Knitty Friday

Last year, I finished up my gift knitting in the car on the way to see my family Christmas morning.  I presented my mother with a hat, and after she’d tried it on, I grabbed it back so I could weave the ends in and block it. I’m hoping to do a little better this year… I’m aiming to be done the night before so I can at least get the ends woven in. If you’re looking for some ideas for your gift list, Knitty has lots to offer! The current issue has lots of excellent projects… mitts, socks, hats…  And our back issues have all sorts of great ideas. For the men on your list ...

It’s always fun to see the projects underway…. KarlaJ‘s cat George is helping her knit the Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan. We love MMA’s version for its classic wearability. And Elizabethtm‘s “Shapely Girlfriend” Boyfriend. Lisajoswe has a brilliant top-down variation of the Uzu sock. And just look at how much fun Lyme’s are…

Nothing makes us happier than seeing FOs of Knitty patterns out in the wild. There were so many great Knitty socks on display at Sock Summit… my favorites were these Double Heelixes (Heelices?), spotted on a lunch break in the marketplace. As a closet fan of Lucky magazine, I absolutely adore this “style sheet” with suggestions on how to wear your “Make Up Your Mind” tank in cooler weather. The site also has an interview with Julie Crawford, the designer of the pattern. A fab OpArt blanket worked in handpainted yarn. An absolutely stunning Seascape shawl from mary.w.e . And this may ...

Knitty will be well represented at Sock Summit this year… Amy, Kate and two of our lovely columnists are teaching classes. Amy is teaching her ever-popular “Making the Next Monkey” class – all about how to create an excellent sock design that will attract the attention of discerning editors and knitters, and her brand-new Autopilot Sock class: a toe-up sock with a gusset and heel flap that she’s proud to say has converted more than one top-down knitter to the joys of toe-upness! And Kate is teaching a class that goes well with Amy’s Monkey class: “Writing Up An Awesome Sock ...

We love seeing all the great projects underway! Loobles‘ crimson version of the Pretty Twisted Cuff Meyham08‘s totally different and equally wonderful version. The designer is right – this is a great way to showcase a cool button. AppleBlossomSF‘s chic and flattering Leaflet Cardi – finished in record time, too! DeceptiveCookie‘s excellent Creekbed in progress. Great choice of colors – entirely different than the sample, and just as effective. RaintownKnitter cast on immediately for her Double Heelix socks, and reports she’s already started a second pair… Jesst70 ...

July is a month full of National Holidays… Our Canadian readers celebrate Canada Day July 1st. Our friends in the US celebrate Independence Day July 4th. Our friends in France and various French territories around the world mark Bastille Day, and celebrate the Fete de la Federation, July 14th. Colombia celebrates July 20, Venezuela celebrates July 5th; Liberia and the Maldives will be partying July 26; Belarus July 3rd. The British Virgin Islands and Burundi share their national holiday with Canada on July 1. Peru celebrates July 28; Cape Verde, July 5. Bahamian Independence Day is July 10. Many excuses for ...

It’s getting pretty warm in some parts of the world – a much needed summer after a long winter. When the mercury rises, it’s pretty hard to contemplate working on a big wooly project…. and in the Knitty Library, there’s lots of cool and summery knitting that will fit nicely into the corner of your beach bag! There’s Jane of the Jungle, the most fabulous bathing suit a baby (and her mama) could wish for… … and an option for the grown-ups, too. Consider a parasol, a very sensible summer accessory… Perhaps a knitted choker or cuff to liven up your tshirt-centric ...

Our own Franklin, knitting humorist and historical interpreter extraordinaire, brings our attention to a truly magnificent piece of knitting art. In the Winter 2008 issue of Knitty, Franklin published an update of “Miss Lambert’s” 1840 pattern for a knitted Pence Jug. The Pence Jug is an adorable and fascinating little sweet nothing – a historical curiosity with a very interesting construction. At the Madrona Fiber Festival last year, Franklin met Betsy Hershberg. To call Betsy a bead knitter is to call Monet “a guy who paints”. Betsy told Franklin she was interested in the Pence ...

We’ve found some great projects inspired by our Spring & Summer issue. Pushkin3‘s No-Sew Baby Blankie… Emygination‘s Cross-Eyed Flounder Froschkoenigin‘s very sunny Rivercat socks Charlie52 has started a Verdant shawl in a wonderful autumnal colorway. NessaJ‘s lovely Make Up Your Mind tank Tricotonrideu‘s cobalt blueAmiga Minyaliel‘s Omelet shawl in progress…

We blogged a couple of weeks ago about our friend Lynne’s amazing Lanesplitter skirt, and how two of the Knitty team were immediately inspired to knit it. And knit it we did. I finished mine (in Kureyon color 242) last week, and I absolutely love it. Jillian’s is well on its way, too. Something interesting seems to happen with this skirt: it’s contagious. I wore mine to teach a class at The Purple Purl last Friday, and by the end of the day two more knitters had started the project, including Jennifer, one of the shop owners. And by Sunday, Jennifer had inspired Lynn W. to start one, too. Jillian ...