Finally Ready: The Knit Leader Course

We were waiting on packaging, and now we have the Knit Leader courses available for sale!   Want one?  You can purchase one from the blog, here, or from www.dianaknits.com. 

This course consists of two high-definition DVDs, about 4 hours of video time. 

The Knit Leader is a Brother accessory that has been around forever, is widely available used, doesn't cost too much, and works best on Brother machines, although you could use it for other machines and hand knitting if you wanted to advance it by hand.  I have been surprised at how many people have one and don't use it!  It's a wonderful shortcut to making garments that fit.  You draw your full-sized pattern on the mylar sheet, load the sheet in the Knit Leader, set the stitch and row gauge, and the Knit Leader guides you along the way, sort of a GPS for machine knitting.

This course would transfer well if you have a Toyota Knit Tracer, because that one's very similar to Brother's unit, but I don't recommend it for Silver Reed half-scale equipment, which is too different.

I broke everything into segments.  Since there's absolutely no plot, unless you think knitting swatches, a sweater and a hat makes for a story, and because I go rather slowly, you'll be glad to skip over to the technique you need to see.  These disks have menus so you can skip around.   Here's what I show on the course:

Disk One:

• Making a standard gauge swatch
• Making a measurable ribbing swatch
• Making swatches to solve problems, like the planning of the buttonholes, the transition from ribbing to garment, and the best color scheme
• The Knit Leader, its essential supplies, and other helpful things you can purchase easily
• Using the Knit Leader with sewing patterns
• How to choose the correct stitch scale
• How to set the row gauge
• Shaping an armhole with full-fashioned decreases
• Shaping a shoulder with short-rows
• Divide and shape a neck
• Inset pockets
• Join shoulder seam on machine
• Join armhole seam on the machine
• Making a sleeve
• Shaping in Fair Isle and matching up the pattern

Disk Two:

• Knit 1, purl 1 button band
• Good-looking, easy vertical buttonholes
• Short-rowing a curved hemline
• Short-rowed horizontal bust darts
• Making vertical darts, with and without the garter bar
• Knitting a tidy, folded waistband at the top of a skirt or pants
• How to use the Knit Leader with your bulky machine
• Crafty uses for the Knit Leader
• Knitting larger and plus sizes
• Monkey Hat project planning
• Intarsia with Knit Leader
• Monkey Hat kntting details

As with all our products, we ship every weekday and charge $3 for US regular mail, no matter how many items you order. We ship all over the English-speaking world, but international shipping costs more. If your country charges customs or fees, that will be an additional cost to you.

Inspiration at Rett og Vrang

Look at this wonderful, fun knitted photo!

http://rettogvrangstrikk.blogspot.com/2013/05/knit-from-picture-strikk-fra-et-bilde.html

Hand-Tooled Lace at Ozlorna's Blog

Great-looking lace, don't miss it!

http://ozlorna.blogspot.com/2013/05/little-bit-on-hand-tooling-lace.html

New Video Today - Figure 8 Cast-Off and Graft

The May technique video is a cast-off you probably haven't tried - I certainly hadn't.  A reader sent me directions and asked me to demonstrate it with a video.  It's always fun to learn something different.  :)

This cast-off is great for situations where you need lots of stretch, when so many other cast-offs have no give at all.  Try it!

Updates

The Knit Leader Course filled two DVDs.  First I filmed a cardigan sweater with fair isle, button bands (vertical rib), shoulder and armhole shaping, and inset pockets.  I wanted to get lots of techniques into the course, since I don't think there's all that much to using the Knit Leader.  (1)  Make an accurate gauge swatch, (2) Draw a good pattern, (3) Knit, following the line and realizing that one stitch or one row doesn't matter. 

However, it worked out that there was plenty of information to include in the course.  I put in a section on knitting bigger sizes, on making crafts, and doing bulky machine Knit Leader projects.  Since the cardigan was sedate in green, brown and beige, I added a wacky Knit Leader bulky intarsia project, my version of a sock monkey hat, inspired by the one the San Diego ladies taught me, but with double-lined earflaps and head, intarsia face, and shaping shortcuts.  Then I went back through everything to see what I missed, and decided the course needed to teach a curved hem, vertical dart, waistband, and bust darts, so I added those demos.

 

It was great fun until I started editing.  Now that I've suffered through the most difficult editing sessions ever, I broke down this weekend and bought a screaming fast, loaded computer.  I hope that helps!  The editing software really was too much for our old computer, which was quite powerful, but nothing gobbles up memory and processor like editing high-definition video.  I probably should have done this sooner. He set it up for me today, and now the question is whether I will adapt quickly to Windows 8.  John has promised to load Windows 7 instead if I hate Win 8. 

 

I put the general schedule up for Northern Virginia seminar last week, and am very excited.  The books are almost done, too.

 

Thanks, everyone, for the prayers for our family!  My husband and son returned from their very sad California visit (John's brother died a week ago).  I didn't go to California myself because it was too late - we didn't realize Tim was dying.  Steven, our son, was already there on vacation, and John flew there because he was worried about Tim's illness.  He didn't make it in time to say goodbye, but they both were able to help John's mom and sister for about a week. 

 

I had been very busy at work all week, and did CPA chapter things as well, including helping with a nonprofit seminar one evening that was the high point of my week.  Most of the people there were Austin Police Department Blue Santa volunteers.  They take Christmas to 3,500 needy families in our area.  I met Santa and Mrs. Claus and some inspiringly big-hearted officers.

 

I hope you had a very good Mother's Day, or your mom did!  The boys gave me cards, poetry, and flowers, and John installed my new computer, so it was a very nice day.  It was so good to talk to my incredible mother-in-law, Barbara, who is sounding good and holding up okay after her difficult, very sad week.  Thanks again for the prayers for the family.

Inspiration at Knotty Knits

Adorable bear!

http://tracykm.blogspot.com/2013/05/bear.html

Upcoming Northern Virginia Seminar

I am going to Northern Virginia at the end of June to teach a two day seminar.  This should be especially fun since this group asked me to focus on non-beginner, more interesting, unusual or challenging stuff.

So, I went through my past seminars for the demos that the knitters liked best, then added in some new ones and some bonus materials in case I go fast.  The last seminar I did, I got through everything in my demonstration books, and I really believe people were following along just fine.  I always do bound handouts for the participants.  Here's the plan:

NORTHERN VIRGINIA SEMINAR AGENDA

 

All “As Time Permits” Items are Included in the Handout Book

 

DAY ONE - June 22, 2013 - BULKY MACHINE:

Machine Knitting Tricks & Tips:

Improve, Simplify Cast-Ons & Cast-Offs

Hand-Knit Look Cast-Off

Cap Sleeve Knitted-In Armhole

Idiot Cord Edgings

Crocheting to Cast-Off & Piecrust Stitch

Practically Perfect Gauge Swatch

Convert Pattern Gauges to Your Gauge

 

Knit Leader:

Multiple Knit Leader uses, such as knitting crafts, intarsia, use with sewing patterns, use with bulky machine

 

Happy Feet:

Sew-As-You Go Sock or Slipper

Everyone’s Fave:  SAYG Lined Slipper

 

Garter Bar – Stopper + Savvy:

Easy, Fast GB Moves

Quaker & Garter Stitch

Increase/Decrease Evenly Across Row & Round Yoke Principles

Easiest Cables & Lace:  Move Desired Stitches

Amazing!  Speed Ripping

 

As Time Permits Demonstrations:     

Floatless, Vertical Fair Isle

Helix Laid Cables

Twisted Fringe

Shaped Entrelac Hat

Ruched Heart Trim

Diana’s Tam

 

DAY TWO - June 23, 2013 - STANDARD MACHINE:

 

Standard Gauge Lace:
Stitch World Scalloped Lace
Diana’s Automatic Scalloped Lace
Mirror Image Lace

Ribber:

Improved Cast-Ons & Bind-Offs
Simulated Simulknit
Quilted Ribbing
Mitered Ribbing

Ribber Demos, As Time Permits:

Ribber Sock Techniques
Release Stitch Lace
Bubble Wrap Stitch
Vertical Buttonhole

Bonus Directions in the Handout Book:

            Circular Baby Blanket

            Lined, SAYG Slipper
            Shaped Entrelac Hat
            Scalloped Lace Scarf
            Ribber Checkered Baby Blanket
            SAYG Sock
            SAYG Lined Slipper
            Diana’s Tam

Want to come?  I understand from Diana Guenther, the organizer, that there are still some spaces.  Here's some information from Diana's registration flyer:

Date: June 22-23, 2013 (Saturday and Sunday)

Time: 9:30AM – 4:30PM

Place: Sandy Spring Museum 17901 Bentley Rd, Sandy Spring, Maryland 20860

Lunch: Potluck lunch both days! Everybody bring something…or make arrangements in advance

Cost: $60 for 2 days if registering by June 1

 

$65 for those registering after June 1

 

Only checks will be accepted. Please make check out to "NVMKC". Registration deadline is June 15, 2013.

Please mail this form and your payment to: Diana Guenther

2917 Peregoy Drive

Kensington, MD 20895

Contact Diana at 301-933-3980 or dianaguenther@comcast.net with any questions

           

Tuck Lace @ Yet Another Canadian Artisan

I tend to forget all about tuck lace as a technique, and there's an interesting writeup about it over at Yet Another Canadian Artisan.  Makes me want to go run up samples and see what they look like:

https://cutlermac.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/tuck-lace-using-the-knitting-machine/

Keep Us In Your Prayers

Since we knitters are like family, I feel the need to share this.  My husband John's brother Timothy is desperately ill and has been in the hospital the last few days.  He is so much worse today that now he is not expected to survive.

Those of you who pray, please pray for Tim, John, their sister Laura, and their mom Barbara.

Update:  Tim passed away a little while ago. 

Cute Preemie Hat on Machine Knitting Fun

Well, the hat's cute and the baby in the picture is adorable...

http://machineknittingfun.blogspot.com/2013/04/preemie-hats-on-sunny-day.html

Patterns on Rett og Vrang

I see that Synnove is putting patterns on her blog.  I just love to look at the pictures and enjoy her beautiful work.

Trouble reading blogs in other languages?  It can certainly help to right-click and choose the "translate" option.  Your browser will usually offer to either translate with Google Translate or translate with Bing.

http://rettogvrangstrikk.blogspot.com/

Oh, My! Check out Katherine's Wonderful Machine Knitting Tables

I really like these!  I like the tilt, the ability to stack the lids on the bottom legs, and the sizes sound quite practical.  So, if you need a machine knitting table, here's the link:

http://www.knittingmachinetables.com/index.html

Inspiration at Rett og Vrang

Double Jacquard Justin Bieber:

http://rettogvrangstrikk.blogspot.com/2013/04/knitting-justin-test.html

Inspiration at My Blue Heaven

Lovely dress...


http://myblueheavenknits.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/new-way-to-do-ripple-top-make-it-a-dress/

Inspiration at Rhythm of the Needles

Three beautiful projects underway!

http://1-step-up.blogspot.com/2010/10/tuck-lace.html

Ever Feel Like This?

Update on Current Projects

We've had another extremely busy weekend, attending a non-profit conference on Friday out of town, which took the whole day.  Left at 7:00 a.m., got home about 7:00 p.m.

Then we came home and hit our projects Saturday, hard.  John is working on an antique motorcycle and I am working on two new products at once.

My Knit Leader course is nearly finished.  I am down to last edits, menus, and the covers for the packaging.  In the course, I did a long cardigan sweater with fair isle borders on the standard gauge and a crafty bulky intarsia project.  I also included some lessons on other shaping challenges and how to take them on with the Knit Leader.  It worked out to fill two DVDs - and DVDs and not writing, but I may include a file in case someone w

I am also writing a general MK book that won't have a video, but more about that later.  I can see that I'm going to finish the Knit Leader course first.

Now, just for fun, here's a photo of monkey hats that I knitted for our club's project.  The one at 4:00 is a pattern given to me by the San Diego guild, and then I started playing around and making all kinds of changes to the idea of knitting monkey hats.   After looking at all the sock monkey images I could find, my version ended up with doubled, lined earflaps and hat area with red inside, different crown shaping, and an intarsia face with a bigger snout and smiling mouth.

Difficult Yarn

We were knitting chemo hats at Knit Natters using Fun Fur yarn.  It really seems as though Fun Fur has changed, that the eyelashes are longer, and the texture is different.  We found it very, very difficult to knit, even though Joan had knitted quite a few in the past without these difficulties.

I couldn't get the two colors I tried to knit in my 270 at all.  I had not brought the ribber to the knit-in, but one of the things I plan to try is knitting with the ribber.  I'm thinking the wheels and brushes on the 270 may be catching the eyelashes.

Another thing I'd like to try is using the intarsia carriage with it.  I didn't bring any Fun Fur home to try, and I'll pick some up next time I'm in the shops.  I thought I'd also look through the other yarns to see if there's a shorter and hopefully easier-to-knit eyelash yarn.

We did get quite a few hats knitted, though.  Several of the ladies were doing fairly well with the Fun Fur, although it was slow going, pulling down after every row. 

John came and took apart a Passap console, changed the battery, cleaned the contacts and reseated the chips for one of our friends.  It was starting to act up, which John says is often a symptom of a very weak battery.

Another friend is experiencing some dimming with the Brother 970 control box.  I've heard of this problem before.  John is intrigued.  He and I did a web search to see if we could locate a service manual.  Any leads, friends?  Also, he'd love to get his hands on a dim, broken or dead control box and do a motherboard autopsy.

Knit Natters Knit-In Tomorrow

We're knitting charity hats, most of the day, at the Crystal Lake Baptist Church in Leander, Texas.

I'm really counting my blessings with the changes to our knit club - that this church has "adopted" us and is letting us use their space; that we have new people, who started coming relatively recently; that we have some terrific new beginners; that our members are so generous with doing charity knitting; that Sylvia is president and keeping us organized with demos, refreshments, and announcements. 

The Knit Natters knit club is better than ever!

Tomorrow is going to be primarily knitting hats.  Barbara Deike has a great Passap hat she cooked up with no seams.  I'm bringing along a wacky intarsia hat pattern I've been working on.  Some of the ladies are working fun fur chemo hats, and I might try that. 

Marg Coe's Raglan Comparison

Have a look -

http://margsknittingplace.blogspot.com/2013/04/raglan-pullovers-two-different.html

I'm a Jody Raymond fan myself.  Absolutely wonderful patterns.