Lotus Bud Hat

UPDATE 3.18.16: Congratulations to winner, Hope! Hope, check your email! -----------------------

What is it about the lotus flower? Lovely, mysterious, elegant and fragile, these little beauties are always one of my favorites when we visit the aquatic gardens.

After a quick search, I found out that "Back in Egyptians times, the lotus flower was very important in their religion. Meaning creation and rebirth, it was a symbol of the sun, because at nightfall it closes and goes beneath the water and at dawn it climbs up above the water and reopens. It was the only plant to flower and fruit at the same time, as it would emerge as pure white from the depths of the muddy swamp and grow above the water. One myth that revolves around the lotus is during creation time a giant lotus flower grew out of a pond and from it the sun rose. Also, throughout ancient Egypt the lotus has been pictured in various works of art.  It would act as a border to outline a section of artwork, or held in the hands of a god or human. The lotus was also used in their math, helping to count to high decrees. One lotus would act as 1,000 and two lotus as 2,000 and so on."

If you want to get more technical, our comrades at Wikipedia tell us, "Nelumbo nucifera, also known as Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, or simply lotus, is one of two species of aquatic plant in the family Nelumbonaceae. This plant is an aquatic perennial. Under favorable circumstances its seeds may remain viable for many years, with the oldest recorded lotus germination being from that of seeds 1,300 years old recovered from a dry lakebed in northeastern China. Native to Tropical Asia and Queensland, Australia, it is commonly cultivated in water gardens. It is also the national flower of India and Vietnam."

Perhaps it's the link between the history of needlework (one of the oldest pieces of crochet-like knot work was found in the Egyptian tombs on a pair of sandals) and the appreciation of it by ancient cultures that I decided needed to be transformed into a knitting design. While I was not named after this particular city (I was named after this painting), the Lost City of Tanis (yes, the one from the first Indiana Jones movie where the Ark of the Covenant was hidden) has always been special to me and my love of Egyptian history.

Another search reveals, "In 1939 a French archaeologist named Pierre Montet brought the city of Tanis into the 20th century after nearly a dozen years of excavations. He unearthed a royal tomb complex that included three intact and undisturbed burial chambers—a rare and marvelous find. The tombs held dazzling funereal treasures such as golden masks, coffins of silver, and elaborate sarcophagi. Other precious items included bracelets, necklaces, pendants, tableware, and amulets. Statues, vases, and jars also filled the tombs, all part of an array that still bears witness, after thousands of years, to the power and wealth of Tanis's rulers." Cool.

I'm pleased to introduce the Lotus Bud Hat, a women's hat knit up in less than 110 yards! I love the challenge of extremely limited yardage and for this topper you'll need just one hank of the gorgeous Dragonfly Fibers Super Traveller yarn. This color way, "firecracker," is one of my favorites from the Dragonfly ladies, but I've also knit it up in a solid for those who prefer a neutral version. Inspired by the lotus flower before it bursts into bloom, the lace pattern is set against a background of simple reverse stockinette.

The goal of this hat was to be a quick, pretty knit to use up some of those single hanks in your stash or the ones you've been eyeing at your LYS. Grab your US 10 16" circs and before you know it, you'll have your own Lotus Bud Hat. The pattern is both charted and written out and would be ideal for holiday knitting (don't laugh, now is the time to start!).

Let's give a copy of the pattern away, shall we? Answer the below trivia question in the comments section correctly and you'll automatically be entered in to win a free digital copy. A winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, March 17th.

What specific part of the lotus flower is often used to make tea?

Download the Lotus Bud Hat here.

Modern Argyle Cowl

I have a secret. I hate knitting intarsia.

There, I said it. And I'd say it again.

People find this odd because I love stranded color work knitting so much. But intarsia? I often refer to it as "Fair Isle knitting's evil cousin." Don't get me wrong - I appreciate it as a technique and I'll do it when required (I even taught our babysitter how to do it so she could knit her impending grandchild a baby blanket), but it doesn't put me into a state of knitting bliss like Fair Isle does.

There's a misconception that certain techniques can only be done via the pain and grumpiness that often accompany intarsia knitting... for example, argyle. Our friends at Wikipedia tell us, "An argyle pattern is made of diamonds or lozenges. The word is sometimes used to refer to an individual diamond in the design but more commonly refers to the overall pattern. Most argyle layouts contain layers of overlapping motifs, adding a sense of three-dimensionality, movement, and texture. Typically, there is an overlay of intercrossing diagonal lines on solid diamonds. Argyle knitwear became fashionable in Great Britain and then the USA after the first world war. Pringle of Scotland popularised the design, helped by its identification with the Duke of Windsor. The duke, like others, used this pattern for golf clothing: both for jerseys and for the long socks needed for the plus-fours trouser fashion of the day."

You see argyle everywhere, from knitted socks, to golf club covers, to vests and *shudder* kilts worn by yours truly for 4 years in high school. It's an interesting design and knitting it can be complex, depending on your intentions and how many colors you've got going.

I like debunking knitting myths and today let's set the record straight. Argyle can be done via stranded color work knitting. Yup, it's true. Remember this cowl I did for Imperial Yarns back in 2014? Argyle? Yes. Intarsia? No. Ha! Tanis - 1, intarsia - 0.

My latest design, the Modern Argyle Cowl, runs in the same vein as the the cowl I designed and knit in 2014. Designed to be an easy Fair Isle cowl knit in the round so there's no wrong side visible, this beauty is knit up on US 15's, ensuring a fast and fun knit. Using 1 hank of each color in The Fiberist's new Curie Lux Bulky, it's a modern take on argyle without the fuss of bobbins and intarsia knitting. Starting with a provisional cast on and ending in kitchener stitch, this cowl would look amazing in endless color combinations. Need help with colors? Read my post about color theory here.

This is a bizarre time of year, weather-wise. Yesterday I was walking around in cropped pants and a t-shirt. Today I'm wrapped in a sweater wishing I had on warmer socks. The Modern Argyle Cowl will keep your neck warm without needing a coat, or can be worn as one of the many layers you'll be taking on and off until we settle into the consistent warmth of spring.

I've been teaching like crazy lately and my Fair Isle classes are packed. So many people walk in saying "this is the year I tackle color work knitting!" Jump on in, dear friends, the Fair Isle knitting water is warm.

Download the Modern Argyle Cowl here.

Wool & Electronics?

When thinking about wool, one doesn't usually jump to electronics. Check out the combination of the two in the article below, originally seen here.  

New Knit Wool Electronics and Street Style Classics by Jessica Dance

by Kate Sierzputowski

Motorola DynaTAC 8000X 1984, 100% lambswool, photographed by David Sykes, all images courtesy of Jessica Dance

Textile artist and prop stylist Jessica Dance gives common objects a touch more tangibility, turning electronics and accessories into knit copies of themselves with 100% lambswool. Previously working to transform food into fuzzy replicas, she is now focused on vintage computers and Nike kicks which she refers to as Vintage Knits, and Vintage Flufftronics.

Her new pieces were photographed by food photographer David Sykes to give the appearance of being shot for a glossy magazine. Dance’s works sit in front of colorful backgrounds, their wooly exterior contrasting the sleek method in which they were shot.

Dance’s new series of knit objects will be on display at The Spring Knitting and Stitching Show in Olympia London from March 3 through 6. You can read about and view more of Dance’s work and progress on her blogand Twitter.

Apple Macintosh 128k 1984, 100% lambswool, photographed by David Sykes

Sony Walkman TPS L2 1979, 100% lambswool, photographed by David Sykes

Nike Dunk High NL Undefeated, 100% lambswool, photographed by David Sykes

Gettry x Medicom Burger Bearbrick, 100% lambswool, photographed by David Sykes

Louis Vuitton beauty trunk, 100% lambswool, photographed by David Sykes

Woollery, 100% lambswool, photographed by David Sykes

Refined Knits

Jennifer Wood of Wood House Knits and I have worked together a few times on past book projects. I was excited to get a copy of her new book, Refined Knits (Interweave, 2016) and see more of her lovely designs that combine 2 of my favorite techniques - cables and lace. Not only are the garments in this book beautiful, but the photography and fiber color choices are wonderful. It's an aesthetic delight!

Jennifer was kind enough to sit down and answer a few questions about her new book for us, available now.

Tanis Gray (TG): Your new book is stunning!  You pair two popular knitting techniques together - cables and lace. How did your book idea come about combining the two?

Jennifer Wood (JW): It came about naturally, it was the direction that my designing was moving into. While playing with different stitch patterns I would add a cable to lace pattern or lace stitches to cables just because I liked the way it looked. It was not something that I set out intentionally to do. I think that it is so fun to knit cables and lace together and I like the way the two techniques enrich each other. Like I said in the book it is like uniting strength and grace.

TG: I really enjoyed your intro and the story about how you began knitting with your daughter. Can you tell us more about how you got started? Does your daughter still knit at all?

JW: Yes, it seems rather crazy that I owe my introduction to this wonderful craft to my daughter and that it is what I do for my job now. I learned how to crochet and needlepoint as a child but my mother did not know how to knit so I was never taught. I was enthralled from the beginning, I do not know what it was about knitting that captured me so but it certainly did. I wanted try every technique I found. I would read books and ask questions at my local yarn store, for some reason the thought of taking classes never entered my mind. I pretty much learned by trial and error in my knitting and designing. I was terrible at lace when I first tried it and now it seems like second nature. I am so thankful that The Witch of Blackbird Pond was on my daughter’s reading list, I can not imagine not knitting! My daughter however was not so taken by it. She like it alright and will occasionally knit something in garter stitch. She is glad the learned though and enjoys crafting in general and really likes watercolors.

TG: Where did you draw your inspiration from?

JW: My inspiration comes from many different places. Sometimes I just have an idea pop into my head and then I find a stitch pattern to fit the idea. This was the case with Victoria and Brielle. Or I discover a stitch pattern that I really like build the design around it, this is how Corinne and Idril came to be. Other times I see a pattern in nature that I want to incorporate into a design like the pine cone shape in Camelia and the waves in Dwyn. Then there are times when my inspiration is from time old traditions like the Aran pullover for Keavy and the classic cabled cardigan for Willa.

TG: I love that your book covers a wide array of garments. From fingerless mitts to cowls to scarves and wraps to cardigans and pullovers - you’ve got it all!  Do you have a favorite garment type to knit?

JW: I would have to say sweaters. And I go back and forth between cardigans and pullovers. I like that with pullovers there is very little finishing and you do not have to pick out buttons. I always have the hardest time picking out buttons. Cardigans are such a fun canvas to work with because there are so many different things you can do with the two front edges.

TG: I know it’s like choosing your favorite child, but do you have a favorite garment in the book and why? Mine is the Corinne Oval Pullover because of those gorgeous motifs running down the front and back!

JW: That is a hard choice! If I had to pick favorites for the garments I would say either Corinne or Camelia and for the accessories I would say Dwyn. I think Corinne is so lovely with the lace ovals accented by the cables. The pine cone shaped pattern around the yoke of Camelia makes me happy just to look at. And Dywn because it was one of those designs that surpassed my exceptions. I love the waves that are created by the stitch pattern and that it appears to be worked with cables when actually there are no cables in the stitch pattern.

TG: You’re working a very elegant color palette throughout the book (and the photos are gorgeous!). Tell us how you chose your colors and yarns?

JW: Earth tones are my favorite colors and left to my own devices I could end up with a pretty muted color palette. Kerry Bogart (from Interweave) helped my get out of my color box and we picked out some colors that added a pop of color to the rich earthy tones.

TG: Do you have a favorite color and fiber?

JW: As I said earth tones are what I naturally gravitate to and if I had a favorite it would probably be a mustard shade. As far as fibers I really like a wool blend. The wool to give good stitch definition which is crucial for my designs. And another fiber for example alpaca or silk to add some drape.

TG: What’s coming up next for you?

JW: As far as Refined Knits, I have several book signings coming up, mostly in the East Tennessee area. And I will be signing books at TNNA. Also I will be running lots of KAL’s for Refined Knits in the Wood House Knits group on Ravelry. These will be a lot of fun and a great place to get help. As far as Wood House Knits lots more designs! I will be publishing a pullover in March called Winterberry that I am very excited about. I have a shawl design that will be coming out in April with the Woolen Rabbit Yarn Club. And I have just started on another shawl and sweater design that I will be publishing late spring or early summer. Then in late summer or early fall I have design that will be in The Knitter magazine in the UK. Of course there are more ideas brewing!

Check out the other garments in the book here.