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MKG Knitters’ Knews 1 December 2013
The Madison Knitters’ Guild meets the second Monday of each month September through May. Doors open at 5:00 pm • Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. • Bishop O'Connor Center, 702 South High Point Rd, Madison, WI
The December 9th Meeting features Amy Detjen: knitter, designer, teacher and passionate for purple!Madison area knitters may be most familiar with Amy through her extremely popular series of classes offered through The Sow’s Ear in Verona. However, Amy’s reputation as a designer and knitting instructor extends far beyond the boundaries of her home state.
Most recently, online followers of Skacel “Fiber Factor” design contest (http:thefiberfactor.com) may
have seen Amy serving on the panel of celebrity judges for Design Challenge 5! A talented designer in her own right, Amy’s original knitwear designs have appeared in numerous publications, including “A Gathering of Lace” and “Sweaters from Camp”, and she is co‐author of “Knitting in Two Colors” with
longtime friend and associate Meg Swansen. Amy admits that she has trouble finding enough time for designing due to her busy schedule of speaking and teaching activities.
Knitters who have been lucky enough to attend Knitting Camp with Meg Swansen and Amy over the past 18 years can attest to Amy’s skill and enthusiasm as an instructor. Past teaching engagements included several classes at Vogue Knitting Live/ Chicago in November. Locally, Amy continues to lead the above‐mentioned classes at The Sow’s Ear, and an enticing 10 day knitters tour of Ireland upcoming in
May 2014 through Celtic Journeys tours.
In addition to her skill at “hands‐on” instruction, Amy speaks fluent Internet—or is that “Interknit”? Amy was the “List Mom” of the original Knit List for over four years before she started KnitU, an online knitters resource that predated Ravelry. Currently, she co‐hosts the “Knitcircus” podcast with Jaala Spiro, and offers a justly popular online course through Craftsy entitled “Amy’s Custom Yoke Sweater.” Be sure to join us in December to hear Amy state: I Don't Knit Sleeves and You Can't Make Me.
– Barbara Rottman, Programming Chair
Knitters’ Knews Vol. 34, Issue 4 December 2013
In This Issue: December’s Speaker – 1
Message from the President – 2
Library Notes – 2 Upcoming Events – 3
Treasurer’s Report – 3 Membership Count – 3
Meet Our Vendors – 4
November Guild Meeting Minutes – 5
UFO Retreat – 5 A Peek at January’s Meeting – 6
December Sale – 7
Knit‐In Update – 8 Community Project and Pattern – 8‐9
Ewe and Janine – 10‐11
Sponsors – 12
MKG Knitters’ Knews 2 December 2013
Message from the President — All Wrapped Up in Yarn With holiday gift deadlines looming, should any of your family or friends dare be critical (remember you are armed with pointy sticks) of the amount of time you spend knitting, you might want to tell them what you’re really doing:
Improving your mental health. Rhythmic motion of knitting has been shown to decrease bad stress hormones and increase the release of good hormones such as serotonin and dopamine.
Improving your sense of self-esteem. How great do you feel when you learn new skills or complete projects?
Creating community. Isn’t it amazing what happens when you take your needles in public? How many interesting people have you met?
Controlling your weight. Most foods that we like to snack on are pretty much off limits while we’re knitting.
Sustaining the economy. That stash does more than provide home insulation. We knitters keep many small businesses in operation.
Extending your life. Research has shown that supportive friends help us live longer, healthier, happier lives. I can’t think of any more supportive group than a knitting clutch.
So keep your sanity this holiday season by keeping those needles going. And while you’re in that Zen place please remember that if you want to extend those good knitting feelings, the Madison Knitters’ Guild always has volunteer opportunities available:
Volunteers wanted to help Connie Burmeister with the Sponsor/Vendor Committee. Contact her at [email protected] or at 608-333-5207.
Knit-In 2014 promises to be bigger and better than ever. Event volunteers are needed March 14-16 to help with set-up, registration and more. Contact Mary Jo Harris at or 608-243-9057 or email [email protected]
Knitters are needed for Knit Together at the Children’s Museum for six Sundays beginning February 3, 2014. Check out the information on page 7 of this newsletter to volunteer for one or more session. Remember – you’ll be giving them more than a new skill!
Knit On — Happy Holidays! – Mae Knowles, President
Library Notes: Cables and cast ons are the library theme for the month. The new library acquisitions include three cable books: Power Cables by Lily Chin, Contemporary Irish Knits by Carol Feller, and Creative Cables: 25 Innovative Designs by Sixth&Spring Books. On a member suggestion, we also purchased Cast On, Bind Off: 211 Ways to Begin and End Your Knitting by Cap Sease and Cast On, Bind Off: 54 Step‐By‐Step Methods by Leslie Ann Bestor. Our subscription to Vogue Knitting Magazine has been renewed for two more years.
If you have suggestions for the library, please stop by and let us know what additions you'd like to see. Really get to know our collection by volunteering at the library during guild meetings. Find me at the library table for more information on volunteering.
Remember, you can now browse the collection online anytime: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/MadisonKnittersGuild
– Marijka Engel, Library Chair
Pint Sized Pines in a Cork Forest” from SimplyNotable.com
MKG Knitters’ Knews 3 December 2013
Neighborhood Knit Classes Still Available: We hope you will find a class you enjoy as well as the opportunity to get to know Guild members and instructors in these more intimate settings. Registration is open now for these free classes:
Principles of Color: Learn to use self‐ striping, hand dyed, single color, tweed, and tonal yarns to introduce color in your knitting. Wednesday, January 22, 11:00 am–12:30 pm, Stitcher’s Crossing Instructor: Pat Fisher, Maximum class size = 10
Knit a Sock: Basic sock knitting covering the cuff, leg, heel flap, heel turn, gusset, foot, toe shaping and Kitchener stitch. Wednesdays, February 22 & 27 (class meets twice) 6:‐00–7:30 pm Stitcher’s Crossing, Instructor: Terry Rutlin, Maximum class size = 10
More to come! The following classes will be scheduled for the Spring 2014: Faces on Your Critters (March), Teach a Child to Knit (March), Hats (April) and Picking Up Stitches (May). Watch the Guild website and the upcoming Knitters’ Knews for more details.
Knit Together — Volunteer to bring more knitters into the world Where: Madison Children’s Museum What: Drop in sessions for kids to learn how to knit. When: 2:00‐3:30 pm Sundays, February 3 through March 9, 2014
Yarn, Needles and Patterns are provided.
6‐8 volunteers preferred each week, you need not commit to all six weeks.
Tutorial assistance with teaching strategies is available if desired.
Sign up by filling out the volunteer interest form on the MKG website <http://madisonknittersguild.org/volunteer> and selecting “Children’s Museum” from the drop down menu, or stop by the Community Projects table during a Guild meeting. If you have questions, please contact Bonnie Dill at [email protected].
Upcoming Guild Events:
December 8: Fit to Flatter Knit-Along Kick Off Meeting, 2-4 pm at the Fitchburg Public Library
December 9: Guild Meeting, program by Amy Detjen. Vendors: Hearthside Fibers, The Sow’s Ear
January 13: Guild Meeting, program by Nancy Marchant. Vendors: The Woolgathers, Hidden Valley Farm & Woolen Mill
January 22: Principles of Color class, 11:00 am–12:30 pm at Stitcher’s Crossing (Pre-registration needed)
January 24-26 : UFO Retreat, Chalet Landhaus, New Glarus
February 10: Guild Meeting, program by Patty Lyons. Vendors: The Cat and Crow, Jenny Blasen Pottery
February 20 & 27: Basic Socks class, 6:00 –7:30 pm at Stitcher’s Crossing (Pre-registration needed)
Other Knitting Events: January 14 and 15: Nancy Marchant Brioche Classes at Susan’s Fiber Shop, Columbus, WI
Treasurer’s Report:
Month: October 2013 Membership: 459 Income: $1,644.34 Disbursements: $1,083.73 Checking: $38,188.64 Savings: $3,068.23
Membership Update:
We are now
members strong!
MKG Knitters’ Knews 4 December 2013
Meet the Vendors for November: Hearthside Fibers is a family owned business, based on our farm in Johnson Creek, WI. The farm itself has been in Lael's family for almost 60 years. We started our life in farming and wool about a dozen years ago, when we purchased three bred Shetland ewes. Since that time, we grew the flock to about 100 head, not only raising
registered Shetlands, but also running a commercial flock of Coopworths and Polypays, with a few other breeds and goats mixed in for good measure. Then, a few years ago, we decided that yarn was less bullheaded than a 250 pound ram and, as we weren't getting younger, it would be easier to wrestle cones of yarn than bullheaded rams. Since Lael was both a spinner and a knitter, we decided that we would venture into the hand dyed yarn business and sell off some of the flock. We sell an assortment of hand dyed yarns and rovings, from our Champagne Lace (a merino/silk blend laceweight), a variety of fingering weights, including Crystal, a lustrous merino/tencel blend with great drape, BaaBoo, a wool/bamboo/ nylon blend, and Vanilla Sox, a basic sock yarn, all the way up to worsted weights and bulky yarns. And we have a variety of rovings for the hand spinner out there.
Since our first appearance at Wisconsin Spin In a few years ago, we have grown to the point that we have done 17 shows this year in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa, and our yarns are carried in several yarn stores in Wisconsin and Illnois. Our plans for the future include a continuing presence at fiber shows throughout the Midwest and growth in both the LYS and internet markets.
Email: [email protected] Website: www.hearthsidefibers.com
The Sow’s Ear has been locally owned and operated since 2000, and is the Midwest’s first combined yarn store and coffee shop! The warm and inviting atmosphere of The Sow’s Ear is the perfect place to relax, sip a drink and grab a bite
to eat while knitting your next masterpiece or just relaxing with friends. Our friendly staff prides itself on providing excellent service, camaraderie and knitting assistance if needed. We love our customers and look forward to meeting you! Visit the yarn and café sections on our website to see the large selection of yarn and knitting/ crocheting supplies we carry, as well as the delicious drinks, baked goods and
lunches we feature daily. Need a latte and sock yarn at 6:30 in the morning? No problem! We’ll see you soon.
Website: www.knitandsip.com Phone: 608-848-2755 Visit: 125 S. Main St., Verona, WI 53593 Store Hours: Mon–Fri: 6:30 am–8:30 pm; Sat–Sun: 7:00 am–5:00 pm
MKG Knitters’ Knews 5 December 2013
November Guild Meeting Minutes: Members had been urged to bring guests this month and an MKG Knit Connections gathering was held in the dining room prior to the meeting. Our president, Mae Knowles welcomed and introduced our guests at the meeting. Mae also welcomed our vendors Alpacas of Prairie Station and The Knitting Tree. Also prior to the meeting, Liz Avery and Heather Black gave a demonstration on how to make French knots, which can be used as eyes or noses for Community Projects critters. Announcements:
Registration is underway on the MKG website for the first three neighborhood knits classes.
An organization meeting will be held on December 8 for the upcoming sweater Knit Along (KAL).
The search for a new meeting location for next year is underway and Mae hopes to announce the location in December.
All books and magazines in our library are now listed on LibraryThing (see link on MKG home page).
Members are urged to connect with MKG on Facebook and Ravelry.
Volunteers are still needed for: o Programs – organize and set up meetings for
one of the KAL groups o Library – re-shelve books o Knit In – day of event volunteers o Web/Communications – tech support and
website design o Photographer
Program: Due to a mix up in dates, our scheduled speaker, Cynthia Dalzell of Flyaway Farms did not attend the
meeting. Mae shared details of her visit to Madeline Island and the Woods Hall Fine Arts and Craft Gallery and showed some of her stash of Cynthia’s yarn. Kudos to our Program chair Barbara Rottman, who together with Carrie Hafele, stepped in to give us a demonstration of Amy Herzog’s Custom Fit makewearlove website. We watched one of the four videos available on the site to show us how to take measurements for custom fitted sweaters. Barbara urged everyone planning to participate in the KAL to register and watch the videos. Carrie also walked us through the Guild’s own website and the wealth of information residing there. Rae Sprague introduced the members of the Community Projects committee and thanked Guild members for their generosity. To date, 250 knit items and 249 pair of purchased socks have been donated. Show ‘N Tell: Carrie Hafele’s new son Knox modeled an adorable cardigan sweater. Carrie also showed us a baby hat and a shawl she completed. Connie Burmeister shared two beautiful cardigans, Jane Sweetman modeled a lovely shawl, and Judy Pruski presented a pullover sweater and four beautiful shawls. Mary Hamel shared a fun door wreath with flowers and leaves, and Liz Wood showed her innovative vest. Megan York awed us with her stormy night sky shawl with beads and Mae Knowles (shown) modeled her cute hat.
– Joan Werla, Secretary
UFO Retreat is January 24–26, 2014
You’re probably busy focusing on the upcoming holidays, but come January, will you be like the rest of us? Resolved to make a dent in the UFOs (unfinished objects) that have accumulated throughout your house? If that sounds like you, please join us for a day or the whole weekend at the Chalet Landhaus Inn in New Glarus. The UFO Retreat starts Friday, January 24, at 9:00 am and ends Sunday, January 26, at noon.
Please register on the website for the days you would like to attend so we have a head count, there is capacity for 60 in the Landhaus conference room. MKG has a special hotel room rate for Guild members: $65 + tax for a single room, $85 + tax for a double room. Reservations can be made at 800‐944‐1716.
Registration is free for members and guests are only $5 at the door. Watch for more details on the Guild Website or email Holly Orwin at [email protected] with any questions.
MKG Knitters’ Knews 6 December 2013
Sneak Peek at the January Meeting: Nancy Marchant was born in Indiana but now lives and works as a graphic designer in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She has written articles for Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits, as well as a number of Dutch knitting magazines, and is the author of Knitting Brioche, the first and only knitting book devoted exclusively to the brioche stitch. It details over 50 different brioche stitch variations, including color and lace. The featured speaker at the January 13, 2014 Guild meeting, Nancy will describe how she came to know and love the brioche stitch. Nancy maintains a web site on the subject at www.briochestitch.com and teaches Explorations in Brioche Knitting on craftsy.com. Susan’s Fiber Shop will host Nancy in a series of four classes on the brioche stitch; you can find more details on Nancy’s classes at www.susansfibershop.com or call 920-623-4237.
Save the Date: KAL Organizational Meeting on December 8 The Fit to Flatter Knit‐Along will kick off on Sunday, December 8 with an organizational meeting held from 2:00–4:00 pm at the Fitchburg Public Library, 5530 Lacy Road, Fitchburg.
We will knit the Dansez pullover, from Amy Herzog’s Knit to Flatter. This simple pullover features a lace border, and is simple enough for beginners. It can be adapted to flatter any body type. We encourage you to enroll at makewearlove.com (it’s free) where you can view short videos on how to take accurate body measurements.
At the December organizational meeting, we will review measurement tips and organize into subgroups based on three body types: top heavy, bottom heavy, and proportional. Each
group will be led by a volunteer Guild member who will post dates and times of KAL meetings. Groups will meet formally from January through March, and we encourage you to get together between
meetings with members of your subgroup in informal “helping” sessions. The groups will focus on four basic areas: ease and hems, waist shaping and sleeve length, bust darts and necklines, and finishing. We hope everyone can complete their sweater by the end of April.
As the KAL progresses, you will have the opportunity to implement fitting solutions based on your body type. We will also host an online forum on the Guild website where you can post questions and tips related to your subgroup. To participate, subscribe to the forum that fits your body type. We are calling them KAL‐Top, KAL‐Bottom, and KAL‐Proportional. If you're not sure which group fits you, take your best guess and join one; we'll cover the basics in the first group meeting.
Susan’s Fiber Shop announces The Brioche Stitch with Nancy Marchant Tuesday, January 14 and Wednesday, January 15 at the Columbus Super 8 Hotel (stay overnight for a discount rate of $57.15+ tax). Nancy Marchant’s classes build on one another. The fee is $75 per class or $250 for the whole series, and a special price of $200 is available if booked before Dec. 21. Great Christmas Gift!
For complete details, call 920-623-4237 or visit http://www.susansfibershop.com/. Learn Basic Brioche In this class, you’ll learn to “bark” (brioche knit) and “burp” (brioche purl) this luscious stitch into a world of unending stitch possibilities from the “queen of brioche,” Nancy Marchant. She will cover the brioche method of making increases and decreases and explore stitch variations by making a sampler in class. Knowledge needed: Basic knitting skills including knowledge of increasing and decreasing.
Beyond Basic Brioche Learn to work plain brioche and brioche-stitch variations with two or more colors. You will make designer increases and decreases and create new patterning by moving the stitch around. There is still so much to explore in this newly introduced technique. You will
MKG Knitters’ Knews 7 December 2013
Nancy Marchant Classes, continued…
leave the class inspired and ready to design your own brioche knitted projects. Knowledge needed: Students need to know how to work basic one-color brioche stitch. Manipulating Brioche Stitches Learn to play with the design possibilities of the brioche stitch in this class. We will experiment with syncopated brioche and create brioche “pods”. Then we will move into brioche crossed stitches, adding a double knit motif
and cables. You will leave with a sample of entirely new brioche stitch techniques. Knowledge needed: Students need to know how to work two-color brioche stitch. Discovering Brioche Lace Interested in a new lace technique? Brioche Lace is new, yet to be explored. Learn to apply brioche knitting to normally knitted lace stitch patterns to create reversible lace with different colors on each side. Lots of samples will be on display and discussed. Knowledge needed: Students need to be familiar with knitting lace and reading lace charts as well as two-color brioche knitting.
Community Projects December Sale:
Thank you to the members who have been donating amazing yarn, patterns, needles and notions to Community Projects all year long plus a few members who have helped friends de‐stash. We saved the best yarn that came in for this sale, so it is mainly natural fibers.
Our advice: Bring cash and come early. We have terrific yarn at unbelievable prices. You don’t want to miss this sale.
All of the proceeds from the sale will benefit Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. You can also support Second Harvest with a personal check, if desired.
In addition to knitted items donated in December, we are accepting non‐perishable foods and any size toiletries for The River Food Pantry and East Madison Community Center. Per Alison at EMCC, “We need toiletry items more than we need food items. Many people aren't aware of this, but people can't use food stamps for hygiene items or toiletries.”
Items most needed include:
Feminine hygiene products
(pads and tampons)
Baby diapers in all sizes
Baby wipes
Toilet paper
Deodorant
Shampoo/Conditioner
Soap (hand soap and bath
soap)
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Paper Towels
The most needed food items are the high‐protein products, especially canned goods that are complete meals (e.g., tuna, soups, stews, chili, etc.). Thanks so much for your support!
HELP WANTED: Volunteers needed to help with the Sponsor/Vendor Committee.
Please email Connie Burmeister at [email protected] or 608‐333‐5207.
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, southwestern Wisconsin’s largest hunger relief organization, is a non‐profit organization that is committed to ending hunger in 16 southwestern Wisconsin counties through community partnerships. By focusing on a multipronged approach that includes food distribution, increasing participation in public and private food programs, and mobilizing the public, it serves nearly 141,000 people who struggle with hunger each year; 43% of whom are children. From July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 Second Harvest Foodbank, together with its more than 225 partner agencies and programs, provided 12.6 million meals to those facing hunger. It is one of 200 members of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger‐relief charity. For more info, visit their website: www.secondharvest madison.org/
MKG Knitters’ Knews 8 December 2013
Community Projects — Wanted in December: More Hats, Mittens, Scarves
Thank you for all your donations in November. Very full boxes of socks, hats, mittens and scarves were delivered to Porchlight and The Road Home, programs supporting the homeless and those in transitional housing. At the Guild meeting members donated 150 hats, 33 scarves, 10 sweaters, 8 cowls, 6 pairs of mittens, 3 hat/scarf sets, 5 mitten/hat sets, 2 shawls, 3 socks/slippers, 30 some critters, plus 249 pairs of purchased socks and 9 purchased gloves/mittens! It was overwhelming!
December is another busy month with our donations going to two non‐profit programs that provide a variety of services to families in the community. The types of programs provided include: groceries, clothing, household goods, educational and recreational activities, hot meals. For more information see River Food Pantry and East Madison Community Center. We will be sharing a variety of knit items for children and adults as well as accepting donations of toiletries and non‐perishable foods. See suggestions listed in this newsletter.
Looking ahead to January our support will be directed towards Agrace Hospice Care. Lap blankets are needed, 36” x 36” or similar dimensions, and also tactile balls. For individuals with significant memory loss having a knit
ball to manipulate or hold can be calming. You can knit or crochet hand‐sized balls using up washable scraps of yarn with one of the many patterns available on Ravelry. One easy‐to‐knit pattern using two needles is included in Margaret Jones’ pattern, Brady's Bucket 'O Balls. The Accidental Toy by Frankie Brown offers more surfaces to grasp (see pattern on page 9). Machine washable balls and lap blankets are preferred. Ready‐to‐knit kits available in December will include yarn for making balls and the Accidental Toy. Watch for the return of critter kits in 2014.
February we will return to providing mittens, hats and scarves to children and adults serviced by Bayview Foundation that supports families in their community. Please refer to the MKG website for the 2013‐2014 Community Projects Calendar and pattern ideas. Feel free to drop off critters for the Monona Library Summer Reading Program and scarves for Handmade Especially for You at any Guild meeting. Thank you for all you do.
– Rae Sprague, Community Projects Chair
2014 Knit‐In Marketplace is Taking Shape! Vendors for the 2014 Knit-In Marketplace have been contacted and are currently being confirmed. This year's Marketplace hours will be 8:30 am–5:00 pm on Saturday, March 15, and 8:30 am–2:00 pm on Sunday, March 16.
Some of the vendors in the 2014 Marketplace are proven favorites, including Sophie's Toes, Shady Haven’s Fiber Designs, Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mills, and The Felted Soap Lady. Other confirmed vendors, like clever., Kaleidoscope Yarns, and Bleating Heart Haven, are current MKG Sponsors, and The Dragonfly Yarn Shop was a stop on the 2012 Knitting Safari. Still other vendors Are new to the Madison Knit-In, vendors such as Kathy Hartmeister Original Handknits, River Edge Fiber Arts, and Gosh Yarn It. Stay tuned to upcoming newsletters and our website for more detailed information about the vendors between now and next March. If you have any questions or concerns about the 2014 Knit-In, contact Mary Jo Harris at [email protected] or call 608-243-9057. – Mary Jo Harris, 2014 Knit-In Chair
MKG Knitters’ Knews 9 December 2013
Figure 3
Accidental Toy © Frankie Brown, 2012Printed with permission. Click here for the full pattern.
The ball is made up of 12 garter stitch squares, each with a fold across the middle (that’s what the smaller needle is for).
Gauge is about 6 stitches to the inch, finished ball measures about 12cm (4½")
Materials: Up to 12 colors of DK weight yarn, Size US 3 needles, Size US 2 needle Abbreviations: st/sts = stitch/stitches; K = knit; kf&b = knit into the front and back of the stitch, K2tog = knit two stitches together; sl 1 kwise = slip one stitch knitwise; psso = pass slipped stitch over Knitting a Square: Using US 3 needles, cast on 1 stitch and knit into the front and back of it (2 sts). Next row: Kf&b, K to end. Repeat this row until you have 21 stitches on your needle. Now change to the US 2 needle and purl one row for the fold. The smaller needle stops it stretching sideways; this is important so don’t be tempted not to change needles. Change back to the US 3 needles for the rest of the square. Next row: K to last 2 sts, K2tog. Repeat this row until you are down to 3 stitches. Cast off with the double decrease cast off: sl 1 kwise, K2tog, psso and fasten off. That’s one square finished. Now you just have to knit eleven more. The Sewing: First arrange four squares so that the purl folds make a cross. The right side is the side with the purl row of the fold facing. Holding the right sides together, oversew the squares together to make one big square. Do the same with four more little squares so you now have two big squares and four little squares. Now lay out the four small squares round one big square as shown in Figure 1. The corner of the small square should point to the middle of the big square’s side and the fold should run parallel to it. With the right sides facing, work round the big square oversewing the small squares in place. It may help to know that the folds will line up at the corners of the big square. As you sew, the small squares will pull the big square into shape. Pinch the folds together as shown in Figure 2.
Now you have to join the remaining big square to this shape. Again, the small squares should point to the middle of the sides on the big square. Oversew the two pieces together with the right sides facing but stop before the last short side and turn the whole thing the right way out. Finish the last seam from the right side using mattress stitch. You will now have a shapeless ball. Work round the ball, pinching and pulling the folds and a geometric shape will appear. To make this shape twist into a ball the inner points have to be joined together. If you look at the shape from above one of the points where four folds meet, you will see four of these inner points on the top half of the shape. There are another four on the bottom half. Join a length of yarn to one of these top inner points, right in the middle. Then put your needle right through the shape and come out in the middle of the opposite inner point on the bottom of the shape. Bring the needle back through the shape to your starting place and then through to the next inner point on the top and repeat the process. You will join all four sets of inner points in this way. If you get lost, a gentle pull on any of the inner points will show which ones haven’t been sewn down yet. As you work the ball will start to twist until you end up with this … (Figure 3).
Figure 1
Figure 2
MKG Knitters’ Knews 10 December 2013
Ewe and Janine — December 2013 I'm Janine Kam, a shepherdess in New Glarus, Wisconsin. I love sheep, knitting, spinning, sewing, dyeing, and all things textiles, especially wool.
Farm: I think Kismet has discovered that the reason
why she is in our courtyard is because she is not allowed to birth lambs this year. She will probably be mad when she sees that ‘all’ the ewes except her have lambs because she loves lambs and baby animals and will be jealous. She will even try to steal some other ewe’s lamb so she, too can proudly parade the pasture with her entourage. Then that mama ewe gets mad and stamps her hoof or puts her head down to get ready to ‘ram’ anyone who thinks to steal her precious lamb(s). Polani will even ram those who want to admire her lambs and not even steal them. Other times, the ewes will fight about whose babies are the best. Shael, the ram will sometimes try to calm his girls but at this time of year, he’s more concerned making sure they are ‘settled’ for the winter. Shetlands are a heritage breed and very fierce, protective mothers which is probably why they have survived for centuries. They come in various colors and patterns with exotic names like shaela, mioget, mouflan, catmoget, etc.
During this first snow, I contemplate the magic of wool. I wear it in all seasons nearly every day. Even in Hawai’i where most of my family lives, I wear wool shawls indoors because the air‐conditioning is too cool. When my kids were little they wore their wool soakers even in the heat of the summer because it kept them cool and dry. It is fire‐resistant, thermal regulating, cool in summer, warm in winter, easy to clean (I have a wool cycle on my laundry machine), stain‐resistant, biodegradable, sustainable, lightweight for its bulk, washable, contains lanolin, is great for dusting because the ‘barbs’ catch, bacteria resistant, absorbs 30% of its weight in water without feeling wet, shapes to fit, absorbs sound, resists wrinkles, is elastic, and water‐repellant. What other fiber does all this? Robyn even says that wool is what illustrates what’s right about humanity! Humanity is a lot of people.
Knitting: Due to a sprained ankle, I was able to
finish all my spinning and knitting commissions early this month, notably two pairs of socks for Simon handspun and hand knitted from my sheep: Kismet, Polani, and Tomah. Simon had never worn hand knitted socks and was a little taken aback at their size
because he’s accustomed to socks with a lot of elastic that look
small and stretch, but when he tried these on he couldn’t believe how cushy they were and of course they were a perfect fit! Then I spun and knitted a pair of opposite socks for my husband, finished my silver faux‐Haapsalu shawl inspired by Ruth’s silver silk fichu, and began (at least 10 times) another red lace shawl with Margaret
Stove’s rata blossom motifs. Being unable to drive for a couple of months really is great: I have so much knitting time.
While in NYC, I wore an air cast and I think I met every person on the
streets wearing one and we all exchanged stories of how we obtained them. I noticed that none of them were knitters. How could I tell? They all wore that tube that didn’t match the sock on their other foot. While I wasn’t interested in wearing two wool knee‐highs when it was 77° F, I realized that we, knitters don’t need to compromise simply because we CAN knit a matching, seamless, 3‐dimensional fabric. That tube is not even machine‐washable, gets dirty because it’s white, and being a tube is ill fitting with wrinkles at my ankle ending with a machine‐sewn squared‐off toe. Squared toe. TOE?! WHAAAAT?
No self‐respecting knitter would ever wear this! If I wore something like that to Second Monday or Every Wednesday Knitting, my carpool ladies would be horrified! As it is, I’m not mentioning that I didn’t spin the wool for this yarn to my Monthly Thursday or Monthly Sunday Spinners. When I burn tested The Tube, it burned orange with a slight cellulosic odor (cotton) but then self‐extinguished, melting into a hot, sticky bead with a
MKG Knitters’ Knews 11 December 2013
Ewe and Janine, continued… chemical odor, cooling down to a hard bead (synthetic). I concluded that it is probably a cotton/ poly blend with a flame retardant chemical which explains why it can’t be machine washed since that could remove the chemical in addition to making the fabric unravel. My solution was a 100% wool air cast sock and a matching crew sock mate.
Pattern: Air Cast Sock Set Materials: enough bulky‐weight wool yarn for a pair of knee highs and a pair of crew socks, #7 needles, or whatever size gives you the fabric you like. I chose a bulky‐weight merino yarn because I knew it wouldn’t get much wear and would match the bulk of the tube sock without too much weight. Warning: 4th sock syndrome is a strong possibility.
Knitting: I started at the knee casting 1” more than the top of a crew sock cuff because I am of sturdy build but do measure to fit. I worked a 1x1 rib for a couple of inches, then continued in stockinette stitch until reaching my calf. On each side, ½” from the middle of the back leg, decrease one stitch. Work straight down for ½” and continue decreasing until you have the same number of stitches as you would for your favorite crew sock. Finish as usual.
Work the crew sock with the same yarn for your custom pair of the most stylish and functional pair of air cast socks and look at the beautiful taper at the calf! It might be efficient to knit 2 knee‐highs and 2 crew socks all of the same yarn so you can put one pair in the wash (Did I mention that I have a wool cycle on my machine?) and wear the other pair. Then when you are healed you have a matching pair of knee highs and crew socks; how great is that?! One can never have too many socks. Happy Knitting! P.S. Another great idea: If you spin and the weather is hot, maybe you could spin a thicker yarn for the air cast and a thinner yarn for the other foot. That way you get the cushiness you need on the injured foot, the coolness needed for hot weather and they will MATCH! OK, never mind that, my mom likes cushy wool socks in ALL temperatures.
Do you Show and Tell? There is a new form to help you share all the details of your latest creation during Show ‘N Tell. Forms are available at the Hospitality table, where you sign up for Show ‘N Tell, or you can download the form from the Members section of the MKG website. Fill it out ahead of time, and turn it in after you Shown ‘N Tell.
SHOW ‘N TELL Date:
MKG Member Name:
Ravelry ID:
Pattern/Designer:
Yarn:
By checking this box, I give my consent to list this information and any associated photos on the MKG website, under the members only section.
MKG Knitters’ Knews 12 December 2013
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