coiled

knitting fingers

2008-10-11T12:46:00.001-07:00

knitting fingers, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

After the Learn to Knit class, Grace continues to knit. The sight of little, knitting fingers warms my heart.

knit bracelets

2008-10-01T10:14:00.000-07:00

An easy learn to knit project for teaching the purl stitch are these knit bangle bracelets, worked in two colors in reverse stockinet stitch.

Learn to knit class starts this Friday at the Wisdom Arts Club. Details here!

puppet and shrug

2008-09-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

I'm wearing the Alpine Shrug from Rowan 42. It's knit at a smaller gauge than the pattern. I saw Celtic Cast On's shrug on flickr and loved the snug fit. Lately, Felix has been taking photographs. Some of them look really good. I asked him to take a photo of me in the new shrug. Not bad, right?
I'm pretty happy that I have a helper!

The puppy puppet is from JudyKits by Judy Head. I made it for Felix to help get us through these tough first days of school. He has a habit of being mad at me when I pick him up. Instead of running towards me and giving me a big hug, he yells at me! Yesterday, he started in on me and I pulled out the puppet and soon he was laughing and we were making up stories for the puppy to tell us. Felix named the puppet “Vulture”.
I don’t know where that name came from, but he seems very sure of it.

Anyway, I think it’s one of the cutest toys ever! One thing I didn’t take into consideration is that I would have to be a puppeteer, and come up with a Vulture personality. At breakfast this morning, I coaxed Felix into eating by having Vulture tell him how yummy the food was. Felix said, “hm, mom that’s not Vulture’s voice.”

back to school

2008-09-18T12:49:00.001-07:00

It's been a busy, and emotional week with the first days of school; rocky for both of us, but after a couple of tearful days, we are now easily saying "see you later".

The night before school, father and son did some serious doodling with brand new markers and notebook. When I think back to my school days, most of what I remember is doodling while dimly listening to the teacher.

To ease the separation anxiety, I knit Felix a little cat toy. He named him Captain America after a friend's darling black cat. I gave him the cat first thing in the morning on his second day. He was so happy; it helped getting him off to school that day.

The pattern for the cat came from Invisible Threads in Knitting by Annemor Sundbo. A knitter's bliss: a project that heals the nerves of two people and uses small left over bits of sock yarn.

yellow bird

2008-09-08T09:40:00.001-07:00

Here's my first attempt at a bird toy. I'm pretty happy with her! The next one will have a wider tail and then I want to make some with color work. She's an easy knit for a knitter, but maybe too much for a beginning knitter. I tried a couple of super super easy bird shapes but they didn't please me. One attempt was a finger puppet that I think would work in finer yarn.

The alley cat that protects us from other critters is eyeing us very suspiciously! I tried to get the bird closer to kitty but she wouldn't allow it. Oh well.

And check out these moon jellies that we saw this weekend at the aquarium. Amazing! Ethereal! Mysterious!

more projects for knitting class

2008-09-03T08:34:00.001-07:00

Hello, meet two friendly snakes, Scarlet and Grellow, these garter stitch fellows are another project idea for my kids learn to knit class to be held at the Wisdom Art Club this fall!

And, ta da, the sporty wristband!

memories

2008-09-01T12:23:00.001-07:00

memories 4/365, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Drawing is a way to create memories. Dreaming up hat designs, I imagined a sweet summer day, where two kids in whimsical hats played by the shore with paper boats. I wonder will their memories be the same?

Goodbye summer!

red shoe bird

2008-08-30T22:10:00.001-07:00

PICT0007, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

I took my knitting with me to the park but decided to enjoy the lake instead. Funny, but my knitting bag was packed with yarn to make birds. In the car on the way over I wasn’t feeling any bird vibes, but now, I have some inspiration for making birds with personality; as well as some fashion ideas. Maybe red shoes and a yellow hat will remind me of this duck when ever I need to remember a very good day.

Happy Weekend!

smiles

2008-08-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hey do you feel like smiling? Then take a look at this book! Sock Monkey is page after page of sock monkey portraits. Guaranteed to make you smile!

felting, and super heroes

2008-08-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

I’m happy to report that fulling the potholders was the right thing to do. Since, I don’t have a washing machine it was easy to not over do the felting process. It’s pretty tiring to mimic the agitation of a washing machine with your own two arms. As you can see the stitch definition is still there but what you might not be able to see is that the fabric is considerably more dense and substantial.
All I did was fill a small tub with hot tap water and some dish soap. Put the potholders in and sloshed the mix with a spatula. Every few minutes I would add more water since most of the water splashed all over the countertop. When I needed a rest I’d empty the tub and fill it with cold tap water. I repeated the hot, cold bath a few times until the knitting started to look dense.
I wrapped them in a towel and then pinned them to dry.

This funny blue elephant, Oliphaunt, is from a free pattern, on Cristina Shiffman’s blog phila * craft!

Felix loves him and named him Helli.

A couple of nights ago he had a dream about a super hero named Super Kitty. Super Kitty is orange and has a green light hand and a red light hand so he can help direct traffic. His hands also change into a broom and a mop so he can help keep the streets clean.
Felix wants me to make a Super Kitty. We’re going to work on that today but in the mean time, I made a wrist band which I thought would be a great first project for the kids learn to knit class.

This is what I found this morning, Felix wearing his super hero wristband. Could it help him dream super hero dreams?

garter stitch and inspiration

2008-08-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

I'm knitting simple garter stitch projects for the kids learn to knit class I'm going to teach. These will be hand felted but I haven't gotten to it yet. There's a part of me reluctant to felt knitting!

Garter stitch and short rows make a circle shape; and garter stitch worked straight for twice as many rows as stitches for a square shape.

The pot holders and lot's of project ideas are in this amazing, delightful knitting book, Invisible Threads by Annemor Sundbo available from Schoolhouse Press. If you love knitting, love to read about knitting, and knitting history you will love this book. It's definitely a favorite of mine, with the author's personal style of relating history through knitting and traditional craft.

When I'm working I always gather piles and piles of reference material for inspiration. I thought it would be grand to gather lots of exciting imagery for the kids to enjoy.

Endless inspiration is to be found in The Quilts of Gee's Bend.

And a new book that I'm really enjoying is Vera Textiles Add Color To Everyday Fashion. Indeed! Loads of beautiful color combinations and diverse pattern design on every page.

magical tree of everything

2008-08-20T23:06:00.001-07:00

-click the photo for bigger magic trees!

Here are a few of the paintings that were done in the Magical Tree of Everything class.

edited to add: teacher abira ali's flickr set with all the paintings from her wonderful class.

favorite color

2008-08-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

All the yarn looks so cute in a big pile!
Thanks to Mary Jane for suggesting to full the pot holder. I'm going to make one tonight.

I asked Felix what was his favorite color. I knew he would go for the dark pink. It's the most vibrant in the bunch.

winding

2008-08-19T20:45:00.000-07:00

I'm not mad just tired. I finished my knitting marathon and mailed off a couple of projects that I'm really happy with. The serious look, is all about my aching hands and how much I want to start knitting something new. Next month I'm going to teach a kids learn to knit class, so I started preparing by winding small bits of yarn so that the kids can easily use lots of colors. I'm thinking of all kinds of fun projects but most probably we'll start with the basics: a striped garter stitch scarf.

Here's a question, does anyone use WOOL HAND KNIT POT HOLDERS?
I like the size, and how they are a good way to learn how to miter and practice short rows and stitch patterns, but I'm wondering if they are useful.

There are Nineteen colors here but Still I think maybe we could use some more bright ones.

Bright like Pink! and Orange!
meow >''<

family photo

2008-08-16T09:36:00.001-07:00

Egad! We took over fifty of these crazy photos.

It was a good break in a day full of knitting. I stayed up past two in the morning knitting and listening to The Age of Innocence read by Brenda Dayne. She has a really beautiful voice. I had to force myself to turn it off.

I want to show you what I've been knitting but it will have to wait. I have other designs that have been published that I never showed on the blog, the spring and summer stuff and now it's already fall! Okay, it's not quite fall but soon!

painting together

2008-08-15T16:34:00.001-07:00

painting together, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Felix and I have been painting together. We’re taking a class called "the magical tree of everything" and last Wednesday we painted trees that were very different yet looked so harmonious and connected. I was inspired and Felix said he had a lot of fun. This morning he wanted to paint together. It’s so hot outside I was grateful to stay inside.

doll design sketch

2008-08-10T14:19:00.001-07:00

doll design sketch, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Happy Sunday everyone! This drawing is for one of my fantasy dolls that I've yet to make. I thought she could be made with hand knit pieces and fancy fabrics dotted with embroidery.

Mexican candleholder

2008-08-07T14:01:00.001-07:00

mexican candle holder, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

I'm still not knitting. This morning, I did this painting of a candleholder that decorates my desk. Afterwards, I realized she had no hands, but flowers and then flames where hands might be.

wedding socks

2008-08-04T11:47:00.001-07:00

wedding socks, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Due to sore wrists and a numb thumb! I’ve taken to drawing socks instead of knitting them. Enjoy.
For inspiration I drew these from a pamphlet printed in 1931 from the Hispanic Society of America.

poof

2008-08-03T23:05:00.001-07:00

poof, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

"Now where was I?"

new sweater

2008-07-26T10:37:00.001-07:00

Wool Bam Boo Rickrack Rib Pullover, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

Hey what happened to July?!
I've been busy knitting new things for Classic Elite. In the mean time, this sweater pattern, that I designed a few months ago, can be found in the #9092 Autumn, Book 1.

The modeled shot:

If you're on ravelry the details can be found here.

Other ravelry news: There is some voting going on at the Sexy Knitters Club. Gay nominated me as the designer for their next KAL. The voting period starts today and ends July 30. If you're interested you can vote here!

happy 4th

2008-07-02T20:27:00.001-07:00

sleeping, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

That's Mabel sleeping next to Felix. She came home with us a couple of days ago and we love her!
I hope everyone has a great weekend and holiday. We're taking off for a few days of vacation at the beach; where I hope to get lots of rest and relaxation.

blankets

2008-07-02T09:43:00.001-07:00

During the heat wave last month I spent a fair amount of time knitting blankets. Working on them was kind of like taking a sauna. The weather is milder now, and all the blankets are done.

The patch blanket was for Julia!
She is expecting her baby in a couple of months - !!!!!!!!!!! -

It's a nice carry-along-project since it's made of small, manageable squares. I like this method of working. The finishing is a little tedious but not so bad since there are only 16 squares. Next time I make one I will weave in the ends as I go, then all the finishing that has to be done is seaming, and knitting the border.

The next three blankets are fast knits. The pattern is basically the Fluffiest Baby Blanket from Greetings from Knit Cafe. I went through my stash and found lots of odd balls of GGH Espirit, Trendsetter Zucca and Austermann Piuma. A friend of mine is having twins. eek!

I was on a roll and decided to knit a fluffy blanket for us. I didn't realize how well it would match our living room.

living room, originally uploaded by kat coyle.

summer goodness

2008-06-26T14:02:00.001-07:00

Painted, Bright flowers for a bright day.

And, a Super, fantastic gift to make a summer day brighter, and better! Habu yarn, a silk boucle, indigo, hand dyed by Michele!

Thank you. I’ve been knitting blankets in the heat and am pleased to have something small and silky to hold and create with.
I got started on a new scarf, something with enough stockinet to show off the crunchy, slippery texture and a little lace (worked on right and wrong side rows). It’s just enough action to keep the knitter awake.

This knitter is awake, well rested and very pleased.

Knit So Fine

2008-06-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

Today is day 4 of the Knit So Fine blog tour and I’m chatting with one of the authors, Laura Grutzeck. Her coauthors are Carol Sulcoski of Black Bunny Fibers and Lisa R. Meyers of Rosie’s Yarn Cellar.

Knit So Fine Designs with Skinny Yarn is a collection of twenty-one designs all worked in fine yarns. The designs are grouped into chapters titled: Simplicity, Speed, Style and Shine. The collection includes a wide selection of long sleeve sweaters, and also a stunning wrap dress, a skirt worked sideways, a ruffle scarf, a lace stole, and a beret; it’s a great collection of classic, wearable designs.

Kat: Laura, have you always been primarily a fine yarn knitter?

Laura: No, when I first started knitting I rarely used yarn finer than worsted weight. It was actually kind of hard to find thin yarns in the stores back then. I remember going into a yarn store a long time ago (BK: Before Koigu) with a vintage knitting pattern from the 40s. I think it called for fingering weight yarn knit on 3mm needles. The store owner told me that they didn’t carry such fine yarn, and besides, “no one knits like THAT anymore.” She made it sound impossible!

Kat: Was there a bulky knit disaster in your knitting past that sent you over the edge?

Laura: Ha, no, I don’t think I ever had a disaster. I was infatuated with the bulky yarns just like everyone else, but I eventually realized that I never used the bulky yarn in my stash. Every time I swatched with it, I wasn’t happy with the way it looked, so back it went to the stash. I guess we just grew apart. J

Kat: Having worked in a yarn store did you get frustrated when people would shy away from the skinny yarns?

Laura: Yes. It can be very frustrating when people wont even consider using a yarn just because it is thin. Even when customers loved a pattern that called for fine yarn, some of them would either refuse to knit it, or ask us to re-write the entire pattern for a thicker yarn! Luckily most of our current customers have seen the light, and have no fear of thin yarns. I think Koigu convinced a lot of people to try fingering weight yarn, and after that, there was no turning back.

Kat: Do you have a favorite design in the book?

Laura: I don’t have a favorite, but I really want to knit Lisa’s legwarmers, Carol’s Bohus sweater and either my asymmetrical cardigan or the lace stole.

Kat: Was there a particular yarn that really spoke to you?

Laura: We got to use a lot of nice yarns for the book; I really enjoyed working with the Blackberry Ridge Cotton Blend, the Regia Silk and the RYC Cashcotton 4-ply.

I noticed that you do a lot of fine gauge knitting yourself, like the beautiful Gossamer Stars scarf in the Summer 08 Interweave Knits. What are some of your favorite thin yarns to work with?

Kat: The other day, I started knitting a lace triangle shawl with
Black Bunny Fiber Laceweight and have to say, that the night I cast on, I stayed up past three in the morning. I couldn’t put it down. Is there magic mixed into those skeins? The colors really made me happy! I did that obsessed knitter thing, talking to myself, and saying, “oh I have to go to sleep, I’ll knit just one more row, just one more row…” Good times! It brought me back to those fun days when I was just catching on to knitting lace and that great feeling of being so excited by the rhythm of the stitch work.

Laura: I’m so glad you liked it!! Carol’s colors really are amazing. I am lucky to know her, because otherwise I don’t think I would be able to get my hands on any of her yarn; she always sells out so quickly. The Lace Stole was knit with the Black Bunny Laceweight, and I think it turned out really well. The yarn has some toothiness to it that I really like. The lace pattern in the stole has a lot of garter stitch in it, and in a drapier, more slippery yarn I don’t think the garter would have worked as well.

Kat: True, the yarn does have a little grip but not at the expense of softness.
I like a lot of the designs but I especially favor the Asymmetric Cardigan. I admit I’m a little obsessed with it. How does it look unbuttoned? I’m imagining that the right front falls dramatically open.

Laura: You are correct; the right front falls forward when you unbutton it. It also looks good with just a few of the buttons buttoned. It is very wearable, I think!

Kat: Moss stitch is a great choice for this sweater. It's hard to not cast on for this immediately. Hmmm I wonder if I have enough yarn in the stash for this one? And, at a gauge of 22 sts and 32 rows to 4” it’s entirely doable.

Laura: Yes, I think this sweater has the largest stitch gauge in the book. I am thinking of knitting one for myself, is one of the projects that I was sad to send off to Interweave.

Kat: Another favorite are those amazing over the knee leg warmers by Lisa. Wow, what a beautiful display of traveling stitches!

Laura: I know, aren’t they beautiful? They are on my Must Knit list.

Kat: Can you briefly describe your design process? Do you start with the yarn, a sketch, an idea of what you want to knit, or a stitch pattern?

Laura: I almost always start with an idea. I get ideas at random times, like when I am walking the dog. Then I start sketching, because sometimes my idea is only for one part of a garment, say a sleeve or a stitch pattern, and I have to figure out what the rest of it should look like. Once I manage to get a nice clear sketch that I am happy with, I start writing the pattern. How about you?

Kat: Sometimes I get an idea and sketch it first, and then swatch for stitch pattern and yarn. Or sometimes, like when I’m designing for a yarn company I will do random swatching, which will generate an idea.

A few years ago when knitting became a popular rediscovered craft it seemed that everyone was knitting chunky scarves. I think that the people that stuck with knitting have moved on and have discovered their knitting styles. The exciting thing is that this is the kind of craft with so many possibilities for exploration.
In the chapter, The Skinny on Fine Yarns, the authors offer arguments for knitting with thin yarn. Among them, the wide range of hand dyed yarns, better fit, more flattering, less bulk, thinner seams, more economical, and the feel.

For me, the feel, is really important and I would add that the knitting experience is more comfortable, since the yarn weighs less; there is less stress on the wrists.
I sometimes dabble with bulky yarns but I always pay the price with wrist pain. So, knitting with fine yarns is good for your health!
If you love knitting at a fine gauge, it won’t take as long as you think because the process will be more enjoyable.

Laura: I completely agree! Thanks again Kat for letting me visit your lovely blog, and asking me such interesting questions!

Kat: Thank you too. It was fun!
For the blog tour schedule click here.