Shawls: Tasha Tudor

Tasha Tudor Day -- shawl and knitting
In the comment section for yesterday's post on my home-school blog about Tasha Tudor Day, Carmie mentions that the instructions for the TT Shawl look pretty un-mindless to her. I thought I'd post what the pattern is basically -- you start with 3 stitches, and purposely add holes and increase a stitch every row until the shawl is wide enough.

This is the mindless part as you do the first 4 stitches each row the same way; all those other stitches are just knit stitches.Here are some pictures and explanations of those first 4 sts:

The first stitch -- and you do this EVERY ROW -- is simply wrapping the yarn around the needle to "make a stitch". This is the second stitch -- knit the first two stitches on the left-hand needle together as if they are just one stitch. You will now have 2 stitches on the right-hand needle. For the third stitch, bring the yarn forward between the two needles as if you were going to purl a stitch. Instead, wrap the yarn around the needle and you'll knit the next stitch. Here are the first four stitches on the right-hand needle.[NOTE: The first two rows don't have you do the k2tog, just the wrap at the beginning of the row.]

Again, this is the mindless part ... and takes a while as the finished shawl is 60" wide. You can stop at any time and make this shawl a doll shawl or one for a child (should be approximately the length from wrist to wrist when arms are straight out). This is the nice thing about this pattern as you can stop when you're tired.

Once I get to a suitable length, I will post close-ups of how to do the lace border/bind-off. If the lace part scares you, you can always leave the shawl without the lace edging, binding-off the top as a normal bind-off. It's a very elegantly simple shawl either way.

Oh, and as far as circulars go ... they're easier to use than straights as you don't have the knobs that catch on your clothes, pulling out the stitches you've worked so hard to put on the needles (this has happened a bit too often for me so I almost always use circs). They take a bit of getting used to and I'd recommend a 16" or 20" to start out.

Baby Knitting: Knitted Blanket

Here's a blanket I just finished the other day for a friend. It's a fun design that I've played with before ... but I particularly like the edging on this one.

Spread out, the heart bands make a cross -- which is a very cool motif!

This was made on 10s using 2 skeins of TLC Heathers. You start at the center and work your way out ... so it's pretty fun knitting. Also, since I've charted it, I can change the edging by the time I get that far!

Here's another version of the same blanket ... this time done for a boy in "Blue Moon" (a TLC Heather color) and on 11s (so it's a bit drapier than the one above). Here you can see the cross made by the hearts.

This pattern is charted and tons of fun to do!

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How cool is this?

By Hand, With Heart ... and DAUGHTERS?

Check out what 17yod, Kotch, designed for String Bean's "Molly" doll -- hoodie, mailbag, mittens and cap! String Bean today made a matching scarf to complete the ensemble! Guess I should bring 'em into the business, huh?

I'm going to the Fair ...

the Prince William County Fair that is!

I've volunteered to hang out in the Home Arts Building on Sunday, August 10th from 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Any guesses what I'll be doing?

KNITTING for two and one-half hours!

And talking about it and trying to get others charged up about knitting.

What more could a gal want or need?

So if you're anywhere near Manassas, VA on Sunday ... stop on by Building "P" and chat, and knit, and chat somemore, and knit some more!

Too cool to miss ....

Sheep made all from telephone parts by Jean-Luc Cornec at the Museum for Post and Telecommunications in Frankfurt, Germany ....

ht: Uncle Matt

Ethnic Knitting: Inspiration

I love ethnic/folkwear type designs ... the versatility, history and beauty of the garments makes them an amazing resource for knitwear inspiration. A place to find lots of great ideas is the Folkwear website with their luscious patterns.

Here's part of an email I got today from the owner of Folkwear ... I've just attached the part where Kate describes some of the exhibits of costume/folkwear available around the country:

If you are planning any vacation trips, perhaps you will be able to see an inspiring exhibition or festival. Some events of interest include:

• Clothes Make the Man: The Colonial Gentleman in New England, at Historic Deerfield (Massachusetts), through August 17. www.historic-deerfield.org.
• The Finishing Touch: Accessories from the Bolivian Highlands. Includes belts, bags, and other items. Through September 18. Also, BLUE, an exploration of the creation and meaning of the color blue on textiles, with emphasis on indigo. Follows last year's exhibit on RED. At the Textile Museum in Washington, DC, through September 18. www.textilemuseum.org.
• Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy. Exhibit includes movie costumes, haute couture, and high-performance sportswear, until September 1. Also, Radiance from the Rain Forest: Featherwork in Ancient Peru, brilliantly-colored feathers in high-status apparel and accessories, until September 1. At The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. www.metmuseum.org.
• For Tent and Trade: Masterpieces of Turkmen Weaving. Tribal carpets, bags, tent and camel trappings from Central Asia. Through September 7. At the de Young Museum in San Francisco. www.famsf.org/deyoung.
• Pride and Practicality: Japanese Immigrant Clothing in Hawaii, through September 27. At the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, in Honolulu. www.jcch.com.
• Belle Epoque Brides, an exhibit of Gilded Age (1875-1914) gowns at the Kent State University Museum in Kent, Ohio, through January 4, 2009. Also, BOLD: Rudi Gernreich, fashions by a controversial 20th century designer, through May 31, 2009. www.kent.edu/museum.
• History in Every Step, an exhibit of historic footwear and walking sticks from American and other cultures at the Charleston (S.C.) Museum, through September 1. Also, Bustles, Bicycles, and Ballgowns: Beginnings of Change in Late 19th Century Clothing, through January 4, 2009. www.charlestonmuseum.org.

Unfortunately, many of my "trips" will need to be virtual, but I might be able to catch a few IRL! I'll post those that I'm able to visit.

So how 'bout you? Up for a field trip? If you go visit any of these IRL, please post in the comments so I can live vicariously!