Knitting Nanook: the Final Chapter
This one is a keeper. Why? Good design.
The only question I have about this sweater is why it’s called Nanook. Maybe because the ribbed lace pattern on the collar is called Bear Track? Even though the collar looks like shells?
Otherwise, this is a very thoughtfully-designed pattern.
This sweater is destined for long-term love. In no particular order, here’s why:
The design is fun to knit — just enough challenge with lots of conversation knitting thrown in. You know conversation knitting — where you can knit while talking or watching TV or listening to an audiobook. Not while driving, please, unless you’re in the passenger seat.
I can wear it unbuttoned with the fronts draping without worrying about the wrong side showing because, hey, the fronts and collar are knit in reversible stitch patterns which = good design
And that drape? Perfect. (See the Nanook Chapter 1 for more info on this.) = good design
It fits without having to rewrite the pattern = good design
Good design = the sweaters you wear and want to make again. Nanook qualifies.
Note:
Lisa’s adventures with this sweater have inspired a knitting class which starts next week: Tuesday Evenings 7:00 – 8:30 May 7, May 14, May 28, June 11 and June 25.
There are still a few spots left. Give us a call or stop in to register.
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String Theory 9th Anniversary
Anniversary Hoopla!
Saturday April 27th, we will be celebrating our 9th Anniversary. Nine years! I can hardly believe it.
We celebrate a lot at String Theory. Every week we get to celebrate a first hat, a sweater that fits, a baby blanket that has become the “blanky”, color combinations that sing and much more. If you ever need someone to be impressed with your progress, just stop by. We love show and tell!
Nine years is a milestone! It isn’t the first or the fifth or the tenth anniversary, but it is still something I’m really proud of.
Over the years we’ve been able to accomplish much of what I set out to do. We’ve sold yarn that directly supports causes I care about: organic farming, providing meaningful employment to impoverished women around the world, the survival of family owned farms in the United States, conflict resolution in the Middle East, the success of local artisans.
We’ve raised thousands of dollars for local charities. We’ve taught hundreds of people of all ages to knit and crochet. We’ve created a community that has a positive impact locally and globally. I can’t wait to see what else we can do.
I’m so lucky to have such a fabulous staff and wonderful customers that make this all possible.
So please come celebrate with us, so that I can thank you in person. Yarn and books will be 15% off. My parents have agreed to join us for special Spring Jewelry Show. And we will have cupcakes from Honey. I would love to see you!
Janet Avila
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Chemo Caps
Carol M. just sent us this picture. And here is what she wrote:
I came in a while back asking for help picking out some yarns to make a hat for a little girl who is fighting cancer. You suggested using a silk cotton blend yarn in combination with the stretchy yarn so it would stay on her head. I made complimentary hats for mom and daughter and the yarn you suggested was perfect! The girl loves it and actually wears it!
Thanks for sharing this with us Carol! It makes my day.
The yarns we suggested were Misti Pimasilk and Cascade Fixation. As much as I like wool, we recommend only cotton and silk for chemo caps. Here is another chemo cap pattern I found recently on Ravelry. It uses Rowan Softknit, a new yarn that is another great choice for sensitive scalps.
We love it when you send us pictures and stories. So keep them coming!
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Pixie Poncho
Beth just finished up this Pixie Poncho out of Spud & Chloe Sweater (worsted weight blend of cotton and wool, machine washable). Couldn’t be cuter!
We’ve got the pattern if you are interested in making one yourself. We don’t have the poncho on display, but stop by the store on a Thursday evening or Saturday and Beth will give you some pointers.
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Sit and Knit on Friday
Here’s a sampling of what the group was working on this afternoon at the shop.
Lisa finished weaving in the ends of her Cladonia (modeled by Mona). She made a couple of simple modifications to get it out of one skein of the Manos Fino.
Ellen picked out some yarn for a chevron baby blanket. She is going to do it without doubling the yarn, using a #9 needle and casting on 128 stitches. Kathy did it this way and it comes out beautifully.
Pam was working on her baby booties. The yarn is dyed to match a tie-dyed onesie. So cute!
We would love to have you join us on a Friday afternoon. Maybe we’ll see you next week.
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Knitting Nanook by Lisa Kartus Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Resolution
All stories have an introduction, rising action, an epiphany or aha! moment and then exposition where the author explains it all to you. I love a good mystery novel and, really, any good story has to have mystery or why would you turn the page? You want to know more, you want to know what happens next.
So for me every new knitting project begins as a mystery story. I test drive the yarn + pattern and figure out the fit. But then somewhere along the line I get to try something new. For Nanook it was working the sleeves after the collar and shoulders but before the body.
If you’ve ever knit a top-down sweater you come to expect to work in this order:
1) neckline
2) yoke
3) put sleeve caps on holders
4) work the body from armholes to hem all in one piece.
5) Then go back and work the sleeves in the round from shoulder to cuff.
It’s just standard top-down design.
Nanook’s designer (whom I think of familiarly as Heidi K since I’ve now knit two of her designs) said no, we’re going to make the sleeves first. Really? Why? That got my attention. That was the mystery of this project, the reason to turn to the next page to find out what happens. So with collar and shoulders done I put aside the sweater and read the rest of the pattern. And loved Heidi K’s thinking. Now I had to try it for myself. My husband will attest to the fact that my nose seemed to be buried in indigo cotton knitting for the next few days.
Did the sleeves work?
1) stay tuned for Chapter 4
2) try on the finished sweater (I surrendered it for display at String Theory, though Janet just about had to pry it out of my hands — this is one comfortable sweater)
3) sign up for Nanook class and your own epiphany.
Note: Lisa’s adventures with this sweater have inspired a knitting class which runs Tuesday Evenings 7:00 – 8:30 May 7, May 14, May 28, June 11 and June 25. Give us a call or stop in to register.
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Knitting Nanook by Lisa Kartus Chapter 2
Nanook in Rowan Savannah
Chapter 2: Planning Nanook
All I ever want to do is plunge in when it comes to a new knitting project. New yarn, new design = time to play. Like when we used to get new crayon colors when we were kids.
You, too, right?
But I really want a sweater to fit so when I’m all done I can wear it. Honorary daughter Veronika calls this “wearing my trophies.”
Fit takes a bit of planning. Not a lot, just a little elementary-school arithmetic. You need to make a gauge swatch to get to the basic number of stitches per inch. For a one-piece top-down sweater like Nanook, I knit a largish swatch for gauge. And got the 4.5 sts per inch (18 sts/ 4″) that the pattern specified. Then I chose my size based on how I like my sweaters to fit, i.e. with a couple of inches of ease around the bust.
MA wanted the same ease but a larger size. Her swatch revealed a stitch gauge of 4 sts per inch (16 sts/ 4″). That’s 1.125 times the pattern’s specified gauge of 4.5 sts/ inch. I found that this way: 4.5 sts divided by 4 sts = 1.125.
To determine which size instructions MA should follow I multiplied 1.25 times the specified bust measurements for Nanook’s different sizes until I found the one that would fit MA. Which happened to be the same size as I made. So we are both following the same set of instructions but MA’s sweater will be bigger because her yarn is thicker than mine and her stitches are bigger.
Her Rowan Savannah version is coming out just gorgeous. The picture above is of the collar and shoulder (or yoke) — the fullness in the center stockinette section is the shoulder.
Nanook’s designer came up with a novel shoulder design that fits any shoulder width, narrow to wide, because it’s a top-down version of a saddle shoulder. This version is so easy that you don’t realize you’re shaping the shoulder until you try on the yoke. So cool. I love it when a designer rethinks a standard technique.
Note: Lisa’s adventures with this sweater have inspired a knitting class which runs Tuesday Evenings 7:00 – 8:30 May 7, May 14, May 28, June 11 and June 25. Give us a call or stop in to register.
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Knitting Nanook by Lisa Kartus: Chapter 1
Everything we knit can’t help but have a story — inspiration, planning, resolution, finished project.
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Show and Tell
It has been a great week for show and tell.
Suzanne finished two beautifully crocheted cowls in Classic Elite Vail and Misti Babymeboo.
Judy just learned to knit and already she is embellishing. I love this idea.
Kathy double stranded Spud & Chloe Sweater for this adorable Leaf Blanket. Finished just in time for her newest grandchild.
Sarah has been a finishing fiend lately, but her latest was this cozy cowl made from Misti Qolla.
Stop by and show us your finished projects. We love show and tell!
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And the Winners are….
Best in Show winner Jan Jones
The winners of the 2013 String Theory Golden Needle Awards are:
1. Best Accessory — Lynette Larson for her Entralac bag
2. Best Sweater — Julie Ashley for Lalique in Blue Heron yarn
3. Best Scarf/Shawl Wrap — Tim Barnes for his Firelight Shawl in Sea Silk
4. Best Toy — Cindy Perrine for her bunny
5. Best Crochet — we had a tie: Cindy Perrine won for her blue shawl and Tobi Davis for the her vest
6. BEST IN SHOW — Jan Jones for her amazing fair isle dress.
Congratulations to all who participated! The entries were fabulous and the voting was very close.
All entries will be on display until Sunday, March 3.
More pictures and pattern references coming soon.
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