Good things take time is probably my motto for this knitting tutorial. Knitted I have the rhombus scarf namely already last winter and already at the fair in March I proudly carried the scarf on foot and have been smoothly addressed by Stephen West drauf *freu*. This scarf is my absolute favorite part, because it is super cozy warm and somehow fits everything.
It took me a while to write the pattern, because first of all I had to test them, because I wroteinstructionsttern for two different sizes and because I also wanted to include the appropriate charts in the document in addition to the detaileinstructionsen pattern and because I was somehow not so experienced in handling Excel and InDesign. Things like that like to go on my to-do list for a while.
The scarf is knitted two-threaded from Silkhair of Lana Grossa, ie it is simply always two threads together. With a 6 needle knits that nice and fast! You can find the exact information about my colors in the e-book. Since my scarf is an absolute "monster part" and maybe not everyone likes to wear such a huge scarf, there is also the narrower version in the e-book, here in blue-pink:
The diamonds are created by simple lifting stitches, so the scarf is really suitable even for not quite advanced knitters. However, you should be able to read pattern, of course.
The wide scarf (rust-red-blue) is about 65x190cm and needs 12 balls of Silkhair, the narrower scarf (pink-blue) has about 35x190cm and needs 8 balls of Silkhair. I myself would definitely knit the large version, I love this cozy scarf very much and was heavy happy about it at the weekend in the cold temperatures in Amsterdam.
The Brooklyn Tweed Knit Along is coming to an end soon, and I'll probably hopefully hit the sleeves this weekend. Whether I actually have next week already wear pictures, I dare gaaanz cautiously to doubt * sweat*, but who knows. Meanwhile, I admire already finished parts on Instagram under the hashtag btmaschenfein (I think I have to make a collection post with the most beautiful pictures) and click through new posts on the link-up page.
Today it's all about the yarns in detail. After all, this was and is a very special Knit Along, because we use yarns from only one manufacturer, namely Brooklyn Tweed. I have always admired Loft and Shelter and the beautiful pictures of associated designs on the various channels and a few weeks ago the wick yarn Quarry has joined them.
I myself have been knitting with Loft for the past few weeks. I knew in advance that the yarns are special, because I had already read that in detail at Clara Parkes and on the site of Brooklyn Tweed itself. When Loft then moved in with me and wandered on the reel and wool winder, the thread broke right at the first winding. Grumble. Okay. Not careful enough winding, so I handled it even more carefully. I also broke the thread two or three times while knitting because I pulled or knitted too tight. So I had to get used to handling this yarn. I immediately liked the feel of it a lot even when knitting, and after washing the swatch, I knew I would love Loft when I wore it. It becomes - for pure wool - indescribably cozy.
Brooklyn Tweed's yarns make you curious to know more. They are special. And somehow different. You met Kathrin from Back to the Wheel last week during our interview, and she took an in-depth look at the fibers of Brooklyn Tweed yarns for us. Why does it tear so quickly? Where does it come from?
Brooklyn Tweed's yarns are produced from the Targhee-Columbia breed of sheep. The Targhee-Columbia sheep is a "crossbreed" of a special kind. Namely a crossbreed of again 2 crossbreed breeds. So the sheep behind our wool is a crossbreed of a Targhee sheep and a Columbia sheep. The Columbia sheep in turn has Rambouillet and Lincoln sheep as ancestors. In the Targhee, we find Rambouillet, Corriedales and Lincolns in the ancestral gallery.
The fibers of each breed of sheep have their own special characteristics. Through the crossings, these characteristics are combined with each other. Different staple length, luster, crimp, etc. lead to different elasticity and thermal characteristics.
The highlight of our Brooklyn Tweed yarns is the absolute softness, almost like merino, that comes after carefully washing the knits. The wool does not scratch. And this comfort is exactly what it's all about. To achieve this effect, other characteristics, such as precisely the vulnerability, or faster tearing, must be accepted, or we must learn to handle the yarn properly.
The whole story behind the fibers of Brooklyn Tweed yarns Kathrin has put together for you in incredible detail. Read her very detailed research and let yourself be infected by the passion with which she has dealt with the fibers and sheep.
Isn't that exciting?
A wonderful good morning to the Saturday coffee. Since with us unfortunately once again various viruses have moved in, I come the days little to knit, but in the evening while keeping watch, the more to browse.
The new book by Hannah Fettig Home & Awayis lying here and I have already leafed through it eagerly. It is beautiful, I haven't read much yet (there are not only pattern, but also some longer texts), but I enjoyed the pictures. I like it very much and it joins Pam Allen's Home Collectionand JourneyJane Richmond's and Shannon Cook's. I'm afraid I'm a "pattern book junkie" because I actually enjoy reading
Woolspire now also has the Istex yarns and I ordered a few balls of Lettlopi to try. 100% pure Icelandic wool, I am curious and will report.
Tulip, the traditional Japanese company for needles and accessories now has its own Facebook page and with a Like you take part in a raffle. I do not know the needles, you?
I've already discovered two pieces for my (wish) wardrobe-to-be again. This one and this one.
Have a great weekend! Since the viruses are already on the march, I can stick to my plans and will finally stop by Stephen & Penelope in Amsterdam.
Today I have a book tip from my bookshelf for the very advanced knitters among you. There is a lot of English-language literature on this topic, and beyond that I can also highly recommend simply "studying" good pattern and following the calculations. But I also have a good German-language basic book on my shelf: Design knitwear yourselffrom the OZ Verlag.
Unfortunately, it is not very fresh and appealing, but the content is what counts, and it is convincing in this case. All the important topics are covered. First and foremost, of course, taking the right measurements.
Different silhouettes, cardigans with and without button plackets, variations of armholes, sleeves and cuffs, necklines, collars, skirts and dresses.
It is (for me) clearly a book to work with, not to knit from. So if you (like me) are always looking for a certain model that you just can't find and want to design yourself, then this book might help you.
I've been looking forward to this interview with Kathrin about spinning for days. When you read today's text (it's a long one, make yourself comfortable), you can feel the incredible passion with which she runs her handspinning workshop Back to the wheel. It is absolutely fascinating to dive into this world, which in a way is shifted ahead of us knitters.
Originally an art historian, Kathrin renovated an old industrial building from the 19th century and converted it into her workshop near Bamberg. There she now makes beautiful yarns and sells them under her eponymous DaWanda store.
The topic of spinning is for me so far a book with seven seals and just in connection with my Brooklyn Tweed Knit Along and the special nature of Brooklyn Tweed yarns my head was buzzing with questions. I wanted to learn more about spinning and so I interviewed Kathrin. Read her answers today about spinning in general. In a few days we will talk more specifically about Brooklyn Tweed yarns, as she has been busy researching for us. And now have fun diving into the world of an old craft:
Kathrin, how did you get into spinning and what fascinates you about it?
I was briefly idle after my studies and somehow came across a Youtube video. I have a fable for old crafts, how people used to live and farm. And there was this video and I was suddenly hooked. I bought one of those beginner spindles and never put it down. And it worked immediately. I was mesmerized as the thread got longer and longer. It was like a flashback to an unknown earlier time when this was a normal activity for women. I guess that was the fascinating part, that I became part of a chain. It was totally freaky. And even today it's always like a retreat into timelessness, when everything gets too loud and too fast for me today, I get on my bike and I'm gone.
Can you first tell us laymen what basic differences there are in techniques? So the roughest distinctions? And which of them do you do?
The techniques are as different as the fibers. As a spinner, I always start from the fiber.
There are vegetable fibers, animal fibers, short and long, smooth and curly, and so on. All behave differently when spinning. And the techniques are based on that, resulting in differently constructed yarns. Some fibers give you more leeway, others less.
Let's take cotton: You may have noticed that all heavier cotton yarns consist of many small single threads. There are no heavier single yarns, that is, consisting of a single heavy thread. It is not possible because cotton has very short fibers. They have to be twisted into thin threads with a lot of twist, otherwise the thread breaks. This also requires special settings on the spinning wheel. The thin threads are then combined into heavier ones.
But knitters will look at the issue more from the yarn. Here you can roughly divide types: Twisted yarns, single yarns, lace yarns, bouclé... These are all yarns that are distinguished according to the structure and belong to the traditional yarns. Carded yarns and worsted yarns are also traditional yarns, but they are distinguished according to the processing techniques of the fibers and different spinning techniques.
Gradient yarns are identified by the color effect, but could be anything: lace yarn, twist, corespun, etc.
Traditional yarns are of course also beautiful, but primarily made for a specific genre of knitting: Lace eg socks, aran knitting, etc..
Then there are the fancy yarns . Everyone narrows down this category differently. This includes everything that brings an effect to the knitted piece. In other words, the yarn itself plays a larger role, along with the cut and pattern of the knitted piece. The texture, for example, curls, bouclé, mohair, or any objects such as beads, spiral twist, etc.. But also the color, such as mottling, gradients, fractal spinning, color spots, or simply the fiber arrangement on the surface. These yarns usually cannot be knitted with any pattern. Heavy&thin combined with aran pattern - that would be a bit weird. The fancy yarns are not as restrained as traditional yarn.
Lastly, there are the artyarns. They are mostly yarns that are not made for the knitter at all. They are spun for the sake of spinning, just to look nice, and maybe for art projects à la Lexi Boeger or as eye-catchers in larger knitting projects. Extreme curly yarns, yarns with loops, behives, fringes, spun-in objects and other extravagances. These yarns probably make life difficult for the knitter.
What kind of fibers do you mainly spin and why?
For me, as a spinner, the artyarns were actually the attraction to learning to spin.
After all, I didn't have much of a knitting background when I started spinning. I just found it mega creative to make such yarns and they need, even if you look so random, a good construction. But at some point the question arose, what I should do with all the yarns.
I then wanted to know why knitters have their dear trouble with the yarns and how I can find a compromise between effect and knitting comfort.
So today I'm spinning moderate effect yarns that don't take an elaborate pattern. They are aimed at beginners who are just knitting straight for now, but still have an effect because of the yarn. So the problem becomes an advantage. That's why I also make the Knit kits - a worry-free package.
However, as I am slowly growing as a knitter myself, I am now also spinning traditional yarns where I dabble in fiber blends. Privately, I'm into blends with camel, ramie, soy, bamboo and silk. For the store it's mainly merino, simply because of customer requests.
For my store, it is important to me that I can reproduce any yarn at any time. I am a control freak which is extremely handy for my Knit Kits. I want to offer the same yarn to every customer, which is not easy because fingers have a different mood every day, much like handwriting. So a simple low twist yarn suddenly becomes a challenge.
Is spinning a pure hobby for you? And what do you do in "real life" if yes?
Spinning was initially an escape from my top-heavy "real life". I am an art historian and archaeologist with a focus on building art in the Middle East before and around Christ. So these ancient ways of life and cultures have always been present. At some point I asked the question more research or more family. In my case, the cost-benefit calculation of my career path did not turn out to be so family-friendly. So I debated for a long time and then jumped in at the deep end. I had no idea how things would go, but I was free. Suddenly I then found a small, cute but quite tattered old industrial building around 1890.
I rehabilitated it for 1 year with my husband and dear friends and today it is my workshop and Back to the Wheel has become my little hand spinning shop on Dawanda. I now do what has actually always been a poor job and since the industrial revolution is finally dead and uneconomical: wage spinning. Soberly considered, completely insane, but I do not want to see that it is not yet possible to build a bridge into our time.
Can you explain to us laymen terms like core yarn, stitch yarn and worsted yarn? I'm doing the Brooklyn Tweed Knit Along right now and I'm knitting the yarn "Loft". The yarns Loft and Shelter are both "woolen-spun". What exactly does that mean and how is it different from the "worsted-spun" yarns?
Core-spun: A yarn that has a stable core around which visible fibers are spun. The cool thing about core-spun yarns is that they have a different fiber angle. The fibers can be mixed differently before spinning and can be trapped on the surface of the yarn. In this way, even delicate fibers can be transformed into a tear-resistant yarn.
Carded yarn = woolen-spun: the yarn was spun from a carded fleece. The so-called long draw was used. The result is airy, slightly heterogeneous, has a higher thermal capacity due to air entrapment. The fibers used for this purpose are usually curlier and they have different lengths. Their fiber ends protrude from the yarn surface, which makes the yarn either fluffier or scratchier, depending on the sensation and the fiber. The stitches look a little more unruly or may turn out more irregular.
Worsted-spun: This is the opposite of woollen yarn. It is spun from a worsted yarn. I.e. the mostly smooth fibers (eg Merino) were parallelized and have roughly the same length. It is spun with the so-called short draw. This leads to a very smooth surface with less air entrapment. The yarn is more uniform, compact, smooth. The stitches are more defined and uniform. The knitted piece feels either more flattering or harder, depending on the fiber.
Distinguishing factors are: Fiber preparation (combing or carding), fiber type (smooth or curly) and technique (long or short draw). When these factors are mixed together, semi-worsted yarns are produced. The English are more specific here: Woolen vs worsted with the mixed types semi-woolen and semi-worsted depending on the type of combination of the above factors.
Why do coating yarns break so quickly, what are they particularly good for, and what are they less good for?
Coating yarns can break more quickly, but they don't have to. It depends on the fiber. If the yarn consists of longer fibers (there are also crimped and longer fibers), this does not happen so quickly. But if the fibers are quite short, then they need a lot of twist during spinning. The twist cancels itself out during twisting. Then the fibers of the individual threads fix themselves to each other and the threads as well as the entire twist regain volume, but also lose cohesion. The tighter the twist (WPI) the more fixed. Here it depends on the balance between twisting and fiber length.
Tweed yarns are a bit more special. The tweed effect is created by mixing in fibers of a different color, which are very short. Tweed can only be carded, so we end up with the carded yarns. In the blend, short fibers make spots and long fibers make stripes. And so we end up with a carded yarn with predominantly short fibers and the yarn can break more quickly.
Carded yarns are warmer and lighter than worsted yarns. The reason is the airy structure due to the spinning technique. Worsted yarns, however, withstand more friction, both when knitting and in the sweater. Worsted yarns also retain the elasticity in the knitted piece longer, e.g. in a ribbed cuff in the hat.
Worsted yarns should rather be knitted with smaller needles, because the wind should not whistle through the well-defined stitches. Summer knits are also more suitable for worsted yarns, although cotton or plant fibers are more interesting. Lace and large stitches are also typical for worsted yarns. Everything that should fall smoothly or must withstand more tension should also rather not be made of worsted yarn.
Wow! Thank you, Kathrin, for your so detailed answers! I hope to visit one of your courses soon!
Are you as taken as I am? Click further into Kathrin's world...
At the beginning of each new month, I take a little trip down memory lane and see what my own Instagram feed tells me about my projects. You should definitely do the same, because it always makes me realize how much I actually accomplish in a month.
At the beginning of September my Loppa cardigan was still absolutely unfinished, even one sleeve was missing (1). I worked diligently on the re-design of the website (2). The result is a beautiful new home page and I still like it a lot. I still have some things on the list that I haven't changed since then. But such a site is a work in progress, isn't it?
My Chainlink for the Brooklyn Tweed Knit Along is running quite alongside, meanwhile I know the pattern in my sleep. The photo in (3) is the front piece, it's finished by now. The back piece works exactly the same and currently I might post this exact photo again. I hope to be able to stretch both pieces by the end of the week. I will report!
At Yarncamp I admired this super beautiful Monterosa Cardigan from Fritzicreativ (4). He is meanwhile he is finished, look here.
Then came the button plackets (5) at the Loppa cardigan and the steeken (6), about which I have told you in detail. Finished is the good piece (8).
The Fräulein has wished for a "scribbled cloth like that of Mom" (7&9) . So I made an Easy Triangle sh awl and as fast as it came on the needles, so fast it was already down again. She stretched it herself - early practice makes perfect! By the way, I have never knitted with gradient yarn before. I like it!
A wonderful good Saturday morning for coffee and net talk.
DaWanda has called together with three other partners to the great participation action "Masche für Masche". I told you more about that yesterday. I'm still sifting through my yarn supplies before I decide which of the ten tutorials I'll knit to benefit the projects of the aid organization terre des hommes.
A more than interesting article about Ravelry - the foundation and the business concept - can be found at "Online Marketing Rockstars". I discovered it via Lutz.
I'm in baby blanket fever (for gifting exclusively, of course, not that there are any rumors going around) and have my eye on Rosy Green Wool 's gorgeous yarns.
I think I've linked to them before, but I'd really really really like these great house socks (and in these exact colors, which is why I didn't link Ravelry directly). They just don't fit into my knitting calendar right now.
Daniela from gemachtmitliebe now has beautiful yarns in the store in addition to her great crochet kits, it's worth browsing there.
Have a great weekend!
Knitting is fun - knitting together is even more fun. That's why I love Knit Alongs. You admire what others are knitting, you make progress together, and then you browse the finished works. That's why I want to join a great community event and crochet or knit for a good cause with everyone who wants to. Are you with me?
Under the patronage of Sarah Wiener, DaWanda has teamed up with Lana Grossa, GU and Für Sie to launch the charity project "Masche für Masche" for the aid organization terre des hommes. A Charity Knit/Crochet Along, so to speak, in which our knitted and crocheted works are sold at the end on DaWanda and at many different Christmas markets for the benefit of two terre des hommes projects.
100% of the proceeds will go to the refugee children and the Sumangali project. I tell more about both projects below. We donate our crochet or knitting time, how great is that?
The goal is to reach 7000 knitted or crocheted pieces in the next 55 days. In doing so, you can choose between 10 different projects (pattern) or choose your own model, raid your yarn stash for it and of course either knit or crochet. The good thing is that these knits are all knitted or crocheted with relatively large needles. So they go nice and fast and are partly even finished in one evening!
Participation is very simple: (1) You choose one of the 10 pattern (knit or crochet) on the project page at DaWanda, or simply choose your own favorite pattern. Among them are quick, easy hats, scarves and loops and a few accessories, with large needles! So goes really fast and is probably perfect to finally reduce his yarn supplies a little.
(2) Then send the finished crocheted and knitted pieces to DaWanda in Berlin (or bring them to one of the selected wool stores) by November 2. There, everything else including sales etc. will be taken care of.
The proceeds of all sales will then go entirely to the following two terre des hommes projects:
Help for refugee children - last year, about 10,000 (!) refugee minors arrived in Germany without their parents. They flee for a variety of reasons. Terre des hommes has set itself the goal of sustainably improving the care situation for unaccompanied minors and creating a broad-based training and counseling program. But terre des hommes also supports refugee children abroad in a variety of ways and strengthens children in war and crisis zones with its programs.
Sumangali project - The aim here is to free young women from slavery and implement labor rights for all in Tirupur in southern India, one of the largest textile locations in the world. Many of the young girls and women there are able to go back to school or have started vocational training thanks to the sustainable support of terre des hommes.
I think both projects are worthy of my support and recommend you to inform yourself on the pages of terre des hommes. Then grab your needles, get some yarn or raid your stash, pick one of the ten tutorials and knit a piece!
Do you feel like it?
Then quickly here along to the action page of DaWanda and browse through the tutorials!
The days are getting cooler and with that my notebook is exploding with ideas of what I could knit. I would need a few more hands, that would be great! I'm curious what will be this month with you all on the needles.
With me it is still Chainlink for the Brooklyn Tweed Knit Along. Now the second part (front or back, it doesn't matter, both knit the same). I'm making good progress and have the pattern in my head by now, of course.
At the same time I cast on the wonderful olive wood needles from Addi another easy triangular shawl according to my free pattern. This time for's little miss, who has specifically requested the "ticklish" wool.
And what are you knitting in October? What has become of your projects? Will you tell me? I'm looking forward to it! You can link all month long! Attention: You have to put a backlink to this post or blog in your post, otherwise it won't work with the link tool. A backlink is nothing more than a link to this blog :)!
For all of you who are visiting here for the first time: Each month I'll collect your knitting projects by linking your respective blog posts to "On the Needles" here. You can find all past collections to browse here.
On Instagram I use the hashtag #aufdennadelnoktober. Join in there too!
In the mood for spring? Here you can find spring yarns 
Neu - Sandnes 2407 - Sommerbaby 
Neu bei uns - Lankava 
Hier findest du alle Maschenfein-Anleitungen
