she can quilt – Always Carry Some Knitting
This post is part of the A Season by Hand series. Find the schedule here.
Full details on sponsors and prizes here.
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Today we’re welcoming Leanne who blogs at she can quilt. Leanne shares her quilts and lately the bird nest at her front door on her blog. One of her most popular tutorials is her video showing how to sew curves without pins which you can find here. She also has a wide range of other tutorials, techniques, and quilt alongs, so you’re sure to find something great on her blog. Leanne is also the host of the 2013 Finish-a-Long, which is taking place now. I really enjoy all the amazing work Leanne does!
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Thank you to Jennie and Clara for inviting me to share my hand work with your. When it comes to working by hand, I turn to my knitting. I learned to knit and to sew as a young child and I love them both. When my own kids were very young, I found that the only craft that I could consistently make time for and enjoy was knitting. I am, in fact, only a very recent quilter.
I always carry a knitting project in my bag, and if the project is not easy to remember, I carry a copy of the pattern too. I knit when I am waiting in lines, when I am waiting for teenagers, when I am waiting for my turn at an appointment, as a passenger in a car, on airplanes, or during other down times. Knitting is easy to do and also carry on a conversation or listen, so I knit at coffee with friends, often when visiting friends and family, while listening to speakers, and sometimes even during movies if it is not too dark. It is a perfect activity for the beach or sitting outside enjoying the summer.
When Jennie said that the hand work project for this post ought to be something finished, I realized that she and I have a different view of what hand work is about. For me it is the process, it is a chance to relax and be distracted by the colours and pattern I am working with, and to have some fun while I would otherwise be sitting with nothing to do. My knitting is always in progress, as soon as one project ends, I start another.
Also for me, since my knitting is to fill these down time spaces or just bring a little calm or fun to my day, there is seldom a deadline on the project. So today I am showing you the project that is in my purse. It is a scarf that has two interesting but simple design elements.
First the scarf is reversible – that is, it looks the same on both sides, which is not always the case with knitting. This is achieved by knitting a rib – knit 1, purl 1, on both sides. The rib pulls the stitches together and so it looks the same on both sides, but you can see in the picture above how it looks when you stretch it out. It is also stretchy and feels a bit thicker and warmer when you wear it.
Secondly this scarf is striped by the two different balls of Noro yarn, which is a beautiful designer yarn from Japan. I work two rows with one yarn and then change to the other ball of yarn and repeat. Leave the old yarn dangling, rib (k1, p1) for two rows and when you get back to the first yarn pick it up and use it for two rows while you leave the other one dangling, and repeat. The different colours in this luscious yarn makes a beautiful and unexpected stripe pattern. I will knit the scarf until it is long enough and then cast off. This kind of knitting pattern has been around forever, I know my Grandmother made scarfs like this. It has, in recent years, been often seen being made by internet knitters.
I have included some pictures of a couple of the shawls I have made with this same “always carry some knitting in my purse” approach. The shawl pattern (both shawls here are the same pattern) is called Ishbel by Ysolda and you can buy it here. I wear these all the time, with both my jeans and my work outfits. I also make a lot of hats, as I like to give them to my kids, nieces and nephews for Christmas.
I hope you all enjoy hand work this summer and if anyone is knitting, please share your projects with me. Knitting always makes me smile.
Yes- knitting!! I have just been away for a few days, and my ‘go-to’ project was my knitting! I managed to get the front finished of a sweater I started over two years ago! Your scarf is fabulous Leanne. I had a ball of that Noro once…it is very expensive here!
I like the idea of knitting, but it is definitely something I need to have some in-person teaching for with all the different stitches! Beautiful work!
i think it would be worth learning to knit to have such a portable craft…
I’m with Alyce. I need a knitting coach. Recently purchased a pattern for a sweater, but am scared to try it. Thanks for sharing your projects and ideas!
WOW!!! Beautiful work! I knit (or crochet) while watching TV most nights. Last time I flew, I got quite a few odd looks as I pulled out a crochet project.
I prefer crocheting, but your knitting is beautiful! The stripes on the scarf are great!! I never would have thought to do stripes with two different variegated yarns!
I love knitting as something to keep my hands busy and like you said, a kind of relaxation. I’m a beginner, so I only know the basics. I would LOVE to make a shawl like yours. But my biggest handicap is that I don’t understand how to read the patterns. So I definitely need some instruction.
Leanne, a quick question. When you use two yarns like you did on your shawl, how do you pick up one thread and then the other. Do you just leave it hanging and pick it up after the second row??
I love to knit also…it is my “take-a-long” choice for waiting (like you said) because it’s simple…1 ball of yarn connected to 2 needles !!! I love your shawls, thank you for sharing 🙂
wow! what great projects you shared with us. I know how to do the basic knit stitch but I am learning to crochet so I will see how that goes. Reading the directions is the hard part.
Beautiful work! Could you please share the name of the shawl pattern?
I have been knitting for about two years and I am teaching myself to knit socks at the moment. I am knitting the sample pair from the toe-up two-at-a-time book. I really hope to have them finished in time for the link up here. I would love to know the name of the shawl pattern too. It’s gorgeous!
You do lovely work. I did some knitting many years ago but haven’t picked up the needles in an age. I need to consider knitting as a take-along project.
Fabulous post, Leanne – your knitting is gorgeous! I’ve not managed knitting as a take-along project because I always seem to have to stop in the middle of a row and then I end up dropping stitches! I share your ethos about hand work – it’s the process/journey that’s important and the meditative quality that it brings is second to none!
I love to knit. Your work is so beautiful and delicate. thank you for sharing. I did not know you could bring needles on the plane.
Your projects are beautiful! I’ve tried crocheting, but never could get the hang of it. Never tried knitting though.
I just started learning how to knit sometime ago!:) that Noro yarn looks interesting….
Beautiful projects! I have tried knitting and it frustrates me too much. LOL I so admire others who can do it!
What beautiful projects. I would love to learn someday. For now, I will have to be satisfied with traveling with my embroidery.
I’d love to be able to knit. I know how to do basic stitches, but need someone local I can go to when I get stuck with a project. 🙂
What beautiful work! The colors really draw you in.
Love the shawl… beautiful!
Your knitting is fabulous – such an even tension Leanne! I used to knit and maybe should get back to it – I even have a scarf started somewhere – still trying to puzzle out the casting on for that one!
Beautiful knitting! My mother is also a wonderful knitter and has tried to teach me but I just can’t get it…….I have a problem with the tension. I prefer and love to crochet.
Oh how I wish I could enjoy knitting. I have tried to start a project so many times and always give up half way through!
Your knitting is beautiful. I especially love the shawl.
I have always wanted to learn to knit. My problem seems to be I am just to tense. Just like crochet everything turns out much smaller than it should be 🙂
What a super post – love your knitted pieces Leanne, your usual attention to detail shows through just as it does in your quilting.
Leanne, this is amazing!!!
Reversible Rib Cable Scarf This pattern and yarn will have you floating on air and the cable pattern is completely reversible so it looks great on both the right and ‘wrong’ sides.You will need the following materials:Yarn: 296 yards worsted weight yarn. Shown in 2 skeins Rowan Alpaca Cotton yarn.Pattern: Kaleidoscope Yarns Reversible Rib Cable Scarf FREE Knitting Pattern.Needles: US 10 knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
I love using circular needles even when flat knitting they’re easy to hold and to pack up. And yes, I’ll join you by making some mittens now, for wear next winter.
Your knitting is gorgeous! I love your scarf — it makes me want to knit one! 🙂
I LOVE your attitude towards handwork and wish I could learn to share it. I can knit, but I’m too impatient for it.
We also really like the ‘mistake rib’ pattern. This is one of those incredibly bad misnomers, like ‘lazy kate’… It’s a very straightforward stitch, which gives a fabric with nice stretch but that doesn’t all disappear into one big knot like a regular 2×2 rib would. The rib pattern is definite enough to show even in a kind of dull-colored soft yarn like the purple Merino Frappe , but it’s not aggressive, it’d even be suitable for a sartorially boring guy :-). You couldn’t get any more bang for the bucks in terms of knitting grunt work vs effect, and yet it’s very easy. This one could even be a first project.
One of the perks to working as a pattern designer is that dyers and yarn companies are usually happy to provide yarn support (free yarn to be used in published designs) because patterns sell yarn, so it is a good deal all around. Thus Alexa and I get to work in exotic and luxurious yarns by amazing hand-dyers. But requesting yarn support means planning ahead, making design proposals, and following through on designs… so it is not always the most satisfying method of yarn procurement! At the festival I allowed myself a generous yarn budget, left John to hold the fort, and zoomed around to impulse-buy some beautiful yarns, with blissfully little thought to project or design!