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Carol Sulcoski

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Two of the biggest knitting trends in recent years are knitting socks and knitting with handpainted yarns.  But what does a knitter do when she’s already knit dozens of socks and still has a sizeable stash of sock yarn lying around? And what about the knitter who loves handpainted and other sock yarns, but isn’t that crazy about the admittedly-fiddly process of knitting socks?

These knitters need some sock alternatives: creative, stylish ways to use sock yarns for things other than socks.  Sock Yarn Studio provides a mix of one-skein, two-skein, and multi-skein projects–from hats and mittens to scarves and wraps, even a few bigger projects like sweaters and afghans–all knit in fingering or sportweight sock yarns.

Designer, Carol Sulcoski is a former attorney turned knitting designer and handdyer.  She is the author of Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarns and co-author of Knit So Fine. Her designs have been published in Vogue Knitting, KnitSimple, St-Denis Magazine, KnitScene, and various other books and magazines, and her technical articles frequently appear in Vogue Knitting.  She is the founder of Black Bunny Fibers, an independent dyeing business known for unique, handpanted yarns and fibers.

Leave a comment on this blog post with the keyword and you will be entered to win a copy of Sock Yarn Studio and yarn from Black Bunny Fibers! To give everyone time to get a chance to listen to  the podcast, a winner will be chosen in about 3 weeks!

  • Like this podcast? Be sure to leave a comment/review on iTunes to let other know about it!
  • Stay up to date with the Yarn Thing podcast with the App available on iTunes and for Droid.
  • Find our more about Marly at www.MarlyBird.com or follow her on facebook at www.facebook.com/marlybird

This podcast is sponsored by: Knitter’s Magazine, Craftsy, Fiesta Yarns, Kollage Yarns and Bijou Basin Ranch.

Crochet Scarves

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Who do you think would be a great guest for the show? Drop Marly an email: Marly AT marlybird DOT com

Crochet Scarves Fabulous Fashions Various Techniques by Sharon Hernes Silverman.  Featuring 21 original scarf patterns in a variety of styles, colors, yarns, stitch patterns and techniques, beginning through experienced crocheters will enjoy this book.  Each crochet pattern includes step-by-step instructions for every stitch used in the patterns, easy-to-follow symbol charts, and hundreds of detailed technique photos.

Sharon Silverman is a crocheter, designer, and the author of several books, including Crochet Pillows with Traditional and Tunisian Techniques, Tunisian Crochet and Basic Crocheting.  She is a member of the Crochet Guild of America and a design member of The National NeedleArts Association.  In addition to the books, her private line of patterns are available on Ravelry and a few designs are available through MyCrochetKits.com. You can find out more about Sharon on her website, www.sharonsilverman.com

Listen as Marly and Sharon discuss the choices made of yarn weights, techniques and more this book has to offer! The Swallowtail Cowl, worked in Tunisian honeycomb stitch caught Marly’s eye – how about you? Woven yarn is not just for knitters, as shown in the Marabou scarf! Sharon also talks about some of her favorite projects: Crisp Green Apple and the Classic Plaid was a rewarding project and worth all the stitches!

  • Like this podcast? Be sure to leave a comment/review on iTunes to let other know about it!
  • Stay up to date with the Yarn Thing podcast with the App available on iTunes and for Droid.
  • Find our more about Marly at www.MarlyBird.com or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marlybird

This podcast is sponsored by: Knitter’s Magazine, Craftsy, Fiesta Yarns, Kollage Yarns and Bijou Basin Ranch.

Mary Beth Temple: Curvy Girl Crochet

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You know and love her…Mary Beth Temple is back to tell us about her newest book Curvy Girl Crochet! From costume designer to antique dealing, writing The Secret Language of Knitters, designing, and podcasting Getting Loopy, she has done it all, including raising a teenager! There is still more to come – keep an eye out for big announcements a few months down the road.

Curvy Girl Crochet has 25 patterns to fit and flatter, with designs by Mary Beth Temple, Marly Bird, Karen Ratto-Whooley, Andee Graves,  and more! Also included is text about modifying projects to fit you.  If you are going to spend the time working on a project you should be happy with the results.  Crochet does not mean boxy and ill-fitting!

Would you like to win a copy of Curvy Girl Crochet? Please leave a comment telling us something about making garments – don’t forget the keyword! A winner will be picked in about 4 weeks!

  • Like this podcast? Be sure to leave a comment/review on iTunes to let other know about it!
  • Stay up to date with the Yarn Thing podcast with the App available on iTunes and for Droid.
  • Find our more about Marly at www.MarlyBird.com or follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marlybird
  • This podcast is sponsored by: Knitter’s Magazine, Craftsy, Fiesta Yarns, Kollage Yarns and Bijou Basin Ranch.

Hunter Hammersen: The Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet

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Hunter Hammersen picked up the needles in 2001 and taught herself to knit and purl. After an ambitious start that didn’t quite work out, she put down the needles for a while.  Eventally she came back to knitting with a pair of socks and she has been going strong since!

In 2011, she attended Cat Bordhi’s retreat for designers. With her first adventure in to self publishing, Hunter Hammersen has hit the mark! The book, The Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet, is full of patterns drawn from vintage botanical prints. Each print is used for 2 patterns, 1 for a sock and 1 for an accessory. The book includes 10 socks, 3 cowls, 3 cuffs, 2 hats, and 2 shawls.It is availabe in paper and electronic versions. You can find out more about the book and the author by visiting her blog www.violentlydomestic.com or visit her book’s website www.knitterscuriositycabinet.com

The colors of the yarns used are faithful to the botanical prints and the yarns used are from many independent dyers.  Hunter is a big fan of the slightly heavier “fat sock yarns” that are often found in a merino-cashmere-nylon blend.

 

You know the drill – please leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of The Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet! Answer Marly’s question and include Hunter’s keyword!  A winner will be drawn in 2-3 weeks!

 

Beyond the The Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet, Hunter has another ebook, Rabble Rousers! It is a mini collection of what to knit when you are up to no good! You can see the patterns here, or on Ravelry!

Like this podcast? Be sure to leave a comment/review on iTunes to let other know about it!

Stay up to date with the Yarn Thing podcast with the App available on iTunes and for Droid.

Find our more about Marly at www.MarlyBird.com or follow her on facebook at www.facebook.com/marlybird

 

This podcast is sponsored by: Knitter’s Magazine, Craftsy.com, Kollage Yarns, Fiesta Yarns, and Bijou Basin Ranch.

Sous Chef to the Ratatouille

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THIS POST HAS BEEN REDIRECTED TO THE NEW SOUS CHEF HAT POST: https://marlybird.com/free-crochet-patterns/free-slouchy-crochet-hat-pattern-sous-chef-crochet-hat/

Teaching beginner knitting at my local yarn shop was something that I enjoyed for 4 years. It is only because of my new travel schedule and my work load that I gave it up.  But there isn’t a Monday or Wednesday night that goes by when I don’t miss it.  Seeing the light bulb flicker on in the eyes of the students as they became knitters never-got-old.

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When I first started teaching I didn’t have a project for the class that really worked.  So, I set out to design something that really encompassed everything that the students learned in class.  The first has was the Gerri Hat, named after the yarn shop owner and my friend.  I used that hat for a year and a half.  Then, I decided that I needed a new hat.

So, I wound up some Cascade 220 wool and began.  I didn’t really have a plan.  However, I figured if I made a band (knit flat) for the head the length could be adjusted pretty easily so a new knitter would be guaranteed that it would fit around his/her head.   Then, by picking up stitches along the edge of the band and joining to knitting in the round would help with the problem of twisted cast-on’s.  Also, it would make it pretty easy to learn how to knit in the round without having to begin at the very beginning.  After it was all said and done I designed the Ratatouille Hat.

Now, why was it named Ratatouille?  When I finished the hat I put it on my head and asked my kids what they thought.  Immediately my son’s and daughter exclaimed, “Mommy! You look like Ratatouille!”  In actuality, I looked like Remy the rat from Ratatouille but I understood what they meant.

From that day on I called the hat Ratatouille and the name stuck. And the hat was a hit! For the rest of the time I taught at Knit Knack I had beginner knitters graduate my class with a Ratatouille of their own.

As I mentioned in the post about STITCHES West, I put an offer out there to the PJ Party participants to knit the Ratatouille hat so we all looked alike at the PJ Party. It was well received.  After the PJ Party many of the knitters gave the hat they made (in some cases several hats) to the wonderful organization Halo’s of Hope.

Anyway, after having people make the Ratatouille hat for both STITCHES West and South I finally got around to designing a crochet version of the hat.

Say hello to Sous Chef.  I figured it was the perfect name since it was second in line to the head chef (no pun intended).

This hat is constructed the same way its predecessor only instead of using two needles you use a HOOK!

YAY!  This hat is very customizable.  If you lengthen or shorten the brim to fit your head that is awesome…but make sure you pick up and crochet a multiple of 8 sts along the brim to make the decreases work.  Having said that, you do know that if you change numbers to begin with the final stitch counts at the end of each row will change but I figure if you are good enough to alter the pattern you are good enough to know that 🙂

I have a special deal for you! From now until the end of October 2012, if you use the coupon code “pjparty” at the Ravelry Checkout you will get 50% off this pattern!  What a deal right?

Now, go and favorite it on Ravelry and tell all your friends!

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Fir Trees Cowl

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One of the best parts of my job is when I get a new ball of yarn to play with.  There is nothing like getting a ball of yarn that isn’t even on the market and asked to design something with it. Sky is the limit…free to do anything I want…that much freedom is almost crippling!  

When I got the new Angora yarn from Bijou Bain Ranch called Seraphim I was giddy with excitement.  Not only are the colors right up my ally but it is an angora yarn that I can actually use without sneezing every five minutes.  See, this angora yarn doesn’t get super fuzzy like other yarns I have used in the past.  It has the perfect hand while knitting and the finished project has a soft halo.  Not a lot of fuzz at all but a nice classy look.  So what should I make?

Should I make a garment?  Should I make an accessory?  Yes, and accessory…that’s the ticket.  But what kind of accessory; hat, scarf, gloves, cowl…YES, a COWL!!!  Oversized–definitely!  It will really show off the yarn.  I knew I wanted a fairly easy lace stitch so I went to my trusty stitch dictionaries and picked a few that I thought would be a great fit with this yarn.

The end result is the Fir Trees Cowl, named after the stitch I used.  It is an oversized cowl that combines two of my favorite elements: openwork/lacy patterning and an angora yarn. Seraphim is perfect at showing off stitch definition and is amazingly soft against the skin. Make with only one ball of yarn it’s the perfect pattern to try something new.

NOTE: Pattern written to be knit flat but can easily be made to be knit in the round by eliminating 2 stitches at the ends.

It is available for purchase from Bijou Basin Ranch for 6.00

The cowl was debuted at STITCHES West along side the new yarn.  It was very well received!  But, you have to know that since I got the yarn at the end of January  that meant that I had little time to actually design a piece, get the piece made and then photograph it before I had to leave for STITCHES!

Call in the cavalry!  I thank GOD everyday for my outstanding team of contract knitters and crocheters.  I called one of them and she got it done in three days.  Then it was on to one of my most beautiful friends to model the piece.  Again, I thank GOD everyday for my best friend.

On the day we were able to do the photo shoot s it was a SUPER WINDY!  But we did it!  With all 7 kids (my 3 and her 4) we met up and I did a photo shoot.  Thinking back, we are lucky that her son wasn’t blown away with the reflector as he held it for me while I took photos.  However, I was so happy he was there because he was a HUGE HELP!  

At the end of the day we did finally get a good shot but it took a lot of not-so-great shots to get there.  Totally not Jenni’s fault…since I am totally new to this whole photography thing I didn’t exactly get the right shots but hey, I am learning 🙂

I am leaving you with a LOT of shots from the photo shoot.  Take a look and tell me which one you like!