Vogue Knitting Calendar Quilt Knitting Project

Shh.. top secret! A brief glimpse of the custom-designed knitting projects that I’m currently working on (soon to be sold on Etsy)

2011

So I had basically all but given up working on the Vogue Knitting 2011 Stitch-a-Day Calendar quilt knitting project in favor of these new custom-designed knitting projects that I’m currently working on.

I’m still far away from reaching my goal (where I’ll have amassed an entire collection of hand knitted hats, gloves, scarves, handbags, home decor products and more), but I’m eventually going to be selling these Search Engine Optimization (SEO) / HTML themed custom knitted geek wear items online.

Just a brief background update… I recently made the decision to open shop (in the soon-to-be present, near future!), in order to sell my custom-designed, handmade knitwear items… products that are thematically connected based on the two loves in my life:

Being an SEO, by day (via my career choice)
Being a hardcore knitter, by night (via my favorite leisure activity)

So if you see similar products to the following hand knitted items on sale elsewhere, remember that I had started working on them here, first… and this blog post just proved it!

Want to prove you’re a “White Hat” SEO? Nothing gets the message across more clearly than sporting a ski toque that’s LITERALLY a white hat!

k2togp2tog custom designed knitwear - White Hat ski toque in Google colors

Sneak peek at a "k2tog, p2tog" custom-designed knitwear accessory: "White Hat" ski toque in Google colors

Tongue-in-cheek chullo hat, with <head> and </head> HTML tagged ear flaps sandwiching your actual head in the middle!

Note: Pay no attention to those dotted horizontal lines… they’re not part of the final product (I just used them to help me line up the letters).

k2togp2tog custom designed knitwear - Chullo Hat with head HTML tags

Sneak peek at a "k2tog, p2tog" custom-designed knitwear accessory: Chullo hat with "<head></head>" HTML tagged earflaps

Interested in what you’re seeing? Please contact me @ k2togp2tog[at]gmail[dot]com for direct orders, large or small.
I also do custom orders!

Cheers, Karina

An illustrated guide on how to make 1 stitch in knitting (a.k.a. “M1″)

2011

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I finally got around to posting blog photos documenting my progress of knitting the Chevron Panels pattern (a.k.a. the January 6th knitting pattern of the day in the Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day 2011 Calendar).

Part of the Chevron Panels pattern required increase stitches be made via Making 1 Stitch (M1). As a result, I had decided to create an illustrated guide on how to make 1 stitch in knitting… where I would walk users through the process, step-by-step, in the form of photographs.

I thought this “How To?” Photo Guide to Making 1 Stitch (M1) was worthy of its own blog post, so here we go! Enjoy.

Illustrated Guide on How to Knit an Increase Stitch by “Making 1 Right” (a.k.a. M1R)

As previously mentioned, the Chevron Panels pattern calls for increase stitches be made via Making 1 (M1). Some sources say if the pattern doesn’t specify whether the M1 stitch is a M1L (Make 1 Left) or a M1R (Make 1 Right), you should opt for an M1L increase. However, I have a soft spot for M1R, and always depend on it whenever I’m making stitches in a pattern (only ’cause I feel it forms less of a “hole” or “opening” in the row).

You may not feel the same, which is fine. But if you’re just learning how to Make 1 Stitch, I would suggest giving M1R a try.

Illustrated guide to Make 1 Right Stitch (M1R) - before photo

The "before" photo...

Illustrated guide to Make 1 Right Stitch (M1R) - step 1 lift the horizontal yarn bar

Step 1: Lift the horizontal yarn “bar” (i.e. the yarn running between your left and right needle from the row below) with your right needle from front to back

Note: Other sources may ask for you to directly lift the horizontal yarn “bar” with your left needle (inserting from back to front), but I find it easier to add an extra step of lifting it with the right needle first (inserting from front to back), and then transferring it to your left needle afterward (more on this further down).

Illustrated guide to Make 1 Right Stitch (M1R) - step 2 transfer horizontal yarn bar from right to left needle

Step 2: Transfer the horizontal yarn "bar" (previously lifted with the right needle from front to back) from your right needle to your left needle

Note: As you can see, the end result is the same as if you had directly lifted the “bar” with your left needle from back to front.

Illustrated guide to Make 1 Right Stitch (M1R) - step 3 knit into front of newly-picked up yarn bar on left needle

Step 3: Knit into the front of this newly-picked up yarn “bar” on the left needle by inserting your right needle from left to right into the front part of the stitch

Note: Once inserted into the loop, your right needle should end up behind the left needle… as if knitting a regular stitch.

Illustrated guide to Make 1 Right stitch (M1R) - step 4 wrap yarn counterclockwise around right needle

Step 4: Wrap yarn from back to front in a counterclockwise direction around the right needle, as if to knit a regular stitch

Illustrated guide to Make 1 Right Stitch (M1R) - step 5 pull right needle through left needle loop as if to knit

Step 5: Pull the right needle (with the yarn still wrapped around it) through the left needle loop from back to front, as if knitting a regular stitch

Illustrated guide to Make 1 Right Stitch (M1R) - the after photo

The "after" photo... you now have a newly knitted increase stitch, finished and resting on your right needle!

Filed Under: Knitting Books & Magazines, Knitting Patterns, Knitting Resources, Vogue Knitting Calendar Quilt Knitting Project, Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day Calendar Tagged With: Knitting

Yarn Spotlight: Cascade 220 Heathers (by Cascade Yarns)

2011

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Website screenshot image of Cascade 220 Heathers yarn

Official website screenshot image for "Cascade 220 Heathers" yarn

Introduction

So I’ve decided to start doing regular “yarn spotlight” blog posts! With each post I’ll be showcasing a different yarn that I’ve had the experience of using.

And seeing how I’ve been blogging a lot recently on my Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day 2011 Calendar quilt project, I’ve decided to devote my first yarn spotlight post on Cascade 220 Heathers yarn by Cascade Yarns.

Cascade’s “220 Heathers” Yarn Stats

Summary:

Brand: Cascade
Distributor: Cascade Yarns
Made in: Peru
Yarn length (per hank): 201m / 220yd
Yarn weight (per hank): 100g
Yarn fiber: 100% Peruvian highland wool
Standard yarn weight classification: #4 Medium (Worsted)
Gauge size: 18 stitches = 4″ (10cm)
Needle size: US #7 (4.5mm)
Laundry care:
- Hand wash in water not exceeding 86°F/30°C
- Dry flat
- Do not bleach

Made out of 100% Peruvian highland wool, this yarn is affordable (currently listed at $8 CAD/hank in my local Canadian yarn store, and marked at a retail price of $6.60 US/hank on Yarndex) and comes in a wide range of gorgeous colors.

Cascade 220 Heathers is essentially the same yarn as the regular Cascade 220… but instead of consisting of a solid color throughout, the Cascade 220 Heathers yarn is “heathery” with flecks of variable colors.

Cascade 220 Heathers Yarn Photographs

You’ll find below an illustrated guide to all available colors that both the regular Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers yarns come in…

Yarn Spotlight - Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers (color shade card part 1)

All Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers yarn colors in numerical order (Part 1): #0980 to #7809

Yarn Spotlight - Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers (color shade card 2)

All Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers yarn colors in numerical order (Part 2): #7810 to #8914

Yarn Spotlight - Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers (color shade card part 3)

All Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers yarn colors in numerical order (Part 3): #9076 to #9471

Yarn Spotlight - Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers (color shade card part 4)

All Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers yarn colors in numerical order (Part 4): #9473 to #9579H

Knitting Projects Knitted With Cascade 220 Heathers Yarn

I’m currently using 2 shades of green (#9407 “Celery” & #2429 “Irelande”), 2 shades of blue (#9452 “Summer Sky Heather” & #2433 “Pacific), and 2 shades of purple (#2422 “Lavender” & #2420 “Grape Heather”) Cascade 220 Heathers yarn in the previously mentioned Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project:

Cascade 220 Heathers yarn used in Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project

Bags of #9407 "Celery," #2429 "Irelande," #9452 "Summer Sky Heather," #2433 "Pacific," #2422 "Lavender" & #2420 "Grape Heather" Cascade 220 Heathers yarn hanks used in my Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project

Colors of Cascade 220 Heathers yarn used in Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project

Close-up view of the six Cascade 220 Heathers yarn colors used in my Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project

I’ve also used it before in my Antillean Cardigan Sweater knitting project by Louisa Harding, from her “Cardigans” book:

My Knitting Projects - Antillean Cardigan Sweater by Louisa Harding (Cardigans book)

Antillean Cardigan Sweater knitting project by Louisa Harding (from her "Cardigans" book)

As you can see, I’ve repeatedly used Cascade 220 Heathers yarn in the past. And you know why? Because it’s a great 100% wool yarn that’s not only cheap, but it comes in more colors than you can count!

So yes, I definitely give it my stamp of approval. Once again, if you’re looking for an affordable, 100% wool yarn that comes in a wide range of colors… then Cascade 220 Heathers is your ideal choice.

Image sources: Website screenshot image courtesy of CascadeYarns.com. Cascade 220 & Cascade 220 Heathers color palette images courtesy of Yarndex.com, pieced together by Karina of KnittingandPurling.com.

Filed Under: Knitting Books & Magazines, Vogue Knitting Calendar Quilt Knitting Project, Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day Calendar, Yarn Spotlights Tagged With: Knitting

Measuring gauge size: Stockinette stitch pattern [Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day Calendar quilt project]

2011

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The Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day 2011 Calendar

As mentioned in my last blog post, I had good intentions of keeping up with my plan to knit an 8″ x 8″ square swatch every day in accordance to the daily knitting patterns listed in this year’s Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day Calendar. I kept it up for a good month or so before the plan flatlined.

Well, all of that aside… I did start the project. And just like starting any other knitting project, the process begins with measuring the gauge size of the yarn that you’d be using (i.e. calculating the needle size and yarn tension needed to achieve the right gauge size with your chosen yarn).

Boxing Week 2010 yarn shopping trip at Romni Wools

For my annual Boxing Week yarn shopping trip last year? I purchased bags and bags of Cascade 220 yarn!

I had decided to use Cascade 220 Heathers yarn for this knitting project. Why? Because I was at Romni Wools for their annual Boxing Day sale last December (The one day in the year when you’ll get the lowest price on yarn… as in, 25% off! Excuse me while I drool for a bit.), and I was enticed by the colors of Cascade 220 Heathers yarns available at the store that I ended up choosing: 2 shades of green (#9407 “Celery” & #2429 “Irelande), 2 shades of blue (#9452 “Summer Sky Heather” & #2433 “Pacific”), and 2 shades of purple (#2422 “Lavender & #2420 “Grape Heather”).

Note: If you’ll recall from this blog post, I had recently discovered purple as my new favorite color!

Plus, Romni Wools had sealed, full bags (i.e. 10 hanks of yarn in each bag) for each of my chosen yarn color. So I decided to simply grab 1 full bag each. Yes. Literally. 60 hanks of yarn, right then and there, purchased. Sounds insane? Well, that’s just how addicted I am to buying yarn!

Anyway, I digress. What I was trying to get at, is that I had to determine the size of knitting needles and # of stitches/# of rows needed to knit an 8″ x 8″ square swatch in Stockinette stitch knitting pattern using my chosen Cascade 220 Heathers yarn.

The label wasn’t the most helpful thing in the world: 18 to 20 stitches when knit on size US #7 (4.5mm) to size US #8 (5mm) would give you a 4″/10cm square swatch. Not only were the given numbers not specific, it didn’t even give any info on the # of rows needed to attain the gauge size!

As you can see below, I measured the gauge size myself. For anyone out there also in search of the gauge size for Cascade 220 Heathers yarn, according to my swatch I’ve determined it as 18 stitches x 24 rows = 4″ (10cm), on size US #7 (4.5mm) knitting needles.

Note: Click here for everything pertaining to my Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day Calendar quilt project.

How to Knit Stockinette Stitch Photographs

Below is an illustrated guide to how I measured gauge size for my Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project…

Measuring gauge size in Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project

View of my 8" x 8" square swatch knitted in Stockinette stitch, to be used in measuring the gauge size needed in my Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project

Measuring gauge size in Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project (bird's eye view)

Bird's eye view of an 8" x 8" square swatch knitted in Stockinette stitch

Measuring gauge size of Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project (left side view)

Left side view of my 8" x 8" Stockinette stitch knitted square swatch

Measuring gauge size in Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project (bottom corner view)

Botton corner view of my 8" x 8" Stockinette stitch knitted square swatch

Measuring gauge size in Vogue Knitting Calendar quilt project (top corner view)

Top corner view of 8" x 8" Stockinette stitch knitted square swatch

Filed Under: Knitting Books & Magazines, Knitting Patterns, Knitting Resources, Vogue Knitting Calendar Quilt Knitting Project, Vogue Knitting Stitch-a-Day Calendar Tagged With: Frugal, Knitting