Big 10 Knit-a-Long Kickoff!

On Friday of last week I announced my plans to start a knit-a-long for a local charity (to be named soon!). We will be making as many blankets as possible by knitting 7" x 9" blocks and sewing them together. I was so pleased with the response, as sign-ups came in and the Facebook post was shared all over the country!

Now comes the fun part: the knitting! I had originally pictured one block per month, but really, it takes literally no time at all to knit a 7" x 9" garter stitch block, so there will be more. You can knit as many as you want--no limit!

For each afghan/blanket, we'll need 49 blocks. They don't all have to be fancy, so here are two to get you started.

The Garter Block

You'll need: US Size 7 needles or size needed to achieve gauge of 5 sts = 1 inch; Worsted weight acrylic yarn.

Cast on 32 stitches and knit every row until piece measures 9" long. Bind off all stitches and weave in ends. Add stripes if you get bored.

The Seed Stitch Block

You'll need: US Size 7 needles or size needed to achieve gauge of 5 sts = 1 inch; Worsted weight acrylic yarn.

Cast on 31 stitches. 
Row 1: Knit 1 , Purl 1.

Continue alternating stitches across the row. 
Repeat this row until piece measures 9". Bind off.

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It's not too late to sign up!  Just fill out the form below and if you choose "email" I will send a copy of the patterns to you via email. Thank you for joining us as we Knit-a-Long for charity!

The Big 10 Knit-a-Long

My daughter is always brimming with great ideas. I recognize my prejudice as her mother, but seriously, she really is creative. She knew I'd been kicking around ideas for a way to commemorate my 10 year knitting anniversary this year and after a discussion recently about knitting and giving back and community involvement, she hit upon her most recent great idea. It's so great of an idea that I am going to flesh out the details and make it happen. I can't think of a better way to celebrate than this. It's awesome on multiple levels. OK, OK, it's time I told you!

In conjunction with Warm Up America (founded by the late Evie Rosen, my teacher/mentor with the Craft Yarn Council's Certified Instructor Program), we're going to have a knit-a-long!

It won't be just any old knit-a-long, either. We will be knitting a square a month to be sewn up into blankets and donated to charity (the whole point of Warm Up America, actually). Here's how it will work: Sign up to participate and choose how you would like to receive your patterns: either by seeing them here on the blog or getting a PDF emailed to you. Knit at least one each month and then in December I will collect them and host a sewing up party.

Some questions you may have:

What if I can't make it to the sewing up party? No problem! Just knit up some blocks and send them to me to be included. Or, if you are fortunate enough to be surrounded by other knitters in your area, get them involved in the knitting and host your own sewing up party!

What if I can't make all the blocks? No problem! Any blocks you send in will used. We'll need 49 blocks to make one afghan, and I want to make more than one!

How do I get them to be the right size? Easy! Cut a piece of cardboard that is 7 inches by 9 inches and use it as your template. The patterns I post will be written for a 7" x 9" block.

What if I want to send my knitted blocks in before December? No problem! I'll collect them anytime.

Who will be the recipient(s) of all this handknit goodness? I'm glad you asked! I am working on lining up a really great charity here in the Charleston area and will let you know soon. As we knit during the year you will get a chance to hear about the work and mission of this charity and know that your time and effort and yarn are going to a good cause.

What if I don't know how to knit? I would LOVE to teach you how! Check the schedule for a class or take a private lesson (useful for brushing up on rusty techniques).

How good do I have to be at this knitting thing to participate? If you can do the basics--cast on, knit, and bind off, then you can make the Garter Stitch Square. If you can crochet, you are welcome to participate as well. Your finished afghan blocks need to be neat and as close to 7" x 9" as possible, with all ends woven in, but they do not have to be fancy or complicated. We will have some fancy, complicated blocks available during the knit-a-long, just in case you're ready to try something new.

How do I sign up for this awesome endeavor? Simply fill in the form at the bottom of this post with your name, email address and your choice of pattern option. Type the word "email" if you would like to have PDF documents emailed to you as the patterns are released, or "blog" if you will be visiting the blog to find the patterns throughout the year. (As always, your email is safe with me!)

Anyone can participate. If you've never known the joy of knitting a simple block that will become a warm afghan that will provide a hug to someone in need, you're in for a treat. Because the patterns range from beginner to intermediate/advanced, there is something for everyone.

When do we start? Next week! I'm putting the finishing touches on the first patterns and will have them ready soon. In the meantime, check your yarn stash for easy-care acrylic yarn and sign up today!

Things knitting has taught me...

When you learn to knit you learn more than just how to manipulate sticks and string into useful/beautiful/warm objects. If you pay attention, knitting has many things to teach.

Patience. Non-knitters tell me, "Oh, I would never have the patience to just sit and knit." Knitting has taught me a lot of patience--to see a project through, to not start a new project until I finish the one I'm working on, and to teach people to knit. Also, the patience not to take it personally when a non-knitter is clearly implying that I am lazy.

Persistence. At the time it didn't seem important, but I really wish I had kept a record of how many times I ripped out that first scarf--my first knitting project. Knitting didn't come easy to me and starting over was admitting defeat in some small way. Nevertheless, I got those stitches cast back on and tried again. Because I stuck with it, the course of history was changed forever. *

Trying new things. I've never been a daredevil. I'm not big on taking chances. I kind of like to play it safe. When I learned to knit I got more daring and took on new techniques and new ventures like it was no big deal. It's funny to look back and think I was once afraid to try cable stitches!

Acceptance. Sometimes you have to accept that you really aren't interested in being the World's Fastest Knitter, or the knitter of the most complicated pattern in the universe, or that you're not ever ever going to collect your cat's hair and spin it in to yarn. And it's not only OK that you haven't chosen those things, it's OK that others around you have. Also, they can come comb my long-haired tuxedo cat anytime.

Perspective. As I drove home last week from a lovely meeting of Monday Morning Knitters, I reflected that, last year at this time, things were different. I had put MMK on an indefinite hiatus. I was still using Blogger and in general I think I was still trying to define who I was as an instructor and designer. Knitting can offer ample time for reflection on life and direction and goals. I'm excited about this year and the opportunities that await. While I can't claim to have "arrived" I feel pretty good about the direction I'm headed and the path I'm on. After all, it's lined with knitwear!

My first scarf. Look closely--it's supposed to just be garter stitch. When I look at it I know I've improved. That's perspective!

How about you? What has knitting taught you?

*Well, the course of history really WAS changed for myself and for those I've had the honor of teaching to knit in the last 10 years. Besides, you KNOW how much I like dramatic effect!

Basketweave, Method 1; plus a Free Dishcloth Pattern

Basketweave is a fun combination of knit and purl stitches that I have loved from my first attempt at purling. There are actually a couple of different ways to knit this stitch. This method uses an even numbers of stitches that repeat across the row.

We’ll call it: Basketweave, Method I.

When you knit one row and purl the next row, the fabric you make is stockinette stitch. If you flip over a piece of stockinette stitch (abbreviated st st), you will have reverse stockinette stitch (abbreviated rev st st). When you knit this Basketweave pattern, you will have little blocks of stockinette and reverse stockinette, which alternate and look like a woven basket. The fabric you make by repeating these blocks of stitches will lie flat and look symmetrical and ready for action. It is completely reversible. You can add a border of garter or seed stitch. You can knit it longer and have a fun textured scarf.

Learn to read your stitches:
Stockinette—the ones with the little upside-down “v’s”
Reverse Stockinette—the ones with the purl bumps

Ready to give it a try? Here’s how to make a dishcloth using this clever combo of knits and purls.
Tip: Keep track of your rows so the blocks will stay uniform.

Materials: Peaches & Creme worsted weight cotton yarn, and US size 8 needles.

CO 36 stitches

Rows 1 and 3: *K4, P4, Repeat from *  across the row
Rows 2 and 4:  *P4, K4,  Repeat from *  across the row

Rows 5 and 7:  As Rows 2 and 4
Rows 6 and 8:  As Rows 1 and 3

Repeat this 8 row pattern 12 times or until piece measures desired length.
Bind off in pattern.

And there you have it--one form of basketweave. Check back next week for another one!