Fibre Heaven West Coast Knitters’...

WEST COAST KNITTERS’ NEWS

In preparation for a workshop on fibre that I am presenting in May, I have been swatching as many different fibres as I can find. Fibre heaven. Besides all the usual suspects, I have swatched yarn made from recycled blue jeans, ceramic, soy, corn, stainless steel, copper, camel, yak, nettle, with milk yarn and sugar-cane yarn next in line.

During all this swatching, I remembered being on the search for cotton knitting yarn in 1970. My husband had bought a garter stitch sweater knit in variegated cotton, about 5 stitches to the inch. Very unique for the time and I wanted to make one for myself. I visited every yarn shop in the city and neighbouring cities but never did find the cotton yarn or even a multi-coloured yarn. Wool, acrylic, nylon, angora, cashmere, mohair but no cotton. Yarn shop owners could not believe I would want to wear a sweater made out of cotton, let alone knit one.

I was 9 or 10 years ahead of myself because fashion trends find their way to the general public and in the 1980’s the yarn floodgates opened for knitters and we’ve been riding that

wave ever since. Now multi-coloured yarn is no longer unique, cotton is one of our yarn sta-ples and yarn can be made from anything.

Keep Canada Knitting and Crocheting

Fibre Heaven

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• Editor: Paulette Lane 604-730-4628 [email protected], [email protected]

• Contributors: Anna Knowlson, Valerie Pollock, Y Emmons, Jane Stringer

• Distribution: Janet Crawford, Stephanie Langley Published 6 times per year. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

May 2012

Volume 14 Issue 3

Whole number 80

Show and Tell 4

Kirsten' Zerbini - Freeforming 7

Sylvia Olsen 8

Hemp History Week in June 9

Our Back Pages 10

Guild Members Charity Knitting 11

Calendar of Events 12

Back To Basics with Patons 13

Strangling Bobbles 13

Cropped Drape Cardigan 14

Overview of January Meeting

What’s Inside

Courtesy of Anna Knowlson Mariela welcomed 50 members and guests. Ju-dith Loy is visiting from Ontario and is glad to be where it is warm! Judith is a friend of Agnes Merton. Lisa David is a “refugee” from the clo-sure of Birkeland Brothers where she met An-gela K who introduced her to the Guild.

Bev Gray reminded us that the knitted dolls go-ing to Haiti are due at the April meeting. Many cute and beautifully made dolls were brought to the March meeting. Bev also reminded us that the squares for the Guild Anniversary Afghan are due at the April meeting.

Mark your calendar, the Annual Knit-in-the-Park is booked for August 11, 2012.

The Cambie Art Supplier is now an online store, it is no longer physically located on 57th Ave. It is located in Burnaby now at 7-3856 Sunset St., Burnaby, BC V5G 1T3: 604-436-3374 http://stores.cambieartsupplier.com/StoreFront.bok

Yarn Bombing continues in North Vancouver. The North Shore Community Arts Council has encouraged it in conjunction with the Capilano University Textile Program. A grant of $7,500 has been allotted!

Kirsten Zerbinis – Two Sisters Stringworks, indy dyer, spinner, fibre artist and teacher from Port Moody talked about her passion for free form knitting and crocheting. Kirsten brought

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West Coast Knitters’ News is published 6 times per year. Contributions are welcome and encouraged. If you have read a good knitting book or magazine, have an interesting story to tell about your knitting or travels with your knitting or another knitter's knitting, or how you found the WCK, if you have a knitting tip or learned something from a book or another knitter that enlightened you, or if you have an idea for the newsletter or a complaint, I would like to hear about it. If you have something knitting or fibre related to sell, you can reach all the members with a free ad in the newsletter. If you have a fibre related business, we accept advertising from members or fibre related shops for a nominal fee.

To make a contribution, ask a question or ask for assistance in preparing a contribution, contact Paulette at 604-730-4628 or [email protected]

Deadline for submissions is the 15th of the month previous to publication:

December 15 for the January newsletter February 15 for the March newsletter April 15 for the May newsletter June 15 for the July newsletter August 15 for the September newsletter October 15 for the November newsletter

The Guild meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm in the Oakridge Centre, 41st and Cambie, Vancouver in the Seniors Room. Annual Membership: $25 per year September to August. Associate Membership is $12 per year to receive the newsletter and registration notification for workshops. [email protected] www.westcoasknitters.org

President - Mariela Johansen

Past President - Bev Gray

Vice-President - Edita Michalek

Treasurer - Lorna Brown

Secretary and Recorder - Anna Knowlson

Membership - Jane Stringer,

Newsletter Editor - Paulette Lane

Distribution - Janet Crawford, Stephanie Langley

Web Editor - Anne Walsh

Members at Large - Elizabeth Purves, Mary Scott, Janet Crawford

Workshops - Holli Yeoh, Irene Martin

Show & Tell - Valerie Pollock

Door Prizes– Eileen Kitamura

Executive -The following members volunteer their time to make the guild better.

her two girls – and we were treated to on-the-fly parenting as Kirsten tried to present her work and take care of her children at the same time. All considered, she did an excel-lent job everything! I was astonished at her ability to switch focus where needed, and the great organized energy she brought to her topic!

See Ravelry for more information on Kirsten's own work, and the topics she covered. She brought many sample items, such as Tea-cozies, crochet branching into wear-ables, experiments, a basket of her hand dyed and spun yarns. It was a lovely riot of colour!

She talked about the Australian invention of “contiguous knitting”, which is a way of knitting a garment all in one connected piece. For an example see www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/contiguous.

Kirsten talked about how her spinning influenced and in-spired her projects. She likes to crochet with a lot of similar shades of yarn in the same project. So, she dyes yarn in small batches to achieve several shades of a colour which is something you cannot do if all the yarn goes into the same dye pot at once. http://twosistersstringworks.com/

Thought for the month: "I think knitting is just mysteri-ously, incredibly magic. I mean who would ever think that you could just take two sticks and rub them together with a bit of thread in between and out would come this incredible tapestry of colour?" Kaffe Fassett

At the January meeting last year, we talked about knitting

fearlessly and taking up a personal knitting challenge to be completed in the course of 2011. Some members put their ideas in writing and here are the various challenges that were listed:

- knit something on three needles - finish a Shaun the Sheep monster blanket; finish my mi-

tred square self-designed vest - complete two things from my Ravelry queue - finish: black wool top-down cardigan, silver hemp pull-

over; free form tam - finish all my UFO’s – 2 vests, 4 sweaters, 3 pairs of socks,

1 baby sweater; start the Christmas stocking project - make one Moebius; reduce stash - finally make my mother a sweater that fits - more fine art knitting (Sea-to-Sky toque, scarves, shawls);

multi-purpose designs like the cowl/toque/head and neck covering/skirt

- knit a Fair Isle bag - red Cowichan type hoodie cardigan - Christmas vest - knit up the lovely wools I have making either the pattern I

got the wool for or creating something else - learn to steek - get good at walking while knitting and do lots of it; first

pair of socks; first pair of mittens



- knit a sweater that fits; reduce stash - make a sweater that fits - knit Ilga Leja’s new scarf pattern - complete all projects for my knitting classes: cape, Fair

Isle yoke pullover, cardigan, cardigan with hood, shawl collar cardigan, pullover with crochet yoke

- make some socks - finish sweater - purchase wool and start Fair Isle sweater that I have the

pattern for - complete a shawl with two balls of fine variegated Italian

mohair that I bought six years ago - knit from my stash and not buy any new yarn - to knit a shawl - make something that uses wrap and turn technique; make a

pair of socks for self - continue with charity projects and learn to knit socks - finish short socks; knit shawl from own handspun yarn;

knit Moebius; knit another pair of socks that fit; knit sec-ond pair of short socks; knit a shawl from Noro sock yarn

- use up stash of Patons and Mission Falls; get confident about sweaters; knit at least one thing with a lace-type stitch

- knit more and use up existing stash - knit son’s ski hat with Union Jack pattern and Mohawk

topping - knit a Thomas Tank Train sweater

You may recognize your challenge on the list. I seem to re-member that at least one of these projects was featured at Show & Tell at a previous meeting – so it was obviously a success. It would be fun to know whether some of these plans worked out.

Overview of April Meeting Mariela welcomed 50 members and guests. Joan Conklin, a ceramic artist, met Linda Hull at Three Bags Full. Elizabeth Prasad was introduced to the Guild by Margaret Venkataya. Kim is a friend of Angela and Sue deGannes.

This meeting is the last day to deliver your dollies for Haiti.

Cambie Art Supplier closed it’s storefront location is now an online shop. www.cambieartsupplier.com or (604) 436-3374.

Fiona McLean from Knit Social invited the Guild to have a “Knit Doctor” table at their Knit City Knit Social event in October. She thinks it would be a good presence for the Guild.

Lorna Brown gave a brief Treasurer’s report. She handed out copies of the financial statement and explained all the parts of the statement in detail. We are in good shape finan-cially.

It was asked if Franklin Habit, who writes the Panopticon blog, http://the-panopticon.blogspot.ca could be invited to give us a workshop.

A Lucy Neatby workshop will be booked for 2013. Every-one seems interested. http://www.lucyneatby.com/

Members were asked to think about topics for smaller work-shops and pass them along to Edita.

Bev Gray asked the members who hold positions on the Ex-ecutive and Committees to let her know if they are continu-ing for the next year. The AGM is in June.

The North Shore Community Arts Council wants to do a yarn bombing project. One of the artists is coming to the May meeting to tell us more! They want to give knitting a higher profile and more prominence.

Regarding the Cowichan Sweater, a great article was in the Globe & Mail on March 26, 2012 that talked about the Cowichan Sweater as an iconic symbol of BC. The Govern-ment of BC gave Charles and Diana a pair of Cowichan sweaters when they married. The pattern for it is available on Ravelry. It is by Marjorie Peter from Duncan. (She makes sweaters that are similar to each other but never iden-tical.) The Federal Government said that the Cowichan Sweater is an object of national historical significance. In her youth, Ms. Peter used to knit a sweater in two days, us-ing double pointed needles. These days the same project takes two weeks.

Anna Hunter, owner of Baaad Anna's Yarn Store talked about activities at her store. Baaad Anna's is hosting Sylvia Olsen, author of Working with Wool. A Coast Salish Legacy & the Cowichan Sweater. Ms. Olsen also wrote Yetsa's Sweater for children. She married a Tarslip man and learned about Cowichan knitting from her mother-in-law; she writes from her experience on the Tarslip Reserve.

Sylvia Olsen is not native, and does not presume to teach Cowichan knitting, but she is giving two presentations. On Friday, April 20 at 7 pm, she will talk about her book and the history of the Cowichan Sweater at Baaad Anna's Yarn Store. Sliding scale fee is from $5 to $20. On Saturday, April 21 from 1 to 3 pm, she will give a workshop, Secrets of Innovation and Courage to Invent. The cost of the work-shop is $45, which includes yarn.

Anna also let us know that Briggs and Little roving is now available at her store. She talked about Community Craft Rentals that she is starting in her store. She is renting fibre equipment such hand carders, drum carder, drop spindles, spinning wheel, ball winder, swift for seven day at a reason-able price.

Anna told us about Starry Night Meadows Farm, an alpaca farm on Mayne Island. They process the fibre from four al-pacas at their own mill on the farm. The four animals, one named Rudy, produce four beautiful shades of yarn, which

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March Show & Tell by Valerie Pollock

Carol Stephanson opened our Show and Tell with a great story about her Navy Rowan Felted Tweed cardigan that was the result of collaboration online with Astrid (Attimania) in the 'Contiguous' Ravelry group. Carol wanted to try out this top-down shoulder shaping designed by Suzie M in Australia, but didn't feel up to tackling the project alone. Astrid (from Germany) designed the v-neck cardigan for Carol using this technique and keeping only a step ahead of her as she worked. The sweater is lovely blue with slight white flecking from the tweed, with a v-neck and slightly ribbed button band, and a subtle diamond-shaped lace motif on the back. Carol enjoyed the process, but has some frus-trations with the final product - the garment stretched during blocking and she finds the back neck too wide.

Linda Hull responded to the call in Mariela's email to the knitting challenge we set ourselves last year. Here is the story of her challenge to herself:

"Having knit two Ilga Leja's shawls called Bermuda, which I'm showing you tonight, I set the challenge that I would knit her design Morocco. Both patterns were designed using Koigu, a variegated yarn with long colour changes. Ber-muda is the funnest [sic] piece of knitting that I've ever done with the exception of Cat Bordi's Moebius knitting. At least three other knitters have used the same term to describe the Bermuda scarf. This Bermuda shawl is close to completion but as I will be gifting to to a good friend, I probably won't have it to show next month. It is knit in Koigu in brilliant orange/yellow colours. Certainly her colours, not mine. I have inspired at least three other people to knit the Bermuda shawl and they are having a good time so if you like short rows, you should do it. I believe the cost of the pattern is $10.00 on Ravelry.

"I started the Morocco shawl/scarf but didn't like knitting it once I got started. There was no point in continuing so I started looking around for an interesting Entrelac pattern. I remembered learning Entrelac knitting about 11 years ago. I came up with Ruth's Entrelac Butterfly Shawl. It is the first time I've seen a lace Entrelac. The designer is Ruth Thome and is on Yarn Love.com, but available for $6.00 on Ravelry. Only 60 people on Ravelry have knit it. She rec-ommends Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn, Mini Mochi, and Zauberball and a few other yarns but Kauni works very well, too.

"I should have refreshed my memory on YouTube about doing Entrelac before I started it as I forgot a couple of de-tails, like slipping the first stitch on each square. When I did check, I was trying to decide if I should rip back an start that part over and that is when I set it aside. This is not a pattern to set aside for long because it is hard to pick up the rhythm of the lace Entrelac. I planned to finish it in February but got busy with the Bermuda shawl instead. So I will finish the shawl and bring it back to show you when it's completed. The next challenge will be deciding whether to start the bot-tom over or not. If I start slipping the stitches and it looks just that much better then I will rip."

Elizabeth Knight has been working on the challenge of making sweaters - specifically sweaters that she has de-signed to fit herself. The first she shared with us was a ki-mono-style cardigan with no buttons but a wide-lengthwise rib around the front edge and collar. She knit it in a large basketweave pattern using a single strand of unspun off-white/tan White Buffalo yarn. The second cardigan/jacket was knit in Elle Merino from her native South Africa, which she bought online from Elann.com. Elizabeth has described this as a green sweater, but it is such a pale green as to be almost grey. She knit in a stockinette stitch with a pattern of squares outlined in purl stitches. Her challenges included coming up with the texture pattern - and the fact that this is only the third sweater she has ever knit! Finally, since she believes that every woman needs one pair of pink cashmere PJs, she knit herself just that, using Elan Baby Cashmere. One of the challenges she set herself was to knit lace and so she included a trim of lace on the cuff of the pants, and in-cluded a panel of not-quite-lace down the front of the top. This “lace” pattern differs from most in that there are no holes! The challenges for this project included practicing a raglan sleeve and the shaping for the pants.

Stella Li showed us a very cute ribbed teapot sweater that she designed herself, using Gedifra Fashion Charme in grey. This wide-ribbed garment stretches beautifully over the pot-belly of the teapot and is joined by two tabs crossing under the handle to attach with buttons. She also shared her com-pleted Storm Water Shawl by Nancy Lobban (available through Handmaiden), which she knit in Fleece Artist Sea Silk, in periwinkle blue. The rectangular shawl is a checker-board of garter stitch alternating with lace blocks.


will be available at Baaad Anna's.

Thought for the month: have written some songs, but I would really call what I've done poetry at the end of the day, because I'll sit with my guitar for hours and hours on end for, like, a week and then I won't touch it for a month. I

also just have no confidence. And you know what? I don't have time, because I'd rather be doing other things, like knitting. - Amanda Seyfried (who confessed on the Ellen DeGeneres Show that she knits constantly, even while working out on the elliptical trainer!)

April Overview (Continued from page 3)


Sharon Mowat shared two Baby Surprise Jackets by Eliza-beth Zimmerman. The first, in pale creamy yellow acrylic furry yarn and blue/green acrylic uncut chenille loop yarn. It was a challenge to keep track of the increases as the pile of the yarns obscured the stitches. The second, in blue/pink/aqua/lavender acrylic DK baby yarn, came up in a small size. She found it challenging to read the instructions... Sharon also designed and knit a watch cap with a stocking stitch body and a brim, knit top down in medium grey heavy worsted acrylic. The increases formed six spirals at the crown.

Mariela Johansen shared her exquisite, “never-again”, Fair Isle bag from Knitpicks. The Sipalu Bag, designed by Kerin Dimeler-Laurence, was knit in Knitpicks Palette in 13 col-ours of blues and greens. Some of the many challenges Mariela experienced included the daft construction, which involved picking up the sides and bottom from the central design. She changed the design for the upper border as she didn't like the arrowhead motif for the bag. Final construc-tion is now underway with adding the lining and the strap.

Stephanie Langley's friend found some 100% acrylic at a thrift store and passed it along to her, so she decided to make a Linus blanket. She designed the blanket herself, us-ing the two colours of cream and rhubarb to create wide stripes in the blanket. The rhubarb was knit in stocking stitch and the cream was knit with a cabled pattern. It took a long time to knit, and Stephanie had to calculate the amount of yarn to use for each section so that she wouldn't run out.

Caroline Chao showed us two very cute alligator scarves which she knit for her son. One was green 100% wool and the other in grey acrylic. She got the pattern from a Face-book friend, but the pattern wasn't very clear, however the results were great!

Jane Stringer purchased a skein of Poems (Wisdom Yarns) in Whitehorse as a souvenir and decided to knit Woolly Wormhead's pattern Symetrie, which is a tam using a "simple chevron based pattern to create multiple lines of symmetry and reflection". This chevron pattern, combined with a self-striping yarn, creates a kaleidoscope-like flower on the top of the tam. The stunning colours that Jane chose, red/purple/blue/yellow/orange, make the tam look like a

sunset. She knit two of these beauties, and doesn't yet have a recipient in mind.

Elizabeth Purves has knit a lovely snowflake poncho for the Guild Sale. The pattern from Nicky Epstein's book Knit-ting on top of the World is knit in Nashua Chunky wool Al-paca, Schulana Merino Alpaca and Microfibre Peter Rabbi Angora, Elizabeth used duplicate stitch to embroider a large white snowflake on the robin's egg blue poncho. She also knitted a white tie arrangement with large bobbles. The overall effect is very whimsical and attractive.

Janis Waller showed us some projects knit by fellow guild members, Irene Martin and Carole Szabo. Irene knit two of Jean Wong's hat design in Wooly Stripes by Nashua. One was knit in blue variegated and the second in burgundy and olive green. Janis also knit a watch cap in grey/blue with a dark grey boucle type roll-back brim. These hats are for the Guild Sale. Carole's project was a fine crocheted necklace with flowers, in variegated cotton. Carole used a tiny #4 hook to crochet this original design.

Nigel Pottle knit a small lace tablecloth from the pattern Lotus Flower by Herert Niebling. He used two balls (1000 yds) of Pakucho Organic Lace Cotton by Ecobutterfly Or-ganics. Sage Green is the natural colour of the cotton. One challenge that Nigel experienced while knitting this table-cloth in the round was the huge stitch count - he had to knit back eight rows, with about 8-900 stitches per row, and then knit back again two rows later! The final product is stun-ning, with the lotus flower clearly depicted in the lace.

Holli Yeoh showed us some variations of the Entrelac Mit-tens pattern that she designed for the book Noro Accesso-ries, published by Sixth & Spring. Using Noro Kureyon in purple/red/pink/teal, she test knit different sizes by chang-ing the number of stitches in the entrelac diamonds. The original pattern uses a twelve-stitch diamond, and she tested mittens with nine, ten, eleven, and thirteen-stitch diamonds, which beautifully adjust the sizing of these interesting mittens.

Valerie Pollock shared the small shawl Asterope by Romi (Rosemary Hill) knit in Cascade Yarns Alpaca Lace. The shawl features a central lace V pattern with large bands of stockinette stitch and lovely fan shaped motifs bordering the bottom edge. Knit in a beautiful teal blue/green, the shawl might require repeat blocking, as alpaca is not renowned for its memory.


Here’s another option. Knit the buttonhole band without buttonholes. Then, using a knitting needle much larger than the project needle, work it in between the stitches where you want to place a buttonhole to push the stitches aside and finish the hole with a buttonhole stitch. Some knitters believe this is THE best looking buttonhole.

Do you avoid making buttonholes?


April Show & Tell by Valerie Pollock

Wendy Emslander showed her beautiful cardigan in teal pure wool superwash that she purchased from Marion Top-ping's stash. The pattern is Holli Yeoh's new Ribbed Cardi-gan which was published in Knit Simple Magazine, Winter 2011/12. The cardigan features ribbing that shifts from 1x1 ribbing at the bottom to 1x7 ribbing in the yoke, and shaping that is achieved with different needle sizes. Wendy is happy with the fit and it looked great!

Nigel Pottle shared a scarf he has designed that he is calling Whale's Tails. The lace pattern, knit in deep blue Mirasol Tupa, 50% merino/50% silk, resembles the flukes of a whale. He knit both sides from the centre back to the ends and then grafted the two pieces together. Grafting the pieces with stocking stitch, reverse stocking stitch and garter stitch proved a challenge for this piece, but the lace forms an inter-esting diamond pattern in the centre back. He knit it for him-self, but has been asked to sell it to an acquaintance who saw it being knit in a coffee shop.

Anna Knowlson has knit two tams from the same pattern, Norah Gaughan's Phylotaxis, which is a spiral based on the pinecone. It is from Norah's book Knitting Nature. Anna felted one (Paton's Classic Wool in Jade Heather) tam and left the other unfelted (light blue Nashua). She found it chal-lenging to get the headband the right size, and experimented with 90 stitches (too big), 72 stitches (too small) and 84 stitches (just right).

Mary Scott showed us a frilly, ruffled scarf knit using Lacey by Berroco, in red with a touch of black. It took about an hour to knit this fun scarf for her friend. She also shared a Shoulder Cozy from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas which she knit in a merino/kid yarn in shades of blues. This design looks like a mini poncho or capelet and is a simple garter stitch pattern, available on Ravelry.

Rachel Zuckermann has been knitting more Burning Stripes by Susan Luni. These socks have an interesting “boomerang heel” and distinct colour change that forms a

line up the back of the calf. Rachel is knitting them in Noro Kureyon sock yarn in pink and purple and notes that the dark colours can suddenly shift to light, making the stripes less distinct. The colours in these socks, which she is making for herself, make her think of Gauguin.

Anne Patterson had a cute little knitted ball (pattern is Gev-lochten Bal/ Braided Ball by Maureen Hartog) that she is contributing to the Guild Sale. This great child's toy is knit in red, yellow and navy Sublime yarn. The ball is knit in I cord strips and then woven together to form a ball. The pattern is available (for free!) on Ravelry.

Carol Stephanson shared her exquisite linen v-neck pull-over (pattern Pipit by Heidi Kirrmaier) knit in mid-blue Eu-roflax Linen. The pattern is long and involved with an un-usual construction, but step-by-step, and with help from the designer, Carol finished the sweater, which she knitted for herself. She has found that the linen softens up nicely and can be tossed in the washer and dryer, but it does bias. It is also breezy to wear - so good for warm days.

President: Mariela Johansen [email protected] Vice-president: Edita Michalek [email protected] Membership: Jane Stringer - [email protected], Newsletter editor: Paulette Lane [email protected] General information or comments [email protected] Comments can also be posted on the guild website, www.westcoastknitters.org

Guild Contact e-mails


Kirsten' Zerbini—Freeforming

Freeforming is a method of making a highly textured fabric. The primary technique used is crochet, but some freeform-ers use knitting as well. There are no patterns, only a variety of methods, and each artist’s approach is different.

Now me, I'm primarily a knitter. I've been knitting for 30 years. I made my first sweater when I was 14, and I've never really taken a break from learning new things, mastering new technique, refining and finessing my skills. I'm a knit-ter, capital "K". I steek without reinforcing first, I know sev-eral ways to cast on, and my seams look great.

I did learn to crochet when I was a kid, and I helped my stepmother out with a granny square blanket, but otherwise I never really thought much of crochet. It seemed like a de-cent way to put an edge on some knitting, and I admired the technical skill that went into fine lace, but it was never something I was interested in doing. And most of the cro-chet I saw was pretty awful. It was too textured for my taste, too busy, and at worst it was ugly, ugly, ugly - awful acrylic blankets made in awful colours. Crochet was something I tried to be polite about.

Things changed when I became a handspinner and a knitting teacher. I started to meet fibre artists and enthusiasts of vari-ous ilks, and I learned about a lot of exciting new things. Handspinning taught me to really understand yarn. The wide range of yarn that a spinner could produce from the varieties of staple length, crimp pattern, sheen, and plying style to say nothing of the possibilities inherent in small-batch dyework - it was very exciting. It changed my knit-ting, and it opened me up to weaving and tapestry.

Then one day I was selling my handspun yarn at a craft show when a woman came by my booth. She liked my yarn; she picked up a few skeins to choose between. She asked an all important question: had I ever crocheted with my handspun?

I demurred, and I'm afraid my mouth ran away with me just a little bit. I didn't sneer, but I probably did at least squint a little bit, and I said that I wasn't really a crocheter, that most of the crochet I'd seen had been a little - thick, and busy. Stiff. It never draped well. It mostly turned out, well, kind of hideous.

Then she introduced herself, and to this day I'll remember the moment when I realized I'd just insulted crochet, to the face of Kim Werker, editor of Interweave Crochet.

To her credit, she laughed, and agreed with me, but left me with $35 for the skein of yarn she bought, the advice to try using a much, much bigger hook than the ball band called for, and the idea that maybe crochet itself wasn't the prob-

lem with those ugly blankets and sweaters.

That same year, someone at the Port Moody Arts Centre showed me a book by Prudence Mapstone, prominent Free-form artist and teacher, and I was off.

I started with freeform knitting. The freeform books and websites all showed the work done in mostly crochet, but I wasn't quite ready to go there yet - I was a knitter. I would bend knitting to my will.

Knitting, though, no matter what you do, tends to blocki-ness. You can shape knitting, absolutely. You can cast off, cast on, increase and decrease on the edges or in the middle, and you can certainly create irregular shapes. You are al-ways working with a row of loops at a time, though, straight lines, and you will always be working against that.

Crochet, on the other hand, leaves you with only one live loop at a time (unless you're doing Tunisian crochet). The stitch types allow a greater variety, too - they can vary in height and direction. There is nothing stopping you from easily making arcs, circles, spirals, meandering paths. It's the easiest thing in the world to break the plane and create something three-dimensional, and crochet is fairly flexible, so joining one piece to another isn't too challenging.

There are many styles of Freeforming as there are practitio-ners. Some people are all about the colour, and some focus on shape. Some employ a lot of fancy, technical stitches and some keep it simple. Some use small motifs and some use large, some work on a single piece of fabric and some make small patches and attach them together, or appliqué them to a backing. And there seems to be a strange contention over the value of the bullion stitch.

I'm not a highly technical crocheter; I'm really all about the yarn. Freeforming, for me, is an extension of my spinning. Right from the beginning I discovered that my freeform blanket made an excellent "sink" for my not-so-well-made early handspun experiments. And presently, I love to work with the variety that is afforded to me by making my own yarn.

I love to juxtapose a fat single that has such great stitch definition, with a finer plied yarn. I love to create a subtle fabric that has seven different shades of dark purple made in different ways from different wools, and I love to create something with a really high contrast, too. I find that I get a lot of the same satisfaction from freeforming that I get from dyeing and spinning wool, but because it's a different me-dium, I have different possibilities available to me. Knitting and crochet can be just the beginning of freeforming, too.


At the March meeting, Kirsten' Zerbinis, owner of Two Sisters Stringworks, http://twosistersstringworks.com/, a small fibre dyeing business with a "studio" in Port Moody spoke to the Guild about her latest yarn-based passion, Freeform Crochet. Some of us may remember when Kirsten spoke to the Guild three years ago about her business at the time, Yummy Yarns.


Change of Address Please make the following changes to your membership list.

It’s an art form that can also include embroidery, felting, beading, quilting, and weaving.

I have never before thought of myself as an artist. I was a crafter, and that was fine. When I started dyeing fiber and spinning yarn for sale, I started putting "artisan" on any forms that asked me to state a profession. But an artist - that was never me. I didn't always follow patterns, but a sweater isn't art (or if it is, you risk being ticketed by the fashion police!).

Suddenly, though, I'm making a lot of artistic decision with every piece. I'm deciding about the colour balance, the juxta-position of shapes and textures. I'm keeping an eye on the small shapes and the overall lines. I'm deciding whether to repeat a motif or leave something as a singular element, something to draw the eye. I'm still not sure it's art, but it's certainly design, and that's an interesting new experience for me - my last art class was in grade six, and I didn't really enjoy it. Maybe if they had let me use yarn instead of paint, I would have liked it better.

So that's what I'm spending a lot of my time doing these days - I'm making art. Some of it is functional or wearable, but ultimately it's more decorative than useful, and that's

very interesting territory.

If you are interested in learning more about the details of this art form, a quick Google search will turn up some Inter-net resources, including a few Ravelry groups, some tutori-als both free and for sale, and a host of inspiring pictures. I recommend you take a look at some of the wonderful work being done, some for personal use, some as gallery display pieces, some for sale. Whether or not you give it a try, look-ing at Freeform work can give you a new perspective on your materials.


Sylvia Olsen collaborated with so many folks to produce her book Working with Wool, A Coast Salish Legacy & the Cowichan Sweater. Sylvia bubbled and sizzled thru the telling of stories at Baaad Anna’s on Friday, April 20, 2012. She spoke of the Innovation of the Cowichan Sweater, and the Fusion between her kids growing up in heaps of yarn and hav-ing their own business in three colour natural wool bags.

Sweaters are the stories of both the wearer and the maker; here are four examples.

1. Sylvia’s hand knit linen dress reflects innovation in three colour Cowichan knitting.

2. Man wearing Mary Maxim sweater relates its parental heritage.

3. Y tells history of red Yorkshire Cowichan.

4. Happy member of audience tells story of making linen skirt.

Word Gems of Sylvia: knitting all round the world is a great civilizer; Mary Maxim patterns were not knockoffs, they were lateral moves; artistry flows from people doing patterns they want; if sweater becomes brown it is local wool; a woman with a lot of wool is a rich woman (Y: remember that when you look at your stash); the Cowichan Sweaters de-fined British Columbia.

There’ll always be a Cowichan.

Sylvia Olsen by Y (Betty Ruth) Emmons

Jean Wong - [email protected]

Mary-Anne Focker - [email protected]

Caroline Chao - [email protected]

Lynne Hilton - [email protected]

Anne Patterson - [email protected]

Jean Forward - [email protected]

Shirley Milligan - [email protected]

Zsuzsi Huebsch - [email protected]

Michael Monteforte (previously Burgio), 304-430-9th Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 3W4 778-397-0936


June 4-10, 2012 is Hemp History Week.

Hemp is an all purpose yarn suitable for all types of gar-ments and climates. It is a yarn that gets better with wash-ing and does not have to be handled with care. However, it is illegal to grow any kind of hemp in the US and industrial hemp, the kind used for knitting yarn, rope and clothing, can be grown in Canada only with a license. Industrial-hemp is not the marijuana plant. Both are from the Canna-bis plant family sativa l., but are completely different varie-ties. The THC content of the marijuana hemp plant is 3% to 20%, while the THC content of the industrial hemp plant is lower than 0.03%. The industrial hemp plant has no drug value. The following is a list of interesting facts about hemp.

• The US Declaration of Independence is drafted on hemp paper.

• Ben Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper. • Abraham Lincoln used hemp seed oil to fuel his house-

hold lamps. • Henry Ford built an experimental car body made with

hemp fiber, which is ten times stronger than steel. • Hemp fibers are longer, stronger, more absorbent and

more mildew-resistant than cotton.

• Fabrics made of at least one-half hemp block the sun’s UV rays more effectively than other fabrics.

• Hemp grows well in a variety of climates and soil types. It is naturally resistant to most pests, precluding the need for pesticides. It grows tightly spaced, out-competing any weeds, so herbicides are not necessary. It also leaves a weed-free field for a following crop.

• Hemp can be made into fine quality paper. The long fibers in hemp allow such paper to be recycled several times more than wood-based paper.

• For a period in the late 1800s, Canada produced most of the hemp England needed, and at the time England was the largest hemp consumer in the world.

• In the 1930s, nylon was introduced in the US, and a con-certed effort was made to use wood pulp for paper in-stead of hemp. Public worries about the use of mari-juana as a drug led the US to outlaw the growing of all hemp in 1937. Canada followed suit the following year.

• In 1998, it again became legal to grow industrial hemp in Canada with a license. By 2010, 26,800 acres of in-dustrial hemp were cultivated in Canada, about 800 acres in Quebec and the rest mainly in Manitoba.

Hemp History Week in June

Guild Friendly Yarn Shops offer 10% discount on yarn to guild members.

Show your membership card before making your purchase.

Baad Anna’s, 2667 East Hastings, Vancouver BC V5K 1Z5 604-255-2577 Beehive Wool Shop, 1700 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2G7 250-385-2727, 1-888-334-9005 Black Sheep Yarns, 88 Grant Street, Port Moody, BC V3H 0B6 778-355-9665 88 Stitches, #602-21183-88th Ave, Langley, BC V1M 2B5 604-888-6689 Gina Brown Yarns, 3424 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6R 2B3 604-734-4840 Homecraft Importers, 2348 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 1P1 604-738-2614 Knitopia Wools Company, #1411 Hillcrest Mall, 1457 Johnston Rd, White Rock, BC V4B 3Z4 778-294-5440 Maiwa Handprints Ltd., #6 1666 Johnston St., Granville Island, Vancouver, BCV6H 3S2 604-669-3939 Needle & Arts Centre, 910 Island Highway, Campbell River, BC V9W 2C3 250-287-8898, 1-888-588-7834 Pagan Yarns, 112 Hilchey Road, Campbell River, BC V9W 1P4 250-923-2780 Penelope Fibre Arts, 16055-8th Avenue, Surrey, BC V4A 1A1 778-292-1282 Shan's Needleworks, Suite 101-624 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC V3L 1X6 604-526-2637 Three Bags Full, 4458 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3R3 604-874-WOOL/604-874-9665 Unwind Knit and Fibre Lounge, #8, 1161 Sunshine Coast Highway, Gibsons BC V0N 1V4 604.886.1418 Urban Yarns, 4437 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6R 2H8 604-228-1122 Wool & Wicker, #120-12051 Second Avenue, Richmond, BC 604-275-1239, 1-877-966-5945

Counting Rows for Cable Crossings To calculate the number of rows worked between cable crossings count the horizontal rungs startingwith the last cable stitch worked. When the number of rungs equals number of rounds (or rows) between crossings, it's time to cross again, on the next round. Example: for a cable that crosses every sixth round, when there are six rungs starting with the last cable cross, then cross on the next round.


For the Guild’s 20th Anniversary, this space featured previously printed articles from the Guild newsletter. With only six issues in the year to share some of the treasures, I decided to keep this going for a few more issues. The article below is from March 2002 , Volume 4, Issue 1.

Our Back Pages

As a relatively new knitter, I make it a point to try new things whenever possible, or incorporating new ways of do-ing the same old thing into a project. Thus, having heard about the tubular cast-on and seen pictures of its smooth, rolled edge, I decided to learn it the next time I started a sweater in ribbing.

After consulting two experienced knitters and three books, and seeing many different ways to make the cast-on, I made a few swatches. This is a report on what I found was the easiest way to achieve that nice edge in a K2, P2 rib.

•This cast-on starts provisionally, in other words with waste yarn that will be removed later. You can use your fa-vourite way to do this, or (as I did) simply knit two rows of stockinette stitch, starting with a purl row, in a smooth yarn approximately the same weight as your pro-ject yarn. Cast on half the number of stitches you will need for the finished piece, plus one. In other words, if your finished piece requires 44 stitches, cast on 23.

•After casting on, purling one row and knitting one row in waste yarn, start your project yarn and continue with stockinette for four more rows, ending with a knit row.

Here is where the fun starts:

•Purl the first stitch, and then insert your right needle into the next stitch four rows down, where you started your project yarn. You will see the row clearly as a row of different-coloured purl bumps surrounded by the waste yarn. Transfer the picked-up stitch to the left needle and knit it.

•Continue across the row, purling a stitch from the left needle, then picking up and knitting a stitch from below. You will have 45 stitches in K1, P1 rib.

At this point the waste yarn has fulfilled its purpose and can be removed. The simplest way to do this is to cut it close to the knitting and pick out the threads. Or, if you are like me and enjoy saving every bit of yarn, pull the yarn out one stitch at a time. You will be left with a smooth, elastic edge and one row of ribbing. Your four rows of stockinette have been rolled up like magic.

Now, you might ask, how to get that nice K1, P1 edge to transform into K2, P2 ribbing? Easy.

•On the next row, cross every other two purl/knit stitches to make the proper sequence of purls and knits. Again, the easiest way I found to do this is to switch the stitches on the needles as you come to them. If this sounds too com-plicated (although it isn't!) you can always use a cable needle to hold every other purl stitch to the back for one stitch, in effect crossing it to the back of the next knit stitch, then slip it onto the left needle and purl it. That is, K1, move the next purl stitch to the back, knit the next stitch, purl the stitch that was held back, purl the next stitch., repeat to last 2 stitches, P2tog. The result will be 44 stitches of K2, P2 ribbing,

When I tried this, I was worried that the crossed stitches would show and look terrible, but they show only mini-mally, especially when a forgiving fibre like wool is used. Although one side, which you can make the back of the piece, shows slightly more than the other.

I also tried this cast-on for rib-bing in the round. It worked quite well when I joined the round on the "crossing" row. The yarn tail can be used later to join the edge together for a seamless look.

I hope you will enjoy using this technique for lovely ribbed edges.

NOTE: Thanks to Paulette Lane and Rebecca Lai of the Guild for sharing their time and expertise with me. My other references were The Har-mony Guide to Knitting as a Creative Craft, page 19; The Big Book of Knitting, by Katharina Buss, page 22; Knit-ters Magazine, Summer 2001, Taming the Tubular Cast On Part 1, by Charlotte Morris, page 72; and Vogue Knitting International, Fall 2001, Ca-bling Without a Cable Needle, by Meg Swansen, page 28.

Trials of the Tubular Cast-On! by Sivia Harding


Guild Members Charity Knitting Project Linus

Mary Scott—[email protected] or Wool and Wicker in Steveston.

The second Friday of each month at Wool and Wicker ( 120 - 12051 Second Ave. Richmond), to fold and pack up do-nated blankets. These blankets are all new, machine wash-able and dryable. Some are knitted, others are crocheted, some quilts have also been donated. All sizes are accepted but larger than 36"x36" up to crib/lap size are the most practical. The Variety Club picks up the blankets and dis-tributes them

New, handmade, washable blankets given as gifts to seri-ously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18. All sizes and styles of blankets are welcome, including quilts, tied com-forters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted af-ghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly colors. http://sites.google.com/site/projectlinuscanada/

Guild Sale for Nova House

Lorna Brown—[email protected] Items are collected all year: Hats, flap caps, mit-tens with and without fingers, socks, children's garments, animals/dolls/toys to sell in the Fall. Whatever is not sold at the sale is given to Nova House or one of the other charities. Nova House, a transition house for abused women and chil-dren. CHIMO Crisis Centre in Richmond is responsible for funding and managing Nova House. CHIMO relies on do-nations from groups like the WCKG and caring individuals to keep this essential service operating. www.chimocrisis.com/02programs/02novahouse.html

Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society Journey with youth to self sufficiency

Mariela Johansen—[email protected]

Throws or Afghans for the resident’s to wrap themselves in while watching TV. Baby blankets and newborn sweaters for teen Moms are also appreciated.

Aunt Leah’s Society helps prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless, and mothers in need from losing custody of their children. To support them on their journey of self-sufficiency, we provide supported housing, job train-ing and coaching on the essential skills. www.auntleahs.org

Union Gospel Mission, Seaman’s Mission

Margaret Venkataya—[email protected]

Meet at Margaret’s home in Richmond to knit toques on the second Tuesday of the month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Everyone is welcome.

Margaret also collects used postage stamps for Union Gos-

pel Mission. Please leave the stamps on the envelopes or cut a half-inch margin around the stamps. Thousands of dollars are raised for the Mission from donated used postage stamps.

Union Gospel Mission offers hope to hungry, hurting and homeless men, women and children in Metro Vancouver. www.ugm.ca/our-work

Loneliness, danger and separation from loved ones are just some of the problems seafarers face. Around the world, night and day, The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to those in need. www.missiontoseafarers.org/

Purple Cap Campaign for the Period of Purple Crying

Deadline is October 26, 2011. Newborn-size purple caps will be collected at the October Guild meeting.

Purple cap knitting campaign aims to raise awareness about the Period of PURPLE Crying. Purple caps are distributed to new parents in birthing hospitals across BC along with the PURPLE DVD and booklet during the week of November 22 in celebration of National Child Day, November 20. http://clickforbabies.org/ www.purplecrying.info http://dontshake.ca

St. Paul’s’ Hospital Obstetrics

Bev Gray – [email protected] St. Paul’s currently has enough newborn and baby

items. A request will be made when more items are needed.

Canada Comforts Society

Mary Scott—[email protected]

Knitted items for the needy of the world are required: cloth-ing, hats, scarves, blankets, washcloths for cleaning newborns.

Blanket sizes: Baby: 40in x 40in Crib: 45in x 60in Single Bed: 60in x 72in

http://artofyarn.livejournal.com/21218.html www.crwarehouse.ca

Canada Comforts Drop-Offs:

Vancouver: Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, contact Nancy 604-879-8208 - 800 E. Broadway (east of Fraser St)

N. Vancouver: North Shore Neighbourhood House 604-987-8138 - 225 E. 2nd Street. Leave items in the laundry bag in the Exec. Director’s office

Surrey: Charlotte Phillips 604-531-8712 3838 156B St. (close to White Rock)

Victoria yarn donations: Beehive Wool Shop, 1700 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC 250-385-2727, 1-888-334-9005


May 13-24—Lakes & York Knitters’ Tour with Jean Moss—First five days in the beautiful Lake District near Winder-mere and the last six days in the historic city of York. Workshops will be given by Martin Storey, Carol Meldrum and Jean Moss. Luxury accommodation, visits to off-the-beaten-track yarn producers, places and people that knitters, textile and fibre lovers will relish including the Rowan Mill, Holmfirth, Wordsworth's house at Rydal Mount and Castle Howard. www.jeanmoss.com/tours.html Ravelry Travelers with Jean Moss group. May 12—-Surrey Sheep to Shawl—Cheer on local spinning and weaving teams as they participate in this traditional competition. Watch as raw sheep’s wool is carded, spun, and plied into yarn, then woven into a shawl, all in four hours! Demos of sheep shearing, wool displays, try weaving on heritage looms or spinning on real spinning wheels. Kids can weave a bookmark, or make sheep crafts and pictures. 11:00 am–4:00 pm drop in, admission by donation. Surrey Museum, 17710 - 56A Avenue, Surrey, BC 604-592-6956 www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/7848.aspx

May 25-27—14th Annual Okanagan Knitting Retreat—Knitting Foundations...Skills to build on—Sorrento Centre, Sorrento, BC. Choice of three workshops: Fibre Foundations with Paulette Lane, Lace Foundations with Myriam Dostert, Fair Isle Foundations with Celeste Culpepper, Colour Foundations with Janet Armstrong. Optional Friday workshops are a reprise of workshops from previous retreats. Visit www.janetarmstrong.com for full details and online registration. Contact Janet Armstrong at 250-545-2474 or [email protected].

May 25-June 3—10th Annual Saskatchewan Stitches Conference—Creative classes with renowned fibre and needle work artists that attracts knitters, crocheters, sewers, quilters and rug hookers from across Canada, plus guest instructor Lily Chin. St. Peter's Abbey at Muenster, Saskatchewan , www.hausofstitches.ca/ Follow Haus of Stitches on Facebook.

June 1-3—Willow Weekend 2012—Explore the wide range of techniques that are willow basketry. Three distinguished willow instructors, Jo Campbell-Amsler, Katherine Lewis, Judy Zugish, each specializing in her own aspect of willow weaving, are gathering in north central Washington for a weekend filled with presentations and workshops. Entiat Grange, 14108 Kinsel St., Entiat, Washington. Claudia Mullek 509-784-1877, [email protected]

June 2-16—14-Day Scotland, Shetland & Norway Cruise—Cruise out of Holland to Scotland, Shetland and Norway onboard the beautiful Rotterdam with one of the world's leading Shetland lace experts, Joan Schrouder. Join Craft Cruises as we set sail out of Rotterdam to some of the most scenic cruising areas in the world on a Norwegian coastal voyage that includes Shetland and Scotland. Enjoy the backdrop of dramatic landscapes as you learn new knitting skills and shop for trendy European yarns. Contact Shannon at [email protected] www.craftcruises.com

June 15-17—Yarn Camp: A Knitter's Summer Retreat – Guest instructor Felicia Lo of SweetGeorgia Yarns will lead Unapologetic Colour for Knitters, colour theory, knitting strategies, dye techniques. Registered Massage Therapist Kristin Richards on site. Visit 88 Stitches Yarn Shop with Felicia. Springbrooke Retreat Centre, 22778 72nd Avenue, Langley, BC

June 22 - 29—Fiber week—Olds College and Shuttleworks Ltd—An annual celebration of the fibre arts—Spinning, weaving, knitting, felting. Check website for workshops and instructors. Registration open March 1, 2012. Olds College, 4500 - 50th Street, Olds, AB.1-800-661-6537. www.oldscollege.ca/programs/ContinuingEducation/fibreweek/index.htm

June 24 - July 1—Playing With Colour On Salt Spring Island—Week-long all-inclusive workshop dyeing yarn or fibre with both commercial and natural dyes. Experiment with colour and techniques to bring out the best in hand-dyed yarns. Tuition, dyeing supplies, accommodation, meals $950 ($850 for returnees) + $40 for yarn kit. If sufficient demand, an additional session June 15-22. Welcome to attend both sessions. Alice Trueman, [email protected] 250-538-0211

July 16-22—Fibre Arts Week in Pincher Creek, the beautiful foothills of Southwest Alberta at the Bloomin’ Inn to work with industry-leading instructors and learn new techniques to perfect your skills. Incredible classes, fibre arts demon-strations, interesting lectures every day for one fibre-intensive week. Visit www.fibreartsweek.com regularly for updates, or register to be updated by email, [email protected]

August 4—Pic-Knit—Pack a lunch and join a summer picnic of knitters, crafters and suppliers. Watch demonstrations, get tips and learn tricks, shop at the Fibrearts Marketplace. Drop in by donation. 11:00 am-4:00 pm. Surrey Museum, 17710 - 56A Avenue, Surrey, BC. 604-592-6956 www.surrey.ca

August 11—15th Annual WCKG Knit in the Park—Gather in Stanley Park at the covered picnic area near the minia-ture train. Bring your knitting and a chair to sit in the sun. Bring your lunch and/or some goodies to share, coffee and tea provided. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Close to the bus and parking.


Calendar of Events


September 29 - October 10—The Italian Knitting Tour 2012—sponsored by Knit Traders of Kingston (formerly Wool-Tyme Kingston) in conjunction with Service Guaranteed Travel. Eleven days of Italian delights. Rome, then Florence for the International Lace Biennial. On to Pisa with visits to textile museums and leisurely yarn store hopping. Then Tuscany with wine and cheese tasting activities, and an Italian cooking class. Flight, transportation, activities, accommodations, ac-tivities and most meals for under $3500. www.knittraders.com/travel Contact Pam [email protected] October 25-February 24, 2013—BAM Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet—Bellevue Arts Museum: Creative approach to the fiber medium, considering both traditional expressions of fiber art and the fringes of the medium, where concepts of art and craft merge. Intended to recognize the innovative and extraordinary work being produced by contemporary Northwest makers (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, British Columbia), and to celebrate the region's distinctive character. 510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue WA www.bellevuearts.org/exhibitions/upcoming/bam_biennial_2012


Back To Basics with Patons by Anne Woodall, Knit Traders, Kingston Ontario

Up until a few years ago when the Patons Back to Basics I, II and III were discontinued, they were our go-to books for judging yarn requirements and sizes for all three of the most popular weights of yarn.

Well, bless their little hearts, the team at Patons have heard our double pleas: Give us back a classic reference book that has a selection of basic knitted garments in a wide range of sizes AND MODERNIZE THE DARN THING! (We used to give customers directions to adapt the cardigan pattern so that it didn't look like Charlie Farquharson's cardi.)

If you can imagine, in a cute little $4.95 book, they have packed in Worsted Weight patterns for cardigans, pull-overs, vests and jackets from sizes 2 to 5XL. We will be sure to keep a copy handy at all times to help our customers adapt their own design ideas to these versatile patterns.

Patons Back to Basics book 1001

We can only hope that the sport weight and chunky weight versions are in the works.

I know many people don't like to knit bobbles. Bobbles tend to recede to the wrong side of the fabric, they are all loose and messy to each side of the bobble, and they always seem to land on an inappropriate place on one's anatomy! Except for the last issue stated there, I have a solution! By pulling the yarns to either side of the bobble, one at a time over the bobble, the gaps will close up and trap the bobble on the right side of the work.

Strangling Bobbles by Beth Brown-Reinsel Knitting Traditions knittingtraditions.com

2. Pulling the yarn from the side,

3.and then over! 1. See the hole to the side of the bobble?

You can use either a crochet hook or your knitting needle to gently pull one of the looser yarns at one side of the bob-ble. I pull it carefully to make it looser, then plop it over the bobble. Then I look on the other side of the bobble, find a loose yarn on that side, and plop it over the bobble to the first side. Now the bob-ble has two yarns from the fabric encir-cling it. The bobble will look more defi-nite as well.

When knitting a blanket, a large sweater or a large shawl on a long circular needle, it will, eventually, become too heavy and/or awkward to keep folding and refolding the blanket in half as you turn to knit on the other side. It is much eas-ier to use two circular needles end-to-end knitting off of one set of circular needles onto the other set of circular needles. This technique also allows you to knit half way across your project and be able to spread it out to look at your progress and to spot any errors in your knitting. You will still have to turn your project around but not fold it in half. Linda Hull


Cropped Drape Cardigan A casual open cardi is a great summer cover-up for bare shoulders from the Rowan Savannah Collection.

MEASUREMENTS To fit bust 81-86(92-97:102-107:112-117:122-127) cm; Finished measurements Across back 44.5(49:55.5:61:68) cm; Length 42(44:46:48:50) cm; Sleeve length 51(52:53:53:53) cm. MATERIALS 13(14:15:15:16) 50g balls of Rowan Savannah in Pampas 936 Pair of 5mm knitting needles. TENSION 18 sts and 26 rows to 10cm over st-st with 5mm needles.

ABBREVIATIONS alt alternate; beg beginning; cm centimetres; cont continue; dec decrease; foll following;

BACK Left back With 5mm needles, cast on 40(44:50:55:61) sts. Beg with a k row, work 2 rows in st-st. Shape sleeve Cant in st-st and inc 1 st at end of next row and at same edge on foll 10(18:28:40:52) rows, so ending with a k row. 51(63:79:96:114) sts. Cast on 3 sts at beg of next row and foll 26 (24: 21:17:13) alt rows. 132(138:145:150:156) sts. ** Work 31(31:33:33:35) rows, so ending with a k row. Shape overarm and shoulder seam Cast off 16(17:18:19:19) sts at beg of next row and foll 2(3:3:3:1) alt rows, then 17(-:-:-:20) sts at beg of foll 1(-:-:-:2) alt rows, so ending with a p row. 67(70:73:74:78) sts. Shape back neck Cast off 13(13:14:14:15) sts at beg of next row. 54(57:59:60:63) sts. Cast off 17(18:18:19:20) sts at beg of next row, then 17(18:19:19:20) sts at beg of foll alt row and at same time dec 1 st at neck edge of next 3 rows. Work 2 rows. Cast off rem 17(18:19:19:20) sts. Right back With RS facing and 5mm needles, pick up and k72(75:79:82:86) sts evenly along longer straight row-end (centre back) edge of left back. Beg with a p row, cont in st-st as follows: Work 19(19:21:21:23) rows, so ending with a p row. Inc 1 st at end of next row and foll alt row. 74(77:81:84:88) sts. Cast on 2 sts at beg of next row, so ending with a p row. 76(79:83:86:90) sts. This completes back neck shaping. *** Work 18(18:20:20:20) rows, ending with a p row. Dec 1 st at end of next row and 0(1:1:1:2) foll 0(18th:20th:20th:20th) rows. 75(77:81:84:87) sts. Work 15(3:7:15:1) rows, so ending with a p row. Shape side and underarm seam Dec 1 st at beg of next

row and at same edge on foll 2 rows, then on foll 21(25:28:34:40) alt rows, then on 21(20:19:16:13) foll 4th rows and at same time dec 1 st at end of 3rd(15th:13th:5th:19th) and 1(5:6:4:5) foll 18th (18th:18th: 20th:20th) rows, then on 6(1:-:2:-) foll 16th(16th:-:18th:-) rows. 22(22:24:24:25) sts. Work 3 rows, ending with a p row. Cast off.

LEFT FRONT Front band With 5mm needles, cast on 40 sts. Beg with a k row, work 94(98:102:106:110) rows in st-st, ending with a p row. Cast off. Main section With RS facing and 5mm needles, beg at cast

on edge, pick up and k65(68:71:73:76) sts evenly along one row-end (centre front) edge of front band. Beg with a p row, work 13 rows in st-st ending with a p row. Cant in st-st and inc 1 st at end of next row and foll 2(2:3:3:4) alt rows, then on foll 4 rows. 72(75:79:81:85) sts. Cast on 4(4:4:5:5) sts at beg of next row, ending with a p row. 76(79:83:86:90) sts. This completes front neck shaping, now work as given for Right Back from ***.

RIGHT FRONT Main section Work as given for Left Back to **. Work 28 rows, ending with a p row. Shape neck Cast off 9 sts at beg of next row. 123(129:136:141:147) sts. Dec 1 st at neck edge of next 2(2:4:4:5) rows. 121(127:132: 137:142) sts. Work 0(0:0:0:1) row, ending

with a k row. Shape overarm and shoulder seam Cast off 16(17:18:19:19) sts at beg of next row and foll 2(3:4:5:1) alt rows, then 17(18:19:-20) sts at beg of foll 3(2:1:-:4) alt rows and at same time dec 1 st at neck edge of next 3(3:1:1:1) rows, then on foll 2(2:3:3:3) alt rows. Work 2 rows. Cast off rem 17(18:19:19:20) sts. Front band With RS facing and 5mm needles, pick up and k65(68:71:73:76) sts evenly along longer straight row-end (centre front) edge of main section. Beg with a p row, cant in st-st for 57 rows, ending with a p row. Cast off.

TO MAKE UP Join back to fronts along overarm and shoulder edges. Join side and underarm seams.

Things that look like mistakes at 11 pm may not look like mistakes at 9 am the next morning. And even if they are mistakes, it is a lot easier to correct them in the clear light of day. Edie Eckman

patt pattern; rem remaining; RS right side; st(s) stitch(es); st-st stocking stitch; WS wrong side.

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