It’s a testament to how much else is going on right now that I actually forgot to post about my single proudest knitting accomplishment so far.

The pattern is Rock Island Shawl by Jared Flood, who’s probably my favorite knitwear designer at this point. (See also: this hat, this sweater.) The yarn is Tilli Tomas Voile de la Mer, which is 70% silk and 30% natural kelp fiber. I did not fully realize going in that choosing to knit my first major lace project in black silk was going to make things more difficult for me than they had to be… but really, why bother doing it if I’m not going to make it the way I want it? In the end, many small disasters later, it all worked out. And I’m thrilled with it!

A little something from Maine: enough Quince & Co. Osprey to make Idlewood. The colorway is called Honey. When I start dreaming of autumn, this is what I’ll be knitting.

A little something from Maine: enough Quince & Co. Osprey to make Idlewood. The colorway is called Honey. When I start dreaming of autumn, this is what I’ll be knitting.

Caitlin: MADDYYY HOW DOES THIS EVEN HAPPENMaddy: That’s what you get for knitting lace! CABLES 4EVA


Caitlin: MADDYYY HOW DOES THIS EVEN HAPPEN
Maddy: That’s what you get for knitting lace! CABLES 4EVA

Theory

My lace knitting might progress a lot faster if I didn’t stop every 30 seconds to admire it.

Good things are coming. (But what kind of fabric store doesn’t sell zippers?)

Good things are coming. (But what kind of fabric store doesn’t sell zippers?)

I can’t get enough silk these days. This is Storm Cloud Shawlette knit in Malabrigo Silky Merino (Plum Blossom). I finished blocking it just in time for the loveliest day of the year so far.

One of my (admittedly many) goals for this spring/summer is to get better at photography, so I’m proud to report that I took these pictures myself!

Today I made a set of reversible placemats. This would be a great first project for anyone new to using a sewing machine, and would make a quick and easy housewarming gift. Here’s how I did it. I marked the dimensions of a placemat I already had on a piece of newspaper. Then I measured an extra 1/2” all around the edges for a seam allowance, and cut on that line. I pinned my newspaper pattern to my (prewashed, pressed) fabric and cut it out. For four placemats, I needed a bit less than a yard of each fabric (my fabrics were 45” wide). I took one cutout of each fabric and pinned them together with their right sides facing, then sewed around the edges with a 1/2” seam, leaving a gap of a few inches along one side. I clipped a little triangle out of each corner so that the fabric wouldn’t bunch, then used the gap I’d left to turn the placemat right-side-out. I sewed around the entire edge of the placemat with a contrasting thread (totally just accidentally typed “yarn”!) to make it look neater and seal the gap. The only thing I would do differently in the future is to make sure to choose two fabrics that are the same weight. My blue-and-white fabric is a bit lighter than the other and I think these would feel more structured and lie more perfectly flat if it were heavier. Still, I’m really pleased with these and making four of the same thing in a row was good practice — I was so much more confident by the last one.

Today I made a set of reversible placemats. This would be a great first project for anyone new to using a sewing machine, and would make a quick and easy housewarming gift. Here’s how I did it.

  1. I marked the dimensions of a placemat I already had on a piece of newspaper. Then I measured an extra 1/2” all around the edges for a seam allowance, and cut on that line.
  2. I pinned my newspaper pattern to my (prewashed, pressed) fabric and cut it out. For four placemats, I needed a bit less than a yard of each fabric (my fabrics were 45” wide).
  3. I took one cutout of each fabric and pinned them together with their right sides facing, then sewed around the edges with a 1/2” seam, leaving a gap of a few inches along one side.
  4. I clipped a little triangle out of each corner so that the fabric wouldn’t bunch, then used the gap I’d left to turn the placemat right-side-out.
  5. I sewed around the entire edge of the placemat with a contrasting thread (totally just accidentally typed “yarn”!) to make it look neater and seal the gap.

The only thing I would do differently in the future is to make sure to choose two fabrics that are the same weight. My blue-and-white fabric is a bit lighter than the other and I think these would feel more structured and lie more perfectly flat if it were heavier. Still, I’m really pleased with these and making four of the same thing in a row was good practice — I was so much more confident by the last one.

“After all, pioneer crafts foster a pioneer spirit. The appeal of the quiet, useful art draws us in, the satisfaction of self-reliance keeps us involved, and the spirit of wonder drives us forward.”
Susan Miller Cavitch, The Soapmaker’s Companion
Here are some socks I really like. The pattern is Nutkin; the yarn is Cascade Heritage Paints in the colorway David’s Eyes. I wore them earlier this week on a cold, gray, “wintry mix” sort of day and they made it so much better. I have recently realized how very much I love hand knit socks. I feel like this is one of the landmarks on my personal path (descent?) into the knitting world; I used to be more skeptical. The payoff of socks comes slowly compared to most other projects of similar size (a pair of socks can easily take 20,000+ stitches), and is less immediately impressive (particularly to non-knitters, in my experience), lacking the size of a sweater and the quick gratification of accessories. Socks are practical, and you don’t get many opportunities to show them off in comparison to other projects. On top of that, while other knitted items have the potential to last many years or even become heirlooms, socks are expected to eventually wear out and be thrown away. I’ve found that the true payoff of sock knitting is very personal for me. I really, really love wearing them - I get far more regular use out of the few pairs I’ve knit than almost anything else I’ve made. They’ve introduced me to fun and useful techniques like short rows and grafting and a neat way to cast on for working toe-up. Their standard shaping means they lend themselves to easy experimentation: I anticipate that my first real forays into designing will involve socks. Some of the most gorgeous yarns I’ve ever seen are sock weight and I can buy on a whim knowing I’ll be able to use it (which I don’t typically do with other yarns). And, I guess, they make me feel like a Real Knitter, because what other kind of person would be spending her lunch break rhapsodizing about socks? Anyway. These are good. Other crafty stuff, since I haven’t posted in a bit: I’ve got my next pair of socks in progress now, along with a cabled sweater that I’m absolutely loving. I finished my mawata scarf but it’s not really worth posting pictures. It’s very small and wonky looking, but keeps me super warm under a coat with a high collar. I definitely intend to make these at some point… Boston locals: a brand new yarn and fabric shop, JP Knit & Stitch, is opening this Friday! I’m so excited to visit, and they say that they’re planning to have Knit Nights and knitting/sewing classes as well. The yarn shop nearest me in Brookline is a great store but I think it lacks a community feel, so I’m thrilled to have another place within walking distance that seems to prioritize that. I joined Sara’s new Tumblr project, bakingclub, and I baked the first assignment last week, though I haven’t posted yet. When I do I’ll link here. I know a bunch of other baking folks follow this, so check out the group if you could use some regular inspiration!

Here are some socks I really like. The pattern is Nutkin; the yarn is Cascade Heritage Paints in the colorway David’s Eyes. I wore them earlier this week on a cold, gray, “wintry mix” sort of day and they made it so much better.

I have recently realized how very much I love hand knit socks. I feel like this is one of the landmarks on my personal path (descent?) into the knitting world; I used to be more skeptical. The payoff of socks comes slowly compared to most other projects of similar size (a pair of socks can easily take 20,000+ stitches), and is less immediately impressive (particularly to non-knitters, in my experience), lacking the size of a sweater and the quick gratification of accessories. Socks are practical, and you don’t get many opportunities to show them off in comparison to other projects. On top of that, while other knitted items have the potential to last many years or even become heirlooms, socks are expected to eventually wear out and be thrown away.

I’ve found that the true payoff of sock knitting is very personal for me. I really, really love wearing them - I get far more regular use out of the few pairs I’ve knit than almost anything else I’ve made. They’ve introduced me to fun and useful techniques like short rows and grafting and a neat way to cast on for working toe-up. Their standard shaping means they lend themselves to easy experimentation: I anticipate that my first real forays into designing will involve socks. Some of the most gorgeous yarns I’ve ever seen are sock weight and I can buy on a whim knowing I’ll be able to use it (which I don’t typically do with other yarns). And, I guess, they make me feel like a Real Knitter, because what other kind of person would be spending her lunch break rhapsodizing about socks?

Anyway. These are good. Other crafty stuff, since I haven’t posted in a bit:

  • I’ve got my next pair of socks in progress now, along with a cabled sweater that I’m absolutely loving.
  • I finished my mawata scarf but it’s not really worth posting pictures. It’s very small and wonky looking, but keeps me super warm under a coat with a high collar. I definitely intend to make these at some point…
  • Boston locals: a brand new yarn and fabric shop, JP Knit & Stitch, is opening this Friday! I’m so excited to visit, and they say that they’re planning to have Knit Nights and knitting/sewing classes as well. The yarn shop nearest me in Brookline is a great store but I think it lacks a community feel, so I’m thrilled to have another place within walking distance that seems to prioritize that.
  • I joined Sara’s new Tumblr project, bakingclub, and I baked the first assignment last week, though I haven’t posted yet. When I do I’ll link here. I know a bunch of other baking folks follow this, so check out the group if you could use some regular inspiration!
Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day!