All posts filed under: knitting

two knit swatches

knitting during quarantine

Published by fairfaxhill

Hi! I’ve been working away on the Arne and Carlos Quarantine Knitting project. So far I’ve managed to knit up the first two clues. I really loved the first one — both the pattern and the blue I found in the basket full of yarn I have in the studio. It looks nice with the white. I would like to try knitting the design with a thicker yarn. The yarn I’m using is a sport weight, so my “squares” are turning out to be rectangles. But I figured, if I just keep using the same yarn, they should all at least be the same size in the end. That is if that even matters! We have no idea what we’re making and that’s what makes this project so interesting! I’ve also been getting new ideas on how I might use these designs in the future. I was thinking of some cushions for our TV room. We need some color in there. But first, I want to figure out how to make these into true squares. …

an open laptop

joining the arne & carlos mystery knit-along

Published by fairfaxhill

It was announced this afternoon that Marin County residents will need to shelter-in-place starting at midnight tonight until at least April 7. (That’s a long time inside our homes!) Thankfully, we have creative people in the world to help us through this stressful time with projects to help reduce our anxiety. Today, Arne & Carlos have surprised knitters by launching the Quarantine Mystery Knitalong. If you’ve never heard of Arne & Carlos, then you really should check them out. They are two pretty well-known Scandinavian knit designers who have published books like “Norwegian Knits with a Twist” and “Knit-and-Crochet Garden” (which seems to be out of print, unfortunately). I first learned about Arne & Carlos on YouTube some years ago. Of course, I was interested in their Scandinavian point of view and aesthetic and I really liked how they successfully made traditional motifs feel new and fresh. Their shows are funny. Carlos does most of the talking, while Arne, who doesn’t speak English as well, seems to be the faster knitter of the two. It’s …

knitting rowan’s “kate” cardigan

Published by fairfaxhill

I may have mentioned that I started working on a new project, a ROWAN pattern called “Kate”. I started it a few days ago. It’s a very basic sweater. But that’s okay; I like basic.  Ever since I finished the sleeveless purple top, I’ve only worn it once. It’s still chilly around here, so I need something to throw over it that isn’t too bulky and that won’t clash with the rib pattern, so I hope this works. 🤞🏻 I should be making the sweater in green like the photo from the “Rowan Loves.. kidsilk haze & felted tweed” magazine, which has 9 designs by Sarah Hatton. I love emerald green! (Oh well, maybe next time.) I’m loving the yarn I picked out: Folio by Berroco yarns. I hope it doesn’t behave too differently from the Kidsilk Haze specified in the pattern. Normally, I would have gone with the recommended yarn. I love Rowan yarns. But Berroco had the color I needed, and I didn’t want to wait for an order to be mailed to me. Although, Kidsilk Haze in …

kinky: an easy to knit sleeveless top

Published by fairfaxhill

“Kinky,” by Kim Hargreaves is a classic top that knits up very quickly. It’s a good project for the beginner knitter, ready to expand their skills with a few new terms and techniques. This cute top is knit flat in a simple rib of knit-two, purl-two. So, if you’ve got the knitting basics down, (casting on, casting off, and the knit and purl stitches) you are halfway to owning a brand-new top! So, what’s to learn, you ask? Well, you may have never seen these two funny pieces of code before: P3tog and P3togtbl (which stand for purl 3 stitches together and purl 3 stitches together through the back loop). And, perhaps it is your first time picking up stitches to add a collar. I promise that once you understand these few terms and techniques, you will be able to knit the top in no time. And who couldn’t use a cool top like this one in their closet? The design works perfectly well in spring and fall, shows off your shoulders, it’s nice and warm, and you …