Kelly Gilliam's Blog

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

In historical span of knitting and crochet, the idea of freeform is still a relatively new idea, with it's roots beginning in the 1970's. In fact, there's still little information about freeform knitting and crochet compared to the masses of free online information, books, magazines, and now TV shows. If you are searching for some books on the subject, here's a recommended reading list. Books marked with (*) are out of print and will need to be searched.

The most recent books are Freeform Knitting and Crochet and is written by the author Jenny Dowde (published 2004), Freeform: Serendipitous Design Techniques for Knitting & Crochet by Prudence Mapstone (published 2002)

Other (older) books, which may be slightly difficult to find include Crochet Discovery and Design* by Del Pitt Feldman (published 1972), Creative Crochet* by Nicki Hitz Edson & Arlene Stimmel (published 1973).

If you have a book you know of that has to do with freeform knitting or crochet, please send me the info by emailing me.

Knot Just Knitting - A gallery with tips for freeform knitting and crochet.

Freeform crochet and knitting demo

Freeform Knitting & Crochet online discussion group

International Freeform Crochet Guild

If you have any further online sources, please email them to me.

Knitty Fall 2006

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

A new Knitty to me is always a good day. No matter what else I've done, if there's a new Knitty Magazine up, I'm a happy girl. It's getting to be fall around my parts, the leaves are going, the days are a lot shorter than they used to be, the nights are definitely cooler, and all of this has left me wanting to start the next big project (okay, despite the fact I have one little summer project still in fact not finished).

Knitty never fails to disappoint, a lot of other online magazines do disappoint me, but there's always at least a handful of knitted garments that go on the "to knit" list (which unfortunately is growing to a ridiculously large size).

Immediately the first pattern I fell in love with was Serrano. It first caught my eye because it's bright red and named after one of my favourite peppers, but after I got a look at it more closely, I knew I had to knit this item for fall - it's been officially moved to #1 on the list.

Keeping with my theme of "too many sock patterns to knit" I clicked on Red Herring, a wonderful sock made of, you guessed it, herringbone done by the fabulous sock designer, Cookie A. It's herringbone, it's a sock. I don't see how you can go wrong.

Next up was Ivy, a beautifully simple wrap cardigan with dozens of little cables worked as an edging. I am a huge fan of wrap-style cardigans, and despite my previous disasters with other patterns, I have a good feeling about this one, and will attempt it. It'll also be a great exercise for me in cables, something I do not do nearly enough.

Tamarah is another beautiful lace pattern that I will have to attempt, and I think I have the perfect yarn to do it. I love the unconventional way it's been constructed, which I think will give experienced knitters something to devote our focus to.

Other patterns of note are cable net, sox on 2 stix, and diamante - three sock patterns with interesting details (beware: only for more experienced knitters. Hats, sweaters, bags, and even an afghan grace Knitty this fall, assuring that there'll be something for everybody in this issue.

A list of Secret Pal Knitting/Crochet Swaps

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

Here is a listing of upcoming secret pal swaps for knitters, crocheters, and spinners that you can join listed in chorological order. If you're interested in joining one please make sure to read the rules carefully before signing up as they all vary quite a bit. All have time restrictions and others will also have a monetary restriction.

If you know of any other upcoming secret pal swaps, or you're hosting a secret pal swap and would like it listed here, please email me and I'll list it.

International Tote Exchange II - A knit, crochet, or felt a tote and exchange it. Sign up by August 25th.

Sockret Pal - Exchange sock making supplies and one hand knit pair of socks to be made over three months. Sign ups happening now and until October 1st.

Secret Pal 9 - A Swap mainly geared at knitters, but also encompasses crocheters and spinners. They take the time to really pair you up well! Takes place over approximately three months. Sign ups start September 1st.

Spin To Knit Swap - Spin two handspun skeins and send them to your pal over two months. Sign ups start mid-September so check the site often!

Crochetville Secret Pal - ongoing since 2004, exchange crocheted goodies with your secret pal. The next sign up is for February 15th, 2007.

A Compendium of Knitting and Crochet Charities

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

Here is a list of some well deserving charities looking for knit and crocheted items to be donated to them. Click the links to find out how you can help, and if you have any charities you wish to share please don't hesitate to start a new discussion.

I've included some individual charities, as well as other online listings of charities as well.

afghans for Afghans - Creating hand knit and crocheted blankets and clothing for the people of Afghanistan.

Hugs for homeless animals - Creating blankets for orphaned pets.

Hats for the homeless - Takes hats, scarves, and mittens and donates them to the homeless in NYC.

Socks for soldiers - Reminiscent of the old red cross sock drives for the world wars, here you can knit socks for soldiers currently serving in the middle east.

Warmth around the world - knitting child garments for children around the world currently living in orphanages.

Blankets for Canada Society - Knitting blankets for Canadians in need. *

Operation Warm A Sole - knitting slippers for Canadian armed forces overseas. *

Cuddle Bear Program - Knit or crochet a teddy bear to those suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia. *

* Denotes a Canadian charity.

More lists of charities around the world that will take all kinds of knitted donations:

Wool Works: Knitting For Charity - Offers an extensive list of American charities in need of knitted and crocheted items. Most places will take donations from all over the world.

Knitting For Charity - A website devoted completely to knitting for charity. Offers a blog and information.

Stitch Witch Knit For Charity - offers a small list of charities.

Canadian Knitwear Designers & Artisans - Information on knitting charities in Canada

Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

When I first came upon this book, honestly I didn't know what to expect. I wasn't quite sure how knitting and nature would be combined in this book of 39 patterns, but I was eager to find out. Norah Gaughan, the design director for Berocco Yarns, took all of her inspiration for this book based on six natural design motifs found in nature: hexagons, pentagons, spirals, phyllotaxis, fractals, and waves. I was intrigued to see how Gaughan has utilized natural design motifs to not only design stitch patterns but also the garments themselves.

I have to admit, at first I found the book a little daunting. The patterns seemed to be complex, albeit beautiful and they appeared to be works of art before garments. Two out of three isn't bad: they definitely are beautiful and absolutely are works of art (that just happen to be garments), and although the patterns aren't for a beginning knitter they are not beyond the grasp of the average knitter.

Each of the six designs found in nature each have their own chapter, and one of the things I loved best about this book was the introductions to each chapter. On the first page Gaughan discusses not only the natural form of the chapter, but also the mathematic and scientific reasons for it occurring in nature and her inspirations behind that. Math isn't my subject but the scientific and mathematical reasons behind the biology are fascinating, and the recommended reading list at the end of the book points you exactly into that direction (I know it's a list I'll be going over at my library).

This truly is a book inspired by nature, and one that inspires the knitter as well. The symmetry (and sometimes asymmetry) in nature is wonderfully captured in these patterns that range from ornate to brilliantly simple. I highly recommend this book to any knitter that is looking for something different, something besides the average shaping of a top one might find in most patterns.

Itchy Fingers

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

I'm going to take this time to get a little personal (and hopefully you readers won't mind!). Over the past month and a half I have been in the throws of moving. Not just any moving, but moving to a brand new city and I only had a month to completely pack up my life and get everything together. Let me tell you, has been interesting.

Now, I'm very excited, this has given me an opportunity to open a new business (something I've wanted to do for four years now), not to mention, there are three spectacular yarn shops all within four city blocks. Seriously, I love it.

However, as much as I've been looking forward to that, I've also had no time to knit in the past little while. I've gotten about an inch of a gusset in a slipper done in the past month, and that's it (which is especially bad because it's for my mom and she's been waiting patiently for over a month now!).

I find myself getting very agitated with the lack of knitting. I miss it; I find that I don't have my down time at night. Some people like to watch TV, or read a book. I like to get out my knitting and that's how I wind down from the day. I try to fit it in as best I can, but I'm just so busy it's hard. Is it just me, or do other people find they get itchy fingers when they don't have time to knit? It's like an addiction.

Fortunately now that I have moved (and am broadcasting this to you not from Vancouver, but from Nelson, B.C.), I do have more time at my disposal and I'm thankful. The whole phenomenon of itchy fingers though is one I'd not like to revisit.

Designing Your Own Patterns

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

Designing my own patterns is the ultimate in my knitting life. I love using other patterns, but having something completely unique - my own - is extremely gratifying (hell, I'd raise the sheep, sheer them and spin the wool if it was feasible!).

There are a few helpful hints to heed before you dive right in to designing for yourself as well as some informational articles and free online interactive programs to help you design that first pattern.

Learn to read a knitting pattern. Read some patterns, if you don't understand something, look it up and learn how to knit it.
Before you design learn to adjust a pattern. If you can learn to read a pattern and make it your own, when it comes time to design a pattern it'll be that much easier.
Start your first design as something simple - perhaps a shawl, some socks, a scarf. There's all the time in the world to get to sweaters and cardigans.
Swatch. Swatch. Swatch. Your sweater will turn out to be a lumpy mess if you can't learn how to gauge properly.
Don't be afraid to frog. It will happen; even the greatest designers still need to go at it a few times.
Graph paper and pre-planning can only help. Use graph paper to design your pattern and your stitches.

KnittingFool.com - an online interactive program to help you design simple sweater/cardigan patterns

Knit by Numbers - how to design a sweater proportionally

Design a custom knit raglan sweater by filling in the blanks.

Make Knitting And Crochet Your Art

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

I want to take a moment to speak to all my fellow knitter and crocheters.

I want you to pick up the pointy sticks, pick up the hooks, pick up the yarn, and create. Create like you've never created before. Perhaps working with yarn and needles makes you feel more comfortable than working with paint and a paintbrush; perhaps it makes you feel safer because you aren't trying to be "an artist" (an incredibly heavy word laden with meaning - good and bad). Perhaps it's something that just let's you relax, your mind can wander, you enter a Zen like state.

Whatever it is that drives you to knit or crochet, embrace it, and create. Creating beautiful lace shawls, warm comfortable sweaters, and cozy slippers are all excellent reasons to create. But perhaps, you can take another step. Perhaps you can create something that isn't traditionally created with yarn and sticks (or hooks!). Perhaps you can re-create a bit of yourself. Perhaps you can create randomness to create form. Perhaps you can create simply to create.

Whether you create for warmth, or passion, or simply to have something to do, never fear to look beyond the basic elements of yarn and sticks. Never fear to think of yourself as having just as much importance as the painter, or the illustrator or the sculptor. Knitting and crochet are crafts, but they are also art. They are art simply because you see it as art, not because anybody else deems it so. What does your art say about you?

Remember to Knit or Crochet For Yourself

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

If you're like me, and most other knitter and crocheters, the act of knitting for someone you love is second nature. You clothe and knit/crochet for people because you want to share warmth and show how much you care for somebody by giving them something that you worked on for weeks, perhaps even months. Knitting or crocheting for someone is the utmost showing of love that I can do for a person, but sometimes I forget about myself.

The first project that I ever made was for myself, and the second I felt confident in that I really knew what I was doing, I began to knit for those I loved. Family and friends are where I've tried out new techniques and new projects, but the other day as I finished up my honeymoon camisole I realized just how few objects I had for myself. Mostly what I had were swatches, and a few small projects. That was it. Years of knitting and I had only a handful of finished projects that I was actually in possession of.

I made the promise right there to myself, "I can't forget to knit for me". This is not to say that I hate knitting for others or that I will stop doing it. Far from it, in fact I'm already planning Christmas presents for friends and family. However I do need to remember that I have to use this craft for myself as well. I have to clothe myself, I love wearing items I've made, I love using items I've made. I love giving items I've made too, but I need to strike a balance. The balance I've struck is that every time I knit for somebody else, I will knit for myself too. Big or small, doesn't matter, but just something for myself that I can hold on to so that every time I see it, I can feel just a little bit proud.

Knitting Acronyms

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

There has been a long history of knitting lingo, and with the advent of the knitting community making their way online a whole new crop of acronyms have sprung up. There are lots of online resources to find out what K2tog and ssk mean (a good one is here), but I found that the listings for online acronyms are sparse and mostly incomplete. What I've tried to do is combine all the internet knitting lingo together that I can and have it all in one handy location. If I have missed something, please don't hesitate to email me with the acronym and the meaning.

FO - Finished Object
Frog - unraveling a projected row by row
KAL - Knit-A-Long, where a group of knitters on a forum or through a blog will all knit the same project and share their progress
KIP - Knit In Public
LYS - Local Yarn Shop
LYSO - Local Yarn Shop Owner
SABLE
SEX - Stash Enrichment eXpedition - the act of going out yarn shopping for the purpose of increasing your stash
SnB - Stitch 'N Bitch - either referring to the books by Debbie Stoller, or referring to a local group of people who meet up to knit
Tink - Unstitching a project one stitch at a time
UFO - Unfinished Object
WIP - Work In Progress
WYIB - With Yarn In Back
WYIF - With Yarn In Front
YAS - Yarn Acquisition Syndrome - the inability for you to not be able to buy yarn
YMMV - Yarn Mileage May Vary, also known as YGMV (yarn gauge may vary) and YMV (yardage may vary)© Kelly Gilliam, text and images, 2006. Reproduction without permission is prohibited

Summer Knit/Crochet Patterns

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

In this weeks article we discussed summer knitting and crochet. To accompany that, I wanted to provide all you readers with a healthy list of knitting and crochet patterns perfect for the spring, and especially summer, months. The ones listed below are of varying difficulty and time, but are perfect to try out while you're sipping a lemonade on the porch.

Knits

Monk's Travel Satchel - From interweave press - pdf file

Saturday Market Bag - a great bag to bring to those farmers and flea markets

A Bag for all seasons - exactly what it says!

Otis - Ballet wrap-style cardigan

Asana - Open backed tank top

Honeymoon Cami - lace-trimmed camisole (a personal favourite of mine!)

Ribbon Xback - a criss-crossed back knit in a ribbon yarn

Rambling Leaves Shawl - From Elann.com

Waist-Down Flickering Flames skirt - a full-length circle skirt from Elann.com

Vintage Bathing Cap - a 30's inspired bathing cap for those days down on the beach

K. Kozy - a cute functional teapot cozy

Crochet

Lace Dress (from interweave press - pdf file)

Tuscany Tank Dress - a lacey dress

Daisy - A daisy-print skirt

href=http://www.angelfire.com/folk/celtwich/Crochetedblouse.html>1942 Crocheted blouse

Crochet Bolero

Shell-Stitch 1940's Top

Two Traveling Bags - Perfect for your summer travels

All Season Shawl

Placemats - For your summer picnics

Tea Mug Cozy

Art of Knitting And Crochet

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

I've been thinking a lot about knitting and crochet not just as the sweater, the socks, the slippers, or even the purse. I've been thinking about knitting and crochet as art.

Now I know if you go up to the classical painter or the sculptor and tell them that what you're doing is just as much art as what they're doing, you make get scoffed at (or on the other hand they may embrace the idea). I know a lot of people have trouble, however, looking at knitting and crochet as art, and it really got me wondering why?

Are we not constructing something with our hands? Are we not taking a raw material and making it into something with shape and form, one that elicits emotion? Are we not expressing our creativity though each stitch that we make?

So what makes what we do any different than the painter or the sculptor? In my mind only the media separates us, and in fact most knitters I know are painters, drawers, sculptors.

Here are a few links for you to see some wonderful knitting and crochet art out there, and maybe this will inspire you to make a little knitting or crochet art yourself.

Crochet - Patricia Waller (Germany)

International Free Form Crochet Guild

Knitta Crew - Graffiti with knitting

World Wide Knit In Public Day

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

In 2005, Danielle Landes of No No Kitty Knits and Spins Her Way To Happiness... thought up a great idea - have all the knitters of the world come together and knit in public on the same day. It was created with the thought that we shouldn't be embarrassed to knit in public, sure sometimes we get gawked at, but we should be proud of our pointy sticks, and we can show the world what we're made of (or, rather, making).

This year marks the second annual event, and so far the word has spread. Knitters all over the world will be gathering on Saturday June 10th in sixteen different countries by over 80 different knitting groups. For a movement started only last year, it's astounding how far this idea has spread, and proves to be one that will spread even further in the years to come.

Perhaps Danielle herself sums it up best, here is the intro from the World Wide Knit In Public Day website:

"Many knitters have no problem knitting in public, but others aren't quite so into it. The idea is that even if you're knitting alone on a park bench somewhere, you're not really alone, there's hundreds of knitters doing the exact same thing at the same time."

Website: WWKIP Day

Date: Saturday June 10th

Place: Be sure to look under the "Find Your Local Gathering Here" link to find, well, your local gathering.

YNotKnit: Continental Knitting

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

I've been an English knitter since I was a little girl. I learned knitting by throwing and through the years I've gotten very efficient and fast at it. One of the things I'm constantly hearing from continental knitters though, is how much more efficient and faster it is. After seeing it done myself I had to wonder - was it really that much more efficient, or is it all about comfort and how fast you can get while using the method that you find most comfortable?

I had to try continental knitting for myself, and I just happened to learn of the new book "YNotKnit: Step-by-Step Instructions for Continental Knitting & Knitting Basics" by Jill and Susan Wolcott. To my knowledge (and to theirs as they point out within the book) there doesn't seem to be another book that simply looks at continental knitting and how to do it.

What I was most excited about by the book when I first received it was the visuals. The images in the book, while not being photographs but instead black and white drawings, are clear and concise, possibly some of the most clear I've ever seen. I was easily able to understand the basic movements of continental knitting and the steps it required. I picked up my practice yarn and started knitting, and despite the fact I was slow (due to my lack of experience), it seemed easy enough to do.

It's a good book for the very beginner, with instructions how to cast on, knit and purl stitches, adding yarn, simple increases and decreases, how to bind off and how to work in the ends. It's a good source for information on tools, and terms as well. The book seems to be most geared towards the very beginner, even if continental instructions are for beginner and experienced alike.

The only beef I had with this book is a nit-picky one at best (and purely there because of my formal education that required footnotes and sources ad nauseam). They make statements such as the smaller movements of continental knitting reduce the possibility of repetitive stress disorders, and that knitters with arthritis find it easier to knit using this method, however no sources are given for these statements. I think it would be interesting to include more information for the knitters who would be interested in knowing about this further.

That being said, I found this little coil notebook a very handy reference, and with its size it's easy enough to bring along with you wherever you may go.

Start A Knit/Crochet Podcast

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

I love the idea of podcasting, and how podcasting has brought together, quite literally, a world of knitters, crocheters and fibre artists. I've thought of recording my own podcast, but until the point where I actually feel comfortable doing it (if indeed the time ever does come) I've instead been just as happy listening to other people.

While I like to think myself as fairly technologically proficient, the thought of a podcast sort of frightens me. Not the actual act of recording and audio editing as much as the idea of making it usable on the web.

To make this prospect a little less frightening to others who wish to start their own knitting, crochet, or fibre arts podcasts, I've discussed the idea of starting up your own with three knitting podcasters: Brenda Dayne, Pixie, and Lisa Akers. Here's what they had to say.

The site which seemed most highly recommended was Podcast411.com. The site has excellent information, however I find the design of the site hampers in finding the information that you're looking for. I suggest using the handy search feature located at the top of the web page. Another web page that I happened upon was PodcastExpert.com. It's a directory of free articles containing information on just about every subject you could want information on in regards to podcasting.

As for equipment, one of the spectacular things about podcasting is that you don't need the state of the art equipment in order to have a good sounding show. Equipment used by the podcasters I talked to ranged from a Eurorack analog mixer to a simple headset microphone bought at an electronics shop. The basics you need however to make your own fibre arts podcast is a computer, a microphone, and some software.

All the podcasters I talked with suggested using Audacity and Castblaster. Audacity is a free program that allows you to edit and encode your audio files to a range of sound formats. Castblaster is a podcasting suite, which records and integrates different audio sounds. Castblaster is around $50 US, but you can download a free trial copy that allows you to record up to 10 minutes.

Last but not least, a few tips from the podcasters themselves, things to think about when recording your shows to get the best quality possible.

"The most important thing for anyone is to remember that when you put yourself out for public review, you will get as much criticism as you do praise. Don't take it personally. The critics sometimes have something that will make your podcast better. Sometimes, they just want to be mean. It's not you they are criticizing. It's the podcast, or maybe

it's the topic. I try to keep in mind that life is hard for everyone. Some just show it more than others. It's hard to hear someone saying they don't like what you do, but it's good for us to hear other viewpoints. Take what you can from it, and move on." - Lisa Akers from Musings of a Peaceful Knitter

"When you record, put your self in a very silent room, close the door and turn off any printers or machines that make any sort of hum, turn off everything but lights! You

don't want the microphone too close as your breathing may come across, but it is good to be about 8 or so inches away. Also, try saving out your audio files at different bit rates [...] I save my files out at the bit rate of 32kbps and set to mono." - Pixie from Pixie Purls Podcast

Knitting/Crochet Podcasts

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

Knitting, crochet and fibre arts podcasts have proven to not only be exceedingly popular with the online arts community, but also have been a strong force within the online community. They've been points of conversation, bringing us new news, and giving us somebody to listen to while we're squirreled away by ourselves with our sticks and hooks.

Here is a list in alphabetical order of knitting and crochet podcasts currently being produced, as well as fibre arts podcasts that touch upon knitting and crochet.

If you have a new podcast and you want to be listed here, or if you know of an awesome podcast that I just happened to miss, please don't hesitate to email me with the link at knittingcrochet@suite101.com.

Cast On

Crochet Cast

Dr. Emmie - Knitting You Back To Health

Knitty D and the City

Musings of a Peaceful Knitter

Knit and Crochet A Longs

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

The idea of the group blog is not a new one, they've been around as long as blogs have been the it thing on the internet. A group blog brings a group of people together, that's the magic of them, and they have worked to bring groups of knitters and crocheters together as well in the common goal of working on and documenting the same project. These are called "knit-a-longs" (aka KALs) or "crochet-a-longs" (aka CALs).

Knit and crochet-a-longs aren't just limited to group blogs, however, there are lots of these going on in forums. The forums are a free and easy place to host these group knit and crochet events without having to be web savvy.

So what's the point of these? It's a great way to meet other knitters or crocheters working on the same project as you. If you get stuck, it's a great way to gain help and insight fast into what you're doing wrong, and most importantly, it gives one a sense of community - knowing that all of you are working towards the same goal. Those who might not be able to get together with others in the area for knitting or crochet circles can get together in a virtual one, with the project being done the item that joins you all together.

If you've never joined a knit or crochet a long before but are interested in doing so, here's a list of what's going on right now. Most importantly, if there's a knit or crochet a long that you want to join but there isn't one set up for your particular project, start your own! With free blogging services like Blogger.com all you have to do is fill out a quick form and you're done. Get the word out on forums and through friends and you're on your way.

Knit-A-Longs

2006 Knit-A-Longs (a constantly updated and comprehensive list of group blogs).

The Knitty Knit-A-Long Forum

The Craftster.org Knit-A-Long Forum

Crochet-A-Longs

Crochetville Crochet-A-Long Forum

The Craftster.org Crochet-A-Long Forum

Feet Need Socks Crochet-A-Long

Not New and Not A Master

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

As of recently I've noticed a dichotomy forming of knitting and crocheters: one camp is the newbie group, the ones who have just learned within the past year or so and are still on their second or third scarves. The other half are the experienced group, the people who have been knitting for fifteen, twenty, or more years. It seems as though most things are geared towards those two groups, and while I don't have a problem with either group of course, it makes me want to say - hey, what about us intervanced knitters!?

Okay, so intervanced isn't really a word, but it's one I've started to use to describe myself when asked, "So how experienced are you?" Give me a pattern and I'll be able to do it, I can make sweaters and shirts and gloves and socks with gusto. Give me an incredibly intricate Fair Isle sweater made in five different colours? Okay, I'm not there yet. That's fine, I know my limitations and I'm comfortable with them. In fact, it makes me glad I don't know everything there is to know because then I wouldn't have anything new to learn, and what's the fun of something if you're not constantly learning as you go? However, I noticed the majority of the pattern books, the how-to books, the help guides, the magazines, the whatever, are geared towards one of the two aforementioned groups rather than us intervancers.

Perhaps I'm not looking in the right places, but I find that most patterns are far too easy, or something I'm not quite ready to take on (remember that five-colour Fair Isle pattern? I'll get to it some day, but not tomorrow). Now, notice I said most places. There are of course lots of areas where I can find a beautiful pattern that I want to make. There are lots of pattern books, and marvelous sites with many beautiful patterns to choose from. I guess sometimes I just want to say, I'm ready for something new, but not something too scary yet.

Great sites with patterns for the intervanced:

Knitty

MagKnits

Knitting is Not the New Yoga

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

I'm sure by now you've heard the phrase "knitting is the new yoga", I've heard and read it everywhere, and it never ends to infuriate me. The more I think about it, the more I believe that somebody who had never seen a knitting needle, let alone knit, thought up the phrase, and then somehow it spread like a disease (much like the word "addicting" instead of its correct "addictive").

In fact, I'm more and more positive it's only been given that trite byline because yoga has great selling power with the yuppie 30-somethings that like to read about and pat themselves on the back about how broad-ranging and sophisticated their interests are. What does that have to do with knitting? Taking something originally thought of as a woman's craft, something only done by old ladies, and doing it themselves gives them that much needed sense of, "look at me, I'm different!" Yoga was in fact that thing at one point, but now that it's so entrenched within western culture, it's not new anymore. Everybody does it, so it doesn't set the yuppies apart from anybody that goes to yoga night at the corner studio.

So it may sound as though I'm being a little harsh, and by no means do I have any problems with yoga itself, but I do have my reasons. I don't believe in doing anything half-assed. If you want to learn to knit (or do yoga properly for that matter), learn it, live it, and don't do it because you'll look trendy sitting on the morning bus on your way to work (that's the worst reason to ever learn anything). Knit because you like the rhythmic pattern, or you enjoy handcrafting your own goods. Knit because you love the craft, don't knit just so you can tell people that you do.

Keep A Record: Hi and Low Tech

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

Keeping a record of your knitting is a great way to stay in touch with yourself and your projects. Whether you knit or crochet, it's a handy way to be able to look back when you can't remember the name of that yarn that you really enjoyed using three years ago, and most importantly it's a good way to chronicle your progress as a knitter or crocheter.

I've been keeping some sort of record of my knitting for years, but I didn't start keeping a proper record until about eight months ago. I started using my own personal blog as a knitting journal, among having it as a general ranting place. Even more recently, I started to keep a proper written journal, and boxed up all my swatches in an organized way (they now live inside of an old cigar box). Perhaps I was a little slow on the draw, but many other bloggers have been recording their experiences for years. It's not only a great way to see what's currently going on with other knitters and crocheters around the world, it's a great way to interact with them via email and blog comments, as well as learning from their mistakes and becoming inspired.

To keep your own knitting/crochet journal is easy: get a notebook and a pen. Record your starting and end dates for your projects, as well as the yarn, needle size, and gauge. I like to include a Polaroid or digital photograph to show my progress and attach them in the book.

To start your own knitting/crochet blog, it's even easier. There's tons of free web space, and a favourite with bloggers is Blogger.com. Include lots of pictures and details on what you're working on. Don't have a space to store your photos? Try Flickr.com, my personal favourite image storing service.

If you don't mind paying for your blog, purchasing your own domain name and a little space from a web host provider allows you to have uncontrolled freedom on how your blog looks and acts. There are lots of free blogging scripts that you can download, like Movable Type and Wordpress. Please note: if you decide to go this route, be sure you know a little about coding and html, as you'll need to know these in order to install and customize your space.

The craft is all about learning, expanding, talking and sharing with others. Keeping an online blog and a journal can not only greatly expand yourself within your craft, but it will help you meet others, and allow you to reach out and commune with those in the fibre arts world.

Frogging Thrift Store Finds

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

When you mention "frogging" to a knitter, you'll most likely be met with a shudder and a story about how they once had to frog a beautiful silk shawl because three rows down they missed a yarn over. Despite the fact that frogging can be a painful task, it can also be one of joy, especially for those on a budget. One of the greatest tricks I learned was that you can get a whole sweater's worth of yarn for less than $5 - and we're talking good wool, cashmere, cotton, whatever your heart desires.

But how is that possible, you ask? Simple - go to your local thrift store, find a sweater (usually one made out of an ugly pattern) made out of a beautiful natural yarn (check the label!), and get frogging. It'll cost you $5 at most, and you'll end up with so much yarn you won't know what to do with it.

There is an excellent website that I want to show you by Ashley Martineau called "The Recycled Yarn Tutorial" that goes along with you step by step, with great photographs, to show you how to frog a thrift store sweater. It's how I learned, and so can you.

My tips for you are:

1. Go for the men's sweaters - you'll get more bang for your buck and probably a lot less frilly froo-froo mess.

2. Check to make sure you will be able to frog it. Hairy yarns or really thin yarns will be murder on you and you'll end up cutting out more than you frog.

3. Don't bother with acrylic. You'll spend hours frogging a sweater and it won't be worth your time.

Happy frogging

When Good Patterns Go Bad

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

I thought it'd be fun this week to share a few of my favourite knitting and crochet links with you. No, these are not how-to or pattern sites, these are the cattiness of the knit and crochet world. They're always good for a laugh in the least, and let's you see some truly horrible patterns out there that would make anybody run away screaming. Be sure to check them out, they'll make you laugh, recoil, and scratch your head all in the same post.

What Not To Crochet

From fun-fur trimmed cardigans, to huge loopy scarves, to the absolutely bizarre couch dress (a personal favourite), horrible patterns abound. I love the "good yarn gone bad" factor of this website - otherwise beautiful yarns used for evil purposes (but of course the ugliest of the ugly are here in all their glory as well). There's always great dry text to accompany the photo, and tons of comments to follow with the reader's own opinions on the posted pattern.

You Knit What?

In the same spirit as "What Not To Crochet", "You Knit What?" brings us the underbelly of the knitting world. With a subtitle like "seriously, what the hell were you thinking?" the aim of the site is clear - bad patterns and possibly even worse execution of said patterns. Nobody is spared, patterns come from a broad spectrum and you got to appreciate the non-discriminating way these patterns are picked. Some horrendous hats, scary sweaters and more, not to mention some really bizarre pictures that really makes you wonder why the photographer ever thought a racy photo would ever be the best choice to try to sell a knitting pattern.

Stay tuned for an extra-special article on Sunday: I'll be reviewing "Mason-Dixon Knitting" by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne.

Teaching To Knit

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

Over this past week I had my sister come and visit me. One of the things she told me she wanted to learn was to knit, and I was more than happy to oblige - like most knitters, I love to share my knowledge and experiences. I had two balls of old acrylic yarn that I had put aside specifically for this - one white and one red. I pulled out a pair of size seven knitting needles and I showed her how to cast on.

We used the double-cast on method - my favourite, and an extremely fast and easy way to do it (you can view a handy video of the method here). She caught on fast, and as much as I'd like to attribute this to my stellar teaching style, I think it's more likely that she's a quick study and this is a simple but effective cast on when you learn it.

The next thing I did was attempt to teach her how to read the stitch; it's one of the most important things you can learn when you begin to knit. By being able to look at the next stitch on your needles, you'll be able to tell exactly what you did in the row before, and what you have to do next. The difference between the purl bump and the knit "v" might seem simple to somebody who's been knitting for years, but to a brand new knitter it's hard to read. I think I succeeded however, and she was quickly telling me which stitch she needed to do.

I taught her the difference between the knit and the purl, how to make a simple rib, I taught her the differences between garter and stockinette (and how the stockinette will unfortunately roll without a stabilizing stitch like a rib) and how to bind off.

She made the leap within one day to circular needles, and cast on for her first ever project - a simple cowl made with some second hand wool we found at a thrift store, and a borrowed pair of my needles.

I have to say I was very proud of my little sister, how quickly she caught on, how fast she learned the stitch, and her confidence to go back home and finish her project without my watchful eye. I love the feeling that I could teach my sister something not only that I cared so much about, but also that we have a bond over this one craft that we can share.

My First Knit Scarf

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

Today I wanted to talk about my first project, meaning the first one that I actually started and completed. While I have fond memories of knitting with my blue acrylic wool with my mom teaching me how to knit - I never did finish just whatever it was I thought that I was knitting. I still do have a bit of that yarn - an unfinished skein that sits in one of my four stash drawers, which I can't bring myself to throw away. However, that was not my first real project.

My first project was a scarf. I made my way to the local Zellers - the cheap department-type store here in Canada, much like a low-key Wal-Mart or K-Mart, intent on finding something to do with myself. I ran across the one half isle of yarn that they had, in plastic bags, with a small selection of knitting needles. I looked up and down the racks of synthetic yarns, thinking "why not?" to myself. I chose ten small skeins, half a dark grass green, and the other half an obnoxious celadon. I decided these were to become a scarf for myself. These skeins I would transform into a luxurious scarf, one that would fill me with unimaginable pride that I could tell people that yes, I had indeed made it myself.

I got home, and cast on. It had surprised me to realize that I had remembered the three foundation steps my mom had taught me at our kitchen table. I could cast on, garter stitch, and bind off with the best of them I thought to myself. So I knit. And knit... and knit. It was a skinny scarf, measuring only five inches across, and every fifteenth row I would work to the end, and switch colours. At this point I had not yet learned the finer points of switching colours, even at the beginning of a row, so I made it up. I tied off the ends of the yarns together, and it seemed logical for me to just cut off the trailing ends.

Eventually my garter-stitch scarf had worked itself into being about six and a half feet long. I was coming up to about two months of knitting this one scarf, and decided that it was time to bind off. Having just enough grass-green yarn left, I made some tassels the best I could figure out how, after all, I've always been the kind of girl intent on figuring stuff out for myself, even when it brings me at a disadvantage. I must say though, those tassels don't look bad for a beginning knitter.

I threw the scarf around my neck, and despite the warm winters in Vancouver managed to wear that scarf anywhere. I actually did get asked a few times where I had purchased my scarf, to which I would proudly reply, "Why, I made it myself!"

I still have that scarf, draped on a hook by my door. Despite the fact that it looks a little mangy, and is obviously done by the hand of a very new knitter, I'm still proud of it, regardless of all its flaws, a few twisted stitches, the big knots at the end of the colour change rows, and the tassels that even look a little awkward. Sometimes I even pull it out and wear it if the mood strikes.

It Need Not Be A Lonely Thing

Posted by Kelly Gilliam

When I first began knitting, and subsequently crocheting, I felt like I was the only one. I did not know one person beside myself that knit, and I kept it fairly private. This was primarily because when I started knitting again, I was 18 years old, I felt that I was an unlikely candidate to want to learn knitting, and people made sure they told me that. In fact, I still get called "old lady" from time to time. This is in jest mind you, and rarely at that, and now it's not something that I think twice about, as a little joshing between friends is never a bad thing. However, at 18 and trying to teach myself something new, it made it so I didn't particularly want to share my new craft with people.

Now, don't envision a young girl in a dark room, lit only by a flickering bulb toiling away at her knitting - I wasn't pathetic! I wouldn't take my work with my anywhere though, and that made the process of learning and knitting slow-going.

I started by joining forums and conversing with people online - I wasn't the only one that liked knitting, and to boot, there were hundreds of people online of all ages and walks of life that enjoyed the experience as much as me. I was enthralled, to say the least.

After five years of knitting, I'm looking forward to further expanding my interactions with people and knitting. In the back of my mind now for almost a year, I've been interested in starting up my own knitting group. A few of my friends have expressed an interest in learning to knit, or if they know how already, then to sit down over a cup of tea (or wine...) and gabbing while our hands are working busily away on our scarves, our socks, our cardigans, and our sweaters. This is something I will be attempting to do - to band together my group of friends and get them all in one place so we can all feel like we aren't the lone knitters or crocheters out there, and I do plan to document that experience here at Suite101.

In the meantime, I want to present you with areas in which you can reach out and discuss your hobby with other like-minded individuals. Whether you are the lone knitter, or even if you're a member of an already existing group, it never hurts to reach out and meet new people.

Stitch 'N Bitch Groups across the Globe

How To Start Your Own Stitch 'N Bitch Group (links to .pdf file, requires Adobe Acrobat)

Online Forums:

Knitty CoffeeShop

Crochet Online Crochet Forum via Craftster.org

Online Knitting Forum via Craftster.org

Do you have a good online resource for meeting knitters and crocheters in your area or around the world? Is it a forum or directory of knitting/crochet groups? Start a discussion about it by clicking "start discussion" below!

blog archive

Freeform Knitting/Crochet Resource

Knitty Fall 2006

A list of Secret Pal Knitting/Crochet Swaps

A Compendium of Knitting and Crochet Charities

Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan

Itchy Fingers

Designing Your Own Patterns

Make Knitting And Crochet Your Art

Remember to Knit or Crochet For Yourself

Knitting Acronyms

Summer Knit/Crochet Patterns

Art of Knitting And Crochet

World Wide Knit In Public Day

YNotKnit: Continental Knitting

Start A Knit/Crochet Podcast

Knitting/Crochet Podcasts

Knit and Crochet A Longs

Not New and Not A Master

Knitting is Not the New Yoga

Keep A Record: Hi and Low Tech

Frogging Thrift Store Finds

When Good Patterns Go Bad

Teaching To Knit

My First Knit Scarf

It Need Not Be A Lonely Thing