The answer is YES! Yes you can knit and crochet in summer. You just have to choose your projects with a little more thought and care. This is not to say that knitters and crocheters don't do this already, but in summer weather a little extra is required for your comfort.
Summer is the time for working with cottons, linen, bamboo and rafia and tarn. Tarn is yarn made from t-shirts cut into 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch strips. The t's can be old that have stretched or faded, new ones or the fabric before the shirts are cut out and assembled. Cottons can be the dishcloth cottons that are worsted weight down to the fine crochet threads. Linen, bamboo and rafia are all plant fibers that have many different characteristics, most of which I won't go into. Rafia can also be made from synthetics and have a sheen that borders on shine.
Summer is the time for small projects. In the heat of July and August might not be the time to work on a large wool afghan that was started in the end of winter but didn't get done. You could however, think ahead and if you prefer wool to plant fibers, work on small items like hats and mittens. Mostly though, when I think of summer work, I want to do things like embellish flip flops and baseball hats, dish cloths, small purses, or beach cover ups. I also think to do quick slippers and baby hats for donations. I like quick to finish projects because so much of my time early to mid summer is spent outside.
Here are a few ideas along these lines.
I offer these ideas and can teach these during basic beginner classes. Nothing shown here can't be done after a class or two. Basic stitches, cotton yarn and flip flops are all that are required.
I also think of afghan squares or granny squares. These are quick to make, not too hot to hold and easy for a brain that has been fried in the summer sun. I do them with an eye towards the coming winter and those who are not as fortunate. These blocks also give me a chance to practice techniques I want to learn or re-familiarize myself with.
Have a great summer! Posts will still continue. I'm also going to do a Christmas in July series of posts. Keep checking back.
As an ongoing part of the series of questions I get frequently asked, How much yarn do I need for X? tops the list right at the same number of times as What kind of needles should I use?
Yarn choices are amazing. There are so many new things out there on the market to try. But this post is to deal with How much not fiber content. Although fiber content can make a difference, weight does make a difference in how much to purchase.
There are generalities I can point to for a quick answer but that doesn't begin to get an accurate number for how much do I need? yarn yardage requirements is a quick link to Lion Brand Company's chart for very basic information for both knit and crochet.
You need to know your gauge with a specific yarn. You need to know how big your project needs to be. You need to know what kind of drape you want your project to have. An example is you don't want a floppy drape-y fiber like alpaca would give you if you are doing a tailored jacket that needs to hold its shape. You also don't want a crisp yarn when your project should be molding to your curves or cuddling baby. All of these have to be taken into account. You should also wash your swatch. Your fiber choice could relax into an ocean sized puddle when gotten wet or shrivel like a prune. Wouldn't it be better to have that happen to a swatch than an afghan or sweater?
But, you say, I'm using acrylic/polyester/super wash wool! Even those fibers can react to water or even just knitting or crocheting in unexpected ways. Please don't ever wash synthetic fibers in hot, hot water and then dry in a hot dryer. You can kill the spring in the fiber.
More will be posted on this topic in the future. This is just to get you thinking. If you have questions, post a comment. It will be addressed.
Over a month ago, my husband was in a car accident. Things are looking up in my household. He's almost back to his previous abilities. In his recovery, I have been thankful that I had my knitting and crocheting. Simple things with simple stitches helped me stay on an even keel in the early days and helped pass the time in waiting rooms. Now I have been developing new classes and projects and trying to finish my classes. I also have put together a knitter's scavenger hunt for my guild's retreat at the end of the month.
My new projects have included learning a mobius cast on to do an infinity cowl/shawl for class in two ways. One way is to teach this technique. Another way is for me to wear it in the winter. I have also been binge-ing on charted crochet patterns I see offered on websites. I have worked a bunch of flowers, saved a slew more to my computer, used a few in classes, and am halfway done with a purse from a charted pattern.
I have also developed a short row class complete with a round dishcloth. I am in the middle of developing a double knitting class. A hot pad will be the project for that. Also in the works will be a machine knit workshop for winter, tapestry crochet, intarsia knitting, and more.
Stay tuned for more information and pictures.
Why would anyone ever work the plain garter stitch xxx? Why would anyone just make a simple crochet block all the same? There is nothing wrong with plain and simple. For beginners it is all about practicing the new and that is great. We all need to practice the new. It's how we get better at what we are learning.
It also holds the power to soothe a troubled person. Recently, my family had a minor tragedy occur. Everyone is fine as in not in a hospital. Everyone is not fine in the respect that we carry on as before. We see this all the time when major tragedy hit our country in 2001, when loved ones are lost, when tragedies strike whole communities.
Simple garter stitch, plain granny squares, double crochet squares, garter and ribbed slippers, all these are quick to craft but more importantly, they hold the rhythm that lulls us into not feeling overwhelmed, kind of like a rocking chair for some, back rubs for others. They give the rest we sometimes need and can't get watching television or cleaning or any of the things we have to do to get through our days.
What has helped me? Garter stitch dish cloths. I now have quite a few and these don't wear out nearly as fast as those I bought.
Here is the pattern I prefer to use. I don't have to think for any of it.
Materials needed: worsted weight cotton yarn. I use Lily Sugar & Cream and Peaches & Creme. They are affordable and easily found in my area on store shelves. Mid sized needles, with my favorites being US size 6 - 8. Use whatever size gets you the density you desire. When I'm stressed, I have been known to go up to size 11 or 13 to get a gauge that doesn't result in cardboard.
Cast on 3.
Row 1: knit1, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 1. (5 stitches now. This will increase by 1 stitch every row)
Row 2 - 35 -50: knit 2, yo, knit to the end of the row.
Next Row: knit 2, yo, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit to the end of the row. (The yarn over keeps the pattern the same on the decrease side. The first knit 2 together keeps the stitch count the same. The second decreases by 1. This row will decrease you back down to about 4 or 5 stitches.)
You decide when it's big enough. Want a blanket instead? Keep increasing. Then continue down the other side. For a blanket I would use something soft and easy to use that doesn't have a lot of "stuff" for me to think about. But that is just me. On better times, I might use a novelty yarn with an easy pattern. I'm on familiar ground but still get something that looks different and unique.
I've been giving a lot of thought to simple shapes. You know the kind, square, rectangle, triangle, circle. There has been some small controversy over some projects offered for demos and classes and the like. Some things are boring. This could be true. But then again, it might not.
As I've been going about my daily routines, my mind has been free to think on this. The basic drop shoulder sweater is 4 rectangles (front, back, and both sleeves). Kitchen linens are rectangles or squares. Bath linens are rectangles or squares. Basic fingerless mitts are rectangles. Scarves are really really long rectangles or a series of squares or small rectangles. Simple hats can be wide and short rectangles. Long stocking caps are very long, thin triangles. Coasters can be any shape to protect your furniture or floors. Socks in their most basic profile are two rectangles with a square. Skirts are usually rectangles but could be squares, depending on length. Purses, bags and most other mundane things are rectangles or squares. Circles can be almost anything but hats (tams) and skirts (circle with a hole in the middle) come to mind first with purses a close third. Trapezoids, or triangles with one point cut off straight across, are great for A-line skirts and more importantly sleeves.
The purpose for these is making straight sides and ends, or if your aesthetic is asymmetrical, a straight slant that is consistent (but that is not a simple shape). The real artistry lies in the patterns you choose to execute, the stitch pattern you choose to use once you have the basics and the embellishments you add to your projects. Everyone starts with the same basics when learning to knit, crochet, quilt, sew. It just needs broken down no matter what skill we are learning. Sewing requires accurate cutting, straight seams and even hems to avoid the homemade look as opposed to a handmade look. Quilting needs consistent seaming and straight cuts. Knitting and crochet work need to have straight lines so you know that you are not increasing in unexpected places or a "perfect" circle so you know you are consistently increasing.
How many shapes that are simple can you see in your life?
Yesterday I set about to clear some room in my sewing/craft room in the basement. That sentence alone gives a hint of things to come. The reason I needed to do this was a I have a big sewing project to do for my day job and wanted room by my machine. I did actually get there. I did not get the job done to my satisfaction but that is for another time.
I'm convinced that yarn balls, skeins, hanks, even fleece multiplies while left alone in a darkened room. Silly you say? Hear me out. I found yarn that I do remember buying, yarn I have never seen before, yarn I have seen but don't know where it came from nor what I used it for.
Yarn I do remember buying I accept. It was close out cottons for dish cloths and such. It might have been part of a leftover ball from a Christmas present or worse whole skeins. I try to keep fibers together and weights in those broad categories, kind of like yarn departments. I'm not lucky enough to have the nice bins. But then I also don't have to worry about my pets nesting in them or having yarn get dusty before it gets used.
Yarns I have never seen before or don't remember where it came from or where I used it but do know I have are more perplexing. I found the bit of sweater that needs frogging still that had been son #2's. He has his finished sweater so all is fine. I have found things that completely bewilder me. Why would I buy that???? Where did I buy it? What did I use it for? What was I planning for this yarn?
I also clustered together the UFOs found. I have all in their own bags, a shawl, a pair of worsted weight socks for a son, a baptism shawl that is no longer needed, 5 skeins of worsted alpaca for a Miss Lambert's scarf started on a guild retreat, 3 pairs of vanilla socks for me, cotton yarn and tulle kitted up for dish cloth and scrubby creation, pumpkin hats for a guild fundraiser started but not finished, mittens also for the guild but in mismatched sizes, a feather and fan prayer shawl, granny squares for an afghan, 3 unfinished quilts of varying sizes, a kit of yarn and pattern for pocket pals also for a guild fundraiser, lavender alpaca for a scarf for my soon to be daughter in law before discovering she hates lavender, an adult surprise jacket for me, 1/4 of a hippo (?????), and an unfinished dog sweater.
Some of these things are for classes. Most are clearly guild related and should be finished. Other things should just be finished so they are done and can be utilized. The quilts are going to take time and lots of it.
Once all the yarn is away. Once all the Christmas decorations are also in their appropriate spaces. Once I sort the summer clothes and get them where they need to go and the winter stuff has a place to go. Once all this is done, I might actually be able to work in that room as I intended and get Christmas done early.
I subscribe to some blogs from other countries. I don't speak any language well with the exception of English. I can get my point across in Spanish given enough time and possibly a dictionary. I don't read any language sadly. However....
I have found that non English patterns have one of two things going for them. They are either charts with a finished picture. Or they are easily copy and pasted into Google translator. With a translate program, you might not always get the whole thing in an understandable instruction but you can usually figure it out. European languages are easiest it appears. Asian and Middle Eastern are a bit harder for this program.
Thankfully, Asian and Middle Eastern patterns that I have found are usually charted. If you can read charts, this is a great resource for you. I'm sure there are patterns that are written but I have not seen them, nor have I searched for them.
Why am I telling you about these? Other countries do such interesting things with their crafting. Things I have not seen in American patterns before.
Three of my favorites are http://www.meumundocraft.com/
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Crendo-Giocndo/194797540599902
http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/orhideya6868
The top one is in Portuguese and comes from Brazil. The middle one is a facebook page and I think you have to join facebook in order to access the page. This is an Italian page but everything is laid out like pinterest pins or is charted. Sadly, I'm too old for some of the ideas I saw but I have a soon to be daughter in law who isn't. The bottom one is in Russian. Google translate will be a great help here. This woman has a lot of great patterns and ideas.
I have seen a lot of Japanese patterns scattered all over but I don't have a site I frequent. Do you have an international blog that you follow for patterns? Are you an international reader who posts patterns? Please share.
