28 May 2014

Why stop at one?

Derwent Cove Cushions by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Thanks for the messages about this series of ideas for Summer Knitting – glad you are enjoying these. And here's another: Think in Multiples!

We've all experienced the phenomenon of having to concentrate at the start of a pattern to make sure everything is going just right, haven't we. Then all of a sudden it seems to get easier, and by the time you reach the end you are almost knitting on auto‐pilot.

​Well, you can tap into that for some easy summer knitting. So here are five ideas for repeats that really work.

Elizabeth Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs - sample worked in North Ronaldsay Aran yarn
#1 ‐ One pattern, two or three yarns:

If you have a pattern that you have enjoyed working, then try it out with a couple of different yarns. You will be surprised how different the end result can be! A fine gauge yarn might turn into a lovely skinny scarf, while a chunky yarn would give a fashion-forward winter version which will be pressed into service as soon as the weather turns colder.
For example, a pattern such as the Elizabeth Scarf lends itself to many different weights of yarn. The photo here shows a North Ronaldsay Aran‐weight yarn being worked in this pattern and it has a completely different feel to the original – very rugged and a really nice width to the scarf.

Pop into some knitting shops along your travel route and see what yarns "speak" to you. You might find something quite inspiring in a new store.

Yarn for Kimpton Scarf & Wrap by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#2 ‐ Same yarn, different pattern:

When you have used a yarn that was especially good to work with, you just want to find more excuses to use it!

​I loved the yarn I used for the Kimpton Scarf and Wrapfor example, and am about to order some more of that in different colours.
The advantage of this approach is that you already have an idea of how the yarn behaves and what type of projects it might be good for. You will have some notes of the size and type of needles which are most suitable too. So you’ll be able to get going on a new project straight away.

Rare Earth Cushions by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#3 ‐ Don't just make one – knit a set:

Cushions and pillows always look better when there are a lot of them, so why not plan to make a whole set such as these Rare Earth Cushions.

Then when all the knitting is done you can sit in a quiet place and finish them all off at once.
In fact, you could do the knitting during the summer and then sew them together when the kiddies go back to school in September. It is always very satisfying when you can turn a stack of knitting into finished objects very quickly, so this would be a good two‐season project!

You could also make several sets in different colourways so that you can change your cushion covers to suit the season. Then you could have pumpkin coloured cushions for Halloween or a red and green set for the holiday season.

Mentmore Socks by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#4 ‐ A basketful of socks:

Socks are a great summer knitting project and it is easy to knit a whole basketful of socks with only a small amount of yarn.

Once you are in "sock knitting mode", it is easy to just keep on going to make three or four pairs ready for the cooler weather ahead.
The yellow socks shown in the photo here, for example, are some more I have worked from kettle-dyed yarn using the Mentmore Socks pattern I was mentioning in my last blogpost.

Log Cabin Squares Blanket by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#5 ‐ And don't forget patchwork afghans:

Small items such as squares are perfect for carrying with you when you go to the beach, or to work on in a quiet moment!

You could knit just a few squares for charity using oddments you have around or gather co‐ordinating yarns specifically for a larger project such as in the log‐cabin blanket in the photo here.

I hope that has given you some more ideas for #summerknitting to keep those knitting needles going! By the time September comes around you will be amazed at how productive you have been over the summer months!

Happy Summer Knitting!

Moira
Keywords: Knitting/Tips & Techniques,
summer knitting, #summerknitting, cushions, pillows, scarf, scarves, blankets, afghans, patchwork, blanket squares, yarns,zR-231114

19 May 2014

Dyeing in the kitchen

Kettle-dyed yarn by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
​There was a story in one of the textile magazines when I was first spinning: the lady who was writing the piece said that the postman had come running into the kitchen looking most distressed. The children had answered the front door and when he asked where their mummy was, they had dutifully replied that she was "dyeing in the kitchen".

Of course, he found the lady busily stirring a batch of colourful dyepots and not lying on the floor gripped by a heart attack! I have no idea if that story is apocryphal or not but it still makes me laugh. I suppose I am easily amused.

Anyway, it set me thinking about further ideas for the summer. I started last week with some ideas for some Summer Knitting and I intend to continue for the whole of this month to suggest ways in which we can get our textile 'fix' while still enjoying all the other pleasures this season brings.
Dyeing Equipment, photo by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
So here's an idea for a project where the kiddies can get involved too – dyeing your own yarn! I know, your first reaction is to think of dye splashes all over their best outfits and a mess on the floor that will take weeks to clean off. However, it can be done.

Our two girls always had a great time 'helping' me with dyeing. They gladly fetched and carried water, pre‐washed skeins of yarn while standing on a small stool at the kitchen sink, weighed out batches of fleece ready for the dyepot and giggled helplessly every time I ended up splashing dye on the walls or all over myself!

You need very little equipment to start dyeing and it is immensely satisfying to see something change colour right before your eyes. All you need is a good‐sized stainless steel saucepan with a well‐fitting lid, a couple of slotted spoons, a Pyrex measuring jug, a few small plastic bottles to store your dye stock solutions and a pair of rubber gloves.
Indigo-dyed yarn by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Then the only other items you will need are a bottle of white vinegar and some dye. I use Cushings acid dyes which come in small packets ready to prepare your stock solution. Or your can explore the contents of your kitchen cupboards for Easter Egg dyeing kits or Kool‐Aid drink mixes which also do a great job of dyeing wool. The yarn in the photo above was dyed with indigo which is also great fun to work with.

So here's an easy dye project that will be immensely fun both for you and the kiddies: kettle‐dyeing some yarn ready for a pair of socks. Have a look at this blogpost and video from Rebecca at ChemKnits: "How to make a tonal kettle‐dyed yarn". You will want to get your own dyepot running the minute the video finishes!
Mentmore Socks by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Kettle-dyed yarns have a wonderful range of tones and gradients along the skein and give really interesting effects. The photo above shows some socks I worked using the Mentmore Socks pattern. This is one of my favourite sock patterns and I have made quite a few pairs of socks using this design.

The pattern uses a slip stitch called Slip Rib, which is not only very comfortable but is also great for blending colours. Then for this pair of red socks I went one stage further and chose to work with three balls of yarn at the same time for a pair of wonderfully tonal socks.

Have a look at my earlier blogposts here and here for some great ideas on how you can knit some wonderfully tonal-dyed socks of your own using your very own hand-dyed yarn!

Until next time – Happy Knitting!

Moira
Keywords: Patterns/Accessories,
socks, summer knitting, #summerknitting, hand-dyed yarns, space-dyed yarns, dyed yarns, kettle-dyed yarns, dyeing, hand-dyeing,

12 May 2014

Summer Knitting starts here

Hever Castle, Kent - photo by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
In the USA, many summer activities start on Memorial Day (the last Monday in May), so this is only a few weeks away!

For many people that means a welcome end to the cold weather and the start of a whole raft of activities – the arrival of the kiddies home for the holidays, summer camps, school catch-up programs and long car journeys to the beach or the mountains. However, that poses some problems for us knitters… How do we manage all of these summer activities but keep knitting wherever we are?

Well, the good news is that we're ahead of the game right now and have enough time to prepare. So, I have put together a Guide for the Summer Knitter to help make this the best knitting season of the year!

Sarasota Shopper by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#1 - Get ready for some selfish knitting

Yes, you can do it! Knit something just for yourself. You know that you will be thinking about all of holiday knitting projects by the beginning of September, so now's the time to focus just on you.

Choose a pattern for that summer scarf you've always fancied. Or how about a canvas-lined bag such as the Sarasota Shopper – perfect for your next long road trip.

Ryedale Bracelets by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#2 - Download an armful of patterns

You won't have time to look later on, so choose three or four knitting patterns now that will give you a whole range of projects for the summer, such as the Ryedale Bracelets pictured here.

Then you can go ahead and load them onto your iPad or print them out ready to go.

Kimpton Scarf & Wrap by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#3 - Check out the on-line yarn stores

Many yarn stores have offers at this time of year so now is the time to see what is available and get stocked up. Buy all the yarns you need for the patterns you have downloaded and place each pattern with its yarn in a bag ready to take with you.

Choose a yarn which will be just for right for the summer, such as Knit Picks Shine used in the Kimpton Scarf and Wrap pictured here. Then you can wear the item straight away!

Map of knitting stores in London, photo for blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#4 - Map the yarn stores along your route

If you know you’re travelling to a new town, then Google Maps is excellent at locating yarn stores nearby. Find the area you're interesting in, then type in “knitting yarn” or “knitting store”. The map will then show all the yarn stores you can investigate.

Then you can plan your walking tour to take in not just the famous landmarks but also lots of new knitting shops so you can explore and buy some yarns ready for the journey home.

Carabiner hooks & key rings for Southampton Collection of bags by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#5 - Remember the notions

It's so frustrating when you come to the end of your knitting and don't have the right bits and pieces to complete an item.

So gather all the zips, buttons, closures and so on for each of your projects and put them right into the bag with the yarn and needles all ready. ​Then when the knitting is done it won't be long until the item is finished! 

Notions Bag for blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#6 - And that goes for knitting tools too

Have you ever been on a plane and dropped an interchangeable needle end down the side of the seat? Or been unable to find the crochet hook you need right now to catch that dropped stitch?

So, check your tool supplies and make sure you have spare needles and all the other essentials with you. Add in a pair of scissors, a tapestry needle & blocking pins too. Then put them into a handy notions bag so you know exactly where they are. 

Twitter image for blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
#7 - Look out for the #summerknitting hash tag!

Yes, you can't escape it. Twitter hashtags are making their way into mainstream knitting. However, the #summerknitting tag is a great way of finding some inspiring summer projects.

In addition to Twitter, look in Pinterest, Instagram and even a general Google search for some great ideas for your summer knitting! Check out the fashion pages too so you can make something in just this season's colours.

Then you'll be set for a whole season of knitting and will hopefully have a large number of completed projects by the end of the summer. After that, you'll be able to contemplate your holiday gift-list in a refreshed state of mind. But that's for another day!

Happy Knitting!

Moira
Reversible Knitting Stitches by Moira Ravenscroft & Anna Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Last Blogpost: Kimpton Scarf and Wrap
Next Up: Dyeing in the kitchen

Our book: Reversible Knitting Stitches
My Website: www.wyndlestrawdesigns.com

NB: The photo at the top of this blogpost shows Hever Castle in Kent, with the beautiful rose garden in full bloom.
Keywords: Patterns/Accessories, Patterns/Bags, Patterns/Women's Scarves & Wraps,
#summerknitting, summer knitting, bag, shopping bag, tote bag, bracelet, bracelets, i-cord bracelets, paracord bracelets, knitted bracelets, scarf, wrap, lace scarf, lace wrap, lace knitting, reversible scarf, reversible wrap, reversible knitting, knitting stitch, reversible stitch,

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