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The Stitch Maps channel on YouTube has two new videos. Both give tips for tweaking stitch maps that have been exported as vector-based images.
I plan on at least one more video in this series. And though I use Illustrator in these videos, the concepts ought to apply to any vector-based editing tool. (Inkscape comes to mind. I’m sure there are others out there too.)
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At Stitch-Maps.com, I’m always making little refinements. Many are really little and not worth crowing about. Case in point: yesterday I tweaked the site to accept “w+t” as a synonym for “w&t.” You don’t need to hear about such tiny changes, right?
But over time little refinements add up. And some turn out to be quite handy. The most recent: a current row menu that shows which row is being highlighted.
This is super handy when row numbers aren’t being displayed for short rows that start in the middle of the fabric. Bonus: since it’s a menu, you can select and jump to any row.
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One of the (many!) new classes I’ll be teaching at Stitches SoCal is Patterned Brioche... so, you guessed it, I’m knitting up a bunch of brioche samples.
They demonstrate different kinds of increases and decreases – including jumbo increases that turn a single stitch into five stitches, and matching jumbo decreases that reduce five stitches to one. I especially like investigating how you can get different effects by working these increases and decreases on either the right side or the wrong side. (Not that brioche rib really has a “wrong” side, but I think you know what I mean.)
On this side, an increase splits this knit column in two.
On the flip side, the same increase creates a new knit column.
In class, you’ll get to fondle these samples, and try knitting some of your own. Who knows? Maybe you’ll decide to knit yourself a cushy patterned scarf.
You still have time to sign up for Patterned Brioche at Stitches SoCal. (I’d tell you to sign up at Stitches West, except that that Patterned Brioche class is already full!)
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Seeing stars
In addition to brioche samples, I also have one of Hunter Hammersen’s Scintillation stars on my needles. How could I resist, with all the cute photos she’s been posting on Instagram? This one is destined to join the cat toy collection.
You’ll notice I’m using a set of six dpns while knitting the second side of the star. (Actually, it’s a set of five, plus one of a slightly different size. I’m sure the cat won’t notice.) In contrast, while knitting the first side, I used two circs. Honestly? As much as I usually prefer two circs, in this case dpns might be a tad less fiddly... at least for me. Your mileage may vary.
For this first star, I followed Hunter’s exceptionally detailed and illustrated pattern to a T. Next time around I plan to experiment a bit, because that’s the kind of knitter that I am. Like the hexipuff that became a cat toy, I want to start in the center of one side and end in the center of the other. The two sides won’t match each other exactly – one will have double increases, and the other will have double decreases – but the increases and decreases will match perfectly at the star’s points, instead of being a half-stitch off. (Again, I’m sure the cat won’t notice. This experimentation is to satisfy my curiosity. And to cast on fewer stitches, because apparently I can’t cast on more than five without miscounting.)
Want in on the fun? Hunter’s just announced she’s running a KAL.
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Madison, WI, here I come!
I’ll be teaching four classes before speaking at the October meeting of the Madison Knitters’ Guild. Guild members get a discount on the classes, and the meeting is open to guild members only – but guild membership is only $30, so if you live in the area, why not join? |
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“This blanket was the start of my passion for DK blankets! Stitch-maps came along and made wilder designs possible! Thank you.”
It’s so, so gratifying to see stitch maps boosting knitters’ creativity!
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