing:

Weave in all ends. Lightly steam block if desired.

Please note: for a little while, this post contained the directions to CO 150. The CO number has been corrected to 120.

 

 

Molasses Crinkles Recipe

Our family falls into spicy-cookie and vanilla-cookie teams, and this is the Spicy team's all time favorite. We make them all year round, but especially love dressing them up for the holidays. For readers who've been with us from the beginning, you may recognize them from Knitcircus #4.

Molasses Crinkles

Makes approximately 30 cookies

20 min to prep and roll, 12-14 min to bake

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (one stick) butter, melted

1/4 blackstrap molasses

1 C sugar

1 egg

1/4 t salt

2t baking soda

1 t cinnamon

1 t allspice

1 t powdered ginger

2 C flour (for holidays, we use unbleached all-purpose, for the rest of the year, half white and half whole wheat pastry flour)

 2-3 T additional sugar, for rolling; or use 1 T sugar and 2 t sanding sugar for each color desired

To make:

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets or use parchment paper.

Melt butter and put in medium mixing bowl. Beat in molasses and sugar. Beat in egg.

Add dry ingredients to mixture and stir well.

Roll cookies into 1.5" balls. Put sugar in  small bowl (or two if using two colors sanding sugar) Roll each ball in extra sugar and place on cookie sheet.

Bake for approximately 11-12 minutes for chewy-in-the-middle cookies, or 14 min for crunchy cookies.